The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 19
Page 14
CHAPTER XII
A TAIL-PIECE
On a very bright, hot, lusty, strongly-blowing noon, a fortnight afterthe events recorded, and a month since the curtain rose upon thisepisode, a man might have been spied praying on the sand by the lagoonbeach. A point of palm-trees isolated him from the settlement; and fromthe place where he knelt, the only work of man's hand that interruptedthe expanse was the schooner _Farallone_, her berth quite changed, androcking at anchor some two miles to windward in the midst of the lagoon.The noise of the Trade ran very boisterous in all parts of the island;the nearer palm-trees crashed and whistled in the gusts, those fartheroff contributed a humming bass like the roar of cities; and yet, to anyman less absorbed, there must have risen at times over this turmoil ofthe winds the sharper note of the human voice from the settlement. Thereall was activity. Attwater, stripped to his trousers, and lending astrong hand of help, was directing and encouraging five Kanakas; fromhis lively voice, and their more lively efforts, it was to be gatheredthat some sudden and joyful emergency had set them in this bustle; andthe Union Jack floated once more on its staff. But the suppliant on thebeach, unconscious of their voices, prayed on with instancy and fervour,and the sound of his voice rose and fell again, and his countenancebrightened and was deformed with changing moods of piety and terror.
Before his closed eyes the skiff had been for some time tacking towardsthe distant and deserted _Farallone_; and presently the figure ofHerrick might have been observed to board her, to pass for a while intothe house, thence forward to the forecastle, and at last to plunge intothe main hatch. In all these quarters his visit was followed by a coilof smoke; and he had scarce entered his boat again and shoved off,before flames broke forth upon the schooner. They burned gaily; kerosenehad not been spared, and the bellows of the Trade incited theconflagration. About half-way on the return voyage, when Herrick lookedback, he beheld the _Farallone_ wrapped to the topmasts in leaping armsof fire, and the voluminous smoke pursuing him along the face of thelagoon. In one hour's time, he computed, the waters would have closedover the stolen ship.
It so chanced that, as his boat flew before the wind with much vivacity,and his eyes were continually busy in the wake, measuring the progressof the flames, he found himself embayed to the northward of the point ofpalms, and here became aware at the same time of the figure of Davisimmersed in his devotion. An exclamation, part of annoyance, part ofamusement, broke from him: and he touched the helm and ran the prow uponthe beach not twenty feet from the unconscious devotee. Taking thepainter in his hand, he landed, and drew near, and stood over him. Andstill the voluble and incoherent stream of prayer continued unabated. Itwas not possible for him to overhear the suppliant's petitions, which helistened to some while in a very mingled mood of humour and pity: and itwas only when his own name began to occur and to be conjoined withepithets, that he at last laid his hand on the captain's shoulder.
"Sorry to interrupt the exercise," said he; "but I want you to look atthe _Farallone_."
The captain scrambled to his feet, and stood gasping and staring. "Mr.Herrick, don't startle a man like that!" he said. "I don't seem somewaysrightly myself since...." He broke off. "What did you say anyway? O, the_Farallone_," and he looked languidly out.
"Yes," said Herrick. "There she burns! and you may guess from that whatthe news is."
"The _Trinity Hall_, I guess," said the captain.
"The same," said Herrick; "sighted half an hour ago, and coming up handover fist."
"Well, it don't amount to a hill of beans," said the captain, with asigh.
"O, come, that's rank ingratitude!" cries Herrick.
"Well," replied the captain meditatively, "you mayn't just see the waythat I view it in, but I'd 'most rather stay here upon this island. Ifound peace here, peace in believing. Yes, I guess this island is aboutgood enough for John Davis."
"I never heard such nonsense!" cried Herrick. "What! with all turningout in your favour the way it does, the _Farallone_ wiped out, the crewdisposed of, a sure thing for your wife and family, and you, yourself,Attwater's spoiled darling and pet penitent!"
"Now, Mr. Herrick, don't say that," said the captain gently; "when youknow he don't make no difference between us. But, O! why not be one ofus? why not come to Jesus right away, and let's meet in yon beautifulland? That's just the one thing wanted; just say, 'Lord, I believe, helpThou mine unbelief!' and He'll fold you in His arms. You see, I know! Ibeen a sinner myself!"
WEIR OF HERMISTON
A FRAGMENT