The Coral Island by Robert Michael Ballantyne (interesting books to read in english TXT) đź“–
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course ere I awoke. I was, therefore, in the habit of heaving-to
during those three hours; that is, fixing the rudder and the sails
in such a position as that by acting against each other, they would
keep the ship stationary. After my night’s rest, therefore, I had
only to make allowance for the lee-way she had made, and so resume
my course.
Of course I was to some extent anxious lest another squall should
come, but I made the best provision I could in the circumstances,
and concluded that by letting go the weather-braces of the topsails and the topsail halyards at the same time, I should thereby
render these sails almost powerless. Besides this, I proposed to
myself to keep a sharp lookout on the barometer in the cabin, and
if I observed at any time a sudden fall in it, I resolved that I
would instantly set about my multiform appliances for reducing
sail, so as to avoid being taken at unawares. Thus I sailed
prosperously for two weeks, with a fair wind, so that I calculated
I must be drawing near to the Coral Island; at the thought of which
my heart bounded with joyful expectation.
The only book I found on board, after a careful search, was a
volume of Captain Cook’s voyages. This, I suppose, the pirate
captain had brought with him in order to guide him, and to furnish
him with information regarding the islands of these seas. I found
this a most delightful book indeed, and I not only obtained much
interesting knowledge about the sea in which I was sailing, but I
had many of my own opinions, derived from experience, corroborated;
and not a few of them corrected. Besides the reading of this
charming book, and the daily routine of occupations, nothing of
particular note happened to me during this voyage, except once,
when on rising one night, after my three hours’ nap, while it was
yet dark, I was amazed and a little alarmed to find myself floating
in what appeared to be a sea of blue fire! I had often noticed the
beautiful appearance of phosphorescent light, but this far exceeded
anything of the sort I ever saw before. The whole sea appeared
somewhat like milk and was remarkably luminous.
I rose in haste, and, letting down a bucket into the sea, brought
some of the water on board and took it down to the cabin to examine
it; but no sooner did I approach the light than the strange
appearance disappeared, and when I removed the cabin lamp the
luminous light appeared again. I was much puzzled with this, and
took up a little of the water in the hollow of my hand and then let
it run off, when I found that the luminous substance was left
behind on my palm. I ran with it to the lamp; but when I got there
it was gone. I found, however, that when I went into the dark my
hand shone again; so I took the large glass of the ship’s telescope
and examined my hand minutely, when I found that there were on it
one or two small patches of a clear, transparent substance like
jelly, which were so thin as to be almost invisible to the naked
eye. Thus I came to know that the beautiful phosphoric light,
which I had so often admired before, was caused by animals, for I
had no doubt that these were of the same kind as the medusae or
jelly-fish which are seen in all parts of the world.
On the evening of my fourteenth day, I was awakened out of a nap
into which I had fallen by a loud cry, and starting up, I gazed
around me. I was surprised and delighted to see a large albatross
soaring majestically over the ship. I immediately took it into my
head that this was the albatross I had seen at Penguin Island. I
had, of course, no good reason for supposing this, but the idea
occurred to me, I know not why, and I cherished it, and regarded
the bird with as much affection as if he had been an old friend.
He kept me company all that day and left me as night fell.
Next morning as I stood motionless and with heavy eyes at the helm,
for I had not slept well, I began to weary anxiously for daylight,
and peered towards the horizon, where I thought I observed
something like a black cloud against the dark sky. Being always on
the alert for squalls, I ran to the bow. There could be no doubt
it was a squall, and as I listened I thought I heard the murmur of
the coming gale. Instantly I began to work might and main at my
cumbrous tackle for shortening sail, and in the course of an hour
and a half had the most of it reduced, - the topsail yards down on
the caps, the topsails clewed up, the sheets hauled in, the main
and fore peaks lowered, and the flying-jib down. While thus
engaged the dawn advanced, and I cast an occasional furtive glance
ahead in the midst of my labour. But now that things were prepared
for the worst, I ran forward again and looked anxiously over the
bow. I now heard the roar of the waves distinctly, and as a single
ray of the rising sun gleamed over the ocean I saw - what! could it
be that I was dreaming? - that magnificent breaker with its
ceaseless roar! - that mountain top! - yes, once more I beheld the
Coral Island!
CHAPTER XXIX.
The effect of a cannon-shot - A happy reunion of a somewhat moist
nature - Retrospects and explanations - An awful dive - New plans -
The last of the Coral Island.
