The Island of Gold: A Sailor's Yarn

by Anonymous

awhite-headed, fearful-looking old man paddled alongside in a dug-out.From the fact that he had a huge snake coiled around his chest and neck,I took him to be the medicine-man, or sorcerer, of the tribe, and I wasnot mistaken.

  "He was certainly no beauty as he sat there grinning in his darkdug-out. His face was covered with scars in circles and figures, so,too, was his chest; his eyes were the colour of brass; his teethcrimson, and filed into the form of triangles. But he climbed boldly onboard when beckoned to, and we loaded him with gifts of pretty beads,and engirdled his loins with red cloth, then sent him grinning away.

  "This treatment had the desired effect, and in half an hour's time thebay was alive with the boats and canoes of the head-hunters. Each oftheir tall, gondola-like prows bore a grinning skull, the cheek bonesdaubed with a kind of crimson clay, and the sockets filled with awfulclay eyes--not a pretty sight.

  "Presently the king himself came off, and we received him with greatceremony, and gave him many gifts. To show our strength, James drew uphis men in battle array, and to the terror of all in the boats, theyfired their guns, taking aim at some brown and ugly kites that flewaround. When several of these fell dead, the alarm of the king knew nobounds. But he soon recovered; and when, a little later on, I with adozen of my best men went on shore, the king placed a poor slave girl onthe beach and made signs for us to shoot. I would sooner have shot theking himself.

  "Lord Augustus came with us, and we soon found that he understood muchthat the king said, and could therefore act as our interpreter.

  "It is needless to say that the men of the lost yacht were kept out ofsight.

  "Our walk that day was but a brief one. The king did not seem to wantus ever to cross the bridge. On climbing a hill, however, I could seeall over the wild and beautiful country. I pointed to the lake andlittle island, and was given to understand that the medicine-men dweltthere. But from the shiftiness of the savage's eyes, I concluded atonce that, if they were alive, that was the prison isle of the unhappyladies. The king dined with us next day, and we considered it policy tolet him have a modicum of fire-water. His heart warmed, and not onlydid he permit our party to cross the bridge, but to visit his palace.The sights of horror around it I will not dare to depict, but, much tomy joy, I noticed from the king's veranda the flutter of white dresseson the little prison isle.

  "My mind was made up, and that night I dispatched Lord Augustus on shorewith a note. It was a most hazardous expedition, and none save the boycould have undertaken it with any hope of success. In my letter I hadtold the ladies to be of good cheer; there would be a glimmer ofmoonlight in a week's time, and that then we should attempt theirrescue; anyhow they were to be prepared.

  "Three whole days elapsed, and yet no Lord Augustus appeared, but on thenight of the fourth, when we had given him up for lost, he swam off tothe ship. Poor boy, he had hardly eaten food, save fruit, since he hadleft, and his adventure had been a thrilling one. Yet he was laughingall over just the same.

  "Yes, he had managed to give the note, and had brought back a message.The ladies had not, strange to say, been subjected to either insult orinjury by the king. They were well fed on fruit and milk and cookedfowls, but were guarded day and night by priests.

  "The most startling portion of the message, however, was this: in afortnight's time a great feast and sacrifice were to take place, andduring that they knew not what might occur. They begged that the boymight be sent again, and with him a sleeping-powder, which they mightadminister to the priests on the night of the attempted rescue. Iconfess my heart beat high with anxiety when the boy told us all this,for not one word of his message had he forgotten.

  "I consulted now with James and Smithson. Would it not be as well, Iadvanced, to attempt to rescue the ladies by force?

  "This was at once vetoed. Both James and the captain of the yacht knewmore of savage nature than I did, and they most strongly affirmed thatany show of force would assuredly result in the putting to death of thetwo unhappy ladies we had come to rescue.

  "So it was finally agreed that stratagem, not force, must be resortedto, in the first place, at all events. So a night was chosen, and onthe previous evening faithful Lord Fitzmantle was dispatched once more,taking with him a powder for the medicine-men, or priests.

