"It could not be seen for some time, but we will carry up a supply of fuel to keep it burning all night. There may be a sail, but you cannot be positive she is standing this way, or if she is she may alter her course, which will carry her to a distance from us," said the doctor.
"But I can be positive that she is standing this way," exclaimed Desmond. "She may alter her course, but our fire will be seen."
At the doctor"s suggestion, one of the oil barrels was rolled up that the contents might increase the flame. Every one was eager to light the beacon fire; even Billy forgot to propose that they should first eat their supper.
The doctor remarked that as the ship was drawing near they should send up a long spar, placed horizon tally with a burning ma.s.s at the end of it, which from its greater height might be seen further off than the fire on the ground.
His plan was adopted; the signal halyards were strong enough for the purpose, and by means of a line at the other end it could be hoisted without risk of burning the shrouds. He quickly manufactured a fusee, so that the ma.s.s would not blaze up until the yard was fixed. The material to be fired was composed of oak.u.m mixed with gunpowder, canvas saturated with oil, and bundles of shavings kept together with pieces of iron hoop. Tom gave the word to hoist away, and "the flying beacon," as Desmond called it, soon afterwards burst forth into a bright flame. The fire below was then lighted, and as it blazed up it cast a lurid glare over the whole island, on the ribs of their vessel, their hut below the tall cocoa-nut trees, and the lower shrubs. At the same instant loud screams were heard--the birds, startled by the unusual appearance, mounted into the air, numbers flying towards the fire, and the party on the hill had to use sticks to keep them off, as they darted here and there, blinded by the light. More and more fuel was added, and as soon as the doctor"s flying beacon had burnt out, another of the same description was hoisted.
"Well, if they don"t see our fire they must be all asleep on board the stranger," said Desmond.
"No fear of that," remarked the doctor; "in these seas, with reefs on every side, depend upon it a bright look-out will be kept, or no ship could get across with safety."
"If she stood on, as you supposed she was steering, she must be by this time near enough to hear our gun," said Tom. "Bring up powder and wadding, Bird."
Jerry eagerly hastened to obey the order. The gun was fired every five minutes, although it was not likely, as the sound had to travel against the wind, that it would be heard for some time on board the ship. Most of the party had forgotten all about supper, until Billy exclaimed: "If I don"t get some provender, I shall collapse."
As the rest acknowledged that they were much in the same state, Peter and Pat were sent to bring up a supply of food.
"Let there be plenty," said Billy; "we need not be on short commons now, I hope!"
The supper was discussed by the light of the fire. Tom in the mean time could not refrain from now and then looking out for an answering signal.
Hours went by, and all remained dark as before round the island. As to sleeping, few would have closed their eyes even had they gone back to the hut.
Tom had kept his watch in his hand to time the firing. The gun had just been discharged and all was again silent, when, as he was about again to give the order to fire, there came down on the breeze the boom of a heavy gun.
"No doubt about the sort of piece that comes from, sir," exclaimed Jerry. "The craft away there is a man-of-war, or I"m no sailor."
"I think so too," cried Tom; "they must have noticed our signals, and I don"t think the ship will pa.s.s by without sending on sh.o.r.e."
"We might go off to her in our boat," said Jerry.
"We should have a difficulty in finding her at night, so we shall be wise to remain until the morning," answered Tom; "the wind is very light and she is probably still a long way off, for I could not see the flash of her gun."
Notwithstanding their belief that they were discovered, the party on the island still kept their beacon fire blazing, and fired the gun at intervals.
At length, pretty well tired out, all hands turned in with the exception of two, who remained to keep up the fire and discharge the gun every ten minutes.
Tom awoke at dawn of day and hurried up to join Desmond, who was keeping the morning watch.
"Where is she?" he exclaimed eagerly.
"That is more than I can tell," answered Desmond. "I expected to see her close to, and to have had a boat come on sh.o.r.e by this time."
"The mist hides her from us; see how it sweeps over the water from the northward. As the sun rises depend upon it we shall see her," observed Tom.
Still Desmond was in doubt; the mist was so light that he had not hitherto observed it, and his eyes were dazzled by the glare of the fire, which was still burning. Tom ran up the flag, so that it might be seen the moment the mist should disperse. In a short time they were joined by the rest of the party, who in various tones expressed their disappointment at not seeing the stranger.
