Owen Hartley; or, Ups and Downs Part 11

"Never mind, we must make a raft for ourselves," answered Owen; "the lighter the better, and the more the sea goes down, the more easily we shall get a landing on the rocks." They found a couple of gratings, and two small spars. These they lashed together.

"We must secure some lanyards to hold on by," said Owen.

There was still plenty of small rope which had become entangled in the shattered bulwarks, and their raft was soon completed. They had hitherto not had time to watch the progress of the large raft. Just as they were about to launch their own they looked out for it. At that moment they saw a sea strike it; the warp parted, or was carried out of the men's hands, and the raft was turned completely over, the next instant to be dashed violently against the rocks, every soul being washed off. Owen saw that many of the men were striking out, and were helped up by their companions on the rocks.

"The same thing may happen to our small raft," said Nat.

"I hope not," said Owen; "we will make a couple of paddles, and we shall then be able to guide it."

They returned for this purpose. The tools, fortunately for them, had been left behind. The paddles were soon made.

"In case we get on sh.o.r.e safely, these tools may be useful. You go first, Nat, and I will hand them to you," said Owen.

Nat sprang on to the raft. Owen then handed down a bag of nails, a hammer and saw, some gimlets and chisels, which Nat secured, as he was directed by Owen, who leapt down after him. As it was dangerous to remain alongside the wreck among the ma.s.ses of timbers, they immediately cast off the ropes and began paddling away.

Their slight raft was several times nearly struck by pieces of floating wreck. Shoving away from them with their paddles, they, however, floated clear. Owen observed an opening between two of the higher rocks.

"If we can pa.s.s through there we may get round the lee side, and land without difficulty," he said.

They exerted all their strength to reach the opening. Again they were in great danger from a piece of wreck which came surging up and down close to them. They, however, sc.r.a.ped clear of it. "We shall get through now," cried Owen; "paddle away, Nat."

In a few minutes more they reached the opening, which was just wide enough to allow their small raft to pa.s.s through.

"Hurrah! we have done it," cried Nat, as they saw the white surf breaking astern of them. The current, however, threatened to carry them out to sea, but by great exertion they kept close to the rocks, and paddled on. At length they reached the rock where their s.h.i.+pmates were collected. As they scrambled up on the rock the first person they saw was Mr Sc.o.o.nes.

"Well, youngsters, you little expected to find me here, I've an opinion," he said; "you'll have to look out, and do as I order you."

Owen had expected a more friendly greeting from those who had escaped.

Neither he nor Nat made any reply. They at once carried up the tools which they had brought for safety to the top of the rock. Several of the men who had reached the rock congratulated them on their escape.

Owen inquired for Mr Grey and the other officers. No one had seen them, and it was feared that they had been washed away by the seas which broke over the s.h.i.+p when she first struck. The long-boat had been driven against the rocks and dashed to pieces, although those in her had managed to reach the rock. Owen was grieved also to hear that the boatswain had been lost, with several of the men, when the raft turned over. The only officer, indeed, who had escaped was Mr Sc.o.o.nes.

The position of the sufferers, numbering altogether twenty persons, was still dangerous in the extreme, as at any moment the sea might rise and sweep them all away. As the morning mists cleared off and the sun burst forth, they saw, a couple of miles to the eastward and southward, a sand-bank, which rose apparently some feet above the water. The intervening s.p.a.ce appeared to be filled up with rocks and sand, so that it might be pa.s.sed by wading, and perhaps occasionally swimming to get over it. Mr Sc.o.o.nes pointed out to the men that their only chance of safety was at once to get to the sand-bank, which was of considerable extent.

"The youngsters raft will a.s.sist us to carry across the things which have been saved," he observed.

Fortunately most of the casks which had been brought by the large raft had been picked up, as well as a good many others. Those which would not float of themselves were now placed on the small raft, and the mate, taking a long spar in his hand, set out to lead the way. Four of the men took charge of the raft, while others dragged after them casks of beef and water and two of beer. Owen was thankful that no spirits had been picked up. He knew too well what would have been the consequence.

"I am afraid, Owen, that I shall not be able to get across if there are any deep places," said Nat, "as you know I cannot swim."

"Then you keep close to the raft, and I will get the men to let you hold on to it."

The two lads had taken two of the casks of water, which was as much as they could drag. The men who had charge of the raft, fortunately, were amongst the best of the crew, and at once acceded to Owen's request; indeed they looked upon him as an officer, and were willing to obey him as such. Mr Sc.o.o.nes, who was a powerful man, aided by his long pole, made great progress. Every now and then, when he got to a distance from the men, he turned round and shouted to them to come faster.

"It's all very well for him to cry out come faster when he has got nothing to carry," grumbled some of the men.

