AN AWFUL SECRET OF THE SEA.
Having finished the first line of defence, attention was turned to the inner works.
How best could the Crusoes repel boarders if the palisade were carried, and a rush made down the embankment with the view of attacking the ship?
It was some time before this question could be answered with any degree of satisfaction.
I think that the plan finally adopted was the best under the circ.u.mstances.
During such an attack, not only would the defenders have to do all they could to stop a rush down the sloping bank, but protect themselves also from the spears that would be hurled at them from the cliffs above.
An inner palisade was therefore erected, not so strong as the other; and right over the after part of the quarterdeck, and round a portion of its bulwarks, a shed was erected, under which the men could work their rifles and the great gun with comparative safety.
If the outer line should be broken through, the savages would no doubt attack in their fullest force, and a gun loaded with grape-shot would play awful havoc in their ranks; and boiling water from the donkey engine would in all probability suggest to the enemy the advisability of a quick retreat.
Nevertheless, the outlook, even should they be thus repelled, would be a black one, and a state of siege could only have one sad ending.
But let me not be "too previous," as humourists say.
So quickly does time slip away when a person is busy that when, one morning at breakfast, James Malone said quietly, "Men, we have been here for just two months to-day," Halcott could scarcely credit it.
But a reference to the log, which was still most carefully kept, revealed the truth of what James had said.
Two months! Yes; and as yet the weather and the work had prevented them from penetrating inland in search of nature"s hidden treasures.
But the rain ceased at last; and though clouds still hung around, and mists often obscured the sea for days at a time, the glorious spring time had come again, and the island was soon a veritable land of flowers.
The first visit inland was made to the Lake of the Lonely Isle, as it was called. But a bridge had to be built over the chasm, to replace that torn up by the hands of brave James Malone. This was easily formed of trees, with a rail at each side, and this bridge shortened the distance to the little lake by several miles.
The working party carried picks and spades and axes, for it was determined to thoroughly overhaul the island in search of the utensils used by the priests during their awful human sacrifices.
The isle was a very small one, but, nevertheless, it took three whole days to thoroughly search it. And every evening they returned to the ship unsuccessful, but certainly not disheartened.
Halcott told his brave fellows that if more gold were found than simply enough to pay the expenses of the voyage, not including the loss of the ship, for that was insured, they would have a good percentage thereof, and something handsome to take home to wives and sweethearts. So, although they knew in their hearts that they might never live to get home, they worked as willingly and as merrily as British sailors ever did "for England, home, and beauty," as the dear old song has it.
I may as well mention here, and be done with it, that Lord Fitzmantle, the n.i.g.g.e.r boy, very much to his delight, was appointed signalman-in-chief to the forces. Observatory Hill was not a difficult climb for Fitz, and here a flag-staff had been erected. An ensign hoisted on this point could be seen not only over all the island but over a considerable portion of the sea as well. But Fitz received strict orders not to hoist it unless he saw a pa.s.sing ship.
Bob was allowed to accompany the boy every day. Dinner was therefore carried for two, and Fitz, who could read well, never went without a book.
One day, while James and Halcott were wandering, somewhat aimlessly it must be confessed, in a wood not far from the lake, they came upon a clearing, in the midst of which stood a solitary, strange, weird-looking dead tree. It was a tree of considerable dimensions, and one side of it was much charred by fire.
"It was just here," said James quietly, pointing to the spot, "where I should have been burned, had not Providence mercifully intervened to save my somewhat worthless life."
Both walked slowly toward that tree, and acting like a man in deep thought, Halcott carelessly kicked it.
It may sound like a sentence read out of a fairy book when I say that a little door in that part of the tree suddenly flew open inwards; but it is nevertheless true.
"The treasure must be hidden here!" said Halcott. He was just about to plunge his hand into the hole when James restrained him.
"Stay, for Heaven"s sake, stay!" he cried excitedly. "The treasure, brother, may be there. I never thought of this before; but," he added, "if the treasure is there, something else is there also, and we have that to deal with first."
As he spoke, he took from his pocket a small piece of flint and some touch-paper. Then he gathered a handful of withered gra.s.s, struck fire with the back of his knife against the flint--James was very old-fashioned--placed the smoking paper in the gra.s.s, shook it, and soon had it in fire.
Then he thrust this into the hole, and ran quickly back a few yards.
"Keep well away," he cried to his companion.
Next minute the head and neck of a huge crimson snake was protruded-- hissing.
James fired at once.
It was an ugly sight to see that headless serpent wriggling and leaping on the clearing.
"That," said James, as he seized it by the tail and flung it far into the bush, "was the chief medicine-man"s familiar. There are no snakes on the island, so where he procured it was always a mystery to me. But its possession gave the man great power over even the king himself, all believing it to be an evil spirit. And no wonder, for this "red devil,"
as the natives called it, although the medicine-man could handle it safely enough, was often permitted to bite a boy or a girl in the king"s presence, and the child invariably died in convulsions."
"Horrible!" said Halcott. "Was there only one?"
"There was only one, and--it will never bite again."
They walked back now towards the lake, and soon returned in company with Chips and Wilson armed with axes.
It was hard work, and an hour of it, too, cutting through that tree; but it fell with a crash at last--"carried away close by the board," as Halcott phrased it.
"Now, men," said James, "search among the debris in the hollow stump and see what you can find."
James and Halcott stood quietly by leaning on their rifles.
But they laughed with very joy as the men pulled out bowl after bowl of beaten gold, to the number of seven in all. These were far from artistic, but they were large and heavy.
Inside they were black with blood.
Chips stood up and wiped the perspiration from his brow.
"My eye and Betty Martin! Captain Halcott, here"s a go. Why, we"ll be all as rich as water-cresses."
And he joyfully tossed his hat in the air, and kicked it up again as it descended.
Chips was a queer chap.
But having now relieved his feelings, the search was proceeded with.
And when it was all over, and nothing further to be found, the inventory of the treasure now exposed to view, every article of purest gold, was as follows:--
A. Seven bowls, weighing about twelve pounds each.