  "To our great joy and relief, the messenger returned before daylightwith the news that all would be ready, and that they, the ladies, wouldbe found at midnight in a cave by the banks of the lake, if they weresuccessful in escaping in a canoe from the island.

  "`And you know this cave, Fitz?' I asked.

  "Fitz's eyes snapped and twinkled right merrily.

  "`I done know him, him foh true, sah!' he said, which signified that hehad a perfect knowledge of the position of the cave.

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  "As I speak to you even now, gentlemen, a portion of the anxiety I felton that terrible night when, with muffled oars, our boat left the ship,comes stealing over my senses. I could not tell then why my feelingsshould be worked up to so high a pitch, for I'd been in many a dangerand difficulty before. But so it was.

  "The king had dined with us, and we sent home with him a supply offire-water, which has worked such ruin among many savage races. Butsurely on this occasion we were partially justified in doing so. Weknew, therefore, that the king and some of his principal officers weresafe enough for one night.

  "The largest boat was cautiously lowered about an hour before midnight,when everything was still as the grave on the island; a long andplaintive howl, however, being borne on the gentle breeze towards usevery now and then, telling us that sentries were here and there in thewoods.

  "We were fifteen men in all, including James and myself, and excludingour little black guide, Lord Fitzmantle. During the nights of terror hehad spent in hill and forest he had surveyed the country well, and so wecould safely trust to him.

  "We rowed with muffled oars to the beach near the haunted forest, anddrew up our boat under some banana-trees; then, silent as the red men ofthe North American forests, we made our way towards the bridge.

  "The moon was about five days old, and served to give us all the lightwe desired. We took advantage of every bush and thicket, and finally,when within seventy yards of the river--the hustling and roaring ofwhich we could distinctly hear--we dispatched little Fitz toreconnoitre.

  "He returned in a few minutes and reported all safe, and no one on watchupon the bridge.

  "We marched now in Indian file, taking care not even to snap a twig,lest we should arouse the slumbering foe. I do not know how long wetook to reach the cave. To me, in my terror and anxiety, it seemed ayear. They were there, and safe.

  "We waited not a moment to speak. I lifted the young lady in my arms.How light she was! James escorted the elder, sometimes carrying her,sometimes permitting her to walk.

  "Then the journey back was commenced.

  "But in the open a glimmer of moonlight fell on the face of thebeautiful burden I bore. She had fainted. That I could see at aglance.

  "But something more I saw, and, seeing, tottered and nearly fell; forhers was the same lovely and childlike face I had seen that evening,which now appeared so long ago, in the Liverpool theatre.

  "I felt now as if walking in the air. But I cannot describe or expressmy feelings, being only a sailor, and so must not attempt to.

  "We might have still been a hundred yards from the bridge and river,when suddenly there rang out behind and on each side of us the mostawful yells I had ever listened to, while the beating of tom-toms, orwar-drums, sounded all over the eastern part of the island.

  "`On, men, on to the bridge!' shouted brave James. No need forconcealment now.

  "It was a short but fearful race, but now we are on it, on the bridge!

  "On and over!

  "All but James!

  "Where is he? The moon escapes from behind a cloud and shines full uponhis sturdy form, still on the other si
de, and at the same time we canhear the sharp ring of his revolver. Then, oh! we see him tearing upthe planks of the bridge, and dropping them one by one into the gulfbeneath. We pour in a volley to keep the savages back.

  "`Fly for your lives!' shouts brave James. `Save the ladies; I'llswim.'

  "Next minute he dives into the chasm! For one brief moment we see hisface and form in the pale moonlight. Then he disappears. He is gone.

  "`O my friend, my brother!' I cry, stretching out my arms as if I wouldplunge madly into the pool that lies far beneath yonder, part in shadeand part in shine.

  "But they dragged me away by main force. They led me to the boat. Thesavages could not follow. But I seemed to see nothing now, to knownothing, to feel nothing, except that I had lost the dearest friend onearth. He had sacrificed himself to save us!"

