the daisy chain, or aspirations-第119章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃I　heard　that　from　Aunt　Flora。　　A　famous　lot　of　news　I　picked　up
there！〃

〃Aunt　Flora！〃

〃Did　you　not　know　he　had　been　at　Auckland？〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃Aunt
Flora　had　to　nurse　him　well　after　all　he　had　undergone。　　Did　you　not
think　her　very　like　mamma；　Harry？〃

〃Mamma　never　looked　half　so　old！〃　cried　Harry　indignantly。

〃Flora　was　five　years　younger！〃

〃She　has　got　her　voice　and　way　with　her；〃　said　Harry；　〃but　you　will
soon　see。　　She　is　coming　home　soon。〃

There　was　a　great　outcry　of　delight。

〃Yes；　there　is　some　money　of　Uncle　Arnott's　that　must　be　looked
after；　but　he　does　not　like　the　voyage；　and　can't　leave　his　office；
so　perhaps　Aunt　Flora　may　come　alone。　　She　had　a　great　mind　to　come
with　me；　but　there　was　no　good　berth　for　her　in　this　schooner；　and　I
could　not　wait　for　another　chance。　　I　can't　think　what　possessed　the
letters　not　to　come！　　She　would　not　write　by　the　first　packet；
because　I　was　so　ill；　but　we　both　wrote　by　the　next；　and　I　made　sure
you　had　them；　or　I　would　have　written　before　I　came。〃

The　words　were　not　out　of　his　mouth　before　the　second　post　was
brought　in；　and　there　were　two　letters　from　New　Zealand！　　What　would
they　not　have　been　yesterday？　　Harry　would　have　burned　his　own；　but
the　long　closely…written　sheets　were　eagerly　seized；　as；　affording
the　best　hope　of　understanding　his　adventures；　as　it　had　been　written
at　intervals　from　Auckland；　and　the　papers；　passing　from　one　to　the
other；　formed　the　text　for　interrogations　on　further　details；　though
much　more　was　gleaned　incidentally　in　tete…a…tetes；　by　Margaret；
Norman；　or　his　father；　and　no　one　person　ever　heard　the　whole
connectedly　from　Harry　himself。

〃What　was　the　first　you　knew　of　the　fire；　Harry？〃　asked　Dr。　May；
looking　up　from　the　letter。

〃Owen　shaking　me　awake；　and　I　thought　it　was　a　hoax；〃　said　Harry。
〃But　it　was　true　enough；　and　when　we　got　on　deck；　there　were　clouds
of　smoke　coming　up　the　main　hatch…way。〃

Margaret's　eyes　were　upon　him；　and　her　lips　formed　the　question；　〃And
he？〃

〃He　met　us；　and　told　us　to　be　steadybut　there　was　little　need　for
that！　　Every　man　there　was　as　cool　and　collected　as　if　it　had　been　no
more　than　the　cook's　stoveand　we　should　have　scorned　to　be
otherwise！　　He　put　his　hand　on　my　shoulder　and　said；　'Keep　by　me；'
and　I　did。〃

〃Then　there　was　never　much　hope　of　extinguishing　the　fire？〃

〃No；　if　you　looked　down　below　the　forecastle　it　was　like　a　furnace；
and　though　the　pumps　were　at　work；　it　was　only　to　gain　time　while　the
boats　were　lowered。　　The　first　lieutenant　told　off　the　men；　and　they
went　down　the　side　without　one　word；　only　shaking　hands　with　those
that　were　left。〃

〃Oh；　Harry！　what　were　you　thinking　of？〃　cried　Blanche。

〃Of　the　powder；〃　said　Harry。

Ethel　thought　there　was　more　in　that　answer　than　met　the　ear；　and
that　Harry；　at　least；　had　thought　of　the　powder　to…night　at　church。

〃Mr。　Ernescliffe　had　the　command　of　the　second　cutter。　　He　asked　to
take　me　with　him；　I　was　glad　enough；　and　Owenhe　is　mate；　you　know
went　with　us。〃

As　to　telling　how　he　felt　when　he　saw　the　good　ship　Alcestis　blown　to
fragments；　that　was　past　Harry；　and　all　but　Blanche　were　wise　enough
not　to　ask。　　She　had　by　way　of　answer；　〃Very　glad　to　be　safe　out　of
her。〃

Nor　was　Harry　willing　to　dwell　on　the　subsequent　days；　when　the
unclouded　sun　had　been　a　cruel　foe；　and　the　insufficient　stores　of
food　and　water　did；　indeed；　sustain　life；　but　a　life　of　extreme
suffering。　　What　he　told　was　of　the　kindness　that　strove　to　save　him；
as　the　youngest；　from　all　that　could　be　spared　him。　　〃If　I　dropped
asleep　at　the　bottom　of　the　boat；　I　was　sure　to　find　some　one　shading
me　from　the　sun。　　If　there　was　an　extra　drop　of　water；　they　wanted　me
to　have　it。〃

