CHAPTER THIRTY.
RAYNER PROVES THAT HE IS A TRUE HERO.
The sea dashing over the reef, though spent of its fury, still brokewith great force against the hull of the schooner. Her timbers shookand quivered as wave after wave, striking them, rolled on towards thebeach, and then came hissing back, covering the surface of the lagoonwith a mass of creaming foam. The coast, as far as could be seenthrough the masses of spray, looked barren and uninviting.
The Frenchmen and blacks, recovering from the alarm which had well-nighparalysed them, rushed to the boat stowed amidships, and began castingadrift the lashings, and preparing to launch her.
"Keep all fast there!" cried Rayner, as he saw what they were about."It will be best to wait till the sea goes down, when we shall be ableto get the boat into the water with less risk of her being swamped thanat present."
They, however, paid no attention to his orders, and continued theirpreparations for launching the boat.
When he found that they persisted in their attempts, he urged them towait till they had collected a supply of provisions, and obtained somefresh water, as it was probable that they might find neither the one northe other on shore. Calling Fletcher aft to attend to Peek, he andOliver went into the cabin to collect all the eatables they could find,as also their carpet bags and such other articles as might be useful.
"We must get up some water before the boat shoves off," said Rayner."I'll send one of the men to help you, while I go into the hold tosearch for casks."
The boat was still on the deck, and there seemed no probability that theFrenchmen and blacks would succeed in launching her.
He was some time below, hunting about for the casks of water.
He had just found a couple, and was about to return on deck to obtainsome slings for hoisting them up, when he heard Jack Peek shout out,"Quick, Mr Rayner--quick! the fellows are shoving off in the boat."
Springing on deck, what was his surprise and indignation to see the boatin the water, and all the men in her, including Tom Fletcher!
"What treachery is this?" he exclaimed. "If go you must, wait until wecan get our injured shipmate into the boat, and Mr Crofton will be ondeck in a moment."
While he was speaking, the man named Brown, who had gone with him below,rushing on deck, leapt into the boat, intending to prevent them fromshoving off. Rayner, for the same object, followed him, with a rope inhis hand, which he was in the act of making fast, when one of theFrenchmen cut it through, and the boat rapidly drifted away from theside of the vessel.
In vain Rayner urged the people to pull back, and take off Oliver andJack; but, regardless of his entreaties, one of them, seizing the helm,turned the boat's head towards the beach. They pulled rapidly away,endeavouring to keep her from being swamped by the heavy seas whichrolled up astern. Now she rose, now she sank, as she neared the shore.
"Oliver will fancy that I have deserted him; but Jack Peek knows me toowell to suppose that I could have acted so basely," thought Rayner."If, however, the boat is knocked to pieces, it will be a hard matter toget back to the wreck. All I can do is to pray to Heaven that theschooner may hold together till I can manage to return on board."
These thoughts passed through his mind as the boat approached the beach.He saw that it would be utterly useless to try and induce the men toreturn. Indeed, the attempt at present would be dangerous. He againurged the crew to be careful how they beached the boat.
"The moment she touches jump out and try to run her up, for shouldanother sea follow quickly on the first, she will be driven broadside onthe beach, and before you can get free of her, you may be carried awayby the reflux."
The Frenchmen and blacks, eager to save themselves, paid no attention towhat he said. On flew the boat on the summit of a sea, and carriedforward, the next instant her keel struck the sand. Regardless of hisadvice, they all at the same moment sprang forward, each man trying tobe the first to get out of the boat. He and Tom Fletcher held on to thethwarts.
