The Coral Island

by R. M. Ballantyne

  CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

  THE FLIGHT--THE PURSUIT--DESPAIR AND ITS RESULTS--THE LION BEARDED INHIS DEN AGAIN--AWFUL DANGER THREATENED AND WONDERFULLY AVERTED--ATERRIFIC STORM.

  As the time for our meditated flight drew near, we became naturally veryfearful lest our purpose should be discovered, and we spent the whole ofthe following day in a state of nervous anxiety. We resolved to goashore and ramble about the village, as if to observe the habits anddwellings of the people, as we thought that an air of affectedindifference to the events of the previous day would be more likely thanany other course of conduct to avert suspicion as to our intentions.While we were thus occupied, the teacher remained on board with theChristian natives, whose powerful voices reached us ever and anon asthey engaged in singing hymns or in prayer.

  At last the long and tedious day came to a close, the sun sank into thesea, and the short-lived twilight of those regions, to which I havealready referred, ended abruptly in a dark night. Hastily throwing afew blankets into our little boat, we stepped into it, and whisperingfarewell to the natives in the schooner, rowed gently over the lagoon,taking care to keep as near to the beach as possible. We rowed in theutmost silence and with muffled oars, so that had any one observed us atthe distance of a few yards, he might have almost taken us for a phantomboat or a shadow on the dark water. Not a breath of air was stirring;but fortunately the gentle ripple of the sea upon the shore, mingledwith the soft roar of the breaker on the distant reef, effectuallydrowned the slight plash that we unavoidably made in the water by thedipping of our oars.

  A quarter of an hour sufficed to bring us to the overhanging cliff underwhose black shadow our little canoe lay, with her bow in the water,ready to be launched, and most of her cargo already stowed away. As thekeel of our little boat grated on the sand, a hand was laid upon thebow, and a dim form was seen.

  "Ha!" said Peterkin in a whisper as he stepped upon the beach; "is thatyou, Avatea?"

  "Yis, it am me," was the reply.

  "All right--Now, then, gently--Help me to shove off the canoe,"whispered Jack to the teacher.--"And, Peterkin, do you shove theseblankets aboard; we may want them before long.--Avatea, step into themiddle: that's right."

  "Is all ready?" whispered the teacher.

  "Not quite," replied Peterkin.--"Here, Ralph, lay hold o' this pair ofoars, and stow them away if you can. I don't like paddles. After we'resafe away, I'll try to rig up rowlocks for them."

  "Now, then, in with you and shove off!"

  One more earnest squeeze of the kind teacher's hand, and with hiswhispered blessing yet sounding in our ears, we shot like an arrow fromthe shore, sped over the still waters of the lagoon, and paddled asswiftly as strong arms and willing hearts could urge us over the longswell of the open sea.

  All that night and the whole of the following day we plied our paddlesin almost total silence and without a halt, save twice to recruit ourfailing energies with a mouthful of food and a draught of water. Jackhad taken the bearing of the island just after starting, and laying asmall pocket-compass before him, kept the head of the canoe due south,for our chance of hitting the island depended very much on thefaithfulness of our steersman in keeping our tiny bark exactly andconstantly on its proper course. Peterkin and I paddled in the bow, andAvatea worked untiringly in the middle.

  As the sun's lower limb dipped on the gilded edge of the sea Jack ceasedworking, threw down his paddle, and called a halt.

  "There!" he cried, heaving a deep, long-drawn sigh; "we've put aconsiderable breadth of water between us and these black rascals, so nowwe'll have a hearty supper and a sound sleep."

  "Hear, hear!" cried Peterkin. "Nobly spoken, Jack!--Hand me a drop ofwater, Ralph.--Why, girl, what's wrong with you? You look just like ablack owl blinking in the sunshine!"

  Avatea smiled. "I sleepy," she said; and as if to prove the truth ofthis, she laid her head on the edge of the canoe and fell fast asleep.

