Lucky for us, said one of the sailors, making play with his clasp-knife on a junk of salt pork, that weve got such a fine day to begin with.
Thats true, Bob, said another; a raft aint much of a sea-goin craft. If it had blowed hard when we shoved off from the ship we might ha bin tore to bits before we was well fixed together, but weve had time to make all taut now, and can stand a stiffish breeze. Shove along the breadbasket, mate.
Youve had your allowance, Bob; mind, were on short commons now, said Baldwin Burr, who superintended the distribution of provisions, and served out a measured quantity to every man. Theres your grog for you.
Bob Corkey growled a little as he wiped his knife on his leg, and accepted the allowance of grog, which, however, was only pure water.
Are you sure the raft can stand a storm? inquired Watty Wilkins of Philosopher Jack, who sat eating his poor meal beside him.
Sure? responded Jack, we can be sure of nothing in this life.
Except trouble, growled Corkey.
Oh yes, you can be sure of more than that, said Baldwin Burr; you can always be sure of folly coming out of a fools mouth.
Come, come, Baldwin, be civil, said Philosopher Jack; its cowardly, you know, to insult a man when you cant fight him.
Cant fight him? repeated Burr with a grin; who said I couldnt fight him, eh? Why, Im ready to fight him now, right off.
Nevertheless, you cant, persisted the philosopher; how could two men fight on a raft where theres not room for a fair stand-up scrimmage between two rats? Come now, dont argue, Burr, but answer little Wilkinss question if you can.
Stowaways dont desarve to have their questions answered, said Corkey; in fact, they dont desarve to live. If I had my way, Id kill little Wilkins and salt him down to be ready for us when the pork and biscuit fail.
Well, now, as to the safety of this here raft in a gale, small Wilkins, said Baldwin, regardless of Corkeys interruption, that depends summat on the natur o the gale. If it was only a half-gale wed weather it all right, I make no doubt; but, if it should come to blow hard, dee see, we have no occasion to kill and eat you, as wed all be killed together and eaten by the sharks.
Sharks! exclaimed Mr Luke, whose damp garments were steaming under the powerful sun like a boiler on washing-day; are there sharks here?
Ay, said Corkey, pointing to the sea astern, where the glassy surface was broken and rippled by a sharp angular object, thats a shark a-follerin of us now, leastwise the back fin of one. If you dont believe it, jump overboard and youll soon be convinced.
This reference to the shark was overheard by Polly, who came out of her bower to see it. The monster of the deep came close up at that moment, as if to gratify the child, and, turning on its back, according to shark habit when about to seize any object, thrust its nose out of the water. For one moment its double row of teeth were exposed to view, then they closed on a lump of pork that had been accidentally knocked overboard by Corkey.
Is that the way you take care of our provisions? said the captain, sternly, to Baldwin.
Weve got a big hook, sir, said Edwin Jack, touching his cap; shall we try to recover the pork?
You may try, returned the captain.
Little Wilkins uttered something like a war-whoop as he leaped up and assisted Jack to get out the shark-hook. It was soon baited with another piece of pork. Ben Trench, who had a strong leaning to natural history, became very eager; and the men generally, being ever ready for sport, looked on with interest and prepared to lend a hand. The shark, however, was cautious. It did indeed rush at the bait, and seemed about to swallow it, but suddenly changed its mind, swam round it once or twice, then fell slowly astern, and finally disappeared.
Although the fish was not caught, this little incident served to raise the spirits of every one, and as the calm sunny weather lasted the whole day, even the most thoughtful of the party found it difficult to realise their forlorn condition; but when evening drew near, the aspect of things quickly changed. The splendid ocean-mirror, which had reflected the golden crags and slopes, the towers and battlements of cloud-land, was shivered by a sudden breeze and became an opaque grey; the fair blue sky deepened to indigo; black and gathering clouds rose out of the horizon, and cold white crests gleamed on the darkening waves. The men gathered in anxious groups, and Polly sat in the entrance of her bower gazing on the gloomy scene, until her young heart sank slowly but steadily. Then, remembering her fathers advice, she betook herself to God in prayer.
Young though she was, Polly was no sentimentalist in religion. She believed with all her heart in Jesus Christ as a living, loving Saviour. Her faith was very simple, and founded on experience. She had prayed, and had been answered. She had sought Jesus in sorrow, and had been comforted. The theologian can give the why and how and wherefore of this happy condition, but in practice he can arrive at it only by the same short road. One result of her prayer was that she went to sleep that night in perfect peace, while most of her companions in misfortune sat anxiously watching what appeared to be a gathering storm.
Before going to rest however, Polly had an earnest little talk with her father.
Polly, said Captain Samson, sitting down under the shelter of the tarpaulin, and drawing the childs fair head on his breast, I never spoke to you before on a subject that praps you wont understand, but I am forced to do it now. Its about money.
About money! exclaimed Polly in surprise; oh, father, surely you forget! The very last night we spent on shore, you spoke to me about money; you gave me a half-sovereign, and said you meant to give a blow-out to old Mrs Brown before leaving, and told me to buystay, let me seethere was half a pound of tea, and four pounds of sugar, and three pennorth of snuff, and
Yes, yes, Polly, interrupted the captain, with a smile, but I meant about money in a business way, you know, because if you chanced, dee see, ever to be in England without me, you know,it
But Ill never be there without you, father, will I? asked the child with an earnest look.
Of course notthats to say, I hope notbut you know, Polly, that God arranges all the affairs of this world, and sometimes in His love and wisdom He sees fit to separate peoplefor a time, you know, only for a timeso that they dont always keep together. Now, my darling, if it should please Him to send me cruising totoanywhere in a different direction from you, and you chanced ever to be in England alonein Scotland, that isat your own home, you must go to Bailie Trenchyou know himour old friend and helper when we were in shoal water, my dear, and say to him that I handed all my savings over to Mr Wilkinsthats Wattys father, Pollto be invested in the way he thought best. When you tell that to Bailie Trench hell know what to do; he understands all about it. I might send you to Mr Wilkins direct but hes a very great man, dee see, and doesnt know you, and might refuse to give you the money.
To give me the money, father! But what should I do with the money when I got it?
Keep it, my darling.
Oh! I see, keep it safe for you till you came back? said Polly.
Just so, Poll, youre a clever girl; keep it for me till I come back, or rather take it to Bailie Trench and hell tell you how to keep it. Its a good pot o money, Poll, and has cost me the best part of a lifetime, workin hard and spendin little, to lay it by. Once I used to think, continued the captain in a sad soliloquising tone, that Id live to cast anchor near the old spot, and spend it with your mother, Polly, and you; but the Lord willed it otherwise, and He does all things well, blessed be His name! Now you understand what youre to do about the money, dont you, if you should ever find yourself without me in Scotland, eh?