THE LIGHT IN THE WEED
NOW THE WIND was very violent from the sea, andthreatened to blow down
our tent, the which, indeed, it achieved at last as we made an end of
a cheerless breakfast. Yet, the bo'sun bade us not trouble to put it
up again; but spread it out with the edges raised upon props made from
the reeds, so that we might catch some of the rain water; for it was
become imperative that we should renew our supply before putting out
again to sea. And whilst some of us were busied about this, he took
the others and set up a small tent made of the spare canvas, and under
this he sheltered all of our matters like to be harmed by the rain.
In a little, the rain continuing very violent, we had near a
breaker-full of water collected in the canvas, and were about to run
it off into one of the breakers, when the bo'sun cried out to us to
hold, and first taste the water before we mixed it with that which we
had already. At that, we put down our hands and scooped up some of the
water to taste, and thus we discovered it to be brackish and quite
undrinkable, at which I was amazed, until the bo'sun reminded us that
the canvas had been saturated for many days with salt water, so that
itwould take a great quantity of fresh before all the salt was washed
out. Then he told us to lay it flat upon the beach, and scour it well
on both sides with the sand, which we did, and afterwards let the rain
rinse it well, whereupon the next water that we caught we found to be
near fresh; though not sufficiently so for our purpose. Yet when we
had rinsed it once more, it became clear of the salt, so that we were
able to keep all that we caught further.
And then, something before noon, the rain ceased to fall, though
coming again at odd times in short squalls; yetthe wind died not, but
blew steadily, and continued so from that quarter during the remainder
of the time that we were upon the island.
Upon the ceasing of the rain, the bo'sun called usall together, that
we might make a decent burial of the unfortunatelad, whose remains had
lain during the night upon one of the bottom-boards of the boat. After
a little discussion, it was decided to bury him in the beach; for the
only part where there was soft earth was in the valley, and none of us
had a stomach for that place. Moreover, the sand was soft and easy to
dig, and as we had no proper tools, this was a great consideration.
Presently, using the bottom-boards and the oars and the hatchet, wehad
a place large and deep enough to hold theboy, and into this we placed
him. We made no prayer over him; but stood about the grave for a
little space, in silence. Then, the bo'sun signed to us to fill in the
sand; and, therewith, wecovered up the poor lad, and left him to his
sleep.
And, presently, we made our dinner, after which the bo'sun served out
to each one of us a very sound tot of the rum; for he was minded to
bring us back again to a cheerful state of mind.
After we had sat awhile, smoking, the bo'sun divided us into two
parties to make a search through the island among the rocks, perchance
we should find water, collected from the rain, among thehollows and
crevasses; for though we had gotten some, through our device with the
sail, yet we had by no means caught sufficient for our needs. He was
especially anxious for haste, in thatthe sun had come out again; for
he was feared that such small pools as we should find would bespeedily
dried up by its heat.
Now the bo'sun headed one party, and set the big seaman over the
other, bidding all to keep their weapons veryhandy. Then he set out to
the rocks about the base of the nearer hill, sending the others to
thefarther and greater one, and in each party we carried an empty
breaker slung from a couple of the stout reeds, so that we might put
all such driblets as we should find, straight away into it, before
they had time to vanish into the hot air; and for the purpose of
bailing up the water, we had brought with us our tin pannikins, and
one of the boat's bailers.
In a while, and after much scrambling amid the rocks, we came upona
little pool of water thatwas remarkably sweet and fresh, and from this
we removed near three gallons before it became dry; and after that we
came across, maybe, five or six others; but not oneof them near so big
as the first; yet we were notdispleased; for we had near three parts
filled the breaker, and so we made back to the camp, having some
wonder as to the luck of the other party.
When we came near the camp, we found the others returned before us,
and seeming in a veryhigh content with themselves; so that we had no
need to call to them as to whether they had filled their breaker. When
they saw us, they set out to us at a run to tell us that they had come
upon a great basinof fresh water in a deep hollow a third of the
distance up the side of the far hill, and at this the bo'sun bade us
put down our breaker and make all of us to the hill, so that he might
examine for himself whether their news was so good as it seemed.
