You are perfectly safe if you simply do nothing but what I tell you, returned Barret, in a quiet, ordinary tone of voice, that reassured the poor lad more than the words.
By way of reply he suddenly became motionless, and as limp as a dead eel.
Getting gradually on his back, and drawing Tips slowly on to his chest, so that he rested with his mouth upwards, and his head entirely out of the water, Barret struck out for the spar, swimming thus on his back.
On reaching it, he found to his surprise that it was the experimental raft, and that the captain, Mabberly, and McGregor were already clinging to it.
Wont bear us all, I fear, said Mabberly; but thank God that we have it. Put the boy on.
In order to do this, Barret had to get upon the raft, and he found that it bore him easily as well as the boy.
Have you seen Jackman? asked Mabberly.
Yes, replied Barret, rising and looking round.
Here he comes, towing Quin, I think, who seems to be stunned. Hallo! This wayhi! Giles!
But Giles suddenly ceased to swim, turned over on his back, and lay as if dead.
Rescue, Bob, rescue! shouted Barret, plunging into the water. Mabberly followed, and soon had hold of Giles and his man by the hair.
All right! said Jackman, turning round; I was only taking a rest. No one lost, I hope?
No; all safe, so far.
You can tow him in now. Im almost used up, said Jackman, making for the raft. Hes only stunned, I think.
It was found that the Irishman had in truth been only stunned when they lifted him on to the raft, for he soon began to show signs of returning life, and a large bump on his head sufficiently explained the nature of his injury.
But when the whole party had cautiously clambered up on the raft it sank so deep that they scarcely dared to move. To make matters worse, they clearly distinguished the steamers whistle going farther and farther away, as if she were searching for them in a wrong direction. This was indeed the case, and although they all shouted singly and together, the whistle grew fainter by degrees, and finally died away.
With feelings approaching to despair, the crew of the frail raft began to talk of the prospect before them, when they were silenced by a slight movement in the mist. The white curtain was lifted for a few yards, and revealed to their almost incredulous eyes a rocky shore, backed by a range of precipitous cliffs, with a wild mountainous region beyond.
As the sea was still perfectly calm, there was no surf. Our castaways, therefore, with the exception of Quin and the boy, quietly slipped into the water, and, with thankful hearts, propelled the raft vigorously towards the shore.
Chapter Three
The Wreck is Followed by Repose, Refreshment, Surprise, and Disaster
The distance from land was not more than a few hundred yards; nevertheless, it occupied a considerable time to pass over that space, the raft being ill-adapted for quick progression through the water.
Close to the shore there was a flat rock, to which, as they approached it, their attention was drawn by the appearance of what seemed to be living creatures of some sort. Quin and Robin Tips, sitting on the raft, naturally saw them first.
I do belave its men, for theyre liftin their hids an lookin at us. Av it was the South Says, now, Id say they was saviges peepin at us over the rocks.
Praps theyre boys a-bathin, suggested Tips.
Are they white? asked Captain McPherson, who, being chin-deep in the water and behind the raft, could not see the rock referred to.
No; sure they seem to be grey, or blue.
Oo, theyll be seals, returned the skipper, nasallya tone which is eminently well adapted for sarcastic remark without the necessity of elaborate language.
In coorse they is, said Tips; dont you see theyre a-heavin up their tails as well as their eads?
On advancing a few yards farther, all doubt upon the question was put at rest. The animals, of which about a dozen were enjoying themselves on the rock, raised themselves high on their flippers and gazed, with enormous eyes, at the strange-looking monster that was coming in from the sea! Thus they remained, apparently paralysed with astonishment, until the raft was within pistol-shot, and then, unable to endure the suspense longer, they all slipped off into the sea.
A few minutes later and the raft struck on the shore. And well was it for the party that the weather chanced to be so fine, for if there had been anything like a breeze, their frail contrivance would inevitably have been dashed to pieces. Even a slight swell from the westward would have raised such a surf on that rugged shore that it would have been impossible for the best of swimmers to have landed without broken limbs, if not loss of life. As it was, they got ashore not only without difficulty, but even succeeded in hauling the raft up on the beach without much damage to its partsthough, of course, the unfortunate fowls in the hen-coops had all perished!
While Mabberly and the others were engaged in securing the raft, Barret was sent off along shore with directions to ascertain whether there was any habitation near. To his right the high cliffs came down so close to the sea that it seemed very improbable that any cottage or hamlet could be found in that direction. He therefore turned towards the left, where the cliffs receded some distance from the shore, leaving a narrow strip of meadow land.
