The Girl Crusoes: A Story of the South Seas Page 14

  The three girls, struck with consternation, slipped back within theshelter of the trees. Tommy clung to Elizabeth's hand. Here wasconfirmation of her story. It said much for her restraint, or perhapsfor the renewal of her fears, that she did not turn upon Mary with awhispered "I told you so."

  Elizabeth had determined if she should see a native to show a boldfront and try to make friends with him. Now, though Tommy on one sideand Mary on the other were pulling her back, she stood her ground,whispering, "Wait: perhaps it is deserted." But she had scarcelyuttered the words when, from among the trees on the other side of thestream, about two hundred yards away, they caught sight of a nativeapproaching. They were only aware that it was the figure of a man: allElizabeth's bold resolutions evaporated. Without waiting to take inany details of the stranger's appearance they fled noiselessly amongthe trees, swerving to the left of the course they had intended tofollow.

  They ran until they were out of breath, glancing round fearfully everynow and again. Had they been seen? Would the savage pursue them?There was no sign of pursuit, and when breathlessness forced them towalk, they stepped out quickly, not daring to speak.

  They were in a part of the island utterly unfamiliar to them.Elizabeth had quite lost her bearings. The vegetation was very thick;even where it was not actual forest there were bushes in clumps, largetangled masses of creepers, and briers which, as they forced their waythrough, tore their clothes and scratched their hands and faces. Theystumbled over obstacles at almost every step. Here and there theground rose steeply, and the haste of their ascent made them pant forbreath.

  After a time Elizabeth, always quickest to recover her self-possession,began to reproach herself for giving way so easily to panic.

  "What an idiot I was!" she said in a whisper. "The idea of runningfrom a solitary creature!"

  "But he was a cannibal!" said Mary.

  "How do we know that? Was he the owner of your little brown face,Tommy?"

  "Yes--no--I don't know," murmured Tommy. "I don't think so."

  "I ought to have waited," continued Elizabeth. "We might at least haveseen whether he was young or old. Why, for all we know he is a whiteman, cast away like ourselves."

  "He had no coat on, I saw that," said Mary.

  "He may be a native hermit, then. There are such people among thesavages, I suppose."

  "But there may be hundreds," said Tommy.

  "Living in one little hut? Nonsense!"

  "There may be other huts, we can't tell," said Mary. "The savage mayhave been coming from one of the others."

  "That's true! It is more likely that the man has companions, I admit.Well, if I can't pluck up courage to go among them, we must simply takecare to keep on our side of the island, and that means starvation intime. But where are we? The sun is getting low: it will be dark soon.Let us run again."

  They found themselves soon entering another patch of forest, and beganto be seriously alarmed at the prospect of being overtaken by nightbefore they reached home.

  Elizabeth thought it best to keep straight on, for by so doing theymust come in time to the shore. But it is difficult to judge directionin the forest, and when darkness descended upon them while they werestill among the trees, Elizabeth was forced to the conclusion that theyhad been wandering round and round all the time.

  "It's of no use, girls," she said; "we can never find our way in thedark. We shall have to stay here for the night."

  They had been without food all day. Utterly worn out by hunger,exertion and alarm, they huddled together at the foot of a tree andfell into an uneasy sleep. Several times during the night they weredisturbed by slight noises in the brushwood around them, or in thetrees overhead. But nothing happened to alarm them, and when dawnglimmered through the trees they rose, a haggard and sorry trio, andset off once more to find a way home.

  Only a few minutes' walk uphill brought them to the ridge, from whichthey could see the orange grove. They were so desperately hungry andthirsty that they were ready to face all hazards for the sake of somefruit. They hurried to the grove, snatched up a few oranges andbananas, and devoured them as they continued on their homeward way.