Presently, being guided by the other party, we passed around to the
back of the far hill, and discovered it to go upward to the top at an
easy slope, with many ledges and broken places, so that it was scarce
more difficult than a stair to climb. Andso, having climbed perhaps
ninety or a hundred feet, we came suddenly upon the place which held
the water, and found that they had not made too much of their
discovery; for the pool was near twenty feet long by twelve broad, and
so clear as though it had come froma fountain; yet it had considerable
depth, as we discovered by thrusting a spear shaft down into it.
Now the bo'sun, having seen for himself how good a supply of water
there was for our needs, seemed very much relieved in his mind, and
declared that within three days at the most we might leave the island,
at which we felt none of us any regret. Indeed, had the boat escaped
harm, we had been able to leave that same day; but this could not be;
for there was much to be done before we had her seaworthy again.
Having waited until the bo'sun had made complete his examination, we
turned to descend, thinking thatthis would be the bo'sun's intention;
but he called to us to stay, and, looking back, we saw that he made to
finish the ascent of the hill. At that, we hastened to follow him;
though we had no notion of his reason for going higher. Presently, we
were cometo the top, and here we found a very spacious place, nicely
level save that in one or two parts it was crossed by deepish cracks,
maybe half a foot to a foot wide, and perhaps three to six fathoms
long; but, apart from these and some great boulders, it was, as I have
mentioned, a spacious place; moreover it was bone dry and pleasantly
firm under one's feet, after so long upon the sand.
I think, even thus early, I had some notion of the bo'sun's design;
for I went to the edge that overlooked the valley, and peered down,
and, finding it nigh a sheer precipice, found myself nodding my head,
as though it were in accordance with some part formed wish. Presently,
looking about me, I discovered the bo'sun to be surveying that part
which looked over towards the weed, and I made across to joinhim.
Here, again, I saw that the hill fell away very sheer, and after
thatwe went across to the seaward edge, and thereit was near as abrupt
as on the weed side.
Then, having by this timethought a little upon the matter, I put it
straight to the bo'sun that here would make indeed a very secure
camping place, with nothing to come at us upon our sides or back; and
our front, where was the slope, could be watched with ease. And this I
put to him with great warmth; for I was mortally in dread of the
coming night,
Now when I had made an end of speaking, the bo'sun disclosed to me
that this was, as I had suspicion, his intent, andimmediately he
called to the men that we should haste down, and ship our camp to the
top of the hill. At that, the men expressed their approbation, and we
made haste every one of us to the camp, and began straightway to move
our gear to the hill-top.
In the meanwhile, the bo'sun, taking me to assist him, set-to again
upon the boat, being intent to get his batten nicely shaped and fit to
the side of the keel, so that it would bed well to the keel, but more
particularly to the plank which had sprung outward from its place. And
at this he laboured the greater part of that afternoon, using the
little hatchet to shape the wood, which he did with surprising skill;
yet when the evening was come, he had not brought it to his liking.
But it must not be thought that he did naught but work at the boat;
for he had the mento direct, and once he had to make his way to the
top of the hill to fix the place for the tent. And after the tent was
up, he set them to carry the dry weed to the new camp, and at this he
keptthem until near dusk; forhe had vowed never again to be without a
sufficiency of fuel. But two of the men he sent to collect
shell-fish--putting two of them to the task, because he would not have
one alone upon the island, not knowing but that there might be danger,
even though it were bright day; and a most happy ruling it proved;
for, a little past the middle of the afternoon, we heard them shouting
at the other end of the valley, and, not knowing but that they were in
need of assistance, we ran with all haste to discover the reason of
their calling, passing along the right-hand side of the blackened and
sodden vale. Upon reaching the further beach, we saw a most incredible
sight; for the two men were running towards us through the thick
masses of the weed, while, no more than four or five fathomsbehind,
they were pursued by an enormouscrab. Now I had thought the crab we
had tried to capture before coming to the island, a prodigy
unsurpassed; but this creature was more than treble its size, seeming
asthough a prodigious table were a-chase of them, and moreover, spite
of its monstrous bulk, it made better way over the weed than I should
have conceived to be possible--running almost sideways, and with one
enormous clawraised near a dozen feet into the air.