Hurrying forward about a quarter of a mile, he stopped and looked about him. The sun was still high in the heavensfor the days are long and nights brief in that region during summerand its rays had so far scattered the mists that all the low-lying land was clear, though the mountain-range inland was only visible a short distance above its base. The effect of this was to enhance the weird grandeur of the view, for when the eye had traced the steep glens, overhanging cliffs, rugged water-courses, and sombre corries upward to the point where all was lost in cloud, the imagination was set free to continue the scenery to illimitable heights.
The youth was still gazing upward, with solemnised feelings, when there was presented to him one of those curious aspects of nature which are sometimes, though rarely, witnessed in mountainous regions. Suddenly an opening occurred in the cloudsor mistwhich shrouded the mountain-tops, and the summit of a stupendous cliff bathed in rich sunshine, was seen as if floating in the air. Although obviously part of the mountain near the base of which he stood, this cliffcompletely isolated as it wasseemed a magical effect, and destitute of any real connection with earth.
While he was looking in wonder and admiration at the sight, he observed a bird hovering about motionless in the blue vault high above the cliffs. Although inexperienced in such scenery and sights, Barret knew well enough that nothing but an eagleand that of the largest sizecould be visible at all at such a distance. Suddenly the bird sailed downwards with a grand circular sweep, and was lost among the shadows of the perpendicular rocks. A few minutes more and the mists drifted over the opening, causing the vision to disappear.
This was Barrets first view of the Eagle Cliff, which was destined to exercise a powerful and lasting influence upon his fortunes!
A few yards beyond this the explorer came upon a sheep track, and a little farther on he found one of those primitive roads which are formed in wild out-of-the-way places by the passage of light country carts, with the aid of a few rounded stones where holes required to be filled up, or soft places strengthened. Following it a short distance to a spot where it ran between a precipice and the shore, he came suddenly in sight of a wilderness of fallen rocks, which were varied in size from mere pebbles to masses the size of an omnibus. These had all fallen from a steep spur of the mountains which projected towards the sea of that place. The whole of the level land at the base of the spur was strewn with them; some being old, moss-covered and weather-worn, others fresh and sharp in outline, as if they had fallen only the previous winter, as probably they had, for the places from which they had been dislodged could be seen still fresh and light-coloured, nearly a thousand feet up on the riven cliffs. It was a species of desolation that powerfully recalled some scenes in Dantes Inferno, and had a depressing effect on the youths spirits, for nothing seemed more unlikely than the existence of a human habitation in such a place.
A new view of the matter broke upon him, however, when he suddenly became aware that a spot in the confused scene which he had taken to be a clump of withered bracken was in reality a red cow! Looking a little more narrowly at objects he soon perceived a hut among the rocks. It was so small and rude and rugged as almost to escape detection. A furious barking soon told that he had been seen, and two collie dogs rushed towards him with demonstrations that threatened him with immolation on the spot. The uproar put life into a few more clumps of red bracken, and produced a lively display of sheep and cattle throughout the region.
Barret walked straight up to the door of the hut, and the collies withdrew from the attackas most noisy demonstrators do when treated with silent indifference.
Is there any one inside? he asked of a bare-legged, shaggy-headed boy, who came out and gazed at him, apparently with his mouth as well as his eyes.
Na, answered the boy.
Any other cottages or houses near this?
Ay; yonder.
The boy pointed in the direction of the sea, where, in a stony nook between two jutting masses of rock, nestled about a dozen huts built of boulder stones gathered from the sea-shore. So small were these huts, and so stupendous the rocks around them, that they might easily have been overlooked by a careless eye. So might the half-dozen fishing-boats that lay in the little cove beside them.
A stream or rivuletbetter known in Scotland as a burnran past the hamlet, formed a pool just below it, and dropped into the cove close to the place where the boats lay.
Rejoiced to find even the poorest kind of shelter in such a place, Barret hastened down to the cove, and, tapping at the door of the largest of the cottages, was bidden come in by a soft voice.
Entering, he was surprised to find a neatly, though plainly, furnished room, which was evidently the kitchen of the houseindeed, the sole room, with the exception of an off-shoot closet. The large open fireplace contained a peat fire on the hearth, over which hung a bubbling pot. There were two box-beds opposite the fire, and in the wall which faced the door there was a very small window, containing four panes of glass, each of which had a knot in the middle of it. One of them also presented the phenomenon of a flattened nose, for the boy with the ragged head had rushed down and stationed himself there to observe the result of the unexpected and singular visit.