On came the sea. Before the men had got out of its influence, two ofthem were carried off their legs, and swept back by the boiling surf,while the boat, broaching to, was hove high up on the beach, on whichshe fell with a loud crash, her side stove in. Rayner, fearing that shemight be carried off, leaped out on the beach, Tom scrambling after him.His first thought was to try and rescue the two men who had beencarried off by the receding wave. Looking round to see who was missing,he discovered that one of them was a British seaman, the other aFrenchman. He sprang back to the boat to secure a coil of rope whichhad been thrown into her, and calling on his companions to hold on toone end, he fastened the other round his waist, intending to plunge in,and hoping to seize hold of the poor fellows, who could be seenstruggling frantically in the hissing foam. The Frenchmen and blacks,however, terror-stricken, and thinking only of their own safety, rushedup the beach, as if fancying that the sea might still overtake them.Tom and his messmate alone remained, and held on to the rope. Raynerswam off towards the Frenchman, who was nearest to the shore. Graspinghim by the shirt, he ordered Tom and Brown to haul him in, and in a fewseconds they succeeded in getting the Frenchman on shore.
Ward, the other seaman, could still be seen floating, apparentlylifeless, in the surf--now driven nearer the beach, now carried offagain, far beyond the reach of the rope. The moment the Frenchman hadbeen deposited on the sands, Rayner sprang back again, telling Tom andBrown to advance as far as possible into the water.
Rayner, however, did not feel very confident that they would obey hisorders, but trusted to his powers as a swimmer to make his way back tothe beach. A sea rolled in. He swam on bravely, surmounting itsfoaming crest. He had got to the end of the rope, and Ward was stillbeyond his reach. Still he struggled. Perhaps another sea might bringthe man to him. He was not disappointed, and grasping the collar ofWard's jacket, he shouted to Brown and Tom to haul away; but the seawhich had brought Ward in rolled on, and Tom, fancying that he should belifted off his legs, let go the rope and sprang back. Happily, Brownheld on, but his strength was not sufficient to drag in the rope. Invain he called on Tom to come back to his assistance. While tuggingmanfully away, he kept his feet on the ground, although the water roseabove his waist. The next instant the sea bore Rayner and his nowlifeless burden close up to where he stood. Rayner himself was almostexhausted, but with the help of Brown, and such aid as Tom was atlength, from very shame, induced to give, they got beyond the influenceof the angry seas Rayner lost no time in trying to restore the seaman,but with sorrow he found that it was a corpse alone he had brought onshore.
The Frenchman, Jacques Le Duc, having been less time in the water,quickly recovered, and expressed his gratitude to Rayner for havingsaved him.
"Mais, ma foi! those poltroons who ran off, afraid that the sea wouldswallow them up, should be ashamed of themselves," he exclaimed. "Youhad best show your gratitude, my friend, by getting them to assist us inbringing off my brother officer and the seaman from the wreck," answeredRayner. "I fear that she will not hold together many hours, and unlessthey are soon rescued they may lose their lives."
"I will try and persuade them to act like men," answered Jacques. "Youhave twice saved my life, and I feel bound to help you."
Saying this, Jacques, who had been assisted on his legs by Tom andBrown, staggered after his companions, shouting to them to stop.
On seeing him, they only ran the faster.
"Do you take me for a ghost?" he cried out, "Come back, come back, youcowards, and help the brave Englishman!"
At last they stopped, and Jacques was seen talking to them. In a shorttime he came back, saying that they declared nothing would induce themto return to the wreck; that the boat, they knew, could no longer float,and that there was no other means of getting off; that if they remainedon the shore they should be starved, and that they must hurry away insearch of food and shelter before night, which was fast approaching.
"Then we must see what we can do by ourselves," s
aid Rayner. "We cannotallow Mr Crofton and Peek to perish while we have any means of going totheir assistance. I must first see if we can patch up the boat so as toenable her to keep afloat."
On examining her, however, it was discovered that several of the plankson one side were stove in, and that they could not repair hersufficiently to keep out the water. At first Rayner thought of making araft out of the materials of the boat; but he soon came to theconclusion that he should never be able to paddle it against the seaswhich came rolling in.
"It must be done," he said to himself. "I have swum as far in smoothwater, with no object in view; but strength will be given me. I trust,when I am making an effort to save my fellow-creatures. Crofton mightperhaps swim to the shore, but nothing would induce him to leave ashipmate alone to perish."
All this time Oliver and Jack could be seen seated on the deck, holdingon to the stanchions to save themselves from being washed away by theseas which, occasionally breaking over her side, poured down upon them.
