CHAPTER VI
THE ANIMAL THAT WOULDN'T BE RESCUED
No unusual incident marked the castaways' first night on the island.Guard was relieved with the utmost regularity, while the weary watcheswere spent in gazing at the exterior of the tent and listening to theregular breathing of its four inmates.
At length the day broke, and the camp became the scene of activity.
Breakfast over, there was a rush to the boat; Quexo, however, remainingwith the injured Mr. McKay.
The weather showed every indication of remaining fine, a lightsouth-easterly breeze--a part of the regular trade-wind--blowing offshore, while not a cloud was visible in the dark blue sky.
"We must make two trips to-day," observed Andy, as they pushed off fromthe little natural dock. "Yesterday the clouds kept the sun's raysfrom us, but to-day we will not be able to work during midday."
"Honestly, I don't feel like work," remarked Terence, stifling a yawn.
"I suppose there is some excuse for you, seeing you did two turns ofsentry-go last night," replied his friend. "Still, this is anexceptional time, and we must set to work with a will. Can we get overthe reef, do you think, Hoppy?"
"We had better stick to the channel," replied Ellerton. "You see, wedon't know the actual depth, and there is a slight swell on. We'llboard on the port quarter, so as to get between the ship and the reef."
The lads plied their oars steadily yet without undue exertion, and inless than half an hour from the time of leaving the shore they ranalongside the stranded _San Martin_.
Ellerton's first care on boarding the wreck was to supply fresh waterand food to the animals. To get them safely ashore was a difficultproblem, for the ox was an unwieldy brute to ship aboard the cutter,while it was equally risky to let it swim ashore on account of thepresence of numerous sharks. The sheep could be trussed up and laidupon the bottom boards.
Andy and Terence at once made for the provision-room, and returnedladen with flour, salt beef, tinned goods, and some small chests ofpressed tea. These articles they placed on deck close to the entryport and proceeded to procure more.
Ellerton, having attended to the live stock, made a thoroughexploration of the after cabins and staggered on deck looking like asecond-hand wardrobe dealer, for he realised the necessity of having agood supply of clothing. Then a huge pile of bedding, includingwaterproof sheets, blankets, and pillows, was added to the alreadylarge collection of plunder.
"I think this lot will be sufficient for one trip," remarked Andy.
"We may as well take the rest of the navigating instruments," repliedEllerton, "and, what is also necessary, the carpenter's chest."
"Capital," replied his chum. "That will, of course, come in handy; butwon't we require it on board?"
"There are enough tools for work both ashore and on board," saidEllerton. "I've seen to that. But I should like to get the animalsoff."
"The ox?"
"If possible. Otherwise we must kill it and bring the carcase ashorepiecemeal."
Andy thought for some moments. He, too, realised the danger of theanimal being devoured by sharks. Dead or alive, the ox would be farmore useful to the castaways.
"How are we going to get the brute on deck?" asked Terence.
This was a poser, for with the fall of the foremast the derricks forworking the fore-hold had also been carried away.
"We must rig up a pair of sheer-legs," observed Ellerton.
"Well? How are we to pass a sling round the brute's body?"
"That's as easy as pie; the beast is quiet enough."
"Then you take the job on, Hoppy; I'd rather not. So let's look sharpwith the sheer-legs; there's plenty of tackle to hoist the creaturewith."
The work of making the early preparations proceeded without a hitch,then Ellerton commenced his particular part of the operations.
By the aid of a lantern which he hung from the deck-beams, theapprentice descended once more to the partially submerged hold.Holding a stout canvas sling, with a rope ready to haul tight themoment the lifting gear was in position, Ellerton climbed over thepartition of the stall.
The animal, now refreshed by its food and drink, had lost its docilemanner, and eyed the intruder with no friendly spirit. Possibly itthought the youth was one of the brutal Peruvian cattle-drivers. Ifso, there was some excuse for its action, for lowering its head thebrute tossed the apprentice right over the wooden partition, landinghim squarely in the midst of the startled sheep in the adjacent pen.
"Aren't you nearly ready?" asked a voice from above.
Ellerton sat up. He was beginning to feel pain in more than one partof his anatomy. The task of tackling an apparently inoffensive ox wasnot going to be quite so easy as he imagined.
"Come and bear a hand," he replied. "The brute is getting vicious."
Andy thereupon descended into the semi-gloom of the hold.
"Be careful," continued the apprentice. "He nearly bumped my headagainst the deck-beams; as it was, I had a flight through space."
"Then I'm not going to pass a sling round him," said Andy. "We'lllasso him just behind the horns."
This was done, but then came the difficulty: how were they to releasethe animal from the stall and drag it to the hatchway?
