Alone on an Island

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER SEVEN.

  Three years had passed away since Humphry landed on the island. He wasstartled one calm day, when fishing from a rock in the bay as he caughtsight of his own countenance in the water, to observe how changed he hadbecome. Instead of the laughing, careless, broadly-built boy with theruddy face, which he once was, he had grown into a tall, thin young man,with a sunburnt countenance, its expression grave and thoughtful. Hewas not melancholy, however, nor did he ever feel out of spirits; but hehad of course been thrown back on himself, while his mind was constantlyoccupied. He had but one book to read, but that book, above all price,had given him ample subjects for reflection. "What should I have donewithout this?" he often said to himself, as he opened the book with aprayer that what he was about to read might enlighten his mind.

  "I have heard people talk of reading their Bibles, but though I haveread nothing but my Testament for three years, I every day findsomething fresh and interesting in it."

  He had often made excursions to the top of the hill, whence he couldobtain a view over the surrounding ocean.

  It had been raining heavily during the previous day. No seals were tobe caught on shore, nor fish in the water. Taking his gun, he set off,intending to go over the hill to get a shot at some wild-fowl. The windhad greatly increased; and wishing to obtain a view of the ocean withits huge foam-covered billows rolling around, he climbed to the top ofthe hill. As he reached it, his eye fell on a ship driving before thegale towards the rocky shore. Two of her masts were gone; the thirdfell while he was looking at her. Nothing could now save her fromdestruction, for even should her anchors be let go, they were not likelyto hold for a moment. He considered whether he could render anyassistance to the unhappy people on board. Too truly he feared that hecould be of no use. Still he would do his best. Hurrying home, heprocured the only rope he possessed, and a spar, and with these on hisshoulder he hastened towards the spot at which, considering thedirection the ship was driving, he thought she would strike the shore.He had scarcely reached it when he saw the ship driving on towards himon a mountain sea. The next instant down she came, crashing on a reefof rocks far away from where he stood, the foaming sea dashing over her.Several poor wretches were carried off the deck, now driven towardshim, but directly afterwards carried back by the retiring surf. Hecould distinguish but one alone still clinging to a portion of thewreck, all the others had in a few minutes disappeared. As long as thatman remained, he could not tear himself from the spot.

  Several hours passed by; still the man clung on, having secured himselfapparently by a lashing. The storm seemed to be abating. Humphry tookoff his shirt, and fastening it to the end of a spar, waved it, to showthe shipwrecked seaman that help was at hand if he could reach theshore. It was observed at length. The man, casting off the lashings,lowered himself into the water, and struck out for land. Humphryprepared his rope. Fixing the spar deep in the sand, and securing oneend of the rope to it, he stood ready to plunge in, with the other endround his waist, to drag the man on shore should he get within hisreach. How anxiously he watched! Nearer and nearer the man came. Nowhe was seen floating on his back, now he struck out again. A searolling in bore him on, but as it receded it threatened to carry him offonce more. Now was the moment. Humphry dashed into the surf. Theman's strength had almost failed when Humphry grasped him, and haulinghimself up by the rope dragged the man out of the surf, sinking downexhausted by his side the instant he was out of its reach.

  Humphry was the first to recover.

  "If you are strong enough to accompany me to the other side of theisland, friend, where I have my home, we will set off at once; but ifnot, I will go back and get some food for you," he said.

  "I shall soon be better," answered the man. "I think I could walk.Have you a companion with you?"

  "No," answered Humphry, surprised at the question; "I am all alone."

  "That's strange! What, isn't there a young lad somewhere about theisland?"

  "No," said Humphry. "I have been here three years and have seen nohuman being."

  The man gazed into his countenance with a look of astonishment.

  "What is your name, then?" he asked.

  Humphry mentioned it.

  "You Mr Gurton!" he cried, pressing his hand. "I suppose it must be;and don't you know me?"

  Humphry looked into the man's face. It was covered with a thick beard,and his tangled hair hung over his shoulders.

  "You must be Ned Hadow; yet I should not have known you more than youknow me. I am indeed thankful that you have been saved. But where haveyou been all the time?"

  "Greater part of it living on shore," answered Ned. "After we landedyou, we took three or four prizes; but not being able to navigate theship, we put into a convenient harbour in an island inhabited bysavages. There we remained, living among them much as they did.Several of our men were killed; and at last, finding that the savagesintended to cut us all off, we put to sea again. We had been knockingabout for some time, and used up all our provisions, when we fell inwith the gale which drove the ship on yonder rocks."

  Ned insisted that he could walk across the island, and with Humphry'shelp he was able to accomplish the journey, though nearly exhausted atthe end of it. Humphry then made him lie down in his bed, while heprepared some soup and other food. Next day Ned somewhat recovered; andin the course of a week, owing to Humphry's constant attention, helooked more like his former self.

