Part 57 (1/2)
Theas he went, until the entrance was nearly gained Twelve feet were found, which shallowed to eight, the greatest depth over the bar As the boats got in closer Green observed a person at the end of the point, dressed in a conical goat-skin cap, with jacket and trousers of the sa vehe performed the first part of his duty, steered in the direction towards which the stranger was pointing As the boat touched the beach he sprang out, and the instant afterwards, instead of seeing a stranger, as his surprise and delight to find his hand grasped by Gerald Desmond
”How, by all that's wonderful, did you coiven you up for lost”
”I was afraid so,” answered Desmond ”And, faith, I had some ideamonth, with only two companions who escaped with ht me thus far But, tell me, did the _Stella_ escape with my uncle and the rest of the party on board?” Green relieved Desmond'sthat Captain Adair commanded the shi+p outside ”And who are your companions?” asked the master
”An honest Dutch lad--Rip Van Winkle, as I call hi Snarley They set off this oats to be sacrificed for your entertainht, and I suspected that you were an English e ofwhen I found that you had disappeared Though I guessed the truth, that you had been blown off again and would steaht would occur to one down; but, if such was the case, I hoped that some boats would have escaped and coreat satisfaction on receiving the information that his uncle Terence was captain of the shi+p which had in so extraordinary a e towards the very rock on which he had been wrecked
”We very nearly met with the fate you supposed, and as the shi+p's bottom somewhat resee to get her over the bar at high water At all events, we h worn out, she cannot be kept afloat er,” added Green
”The sooner that's done the better, then,” answered Desale blow heavily, either on or off this shore, and provisions and stores not have been saved, we may all quickly be reduced to starvation
Rip and I have found enough to eat with the aid of our fishi+ng-lines, but the shi+p's codoer, Desdom' of yours,” said Green
”I'll tell you all about it as we pull off,” answered Gerald, ”though I aain and to learn how things have gone on at home--whether any other claimant has taken possession of my title and estate Poor fellow! he won't bless this island, whatever you do, for having afforded et back to old Ireland to disappoint hiht the heart of our old friend, Counsellor McMahon, ill be fancying that all his toil and trouble have been throhile his purse too will have suffered not a little I have often wished that I possessed thehis mind on that point”
”From what Captain Adair has said, I don't think the counsellor has ever given up the idea of your safety,” answered the master, ”but you will hear all about it very soon”
This conversation took place as the boat was returning to the shi+p, after Dess with the first lieutenant
”Well,” exclaiood,' and although I'oes a long way towards reconciling me to her fate, especially as I have not to pay for her”
Adair expressed hi his nephew, Saint Maur
”I was sure that you would turn up one day or other, Gerald,” he said, ”and so was the counsellor, and I don't o through, now that I have found you
Although I ah to hear how you came here, I have too much to do just now to listen to you”
Such, indeed, was the case Before an attempt could bepossible ot out of her The boats were immediately lowered and loaded with provisions and canvas for for Lord Saint Maur turning to with asaway at the ropes To land the stores more rapidly, Adair directed the carpenter to construct several rafts, which would be serviceable as long as the sea continued smooth, but which would be most untrustworthy should it coave the satisfactory intelligence that he had found three large boats on the island, which had apparently been left by a party who had been there for the purpose of catching whales, but for so had time to remove them
He considered that they could be quickly repaired He accordingly, accompanied by the carpenter's crew, returned on shore, and soon after ht them off They were soon loaded and on their way back to the shore Not a moment was lost
The marines were at once landed to help unload the boats and carry the cargoes to the spot selected for the proposed encaht side of the entrance, where there was a level space of soreat distance above the water Desht in a couple of goats, which he had killed and prepared for the refreshment of the boats' crews No one, however, had time to do more than ”fist” a piece and run back with it to the boat
Not until it beca backwards and forwards, and even then the crew on board were engaged in hoisting up articles of all sorts froht was cale portion of stores and provisions uns A careful watch was kept, but the greater portion of the officers and crew turned in to obtain that rest they so ed in puh the water ran in less furiously than at first, it would very soon otherwise have gained its previous ascendancy Strange thatshe was, slowly though gradually, and any relaxation of the efforts necessary to keep her afloat would have proved their dooht Captain Adair turned out, too anxious to sleep soundly Asapproached, he feared, froe
His nepheho had slept on board, joined him
”I don't think we need fear that as yet,” he observed ”I've watched the appearance of the weather ever since I landed, for every day I have been on the look-out in the hopes of seeing a shi+p passing and being able to attract her attention Not long ago a vessel hove in sight, but the weather cah she ain, and I saw no more of her”
Captain Adair was cheered up by Saint Maur's remarks No sooner had the first streak of dawn appeared in the sky, than he roused up all hands, and the boats, which had been hoisted up, were lowered and iot ready the previous night The other boats came off from the shore, and now as fast as they could load and unload they passed backwards and forwards between the harbour and the shi+p To save the long pull, Captain Adair determined, by Saint Maur's advice, to carry her closer in Stea hove from the bottom, she stood towards the shore
As the day advanced the wind, hitherto coer than before, while a white line of surf formed across the mouth of the harbour The boats, however, continued to pass through it, although not without risk of being swaot their jackets etted No one thought of that or any other danger or inconvenience Their great object was to land stores and provisions sufficient to last theht be, as they were to stay there, for all well knew that the old shi+p o to the bottom or be knocked to pieces, unless run safely over the bar and beached inside the harbour She had still a good store of coals on board This was sacked and sent on shore, a s, little above as required to carry the shi+p over the bar Night put an end to their labours