In the Eastern Seas Part 40

I had been longing for a companion from the time I landed, and often and often thought how far better would have been my lot if I had had Oliver or Macco with me; and here the latter had been sent to bear me company.

We spent the day in our hiding-place, for we were afraid that the Malays might renew their search for Macco; and we could still hear them in the far distance, their voices reaching to the top of the rock over the heads of the trees. I was proposing to descend to try and see what they were about, when again we heard their voices drawing near. We could not help feeling anxious, lest on this occasion they might discover us.

"But we must hope for the best," I said half aloud.

"Yes, Ma.s.sa Walter, hope for de best," repeated Macco; "and if it no come, still hope for de best. All best when we put trust in G.o.d."

Once more we caught sight of the Malays forcing their way through the forest, and calling to each other, evidently again searching for Macco.

Several times I thought they were coming close up to the mouth of the cavern, and once a party of them stopped directly under where we were concealed. I held my breath with anxiety, and my heart once more bounded as if released from a weight when I saw them take their way through the forest.

We again pa.s.sed the night in my abode, and afterwards climbed up to the top of the rock. No sounds reached our ears. "Now I must go and see if they are really getting away," I said, "but you stay here. I know my way through the forest, and one person is less likely to be discovered than two." I accordingly set out towards the beach, taking my bamboo spear, which I trailed after me. Some of the pirate vessels had their sails hoisted, and were gliding out of the bay. The crews of the others were just shoving them off into deep water. I watched them eagerly, and at length they all went on board. Still I thought it possible that at the last moment some might land, and make another search for Macco. I therefore waited till they were all well out of the bay, and then hurried back with the satisfactory intelligence to my dark-skinned friend. "We have reason to be t'ankful, Ma.s.sa Walter," he observed.

"Dose great cut-t'roats!" I was now much happier than before, having Macco as my companion; at the same time, I was very anxious to let my dear Emily know that I was safe. I told Macco of my anxiety.

"Why, then, we not build canoe?" he said. "It take time, but it can be done."

"But I have only my knife to do it with," I said.

"But I have knife too," he said, drawing out a longish weapon from his belt.

Still I thought with such weapons our object could not be attained. Two days after that, as I was walking on the beach, I saw something sticking up in the sand. I was going to pa.s.s it carelessly, when I thought it was a piece of wrought wood. I went towards it, when great was my astonishment, and greater still my satisfaction, to find that it was a Malay axe, which had been left by the pirates in the sand. I called to Macco, who was at a little distance. "Dere, dere!" he exclaimed. "Now no difficulty. I use dat well, and build boat." At first I proposed making a dug-out, but Macco said he had often a.s.sisted in boat-building, and that a plank boat would be far superior.

"But how are we to get the planks?"

"Oh," he said, "I split some of de trees, and work dem down."

"But that would take so very long," I observed.

"Neber mind, Ma.s.sa Walter. Long time come to end, and work done."

His courage raised my spirits, and I now determined to set heartily to work in carrying out our proposed undertaking. Several days pa.s.sed away, and some progress had been made. Macco had already cut down a tree, and formed some wedges to split it up with, when one morning, while he was at his work, I agreed to go down to the beach to look for some sh.e.l.l-fish or crabs as a variety to our food. No sooner did I reach it than my eye caught sight of a white sail s.h.i.+ning in the morning sun. I rubbed my eyes. I could not be mistaken. No; there was a European vessel, I was sure of it, with a single mast. Could she be the cutter which my friends had proposed building? Were they on their homeward voyage, or were they coming to look for me? Perhaps, after all, the island where I now was might be at no great distance from theirs. Perhaps they were sailing away, having given me up in despair.

I could not move from the spot, but kept gazing and gazing at the sail to ascertain whether it was approaching. Yes, yes; I was sure it was.

On it came. The breeze freshening, the seas rolled in on the beach.