  Book 2--CHAPTER SEVEN.

  "I THINK YOU'RE GOING ON A WILD-GOOSE CHASE."

  Halcott paused, and gazed seawards over the great stretch of wet beach.

  So wet was it that the sun's parting rays lit it up in great stripes ofcrimson chequered with gold.

  And yonder are the children coming slowly home across these paintedsands.

  A strange group, most certainly, but united in one bond of union--oh,would that all the world were so!--the bond of love.

  The brother's arm is placed gently around his sister's waist; theAdmiral is stepping drolly by Ransey's side, with his head and neckthrust through the lad's arm.

  Something seems to tell the bird that fate, which took away his masterbefore, might take him once again.

  Bob brings up the rear. His head is low towards the sands, but he feelsvery happy and satisfied with his afternoon's outing.

  Halcott once more lit his pipe.

  The two others were silent, and Mr Tandy nodded when Halcott smiled andlooked towards him.

  "Yes," he said, "there is a little more of my story yet untold; there isa portion of it still in the future, I trust. With this, however,destiny alone has to do. Suffice it to say, that as far as Doris andmyself--my simple sailor-self--are concerned, we shall be married when Ireturn from my next cruise, if all goes well, and, like two vesselsleaving the harbour on just such a beautiful night as this, sail away tobegin our voyage of life on just such a beautiful sea.

  "You must both know Doris before I start. But where, think you, do Imean to sail to next? No, do not answer till I tell you one thing.Neither Doris nor her mother received, while in that little lake island,the slightest injury or insult."

  "Then there is some good in the breast of even the wildest savage," putin Weathereye. "I always thought so; bother me if I didn't. Ahem!"

  "Ah, wait, Captain Weathereye, wait! I fear my experience is differentfrom yours. Those fiendish savages on that Isle of Misfortune werereserving my dear Doris and her mother for a fate far more terrible thananything ever described in books of imagination.

  "We rescued them, by God's mercy, just in time. They were then underthe protection of the awful priests, or medicine-men, and were being fedon fruits and on the petals of rare and beautiful flowers. Their hutitself was composed of flowers and foliage.

  "The king, no, not even he, could come near them, until the medicine-menhad propitiated the demons that live, according to their belief, inevery wood and in every ravine and gully in the island.

  "Then, at the full of the moon, on that tiny islet I have marked on themap, the king and his warriors would assemble at midnight, and the awfulorgies would commence.

  "I shudder even now when I think of it. I happily cannot describe toyou the tortures these poor ladies would have been put to before thefinal, fearful act. But the king would drink `white blood.' He wouldthen be invulnerable. No foe could any more prevail against him.

  "While the blood was still flowing, the stake-fires would-be lit, and--

  "But I'll say no more; a cannibal feast would have concluded theceremonies."

  "You mean to say," cried Weathereye, bringing his fist, and a good-sizedone it was, down with a bang on the sill of the open window by which hesat--"do you mean to tell me that these devils incarnate would haveburned the poor dear ladies alive, then? Oh, horrible!"

  "I said that they meant to; but look at this!"

  He handed Weathereye a small yellow dagger.

  "What a strange little knife! But why, I say, Halcott, Tandy, thisknife is made of gold--solid, hammered gold!"

  "Yes," said Halcott; "and it is this dagger of hammered gold that wouldhave saved my poor Doris and her mother from the torture and the stake.

  "But," he added, "not this dagger only, but every implement in the caveof those fearsome priests was fashioned from the purest gold."

  "This is indeed a strange story," said Tandy.

  "And now, gentlemen," added Halcott, "can you guess to what seas mybarque shall sail next?"

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  Tandy rose from his seat and took two or three turns up and down thefloor.

  He was a man who made up his mind quickly enough, and it is such men asthese, and only such, who get well on in the world.

  Weathereye and Halcott both kept silence. They were watching Tandy.

  "Halcott," said the latter, approaching the captain of the _SeaFlower_--"Halcott, have you kept your secret?"