It of course occurred to Rayner that if Oliver could manage to float acask, or even a piece of plank secured to the end of a rope, acommunication might be established between the wreck and the shore; butas far as he could see, the running rigging and all the ropes had goneoverboard with the masts, and the only coil saved was that which hadbeen brought in the boat.
"Go off again I must," he said; "and I want you, my lads, to promise me,should I perish, that you will use every exertion to save the people onthe wreck. Fletcher, you know our object in coming on the coast. Youmust go to the authorities and explain that we had no hostileintentions--that our wish was to land the Frenchmen whose lives we hadsaved; and if you explain this, I hope that you will all be welltreated."
Even Tom was struck by his officer's courage and thoughtfulness; and heand his messmate promised to obey his orders.
Rayner, having now committed himself to the care of Heaven, prepared toswim off to the wreck. He knew that Oliver would see him coming, andwould be ready to help him get on board. Waiting until a sea had brokenon the beach, he followed it out, and darting through the next whichrolled forward, he was soon a long way from the shore. He found hecould swim much better than before, now that he had no rope to carry.Boldly he struck forward. Happily he did not recollect that those seasswarmed with sharks. On and on he went. Now and again, as a sea rushedover the reef, he was thrown back, but exerting all his strength, hestruggled forward. He was nearing the wreck, and could see that Oliver,who was eagerly watching him, had got hold of a short length of rope,with which he stood ready to heave when he should be near enough. Buthe felt his own strength failing. It seemed almost beyond his power toreach the wreck. Still, it was not in his nature to give in, and makinga desperate effort, striking out through the surging waters, he clutchedthe rope which Oliver hove-to him, and the next instant was clamberingon board. Throwing himself down on the deck, he endeavoured to regainhis strength, Oliver grasping him tightly with one hand, while he heldto the stanchion with the other.
"I knew you would not desert us, Rayner," he said. "But now you havecome, how are we to get this poor fellow to the shore? I could notleave him, or I would not have allowed you to risk your life byreturning on board. We must try and knock a raft together sufficient tocarry Peek, and you and I will swim alongside it, if we cannot make itlarge enough to hold us all three. There's no time to be lost, though."
Providentially the wind had by this time decreased, and the tide havingfallen, the seas struck with less fury against the wreck, and enabledthe two midshipmen to work far more effectually than they couldotherwise have done.
Jack begged that he might try and help them, but they insisted on hisremaining where he was, lest a sea should carry him off, and he mightnot have the strength to regain the wreck.
Fortunately the two axes had been preserved, and going below, they foundseveral lengths of rope, though not of sufficient strength to form asafe communication with the shore. They would serve, however, forlashing the raft together.
They quickly cutaway some of the bulkheads. They also discovered belowseveral spars and a grating. By lashing these together they in a shorttime formed a raft of sufficient size to carry all three. They nextmade a couple of paddles with which to guide the raft. They were veryrough, but they would serve their purpose. It was almost dark by thetime the raft was finished.
"I say, I feel desperately hungry, and I daresay so do you, Rayner,after all you have gone through," said Oliver. "I propose that weshould have some of the contents of the basket we packed. I left it inthe steward's pantry on the weather side."
"A very good idea," answered Rayner. "Pray get it up. Some food willdo Peek good, and enable us all to exert ourselves. I'll finish thislashing in the meantime."
They were not long in discussing some of the sausages and bread whichOliver produced.
"I feel much more hearty, sir," said Jack, when he had swallowed thefood. "I don't fancy there's so much the matter with me after all, onlymy leg and back do feel somewhat curious."
"Come," said Rayner, "we must make the attempt, for we cannot tell whatsort of weather we shall have during the night."
With forethought, they had fixed some lashings to the raft with which tosecure both Jack and themselves. It floated with sufficient quietnessto enable them to place Jack upon it.
"We must not forget the food, though," said Oliver.
"Do you, Peek, hold the basket, and do not let it go if you can helpit."
They took their seats, and lashing themselves to the raft, cast off therope which held it to the wreck, and began paddling away with might andmain. The seas rolled in with much less force than before, though therewas still considerable risk of the raft capsizing.