Nearer and nearer drew the cutter. I ran down to the water, and waved my hands and shouted. They could not have heard me, but yet they came in directly towards where I was standing. Presently I saw the sails brailed up, and now a boat, with several people in her, put off from the vessel. They approached. Mr Hooker was in the stern. The boat's head was turned round, so as to allow her to drop in through the surf. I rushed in towards her, and burst into tears as I shook my kind friend's hand, and helped him to spring on sh.o.r.e.

"My dear boy, you are safe! We had given up almost all hope of finding you, when we picked up your boat!" he exclaimed.

Great was my astonishment to find that the boat was my own craft which had brought me to the island.

"Are they all well?" I asked, looking eagerly towards the vessel. "Is Emily well, and Grace, and Oliver?"

"Yes, yes," he answered; "all are well. We left them at the island; but there is no time to be lost. The weather looks threatening, Mr Thudic.u.mb says, and the sooner you are away from this the better. Step in now. I suppose there is nothing to detain you?"

"No, but I have a friend," I answered; and told them how Macco had escaped from the pirates.

Begging them to wait, I ran back to where I had left him at work.

"Well den," he said, "we leab de boat for some oder person to build. I bery glad to see Potto Jumbo and my old friends."

I ran back to the boat, Macco following me. We were soon on board, and pulling to the cutter. All sail was then made for Sedgwick Island; for so we resolved to call it. The weather, however, got worse and worse, but still Mr Thudic.u.mb was very anxious to enter Hope Harbour; and in spite of the threatening sky and strong wind and increasing sea, we continued our course towards it. The loss of the vessel, and the merciful way in which our lives were preserved, has already been detailed by Emily.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

AN ERUPTION OF THE BURNING MOUNTAIN.

The mountain had been quiet for some days. Our apprehensions of an eruption had pa.s.sed away. We had succeeded in hauling the _Hope_ on sh.o.r.e; and Mr Thudic.u.mb was of opinion that we should be unable to repair her, though it might take some time to enable us to do so sufficiently to prosecute our voyage to Singapore. We were all in good spirits, as we trusted that after so many misadventures we should be able to succeed. The Frau and the girls had been busily employed in preparing a fresh supply of provisions, while sago, rice, and maize, and sugar-cane in abundance, had been brought from the plantation. My uncle and I had been out shooting, and had killed a couple of deer, three hogs, and a number of wood-pigeons and other birds. We had thus a good supply of meat.

We had all retired to rest, and were in the expectation in a few days of getting the _Hope_ ready for launching. Suddenly we were awaked by my uncle's voice shouting out, "Up! up! Sleepers, awake! Put on your clothes, and endeavour to retain your presence of mind." In an instant I was wide-awake, and knew by the tone of his voice that something serious had happened; indeed, the bright glare against the thick foliage of the trees in front of my window would have told me so. Oliver and I dressed rapidly, and ran to the room occupied by the Frau and the young ladies.

"What is it? what is it?" I heard the Frau exclaiming.

"Quick, quick," I answered; "put on your clothes, and take whatever you have of most value."

They were already dressed, and now came to the door with looks of terror in their countenances.

"We shall have time to save our lives, I trust, if we do not delay,"

said my uncle, who now appeared in the chief room.

Here we all collected. Each man bore on his shoulders as much provision as he could carry, done up in bags, already prepared for the purpose.

"On," cried my uncle. "Mr Thudic.u.mb and Tarbox desire to bring up the rear; I will lead the way." We hurried down the steps, and began our march toward Hope Harbour. The mountain was throwing up sheets of flame, amid which appeared huge ma.s.ses of rock and stones, while over our heads came down a shower of light ashes. Already a fringe of flame surrounded the mountain. It was the jungle which had caught fire, and was blazing furiously. The bright glare of the flames was reflected on the trees on one hand, making the night as bright as day. My uncle had set at liberty his poor animals. "They must seek their own safety," he observed; "and their instincts may guide them to the least dangerous spot." Mr Hooker insisted upon taking Emily's arm, I supported Grace, and Roger Trew begged the Frau to let him help her. Macco walked with Oliver, while Potto Jumbo ran to the front to a.s.sist my uncle in clearing the way. We hastened forward as fast as we could move, the poor Frau panting with the unusual exertion she was compelled to make.