Now whether, omitting accidents, the men would have made good their
escape to the firmer ground of the valley, where they could have
attained to a greater speed, I do not know; but suddenly one of them
tripped over a loop of the weed, and the next instant lay helpless
upon his face. He had been dead the following moment, but for the
pluck of his companion, who faced round manfully upon themonster, and
ran at it with his twenty-foot spear. It seemed to me that the spear
took it about a foot below the overhanging armour of the great back
shell, and I could see that it penetrated some distance into the
creature, the man having, by the aid of Providence, stricken it in a
vulnerable part. Upon receiving this thrust, the mighty crab ceased at
once its pursuit, and clipped at the haft of thespear with its great
mandible, snapping the weapon more easily than I had done the same
thing to a straw. Bythe time we had raced up to the men, the one who
had stumbled was again upon his feet, and turning to assist his
comrade; but the bo'sun snatched his spear from him, and leapt forward
himself; for the crab was making now at the otherman. Now the bo'sun
didnot attempt to thrust thespear into the monster; but instead he
made twoswift blows at the great protruding eyes, and in amoment the
creature had curled itself up, helpless, save that the huge claw waved
about aimlessly. At that, the bo'sun drew us off, though the man who
had attacked the crab desired to make an end of it, averring that we
should get some very good eating out of it; but to this the bo'sun
would not listen, telling him that it was yet capable of very deadly
mischief, did any but come within reach of its prodigious mandible.
And after this, he bade them look no more for shellfish; but take out
the two fishing-lines which we had, and see ifthey could catch aught
from some safe ledge on the further side of the hill upon which we had
made our camp. Then he returned to his mending of the boat.
It was a little before the evening came down upon the island, that the
bo'sun ceased work; and, after that, he called to the men, who, having
made an end of their fuel carrying, were standing near, to place the
full breakers--which we had not thought needful to carry to the new
camp on account of their weight--under the upturned boat, some holding
up the gunnel whilst the others pushed them under. Then the bo'sun
laid the unfinished batten along with them, and we lowered the boat
again over all, trusting to its weight to prevent any creature from
meddling with aught.
After that, we made at once to the camp, being wearifully tired, and
with a hearty anticipation of supper. Upon reaching the hilltop, the
men whom the bo'sun had sent withthe lines, came to show him a very
fine fish, something like to a hugeking-fish, which they had caught a
few minutes earlier. This, the bo'sun, after examining, did not
hesitate to pronounce fit for food; whereupon they set-to and opened
and cleanedit. Now, as I have said, it was not unlike a great
king-fish, and like it, hada mouth full of very formidable teeth; the
useof which I understood the better when I saw the contents of its
stomach, which seemed to consist of nothing but the coiled tentacles
of squid or cuttle-fish, with which, as I have shown, the
weed-continent swarmed. When these were upset upon the rock, I was
confounded to perceive the length and thickness of some of them; and
could only conceive that this particular fish must be a very desperate
enemy to them, and able successfully to attack monsters of a bulk
infinitely greater than itsown.
After this, and whilst the supper was preparing, the bo'sun called to
some of the men to put up a piece of the spare canvas upon a couple of
the reeds, so as to make a screen against the wind, which up there was
so fresh that it came near at times to scattering the fire abroad.
This they found not difficult; for a little on the windward side of
the fire there ran one of the cracks of which I have made previous
mention, and into this they jammed the supports, and so in a very
little time had the fire screened.
