Annie o' the Banks o' Dee Part 21

Next morning, when d.i.c.kson and Reginald went over the hills, after a hearty breakfast of roast yams and delicious fish, they found that the sea had receded so far that they could walk around the wreck on the dry sand.

That day was spent--with the a.s.sistance of the Queen's special servants--in saving from the vessel everything of value, especially stores, and the s.h.i.+p's instruments.

Casks of rum and flour, casks of beans, and even b.u.t.ter, with nearly all the bedding and clothes. These latter were spread on the beach to dry.

Inland, to the Queen's mansion, everything else was borne on litters.

But the greatest "save" of all was the arms and ammunition, to say nothing of tools of every description, and canvas wherewith good tents might be built later on.

When all was secured that could be secured, and the remainder of the crew had joined them--

"Men," said d.i.c.kson, "let us pray."

Down on the coral strand knelt the s.h.i.+pwrecked men, while, with eyes streaming with tears, Captain d.i.c.kson prayed as perhaps he had never prayed before, to that Heavenly Father who had spared the lives of those before him.

The natives stood aside wonderingly, but they listened intently and earnestly when, led by their captain, the mariners sang a portion of that beautiful psalm:

"G.o.d is our refuge and our strength, In straits a present aid; Therefore, although the earth remove, We will not be afraid."

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

CRUSOES ON THE ISLAND OF FLOWERS--A THREATENED ARMADA.

For weeks and weeks mourned poor Hall for his wife; for weeks and weeks mourned he. He was like Rachel weeping for her children, who would not be comforted "because they were not."

But the anguish of his grief toned down at last. His sorrow was deep still, but he could listen now to the consolations that d.i.c.kson never forgot to give him morn, noon, and night.

"Ah, well," he said at last, "I shall meet her again in the Bright Beyond, where farewells are never said, where partings are unknown.

That thought must be my solace."

And this thought did console both him and Ilda, his daughter. As for Matty, she was too young to know what grief really was, and romped with Reginald's dog in the Queen's beautiful gardens, just as she had done on board the unfortunate yacht--now, alas! a yacht no more.

But busy weeks these had been for the s.h.i.+pwrecked mariners. Yet far from unhappy. They were Crusoes now to all intents and purposes, and acting like Crusoes, having saved all the interior stores, etc, that they could, knowing well that the very next storm would not leave a timber of the poor _Wolverine_. So at every low tide they laboured at breaking her up. At high tide they worked equally energetically in building a wooden house on a bit of tableland, that was easy of access, and could not be reached by a tide, however high.

The house was very strong, for the very best wood in the s.h.i.+p was used.

Moreover, its back was close to the straight and beetling mountain cliff.

The six men of the crew that were saved worked like New Hollanders, as sailors say. The house had st.u.r.dy doors, and the vessel's windows were trans.h.i.+pped. But this wooden house did not actually touch the ground, but was built on two-foot high stone supports. Soot could be strewn around them, and the white ants thus kept at bay. Stone, or rather scoria, steps led up to the dwelling, one end of which was to be not only the sleeping-place of the men, but a kind of recreation-room as well, for d.i.c.kson had succeeded in saving even the piano and violins.

The other room to the right was not so large, but, being furnished from the saloon of the _Wolverine_, was almost elegant, and when complete was always decorated and gay with lovely wildflowers. Indeed, all the flowers here were wild.

The Queen had begged that Miss Hall and wee Matty might sleep at the palace. This was agreed to; but to luncheon not only they but the Queen herself came over every fine day, and the days were nearly all fine.

One day a big storm blew and howled around the rocky mountain peaks. It increased in violence towards evening, and raged all night. Next day scarcely a timber of the wrecked yacht was to be seen, save a few spars that the tempest had cast up on the white and coralline beach.

Captain d.i.c.kson was far indeed from being selfish, and quite a quant.i.ty of saloon and cabin furniture saved from the wreck was carried on the backs of the natives over the mountain tracks to the beautiful Valley of Flowers, to furnish and decorate the house of the Queen.

Her Majesty was delighted, and when her rooms were complete she gave a great dinner-party, or rather banquet. She had much taste, and the table was certainly most tastefully decorated. The _menu_ was a small one. There was fish, however, excellently cooked.

"I taught my cook myself," said her Majesty, smiling.

This was followed by the _piece de resistance_, a roast sucking-pig.

The _entree_ was strange, namely, fillets of a species of iguana lizard.

The huge and terrible-looking iguana lizard, as found on the coast of Africa, crawling on the trees, is very excellent eating, and so were these fillets.

But the fruits were the most delicious anyone around the festive board had ever tasted. There were, strangely enough, not only blus.h.i.+ng pine-apples, but guavas, which eat like strawberries smothered in cream; mangoes, and many other fragrant fruits no one there could name.

d.i.c.kson had supplied the wine, but very little was used. Goats' milk and excellent coffee supplied its place.

Poor Hall was still a patient of Reginald's, and the latter compelled him to take a little wine for his grief's sake.