The very heavens seemed on fire. The earth shook. The wild beasts in the forests roared and howled. The birds uttered strange cries of terror, and flew here and there. At length we reached the bamboo bridge. At such a moment it seemed a fragile structure to cross. Not a moment was to be lost, however, for already the fire seemed rus.h.i.+ng out towards us, the trees crackling and hissing as the flames caught them.

Terror-stricken animals rushed past us, heeding us not. My uncle, Mr Hooker, and the Frau, with their companions, had crossed, and Grace and I were on the bridge. It seemed to be shaken violently, and as I looked up towards the mountain, I saw a ma.s.s of liquid fire rus.h.i.+ng down the sides, and apparently wending its way towards us. I had nearly gained the further end of the bridge, when another violent shock occurred, and the frail structure fell into the water. With difficulty could I haul my companion up the bank. But where were Oliver and the other three men? They too saw the stream of fire rus.h.i.+ng towards them. I trembled lest we should be separated, or they might be overwhelmed in the destruction we were endeavouring to escape. Macco cried out to Oliver, "Come on! come on!" and taking his arm, he rushed down the bank and plunged into the stream, from which a vapour was ascending, as if it was already heated by the fire above. I could not desert Grace, or I would have hurried back to a.s.sist them; but they needed it not, for the next instant Macco and Oliver landed, Mr Thudic.u.mb and Tarbox were already in the water, and the other two were stretching out their hands to help them. I felt greatly relieved when I saw them all landed.

But even now our danger was fearful. On came the fire, on came the stream of lava. We had still a long way to go, it seemed. The rest of the party, not knowing what had occurred, had already got to some distance. We rushed after them at increased speed. Poor Grace could scarcely support herself, but I helped her along. At length we overtook our friends. "On, on!" cried Mr Sedgwick, every now and then turning back and pointing towards the beach, much as an officer might encourage a forlorn hope, only we were flying from danger instead of running into it. The fire seemed scarcely a hundred yards from us, and already we felt the heat of the advancing conflagration. At length the bay opened out before us, but the fire was by this time close on one hand, and the flames were curling up some tall palms which we the instant before had pa.s.sed. Crash followed crash as the trees sank before the devouring element. Already it had gained the edge of the path and ignited the wood on the opposite side. We had to pa.s.s under an arch of fire. I entreated Oliver to keep close behind us. He and Macco sprang forward.

At that moment there came a crash, and a tall tree fell directly behind them, cutting off the mate and boatswain. It was no time to stop, however. I felt this for my companion's sake, and I know not, even if I had been alone, that I should have ventured to turn back to help them.

I feared that our two friends had been lost. Without them, how could we expect safely to navigate our frail raft? We had got some way, almost clear of the wood, when I heard shouts, and turning my head, greatly to my relief I saw both Mr Thudic.u.mb and Tarbox leaping over the burning trunk, their clothes already on fire. They were striking out the flames, however, and rus.h.i.+ng on. "On! on!" I heard Tarbox shouting out, and his voice seemed as strong and cheery as ever. In a few seconds they overtook us, and we altogether rushed frantically out of the burning forest. A minute later none of us could have pa.s.sed. We hurried down to the beach. "On board the raft! on board the raft!"

shouted my uncle, "for the lava may rush down from the mountain even here."

The raft was moored securely in the harbour, and, since I had seen it, had been greatly enlarged and improved. Potto Jumbo and Roger Trew rushed into the water, and cutting--the cable, towed it ash.o.r.e. The provisions meantime were carried from the house where they had been stored, and those we had brought with us were put on board. We all now hastened on to the raft. The masts, and spars, and oars, and all the other things which had been prepared were also placed on it. "Now, shove off!" cried my uncle, "and Heaven protect us! Mr Thudic.u.mb, we beg you to take charge of the raft. My duty is over." Merlin was the last of our party who leaped on board. With long poles, which had been got ready for the purpose, we shoved off. Not a moment too soon; for already the lava which had overflowed the stream was making its way towards the harbour, while the showers of dust increased, thickly covering the raft.