Presently the sun rose, and in a few seconds the veil lifted, disclosing a large ship, her bulwarks just rising above the horizon.
"She is a man-of-war steamer," said Tom, who had been the first to take a look at her through the telescope. "She"s English too, for she"s just hoisted her ensign. There is smoke coming out of her funnel; she"s getting up steam. Hurrah! we shall soon have her here."
The excitement after this became general and greater than ever. Tom and Desmond, however, were the only two of the party who witnessed the approach of the British man-of-war with unmitigated satisfaction. The men, having plenty of food, were in no hurry to go back to their routine of duty. The doctor and Peter would be among strangers, besides which the former, feeling a.s.sured that the vessel would in time be completed, was anxious to perform a voyage in a craft constructed under his own superintendence.
"The bother is, I shall have to keep that tiresome watch," murmured Billy. However, he did not express himself openly to his messmates on the subject.
The frigate came slowly on with the lead going and look-outs at frigate, although she might not carry more than six or eight guns. At length she got within about a mile of the island, when the screw was stopped and a boat lowered. There was only one landing-place on the lee side, close below the hill on which the flag-staff had been erected.
Tom, securing four handkerchiefs to the end of a spar, hastened down to it to guide the boat in. On she came, pulled by six strong arms, a lieutenant and midshipman in the stern sheets. Tom, Desmond, and Billy stood ready to receive the strangers. The boat was quickly run up on the beach, when the officers stepped on sh.o.r.e.
The lieutenant, observing the three midshipmen"s tattered uniforms, advanced towards them, and inquired as he shook hands, "Has an American man-of-war been cast away here?"
"No, sir; but an American whaler was wrecked here a few weeks ago."
"Then who are you, and how came you here?" asked the lieutenant.
Tom in a few words narrated their adventures, and then asked, "And what is your ship, sir?"
"The _Bellona_, Captain Murray--"
"What! Captain Alick Murray?" exclaimed Tom. "I served with him. He is my brother Jack"s greatest friend."
"Are you Captain Rogers"s brother? That is extraordinary," exclaimed the lieutenant, "for he is a pa.s.senger with us, going out to command the _Empress_ in the China seas."
"My brother Jack on board! That is good news."
Tom now doing the honours, introduced the lieutenant to Dr Loc.o.c.k.
"Of course Captain Murray will be most happy to receive you on board, with any of the survivors of the whaler"s crew," said the lieutenant.
"I am much obliged to you; there is but one, and I shall be glad to embrace the opportunity of visiting China," answered the doctor.
The lieutenant had received orders to return as soon as possible, but Tom begged him to come and see the vessel they had commenced building; though he had made up his mind to try and get Jack to come on sh.o.r.e also, as he was ambitious to show their handiwork to him.
"You deserve great credit for the attempt," said the lieutenant, as he examined the structure; "but I congratulate you on escaping the necessity of making a voyage in her, for had she touched a rock, it is probable that she would have gone to pieces."
After this remark Tom felt less anxiety to exhibit the vessel to his brother Jack. The lieutenant now repeated that his orders were to return immediately. The doctor merely requested that he might be allowed to take his medicine case, instruments, and clothes.
"I shall be happy to let you have as many things as the boat will carry," said the lieutenant; "but as the captain is in a hurry to continue the voyage, he may be unwilling to send ash.o.r.e again for any other articles."
The boat was soon loaded with the doctor"s property, the nautical instruments, and the clothing which the men had appropriated, and then rapidly made her way towards the _Bellona_. The doctor had written a note, which he left in the hut, stating the name of the vessel wrecked on the island, and the circ.u.mstances under which he and the only survivor of the crew, with a party of English officers and men, had quitted it. By his special request the stars and stripes were left flying.
As the midshipmen followed the lieutenant up the side, they saw the two captains standing on the quarter-deck, but even Jack did not recognise his own brother. Tom, lifting the remnant of his cap, went aft, and putting out his hand exclaimed--
"What, don"t you know me, Jack?"
Captain Rogers looked at him for a few seconds, then wringing his hand said, "How did you come into this plight, my dear fellow?"