Blown to Bits; or The Lonely Man of Rakata Read online

  CHAPTER III.

  INTERESTING PARTICULARS OF VARIOUS KINDS.

  By the first blush of dawn Nigel Roy hastened on deck, eager to see theplace in regard to which his father's narrative had awakened in himconsiderable interest.

  It not only surpassed but differed from all his preconceived ideas. Thebrig floated on the bosom of a perfectly calm lake of several miles inwidth, the bottom of which, with its bright sand and brilliantcoral-beds, could be distinctly seen through the pellucid water. Thislake was encompassed by a reef of coral which swelled here and thereinto tree-clad islets, and against which the breakers of the IndianOcean were dashed into snowy foam in their vain but ceaseless efforts toinvade the calm serenity of the lagoon. Smaller islands, rich withvegetation, were scattered here and there within the charmed circle,through which several channels of various depths and sizes connected thelagoon with the ocean.

  "We shall soon have the king himself off to welcome us," said CaptainRoy as he came on deck and gave a sailor-like glance all round thehorizon and then up at the sky from the mere force of habit. "Visitorsare not numerous here. A few scientific men have landed now and again;Darwin the great naturalist among others in 1836, and Forbes in 1878. Nodoubt they'll be very glad to welcome Nigel Roy in this year of grace1883."

  "But I'm not a naturalist, father, more's the pity."

  "No matter, lad; you're an ammytoor first mate, an' pr'aps a poet maycount for somethin' here. They lead poetical lives and are fond o'poetry."

  "Perhaps that accounts for the fondness you say they have for you,father."

  "Just so, lad. See!--there's a boat puttin' off already: the king, nodoubt."

  He was right. Mr. Ross, the appointed governor, and "King of the CocosIslands," was soon on deck, heartily shaking hands with and welcomingCaptain Roy as an old friend. He carried him and his son off at once tobreakfast in his island-home; introduced Nigel to his family, and thenshowed them round the settlement, assuring them at the same time thatall its resources were at their disposal for the repair of the_Sunshine_.

  "Thank 'ee kindly," said the captain in reply, "but I'll only ask for astick to rig up a foretop-mast to carry us to Batavia, where we'll givethe old craft a regular overhaul--for it's just possible she may havereceived some damage below the water-line, wi' bumpin' on the mast andyards."

  The house of the "King" was a commodious, comfortable building in themidst of a garden, in which there were roses in great profusion, as wellas fruit-trees and flowering shrubs. Each Keeling family possessed aneat well-furnished plank cottage enclosed in a little garden, besides aboat-house at the water-edge on the inner or lagoon side of the reef,and numerous boats were lying about on the white sand. The islanders,being almost born sailors, were naturally very skilful in everythingconnected with the sea. There was about them a good deal of that kindlyinnocence which one somehow expects to find associated with a mildpaternal government and a limited intercourse with the surroundingworld, and Nigel was powerfully attracted by them from the first.

  After an extensive ramble, during which Mr. Ross plied the captain witheager questions as to the latest news from the busy centres ofcivilisation--especially with reference to new inventions connected withengineering--the island king left them to their own resources tilldinner-time, saying that he had duties to attend to connected with thekingdom!

  "Now, boy," said the captain when their host had gone, "what'll 'ee do?Take a boat and have a pull over the lagoon, or go with me to visit afamily I'm particularly fond of, an' who are uncommon fond o' _me!"_

  "Visit the family, of course," said Nigel. "I can have a pull any day."

  "Come along then."

  He led the way to one of the neatest of the plank cottages, which stoodon the highest ridge of the island, so that from the front windows itcommanded a view of the great blue ocean with its breakers that fringedthe reef as with a ring of snow, while, on the opposite side, lay thepeaceful waters and islets of the lagoon.

  A shout of joyful surprise was uttered by several boys and girls atsight of the captain, for during his former visit he had won theirhearts by telling them wild stories of the sea, one half of each storybeing founded on fact and personal experience, the other half on a vividimagination!

  "We are rejoiced to see you," said the mother of the juveniles, a stoutwoman of mixed nationality--that of Dutch apparently predominating. Shespoke English, however, remarkably well, as did many of the Cocospeople, though Malay is the language of most of them.

  The boys and girls soon hauled the captain down on a seat and began tourge him to tell them stories, using a style of English that was by nomeans equal to that of the mother.

  "Stop, stop, let me see sister Kathy first. I can't begin without her.Where is she?"

  "Somewhere, I s'pose," said the eldest boy.

  "No doubt of that. Go--fetch her," returned the captain.

  At that moment a back-door opened, and a girl of about seventeen yearsof age entered. She was pleasant-looking rather than pretty--tall,graceful, and with magnificent black eyes.

  "Here she comes," cried the captain, rising and kissing her. "Why,Kathy, how you've grown since I saw you last! Quite a woman, I declare!"