Just a word or two about Queen Bertha. Though but twenty and five, her dark hair was already mixed with threads of silver. She was tall for a woman, very beautiful and very commanding. She never stirred abroad in her picturesque dress of skins without having in her hand a tall staff, much higher than herself. It was ornamented--resplendent, in fact--with gold, silver, precious stones and pearls.

"This is my sceptre," she said, "and all my people respect it." She smiled as she added: "I make them do so. I can hypnotise a man with a touch of it; but if a fellow is fractious, I have a strong arm, and he feels the weight of it across his s.h.i.+ns. He must fling himself at my feet before I forgive him. My history, gentlemen, is a very brief one, though somewhat sad and romantic. I am the daughter of a wealthy English merchant, who had a strange longing to visit in one of his own s.h.i.+ps the sh.o.r.es of Africa and the South Sea Islands. He did so eventually, accompanied by my dear mother and myself, then little more than a child, for I was only fifteen; also an elder brother. Alas! we were driven far out of our way by a gale, or rather hurricane, of wind, and wrecked on this island. My father's last act was to tie me to a spar. That spar was carried away by the tide, and in the _debris_ of the wreck I was washed up on sh.o.r.e. Every soul on board perished except myself. The superst.i.tious natives looked upon the dark-haired maiden as some strange being from another world, and I was revered and made much of from the first. I soon had proof enough that the islanders were cannibals, for they built great fires on the beach and roasted the bodies of the sailors that were washed up. There were, indeed, but few, for the sharks had first choice, and out yonder in that blue and sunlit sea the sharks are often in shoals and schools. Some devoured the human flesh raw, believing that thus they would gain extra strength and bravery in the day of battle."

"Are there many battles, then?" asked Reginald.

"Hitherto, doctor, my people have been the invaders of a larger island lying to the east of us. Thither they go in their war canoes, and so far fortune has favoured them. They bring home heads and human flesh.

The flesh they eat, the heads they place on the beach till cleaned and whitened by crabs and ants; then they are stuck on poles in my somewhat ghastly avenue. I have tried, but all in vain, to change the cannibalistic ways of my people. They come to hear me preach salvation on Sundays, and they join in the hymns I sing; but human flesh they will have. Yes, on the whole I am very happy, and would not change my lot with Victoria of Britain herself. My people do love me, mind, and I would rather be somebody in this savage though beautiful island than n.o.body in the vortex of London society.

"But I have one thing else to tell you. The Red-stripe savages of the isle we have so often conquered are gathering in force, and are determined to carry the war into our country; with what results I cannot even imagine, for they are far stronger numerically than we are, though not so brave. These savages are also cannibals; not only so, but they put their prisoners to tortures too dreadful even to think of. It will be many months before they arrive, but come they will. I myself shall lead my army. This will inspire my people with pluck and from the hilltops I hope you will see us repel the Armada in beautiful style."

She laughed right merrily as she finished her narrative.

"But my dear Queen," said d.i.c.kson, "do you imagine that myself and my brave fellows saved from the wreck will be contented to act as mere spectators from the hills, like the 'G.o.ds' in a theatre gallery, looking down on a play? Nay, we must be beside you, or near you, actors in the same drama or tragedy. Lucky it is, doctor, that we managed to save our two six-pounders, our rifles, and nearly all our ammunition. Why are they called the Red-stripe savages, your Majesty?"

"Because, though almost naked, their bodies when prepared for war are all barred over with red paint. The face is hideous, for an eye is painted on the forehead, and a kind of cap with the p.r.i.c.ked ears of the wild fox, which is half a wolf, worn on the head. Their arms are bows, spears, s.h.i.+elds of great size, which quite cover them, and terrible black knives."

"Our shrapnel, believe me, lady, will go through all that, and their heads as well."

"Though loth to seek your a.s.sistance," said Queen Bertha, "in this case I shall be glad of it. For if they succeed in conquering us the ma.s.sacre would be awful. Not a man, woman or child would be left alive on our beautiful island."

"a.s.suredly we shall conquer them," said d.i.c.kson. "The very sound of our guns and crack of our rifles will astonish and demoralise them. Not a boat shall return of their invincible Armada; perhaps not a savage will be left alive to tell the tale hereafter."

"That would indeed be a blessing to us. And my people have half-promised not to make war on them again. We should therefore live in peace, and fear no more Armadas."

Mr Hall was now brightening up again, and all the survivors of the unfortunate _Wolverine_, having something to engage their attention, became quite jolly and happy. I scarce need mention Matty. The child was happy under all circ.u.mstances.

Ilda, too, was contented. Perhaps never more so than when taking long walks with Reginald up the lovely valley, gathering wildflowers, or fis.h.i.+ng in the winding river.

Ilda was really beautiful. Her beauty was almost of the cla.s.sical type, and her voice was sweet to listen to. So thought Reginald.

"How charmingly brown the sun has made you, dear Ilda," said Reginald, as she leant on his arm by the riverside.

He touched her lightly on the cheek as he spoke. Her head fell lightly on his shoulder just then, as if she were tired, and he noticed that there were tears in her eyes.

"No, not tired," she answered, looking up into his face.