  "It's very dreadful to think that all the others have perished, but I amtruly thankful that you have been sent to be my companion," saidHumphry. "You little thought when you acted so kindly towards me bysaving my life, and getting me put on shore here, that I should ever inany way be able to repay you."

  "I did not, Mr Gurton; but I feel that I am such a worthless fellowthat my life was not worth preserving."

  "We are all worthless, Ned: that's what the book I read every day tellsme, and I am convinced of it when I look into my own heart, and know howpeople in the world are generally acting."

  "What! have you got that book still, Mr Gurton?" asked Ned.

  "Yes, indeed I have, and I shall be glad to read it to you, Ned," saidHumphry.

  "I shall like to hear it, sir, for I have not heard anything like a goodword since you used to read it to me when I was sick. I had almostforgotten there is a God in heaven. I remembered that, however, when Iwas clinging to the wreck, and expecting every moment to be in Hispresence."

  "It's the best thing to read God's Word, and to be guided by it, when weexpect to live. I hope you may be spared many years, even though wenever get away from this island, and that book will serve us better thanany other companion who could join us."

  Humphry, instead now of reading his Testament to himself, read it dailyto Ned, and even while they were at work he used to repeat portions hehad learned by heart.

  Though Ned could not read, he gained in time a good knowledge of thebook, and his dark soul by degrees becoming enlightened, he understoodclearly at length God's plan of salvation, and cheerfully accepted it.

  "You see, Ned, all things are ordered for the best," said Humphry oneday, "and you must be convinced that God loves us, however little we mayhave loved Him. If I had remained on board the privateer, I should havebecome, as I was fast doing, like the rest of the unhappy crew. ThoughI thought it very dreadful to be left all alone on the island, I nowfeel that it has been the greatest blessing to me. God in His mercyalso saved you, though you would have preferred remaining among thesavages. Now you are happy in knowing the glorious truth that the bloodof Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin; and though we may both of uswish to be once more among our fellow-men, we can live contentedly heretill He thinks fit to call us out of this life."

  "I hope He may take me before any ship comes to the island, for if Ionce fell among the sort of men I have lived with all my life, I shouldsoon again be as bad as they are," said Ned with a sigh.

  "Not if you sought help and protection from
God's Holy Spirit," answeredHumphry, "and prayed that He would keep you out of temptation."

  Ned was surprised to find how much Humphry had done during the time hehad been alone on the island. He assisted him in all his undertakings,and they together caught enough seals to fill another large storehouse.

  At last, after two years had thus passed away, Ned, who had been fishingdown the harbour, came hurrying back. His countenance was grave, and helooked much agitated.

  "I have been watching a vessel standing in for the island. She has hoveto, and is sending a boat on shore. The time has come, Mr Gurton, whenwe must part. I dare not go back into the world, and have made up mymind to remain here. You are young, and have many years before you, andI would advise you to go, and all I ask is that you will think of me andpray for me."

  This announcement made Humphry even more agitated than Ned. He hurriedto the spot where the boat could be seen.

  She made her way up the harbour. Humphry and his companion went down tomeet her. An officer-like looking man stepped on shore, accompanied byanother in dark clothes. They seemed much surprised at seeing Humphryand Ned.

  "What! are you Englishmen?" asked one of the strangers. "We onlydiscovered the island this morning, and had no expectation of finding itinhabited."

  Humphry explained that they were the only inhabitants; that he had beenleft there some years before, and, pointing to Ned, said, "This man wasafterwards wrecked on the coast, and he alone was saved from his ship."

  "I am Captain Summers of the _Hope_, now lying in the offing. Thisgentleman is the Reverend Mr Evans, a missionary, whom I am conveyingto an island where he is about to settle. What is your name?" asked theofficer.

  Humphry told him.

  "And my name is Tom Martin," said Ned coming forward, greatly toHumphry's surprise.

  "Well, my friends, it seems but a barren island. I wonder how you havemanaged to live here so long."

  Humphry briefly explained the various means by which he had procuredfood, and leading the way to the garden, showed them the perfectcultivation into which it had been brought. He then invited CaptainSummers and Mr Evans into his hut. His Testament lay open on thetable. The latter took it up, observing--

  "I am glad to see, my young friend, that you have not been deprived ofGod's Word during your long stay here."

  "It has indeed been my great solace and delight," answered Humphry."Without it I should have been miserable."

  "Well, my friends, I shall be most happy to receive you both on board myship; and as I hope to sail for England in the course of a few months,you will then be able to return home."

  Humphry thanked the captain for his offer, which he gladly accepted.Ned looked very grave.