  Kathy was not too much of a woman, however, to join her brothers andsisters in forcing the captain into a seat and demanding a story on thespot.

  "Stop, stop!" cried the captain, grasping round their waists a small boyand girl who had already clambered on his knees. "Let me inquire aboutmy old friends first--and let me introduce my son to you--you've takenno notice of _him_ yet! That's not hospitable."

  All eyes were turned at once on Nigel, some boldly, others with a shyinquiring look, as though to say, Can _you_ tell stories?

  "Come, now," said Nigel, advancing, "since you are all so fond of myfather, I must shake hands with you all round."

  The hearty way in which this was done at once put the children at theirease. They admitted him, as it were, into their circle, and then turningagain to the captain continued their clamour for a story.

  "No, no--about old friends first. How--how's old mother Morris?"

  "Quite well," they shouted. "Fatterer than ever," added an urchin, whoin England would have been styled cheeky.

  "Yes," lisped a very little girl; "one of 'e doors in 'e house too smallfor she."

  "Why, Gerchin, you've learned to speak English like the rest," said thecaptain.

  "Yes, father make every one learn."

  "Well, now," continued the captain, "what about Black Sam?"

  "Gone to Batavia," chorused the children.

  "And--and--what's-'is-name?--the man wi' the nose--"

  A burst of laughter and, "We's _all_ got noses here!" was the reply.

  "Yes, but you know who I mean--the short man wi' the--"

  "Oh! with the turned _up_ nose. _I_ know," cried the cheeky boy; "youmeans Johnson? He goed away nobody know whar'."

  "And little Nelly Drew, what of her?"

  A sudden silence fell on the group, and solemn eyes were turned onsister Kathy, who was evidently expected to answer.

  "Not dead?" said the captain earnestly.

  "No, but very _very_ ill," replied the girl.

  "Dear Nelly have never git over the loss of her brother, who--"

  At this point they were interrupted by another group of the captain'slittle admirers, who, having heard of his arrival, ran forward to givehim a noisy welcome. Before stories could be commenced, however, thevisitors were summoned to Mr. Ross's house to dinner, and then thecaptain had got into such an eager talk with the king that evening wasupon them before they knew where they were, as Nigel expressed it, andthe stories had to be postponed until the following day.

  Of course beds were offered, and accepted by Captain Roy and Nigel. Justbefore retiring to them, father and son went out to have a stroll on themargin of the lagoon.

  "Ain't it a nice place, Nigel?" asked the former, whose kindly spirithad been stirred up to quite a jovial pitch by the gushing welcome hehad
received alike from old and young.

  "It's charming, father. Quite different from what you had led me toexpect."

  "My boy," returned the captain, with that solemn deliberation which hewas wont to assume when about to deliver a palpable truism. "W'en you'vecome to live as long as me you'll find that everything turns outdifferent from what people have bin led to expect. Leastways that's _my_experience."

  "Well, in the meantime, till I have come to your time of life, I'll takeyour word for that, and I do hope you intend to stay a long time here."

  "No, my son, I don't. Why do ye ask?"

  "Because I like the place and the people so much that I would like tostudy it and them, and to sketch the scenery."

  "Business before pleasure, my lad," said the captain with a grave shakeof the head. "You know we've bin blown out of our course, and have nobusiness here at all. I'll only wait till the carpenter completes hisrepairs, and then be off for Batavia. Duty first; everything elseafterwards."

  "But you being owner as well as commander, there is no one to insist onduty being done," objected Nigel.

  "Pardon me," returned the captain, "there is a certain owner namedCaptain David Roy, a very stern disciplinarian, who insists on thecommander o' this here brig performin' his duty to the letter. You maydepend upon it that if a man ain't true to himself he's not likely to betrue to any one else. But it's likely that we may be here for a coupleof days, so I release _you_ from duty that you may make the most o' yourtime and enjoy yourself. By the way, it will save you wastin' time ifyou ask that little girl, Kathy Holbein, to show you the best places tosketch, for she's a born genius with her pencil and brush."

  "No, thank you, father," returned Nigel. "I want no little girl tobother me while I'm sketching--even though she be a born genius--for Ithink I possess genius enough my self to select the best points forsketching, and to get along fairly well without help. At least I'll trywhat I can do."

  "Please yourself, lad. Nevertheless, I think you wouldn't find poorKathy a bother; she's too modest for that--moreover, she could manage aboat and pull a good oar when I was here last, and no doubt she hasimproved since."

  "Nevertheless, I'd rather be alone," persisted Nigel. "But why do youcall her _poor_ Kathy? She seems to be quite as strong and as jolly asthe rest of her brothers and sisters."

  "Ah, poor thing, these are not her brothers and sisters," returned thecaptain in a gentler tone.

  "Kathy is only an adopted child, and an orphan. Her name, Kathleen, isnot a Dutch one. She came to these islands in a somewhat curious way.Sit down here and I'll tell 'ee the little I know about her."