"Look here," explained Andy, "I'll take this end of the line on deck,wind it on to the tackle, and heave taut. Then we'll unship thisladder and you can unfasten the front of the stall."
"Then what happens to me?" objected Ellerton.
"Oh, you can make a bolt to the fore end of the hold and stay theretill Terence and I haul the brute on deck. Then we'll re-ship theladder and you can get out."
Ellerton had his doubts, but he followed his companion's counsel.Directly there was a strain on the lasso, he threw open the door of thestall and rushed for the shelter of the sheep-pen.
Bellowing lustily, and contesting every inch of the way, the animal wasslowly dragged towards the hatch, to the accompaniment of a lusty"Heave-ho!" from the two youths on deck.
Terence watched the operation with considerable misgiving, expectingevery moment to see the rope part and to find himself confronted by theinfuriated brute.
Slowly the animal was forced across the floor of the hold, then itsponderous carcase rose, kicking and plunging, in the air.
As the animal appeared above the coaming, the light of dayrevealed--not a mild ox, but an unusually sturdy specimen of anAndalusian bull!
"Belay there, and lower away the after guy!" shouted Andy, "or he'lldrop down the hatch again when we let go."
Terence hastened to obey; but, allowing the sheers to incline too farforward, the infuriated animal's legs touched the deck.
Instantly the brute made a wild rush, the lassoo parted like packthread, and the next moment Terence and Andy were flying for theirlives, while Ellerton, a prisoner in the hold, heard the thunder of theanimal's hoofs and its triumphant bellowing as it revelled in itsnew-found freedom.
Andy made a desperate rush aft, but finding the bull close to hisheels, gripped a rope hanging from the boat booms, and swung himselfinto a position of comparative safety upon one of the narrow timbers,his upward flight being assisted a little too well by the obliginganimal.
ANDY, FINDING THE BULL CLOSE TO HIS HEELS, GRIPPED AROPE AND SWUNG HIMSELF INTO A POSITION OF COMPARATIVE SAFETY]
Never did matador execute a more rapid leap over the barrier than didAndy on this occasion. Terence, finding that he was not pursued, tooka more leisurely step, and hoisted himself into the main shrouds, wherehe would be quite safe from any further onslaught of the animal.
For a while the bull eyed the fugitives with undisguiseddisappointment, then spying the heap of bedding and clothing on thedeck, it lowered its head and rushed headlong to the attack.
Both lads watched the proceedings, powerless to prevent thecatastrophe, and indulging in vain regrets that their firearms were notavailable, as beds, blankets, and suits of useful clothing were tossedoverboard.
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nbsp; At length a heavy blanket became impaled upon the brute's horns, thefolds falling over its eyes.
In vain the bull strove to toss aside the fabric; then, rushing alongthe deck, it collided with ventilators, hatchways, and other obstacles,each obstruction increasing its anger. Wheeling suddenly, the bulldarted through the entry port and vanished over the ship's side.
"Oh, the boat! The boat will be smashed to firewood," shouted Andy,sliding down from his perch.
Terence had joined him, and, heedless of Ellerton's voice shouting tobe released from his prison, the two lads rushed to the side of thevessel.
The animal had fallen upon one of the thwarts of the boat, breaking itcompletely in half, and was lying on the bottom-boards plunging wildly.One kick in a vital place and the boat would be holed.
"There's enough damage done already," muttered Andy. "It's the onlyway," and running aft he returned in a moment with a loaded rifle.
"How are you going to manage it?" asked Terence. "You'll do almost asmuch damage to the boat with the bullet----"
"Shut up!" growled Andy, and, snapping the safety catch of the weapon,he swung himself without further delay into the stern sheets of thecutter.
The bull tried to rise, but in vain. Its head reared itself slightlyabove the gunwale; the rifle cracked.
"There's fresh beef at least, Terence. Throw Hoppy the tail end of arope and get him out of that hole."
Then, as Ellerton appeared, blinking in the strong sunshine, Andycontinued:
"Throw those things into the boat, and look sharp. We've wasted enoughtime and precious cargo this morning--all for the sake of that brute."
During the time the boat was being rowed shoreward, Andy--usually sogenial and even-tempered--preserved an almost sullen silence; whileEllerton, annoyed at having failed to bring the bull ashore alive, wasalso ill at ease. Nor did the latter guess the cause of his friend'sglumness till some days later, when he observed Andy repairing a rentin one of his garments. Even a graze from an infuriated bull is likelyto cause discomfort, he thought, though there is no reason why othersshould suffer for it.
The Nameless Island: A Story of Some Modern Robinson Crusoes Page 6