  When they reached their hut, their feeling of security was alloyed bythe distressing thought that they had lost their boat. The savages,whose settlement was near the cove at which they had landed, and whoprobably appropriated the fruits of the cocoa-nut palms there, wouldcertainly discover the boat drawn up on the beach. The girls hadalways regarded it as a last refuge; they could always use it to rowout to any ship that came reasonably near, if they failed to attractthe attention of those on board in any other way. They felt that itsdisappearance very likely doomed them to a lifelong imprisonment on theisland, and their hearts were heavy as lead. Not being withoutimagination, they had often in their secret thoughts looked into thefuture, and seen themselves growing older, falling ill, one or theother of them dying; and the possibility of being the last survivor,shut up in this ocean prison-house without human companionship, filledeach of them with terror.

  With the morning common-sense asserted itself.

  "We shall be perfect ninnies if we don't try to get back our boat,"said Elizabeth. "I've been thinking a good deal in the night, and themore I think the more convinced I am that there can't be many nativeson the island. Why should they keep to themselves so? Why don't theyever come to this part? If only I could cease being a coward for fiveminutes I'd brave them. Anyhow we ought to walk back to the place welanded at yesterday and bring our boat away. It mayn't have beendiscovered yet."

  "But suppose it has been discovered?" said Mary.

  "They'd probably leave it on the shore. If we walk over there thisevening and get there about dark, we might steal it away. It's our ownproperty."

  "I don't want to go near the place," said Tommy. "Besides, we mightlose our way."

  "Not if we walk over the cliffs," replied Elizabeth. "We have nevertried that. The woods are thick, but we might find the walk easierthan we think. At any rate, it would be shorter than going all roundby the ridge. You see, Tommy, we need not go near the hut at all.Don't come if you feel nervous. Mary and I can row the boat back."

  "No, I won't be left. If you go I go too. If we don't see the boatwhere we left it, you won't go any farther, will you?"

  "I won't if it is not in sight," said Elizabeth, "but if it is anywherewithin reach it would be silly not to try to get it. We want some fishbadly. Let's go fishing this morning, and rest all the afternoon, soas to be fresh for our walk."

  So it was arranged, but the plan had to be modified. While Tommy andMary were fishing from the rocks, it occurred to Elizabeth to climb tothe cliff top and see if the way she suggested was practicable. Shewas disappointed. Not only was the forest dense, and the undergrowthan almost impenetrable mass of thorny thicket, but the ground was muchbroken by fissures and small crevasses, so that, instead of beingeasier than the route across the island, this way promised to be longerand much more troublesome.

  When she returned to her sisters she found them cheerful over a finercatch than usual. Taking advantage of their high spirits she told themthe result of her expedition, and employed all her persuasiveness toinduce them to attempt the route by the ridge. She overcame Tommy'sreluctance, and then tactfully dropped the subject, hoping that theyoung girl's courage would not ooze away before it was time to start.

  About four o'clock, after making a good meal, they set off, Tommyexacting a promise that Elizabeth would turn back at the least sign ofdanger. They walked quickly until they had crossed the ridge; then,avoiding the orange grove, they struck off more directly to the east,moving more slowly, and with many a cautious glance around.

  "We ought to come above the waterfall by and by," said Elizabeth in awhisper.

  Her sense of locality had not deceived her. In a few minutes theyheard the musical plashing of the water. Keeping this sound on theirright, they went on, guessing that the native hut must be at somedista
nce below them, nearer the sea. As they went on, in silence, theycame suddenly to what appeared to be the opening of a large cave in theface of the cliff. They shrank back, wondering if this was a dwellingof some of the inhabitants; but taking courage from the perfectstillness they ventured to pass the opening and continued their descenttowards the sea.

  Presently, round a bend of the cliff, they saw the native hut, nestlingat the foot of the rocky precipice, two or three hundred yards away.The sun was very near its setting, and its last rays being interceptedby the high ground in the centre of the island, the light was alreadydim at the point at which they had arrived. To gain the cove theywould have to descend a little lower and then cross through a clump oftrees. As they approached this, Tommy, whose keen eyes were restlesslysearching the neighbourhood, declared that she had caught sight of asmall figure flitting among the trees beyond the hut. They all haltedand gazed anxiously towards the spot she pointed out; but no form,human or otherwise, was now to be seen. There was the hut just as theyhad seen it before, but no person was visible, nor even the smoke of afire.

