King o' the Beach Part 15

"That's a matter of opinion, my boy," said the doctor, drily.

"'Scuse me, Master Carey, sir," said the old sailor, with a peculiar smile.

"Excuse you--what for?"

"What I'm going to say, sir," said the old fellow, as he leaned against the handle of the big oar as he steered. "You've got a very nice-looking nose, sir. It's a bit big for your size, but it's a nice tempting-looking nose all the same."

"Is it?" said Carey, shortly, and his disengaged hand went up to the organ in question. "I daresay it is. I don't know; but why do you want to meddle with it?"

"I don't, sir; I only want to keep anything else from having a go at it."

"What is likely to have a 'go' at it, as you say?"

"Young shark might be tempted, sir."

"Pooh! Nonsense! But are there sharks in this lagoon?"

"Thousands, I'll be bound, sir. So don't you never try to bathe. What do you say to running up between those two bits of bare reef, sir--sort o' ca.n.a.l-like place? We could run right up to the sand there."

"Try it," said the doctor, and the raft was steered between the long ridges of coral, whose points stood just out of the water. Carey had the satisfaction of seeing that there was a shoal of fish being driven along the watery pa.s.sage to the shallow at the end, over which they splashed and floundered till they reached deep water again and swam away.

"Some o' they would have done for the frying-pan, sir, if we'd had a net handy," said Bostock. "We must come prepared another time."

The raft grounded the next minute in what seemed to be a magnificent marine aquarium, into the midst of whose wonders the old sailor stepped to mid-thigh, crunching sh.e.l.ls and beautiful pieces of coral in a way which made Carey s.h.i.+ver.

"All right, sir, there's millions more," he said, coolly. "Now, doctor, there's no need for you to step down," he continued; "it's wonderful slimy, and there's sh.e.l.ls and things sharp enough to cut through your boots. You give me the guns and basket, and I'll take 'em up on the sands and come back for you. I'm more used to the water than you are."

The doctor nodded and handed the two double guns they had brought, along with the basket of provisions, with which Bostock waded ash.o.r.e, returning directly to take the doctor on his back, after which he came again for Carey.

"Hadn't I better wade ash.o.r.e?" said the boy; "one ought to get used to this sort of thing."

"After a bit, my lad," said Bostock, shaking his head. "You get used to growing quite well first. Now then, you stand up close here, and I'll nip you ash.o.r.e in no time."

"Well, turn round then; I can't get on your back like that."

"You're not going to get on my back, my lad. I'm going to take you in my arms and carry you."

"Like a little child," cried Carey, pettishly.

"No, like a hinwalid who won't take a bit of care of his tender bones.

Lor'-a-mussy, how orbsnit youngsters can be! Don't yer want to get well?"

"All right," said Carey, gruffly. "Don't drop me in the water: I'm precious heavy."

"Now, is it likely, my lad?" growled the old fellow, taking the lad up gently and starting for the sh.o.r.e. "I'm not going to let you down, so don't you--here, steady there--steady!"

Carey burst out into an uncontrollable roar of merriment, for Bostock's right foot suddenly slipped on the slimy sh.e.l.l of one of the great pearl-oysters, and he was as near going headlong as possible; but by making a tremendous effort he saved himself and his burden and hurried panting to the sh.o.r.e.

"Have I hurt you, my lad?" he cried, excitedly, perspiration starting out in great drops on his face. "No, not a bit," said Carey, merrily.

"Phew! I thought I'd done it, sir. Now, you see, that comes of being too c.o.c.ksure. Thought I knowed better, but I didn't. Now, are you sure you aren't hurt?"

"Quite, Bob," said Carey, wiping his eyes. "Well, you needn't laugh so much, sir."

"I can't help it," cried Carey, indulging in another hearty burst.

"There, I'm better now."

The doctor, who had at once walked off towards the great grove of cocoanuts with a gun on his shoulder, now returned.

"Plenty of birds, Carey, my lad," he said; "cocoanuts by the thousand, and through yonder, where you can hear it roaring, there is an ample supply of fresh water. You can see from here where it runs through the sand. Now, the first thing I want to know is whether we are on an island, and the second, have we any savage neighbours."

"Let's go up the hills and take a good look round then," suggested Carey.

"That is the way to find out, of course; but it would be like so much madness for you to attempt such a climb."

"Would it, sir?"

"Yes, for some time to come. You are getting on so well that I don't want you to be driven back by over-exertion."

"But I could try and give up if I got tired."

"Yes, but I don't want you to grow tired, so you must content yourself here. There is plenty to see along the sh.o.r.e here."

"And suppose a lot of blacks come while you are away."

"Pick up the gun I shall leave with you; they will not face that. But I have no fear of that happening. I feel sure that there are no inhabitants. Still, I only feel so, and I want to be perfectly certain."

"You'll be ever so long," said Carey, gloomily, "and it will not be very pleasant to be quite alone. All right, though, sir, I don't mind."

"You are not going to be alone," said the doctor, quietly. "Bostock will stay with you."

"Oh, but that will not be right," cried the boy, eagerly. "Who knows what dangers you may run into?"

"I have my gun, and I daresay I can take care of myself."

"But you ought to take Bostock with you, doctor."

"I think not: and besides, as we have to divide our force it ought to be done as equally as possible. There, I shall take six hours for my expedition--that is to say, if it is necessary--and I shall go straight away for three hours, and then turn back."

"And suppose you lose yourself?"

"I have no fear of that," said the doctor. "But don't you go far in either direction. Consider that you have to guard the raft till I come back."

Carey felt ready to make fresh objections, but the doctor gave him no time. He stepped to the provision basket, took out one of the bread cakes that Bostock made every other morning, thrust it into his pocket, and gave his patient a final word or two of advice.

"Don't be tempted to over-heat yourself in the sun," he said. "Get into the shade of the grove here if you begin to grow tired," and, shouldering his gun, he stepped off through the sand, disappearing directly after among the trees, but only to step back and shout:

"I shall try and follow the stream as near as I can to its source in the lake that must be up yonder. _Au revoir_."