The South Sea Whaler

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

  EXPLORING EXPEDITION--A STRANGE BIRD--A NIGHT ENCAMPMENT--CATCH ATURTLE--A FEARFUL STORM--TAKE REFUGE UNDER A ROCK--PROVISIONS WASHEDAWAY--NEARLY OVERWHELMED BY THE SEA--JOURNEY CONTINUED--BRUSH-TURKEYSCAUGHT--REACH HOME--THE BOAT GONE.

  Alice and Walter were up betimes, eager for the intended expedition. Asit was uncertain whether fresh water would be met with, they all carriedbamboo casks slung over their backs, with a small quantity of smokedfish,--the doctor's plan having been found to answer admirably. Eachone of the party also carried a supply of sago flour packed in cases ofthe invaluable bamboo. Walter had one evening, for his amusement, cutout a fork of bamboo for Alice, and his example had been followed by therest of the party. The bamboo likewise made very fair dinner-knives;and he had contrived some spoons by putting a piece of wood at one end--though, seeing they had as yet no soup for dinner, they were not of muchuse.

  "So we must leave all these luxuries and conveniences of life for thewild bush," said Walter, with a pretended sigh. "Well, well, we shallenjoy them so much the more when we come back again."

  "We are not likely to be long absent from home," observed Mr Shobbrok."If we find that we are on the mainland, we will certainly not venturefurther into the interior. As far as my recollection serves me, thereare only small islands off the coast; and I am inclined to the opinionthat we are on one of these,--in which case we shall speedily return."

  "I trust so, for I have no wish to fall in with the inhabitants, who aresure to be savages, and will probably treat us as enemies," observed thedoctor.

  "But, Mr Shobbrok," said Walter, "suppose we get back safely, when doyou propose altering the boat, so that we may commence our voyage toSydney?"

  "Immediately on our return,--if, as I expect, we shall be able on ourexpedition to discover spots where we can obtain a more ample supply ofgame than we have found in this neighbourhood."

  "I shall indeed be very thankful," said Alice, with a sigh; "for thoughI am very happy here, I long to see papa again; and I cannot helpthinking that he is safe at Sydney by this time."

  This conversation took place at breakfast. As soon as it was over thewhole of the party got into marching order. The doctor and Dan wentfirst to explore; the mate, with Alice and Walter, followed next; andNub brought up the rear. It was agreed that, should any Indians orhuman habitations be seen, the doctor and Dan were to fall back on therest of the party; when, as the safest course, they would all quicklyretreat rather than run the risk of a collision. Dan was well adaptedfor the task he had undertaken. Active as a monkey, lithe as a snake,and possessed of so keen pair of eyes, he made his way among the bushes,looking carefully ahead before he exposed himself in any open space.The doctor kept at a short distance behind him, generally in sight ofthe rest of the party, so that he could make a sign to them should hereceive a warning signal from Dan.

  They took the way to the stream, over which the mate carried Alice onhis shoulders. They then continued along its banks, till the densefoliage compelled them to turn aside and proceed towards the seashore.Dan carried an axe, which he had to use occasionally in cutting his waythrough the underwood; but the mate had charged him to avoid doing so asmuch as possible, as, should there be natives in the neighbourhood, theywould be more likely to discover their traces and follow them up.Fortunately the underwood was perfectly free from thorns, or they wouldhave had their clothes torn to shreds, even had they been able topenetrate it. It was generally of a reed or grass-like nature, so thatthey could push it aside or trample it down; and under the more loftytrees the ground was often for a considerable distance completely open,when they made more rapid progress. They seldom, however, went far fromthe seashore; but in many places they found walking on it verydifficult, from the softness of the sand, or from its rugged and rockynature. Besides this, they were there exposed to the full heat of thesun; while by keeping inland they were sheltered from its scorching raysby the wide-spreading tops of the lofty trees. Now and then, when thebeach presented a long stretch of hard sand, they were tempted to godown to it, but were soon glad to return to the shelter of the woods.

  As they advanced, the beach trended more and more to the west, and themate's opinion that they were on an island became fully confirmed. Atnoon they sat down to rest and dine in a shady spot with the sea inview, Dan having first gone out some distance ahead to ascertain whetherany native village was in sight.