  Fearing that it would be quite dark before they reached the cove theyhurried on. The remaining distance was greater than Elizabeth hadsupposed, and the clump of trees more extensive. As they passedthrough this, the hut now being hidden from sight, they were morecircumspect than ever. At last they reached the end of it, and haltingfor another look round, they hastened on towards the sandy beach wherethey had left the boat.

  It was not many minutes before they saw, with a pang of disappointment,that the boat was certainly not where it had been.

  "Let's go back," whispered Tommy; "you know you promised."

  "But there is no danger yet, child," replied Elizabeth somewhatimpatiently. "We might at least see if it is anywhere about."

  She went on in advance of the others, and almost shouted for joy whenshe caught sight of the boat drawn up in a snug little recess. Shebeckoned the girls to join her, and as they came up, pointed with someexcitement to a small native canoe that lay a few feet beyond their ownboat. Tommy gave a startled gasp.

  "There are savages," she whispered; "oh, do let us go. I know we shallbe caught."

  "We won't go without the boat," said Elizabeth fiercely. "Quick! It'sbound to make a scraping sound as we drag it down; but it's very nearthe water, and before any one can reach us from the hut we shall beafloat."

  With nervous energy they drew the boat down to the water, sprang intoit, and, in a state of fearful joy, Elizabeth began to pull from theshore.

  "Steer close in, Tommy," she said, "or we shall be in the current.There's only half-an-hour of daylight left, but if I pull hard we shallbe home almost as soon as it is dark. Mind the rocks."

  Mary, the only unoccupied member of the party, kept her eyes fixed onthe shore.

  "I see some one," she called suddenly; "there, just by thosecocoa-nuts."

  Tommy turned quickly. In the gathering dusk she was unable at first tosee the object to which Mary pointed; but presently she distinguished,peeping round the stem of a palm not fifty yards away, a little brownface surmounted by a mop of very black hair.

  "There it is," she cried, "the same that I saw before. Pull hard,Bess; they'll be after us in their canoe."

  Elizabeth suspected that the native craft would be much speedier thantheir own little tub, and, fearful of pursuit, plied her scullslustily. As the boat drew away, the head moved; a shoulder appeared;then a complete body, which came slowly down to the edge of the shore.

  "I believe it's a girl!" exclaimed Mary.

  But in the fading light it was impossible to see distinctly, and theyhad no temptation to delay, even though Mary's exclamation had arousedtheir curiosity. The figure was soon completely out of sight. Tommyhad to keep all her attention fixed on the task of steering, for theyhad never rowed along this part of the shore, which was much broken byprojecting rocks.

  "Are you sure it was not the man we saw before?" asked Elizabeth.

  "I don't think it was," said Mary. "It seemed smaller. I wonder if itwas a girl?"

  "We are making surprising discoveries," said Elizabeth. "No one ischasing us, at any rate. Can we have been scared all this time by agirl?"

  Tommy said nothing. The figure had appeared to be about her ownheight. Was it possible that the little brown face which had so muchfrightened her, and which she had seen with horror in her dreams,belonged to a young girl like herself? She felt a strange longing toknow.

  CHAPTER XVII

  THE FOUNDLING

  The improvement in the weather was only temporary, and for several daysthe girls were kept at home by the heavy rains. They talked a gooddeal about their discovery. There appeared to be at least two nativeson the island; how many more they were unable to guess. Havingthemselves been seen, they felt that they could no longer owe theirsafety to the ignorance of the inhabitants; but the bad weather mightdiscourage any attempt to seek them out. Whether they would escapeattack when the rain ceased was a problem that caused much anxiety.

