Adrift in the Pacific-Two Years Holiday Page 13

  ‘Let us have it now, then,’ said Donagan.

  At this moment Gordon came up, just in time to prevent the quarrel ending in a fight.

  He decided that Donagan was in the wrong. And Donagan had to submit and much to his disgust went back to French Den. But it was to be feared that some other incident would soon bring the rivals to blows.

  The snow continued to fall for two days. To amuse the little ones Service and Garnett made a large snow man, with a big head, and an enormous nose—a regular Croquemitaine. And it may as well be confessed that although during the day Dole and Costar were brave enough to pelt the man with snowballs, yet at night, when the darkness had made the figure look larger, they could not look at it without being frightened.

  ‘Oh! the cowards!’ said Iverson and Jenkins, who pretended to be very brave, although they were no less terrified than their young companions.

  At the end of June their amusements had to be given up. The snow, piled up to three or four feet in thickness, rendered it almost impossible to get out. To venture more than a few hundred yards from French Den was to run the risk of being unable to return.

  The young colonists were thus kept in for a fortnight— until the 9th of July. The work did not suffer; on the contrary, the daily programme was strictly adhered to. The discussions took place on the proper days. In them all took delight and it is not surprising that Donagan, with his facility of speech and advanced education, held the first place. But why was he so vain of it? His vanity spoilt all his brilliant qualities.

  Although the hours of recreation had to be passed in the hall, the general health did not suffer, thanks to the ventilation obtained by means of the passage. The question of hygiene was an important one. If one of the boys was to fall ill how could they give him the needful attention? Fortunately they escaped with a few colds and sore throats, which rest and warm drinks soon got rid of.

  There was another question to be solved. In practice the water had been got from the stream at low tide when the brackishness had disappeared. But when the surface of the stream was frozen over this would not be possible. Gordon consulted with Baxter, his ‘engineer in ordinary,’ as to what was best to be done. Baxter, after consideration, proposed to run a conduit a few feet below the bank so that the water in it would not freeze on its way to the store-room. This would have been a difficult job if Baxter had not had at his disposal the leaden pipes which served the lavatory of the yacht; and so, after many attempts, the water was at last laid on into the interior of the store-room. For lighting there was still enough oil for the lanterns, but after the winter it would be necessary to make candles out of the fat which Moko carefully preserved.

  The feeding of the little colony was another subject of more trouble during this time, for neither the shooters nor the fishermen could furnish their usual tribute. A few animals, driven by hunger, came prowling about Game Terrace; but these were the jackals that Donagan and Cross scared away with the report of a gun. One day they came in a troop—there were about twenty of them—and the doors of the hall and store-room had to be barricaded against them. An invasion of carnivores made fierce by hunger was a formidable affair. However, Fan gave the alarm in time, and they did not force their way into French Den.

  Under these unfortunate conditions Moko was obliged to attack the provisions from the yacht, which it had been agreed to make last as long as possible. Gordon never gave his permission willingly for them to be used, and it was with disgust he saw his column of expenses lengthening while that of his receipts remained stationary. However, as there was a large stock of ducks and bustards which had been hermetically sealed in casks after being half cooked, Moko was able to make use of them, in addition to a certain quantity of salmon preserved in brine. But it should not be forgotten that French Den had fifteen mouths to satisfy, and these with appetites of from eight to fourteen years old.

  Nevertheless, during this winter, there was not an entire want of fresh meat. Wilcox, who was quite an expert in trapping, kept several ‘figure of 4’ traps going on the river-bank with success, and with the aid of his companions he rigged up a few vertical nets on high sticks, in the meshes of which the birds flying across the stream from South Moors were often caught; and although most of them got away, yet occasionally enough were taken to form a welcome addition to the day’s two meals.

  But it was the nandu which gave the greatest trouble in the matter of food; and it must be confessed that the taming of this wild animal made no progress, although Service was specially charged with his education.