〃Tell　me　their　names；　Harry！〃　cried　Dr。　May。　　〃If　ever　I　meet　one　of
them〃

〃But　the　storm；　Harry；　the　storm？〃　asked　Blanche。　　〃Was　that　not
terrible？〃

〃Very　comfortable　at　first；　Blanche；〃　was　the　answer。　　〃Oh；　that
rain！〃

〃But　when　it　grew　so　very　bad？〃

〃We　did　not　reck　much　what　happened　to　us；〃　said　Harry。　　〃It　could
not　be　worse　than　starving。　　When　we　missed　the　others　in　the
morning；　most　of　us　thought　them　the　best　off。〃

Mary　could　not　help　coming　round　to　kiss　him；　as　if　eyes　alone　were
not　enough　to　satisfy　her　that　here　he　was。

Dr。　May　shuddered；　and　went　on　reading；　and　Margaret　drew　Harry　down
to　her；　and　once　more　by　looks　craved　for　more　minute　tidings。

〃All　that　you　can　think；〃　murmured　Harry；　〃the　very　life　and　soul　of
us　allso　kind；　and　yet　discipline　as　perfect　as　on　board。　　But
don't　now；　Margaret〃

The　tone　of　the　don't；　the　reddening　cheek；　liquid　eye；　and　heaving
chest；　told　enough　of　what　the　lieutenant　had　been　to　one；　at　least；
of　the　desolate　boat's　crew。

〃Oh；　Harry；　Harry！　　I　can't　bear　it！〃　exclaimed　Mary。　　〃How　long　did
it　last？　　How　did　it　end？〃

〃Fifteen　days；〃　said　Harry。　　〃It　was　time　it　should　end；　for　all　the
water　we　had　caught　in　the　storm　was　gonewe　gave　the　last　drop　to
Jones；　for　we　thought　him　dying；　one's　tongue　was　like　a　dry　sponge。〃

〃How　did　it　end？〃　repeated　Mary；　in　an　agony。

〃Jennings　saw　a　sail。　　We　thought　it　all　a　fancy　of　weakness；　but
'twas　true　enough；　and　they　saw　our　signal　of　distress！〃

The　vessel　proved　to　be　an　American　whaler；　which　had　just　parted
with　her　cargo　to　a　homeward　bound　ship；　and　was　going　to　refit；　and
take　in　provisions　and　water　at　one　of　the　Milanesian　islands；　before
returning　for　further　captures。　　The　master　was　a　man　of　the　shrewd；
hard　money…making　cast；　but；　at　the　price　of　Mr。　Ernescliffe's
chronometer；　and　of　the　services　of　the　sailors；　he　undertook　to
convey　them　where　they　might　fall　in　with　packets　bound　for
Australia。

The　distressed　Alcestes　at　first　thought　themselves　in　paradise；　but
the　vessel；　built　with　no　view；　save　to　whales；　and；　with　a
considerable　reminiscence　of　the　blubber　lately　parted　with；　proved
no　wholesome　abode；　when　overcrowded；　and　in　the　tropics！　　Mr。
Ernescliffe's　science；　resolution；　and　constancy；　had　saved　his　men
so　far；　but　with　the　need　for　exertion　his　powers　gave　way；　and　he
fell　a　prey　to　a　return　of　the　fever　which　had　been　his　introduction
to　Dr。　May。

〃There　he　was；〃　said　Harry；　〃laid　up　in　a　little　bit　of　a　stifling
cabin；　just　like　an　oven；　without　the　possibility　of　a　breath　of　air！
The　skin…flint　skipper　carried　no　medicine；　the　watershocking　stuff
it　waswas　getting　so　low；　that　there　was　only　a　pint　a　day　served
out　to　each；　and　though　all　of　us　Alcestes　clubbed　every　drop　we
could　spare　for　himit　was　bad　work！　　Owen　and　I　never　were　more
glad　in　our　lives　than　when　we　heard　we　were　to　cast　anchor　at　the
Loyalty　Isles！　　Such　a　place　as　it　was！　　You　little　know　what　it　was
to　see　anything　green！　　And　there　was　this　isle　fringed　down　close　to
the　sea　with　cocoa…nut　trees！　　And　the　bay　as　clear！you　could　see
every　shell；　and　wonderful　fishes　swimming　in　it！　　Well；　every　one
was　for　going　ashore；　and　some　of　the　natives　swam　out　to　us；　and
brought　things　in　their　canoes；　but　not　many；　it　is　not　encouraged　by
the　mission；　nor　by　Davidfor　those　Yankee　traders　are　not　the　most
edifying　societyand　the　crew　vowed　they　were　cannibals；　and　had
eaten　a　man　three　years　ago；　so　they　all　went　ashore　armed。〃