While under the lee of the wreck they proceeded smoothly enough, but theseas which passed her ahead and astern meeting, several times washedover them. As they approached the shores they could see through thegloom three figures standing ready to receive them.
"I am glad those fellows have not deserted us, for after the way theybefore behaved I did not feel quite sure about the matter," said Rayner.
While he was speaking, a sea higher than the rest came rolling along in,and lifting the raft on its summit, went hissing and roaring forward.
"Be ready to cast off the lashings, and to spring clear of the raft, orit may be thrown over upon us," cried Rayner. He gave the warning not amoment too soon, for the sea, carrying on the raft, almost immediatelydashed it on the beach. Springing up and seizing Jack Peek by the arm,he leapt clear of it. They would both have fallen, however, had not Tomand Brown dashed into the water and assisted them, while Le Duc renderedthe same assistance on the other side to Oliver.
Before the raft could be secured the reflux carried it away, togetherwith the basket of provisions, and it soon disappeared in the darkness."What shall we do next?" asked Oliver. "We cannot stop on the beach allnight."
Wet to the skin as they were, although the wind was not cold, it blewthrough their thin clothing, and made them feel very chilly.
"We must look out for food and shelter," observed Rayner. "Perhaps weshall fall in with some of the huts of the black people where we canobtain both, though the country did not look very inviting when therewas light enough to see it. I, however, don't like to leave the body ofthat poor fellow on the beach."
"Fletcher and I will try and bury him, sir," said Jack.
"I don't see much use in doing that," growled Tom. "He can't feel thecold. It will keep us here all the night, seeing we have no spades, noranything else to dig a grave."
"We might do it if we could find some boards," said Jack. "How wouldyou like to be left on shore just like a dead dog?"
His good intentions, however, were frustrated, as no pieces of boardcould be found, and they were compelled at length to be satisfied withplacing the body on a dry bank out of the reach of the water. Thisdone, they commenced their march in search of some human habitations,Tom and Brown support
ing poor Jack, who was unable to walk without help,between them.
The country, from the glimpse they had had of it, appeared more invitingto the west, but Rayner reflected that by going in that direction theywould get farther and farther from the Spanish territory, but were theyonce to reach it, they might claim assistance from the inhabitants. Howmany miles they were from the border neither Rayner nor Oliver wascertain; it might be a dozen or it might be twenty or thirty. Le Duccould give them no information. It was difficult to find the way in thedarkness; they could indeed only guide themselves by listening to theroar of the breakers, with an occasional glimpse of the dark ocean tothe right. The two officers agreed that it would be of great advantageto get into Spanish territory before daylight, as they would thus avoidbeing taken prisoners. Though their object in coming on the coast was apeaceable one, it would be difficult to induce the authorities tobelieve that this was the case. Le Duc promised that he would beartestimony to the truth of the account they intended to give ofthemselves; but, he observed, "My word may not be believed, and I myselfmay be accused of being a deserter. The people hereabouts do not setmuch value on human life, and they may shoot us all to save themselvesthe trouble of making further inquiries."
These observations, which Rayner translated to his companions, made themstill more anxious to push on. He and Oliver led the way with Le Duc,whom they desired to answer should they come suddenly on any of theinhabitants.
They went on and on, stumbling among rocks, now forcing their waythrough a wood, now ascending a rugged slope, until they foundthemselves at what appeared to have been a sugar plantation, butevidently abandoned for the fences were thrown down, though the shrubsand bushes formed an almost impenetrable barrier. They discovered,however, at last, a path. Even that was much overgrown, though theymanaged to force their way through it.
When once out of the plantation they found the road less obstructed.Reaching a rising ground, they eagerly looked round, hoping to see alight streaming from the windows of some house, where they could obtainthe rest and food they so much required.
"I think I caught sight of a glimmer among the trees. Look there!" saidOliver.
They took the bearings of the light, and descending the hill,endeavoured to direct their course towards it. At last they reached aroad, which they concluded must lead towards the house where the lighthad been seen. They went on some way farther in darkness.
