Part 7 (2/2)
”The needles! shure, I'd be afther makin' the the thread”
Though Too on, his ard to the condition of the boat, and Desreed with him that, unless her leaks could be stopped, it would be madness to put to sea
While theat their several tasks Toned to the walks, he and Des which would answer as a substitute Dess, and looked about for them for some time, until Toions, and that they could only expect to discover soetable substance
At last they determined to explore the whole of the island, which would occupy the one of the muskets, they filled their wallets--which Pat lad rass--with a store of dried yams, salt pork, and fish, which they carried in case they should be unsuccessful in obtaining gaon_ appear, to fire off the ht a beacon fire on the su-staff Hill, the suish fro farewell to their companions, they first directed their course towards the south-east end of the island, which, as it had a rocky and barren appearance, they had not yet visited
CHAPTER THREE
TOM AND DESMOND DISCOVER A WRECK--HORRIBLE SCENE--FIND TOOLS AND STORES ON BOARD--RETURN WITH THEIR TREASURES TO THE CAMP--VISIT THE WRECK IN THEIR BOAT, AND BRING BACK STORES--THE BOAT FITTED FOR SEA--LAST NIGHT ON Shore--SETTING SAIL--STEER FOR japAN--WIND CHANGES--STAND TO THE SOUTH--A LONG CALM--FOLLOWED BY A SHARK--A BREEZE, BUT AGAINST THEM-- RUNNING SHORT OF PROVISIONS--REDUCED TO YAMS AND OIL--BOAT RUN DOWN BY A WHALER--DESMOND AND TIM MISSING--TOM AND JERRY FIND THEM
Toed manfully forward on their survey of the island
The path was very uneven They kept as near to the coast as they could, and frequently they could only edness of the rocks, by turning inland They had to clah thick creepers
At other tied hills, then to descend again, either into so up fro, however, to exaenerally kept away froht or ten ht, they obtained a view of the sea and a line of coast for some distance
Suddenly Tom stopped and put his hand on his companion's arm
”Tell me, Desmond, what do you think is that dark object out there? It is curiously shaped, like--or, is it--”
”A vessel, to be sure,” exclaimed Desmond, whose eyes had been turned towards the spot ”How could she have co her?”
”She may possibly have been there for some ti a gale before we landed here, and she appears to be thrown high up on the rocks”
As they got up to the vessel, they saw that she had been driven on shore between two ledges, where she had reh tide when she recked, as the water had co along over the rocks, the side, then hauled the over the bows The vessel was a fore-top-sail schooner Her h torn to tatters, now fluttering in the breeze A horrible odour ca doas their horror to see three bodies, one apparently a white seaman, fros still hanging to their remains The two midshi+pmen anxious to accomplish the survey of the vessel, hastened aft About the companion hatch and on the bulwarks, the wood had been chipped off, as if by bullets, and there were other signs that a severe struggle had taken place at some time or other on board They descended the companion ladder; at the foot were stains of blood, traces of which were discovered on the steps They expected, from the odour which pervaded the whole vessel, to find so, either dead or alive, was there They discovered, however, what had evidently been the captain's log-book, by which it was shown that the vessel was the _Ark_, of Brisbane, Queensland, and that she had been engaged in carrying labourers from various islands to serve as apprentices for three years in that colony How she had come thus far north it was i showed that she was in the latitude of the Caroline group; so that if she had been deserted there, she must have drifted several hundred miles Tom and Desmond concluded that the blacks must have risen on the white crew, and that the latter, after defending themselves desperately, must have been overco was certain, that a terrible tragedy had been enacted on board The dead bodies below could tell no tales; probably they had fallen in the struggle and been left there by their co the crew, had steered to the northward, fancying that their own islands lay in that direction
”We et nearer the truth However, ill take care of the log, and see if anything ot out of it We will see now if the vessel contains anything likely to be useful, and if there is, we ht knock her to pieces”
Before they could further continue their search they had to coain descended into the little cabin No sooner had they commenced their search than they found a set of carpenter's tools, some parcels of nails, and several other articles which they required for repairing their boat
”These are indeed treasures,” said Tom, as he examined them ”Now, if we can only find a cask of tar, we shall be fortunate”
”That most likely is forward, or in the hold,” said Deso into the hold,” said Too down, if we do not find ant forward”
Nearly all the articles they wanted most were in the after cabin: a quadrant, a chart, canvas and rope, sail- they could possibly require They at once placed, ready for packing up, the things which were of the most value to thelass, and other articles They then, as they were unwilling to reer on board than was necessary, made their way forward Almost one of the first objects which their eyes encountered as they exaot up apparently for use; there were also oil, turpentine, white lead, and brushes
”I only e had ti our own boat, have built another better fitted for our intended voyage
Perhaps we could get the vessel off?” suggested Desmond