〃You　stayed　with　him；〃　said　Margaret。

〃Ay；　it　was　my　turn；　and　I　was　glad　enough　to　have　some　fresh　fruit
and　water　for　him；　but　he　could　not　take　any　notice　of　it。　　Did　not
I　want　you；　papa？　　Well；　by　and　by；　Owen　came　back；　in　a　perfect
rapture　with　the　place　and　the　people；　and　said　it　was　the　only　hope
for　Mr。　Ernescliffe；　to　take　him　on　shore〃

〃Then　you　did　really　go　amongst　the　cannibals！〃　exclaimed　Blanche。

〃That　is　all　nonsense；〃　said　Harry。　　〃Some　of　them　may　once　have
been；　and　I　fancy　the　heathens　might　not　mind　a　bit　of　'long　pig'
still；　but　these　have　been　converted　by　the　Samoans。〃

The　Samoans；　it　was　further　explained；　are　the　inhabitants　of　the
Navigator　Islands；　who；　having　been　converted　by　the　Church
Missionary　Society；　have　sent　out　great　numbers　of　most　active　and
admirable　teachers　among　the　scattered　islands；　braving　martyrdom　and
disease；　never　shrinking　from　their　work；　and；　by　teaching　and
example；　preparing　the　way　for　fuller　doctrine　than　they　can　yet
impart。　　A　station　of　these　devoted　men　had　for　some　years　been
settled　in　this　island；　and　had　since　been　visited　by　the　missions　of
Newcastle　and　New　Zealand。　　The　young　chief；　whom　Harry　called　David；
and　another　youth；　had　spent　two　summers　under　instruction　at　New
Zealand；　and　had　been　baptised。　　They　were　spending　the　colder　part
of　the　year　at　home；　and　hoped　shortly　to　be　called　for　by　the
mission…ship　to　return；　and　resume　their　course　of　instruction。

Owen　had　come　to　an　understanding　with　the　chief　and　the　Samoans；　and
had　decided　on　landing　his　lieutenant；　and　it　was　accordingly　done；
with　very　little　consciousness　on　the　patient's　part。　　Black　figures；
with　woolly　mop…heads；　and　sometimes　decorated　with　whitewash　of
lime；　crowded　round　to　assist　in　the　transport　of　the　sick　man
through　the　surf；　and　David　himself；　in　a　white　European　garb；　met
his　guests；　with　dignified　manners　that　would　have　suited　a　prince　of
any　land；　and　conducted　them　through　the　grove　of　palms；　interspersed
with　white　huts；　to　a　beautiful　house　consisting　of　a　central　room；
with　many　others　opening　from　it；　floored　with　white　coral　lime；　and
lined　with　soft　shining　mats　of　Samoan　manufacture。　　This；　Harry
learned；　had　been　erected　by　them　in　hopes　of　an　English　missionary
taking　up　his　abode　amongst　them。

They　were　a　kindly　people；　and　had　shown　hospitality　to　other
Englishmen；　who　had　less　appreciated　it　than　these　young　officers
could。　　They　lavished　every　kindness　in　their　power　upon　them；　and
Mr。　Ernescliffe；　at　first；　revived　so　much；　that　he　seemed　likely　to
recover。

But　the　ship　had　completed　her　repairs；　and　was　ready　to　sail。　　The
two　midshipmen　thought　it　would　be　certain　death　to　their　lieutenant
to　bring　him　back　to　such　an　atmosphere；　〃and　so；〃　continued　Harry's
letter　to　his　father；　〃I　thought　there　was　nothing　for　it　but　for　me
to　stay　with　him；　and　that　you　would　say　so。　　I　got　Owen　to　consent；
after　some　trouble；　as　we　were　sure　to　be　fetched　off　one　time　or
another。　　We　said　not　a　word　to　Mr。　Ernescliffe；　for　he　was　only
sensible　now　and　then；　so　that　Owen　had　the　command。　　Owen　made　the
skipper　leave　me　a　pistol　and　some　powder；　but　I　was　ashamed　David
should　know　it；　and　stowed　it　away。　　As　to　the　quarter…master；　old
Jennings；　whose　boy　you　remember　we　picked　up　at　the　Roman　camp；　he
had　not　forgotten　that；　and　when　we　were　shaking　hands　and　wishing
good…bye；　he　leaped　up；　and　vowed　'he　would　never　leave　the　young
gentleman　that　had　befriended　his　boy；　to　be　eaten　up　by　them　black
savage　niggers。　　If　they　made　roast…pork　of　Mr。　May；　he　would　be
eaten　first；　though　he　reckoned　they　would　find　him　a　tougher
morsel。'　　I　don't　think　Owen　was　sorry　he　volunteered；　and　no　words
can　tell　what　a　blessing　the　good　old　fellow　was　to　us　both。

〃So　there　we　stayed；　and；　at　first；　Mr。　Ernescliffe　seemed　mending。
The　delirium　went　off；　he　could　talk　quite　clearly　and　comfortably；
and　he　us