  "All right!" he exclaimed as he returned, flourishing his stick. "Asfar as my eyes can see, there is no other living being anywhere on theisland; and we would be after adding a fine counthry to the possessionsof England, if we had but the British flag to hoist to the top of a tallpole, and take possession of it in the name of King George." Dan was aloyal Irishman, and there were many such in his day.

  "We may take possession of the island, though we should find it adifferent matter to keep it should any one choose to dispute our right,"said the mate. "However, when we have finished our survey, we willthink about the matter; and if we get to Sydney, we will petition thegovernor to follow up your suggestion, Dan. At present, we must get ourdinner ready."

  Till Dan's return they had refrained from lighting a fire; but woodhaving been collected, a light was set to it, and their smoked fish andiguana flesh were put before it to cook. They were thankful that theyhad brought water, as not a rivulet or pool had they come to, and theywould otherwise have suffered greatly.

  They had just finished their meal, and were still sitting, no onespeaking, as they all felt somewhat tired, when Walter, hearing awhistle or chirp close behind him, turned his head and saw standing notfar off a large bird of dark plumage,--or rather with feathers, for hesaw no wings,--with a helmet-like protuberance at the top of its headresembling mother-of-pearl darkened with black-lead. It had enormousfeet and legs of a pale ash colour; the loose skin of its neck wascoloured with an iridescent hue of bluish-purple, pink, and green; thebody being of a rufous tinge, but of a purple-black about the neck andbreast. The bird stood its ground boldly, not in the slightest degreealarmed at the appearance of the strangers, as it eyed them with a lookof intense curiosity. Now it poked forward its head, and advanced alittle: now it stood up, raising its head to the ordinary height of aman; now it sank down again, till its back did not appear more thanthree feet from the ground. Though strange-looking, there was nothingferocious in its aspect; on the contrary, it appeared to have comesimply to have a look at the intruders on its domain.

  "Well, you are an extraordinary creature!" exclaimed Walter. His remarkmade the rest of the party turn their heads, when Nub and Dan started upwith the intention of catching the bird.

  "Ho! ho! is that your game, my lads?" the strange creature seemed tosay, as it struck out alternately in front with both its feet, sendingthe black and the Irishman sprawling on their backs to a considerabledistance--happily not breaking their limbs, which, from the apparentstrength of its legs, it might very easily have done. It then whiskedround, and rushed off with a curious action at a great rate through theforest, leaping over fallen trees and all other impediments in its wayin a manner which would have made it a hard matter for the beststeeple-chase rider in all Ireland to follow it. Dan and Nub, pickingthemselves up again, attempted, along with the doctor, to catch it, butthey were soon left far behind. At length returning, they threwthemselves on the ground panting and blowing.

  "I would have given fifty pounds to have got hold of that creature!"exclaimed the doctor, "I have never seen anything like it before. Ihave heard that there are similar wingless birds in New Zealand; but asno Englishman has ever caught sight of one, I was inclined to doubt thefact."

  The bird seen by the party was a species of cassowary, which is found inJava and other East India islands. Several specimens have long sincebeen brought to England from the island of New Britain, the natives ofwhich call it the "mooruk," and hold it in some degree sacred. Whenthey are found very young, they are brought up as pets, and becomethoroughly domesticated
, exhibiting the most perfect confidence and awonderfully curious disposition.

  Dan and the doctor had both started up with their bows; Nub had takenhis, but when the mooruk kicked him it had been sent flying out of hishand, and before he could recover it the bird had got to such a distancethat his arrow would have glanced harmlessly off its thick feathers, hadhe attempted to shoot. Dan was excessively vexed at having let the birdescape.

  "Shure, now, if we had thought of throwing a noose over its head, wemight have caught the baste; and it would have given us as many dinnersas a good-sized sheep!" he exclaimed.

  "Not for five hundred pounds would I have allowed it to have beenkilled!" cried the doctor. "If we could have taken it to England, itwould have been of inestimable value, and would have made ample amendsfor all the dangers and hardships we have gone through."

  "Well, well, doctor, I don't know that the owners of the _Champion_would be exactly of your opinion, any more than the rest of us,"observed the mate, laughing; "but perhaps we may find some other curiouscreature before long to recompense you for your loss. It's time,however, to be on the tramp. I should like to ascertain before dark howfar we are from the mainland; for that we are on an island I feelconfident."

