Donalblane of Darien
Page 7
CHAPTER VII.
THE FOUNDING OF THE CITY OF DARIEN.
Whether the buccaneers went off for reinforcements, or simply withdrewsadder and wiser, if not better, men, cannot be said. They certainlydisappeared before sunset, and no more was ever seen of them. For onceat least the blood-stained Brethren of the Coast had met more thantheir match, and been foiled in their villainous work.
Having repaired the damage done to the spars and rigging, the _BonnieScotland_ continued her course, and on the first day of November camein sight of the long-desired Golden Island--the goal of their hopes,the end of their weary voyage.
Wonderfully refreshing was the sight to the delighted eyes of theexpedition, sick of the monotonous sea. Clothed with rich green sward,from which rose lofty trees laden with fruit, and surrounded by stillwaters of crystalline purity, this island stood forth like a beautifulspecimen of the vast regions beyond, which it was hoped were some dayto become a province of Scotland.
Donalblane's freckled face glowed with joy. "Eh, but it's bonnie--it'sverra bonnie!" he exclaimed, grasping Mr. Sutherland's arm. "There'snaethin' like that in Scotland."
"No, indeed, Donald," responded Mr. Sutherland, smiling at the boy'senthusiasm. "It's very different from Scotland, and far morebeautiful; and if its fulfilment only equals its promise we shall havedone well to come here."
By a clever bit of strategy Donalblane managed to get into the firstboat that left the ship, and, curled up in the bow, waited until theytouched ground, when he sprang out, recking naught of wet feet so longas he was really the first one of the expedition to set foot on the NewWorld.
"Hurrah!" he shouted, waving his cap as he raced up the beach. "Comealong and see the land!"
There were plenty to follow his example, and before long the littleisland which lay at the mouth of the Golden River had been pretty wellexplored.
It was indeed a lovely spot, but it did not afford the good harbour orthe natural facilities for defence which were necessary for thepermanent establishment of the expedition. Mr. Paterson, however,thought it best for the _Bonnie Scotland_ to remain there until theother ships put in an appearance. This they did in the course of thenext few weeks, one at a time straggling in, each with its own tale ofstorm and stress, of baffling winds and disheartening calms, but noneof them having shared the _Bonnie Scotland's_ experience with thebuccaneers.
After all had been rested and refreshed, Mr. Paterson, who had wellemployed the interval of waiting by exploring the surrounding region,Donalblane being usually permitted to accompany him, announced that hehad decided upon the site of the city whose foundations they were tolay, and under his directions the little fleet moved thither.
The spot was so admirably adapted for their purpose that it seemed asif it had been destined by nature. About a cannon-shot southward fromthe Golden Island a peninsula, having a deep harbour at its extremity,stretched out into the sea. The outer arm of the harbour was lofty andcommanding, affording protection to the water within. The other armwas low, and well fitted for the construction of forts and otherdefences; while between the two lay a wide, calm, sheltered bay capableof containing all the fleets of Europe.
The shores of the bay were of bright yellow sand that suggested gold tothe eager eyes of the new settlers; and the waters were so clear thatfull five fathoms deep you could see the shells and coral fragments asthrough the purest glass. In many places mangroves dropped into thepellucid water, their boughs laden with a strange kind of fruit, forthey bore oysters that were good to eat. Beyond the golden beach rosestately palms interspersed with orange and other fruit trees, and hereand there spread rich savannahs ready for homes to be built upon them.
It seemed an earthly paradise indeed, and Donalblane expressed thefeelings of the rest when he exclaimed in his characteristic way--
"Here we've come and here we'll bide, for there can surely be nobonnier place on all the earth!"
Only one member of the entire expedition had any knowledge of thecountry. This was William Paterson, the founder of the expedition; andso at the outset all his counsel and directions were unquestioninglyobeyed.
When, just before sunset, the ships came to anchor in the nobleharbour, and with utmost haste the boats were filled and urged ashore,Mr. Paterson was the first to land. His first action was to fall onhis knees and offer up fervent thanksgiving for their safe arrival.Each Scotsman as he landed followed his example, until the wholeexpedition formed one great congregation worshipping upon that shorewhich had never before heard the name of God.
