"They must be some of the crew of the Roebuck."
"Big wreck; log time; fild it low," said the savage, pointing to the schooner again.
They had been looking for the wreck from which the four men had been saved, but had not been able to find it before.
"Whale ship over there," added he. "Take four mel off."
"Is she there now?" asked Noddy, breathless with interest.
"Go sool--to-morrow--lext week."
This was not very definite; but the way to his native land seemed to be open to him, and he listened with deep emotion to the welcome intelligence.
"Can we go over there?" asked Noddy, pointing to his companion.
"Go with we."
"We will."
"Big heap thigs," added the savage, pointing to the storehouse again.
"Walt to trade?"
"Yes; what will you give for the lot?" asked Noddy, facetiously.
"Big heap thigs," replied the man, not comprehending the wholesale trade.
It was of no use to attempt to bargain with these people; they had no money, and they could help themselves to what they pleased. Noddy gave them heavy articles enough to load their boat, for he felt that he had no further use for them, if there was a whale ship at the other island.
He questioned the savage very closely in regard to the vessel, and was satisfied that he spoke the truth. The welcome intelligence that a portion of the Roebuck"s crew had been saved, rendered the exiles the more anxious to visit the island.
The savages all landed and gazed at Mollie with the utmost interest and curiosity. Probably they had never before seen an American girl. But they were respectful to her, and she soon ceased to be afraid of them.
She laughed with them, and soon became quite intimate with the whole party. They treated her like a superior being; and certainly her pretty face and her gentle manners were quite enough to inspire them with such an idea.
The savages had loaded their goods into the canoe, and were ready to return. The man who spoke English offered them a pa.s.sage in his craft; but Noddy decided that it would be better and safer for them to go over in their own boat. He proceeded to secure all his valuables, including all his own money and that he had saved from the state-room of the captain, which he concealed about his clothes. The boat was well loaded with such articles as he thought would be useful to Mollie, or would sell best when a chance offered. He had quite a cargo, and the savages began to be impatient before his preparations were completed.
While he was thus employed, Mollie gathered fresh flowers, and paid her last visit, as she supposed, to the grave of her father. She wept there, as she thought of leaving him in that far-off, lonely island; but she was consoled by the belief that her father"s spirit dwelt in the happy land, where spring eternal ever reigns.
The boat was ready; she wiped away her tears, and stepped on board. Both of them felt sad at the thought of leaving the island; but home had hopes which reconciled them to the change.
CHAPTER XX.
HOMEWARD BOUND.
Noddy shook out the sail of the boat, and pushing her off, followed the canoe. Though the exiles had been on the island but little over two months, they had become much attached to their new home, and it was with a feeling of sadness that they bade adieu to it. The house and other improvements had cost Noddy so much hard labor that he was sorry to leave them before he had received the full benefit of all the comfort and luxury which they were capable of affording.
"Don"t you think we ought to live on the island for a year or so, after all the work we have done there?" said Noddy, as the boat gathered headway, and moved away from the sh.o.r.e.
"I"m sure I should be very happy there, if we had to stay," replied Mollie, "But I don"t think I should care to remain just for the sake of living in the house you built."
"Nor I; but it seems to me just as though I had done all the work for nothing."
"You worked very hard."
"But I enjoyed my work, for all that."
"And you think you did not win anything by it," added she, with a smile.
"I don"t think that. I used to hate to work when I was at Woodville. I don"t think I do hate it now."
"Then you have won something."
"I think I have won a great deal, when I look the matter over. I have learned a great many things."
Noddy had only a partial appreciation of what he had "won," though he was satisfied that his labor had not been wasted. He had been happy in the occupation which the necessities of his situation demanded of him.
Many a boy, wrecked as he had been, with no one but a weak and timid girl to support him, would have done nothing but repine at his hard lot; would have lived "from hand to mouth" during those two months, and made every day a day of misery. Noddy had worked hard; but what had he won?
Was his labor, now that he was to abandon the house, the cisterns, the stores, and the garden,--was it wasted?
Noddy had won two months of happiness.
He had won a knowledge of his own powers, mental and physical.
He had won a valuable experience in adapting means to ends, which others might be years in obtaining.
He had won a vast amount of useful information from the stubborn toil he had performed.
He had won the victory over idleness and indifference, which had beset him for years.
He had won a cheerful spirit, from the trials and difficulties he had encountered.
He had won a lively faith in things higher than earth, from the gentle and loving heart that shared his exile, for whom, rather than for himself, he had worked.
His labor was not lost. He had won more than could be computed. He had won faith and hope, confidence in himself, an earnest purpose, which were to go through life with him, and bless him to the end of his days, and through the endless ages of eternity. He had worked earnestly; he had won untold riches.
The wind was tolerably fresh after the boats pa.s.sed the reef, and in two hours they were near enough to a large island to enable the young voyagers to see the objects on the sh.o.r.e. But they followed the canoe beyond a point of the land; and, after a run of several miles more, they rounded another point, and discovered the tall masts of a ship, at anchor in a small bay.
"It may be many months before we can get home. This ship may have to cruise a year or two before she obtains her full cargo of oil."
"I hope not."
"But we may find some way to get home. I have all the money I saved from the vessel, and we can pay our pa.s.sage home."
The money reminded the orphan girl of her father, and she mused upon the past. The boat sped on its way, and in a short time reached the ship.
"Hallo, Noddy!" shouted Mr. Lincoln, as the boat approached. "And Mollie too!"