  Father and son sat down on a mass of coral rock that had been washed upon the beach during some heavy gale, and for a few minutes gazed insilence on the beautiful lagoon, in which not only the islets, but thebrilliant moon and even the starry hosts were mirrored faithfully.

  "About thirteen years ago," said the captain, "two pirate junks in theSunda Straits attacked a British barque, and, after a fight, capturedher. Some o' the crew were killed in action, some were taken on boardthe junks to be held to ransom I s'pose, and some, jumping into the seato escape if possible by swimming, were probably drowned, for they werea considerable distance from land. It was one o' these fellows, however,who took to the water that managed to land on the Java shore, more deadthan alive. He gave information about the affair, and was the cause of agun-boat, that was in these waters at the time, bein' sent off in chaseo' the pirate junks.

  "This man who swam ashore was a Lascar. He said that the chief o' thepirates, who seemed to own both junks, was a big ferocious Malay withonly one eye--he might have added with no heart at all, if what he saido' the scoundrel was true, for he behaved with horrible cruelty to thecrew o' the barque. After takin' all he wanted out of his prize hescuttled her, and then divided the people that were saved alive betweenthe two junks. There were several passengers in the vessel; among them ayoung man--a widower--with a little daughter, four year old or so. Hewas bound for Calcutta. Being a very powerful man he fought like a lionto beat the pirates off, but he was surrounded and at last knocked downby a blow from behind. Then his arms were made fast and he was sent wi'the rest into the biggest junk.

  "This poor fellow recovered his senses about the time the pirates weredividin' the prisoners among them. He seemed dazed at first, so said theLascar, but as he must have bin in a considerable funk himself I suspecthis observations couldn't have bin very correct. Anyhow, he said he wassittin' near the side o' the junk beside this poor man, whose name henever knew, but who seemed to be an Englishman from his language, when awild scream was heard in the other junk. It was the little girl who hadcaught sight of her father and began to understand that she was going tobe separated from him. At the sound o' her voice he started up, and,looking round like a wild bull, caught sight o' the little one on thedeck o' the other junk, just as they were hoistin' sail to takeadvantage of a breeze that had sprung up.

  "Whether it was that they had bound the man with a piece o' bad rope, orthat the strength o' Samson had been given to him, the Lascar could nottell, but he saw the Englishman snap the rope as if it had bin a bit o'pack-thread, and jump overboard. He swam for the junk where his littlegirl was. If he had possessed the strength of a dozen Samsons it wouldhave availed him nothin', for the big sail had caught the breeze and gotway on her. At the same time the other junk lay over to the same breezeand the two separated. At first the one-eyed pirate jumped up with anoath and fired a pistol shot at the Englishman, but missed him. Then heseemed to change his mind and shouted in bad English, with a diabolicallaugh--'Swim away; swim hard, p'raps you kitch 'im up!' Of course thetwo junks were soon out of sight o' the poor swimmer--and that was theend of _him,_ for, of course, he must have been drowned."

  "But what of the poor little girl?" asked Nigel, whose feelings wereeasily touched by the sorrows of children, and who began to have asuspicion of what was coming.

  "I'm just comin' to that. Well, the gun-boat that went to look for thepirates sighted one o' the junks out in the Indian Ocean after a longsearch and captured her, but not a single one o' the barque's crew wasto be found in her, and it was supposed they had been all murdered andthrown overboard wi' shots tied to their feet to sink them. Enough o'the cargo o' the British barque was found, however, to convict her, andon a more careful search bein' made, the little girl was discovered, hidaway in the hold. Bein' only about four year old, the poor little thingwas too frightened to understand the questions put to her. All she couldsay was that she wanted 'to go to father,' and that her name was Kathy,probably short for Kathleen, but she could not tell."

  "Then that is the girl who is now here?" exclaimed Nigel.

  "The same, lad. The gun-boat ran in here, like as we did, to have someslight repairs done, and Kathy was landed. She seemed to take at once tomotherly Mrs. Holbein, who offered to adopt her, and as the captain ofthe gun-boat had no more notion than the man-in-the-moon who the childbelonged to, or what to do with her, he gladly handed her over, so hereshe has been livin' ever since. Of course attempts have been made todiscover her friends, but without success, and now all hope has beengiven up. The poor girl herself never speaks on the subject, but oldHolbein and his wife tell me she is sure that Kathy has never forgottenher father. It may be so; anyhow, she has forgotten his name--if sheever knew it."

  Next day Nigel made no objections to being guided to the mostpicturesque spots among the coral isles by the interesting orphan girl.If she had been older he might even have fallen in love with her, anevent which would have necessitated an awkward modification of theground-work of our tale. As it was, he pitied the poor child sincerely,and not only--recognising her genius--asked her advice a good deal onthe subject of art, but--recognising also her extreme youth andignorance--volunteered a good deal of advice in exchange, quite in apaternal way!