Their prayer ended, they rose and embraced one another in the impulseof mutual congratulation. Every heart beat high with hope; and thatnight there was not a single member of the party who was troubled bythe slightest doubt as to the success of their great undertaking.
They had arrived in the very best season of the year, it being thespringtime of that climate, when Nature was at her best in every way,and they made haste to get out of their cramped quarters on shipboardand put up temporary huts and tents in the shade of the trees in whichthey could live until permanent homes were built.
Donalblane was immensely happy. He had no hut to build. He couldsleep on the ship or ashore just according to his fancy, so he was agentleman of leisure, and he thoroughly enjoyed himself exploring thewonderful New World.
By common consent the settlers took holiday at first. They hunted thewild boar in the depths of the forest; they fished in the neighbouringstreams and surrounding seas; they threaded the woods, where almostevery bough bore some kind of fruit with which they were glad to makeacquaintance.
Then they turned their attention to work, and, after huts had beenprovided for all, a fort was built commanding the harbour, andthreescore guns, taken from the ships, mounted upon its battlements.Their next proceeding was to cut a canal across the isthmus, therebyrendering their peninsula an island; and having named the fort St.Andrews, and the surrounding region Caledonia, they began to feel moreat home.
While they were thus occupied, and everything seemed to be going onsmoothly and prosperously, Mr. Paterson thought it well to make ajourney into the interior in order to open up friendly relations withthe natives, and by effecting treaties with them to secure a propertitle to the land upon which the expedition had settled. Heaccordingly made up a party for this purpose.
It included Mr. Sutherland, and he was thoughtful enough to letDonalblane know of the project.
"Ay; but I'd like fine to be going with you," said the boy, his facefull of eagerness. "Can ye no' tak me?"
"It's not for me to say, Donald," replied Mr. Sutherland kindly; "butsuppose you have a word with Mr. Paterson? We're starting in themorning."
Donalblane needed no second hint. He set off at once in search of Mr.Paterson, and, happening to find him disengaged, promptly proffered hisrequest.
"Can I gang wi' you to-morrow?" he said, fixing his big grey eyes uponhim, his whole frame trembling with the eagerness that possessed him.
Mr. Paterson woke from the reverie in which he had been lost, and,regarding Donalblane with a half-puzzled, half-amused smile, asked--
"To-morrow? Where?"
"I dinna ken, sir," was the odd response. "But wherever ye're goingyersel'. Away off yonder," he added, pointing inland, where, in theremote distance, a range of mountains, blue and vague, enclosed thehorizon. Mr. Paterson now fully understood him.
"And why do you want to go with me, Donald? Are you not content here?"he inquired in the gentle, winning tone that was one of his manypersonal charms.
"Ay, to be sure," responded the boy heartily. "But you're ganging tosee the Indians, and I'd like fine to see them too."
Mr. Paterson laughed at this frank confession of curiosity, and thenwas silent for a brief space while he seemed lost in thought.
Donalblane, thrilling with anxiety, kicked a hole in the turf as hewaited.
"I think you may come with us, Donald," said Mr. Paterson presently,laying his hand upon the other's shoul
der. "But you must be a verygood boy, and do just what you are told."
"You may be sure I'll do that!" cried Donalblane, giving a jump ofdelight. "Mony thanks, sir, for your kindness."
Thus it was settled to Donalblane's satisfaction, but to the great envyof others who would have liked to be in his place.
Bright and early the following morning the party set forth. Itcomprised twelve of the Scots all fully armed, and half as many ofnatives whose friendship had been already secured; these latter servingin the double capacity of guides and bearers of the presents intendedto be given to the Indian chieftains. They were all in high spirits,the hard work of founding St. Andrews having made a holiday verywelcome, while the novelty and interest of the trip certainly promisedto be sufficient to satisfy the most enterprising.
Mr. Sutherland kindly took Donalblane as his companion, and theytrudged along together, their attention alert for everything in naturethat was strange or beautiful. For the most part their route laythrough shadowy forests, into whose dim recesses the hot rays of thesun never penetrated, with here and there a grassy glade that broughtthem into sunlight again. They travelled at a leisurely pace and inshort stages, as they were not pressed for time, and Donalblane enjoyedevery moment. He was as happy as a hummingbird.