Presently, as he was shouting out, he was seen suddenly to sink down; he had stepped without feeling his way into deep water. He, however, at once struck out; in a short time he again rose, and pressed on as before. When the raft reached the deep water Owen made Nat hold on to it, and he swimming they soon got across. Several of the men, however, who could not swim had to be a.s.sisted by their s.h.i.+pmates and dragged over by ropes, which the best swimmers carried across. As they went along they found several articles floating about, and these were added to those they were dragging with them.

They were crossing a narrow channel, in which the water reached up to their middles, when one of the men cried out, "A big fish; he will serve us for dinner." The fish swam up the channel where the water was shallower. Chase was made, and before it could escape it was overtaken by two of the men, who had provided themselves with broken spars as walking sticks. Having stunned it by the heavy blows they inflicted, they towed it back in triumph.

"Why, you have got a young shark!" exclaimed Mike Coffey; "surely he'll be eating us up, for he's only half kilt." Whereupon the Irishman, taking out his knife, nearly severed its head from its body. "He'll not be afther doing us any harm now," he said, laughing, as he secured the prize.

At length the sand-bank was reached. It was found to be much higher out of the water than at first supposed, and of considerable extent; but not a tree grew upon it, nor was it probable that a spring of water would be found there. They might exist for a short time, exposed to the burning rays of the sun by day and the dews by night. When Owen looked at the two small casks of water, he reflected that it could not last more than five or six days, even with the greatest economy. The raft being hauled up on the beach, the various articles they had brought were placed together.

"Men," said Mr Sc.o.o.nes, "we have got provisions enough here to keep body and soul together for ten days or more; in the meantime we must see what can be done to make our escape. Perhaps one of the boats may be driven on sh.o.r.e, or, if not, we must build a raft and make our way to Java, or maybe some s.h.i.+p may appear and take us off. It won't do for at to be down-hearted."

"Can you tell about where we are?" asked Owen.

"What's that to you, youngster?" answered the mate, who in reality had been utterly ignorant of the position of the s.h.i.+p when she struck.

Owen walked away: he saw that the less communication he had with Mr Sc.o.o.nes the better.

He proposed to Mike Coffey and two other men that they should make an excursion along the beach, in the hopes of picking up any articles which might be washed ash.o.r.e from the wreck.

"Shure, we will have our dinner first off the shark," observed Mike, "or there will be but poor picking for us when we come back."

Among the things saved was a tinder box and matches; the latter were perfectly wet, and it was supposed that they were spoiled. Owen, however, undertook to dry them.

"If you will pick up the fuel, we will soon have a fire burning," he observed.

By exposing the matches to the hot sun they quickly dried. From portions of the wreck driven on sh.o.r.e during the night and old drift wood, a sufficient amount of fuel was collected to form a good fire.

After some trouble one of the matches was lighted. The men cheered as they saw it blaze up, and bits of paper were produced to catch the welcome flame. In a short time a good fire was burning, at which the shark, cut up in pieces, was placed to cook.

Owen saw the beer barrel broached with considerable uneasiness.

However, he could not interfere. All hands obtained a good meal from the roasted shark and some sopped biscuit, which Mr Sc.o.o.nes served out to them. Owen and his companions then set out, and were fortunate enough in finding several casks, cases, and bales of goods; and what was of still greater value, the main topmast, with its spars, rigging and canvas, although apparently in inextricable entanglement. They immediately set to work, however, and, by using their knives, succeeded in dragging up a topsail and topgallant sail.

"This will a.s.sist us in forming a tent," said Owen; "and if we can find another sail or two we may have shelter enough for all hands."

Two of the men volunteered to tow the heavier articles they had found along the beach, while Owen, with Nat and Mike, dragged the sails to where they had left their companions.

"Shure," said Mike, "it would be wiser to camp where we are, or maybe, when we get the tent up, Mr Sc.o.o.nes will be afther turnin' us out."

"I hope he won't act so unjustly," said Owen; "and we must not set the example of selfishness for fear of his doing so."

The spars they had brought served as a tent pole, and as there were plenty of lengths of small rope, in a short time a tent was put up of sufficient size to accommodate the whole party. As they were all very weary, they gladly lay down to rest, and thus commenced their first night on this truly desert island.

CHAPTER SIX.

Owen was awakened by a kick in the side.

"Rouse out, there, you lazy young rascal. Light the fire, and get the breakfast ready," said the person who had thus rudely disturbed his slumbers.

Glancing up, he saw the first mate standing over him. He sprang to his feet, looking, as he felt, much astonished at the treatment he had received.

"Call the other boy to help you," continued Mr Sc.o.o.nes. "Be sharp about it."

Owen made no reply. He knew that to do so would be useless, and would probably increase the mate's ill-temper. He shook Nat, who was sleeping near him, by the shoulder, and told him what the mate had ordered them to do. The rest of the men were still sleeping. As Owen and Nat went out of the tent they saw the mate take a bottle from a case which he had kept close to where he had slept, and fill up a tin cup. It was probably not the first draught he had taken that morning. Owen and Nat collected all the wood they could find, and piled it up a short distance from the tent. A light was struck, but it was some time before they could produce a flame.