Lindigo, the White Woman/Chapter 14
CHAPTER XIV.
THE SHIPWRECK.
Charlie, after waiting beyond the time appointed for Donald's return, came to the conclusion that Mary Grant had prevailed upon him to remain, and that he had given up the idea of emigrating to New Zealand; he was, therefore, reluctantly compelled, on account of his own safety, to order the captain to sail.
The voyage contributed but little consolation to his gloomy thoughts, leaving behind him all he valued upon earth, not even knowing whether Bella had forgiven his late unfortunate act. The weather proved propitious during the voyage, until nearing their destination, when a strong gale set in, driving the vessel at a fearful rate, when at length, about midnight, the terrible reality was made known to them by the man at the look-out, calling—"Breakers ahead!" and before they had time to alter her course, she was carried, on the crest of an enormous wave, on to the reef, where she was left, stuck fast in a slit of the rock. In this dreadful uncertainty they passed the remainder of the night, expecting every wave to seal their doom, but fortunately the tide lowered, but the breakers sent the spray completely over her.
The wished for morning at length arrived, which revealed their fearful position, and confirmed their opinion that the vessel was wedged into a slit or crack in the reef, where she was as firm and solid as in a dock, and apparently without having sustained any injury to her hull. Within a short distance was a barren rock, which hid them from the main land.
Their hope of safety was dispelled on considering that the tide, now at its lowest ebb, would soon return, and in all probability the ship would be broken up, and they found that the only chance they had of reaching the land, was the boat, only one being left. It was accordingly lowered, and some provisions and clothing put in, when all hands abandoned the ship. The sea was running fearfully high, and a sail was set to steady the small craft, but on entering a narrow strait, a sudden squall caught and capsized her. On coming to the surface, Charlie, who had divested himself of all heavy clothing and boots, in case of an accident, beheld to his horror, the boat, keel uppermost, without a creature near. He resolved to gain the boat, as the strength of the current would not allow him to reach the shore by swimming. He immediately struck out with all his strength, and succeeded in reaching the slippery support, which considerably relieved him, and which he trusted would bring him to land.
The boat was fortunately driven into a back current, which set in towards the land; this, with a lull in the gale which had taken place, greatly revived his drooping spirits and strength.
The eastern sun now rose in all its splendour, casting its golden rays on the shipwrecked mariner, as if to cheer him while clinging to the boat. His early practice in the art of swimming, and his native hardy constitution, stood him in good need, amidst the raging billows which had proved so fatal to his companions.
The boat was by degrees driven towards the land, but the castaway was brought almost to the last stage of exhaustion; when it had nearly reached the shore, he beheld nothing but frowning cliffs, which threatened him with instant destruction. A fearful death was, however, averted by the boat being driven through a gap in the cliffs into a small basin, which terminated in a little sandy beach, on which he could distinguish, although his sight was failing, three human forms.
Finding that his strength was quickly leaving him, he resolved upon making an effort to attract their attention; he immediately held up one hand, and gave a feeble cry for aid, but the other hand not having sufficient strength to hold him up, lost its hold, and in a moment the sea closed over him.
He soon, however; felt something grasp him by the hair, which brought him to the surface. His listless form was then carried swiftly through the water, when his consciousness entirely forsook him. How long he remained in this state he knew not, but, on his awakening, he found himself stretched on a couch covered with matting of peculiar workmanship.
On glancing around the apartment, he found it to be a small cave, at the other end of which was a fire, and around it were seated three females. One of these, apparently the youngest, was dressed in a kind of matting, but far superior in workmanship to that worn by the other two, and also wearing several ornaments which plainly showed her superiority. The three were conversing in whispers, and the youngest, who was far handsomer than the other two, with beautiful large black eyes; holding up her hand, as if to command silence, she listened for a moment, then rose cautiously, and approached the couch with quiet and slow stops.
Pretending sleepiness still, he closed his eyes again, when she knelt by his side and removing his wet hair from his brow, she murmured some unintelligible words, while her warm breath fanned his face; then, with a deeply drawn sigh, rose from her recumbent position.
Charlie now opened his eyes, and met her's, when she wrapped her robe carefully round her, and a shade of confusion passed over her face.
Seeing him attempting to rise, she instantly changed her looks into that of admiration; kneeling again by his side and wrapped his covering more closely around him. This he found was necessary, for he felt giddiness and faintness coming over his whole frame, on making the slightest attempt to rise.
The young girl now sent away one of the maids, who, after some time, returned with some refreshments, of which he was pressed to partake. On tasting it, he found it revive him greatly; he was then allowed by his careful nurse to rise from his couch.
A long communication by signs was then held by them, the purport of which was that he was to remain for a time a prisoner in the cave, where he would be supplied with food, but, should he attempt to go beyond its precincts, he would be disposed of in a manner not very agreeable; he was, therefore, compelled to submit to the will of his young protectress, and remained passive in her hands.
Two days had passed in this manner, and the girl, with her maids, came punctually each morning with necessaries, and one of them always, in turn, kept him company during the day (the young one more so), and instructed him in their language, by which he was able to understand several things of consequence to him.
On the third day, being quite recovered, his young nurse came alone, punctual as usual with his morning meal. She then sat by his side, catechising his vocabulary in her own language, and also inspecting his white hands and features with admiration, as if he were an infant; her interesting occupation was suddenly interrupted by the entrance of one of her maids in a state of alarm and terror. On communicating some dire calamity (which Charlie was unable to understand) to her young mistress, the latter sprang quickly to her feet, made him lie down on the couch, and covered him with mats. Not knowing her intentions, or wishing to disobey her commands, he suffered himself to be thus placed, when, to his consternation, four savages rushed into the cave.
The first of these was a middle-aged warrior, who appeared by his many scars and other marks to be a chief, and after him entered two young men carrying enormous bludgeons, and painted over the body in warlike fashion.
The fourth was also young, and a powerful-looking man, but much fairer, who wore several articles of European clothing, and carried a musket.
These formidable characters stood in the cave facing the maid, who sternly maintained her station before the couch, when, after a few threatening imprecations, the old chief advanced, and, pushing her on one side, she gave a loud scream, flung herself on her charge, giving vent to supplicating exclamations, which arrested the old warrior, and seemed to affect him for a while.
On seeing this the warrior with the musket put in some demonstrations apparently unfavorable to Charlie, and seeming to incite the chief in his first intentions, when the young girl sprung up and retaliated upon the last speaker in words which evidently carried force and argument, and which turned affairs somewhat in her favor.
Charlie now stood up by the side of his protectress, and, with supplications for mercy in his defenceless state, evoked their clemency by many signs and words, impressing upon them his late shipwreck, and being saved from drowning by the brave girl at his side.
A visible change took place in the looks of the spectators at this appeal; the old chief and the two young warriors were evidently favorable to Charlie and his protectress, but the half-civilised savage was unquestionably antagonistic in the highest degree; for, on seeing the tables turned, he rushed from the cave muttering threats of future revenge, and which for the moment affected the others with awe and dread. However, after another exhortation from the young girl, their peaceable intention again manifested itself towards the castaway, and, laving down their arms, a long conversation took place between them and the girl, the subject of which seemed to be the "pakeha" or white man. At the conclusion of this deliberation, the young girl, with a countenance beaming with joy, intimated to Charlie that he was now at liberty to leave the cave, and follow them to a place where he would be furnished with better accommodation, and free from annoyance for the future.