Beside the window, in a homely arm-chair, sat an invalid girl with pale thin cheeks, bright blue eyes, and long flaxen hair. If not pretty, she was, at all events, extremely interesting, and possessed the great charm of a winning smile.
Apologising for causing her alarm by his damp, dishevelled, and sudden appearance, Barret asked if there were any men about the place.
No, there were none there at the moment; most of them being out after the sheep and cattle, and some gathering peat, or away in the boats.
But surely they have not left you all by yourself? said Barret, struck not only by the appearance of the girl, but by the comparative refinement of her language.
Oh no! she replied, with a slight smile; they look well after me. Mrs Anderson has only gone to fetch some peats. But where have you come from, sir? Your clothes are all wet!
You are right. I have just been saved from drowning, through Gods mercy, along with my companions.
Here Barret gave her a brief outline of the recent disaster, and then asked if Mrs Anderson was her mother.
No; she is my aunt, but she is very good to me; takes as much care of me as if I was her own daughter. I dont belong to this place. They have sent me here for my health.
At this point they were interrupted by Mrs Anderson herself, who entered with a load of peat, which she flung down, shook her fist at the nose-flattener outside, and turned in astonishment to her visitor.
Of course our shipwrecked friend had to retail his story to the woman, and then learned from her that the island was a very large one, with a name unpronounceable by English lips, that it was very thinly inhabited, that it consisted almost entirely of pasture land, and that the laird owned a large portion of it, including the little fishing village of Cove.
While the woman was speaking an elderly man entered, whom she introduced as her husband Ian. To him Barret had to re-repeat his story, and then asked if he and his friends could obtain shelter in the village for the night.
Iss it shelter yell be wantin? Yell hev that an welcome, though it will be of the poorest. But in the mornin yell gang up to the hoose, for the laird wud be ill-pleased if we keepit ye here.
Pray, who is this laird? asked Barret; your wife has already mentioned him.
Maister Gordon is his name. He lives near the heed o Loch Lossie. It iss over eight mile from here, said Ian; an a coot shentleman he iss, too. Fery fond o company, though it iss not much company that comes this way, for the steam-poats dont veesit the loch reglar or often. Hell be fery glad to see you, sir, an to help ye to git home. But wed petter be goin to tell your freens that we can putt them up for the nicht. Ill go pack with ye, an well take the poy to help an carry up their things.
You forget that we have been wrecked, returned Barret with a laugh, and have no things to carry, except our own damp carcases.
Thats true, sir, but well be none the worse o the poy, what-ë-ver. Come away, Tonal, said Ian, as they started back along the shore. It iss under the Eagle Cliff where ye came to laund, I make no doot?
Well, I suppose it was; at least, there is a range of cliffs close to the place where our raft struck.
Oo aybut it iss not the wee precipices, it iss the big hull behind them that we ca the Eagle Cliff.
Oh, indeed! I saw that cliff in a peculiar manner as I came along, said Barret giving a description of the scene.
Ay; it iss sometimes seen like that, said Ian; an we often see the eagle, but its no possible to git a shot at that crater. The laird is real keen to bring it doon, for it plays the mischief among the lambs, an him an his freens hes aften tried, but they hev not manicht it yet.
Thus chatting they soon reached the raft, and found the disconsolate party waiting impatiently for them.
Shall we leave it where it lies, or drag it further up on the beach? asked Mabberly, referring to the raft.
Ye petter haul it a wee higher up, said Ian, examining the machine with much interest; for when it comes on to plow theres a heavy sea here. Weel, weel, but it iss a strange contrivance!
Ay; an also a useful one, said the skipper, drilyat least as duly as was possible in the circumstance.
Noo, shentlemen, I think we had petter be goin.
It was indeed time, for although the weather was warm and fine, the sun had set, and their damp garments began to feel uncomfortable.
At the Cove the whole party was accommodated in a single-roomed hut, which chanced to be empty at the time. Here the hospitable fishermen spread nets for bedding, and with plaids made up for the lack of blankets. They also kindled a large peat fire, and put on a pot of potatoes, and some splendid sea-trout, while Mrs Anderson prepared oat-cakes at her own fire, and sent them in as required.
Noo, shentlemen, yell tak a tram? said Ian, producing a black bottle.
Immeasurable was the astonishment of the Highlander when the gentlemen refused a dram.
Butbut, yell catch yer death o cauld, if ye dont! he said, remonstratively, as he stood bottle and glass in hand.