Yr Ynys Unyg Part 24

CHAPTER x.x.xVII.

_Felix._--"Now, captain, if you had seen that big boy, would you not have walloped him?"

"Most certainly," said the captain, "but now we must be thinking of more important matters." And as the hot weather set in with more than ordinary vigour, it was very clear that we should not be safe in our caverns, subjected to the earthquakes that generally accompany the heat.

Besides we were getting restless and impatient. If all alone by ourselves, we had meditated getting the better of the pirates--think what wild schemes we now had, with Smart and the captain to help us.

But we must wait until some of them went away in the s.h.i.+ps after their usual avocations, as even the bravest amongst us did not hope to conquer them all. They seemed however bent upon making their homes more comfortable before they went, and it was somewhat late in the season when they started in their own vessel, leaving La Luna and half their men behind. These latter were employed in sowing seeds and preparing the ground for fruits and vegetables. We saw but little of the women, as they hardly ever left their side of the island. We now discussed the possibility of dispatching those parties who were left behind, thinking though there were many more than we expected, yet we might get rid of them, and taking possession of La Luna, get off the island at once. A mad scheme it certainly was and nothing but the ardent longing we had to escape made us think of it so confidently.

In the meantime, Smart gained the captain's permission, to "settle" any of the men he might catch in a convenient position, so as to shoot them, without exposing himself or us to risk of discovery. So highly did he appreciate this permission, that he never ceased day or night dodging about and watching these people, and three times he came in with ill-concealed triumph, though he respected our feelings too much to do more than insinuate he had "settled" some one or more. We, in the meanwhile, occupied ourselves in making sacks and putting food into them, ready to start at a moment's warning should a favourable time arrive.

The pirates, we suppose, now began to suspect, from the extraordinary death of three of their men, that the two prisoners were concealed somewhere in the island, and not being able to discover them, or to account for deaths taking place in such different parts of the island, they kept altogether, close to the plantation side, and left the bay entirely to us.

This gave Smart an opportunity of getting to the s.h.i.+p and bringing off a boat, which we concealed by day in a cleft of the rock, but nightly we employed ourselves in running down to the sh.o.r.e with everything we had collected, which Smart and the captain stowed in the s.h.i.+p. We had been at this work about a week, in full confidence and in the highest spirits, our hopes were great, the dangers of the voyage appeared as nothing, all our plans seemed succeeding, when one night, just as we were all creeping up, tired and worn out with our night's work, we heard shriek upon shriek from one of our party.

The strong sonorous voice of the captain shouted to us to get to cover.

Smart followed, huddling us all in like sheep, but, dark as it was, we could not see who was missing, and I could not trust my voice to ask. We ran to the inner cavern, and there, by the light of the torch, we missed the darling child, Zoe, and both the maids.

_Smart._--"Don't fret, Ma'am, don't fret, no harm is done. We'll have 'em back by the morn. The cap'in and I will just take a step out and look about us, and you, Madam, will be ready to help us, no doubt,"

turning to Schillie.

_Schillie._--"Yes, yes, Smart, I am quite willing. As for you, June, mind what Smart says, and don't fret. If we could rescue those two from all of them, think how much more likely we are to succeed now. I am only afraid that fool Hargrave will do us a mischief. I wish it had been any other person than her in the sc.r.a.pe."

_Captain._--"Now then, Madam, send them all to rest, and don't fear anything. Smart and I are not likely to sit still while our brave deliverers are in danger. And as for my pretty flower, I'll cut through a wall of pirates to get at her."

_Mother._--"Then, Madame, take them all away. I a.s.sure you I cannot sleep. I am ready to help with Schillie. Let us settle at once what is best to be done."

They all went off most unwillingly, while we arranged that getting up through the big cavern by the rope still concealed there, Smart should go to the pirates' village, in as secret a manner as he could, and find out what was best to be done, and where the prisoners were placed. No time was to be lost. He was guided immediately to the place, not only by the glare of the torches, but by the screams of Hargrave, and following them cautiously, he concealed himself close by one of the windows where they were put, and heard all that took place.

Jenny was recognised immediately, and the innocent child was frightened almost into a fainting fit by the rough and horrid manners of these dreadful people. But, according to Smart's account, Mrs. Hargrave was in a mort of tantrums. He got back in safety, though with much difficulty, and then detailed to us the following facts:

They were, as before, questioned all about themselves, and Jenny, as before, stoutly maintained all were dead. They pointed to the child, and smiled in scorn, but Zoe, like a brave little girl, positively refused to say more than Jenny did, making the tears run down Smart's face as he described the little white lips, so firm and decided; and each time, by way of puzzling her, they put the question in a different manner, each time she pointed to the three as if they were all.

_Smart._--"I beant one bit afeard of them two, but I am of that Mrs.

Hargrave; and it crossed my mind, when I heerd her shrieking and squalling for you all, if I had not better put a bullet in her head just to silence her, only I did not for ould acquaintance sake, and I seed, by the sniggling of them oudacious monsters, as they meant to get some'at out of her. I gave Jenny to understand as I was near at hand, and the brave little thing, I could see by her eye, knowed the sound, but never a sign gave she."