  "That's uncommon sharp practice," said Peterkin with a broad grin."Don't you think we should awake her to make her eat something first?Or perhaps," he added with a grave, meditative look--"perhaps we mightput some food in her mouth, which is so elegantly open at the presentmoment, and see if she'd swallow it while asleep.--If so, Ralph, youmight come round to the front here and feed her quietly, while Jack andI are tucking into the victuals. It would be a monstrous economy oftime."

  I could not help smiling at Peterkin's idea, which indeed, when Ipondered it, seemed remarkably good in theory; nevertheless, I declinedto put it in practice, being fearful of the result should the victualschance to go down the wrong throat. But on suggesting this to Peterkin,he exclaimed:

  "Down the wrong throat, man! Why, a fellow with half-an-eye might seethat if it went down Avatea's throat it could not go down the wrongthroat!--unless, indeed, you have all of a sudden become inordinatelyselfish, and think that all the throats in the world are wrong onesexcept your own. However, don't talk so much, and hand me the porkbefore Jack finishes it. I feel myself entitled to at least one minutemorsel."

  "Peterkin, you're a villain--a paltry little villain!" said Jack quietlyas he tossed the hind legs (including the tail) of a cold roast pig tohis comrade; "and I must again express my regret that unavoidablecircumstances have thrust your society upon me, and that necessity hascompelled me to cultivate your acquaintance. Were it not that you areincapable of walking upon the water, I would order you, sir, out of thecanoe!"

  "There! you've awakened Avatea with your long tongue," retortedPeterkin, with a frown, as the girl gave vent to a deep sigh. "No," hecontinued, "it was only a snore. Perchance she dreameth of her blackApollo.--I say, Ralph, do leave just one little slice of that yam!Between you and Jack I run a chance of being put on short allowance, ifnot--yei-a-a-ow!"

  Peterkin's concluding remark was a yawn of so great energy that Jackrecommended him to postpone the conclusion of his meal till nextmorning--a piece of advice which he followed so quickly that I wasforcibly reminded of his remark, a few minutes before, in regard to thesharp practice of Avatea.

  My readers will have observed, probably, by this time, that I am muchgiven to meditation: they will not, therefore, be surprised to learnthat I fell into a deep reverie on the subject of sleep, which wascontinued without intermission into the night, and prolonged withoutinterruption into the following morning. But I cannot feel assured thatI actually slept during that time, although I am tolerably certain thatI was not awake.

  Thus we lay, like a shadow, on the still bosom of the ocean, while thenight closed in, and all around was calm, dark, and silent.

  A thrilling cry of alarm from Peterkin startled us in the morning, justas the grey dawn began to glimmer in the east.

  "What's wrong?" cried Jack, starting up.

  Peterkin replied by pointing, with a look of anxious dread, towards thehorizon; and a glance sufficed to show us that one of the largest-sizedwar-canoes was approaching us!

  With a groan of mingled despair and anger, Jack seized his paddle,glanced at the compass, and in a suppressed voice commanded us to "Giveway!" But we did not require to be urged. Already our four paddleswere glancing in the water, and the canoe bounded over the glassy sealike a dolphin, while a shout from our pursuers told that they hadobserved our motions.

  "I see something like land ahead," said Jack in a hopeful tone. "Itseems impossible that we could have made the island yet; still, if it isso, we may reach it before these fellows can catch us, for our canoe islight and our muscles are fresh."

  No one replied; for, to say truth, we felt that in a long chase we hadno chance whatever with a canoe which held nearly a hundred warriors.Nevertheless, we resolved to do our utmost to escape, and paddled with adegree of vigour that kept us well in advance of our pursuers. Thewar-canoe was so far behind us that it seemed but a little speck on thesea, and the shouts to which the crew occasionally gave vent camefaintly towards us on the morning breeze. We therefore hoped that weshould be able to keep in advance for
an hour or two, when we mightperhaps reach the land ahead. But this hope was suddenly crushed by thesupposed land, not long after, rising up into the sky, thus provingitself to be a fog-bank!

