by Jules Verne
In ten minutes the boys were through the wood, which grew thicker where the rocks at the back rose like a wall for a hundred and eighty feet. Was there in this wall any break or hollow which would afford them a refuge? A cave sheltered from the winds of the sea by the curtain of trees, and beyond the reach of the sea even in storms would be the very place for the boys to take up as their quarters until a careful exploration enabled them to move further inland.
Unluckily the wall was as bare of irregularity as the curtain of a fortification. There was no cave, nor was there any place where the cliff could be climbed. To reach the interior the shore would have to be followed till the cliff ended.
For half an hour Briant and his companion kept on to the southward along the foot of the cliff, and then they reached the right bank of the stream, which came meandering in from the east. On the right bank they stood under the shade of the lofty trees; but the left bank bordered a country of very different aspect; flat and verdureless, it looked like a wide marsh extending to the southern horizon. Disappointed in their hope of reaching the top of the cliff where they might have had a view of many miles over the country, the boys returned to the wreck.
Donagan and a few others were strolling among the rocks, while Jenkins, Iverson, Dole and Costar were amusing themselves by collecting shellfish. The explorers reported the result of their journey. Until a more distant expedition could be undertaken, it seemed best not to abandon the wreck, which, although stove in below and heeling considerably, would do very well as a temporary dwelling-place. The deck had been half torn up forward, but the saloons yielded ample shelter against a storm. The galley had not been damaged at all, to the very great satisfaction of the smaller boys. It was lucky for them that the things had not had to be carried from the wreck to the shore. If the schooner had remained in her first position on the reef, it is difficult to see how the many useful articles could have been saved. The sea would soon have broken up the wreck, and provisions, weapons, clothes, bedding, and cooking traps would have been scattered in confusion on the beach. Fortunately the schooner had been swept on to the sand, in such a state, it is true, that she would never float again, but still habitable, at least for a time. Before she became useless as a dwelling the boys might hope to find some town or village, or, if the island was a desert one, some cave in the rocks which they might make their home.
That very day they set to work to make the schooner comfortable. A rope-ladder on the starboard side gave easy access to the beach. Moko, who as a cabin-boy knew something of cooking, took charge of the galley, and, helped by Service, proceeded to cook a meal which, thanks to excellent appetite, gave general satisfaction; and even Jenkins, Iverson, Dole and Costar became quite lively. Jack alone continued miserable; his character seemed to have quite changed; but to all his companions said to him on the subject he gave evasive replies.
Thoroughly tired out after so many days and nights of danger, the need of a good sound sleep was apparent to all. The youngsters were the first to find their way to the saloon, and the others soon followed. Briant, Gordon and Donagan took it in turns to keep watch. Might not some wild beasts put in an appearance? Or even a band of natives, who would be more formidable? But neither came. The night passed without an alarm of any kind; and when the sun rose the boys joined in prayer to God for their deliverance from peril, and started on such work as was necessary.
The first thing was to make a list of the provisions, and then of the weapons, instruments, utensils, clothes, tools, &c. The food question was serious, for it seemed they were in a desert land. They would have to trust to fishing and shooting, if anything remained to be shot. Donagan, who was a capital shot, had seen nothing yet but the birds on the reef and beach. But to be reduced to feeding on sea-birds was not a pleasant prospect, and it was desirable to know how long the schooner’s provisions would last if managed with care.
It was found that except the biscuits, of which there was a large store, the preserves, hams, meat biscuits—made of flour, minced pork, and spice—corned beef, salt beef, and sea stores generally, could not last longer than two months, so that from the very first they must have recourse to the productions of the country, and keep the provisions in case they had to journey some hundreds of miles to reach a port on the coast or a town in the interior.
‘Suppose some of these things have been damaged?’ asked Baxter. ‘If the sea-water got into the hold—’
‘That we shall see when we open the cases that look as though they had been knocked about,’ said Gordon. ‘If we were to cook them up again, they might do.’