"We are all right," cried Oliver. "I caught sight of three lights fromas many different windows. That shows that it is a house of some size."
"I don't know whether that would be an advantage," observed Rayner."The owner may dislike the English, and refuse to receive us, or sendoff to the authorities and have us carried away to prison."
"But you and Le Duc and Peek, as you speak French, may pass forFrenchmen; and a man must be a curmudgeon if he refuses to affordassistance to sailors in distress," observed Oliver.
"I can't say much for Peek's French, or for my own either. I wouldrather state at once who we are," said Rayner. "Le Duc is an honestfellow, and he will explain why we came on the coast, and will tell themhow we saved his life."
Le Duc, being asked, replied that he would gladly undertake whatever theEnglish officers wished, and it was arranged that as soon as they gotnear the house he should go on and ascertain the disposition of theinhabitants. Should they be ill-disposed towards the English he was toreturn, and they would go on rather than run the risk of being detainedand sent to prison.
Sooner than they had expected they got close up to what was evidently ahouse of considerable size, as the lights came from windows somedistance above the ground. While Le Duc went forward, the rest of theparty remained concealed under shelter of some thick bushes. He had notgot far when a loud barking showed that several dogs were on the watch.
He advanced, however, boldly, calling to the dogs, and shouting for someone to come and receive him.
The animals, though satisfied that he was not a thief, seemed to suspectthat there were other persons not far off.
"I say, here the brutes come," whispered Tom. "They'll be tearing us topieces. The people in these parts, I have read, have great bigbloodhounds to hunt the Indians with. If they come near us we mustknock them over."
"That won't make the people inclined to treat us more kindly," answeredJack. "When the dogs find we are quiet, they'll let us alone."
Just then the voice of some one was heard calling the dogs, who wentback to the house.
Some time passed. At last Le Duc's voice was heard. It was too dark tosee him.
"It's all arranged, messieurs," he said. "There's an old lady and twoyoung ladies in the house. I told them all about you, when they saidthat they were fond of the English, and would be very happy to give youshelter and food, but that you must come quietly so that no one buttheir old brown maitre d'hotel, and black girls who wait on them, shouldknow that you are in the house. Follow me, then, and just have thegoodness to tell the men that they must behave themselves or they may begetting into trouble."
"I'll tell them what you say," observed Rayner; and turning to the threeseamen, he said--
"Remember that though you are on shore you belong to the _Lily_, andare, therefore, as much under discipline as if you were on board."
They now proceeded towards the house, led by Le Duc. The two officersgoing first, they mounted the steps, and getting inside the house, theysaw an old mulatto carrying a couple of wax candles. He beckoned themwith his head to follow, and led the way to an inner room, when an oldlady advanced to meet them. Behind her came two young ladies, whom themidshipmen thought very handsome, with dark flashing eyes and blacktresses, their costumes being light and elegant, and suited to that warmclime. The old lady introduced them as her daughters, Sophie andVirginie. The midshipmen advanced bowing, and Rayner, who wasspokesman, apologised for appearing in their wet and somewhat tornclothes.
"We have received the invitation madame has been so kind as to affordus, and we throw ourselves on her hospitality." He then repeated whathe had told Le Duc to say.
"You shall have your necessities supplied, and I will gladly do all Ican to protect and help you regain your ship," she said. "I was oncewith my daughters taken prisoner when on a voyage from France by anEnglish ship-of-war, and we were treated by the English officers as ifwe had been princesses. Ah! they were indeed true gentlemen! They wonour hearts;" and she sighed. "I thought two of them would have becomehusbands of my daughters, but stern duty compelled them to sail awayafter they had landed us, and we have never heard of them since."
"We will gladly convey any message to them, if you will tell us theirnames, and the ships to which they belonged," said Rayner, "should we befortunate enough to fall in with them."
"My daughters will tell you by-and-by," answered the old lady. "You, Isee, require to change your dresses, which you can do while supper ispreparing. My maitre d'hotel will look to your men with the help of theFrench sailor whom you sent up with your message."