  Early one morning a hurricane swept over the island, not so devastatingas its predecessor, but violent enough to make them fear for the safetyof their hut. This time, however, the wind blew from a differentquarter, and the girls' frail dwelling, being sheltered by the highground behind, escaped damage. The storm lasted a few hours, and wasthen succeeded by a day of brilliant sunshine. The girls tookadvantage of this to replenish their larder. While Tommy and Elizabethwere fishing, Mary posted herself as sentry to give the alarm if thenatives appeared. They feared that the precaution would avail themlittle if they were really attacked, for they had no means of defence;but it might at least give them time to escape for the moment bylaunching the boat. They were undisturbed, however: and when the dayclosed they rejoiced in one more respite.

  Next morning Tommy, on going down to the beach, was surprised to see acanoe, apparently empty, drifting past the reef. It flashed upon herthat this might be the canoe they had seen up the coast, and that ithad been washed away, like their own boat, by the recent storm.

  She ran up to the hut to tell her sisters what she had seen, and allthree hurried down to the shore.

  "Let's row out and catch it," cried Tommy excitedly. "I should love tolearn to paddle a native canoe, and I dare say in time we could make itgo along faster than our own dinghy."

  "You want to capture an enemy's ship," said Elizabeth, with a smile."I don't see any reason why we shouldn't. But we'll take some food andwater this time. After our last adventure I don't care about voyagingwithout provisions."

  Tommy ran back to the hut for some fruit and cold fish, while Maryfilled their water-pots at the stream. Having placed them in the boatthey rowed out towards the reef. By the time they were afloat thecanoe had drifted out into the main current, and was being carriedrapidly away. The sea was calm, and Elizabeth's vigorous strokesbrought the boat in twenty minutes or so within a few yards of thecanoe.

  Suddenly Mary, who had been keeping a look-out in the boat, uttered astartled exclamation.

  "Bess, I believe there's some one lying in it."

  Elizabeth at once lay on her oars.

  "Row back!" whispered Tommy. "It's one of the savages. He's hiding todecoy us, or something."

  Elizabeth's common-sense asserted itself.

  "That's not likely," she said. "How would he suppose that we shouldrow out? and we couldn't get away now if we tried if he has a paddle.If he hasn't he can't do us much harm. Now's the best chance we haveof making friends."

  "Don't, Bess!" whispered Tommy anxiously, as Elizabeth dipped the oarsagain.

  But Elizabeth was firm, and with a few strokes brought the boatalongside the canoe. Not a sound had come from it.

  "It's a girl!" exclaimed Mary, now that she could see more clearly thebottom of the canoe.

  Tommy gave a gasp. Was she to behold the owner of the little brownface at last? Elizabeth no longer hesitated. She drew close to thecanoe, shipped oars, and laid a
hand on the side.

  The girls looked down with a sort of awed curiosity. In the bottom ofthe boat lay a native girl--a brown-skinned pretty little creature,with a string of what looked like teeth around her neck, and a yellowkerchief about her waist. She was perfectly still; her eyes wereclosed.

  "She's dead!" whispered Tommy, whose eyes were dilated with excitement.

  Elizabeth leant over and placed her hand under the child's breast.

  "No, she is alive," she said, "but her heart is beating very faintly.Some water, Mary--quick!"

  It was impossible, placed as she was, to pour any water into the girl'smouth; but Elizabeth sprinkled a little on her head. After a time thegirl stirred, opened her eyes and moved her lips, but no sound camefrom them, and in a moment her eyelids again drooped.

  "She's absolutely done," said Elizabeth. "We'll tow the canoe home.Tommy, fasten the painter. The poor child's very bad."

  The boat's head was turned, and Elizabeth rowed as hard as she couldagainst the current. Fortunately, they had not come very far beyondthe gap in the reef. When the boat reached the still water ittravelled much faster, and within an hour of leaving they regained theshore. During this time Tommy had thrown an occasional glance over hershoulder at the prostrate girl. Once she caught the child's eyes fixedupon her, and felt a thrill as she recognized them; they were the sameas she had seen peering at her out of the bush. She felt no fear now,but a longing to help the little stranger and know more about her.