  ‘What a racer it will be!’ he would repeat, although he did not yet see how he could mount it.

  As the nandu did not eat flesh, Service had to go out and search for its daily provision of herbs and roots under two or three feet of snow. But what would he not have done for the nourishment of his pet? If the nandu got rather thin during this interminable winter, it was not the fault of its faithful guardian, and there was reason to hope that when the spring came it would recover its normal plumpness.

  On the 9th of July, when Briant went out first thing in the morning, he found that the wind had suddenly got back to the south.

  The cold had become so keen that Briant at once went into the hall, and told Gordon of the change of temperature.

  ‘That is what I feared.’ said Gordon. ‘and I shall not be surprised if we have to put up with several months of very severe winter.’

  ‘That would show’ said Briant, ‘that the yacht drifted much farther to the south than we supposed.’

  ‘Doubtless,’ said Gordon; ‘but our atlas has no island like this on the boundary of the Antarctic Ocean!’

  ‘It is inexplicable, and really I do not know where we shall go if we manage to leave Charman Island.’

  ‘Leave our island!’ exclaimed Gordon. ‘Are you always thinking of that?’

  ‘Always!’ said Briant ‘If we could build a boat that would be seaworthy, I should not hesitate to go on a voyage of discovery.’

  ‘All right!’ said Gordon. ‘But there is no hurry. Wait a little till we have got our colony into order.’

  ‘Eh?’ said Briant ‘ You forget we have left behind us our fathers and mothers.’

  ‘Of course—of course—’ said Gordon. ‘But we are not so badly off here! We are getting on, and I am beginning to ask myself what it is we have not got.’

  ‘Many things, Gordon,’ said Briant not caring to prolong the conversation on this subject. ‘For instance, we are running short of fuel.’

  ‘Oh! all the forests in the island are not yet burnt.’

  ‘No. But we ought to replenish our stock of wood, for it is nearly at an end.’

  ‘We’ll see about that to-day. What does the thermometer register?’

  The thermometer in the store-room showed only 41°, although the stove was doing its best But when the instrument had been taken outside, and exposed against the outer wall, it went down to zero.

  This cold was intense, and it would certainly increase if the weather remained clear and dry for a few weeks. Already, notwithstanding the roaring of the stoves in the hall, and the cooking-range, the temperature sensibly decreased in the interior of French Den.

  About nine o clock, after breakfast, It was decided to be off to Trap Woods, and bring in a stock of fuel.

  When the atmosphere is calm the lowest temperatures can be supported with impunity. It is during the bitter wind that hands and face are frost-bitten, and life is in danger. Fortunately, on this day the wind was extremely feeble, and the sky without a cloud, as if the air was frozen. In place of the soft snow into which the night before the legs would sink, the surface was now as hard as iron, and to avoid falling the boys had to walk as carefully as if they were on Family Lake or Zealand River, which were now entirely frozen over. With a few pairs of snow-shoes, such as are used by the natives of polar regions, or even with a sledge drawn by dogs or reindeer, the lake could have been explored from north to south in a few hours.

 
But no such long expedition was intended to-day. To go to the neighbouring forest to replenish the stock of fuel, that was the immediate necessity; and to bring a sufficient quantity to the cave would be arduous work, if it had to be transported in the arms or on the back. But Moko had an idea which he proceeded to put into execution. The big table in the store-room, strongly built, and measuring twelve feet in length by four in breadth, would that not do for a sledge if the legs were turned uppermost? Why, certainly, and that is what was done; and with four of the bigger boys dragging it by cords attached to its legs, the departure was made to Trap Woods.

  The little ones, with red noses and healthy cheeks, frisked along in front, and Fan set them the example. Occasionally they caught hold of the table, not without disputes and running fights, but all in fun, and at the risk only of a fall, which could do them no harm. Their shouts resounded with extraordinary clearness in the cold, dry atmosphere. And, in truth, it was quite refreshing to see all the little colony in good humour and good health.