  The explorers accordingly once more got into motion. As they advanced,they found the sun still shining down on the shore, a proof that theywere making a westerly course, and as it sank in the sky they saw thatit almost faced them.

  "I have no longer any doubt about the matter," observed the mate. "Seeyonder distant line of blue land which runs nearly due north and south.We have evidently almost reached the extreme western end of the island;and I believe that we shall have no difficulty in getting back along thesouthern shore by to-morrow evening. We will go on a mile or twofurther, and then make preparations for encamping. We must provideproper accommodation for our little lady here; and we shall wantdaylight in which to build our hut, and to collect firewood."

  The party continued on much as before, and though, as a precautionarymeasure, Dan still went ahead to scout, on the possibility of meetingwith Indians, they had no longer much apprehension on the subject. Atlength they reached an open spot close to the seashore, though somewhatraised above it, well suited for an encampment. They accordinglyresolved to remain there for the night. Tall trees rose on either sideand behind them, with a sandy beach in front; beneath was a line of lowrocky cliffs, which formed a bulwark to the land. A wide channel ranbetween them and the mainland, which could be dimly seen in thedistance.

  All hands immediately set to work: the mate, doctor, and Walter to builda substantial hut for Alice; and Nub and Dan to collect firewood forcooking their evening meal. Alice was not idle. She employed herselfin gathering leaves and dry grass to form her bed, which, at thedoctor's suggestion, was made with a layer of twigs and small branches,the leaves being thickly strewed on the top of them.

  "I wish that, instead of taking so much pains about me, you wouldarrange some better accommodation for yourselves than you seem to thinkof doing," she said. "I feel as if I was very selfish, in allowing youto take all this trouble about me."

  "You require to be more carefully attended to than we do," answered thedoctor. "You are more delicately constituted than we are, and thoughyour spirit might sustain you, you would suffer more from exposure thanwe should."

  The doctor's arguments quieted Alice's scruples; so a small hut wasformed for her, with a thick roof of palm-leaves tied down with thevines they had before found so useful. The rest of the party formedtheir sleeping-places of twigs and small boughs, which Walter declaredmade as good beds as any sailors need require. By the time thesearrangements were finished supper was ready, and they sat down to theirrepast with thoroughly good appetites.

  "I am thankful that we came, though I was rather doubtful at first aboutmaking the journey," observed the mate. "It has shown us that we are ona small island; and also that, to a certainty, it is uninhabited, sothat we need not be compelled to proceed on our voyage till thefavourable season comes round. If we were to go to sea now we shouldvery likely encounter heavy gales, which would sorely try our littlecraft, even though she might be enlarged and strengthened to the utmostof our power. In the meantime, we shall have enough to do in preparingprovisions for the voyage, and we need have no fear of starving while weremain."

  "I thought that we were going to sail as soon as the boat could be gotready," observed Alice in a tone of disappointment.

  "So we will, Miss Alice," said the mate; "but it will take us many weeksto get her ready, with the limited number of tools and the scantymaterials we possess. As we have no saw, we must split the planks; andevery plank will have to be brought down to the required thickness withour single axe or our knives; and we shall have to cut out the ribs inthe same way. Patience and perseverance can alone enable us to overcomethe difficulties before us."

  "Well, I am ready to do my best," said Walter; "and perhaps our raft maybe cast on shore, and that will help us."

  While they were talking, the gloom of night was coming on; but the firecast a cheerful blaze, lighting up the trunks of the tall trees aroundthem, shedding a glare over the yellow sand, and tingeing the thin whiteline of foam which rolled over it, now running up some way, now recedingwith a measured, hissing sound, scarcely amounting to a roar.

  Nub, who was sitting nearest the sea, had been looking out across thesand. Suddenly he exclaimed, "I see someting! hist! hist! I know whatit is. Come along, Dan; we will catch it." Saying this, he started up,followed by Dan. "You go on one side, I go on de oder, and den we runas fast as our legs can carry us," he cried to his companion.