  "Secret?"

  "Yes. I mean, do many save yourself know of the existence of gold onthat island of blood?"

  "None save me. No one has even seen the knife but myself and you."

  "Good. You love the _Sea Flower_?"

  "I love the _Sea Flower_ as every sailor loves, or ought to love, hisship. I wish I could afford to buy her out and out."

  "The other shares are in the market then?"

  Tandy was seated now cross-legged on a chair, and leaning over the backof it, bending towards Halcott with an earnest light, in his eyes, suchas few had ever seen therein.

  "The other shares _are_ for sale," said Halcott.

  It was just at this moment that Ransey Tansey and little Nelda came, orrather burst into the room. Both were breathless, both were rosy; andBob, who came in behind them, was panting, with half a yard of tongue--well, perhaps, not _quite_ so much--hanging red over his alabasterteeth.

  "O daddy," cried Babs, as father still called her, "we've had such fun!And the 'Ral," (a pet name that the crane had somehow obtainedpossession of) "dug up plenty of pretty things for us, and he wanted Bobto eat a big white worm, only Bob wouldn't."

  One of his children stood on each side of him, and he had placed one armround each.

  Thus Tandy faced Halcott once more, smiling, perhaps, a little sadlynow.

  "_I_ can buy those shares, Halcott. Do not think me ambitious. Amoney-grabber I never was. But, you see these little tots. Ransey herecan make his way in the world.--Can't you, Ransey?"

  "Rather, father," said Ransey.

  "But, Halcott, though I am not in the flower of my youth, I'm in theprime of my manhood, and I'd do everything I know to build up a shelterfor my little Babs against the cold winds of adversity before I--But Imust not speak of anything sad before the child."

  "You have a long life before you, I trust," said Weathereye.

  Tandy seemed to hear him not.

  "I'd go as your mate."

  The two sailors shook hands.

  "You'll go as my friend, and keep watch if you choose."

  "Agreed!"

  "Bravo!" cried Weathereye. "Shiver my jib, as sailors say in books, ifI wouldn't like to go along with both of you!"

  "Why not, Captain Weathereye?"

  The staff-commander laughed. "Not this cruise, lads, though I'm notafraid for my life, or the little that may be left of it, and you musttake care of yours. I think myself you are going on a kind ofwild-goose chase, and that the goose--that is, the gold--will have thebest of it, by keeping out of your way. Well, anyhow, I'll come and seeyou both over the bar. Where do you sail from?"

&nb
sp; "Southampton."

  "Good! and the last person you'll see as you drop out to sea will be oldWeathereye in a boat waving his red bandana to wish you luck.Good-night!

  "Good-night, little Babs! How provokingly pretty she is, Tandy! betterleave her at Scragley Hall, and the crane too. She'll be well lookedafter, you may figure upon that. Come and give the old man a kiss,dear."

  But Nelda hung her head.

  "Not if you say that, Captain Weathereye. Wherever _ever_ daddy goes, Igo with him. I'm _not_ going to let my brother run away to sea andleave me again."

  "And you won't give me Bob?" said Weathereye.

  "Oh, _no_!"

  "Nor the Admiral?"

  Nelda looked up in the old captain's face now.

  "I'm just real sorry for you," she said; "but the Hal's going andall--_you_ may figure on that."

  Weathereye laughed heartily.

  Then he drew the child gently towards him and kissed her littlesun-browned hand.

  "May God be with you, darling, where'er on earth you roam! And with youall. Good-night again."

  And away went honest Captain Weathereye.

  Book 2--CHAPTER EIGHT.

  AT SEA--MERMAIDS AND MERMEN.

  So long as the wind blew free, even though it did not always blow fair,there was joy, and jollity, too, in every heart that beat on board thesaucy _Sea Flower_, fore as well as aft.

  She looked a bonnie barque now, in every sense of the word.

  Tandy and Halcott had spared neither expense nor pains in rigging herwell out. Had not her