  "I am much obliged to you, sir," he said, "and though I shall be sorryto part from Mr Gurton, I am very sure that I had better stay where Iam till God thinks fit to call me from this world. I have lived toolong among savages, and worse than savages, to go back again and livewith civilised people. If Mr Gurton will leave me his Testament, whichhe has taught me to read, and his gun and harpoons, it's all I ask."

  "No, my friend," observed Mr Evans, "man is not made to live alone.If, as I hope from what you say, you have learned to love Jesus Christ,you should try to serve Him, and endeavour to do good among yourfellow-creatures. Now, as I am going to settle in an island inhabitedby savages, I shall be very glad of your assistance, and if you alreadyunderstand their language, which I have to learn, you may speak to them,and tell them of Him who died for them, that they may be reconciled toHim. You will thus be showing your love for Him far more than by livinga life of solitude, even although you spend your days in reading HisWord. Remember it is not only those who hear the Word of God, but thosewho hear and do it, who are His disciples."

  "You are right, sir," exclaimed Ned, brightening up. "My only fear if Ileft this was to find myself among those who would lead me back into badways, but I will gladly go with you--that I will, sir."

  As the captain was anxious to see the island, Humphry undertook to guidehim and Mr Evans to the top of the hill, whence they could obtain aview over the whole of it. Before setting out, Humphry showed them thestore of seal-skins.

  "I shall be sorry to leave these behind," he observed, "and if you canreceive them on board, they will assist to pay my passage."

  "As to that, my friend," answered the captain, "I will very gladly sendmy boats to take them off, and you shall pay freight for them; but you,I am very sure, will be able to work your passage, and I hope you willfind they will sell for some hundred pounds in England."

  "Part of them belong to my companion," observed Humphry.

  "No, no, Mr Gurton," said Ned. "They are all yours. Not a shilling oftheir value will I touch, except enough to give me a new rig-out, as Iam not fit to accompany Mr Evans in these tattered old clothes ofmine."

  "Set your mind at rest about that," said the captain. "You shall bewelcome to a thorough fit out, suitable for the task you are about toundertake, and your friend Mr Gurton will require the money more thanyou will."

  Captain Summers, according to his promise, loaded his own boat withseal-skins, and sent her off to the ship with orders for the long-boatto come ashore and carry off the remainder. Meantime he and Mr Evanspaid their intended visit to the hill-top.

  On their return Humphry took the first opportunity of drawing Ned aside,and asking why he had not given his right name.

  "I did give my right name, Mr Gurton," he answered. "Ned Hadow wasmerely a purser's name which I took when I entered on board the _Wolf_,because you see, sir, I had run from a man-of-war. Now I know better, Iwould only tell the truth; and so, please, call me Tom Martin in future,and I am ready to stand the consequences."

  Humphry and his companion were kindly received on board the _Hope_, whenthe good captain supplied them with new suits of clothes, which theyindeed much required.

  The _Hope_ continued her voyage.

  How different was the life led on board her to that on board the _Wolf_!Captain Summers and his officers were Christian men. The crew werekindly treated; not an oath escaped the lips of any of the men, whileall did their duty with cheerfulness and alacrity.

  The voyage was prosperous. At the end of three weeks the _Hope_ droppedher anchor in the harbour of a fine island where Mr Evans was toremain.

  A native missionary, who had been sent there a year before, came off toreceive him, and brought him the satisfactory intelligence that a largenumber of the natives were anxiously looking out for his arrival.

  Some days were spent in landing his property, and assisting him inputting up his house, while an abundance of fresh provisions was broughtoff by the natives to the ship.

  Humphry parted from his old friend with the less regret from feelingsure that he would be well occupied, and free from the temptations hedreaded.

  "We shall meet again, I trust, as Captain Summers has offered me a berthas third mate of the _Hope_ on her next voyage, which he expects to maketo these seas," said Humphry, as he bade him farewell.

  "If we don't meet here, we shall in another world, sir. And bless you,Mr Gurton, for pointing out to me the way to it," said Tom, as he wrungHumphry's hand, and tears burst from his eyes.

  The _Hope_ had a prosperous voyage home, during which Humphry did hisutmost to fit himself for the duty he was to undertake. He had no tiesin England, so he gladly again sailed in the _Hope_. Captain Summershaving sold the seal-skins for a good price, judiciously invested theproceeds for him.

  Humphry had the satisfaction of meeting his old friend Ned, or ratherMr Martin, as he was now called, and of finding that he had been of thegreatest service to Mr Evans. He never returned to England, but diedat his post, labouring to the last in spreading the gospel among thenatives.

  Humphry won the regard of Captain Summers by his steadiness and goodconduct, and at the end of his third voyage he married his daughter, andsoon afterwards obtained the command of a ship. When at length he wasable to q
uit the sea and live on shore, he often used to relate to hischildren, among his many adventures, how he spent five years of his lifealone on an island.

  THE END.