‘I’ll look after that,’ said Moko.
‘The sooner the better,’ said Briant, ‘for the first day or two we shall have to live entirely on these things.’
‘And why shouldn’t we start to-day?’ asked Wilcox, ‘and see if we cannot find some more eggs among those rocks to the northward?’
‘Yes! that’s it!’ said Dole.
‘And why shouldn’t we go fishing?’ asked Webb. ‘Are there not any fishing-lines on board? Who’ll go fishing?’
‘I will! I will!’ said the youngsters.
‘All right,’ said Briant. ‘But no playing about; we only give the lines to those who mean business.’
‘Don’t get excited,’ said Iverson. ‘We will be as steady as—’
‘But look here,’ said Gordon; ‘we must first make a list of what there is on board. We have other things to think of besides what there is to eat.’
‘You can go and get a few oysters for lunch,’ said Service.
‘Ah! that I’ll do,’ said Gordon. ‘Off you go in twos and threes; and, Moko, you go with them.
The negro could be trusted. He was willing, clever, and plucky, and would probably be of great use. He was particularly attached to Briant, who did not conceal his liking for him.
‘Come on!’ said Jenkins.
‘Are you not going with them, Jack?’ asked Briant
Jack replied in the negative.
Jenkins, Dole, Costar, and Iverson then went off in charge of Moko, and scrambled up on to the reef which the sea had just left dry. In the cracks and crannies they might perchance come across many mollusks, mussels, clams, and even oysters, which, either raw or cooked, would form a welcome reinforcement. Away they went running and jumping, and evidently looking on the expedition as one of pleasure rather than work; at their age they remembered little of the trials they had passed through, and thought less of the dangers to come.
As soon as they had gone the elder boys began their search on the yacht. Donagan, Cross, Wilcox, and Webb devoted themselves to the weapons, ammunition, clothes, bedding, tools, and utensils, while Briant, Garnett, Baxter, and Service took stock of the drinkables. As each article was called out Gordon entered it in his note-book.
It was found that the yacht had a complete set of spare sails and rigging of all sorts, cordage, cables, hawsers, &c., and if she could have been got afloat again could have been completely refitted. But these best quality sails and new cordage would never again be used on the sea; they would come in useful in other ways. A few fishing appliances, hand-lines, and deep-sea-lines figured in the inventory, and very valuable they would be, for fish was abundant.
The list of weapons in the note-book gave eight central-fire fowling-pieces, a long-range duck-gun, and twelve revolvers for ammunition there were 300 cartridges for the breech-loaders, two barrels of gunpowder, each of twenty-five pounds, and a large quantity of lead, small shot and bullets. This ammunition, intended to be used on the New Zealand coast at the places the yacht put in at, would come in more useful for the general security. The storeroom also contained a few rockets for night signalling, and thirty cartridges and projectiles for the two small cannons on board, which it was hoped would not have to be used in repulsing a native attack.
The cooking utensils, and such like, were enough, even if the stay was to be a lengthy one. Though a good deal of the crockery had been smashed when the yacht ran ashore on th
e reef, yet enough remained at the service of the table. And these things were not absolutely necessary. There were more valuable things, such as garments of flannel, cloth, cotton and linen in sufficient quantity to give a change for each change of climate. And if the land was in the same latitude as Auckland, which was likely, as the vessel had run before a westerly wind all the time, the boys might expect a hot summer and very cold winter. Fortunately there were on board a whole heap of clothes ready for an excursion of many weeks. In the seamen’s chests there were trousers, linen frocks, waterproof coats, and thick jerseys, that could be made to fit big or little, and enable them to defy the rigours of the winter. If circumstances obliged them to abandon the schooner, each could take away with him a complete set of bedding, for the bunks were well supplied with mattresses, sheets, blankets, pillows, and quilts, and with care these things would last a long time.