  Everything was white as far as the eye could see between Auckland Hill and Family Lake. The trees, with their rimy branches loaded with glittering crystals, rose near and far in masses, as in a faery garden. Over the surface of the lake the birds flew in flocks. Donagan and Cross had not forgotten to bring their guns with them —a wise precaution, for footprints were noticed that must have been made by other wild animals than jackals, cougars, and jaguars.

  ‘Perhaps they are the wild cats they call “pajeros,”‘ said Gordon.

  ‘Oh!’ said Costar, shrugging his shoulders, ‘if they are only cats—’

  ‘And tigers are only cats,’ said Jenkins.

  ‘Is it true, Service,’ asked Costar, ‘that these cats are dangerous?’

  ‘Quite true,’ said Service. ‘And they scrag little boys as easily as they do mice.’

  And the answer made Costar rather uneasy.

  The half-mile between French Den and Trap Woods was soon accomplished, and the young wood-cutters got to work. The axe was only laid to such trees as were of a certain size; these were stripped of their smaller branches, so as to yield not only faggots which would blaze away in a moment, but good-sized blocks that would come in useful for the stoves and range. Then the table-sledge was heavily loaded, but it slipped along so easily that before twelve o’clock it had made two journeys.

  After a meal the work went on till four o’clock, when the day began to close in. It was tiring work, and, as there was no need to carry anything to excess, Gordon railed the boys off, intending to return in the morning. And when Gordon ordered they had to obey.

  Besides, as soon as they returned to French Den, they could employ themselves in sawing the blocks, splitting them, and stowing them away, and that would occupy them till it was time to go to bed.

  For six days this wood-cutting went on without a break, and enough fuel was collected to last for many weeks.

  Of course, all this wood could not be stowed in the store-room; but there was no reason why the greater part should not remain in safety against the cliff near the door.

  The 15th of July, according to the almanac, was St. Swithin’s Day, which in England corresponds to St. Médard’s Day in France.

  ‘Then,’ said Briant, ‘as it rains to-day, are we going to have forty days’ rain?’

  ‘Well,’ said Service, ‘I don’t see how that can matter, as we are in the winter. If it had been summer—’

  And, in fact, the inhabitants of the southern hemisphere have no occasion to bother themselves with the sinister influences of either of the wet saints, who are winter saints in the antipodes.

  But the rain did not continue, the wind returned to the south-east, and it became so cold that Gordon would not allow any of the little ones to set foot out of doors.

  In the first week in August the thermometric column sank to 14° below zero, and the breath of those who for a moment exposed themselves to the air condensed into snow. The hand could not touch a piece of metal without a sharp pain as of burning. The most careful precautions had to be taken to keep the temperature indoors sufficiently high.

  A most painful fortnight followed. All suffered, more or less, from the want of exercise. Briant could not see, without feeling anxious the pale looks of the little ones, whose colour had quite disappeared. However, thanks to the hot drinks, which were always procurable, with the exception of a few colds and bronchial troubles, the young people escaped without much damage.

  On the 16th of August the air underwent a change, as the wind shifted into the west, and the thermometer rose to 10°, a temperature that was supportable if the atmosphere was calm.

  Donagan, Briant, Service, Wilcox, and Baxter decided to make an excursion to Schooner Bay. By starting early they could get back before night.

  They wanted to find out if the coast were visited by any number of those amphibians of which they had seen a few at the time of the wreck; and at the same time they would replace the flag, of which only a few rags could remain after the storms of winter. And, at Briant’s suggestion, they could fix to the signal-mast a plate indicating the position of French Den, in case any sailors landed on the coast after seeing the flag.

  Gordon gave his assent to the expedition, although he laid stress on the necessity of their getting back before night, and the boys started early on the 19th, before it was daylight. The sky was clear, and the moon lighted up the landscape with the pale rays of its last quarter. Six miles to the bay was not much of a distance for the well-rested legs.