I ALMOST fell upon the deck with the tumult of mingled emotions
that filled my heart, as I gazed ardently towards my beautiful
island. It was still many miles away, but sufficiently near to
enable me to trace distinctly the well-remembered outlines of the
two mountains. My first impulse was to utter an exclamation of
gratitude for being carried to my former happy home in safety; my
second, to jump up, clap my hands, shout, and run up and down the
deck, with no other object in view than that of giving vent to my
excited feelings. Then I went below for the telescope, and spent
nearly ten minutes of the utmost impatience in vainly trying to get
a focus, and in rubbing the skin nearly off my eyes, before I
discovered that having taken off the large glass to examine the
phosphoric water with I had omitted to put it on again.
After that I looked up impatiently at the sails, which I now
regretted having lowered so hastily, and for a moment thought of
hoisting the main-top sail again; but recollecting that it would
take me full half a day to accomplish, and that, at the present
rate of sailing, two hours would bring me to the island, I
immediately dismissed the idea.
The remainder of the time I spent in making feverish preparations
for arriving and seeing my dear comrades. I remembered that they
were not in the habit of rising before six, and, as it was now only
three, I hoped to arrive before they were awake. Moreover, I set
about making ready to let go the anchor, resolving in my own mind
that, as I knew the depth of water in the passage of the reef and
within the lagoon, I would run the schooner in and bring up
opposite the bower. Fortunately the anchor was hanging at the cat-head, otherwise I should never have been able to use it. Now, I
had only to cut the tackling, and it would drop of its own weight.
After searching among the flags, I found the terrible black one,
which I ran up to the peak. While I was doing this, a thought
struck me. I went to the powder magazine, brought up a blank
cartridge and loaded the big brass gun, which, it will be
remembered, was unhoused when we set sail, and, as I had no means
of housing it, there it had stood, bristling alike at fair weather
and foul all the voyage. I took care to grease its mouth well,
and, before leaving the fore part of the ship, thrust the poker
into the fire.
All was now ready. A steady five-knot breeze was blowing, so that
I was now not more than quarter of a mile from the reef. I was
soon at the entrance, and, as the schooner glided quietly through,
I glanced affectionately at the huge breaker, as if it had been the
same one I had seen there when I bade adieu, as I feared for ever,
to the island. On coming opposite the Water Garden, I put the helm
hard down. The schooner came round with a rapid, graceful bend,
and lost way just opposite the bower. Running forward, I let go
the anchor, caught up the red-hot poker, applied it to the brass
gun, and the mountains with a BANG, such as had only once before
broke their slumbering echoes!
Effective although it was, however, it was scarcely equal to the
bang with which, instantly after, Peterkin bounded from the bower,
in scanty costume, his eyeballs starting from his head with
surprise and terror. One gaze he gave, one yell, and then fled
into the bushes like a wild cat. The next moment Jack went through
exactly the same performance, the only difference being, that his
movements were less like those of Jack-in-the-box, though not less
vigorous and rapid than those of Peterkin.
“Hallo!” I shouted, almost mad with joy, “what, ho! Peterkin!
Jack! hallo! it’s me!”
My shout was just in time to arrest them. They halted and turned
round, and, the instant I repeated the cry, I saw that they
recognised my voice, by both of them running at full speed towards
the beach. I could no longer contain myself. Throwing off my
jacket, I jumped overboard at the same moment that Jack bounded
into the sea. In another moment we met in deep water, clasped each
other round the neck, and sank, as a matter of course, to the
bottom! We were well-nigh choked, and instantly struggled to the
surface, where Peterkin was spluttering about like a wounded duck,
laughing and crying by turns, and choking himself with salt water!
It would be impossible to convey to my reader, by description, an
adequate conception of the scene that followed my landing on the
beach, as we stood embracing each other indiscriminately in our
dripping garments, and giving utterance to incoherent rhapsodies,
mingled with wild shouts. It can be more easily imagined than
described, so I will draw a curtain over this part of my history,
and carry the reader forward over an interval of three days.
During the greater part of that period Peterkin did nothing but
roast pigs, taro, and bread-fruit, and ply me with plantains,
plums, potatoes, and cocoa-nuts, while I related to him and Jack
the terrible and wonderful adventures I had gone through since we
last met. After I had finished the account, they made me go all
over it again; and, when I had concluded the second recital, I had
to go over it again, while they commented upon it piecemeal. They
were much affected by what I told them of the probable fate of
Avatea, and Peterkin could by no means brook the idea of the poor
girl being converted into a LONG PIG! As for Jack, he clenched his
teeth, and shook his fist towards the sea, saying at the same time,
that he was sorry
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