The Coral Island

by R. M. Ballantyne

  CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

  AN UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY, AND A BOLD, RECKLESS DEFIANCE, WITH ITSCONSEQUENCES--PLANS OF ESCAPE, AND HEROIC RESOLVES.

  When we returned to the shore and related to our friend what had passed,he was greatly distressed, and groaned in spirit; but we had not satlong in conversation when we were interrupted by the arrival of Tararoon the beach, accompanied by a number of followers bearing baskets ofvegetables and fruits on their heads.

  We advanced to meet him, and he expressed, through our interpreter, muchpleasure in seeing us.

  "And what, is it that my friends wish to say to me?" he inquired.

  The teacher explained that we came to beg that Avatea might be spared.

  "Tell him," said Jack, "that I consider that I have a right to ask thisof him, having not only saved the girl's life, but the lives of his ownpeople also; and say that I wish her to be allowed to follow her ownwishes, and join the Christians."

  While this was being translated the chief's brow lowered, and we couldsee plainly that our request met with no favourable reception. Hereplied with considerable energy and at some length.

  "What says he?" inquired Jack.

  "I regret to say that he will not listen to the proposal. He says hehas pledged his word to his friend that the girl shall be sent to him,and a deputy even now on this island awaiting the fulfilment of thepledge."

  Jack bit his lip in suppressed anger. "Tell Tararo," he exclaimed witha flashing eye, "that if he does not grant my demand it will be worsefor him. Say I have a big gun on board my schooner that will blow hisvillage into the sea if he does not give up the girl."

  "Nay, my friend," said the teacher gently, "I will not tell him that.We must `overcome evil with good.'"

  "What does my friend say?" inquired the chief, who seemed nettled byJack's looks of defiance.

  "He is displeased," replied the teacher.

  Tararo turned away with a smile of contempt, and walked towards the menwho carried the baskets of vegetables, and who had now emptied the wholeon the beach in an enormous pile.

  "What are they doing there?" I inquired.

  "I think that they are laying out a gift which they intend to present tosome one," said the teacher.

  At this moment a couple of men appeared, leading a young girl betweenthem, and going towards the heap of fruits and vegetables, placed her ontop of it. We started with surprise and fear, for in the young femalebefore us we recognised the Samoan girl, Avatea.

  We stood rooted to the earth with surprise and thick-coming fears.

  "Oh my dear young friend!" whispered the teacher in a voice of deepemotion; while he seized Jack by the arm, "she is to be made a sacrificeeven now!"

  "Is she?" cried Jack with a vehement shout, spurning the teacher aside,and dashing over two natives who stood in his way, while he rushedtowards the heap, sprang up its side, and seized Avatea by the arm. Inanother moment he dragged her down, placed her back to a large tree, andwrenching a war-club from the hand of a native who seemed powerless andpetrified with surprise, whirled it above his head, and yelled, ratherthan shouted, while his face blazed with fury, "Come on, the wholenation of you, an ye like it, and do your worst!"

  It seemed as though the challenge had been literally accepted; for everysavage on the ground ran precipitately at Jack with club and spear, anddoubtless would speedily have poured out his brave blood on the sod hadnot the teacher rushed in between them, and raising his voice to itsutmost, cried:

  "Stay your hands, warriors! It is not your part to judge in thismatter! It is for Tararo, the chief, to say whether or not the youngman shall live or die!"

  The natives were arrested; and I know not whether it was the gratifyingacknowledgment of his superiority thus made by the teacher, or somelingering feeling of gratitude for Jack's former aid in time of need,that influenced Tararo, but he stepped forward, and waving his hand,said to his people, "Desist. The young man's life is mine." Thenturning to Jack, he said, "You have forfeited your liberty and life tome. Submit yourself, for we are more numerous than the sand upon theshore. You are but one: why should you die?"

  "Villain!" exclaimed Jack passionately. "I may die, but assuredly Ishall not perish alone! I will not submit until you promise that thisgirl shall not be injured!"

  "You are very bold," replied the chief haughtily, "but very foolish.Yet I will say that Avatea shall not be sent away--at least, for threedays."

  "You had better accept these terms," whispered the teacher entreatingly."If you persist in this mad defiance, you will be slain and Avatea willbe lost. Three days are worth having."

  Jack hesitated a moment, then lowered his club, and throwing it moodilyto the ground, crossed his arms on his breast and hung down his head insilence.

  Tararo seemed pleased by his submission, and told the teacher to saythat he did not forget his former services, and therefore would leavehim free as to his person, but that the schooner would be detained tillhe had further considered the matter.

  While the teacher translated this, he approached as near to where Avateawas standing as possible without creating suspicion, and whispered toher a few words in the native language. Avatea, who, during the wholeof the foregoing scene, had stood leaning against the tree perfectlypassive, and seemingly quite uninterested in all that was going on,replied by a single rapid glance of her dark eye, which was instantlycast down again on the ground at her feet.

  Tararo now advanced, and taking the girl by the hand, led herunresistingly away; while Jack, Peterkin, and I returned with theteacher on board the schooner.

  On reaching the deck we went down to the cabin, where Jack threwhimself, in a state of great dejection, on a couch; but the teacherseated himself by his side, and laying his hand upon his shoulder, said:

  "Do not give way to anger, my young friend. God has given us threedays, and we must use the means that are in our power to free this poorgirl from slavery. We must not sit in idle disappointment; we mustact--"

  "Act!" cried Jack, raising himself and tossing back his hair wildly."It is mockery to talk of acting when one is bound hand and foot. Howcan I act? I cannot fight a whole nation of savages single-handed.Yes," he said with a bitter smile, "I _can_ fight them; but I cannotconquer them, or save Avatea."