  They were soon scampering along over the sand, at some distance apartfrom each other. Not far from the water they again united, by whichtime the rest of the party had got up, and were proceeding in the samedirection. They could just make them out engaged apparently in adesperate struggle with a dark object; and shortly afterwards they heardDan's Irish shouts of "Hurrah! hurrah! Erin go bragh!" and Nubexclaiming, "We got one big turtle. Come, Massa Shobbrok,--come, MassaLawrie, and drag him up. We get fine food for supper."

  The mate had brought several pieces of rope, which were fastened roundthe fins of the turtle, and the poor creature was dragged on its back upto the encampment. The doctor was eager to cut it up; but the matesuggested that it would be better to let it remain alive till themorning, that they might be able to carry some of the meat home withthem. "At all events, we may hope, as this turtle has come to theshore, that others may also visit it, and afford us an abundant supplyof wholesome food," he observed.

  The turtle cannot move when turned on its back, but as a furthersecurity it was tethered by the two fore paws to a stick stuck in theground near the fire.

  As all the party were tired, they did not sit up late; but soon lay downin their respective bed-places, with a few boughs stuck in the ground toshelter their heads. They had not been long asleep when they were allaroused by a terrific peal of thunder, and looking up, they saw that thesky, which had been glittering with countless stars when they went tosleep, was now obscured by dark masses of clouds rushing across it.Vivid flashes of lightning illumined the air, now darting across theocean, now playing round the topmost boughs of the trees; while the windbegan to blow with great violence, increasing every instant, and sendingthe leaves and twigs flying around them, sometimes tearing off hugebranches, and even breaking the stout stems in two, or hurling wholetrees to the ground. Alice was sheltered in her hut; the mate did notat first like to propose that she should leave it, but he watched withgreat anxiety the tree-tops bending. At last he felt that it would bewrong for them any longer to run the risk of being crushed by a fallingtree, or being injured by the lightning which ever and anon playedaround the trees near them.

  "We shall be safer under yonder rocks than here," he said; "although ourlittle lady will, I fear, soon be drenched to the skin."

  The doctor agreed with him. "And the sooner we are off the better,
" headded. The mate, therefore, called to Alice, and, accompanied by Walterand the rest of the party, hurried down to a high rock which overhungthe beach, where a hollow at the bottom of it afforded some protectionfrom the storm. Scarcely had they left their encampment when atremendous crash was heard; and Walter, looking back, saw that a talltree had fallen nearly over the spot where they had been sitting, anddirectly on Alice's hut. Most mercifully had they been preserved; amoment later, and his dear little sister must have been crushed todeath. They all sat down in the cave, with Alice in the midst of them--by which means they managed to shield her from the rain, which camepouring down in torrents--and they could hear the water rushing over theground like a mill-sluice. Looking out seaward, they saw the waves,foam-crested, rolling in large billows across the channel; but, happily,as they were on the lee side of the island, the surf did not reach them,though it sometimes came hissing up to within twenty feet of where theywere sitting. The question was, whether the tide was rising. If itwas, too probably they might be driven from their retreat, and becompelled to retire back to the high ground, where they would be againexposed to the danger of falling trees. They anxiously watched thefoaming waters which thundered and dashed on the projecting rocks, and,as the seas came rolling round from the weather side, sent the whitefoam high into the air, glittering brightly amid the darkness during therepeated flashes of vivid lightning which darted from the clouds.

  "What should we have done had we been at sea!" exclaimed Alice.

  "I tink we all go to de bottom," observed Nub. "Bery glad we here."

  "We may all be very thankful that we are here," said the mate. "Idreaded bad weather when I first thought of continuing our voyage in theboat, but I hope that we may not be exposed to such a gale as is nowraging. As far as I can judge from the look of things, the present galeis as heavy as any we are likely to encounter."

  They sat watching the surf as it rolled up over the smooth sand. Nearerand nearer it came. The mate had ascertained that there was a secureretreat to the high ground, or he would not have ventured to remain solong. He held Alice securely in his arms, as, should the surf comehigher up than before,--not unfrequently the case during a storm,--shewould be safe from the risk of being swept away, or from the lesserdanger of being wetted through. Alice had witnessed two or threethunderstorms at sea, but this surpassed them all. Crash succeededcrash with fearful rapidity. The lightning often showed objects aroundas clearly as at noonday, and the next moment all was inky darkness.But few words were exchanged among the party, for who could speak atsuch a fearful time?