  A bitter feeling of disappointment filled each heart, and was expressedon each countenance, as we beheld this termination to our hopes. But wehad little time to think of regret. Our danger was too great andimminent to permit of a moment's relaxation from our exertions. No hopenow animated our bosoms; but a feeling of despair, strange to say, lentus power to work, and nerved our arms with such energy that it wasseveral hours ere the savages overtook us. When we saw that there wasindeed no chance of escape, and that paddling any longer would onlyserve to exhaust our strength without doing any good, we turned the sideof our canoe towards the approaching enemy and laid down our paddles.

  Silently, and with a look of bitter determination on his face, Jacklifted one of the light boat-oars that we had brought with us, andresting it on his shoulder, stood up in an attitude of bold defiance.Peterkin took the other oar and also stood up, but there was no angervisible on his countenance: when not sparkling with fun, it usually worea mild, sad expression, which was deepened on the present occasion as heglanced at Avatea, who sat with her face resting in her hands upon herknees. Without knowing very well what I intended to do, I also aroseand grasped my paddle with both hands.

  On came the large canoe like a war-horse of the deep, with the foamcurling from its sharp bow, and the spear-heads of the savages glancingin the beams of the rising sun. Perfect silence was maintained on bothsides; and we could hear the hissing water, and see the frowning eyes ofthe warriors, as they came rushing on. When about twenty yards distant,five or six of the savages in the bow rose, and laying aside theirpaddles, took up their spears. Jack and Peterkin raised their oars,while, with a feeling of madness whirling in my brain, I grasped mypaddle and prepared for the onset. But before any of us could strike ablow, the sharp prow of the war-canoe struck us like a thunderbolt onthe side and hurled us into the sea!

  What occurred after this I cannot tell, for I was nearly drowned; butwhen I recovered from the state of insensibility into which I had beenthrown, I found myself stretched on my back, bound hand and foot,between Jack and Peterkin, in the bottom of the large canoe.

  In this condition we lay the whole day, during which time the savagesonly rested one hour. When night came they rested again for anotherhour, and appeared to sleep just as they sat. But we were neitherunbound nor allowed to speak to each other during the voyage, nor was amorsel of food or a draught of water given to us. For food, however, wecared little; but we would have given much for a drop of water to coolour parched lips. And we would have been glad, too, had they loosenedthe cords that bound us; for they were tightly fastened, and occasionedus much pain. The air, also, was unusually hot--so much so that I feltconvinced that a storm was brewing. This also added to our sufferings.However, these were at length relieved by our arrival at the island fromwhich we had fled.

  While we were being led ashore, we caught a glimpse of Avatea, who wasseated in the hinder part of the canoe. She was not fettered in anyway. Our captors now drove us before them towards the hut of Tararo, atwhich we speedily arrived, and found the chief seated with an expressionon his face that boded us no good. Our friend the teacher stood besidehim, with a look of anxiety on his mild features.

  "How comes it," said Tararo, turning to the teacher, "that these youthshave abused our hospitality?"

  "Tell him," replied Jack, "that we have not abused his hospitality, forhis hospitality has not been extended to us. I came to the island todeliver Avatea, and my only regret is that I have failed to do so. If Iget another chance, I will try to save her yet."

  The teacher shook his head. "Nay, my young friend, I had better nottell him that: it will only incense him."

  "I care not," replied Jack. "If you don't tell him that, you'll tellhim nothing, for I won't say anything softer."

  On hearing Jack's speech, Tararo frowned, and his eye flashed withanger.

  "Go, presumptuous boy!" he said. "My debt to you cancelled. You andyour companions shall die!"

  As he spoke he rose and signed to several of attendants, who seized Jackand Peterkin and violently by the collars, and dragging us from thehouse of the chief, led us through the wood to the outskirts of thevillage. Here they thrust us into a species of natural cave in a cliff,and having barricaded the entrance, left us in total darkness.

  After feeling about for some time--for our legs were unshackled,although our wrists were still bound with thongs--we found a low ledgeof rock running along one side of the cavern. On this we seatedourselves, and for a long time maintained unbroken silence.

  At last I could restrain my feelings no longer. "Alas! dear Jack andPeterkin," said I, "what is to become of us? I fear that we are doomedto die."