  The distance was soon covered. The swamp of Bog Wood being frozen over, there was no need to go round it and by nine o’clock Donagan and his comrades had reached the beach.

  ‘There is a flock of birds,’ said Wilcox. And he pointed to the reef where thousands of birds, like large ducks, with their beaks elongated like a mussel-shell, were giving vent to a cry as piercing as disagreeable.

  ‘You would say they were little soldiers, whose general was reviewing them,’ said Service.

  ‘They are only penguins,’ answered Baxter, ‘and they are not worth a shot.’

  These stupid birds, holding themselves almost upright owing to their feet being placed so far back, did not attempt to move, and could have been knocked down with a stick. Donagan might perhaps, have indulged in useless carnage; but Briant having had the wisdom to say nothing, the penguins were left alone. But if the birds were of no use, there were other animals whose fat would do for lighting French Den during the next winter. These were the seals, of the horn seal species, who were taking their ease on the reef, which was then covered with a thick bed of ice. But to kill any the boys would have to cut off their retreat, as when Briant and his comrades approached they took to flight with many extraordinary antics, and disappeared in the sea. Evidently an expedition for the capture of these animals would have to be organized later on.

  After having lunched on the few provisions they had brought with them, the boys set to work to examine the whole stretch of the bay.

  One long white sheet extended from Zealand River to False Point. Except the penguins and sea-birds, such as petrels and gulls, it seemed as though the other birds had abandoned the beach for the interior in search of food.

  Two or three feet of snow lay on the beach, and all that remained of the schooner had been hidden by it. The lines of seaweed on the near side of the breakers showed that Schooner Bay had not been invaded by the high tides of the equinox.

  The sea was still deserted, as far as could be seen, up to the very limit of the horizon that Briant had not looked upon for three long months. And beyond, hundreds of miles away, was this New Zealand that he did not despair of seeing again.

  Baxter busied himself in hoisting the new flag which he had brought with him, and nailing to the flagstaff the plate giving the position of French Den at six miles up the course of the stream. Then, about one o’clock in the afternoon, they started homewards.

  On the way Donagan shot a brace of pintail and lapwing which were
skimming over the river; and towards four o’clock, as dusk was coming on, they reached the cave. Gordon was told of all that had passed, and agreed that the seals should be attacked as soon as the weather permitted.

  In fact, the winter was nearly over. During the last week of August and the first week of September, the sea-breeze regained its supremacy. A series of squalls brought on a great increase of temperature. The snow began to melt, the surface of the lake began to break up with a deafening noise. The bergs that did not melt in the lake were swept into the river, and, piled one on the other, formed a barrier that did not clear away till the 10th of September.

  And so the winter had passed. Owing to the precautions that had been taken, the little colony had not suffered excessively. All had kept in good health, and the studies having been attended to zealously, Gordon had had hardly one complaint to deal with.

  One day, however, he had had to chastise Dole, whose conduct required an exemplary punishment.

  Several times the obstinate boy had refused to do what he was told, and Gordon had reprimanded him, but he took no notice of his observations. And in the end Gordon sentenced him to be flogged.

  And so Dole received a birching at the hands of Wilcox, who had been selected by lot for the post of public executioner. And the example had its effect in preventing any recurrence of insubordination.

  On September the 10th six months had elapsed since the schooner was lost on the reefs of Charman Island.

  CHAPTER XIV—A JOURNEY NORTHWARDS.

  WITH the fine weather now in prospect the young colonists intended to put into execution several of the schemes they had thought about during the long winter.

  To the west it was only too obvious that there was no land near the island. Was it the same with regard to the north and south? Did the island belong to an archipelago or group in the Pacific? It certainly did not according to Baudoin’s map. Nevertheless there might be islands in these parts, for Baudoin had no telescope or glasses, and Auckland Hill was only high enough to command a horizon of a few miles. The boys with their instruments might discover what had been beyond the powers of the survivor of the Duguay Trouin.