"One of them was hurt on board the wreck, and requires some doctoring, Ifear," said Rayner; "he managed to drag himself, with the assistance ofhis shipmates, thus far, but he must be suffering."
"Be sure that I will attend to him," answered Madame La Roche. "I havesome skill in surgery, and it will be a satisfaction to exercise it onone of your countrymen; but now Francois will conduct you to a room, andsupply you with such garments as he can collect. Your men in themeantime will be attended to."
Francois on this stepped forward with his candles, and, with aninimitable bow, requested the young officers to follow him. They bowingagain to madame and her daughters, followed the maitre d'hotel, who ledthe way to a large room with two beds in it, as also a couple of canesofas, several chairs, a table, and, what was of no small consequence, awashhand-stand.
"De best ting messieurs can do will be to get into de bed while I bringdem some dry clothes," said Francois.
Rayner and Oliver requested, howeve
r, that they might be allowed, in thefirst place, to wash their hands and faces.
This done, they jumped into their respective beds, and when once therethey agreed that, if they were not so hungry, they would infinitelyprefer going to sleep to having to get up again and make themselvesagreeable to the ladies. As soon as Francois got possession of theirclothes he hurried away, but shortly returned, bringing with him asupply of linen and silk stockings, and two antiquated court suits.They were, he said, the only costumes which he considered worthy of theEnglish officers, and he begged that they would put them on withoutceremony.
Though not much inclined for merriment just then, they could not helplaughing as they got into the white satin small clothes offered them.They then put on the richly-embroidered waistcoats, which, being verylong, came down over their hips. Their frilled shirts stuck out infront to a considerable distance, but when they came to the coats,Rayner, who had the broadest pair of shoulders, felt considerable fearlest he should split his across, while his hands projected some waybeyond the ruffles which adorned the wrists.
Francois assisted them in the operation of dressing, and after they hadtied their neckcloths, he begged, with a low bow, to fasten on theirswords. When their costumes were complete he stepped back, and surveyedthem with evident satisfaction.
Oliver could not keep his countenance, but laughed heartily for sometime.
"It's just as well to get it over, Rayner," he said; "for otherwise Icould not help bursting out every time I looked at you."
The maitre d'hotel, however, did not appear to think there was anythinglaughable in the appearance of the two Englishmen.
"Oh, messieurs! you are admirable. Let me have the honour of conductingyou to the saloon." Saying this he took up the candles, and withstately step marched before them, until they reached a large room, inthe centre of which was a table spread with a handsome repast.
Madame La Roche, coming in, took the head of the table, and the youngladies, sailing like swans into the room, placed themselves by the sideof their guests, on the strangeness of whose costumes they made not theslightest remark. Rayner and Oliver had become somewhat faint from longfasting, but their spirits quickly revived after they had eaten some ofthe viands placed before them. At first they supposed that the repastwas served up solely on their account, but from the way the girls andtheir mother kept them in countenance, they were satisfied that they hadsimply come in for the family supper.
Rayner talked away, now to the old lady, now to the young one at hisside, while Oliver found that he could converse much more fluently thanhe had supposed.
After a time, however, they found it very difficult to keep their eyesopen, and Rayner heard the old lady remark to her daughters, in pityingaccents, that "Les pauvres garcons much required rest, and that it wouldbe cruel to keep them up longer than was necessary."
She accordingly summoned Francois, who appeared with his hugecandlesticks. Wishing them good-night, the old lady advised them tofollow the maitre d'hotel to their chamber.
They bowed as well as they could, and staggered off, more asleep thanawake.
"We are certainly in clover here," remarked Oliver, as they reachedtheir room; "I question whether we shall be as well treated when wereach Spanish territory; and I propose, if Madame La Roche is willing tokeep us, that we take up our quarters here until Peek is better able totravel than he is now."
"Certainly," answered Rayner, taking off his silk coat and placing hissword on the table. "We'll talk of that to-morrow."
They had not placed their heads on their pillows many seconds beforethey both were fast asleep.
From Powder Monkey to Admiral: A Story of Naval Adventure Page 30