  "De sea come nearer still, Massa Shobbrok," said Nub at length, as hedarted forward a few paces to ascertain how far the surf had reached.

  "Shove in your stick, Nub; and if the water comes a foot beyond it, wemust lift our anchor and risk the falling trees," said the mate.

  Nub did as he was bid, and then springing back, crouched down againunder the rock, with his eyes intently fixed on the stick. Sea aftersea came roaring up, but the surf did not get so far as the stick.Another came with a roar very much louder than its predecessors, andAlice felt the mate half rise with her in his arms, while the doctorseized Walter's hand. On came the surf with a roaring hiss, high enoughapparently to sweep a strong man off his legs; but it barely reached thestick, and went rushing back again as rapidly as it had advanced.

  The mate sank down once more into his seat. "Unless the tide riseshigher, we are safer where we are than we should be anywhere else," heobserved.

  The tide apparently was not rising, for though the surf rolled over thesand, the fiat had gone forth, "Thus far shalt thou come, and nofurther." Still the occasional sound of falling trees, and the crashingof boughs rudely rent off, showed that the storm continued with unabatedfury.

  Daylight came stealing silently over the tumultuous ocean, still tossingand foaming before them; but there the explorers sat safe from harm,sheltered beneath a rock which no tempest could move. They did notforget to kneel and offer up a morning prayer, returning thanks fortheir preservation.

  "I tink Missie Alice hungry," said Nub at last. "I go and get de fishand de oder tings we leave at de camp."

  The mate, though anxious to obtain food and water, especially for Alice,was unwilling to let the black risk his life. But Nub promised that hewould keep his eyes open, and rush out of the way should he see anybranches likely to fall.

  He soon came back, carrying a single small cask of water and one bundleof dried fish.

  "All de rest washed away," he exclaimed in a disappointed tone. "Deturtle still dere, too, but de tree fall down and crush him. Still Itink I get meat enough for dinner."

  This was not satisfactory news; for though they might obtain water afterall the rain that had fallen, they could not replace the sago flour; norwould it be satisfactory to eat the raw turtle, and it would beimpossible to light a fire unless the sun should shine forth and dry thewood.

  "But I brought my case of sago with me. I snatched it up when youcalled me out of the hut. Here it is," said Alice.

  "Then you shall benefit by it," said the mate; "though I am afraid thatwe have nothing to mix it in at present."

  "I find someting," cried Nub; and darting out, he soon returned with abig shell, in which some sago flour was quickly stirred up with water.Though not very palatable, Alice was very glad of it; and the rest ofthe party satisfied their hunger with the smoked fish.

  While the storm lasted they remained under shelter of the rock, wherethey were perfectly dry; and they congratulated themselves that they hadno friends waiting for them at home. As the day drew on, though thewind continued blowing, the clouds broke away; and the sun coming out,quickly dried the lighter wood, which Nub and Dan soon collected. Afire was lighted under the rock by the side of the cave. They thenbrought down a portion of the turtle and roasted it. Though notparticularly well done, it was wholesome food, and Alice was glad totake some of it. The tempest now somewhat abated, and she and Walterwere able to take some exercise under shelter of the rock.

  Another night was spent in the cave, one of the party being on the watchlest the tide should unexpectedly rise and sweep over them. However,the water did not reach even so far as on the previous night; and theyall awoke much refreshed, and ready to continue their journey. More ofthe turtle was first cooked, to serve them for breakfast, and to affordthem another meal should they not meet with any game on their way. Theydetermined rather to continue their journey round the island than to goback the road they had come. Just before starting, Nub and Dan madeanother search near the encampment, and were fortunate enough to find asecond cask of water and a case of flour, so that they had now no fearof starvation.

  As they proceeded along the western coast, they found the countrygenerally much flatter than on the other side. In some parts near thecoast it consisted of a sandy plain free from trees, partly barren andpartly covered with long wavy grass. By keeping close to the higherground, they were able to cut off a considerable point, and soon foundthemselves with their faces eastward. They were also fortunate enoughto come upon a stream, which, flowing down from the central hill, lostitself in the plain. It enabled them fully to quench the thirst fromwhich they were suffering.