Presently, the supper was ready, and I found the fish to be very fair
eating; though somewhat coarse; but this was no great matter for
concern with so empty a stomach as I contained. And here I would
remark, that we made our fishing save our provisions through all our
stay on the island.Then, after we had cometo an end of our eating, we
lay down to a most comfortable smoke; for we had no fear of attack,at
that height, and with precipices upon all sides save that which lay in
front. Yet, so soon as we had rested and smoked awhile, the bo'sun set
the watches; for he would run no risk through carelessness.
By this time the night was drawing on apace; yet it was not so dark
but that one could perceive matters at a very reasonable distance.
Presently, being in a mood that tended to thoughtfulness, and feeling
a desire to be alone for a little, I strolled away from the fire to
the leeward edge of the hill-top. Here, I paced up and down awhile,
smoking and meditating. Anon, I would stare out across the immensity
of the vastcontinent of weed and slime that stretched its incredible
desolation outbeyond the darkening horizon, and there would come the
thoughtto me of the terror of men whose vessels had been entangled
among its strange growths, and so my thoughts came to the lone
derelict that lay out there in the dusk, and I fell to wondering what
had been the end of her people, and at that I grew yet more solemn in
my heart. For it seemed to me that they must have died at last by
starvation, and if not by that, then by the act of some one of the
devil-creatures which inhabited that lonely weed-world. And then, even
as I fell upon this thought, the bo'sun claptme upon the shoulder, and
told me in a very hearty way to come to the light of the fire, and
banish all melancholy thoughts; for he had a very penetrating
discernment, and had followed me quietly from the camping place,
having had reason once or twice before to chide me for gloomy
meditations. And for this,and many other matters, I had grown to like
the man, the which I could almost believe at times, was his regarding
of me;but his words were too few for me to gather his feelings; though
I had hope that they were as I surmised.
And so I came back to the fire, and presently, it not being my time to
watch until after midnight, I turned into the tent for a spell of
sleep, having first arranged a comfortable spread of some of the
softer portions of the dryweed to make me a bed.
Now I was very full of sleep, so that I slept heavily, and in this
wise heard not the man on watch call the bo'sun; yetthe rousing of the
otherswaked me, and so I cameto myself and found the tent empty, at
which I ran very hurriedly to the doorway, and so discovered that
there was a clear moon in the sky, the which, by reasonof the
cloudiness that had prevailed, we had been without for the past two
nights, Moreover, the sultriness had gone, the wind having blown it
away with the clouds; yet though, maybe, I appreciated this, it was
but in a half-conscious manner; for I was put about to discover the
whereabouts of the men,and the reason of their leaving the tent. With
this purpose, I stepped out from the entrance, and the following
instant discovered them all in a clump beside the leeward edge of the
hill-top. At that, I held mytongue; for I knew not but that silence
might betheir desire; but I ran hastily over to them, andinquired of
the bo'sun what manner of thing it was which called them from their
sleep, and he, for answer, pointed out into the greatness of the
weed-continent.
At that, I stared out over the breadth of the weed,showing very
ghostly in the moonlight; but, for the moment, I saw not the thing to
which he purposed to draw my attention. Then, suddenly, it fell within
the circle of my gaze--a little light out in the lonesomeness. For the
space of some moments, I stared with bewildered eyes; then it came to
me with abruptness that the light shone from the lone derelict lying
out in the weed, the same that upon that very evening, Ihad looked
with sorrow and awe, because of the end of those who had been in
her--and now, behold, a light burning, seemingly within one of her
after cabins; though the moon was scarce powerful enough to enable the
outline of thehulk to be seen clear of the rounding wilderness.
And from this time, until the day, we had no moresleep; but made up
the fire, and sat round it, fullof excitement and wonder, and getting
up continually to discover if the light still burned. This it ceased
to do about an hour after I had first seen it; but it was the more
proof that some of our kind were no more than the half of a mile from
our camp.
And at last the day came. [ tobe continued....]
No comments:
Post a Comment