  "I know not," replied Jack in a tremulous voice--"I know not. Ralph, Iregret deeply the hastiness of my violent temper, which, I must confess,has been the chief cause of our being brought to this sad condition.Perhaps the teacher may do something for us. But I have little hope."

  "Ah no!" said Peterkin with a heavy sigh; "I am sure he can't help us.Tararo doesn't care more for him than for one of his dogs."

  "Truly," said I, "there seems no chance of deliverance, unless theAlmighty puts forth His arm to save us. Yet I must say I have greathope, my comrades; for we have come to this dark place by no fault ofours--unless it be a fault to try to succour a woman in distress."

  I was interrupted in my remarks by a noise at the entrance to thecavern, which was caused by the removal of the barricade. Immediatelyafter three men entered, and taking us by the collars of our coats, ledus away through the forest. As we advanced we heard much shouting andbeating of native drums in the village, and at first we thought that ourguards were conducting us to the hut of Tararo again. But in this wewere mistaken. The beating of drums gradually increased, and soon afterwe observed a procession of the natives coming towards us. At the headof this procession we were placed, and then we all advanced togethertowards the temple where human victims were wont to be sacrificed!

  A thrill of horror ran through my heart as I recalled to mind the awfulscenes that I had before witnessed at that dreadful spot. Butdeliverance came suddenly from a quarter whence we little expected it.During the whole of that day there had been an unusual degree of heat inthe atmosphere, and the sky assumed that lurid aspect which portends athunderstorm. Just as we were approaching the horrid temple, a growl ofthunder burst overhead, and heavy drops of rain began to fall.

  Those who have not witnessed gales and storms in tropical regions canform but a faint conception of the fearful hurricane that burst upon theisland of Mango at this time. Before we reached the temple the stormburst upon us with a deafening roar; and the natives, who knew too wellthe devastation that was to follow, fled right and left through thewoods in order to save their property, leaving us alone in the midst ofthe howling storm. The trees around us bent before the blast likewillows, and we were about to flee in order to seek shelter when theteacher ran toward us with a knife in his hand.

  "Thank the Lord," he said, cutting our bonds, "I am in time! Now, seekthe shelter of the nearest rock."

  This we did without a moment's hesitation, for the whistling wind burst,ever and anon, like thunderclaps among the trees, and tearing them fromtheir roots, hurled them with violence to the ground. Rain cut acrossthe land in sheets, and lightning played like forked serpents in theair, while high above the roar of the hissing tempest the thundercrashed and burst and rolled in awful majesty.

  In the village the scene was absolutely appalling. Roofs were blowncompletely off the houses in many cases, and in others the housesthemselves were levelled with the ground. In the midst of this thenatives were darting to and fro--in some instances saving their goods,but in many others seeking to save themselves from the storm ofdestruction that whirled around them. But terrific although the tempestwas on
land, it was still more tremendous on the mighty ocean. Billowssprang, as it were, from the great deep, and while their crests wereabsolutely scattered into white mist, they fell upon the beach with acrash that seemed to shake the solid land. But they did not end there.Each successive wave swept higher and higher on the beach until theocean lashed its angry waters among the trees and bushes, and at length,in a sheet of white, curdled foam, swept into the village and upset andcarried off, or dashed into wreck, whole rows of the native dwellings!It was a sublime, an awful scene, calculated, in some degree at least,to impress the mind of beholders with the might and majesty of God.

  We found shelter in a cave that night and all the next day, during whichtime the storm raged in fury. But on the night following, it abatedsomewhat; and in the morning we went to the village to seek for food,being so famished with hunger that we lost all feeling of danger and allwish to escape in our desire to satisfy the cravings of nature. But nosooner had we obtained food than we began to wish that we had ratherendeavoured to make our escape into the mountains. This we attempted todo soon afterwards; but the natives were now able to look after us, andon our showing a disposition to avoid observation and make towards themountains, we were seized by three warriors, who once more bound ourwrists and thrust us into our former prison.

  It is true Jack made a vigorous resistance, and knocked down the firstsavage who seized him with a well-directed blow of his fist, but he wasspeedily overpowered by others. Thus we were again prisoners, with theprospect of torture and a violent death before us.