_Captain._--"I am afraid, Smart, it is of no use trying to deceive them any longer, as they must be now aware that there is some place of concealment on the island unknown to them; and, from my knowledge of their character, I know their cunning and devilry is so great they will leave no stone unturned to find it out."

_Smart._--"Cap'n, you and I agree, and it's through that weak fool Mrs.

Hargrave as they'll sarc.u.mvent us. I never thought she had much brains, and now I reckon she has worse nor none. Jenny and Miss Zoe would ha'

got clear off, had it not been for her skriking and pulling at 'hem, for I heerd Jenny a giving it her handsome, saying she must ha' had the heart of a savage to keep such hold of Miss Zoe when the pirates took her, instead of letting the little innocent lady escape as she could; and, though she did not say so, I am partly sure Jenny might ha' got off well, only she was a-trying to get Miss Zoe free from that weak woman, a-holding on like grim death, and, finding she wasn't capable, she bided with the child to be a help and comfort to her."

_Mother._--"Ah, how like that good Jenny."

_Schillie._--"She certainly is a little trump, and never thinks of herself."

_Madame._--"If I fold my darling Zoe in my arms once more, I shall never be able sufficiently to show my grat.i.tude to Jane."

_Captain._--"She shall never want for bite nor sup, once we get her free, as long as I live."

_Felix._--"She is not your Jenny, captain, she is mine, she is always to live with me, and, when I am married, she is to be my children's nurse."

Sybil and Serena and Gatty all expressed their admiration, while Gatty added, "I wish Smart had sent his bullet where he said, for if there is an owl in the world it is that Hargrave."

The captain proceeded to state that there seemed no likelihood of the prisoners being harmed at present. I had visions before my eyes of the old stories where innocent children are brought forward with b.l.o.o.d.y swords held over their heads, ready to be sacrificed if they did not confess and capitulate, and while all agreed they would sacrifice themselves for Zoe and Jenny, Smart and the captain declared we were not allowed the choice, for our lives were in their keeping, and all must not be sacrificed for two. We none of us seemed to have the least pity or care for poor Hargrave.

"It was mighty lucky," said Smart, "she could speak nothing but her mother tongue, and that but badly clipping and mincing it, for she was letting out everything in such a way I could ha' shook her well; and I'll be bound to do it when I next see her. I hopes as they did not understand, but I ha' my doubts."

The captain now set them all to work watching at different posts, with orders to run and tell him all that occurred every half hour. Turning to Schillie and me he said, "Ladies I would advise you to prepare for the worst. They will work on the fears of that silly woman I doubt. We must be prepared, and while I can defend the entrance for a good hour, you must make your retreat, and where that is to be the Lord only knows."

_Mother._--"If we could get to the top of that big rock standing out this side the bay, we can keep them off for some time there."

_Captain._--"That rock is but changing one desperate hope for another.

However we must trust in G.o.d. I'll try and believe that poor woman will not utterly forget herself and us."

_Schillie._--"Why! my good captain, this island is like a rabbit warren, they can never unearth us if we choose to be moderately careful."

_Captain._--"I have no doubt we could hide here for some time, but, with such a lot of young ones all the care in the world on our parts may be upset in a moment by thoughtlessness on theirs. Besides, they won't leave a corner unvisited I feel sure, partly out of revenge, for they are a most spiteful race, and partly from feeling persuaded you are the people so long lost, and for whose recovery such large rewards are offered."

_Schillie._--"In that case I imagine they won't harm us."

_Captain._--"They might not perhaps have done so at first, but 'they will cut off their nose to spite their face' I am certain; by which I mean they will be so savage at losing their men, and so angered at having been deceived all this time by such a helpless party, that they might murder us all in cold blood on the spur of the moment."

_Schillie._--"And that will be very unpleasant as far as I can judge."

_Mother._--"I should think we could make some hiding places amongst the caverns, captain."

_Captain._--"So we could, Madam, had we time, and if I live but an hour, or for one hundred years, my regret at not having taken the precaution will be the same."

_Schillie._--"Give me any orders you like, captain, and they shall be done if possible."

_Captain._--"I know they will, I know for certain they will, so now I will tell you all I think, and you shall decide for yourselves. In the first place, have you any doubt but that if the pirates let Mrs.

Hargrave go as to where she will come?"

_Schillie._--"Like any wild bull she will of course rush to these caverns and expose our hiding places."

_Captain._--"Then we agree, Madam, and without doubt the pirates will watch her and discover all. Now are we to run the chance of finding safe hiding places in these numerous caverns, or show ourselves at once and give fair fight?"

_Mother_ (shaking and s.h.i.+vering).--"That I hold to be impossible, for there must be twelve pirates left, besides all the women and children, and look at us."

_Captain._--"We have but a poor chance indeed, Ma'am, but remember, Madam, Smart and I have the hearts of a dozen strong men in our bosoms, ready to sacrifice all for those we love so much, and who risked their lives to save us. I feel, yes, I feel as if a wall of pirates must fall before such a spirit as is within me fails."

_Mother._--"But in the fight, supposing any of the children should get hurt, supposing one of the party were killed, I think, I really think I would rather all went at one blow than that we should have to mourn the loss of one."

_Captain._--"I can understand your feelings well, Madam, and----"