I cast an affectionate look at the _Hope_. She had been the means of rescuing me from my solitary island, and restoring me to my sister and friends. In a few minutes, she would probably be a ma.s.s of cinders. As soon as we were clear of the harbour, we got out our oars and paddles, and urged the raft away from the island. It was nearly calm. The heat was drawing the air towards the mountain, thus creating a contrary breeze to what we expected to find, or wished for. The scene which took place on our own island when Macco and I were carried from it, was vividly recalled to my mind. There was the mountain blazing away, with a vast sea of flame surging at its base, spreading here and there with fearful rapidity, while the showers of ashes came every instant thicker and thicker. Three streams of lava were descending from the sides of the mountain, sweeping away in one instant the tall trees against which it forced its course as if they had been willow wands. Even now it seemed as if destruction might overtake us. We urged on the raft with all the energy of despair. Mr Thudic.u.mb steered, the rest of us worked the oars. The Frau and the two girls were seated in the centre, surrounded by the lockers which contained our provisions. While the water was smooth, there was no danger, but we could not help seeing that, exposed to a heavy sea, there would be great risk of our being washed off it.

We soon had reason to be thankful that we had escaped from the island, for the fire was every instant seen to be extending on both sides, while the eruption became more furious than ever. Suddenly a loud roar was heard coming over the water, and a vast rent was made in the side of the mountain. It seemed like the work of magic. The whole outline was in an instant changed. The conical top was rolling down, while in other places huge mounds were seen to be forced up as it were out of the earth. The glare of the conflagration reached us even at the distance we were from the island. I had been watching Emily and Grace, and though their countenances exhibited anxiety, there was no senseless terror perceptible. The Frau certainly did show alarm, and every now and then hid her face when the mountain sent forth fresh volumes of flame, or continued roars were heard as vast fragments of rock were hurled up into the air, and came cras.h.i.+ng down on the earth, new openings being made in the side of the mountain.

"There is a breeze from the eastward," I heard Mr Thudic.u.mb exclaim.

"Hoist the sails, lads!"

The masts had already been stepped. We hoisted our two lugsails, with a small jib on the bowsprit, which had been rigged ahead, and the raft feeling its effects, glided over the surface.

"We may reach some part of Java, even if we cannot get as far as Singapore," observed Mr Thudic.u.mb. "It would be a long voyage in such a craft as this; but if the weather holds fair, and our provisions last out, I see no reason why we should not accomplish it. We shall have the sun soon, and that will help us to steer the right course when we lose sight of the island."

Streaks of bright light were now appearing in the east, and presently the whole sky was overspread with a ruddy glow, which increased in intensity near the horizon, till the sun, a vast globe of fire, rose above the waters, and quickly shot upwards in the sky. Still we were not clear altogether of the cinders which fell in light showers upon our heads, but we had lost all dread of being overwhelmed by any heavier substance, though we could see that many huge stones and rocks were falling into the water astern of us. The very island itself was torn and rent by the various subterranean powers working away beneath it, and it seemed probable, from what was taking place, that the whole would ere long be submerged by the ocean. How thankful we were when at length, the breeze freshening, we were carried to a distance from the awful spot.

"Should we not return thanks to Him who has preserved us?" said Oliver at length in a quiet tone to Mr Hooker.

"Certainly we should, my boy," was the answer; and together we knelt down on the raft, Mr Thudic.u.mb still steering, and offered up our thanks to him who rules the winds and seas and all the powers of the earth.

With a better appet.i.te than might have been expected, and with cheerful spirits, we went to breakfast. No distinction was made between the ladies and gentlemen and the men. All shared alike. We had an oil lamp, with which we could boil our tea, and our other provisions we were compelled to eat cold. Few of them indeed required cooking.