  "Patience, my friend: your spirit is not a good one just now. Youcannot expect that blessing which alone can ensure success unless youare more submissive. I will tell you my plans if you will listen."

  "Listen!" cried Jack eagerly. "Of course I will, my good fellow! I didnot know you had any plans. Out with them! I only hope you will showme how I can get the girl on board of this schooner, and I'd up anchorand away in no time. But proceed with your plans."

  The teacher smiled sadly. "Ah, my friend, if one fathom of youranchor-chain were to rattle as you drew it in, a thousand warriors wouldbe standing on your deck! No, no; that could not be done. Even nowyour ship would be taken from you were it not that Tararo has somefeeling of gratitude towards you. But I know Tararo well. He is a manof falsehood, as all the unconverted savages are. The chief to whom hehas promised this girl is very powerful, and Tararo _must_ fulfil hispromise. He has told you that he would do nothing to the girl for threedays, but that is because the party who are to take her away will not beready to start for three days. Still, as he might have made you aprisoner during those three days, I say that God has given them to us."

  "Well, but what do you propose to do?" said Jack impatiently.

  "My plan involves much danger; but I see no other, and I think you havecourage to brave it. It is this. There is an island about fifty milesto the south of this, the natives of which are Christians, and have beenso for two years or more, and the principal chief is Avatea's lover.Once there, Avatea would be safe. Now, I suggest that you shouldabandon your schooner. Do you think that you can make so great asacrifice?"

  "Friend," replied Jack, "when I make up my mind to go through with athing of importance, I can make any sacrifice
."

  The teacher smiled. "Well, then, the savages could not conceive itpossible that for the sake of a girl you would voluntarily lose yourfine vessel; therefore, as long as she lies here, they think they haveyou all safe. So I suggest that we get a quantity of stores conveyed toa sequestered part of the shore, provide a small canoe, put Avatea onboard, and you three would paddle to the Christian island."

  "Bravo!" cried Peterkin, springing up and seizing the teacher's hand."Missionary, you're a regular brick! I didn't think you had so much inyou!"

  "As for me," continued the teacher, "I will remain on board till theydiscover that you are gone. Then they will ask me where you are goneto, and I will refuse to tell."

  "And what'll be the result of that?" inquired Jack.

  "I know not. Perhaps they will kill me; but," he added, looking at Jackwith a peculiar smile, "I too am not afraid to die in a good cause!"

  "But how are we to get hold of Avatea?" inquired Jack.

  "I have arranged with her to meet us at a particular spot, to which Iwill guide you to-night. We shall then arrange about it. She willeasily manage to elude her keepers, who are not very strict in watchingher, thinking it impossible that she could escape from the island.Indeed, I am sure that such an idea will never enter their heads. But,as I have said, you run great danger. Fifty miles in a small canoe, onthe open sea, is a great voyage to make. You may miss the island, too,in which case there is no other in that direction for a hundred miles ormore; and if you lose your way and fall among other heathens, you knowthe law of Feejee--a castaway who gains the shore is doomed to die. Youmust count the cost, my young friend."

  "I have counted it," replied Jack. "If Avatea consents to run the risk,most certainly I will; and so will my comrades also. Besides," addedJack, looking seriously into the teacher's face, "your Bible--ourBible--tells of ONE who delivers those who call on Him in the time oftrouble; who holds the winds in His fists, and the waters in the hollowof His hand."

  We now set about active preparations for the intended voyage: collectedtogether such things as we should require, and laid out on the deckprovisions sufficient to maintain us for several weeks, purposing toload the canoe with as much as she could hold consistently with speedand safety. These we covered with a tarpaulin, intending to convey themto the canoe only a few hours before starting. When night spread hersable curtain over the scene, we prepared to land; but first kneelingalong with the natives and the teacher, the latter implored a blessingon our enterprise. Then we rowed quietly to the shore and followed oursable guide, who led us by a long detour in order to avoid the village,to the place of rendezvous. We had not stood more than five minutesunder the gloomy shade of the thick foliage when a dark figure glidednoiselessly up to us.

  "Ah, here you are!" said Jack as Avatea approached.--"Now, then, tellher what we've come about, and don't waste time."

  "I understan' leetl' English," said Avatea in a low voice.

  "Why, where did you pick up English?" exclaimed Jack in amazement. "Youwere dumb as a stone when I saw you last."

  "She has learned all she knows of it from me," said the teacher, "sinceshe came to the island."

  We now gave Avatea a full explanation of our plans, entering into allthe details, and concealing none of the danger, so that she might befully aware of the risk she ran. As we had anticipated, she was tooglad of the opportunity thus afforded her to escape from her persecutorsto think of the danger or risk.

  "Then you're willing to go with us, are you?" said Jack.

  "Yis, I willing to go."

  "And you're not afraid to trust yourself out on the deep sea so far?"

  "No, I not 'fraid to go. Safe with Christian."

  After some further consultation the teacher suggested that it was timeto return, so we bade Avatea good-night; and having appointed to meet atthe cliff where the canoe lay on the following night, just after dark,we hastened away--we to row back to the schooner with muffled oars,Avatea to glide back to her prison-hut among the Mango savages.