My lads, cried Bill, who, though the moment before he expected nothing but death, was suddenly himself again, that breeze will take us to the island we were steering for in the course of a few hours. You may eat me if you like, but I dont think you will find your way there without my help.
The men saw the sense of this, and told him he had nothing to fear. While he and I went to the helm, the rest trimmed sails, and we were soon running at a brisk rate through the water.
Fortunately, some small casks of hams which had got stowed away under the sandal-wood were discovered. This satisfied our hunger, though it increased our thirst. The wind, however, brought rain, and we were able to collect enough water to keep us alive. We thought all would go well, in spite of the leak, which made it still necessary to keep the pumps at work.
Bill and I had just come on deck at night for our middle watch, when just as he had been telling me that he hoped next morning to make the land, the vessels keel grated on a coral reef which the look-out had not discovered. On she drove, and I hoped might be forced over it, but the grating, tearing sound which came from below told me that the sharp points were ripping off her planks, and the rest of the crew, springing on deck, cried out that the water was rushing in on every side. We clewed up the sails, and got our only boat ready for launching.
The wind was increasing, and forcing us further and further on the reef. As we could not tell in what direction to pull, we determined to remain till morning, but before the morning arrived the wind increased, and the sea broke over us. The mainmast went by the board, and most of the men cried out that if we did not get the boat in the water we should be lost.
Bill and I had gone forward. I heard some loud cries. My shipmates had managed to launch the boat, but the next instant she had been swamped alongside, and they were struggling for their lives in the foaming sea. We clung on to the wreck. The sea was making a complete breach over her, and the after part appeared breaking up. Suddenly she swung round, and seemed to me to be slipping off the rock. At that moment a sea took me, striking me on the head, knocking the senses out of me; the next I found myself in the foaming waters, and looking up, the moon bursting forth just then, caught sight of Bill making his way up the fore-rigging. I sung out to him to heave me a rope and haul me on board. The vessel appeared to have been brought up by a lower part of the reef, and to be sticking there. Bill heard my voice, and unreefing the fore brace, hove it to me just as a sea washed me back towards the wreck. I caught hold of it when pretty nigh exhausted, for though I hadnt had much enjoyment in life, I didnt wish to leave it, and so clung on with all my strength, while Bill gradually hauled me up to the fore chains. From thence I made my way into the top, where he and I sat, expecting, however, every moment that the mast would go and carry us overboard.
Are the rest all lost, think you? asked Bill.
No doubt about it, said I. The boat could not have lived a minute in such a sea as there is running. We are better off even here.
Terrible, said Bill. And you and I are left alone out of the whole lot.
We may thank our stars for that, said I. And I say, Bill, if we hold out till morning, and it comes on calm, maybe we shall find some of the pearls, and after all it wont be so bad a job for us.
Dont talk of the pearls, he answered, with a groan. I wish that I had never been tempted to try to get them. The captain and the rest have got their deserts, and I would not touch one of them, gained as they were by cruelty and fraud, if they were to be washed up into my hands.
I only wish I could catch sight of some of the boxes with the chance of getting them, said I. And if you were to do so, Bill, I would not trust to your good resolutions.
I dont want to talk about the matter, answered Bill,
gloomily. What chance have we of getting away from the wreck? we may be miles off from the shore, for what I know.
If the wind goes down, we may build a raft and reach the land, or may be a vessel will pass by and take us off. If not, and it breezes up again, we shall be in a bad case.
Bill groaned again.
I am not prepared to die, he exclaimed. I would give anything to get on shore.
You havent anything to give, said I. So you had better make up your mind to brave it out, just as I mean to do. I wish that I could get at some liquor, though; that would keep up our spirits better than anything else.
Bill groaned again.
I dont want to die like a brute with my senses gone, he answered.
As to that, seamen have to go out of the world somehow, and for my part I dont think myself worse than the rest, I answered; and with regard to the things done aboard this craft, that was the captains look out, not mine, nor yours either; so cheer up, Bill, dont be down-hearted. Daylight will soon return, and then, may be, we shall find ourselves better off than we fancy.