  Soon after they had crossed the stream, Dan, who had gone ahead, camehurrying back. "Advance aisy now," he exclaimed in a low voice."There's something worth seeing, and maybe worth getting too. Just as Iwas creeping along, not two hundred yards ahead, what should I seebefore me but a score of big birds all dancing and jigging awaytogether, for all the world as if they were at a wake or some sort ofmerrymaking. They were all so busy that none of them saw me, and Ihurried back, lest you should come upon them suddenly and frighten themaway."

  Warned by Dan, the party advanced cautiously, hiding themselves amongthe tall grass. He led them to a spot slightly elevated above theplain; and peering forth from their hiding-place, they caught sight of anumber of large birds, apparently employed as Dan had described. Theysoon saw
, however, that the birds had some object in their movements.They formed a circle, with a mound in the centre, towards which theywere busily removing the earth with their feet, throwing it up behindthem towards the centre. When they reached a certain point, they turnedround, and walked away with a steady pace to recommence the sameprocess.

  Nub, without saying anything, had stolen away, carrying a long pole witha noose fixed at the end of it. No one noticed his absence till he wasseen creeping along the ground, with his head scarcely raised above it,and his stick in advance. The birds, (which were about the size ofturkeys, their heads bare, and their necks ornamented with large frillsof feathers), not descrying the approach of an enemy, continued theirlabours, and had already produced a mound two feet in height and a dozenor more yards in circumference. It was evident, from the way theyworked, and the quantity of earth thrown up at each movement, that theyhad remarkably strong legs and claws. Walter doubted much whether Nubwould succeed in catching one; and so got ready an arrow to shoot, incase they should, on discovering the black, take to flight, and passnear them, as he thought it probable they would do.

  Sometimes Nub lay perfectly still; then again he crept forward, shovinghis noose carefully along the ground till it got very near the outercircle, to which the birds advanced before beginning to kick up thesoil. At length reaching the last tuft of grass which would assist inconcealing him, he shoved forward his pole to its utmost extent. Backcame one of the birds, and Walter saw that it had actually passed thenoose; then round it turned and began energetically kicking away, notnoticing the trap laid in its path. Presently it stepped into the verymiddle of the noose, when Nub by a violent jerk drew it tight, andstarting up, rushed away, dragging the astonished bird after him. Therest looked about for a moment, very much surprised at the unusualmovements of their companion; but its cries and the appearance of theblack soon told them what had happened, when with loud, croaking soundsthey set off, and rushed towards the very spot where the party lay hid,evidently intending to fly into the neighbouring trees for shelter. Asthey came close, Walter started up, bow in hand, and instantly shot atthe nearest bird; but, to his great disappointment, he missed. Thedoctor was equally well prepared; and shooting with steady aim, downcame a bird close to his feet, when, in spite of its struggles and thefierce way it defended itself with its beak, it was quickly captured Danmanaged to let fly an arrow; but missing, he immediately gave chase tothe rest, several of which, trusting to their feet rather than to theirwings, rushed by him, and went scuttling away at a rapid rate amid thebrushwood.

  "Arrah, now," he exclaimed, as he came back, "they all vanished likeimps just in one moment, before I could get hold even of the tail of oneof them."

  However, the two birds which had been killed by Nub and the doctor wereof great value. The latter said that he believed they were a species ofthe "brush-turkey," often found in New South Wales, and that their fleshwas excellent.

  On examining the mound, they discovered several eggs buried deep down init, leaving them in no doubt as to the purpose for which it was made bythe birds,--namely, that of hatching their young. Half-a-dozen fineeggs were secured, and Dan and Nub, hanging the turkeys on a pole,carried them along in triumph between them.

  As the party had still a long day's march before them, they pushed onwithout stopping, the doctor and the mate insisting on carrying Alicebetween them. She declared that she did not feel at all tired; however,as they were anxious to reach home if possible that night, they wouldnot listen to her expostulations. In reality, she was very thankful tobe conveyed in so comfortable a manner.

  Just before dark they caught sight of their harbour. The house wasstanding,--a proof of the sailor-like way in which it had beenconstructed; but when they looked for the boat, which had been hauled upon shore, out of reach of the sea, as they conceived, she was nowhere tobe seen.