A long time! That might mean for ever. In Gordon’s note-book there was also a list of the instruments on board; two aneroid barometers, a spirit thermometer, two chronometers, several copper speaking-trumpets, three telescopes of short and long range, a binnacle compass, and two smaller ones, a storm-glass indicating the approach of tempestuous weather, several British ensigns and jacks, and a set of signalling flags. And there was also a Halkett boat—a little india-rubber canoe which folds up like a bag, and is large enough to take a person across a river or lake.
There were plenty of tools in the carpenter’s chest, bags of nails, turrets, screws, and iron nuts and bands of all sorts for repairing the yacht. Thread and needles were not wanting, for the mothers had prepared for frequent mendings. There was no risk of being deprived of fire, for without reckoning matches there were enough tinder-boxes and tinder to last for a long time.
There were some large scale charts, but only for the coast of New Zealand, and consequently useless for the part where they had been wrecked; but luckily Gordon had brought with him a general atlas, and the yacht’s library included several good works of travel and manuals of science, to say nothing of ‘Robinson Crusoe,’ and the ‘Swiss Family Robinson,’ which Service had saved from the wreck as did Camoens his ‘Lusiad.’ And of course Garnett had taken good care that his famous accordion had come off safe and sound. When the reading materials had been disposed of, the writing materials were noted down. There were pens and pencils, and ink and paper, and an almanack for 1880, which was at once handed over to Baxter for him to cancel each day as it elapsed.
‘It was on the 10th of March,’ said he, ‘that we came ashore. Well, out goes the 10th of March and all the days before it.’
In the strong box of the yacht there was from 150l. in gold, which might come in useful if the boys reached some port from which they could get home.
Gordon took careful stock of the casks stowed in the hold. Many of them, containing spirits, ale, or wine, had been stove while the yacht was being dashed about on the reef. But there were still a hundred gallons of claret and sherry, fifty gallons of gin, brandy, and whisky, and forty hogsheads of ale, besides thirty bottles of different liqueurs in straw envelopes which had not been broken.
So that for some time at least, the fifteen survivors of the schooner were in no fear of starvation. It remained to be seen if the country would yield anything to allow of their provisions being economized. If it was an island on which the storm had thrown them, they could hardly hope to get away from it, unless a ship were to appear and make out their signals. To repair the yacht and make good the damage to the hull, would be a task beyond their power, and require tools they did not possess. To build a new boat out of the ruins of the old one did not enter their minds; and as they knew nothing of navigation, how were they to cross the Pacific to get back to New Zealand? In the schooner’s boats, they might have got away, perhaps; but the boats had gone, except the yawl, and that at the outside was only fit for sailing along the coast.
About noon, the youngsters, headed by Moko, returned. They had after a time quieted down and set seriously to work, and they had brought back a good store of shellfish, which the cabin-boy undertook to get ready. As to eggs, there ought to be a great quantity, for Moko had noted the presence of innumerable rock pigeons of an edible kind nestling on the higher ledges of the cliff.
‘That is all right,’ said Briant. ‘One of these mornings we will go out after them, and get a lot.’
‘We are sure to do that,’ said Moko. ‘Three or four shots will give us pigeons by the dozen. It will be easy to get to the nests if we let ourselves down with a rope.’
‘Agreed!’ said Gordon. ‘Suppose, Donagan, you go to-morrow?’
‘That will suit me very well,’ said Donagan. ‘Webb, Cross, and Wilcox, will you come too?’
‘Rather!’ said they; only too well pleased at the idea of blazing away into such a bird crowd.
‘But don’t kill too many pigeons,’ said Briant. ‘We know now where to find them when we want them. Don’t waste powder and shot—’
‘All right!’ said Donagan, who did not like advice— particularly from Briant. ‘It is not the first time we have had a gun.’
