Mother Carey's Chicken Part 40

Shortly afterwards, in earnest thankfulness, a hearty breakfast was eaten upon that lonely sh.o.r.e. But when cuts had been bathed and re-bandaged and evidences of the conflict removed, and a short inspection made to see if there was anything to fear from savages, the arms were examined and made ready, a watch was set; and in the shade of the cocoa-nut grove the greatest boon of the weary was sought and found--for by mid-day, when the sun was scorching in its power, all had gladly lain down to rest and find the sleep that would prepare them for the struggle for life in which they were to engage.

"So we are to be the first watch--eh, Mark?" said the major.

"Yes, sir," was the reply.

"Four hours. Shall we keep awake?"

Just then there was a low moan.

"Yes," said the major; "we shall not want to sleep with poor Morgan like that."

"Will he recover, sir?" whispered Mark as he knelt in the sand by the sick man's head, and raised some cocoa-nut leaves over his head as a screen.

"Please G.o.d!" said the major piously; and he followed Mark's example and screened the injured and now delirious fore-mast-man from the sunbeams, which streamed like silvery arrows through the great founts of verdant leaves.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

HOW THE WATCH HEARD A NOISE.

That was a weary watch, but, as the major said, they did not want to sleep, with the wounded men moaning and muttering in their uneasy rest.

For there was so much to do, seeing to the shade and altering the positions of the leaves, so that while the sun was kept off, the soft breeze from the sea was allowed to cool the fevered brows of the patients.

Then there were flies which were disposed to be troublesome and had to be kept at a distance, Mark making a loose chowry, like a horse-tail, of long wiry gra.s.s, and this proving so effective that the major annexed it, and advised Mark to make another.

And so an hour pa.s.sed away, after which Mark took a tin and fetched some of the cool spring-water which came trickling down from the interior, deeply shaded by the ferns, and so low among mossy stones that he had to climb into a narrow chasm to the clear basin-like pool.

With this he prepared to bathe Morgan's forehead; but as he bent over him the poor fellow's countenance wore so terrible an aspect, the skin being absolutely green, that the lad shrank away and signed to the major.

"Well, my lad, what is it?"

"Look!--his face! What does it mean?"

"Eh!--mean! What?"

"Don't you see? That horrible green!"

"Tchah! what are you talking about?" said the major, picking up a leaf and holding it over his head. "Now, then, what colour is my face?"

"Green," said Mark, smiling. "How stupid of me!"

"Well, we will not call it stupid, my lad; but with so many real difficulties we must not make imaginary ones. Why, Mark, this voyage is making a man of you--self-reliant, business-like, and strong. When we get over it--"

"Shall we get over it, sir?" said Mark sadly.

"Ah!" said the major, speaking in a low tone so as not to disturb the patients; "now, that's a chance for a sermon for you, my lad, only I can't preach. Look here, Mark, ten thousand things may happen to us, one of which is that we may all die here of starvation."

"Yes, sir."

"Well, then, that's ten thousand to one. Bah! Don't fidget now. We have just landed in a little paradise, after running terrible risks from spear and kris, explosion, fire, storm, and wreck. You ought to be thankful, and not growl."

"I am thankful, sir."

"Then show it, my lad. Take what comes, like a man; do the best you can for everybody, and leave the rest."

"I'll try, sir."

"Try! nonsense! I know you already, my lad, better than you know yourself. You'll do it naturally without trying."

They sat here in that golden glow of shelter for some time in silence, watching their patients and the glittering sea, broken every now and then by the splash of a fish.

"Do you think Mr Morgan will get better, sir?" whispered Mark at last.

"Certainly I do. Why shouldn't he? A strong healthy man with his wound waiting to heal as soon as he could have rest and proper sleep. What we have gone through was enough to give us all fever, so no wonder a wounded man is so bad. I expected that your father would give up."

"But he has not, sir."

"No; mind has kept him from breaking down. He has all the responsibility, you see. You must try and grow up just such a man, my lad."

There was again a silence, broken at last by the major.

"I want to go exploring here, Mark," he said. "I expect this will prove to be a very wonderful place."

"But I thought such an island as this would be full of beautiful birds."

"Perhaps it is, but the birds are all sitting under their sun-shades till the sun begins to go down. Why, Mark, we shall be in clover!"

"But about food, sir? What shall we do for food for such a party? The stores won't last long."

"Now, that's a boy all over," said the major, chuckling. "Food! My word, how a boy does love the larder! There, don't look so serious, Mark. I was just as bad, I can remember, at home, enjoying my own school-room breakfast, then getting a little more when my father had his; having a little lunch; then my dinner, followed by my tea; after which dessert, when they had theirs, in the dining-room; lastly, a bit of supper; and I finished off by taking biscuits or baking-pears to bed."

"Yes, sir," said Mark; "but that was in England."

"Well, never mind. We shall find something to eat here, I daresay.

Enough to keep us. Why, Mark, I don't suppose we should have to put you in the pot for quite a year."

Mark laughed, and the major's eyes twinkled as he went on.

"What nonsense, my lad! we couldn't starve here. The sea teems with fish waiting to be caught. Look yonder."

Mark glanced in the required direction, and could see the smooth water in the lagoon dappled and blurring as a shoal of fish played upon the surface.

"But how are we to catch them, sir?"

"Hooks and lines; make nets; fish-traps. Why, Mark, if a savage can do these things, surely we can!"

"Do you think there are any animals here?" said Mark, glancing round.