An hour afterwards Moko announced that dinner was ready, and the boys hurried up the ladder on to the schooner and took their seats in the dining saloon. Owing to the yacht heeling over so much, the table sloped considerably; but that made little difference to those accustomed to the rolling of the ship. The shellfish, particularly the mussels, were declared to be excellent, although their seasoning left something to be desired; but at that age hunger is the best sauce. A biscuit and piece of corned beef and fresh water from the stream, taken when the tide was at the lowest so as to avoid its being brackish, made an acceptable meal.
The afternoon was spent in arranging the things that had been entered on the list; Jenkins and his companions going off to fish in the river and having fair sport among the finny crowd that swarmed about its mouth. After supper all were glad to get to bed, except Baxter and Wilcox, whose turn it was to keep guard.
CHAPTER V—THE VIEW FROM THE CAPE.
WAS it an island, or a continent? That was the question constantly occupying the minds of Briant, Gordon, and Donagan, who by their character and intelligence were the chiefs of this little world. Thinking of the future when the youngsters only thought of the present, they often talked together on the subject. Whether it was insular or continental, the land was evidently not in the tropics. That could be seen by the vegetation—oaks, beeches, birches, alders, pines, and firs of different sorts, and several of the myrtaceæ and saxifragaceæ which are neither shrubs nor trees. It seemed as though the country must be nearer the southern pole than New Zealand, and if so, a severe winter might be anticipated. Already a thick carpet of dead leaves covered the ground in the wood near the cliff; the pines and firs alone retaining their foliage.
‘That is why,’ said Gordon, ‘the morning after the wreck I thought it best not to look out for a permanent settlement hereabouts.’
‘That is what I think,’ said Donagan. ‘If we wait for the bad season, it will be too late to get to some inhabited part, for we may have to go hundreds of miles.’
‘But we are only in the first half of March,’ said Briant.
‘Well,’ said Donagan. ‘The fine weather may last till the end of April, and in six weeks we might get well on the road—’
‘If there is a road!’
‘And why shouldn’t there be?’
‘Quite so,’ said Gordon. ‘But if there is, do you know where it leads?’
‘I know one thing,’ said Donagan. ‘It will be absurd not to have left the schooner before the cold and rainy season, and to do that, we need not see only difficulties at each step.’
‘Better see them than start off like fools across a country we know nothing about’
‘It is easy to call people fools when they don’t think the same as you do.’
Donagan’s observation might have soon led to a quarrel had not Gordon intervened.
‘There is no good in a
rguing. Let us understand each other. Donagan is right in saying that if we are near an inhabited country, we should get there without delay. But Briant says, is it possible we are near to such a country? and there is no harm in that.’
‘But Gordon,’ said Donagan, ‘if you go to the north, or the south, or the east, you must get to the people in time.’
‘Yes, if we are on a continent,’ said Briant, ‘and not on an island, perhaps a desert island.’
‘That is why we ought to find out,’ said Gordon. ‘To leave the schooner before we know whether there is or is not a sea to the east of us—’
‘It is the schooner that will leave us,’ said Donagan. ‘She cannot last out the winter storms on this beach.’
‘Agreed,’ said Gordon, ‘but before we venture into the interior we must know where we are going.’
‘I’ll go out and reconnoitre,’ said Briant.
‘So will I,’ said Donagan.
‘We’ll all go,’ said Gordon, ‘but we don’t want to drag the youngsters with us, and two or three of us will be enough,’
‘It is a pity,’ said Briant, that there is no high hill from which we could have a good view. The land lies low, and even from the offing I saw no elevation. The highest ground seems to be this cliff. Beyond it I suppose there are forests, and plains, and marshes, through which that stream runs.’
‘We ought to have a look over the country before trying to get round the cliff where Briant and I failed to find the cave.’
‘Well, we’ll try the north,’ said Briant. ‘If we can get up the cape at the far end, we might see a long way round.’
‘That cape,’ said Gordon, ‘is 250 or 300 feet high, and ought to look right over the cliff.’
