Adrift in Pacific and Other Great Adventures – 17 Titles in One Volume (Illustrated Edition). Jules Verne
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run, and that Jack eagerly accepted such tasks. But as Briant had said nothing to him, and gave him no opportunity of asking, Gordon remained silent, although he suspected that an explanation had taken place between the brothers.
The month of February was passed in various ways. Wilcox had found the salmon swimming up the river to the fresh waters of Family Lake, and many were caught in nets stretched from bank to bank. To preserve them required a large quantity of salt, and to get this a great many journeys were needed to Schooner Bay, where Baxter and Briant had established a small salt-marsh—a square pool in which the sea-water was evaporated by the sun and deposited the salt.
In the first fortnight of March three or four of the young colonists went off to explore a part of the marshy district of South Moors which lay across Zealand River. This expedition was Donagan's idea, and at his suggestion Baxter made several pairs of stilts out of the light spars. As the marsh was in places covered with a shallow sheet of water, these stilts allowed their wearers to stride along dry footed.
In the morning of April 17th, Donagan, Webb, and Wilcox crossed the river and landed on the left bank. They carried their guns slung over their shoulders, and Donagan had a duck-gun with him, from the arsenal of French Den, which he thought he would have a favourable opportunity to use.
As soon as the three reached the bank they put on their stilts and set out for the higher part of the marsh, which was dry even at high tide. Fan accompanied them. She did not want stilts, as she did not mind wetting her feet in crossing the pools.
Donagan, Wilcox, and Webb went about a mile in a south-westerly direction before they reached the dry ground, and they then took off their stilts, so as to be at their ease in pursuit of the game which swarmed over the wide extent of moor:—snipe, pintail, wild duck, rail, plover, teal, and thousands of scoters, worth more for their down than their flesh, but very fine eating when properly cooked. Donagan and his comrades could shoot at hundreds of these birds without wasting a single shot; and they were not unreasonable, and contented themselves with a few dozen birds which Fan retrieved in fine style from the pools of the marsh.
Donagan was strongly tempted to bring down a few other things which could not well figure on the Den table, notwithstanding all the cabin-boy's ability. Among these was a few waders, and some herons decked with brilliant white plumes. To shoot them would have been mere waste of powder, and Donagan refrained from molesting them, but he could not resist temptation when he saw a flock of flamingoes with wings the colour of fire, and flesh as good as that of the partridge. The favourite haunt of these birds is among brackish waters, and here they were all in array, guarded by sentinels giving a sort of trumpet-call when they signalled danger. At the sight of these magnificent specimens Donagan yielded without more ado, and Wilcox and Webb were no wiser, and off they started in pursuit—and in vain. They forgot that if they had approached without being seen and fired at their ease, the flamingoes would have been stupefied by the reports, and not had sense enough to run away.
In vain the three boys tried to get near these superb birds, which measure more than four feet from beak to tail. The alarm had been given, and the flock disappeared in the south unhurt, although even the duck-gun was brought into action against them. Nevertheless the three sportsmen returned with bags quite heavy enough to give no cause for regret that they had visited South Moors.
Gordon had no intention of waiting for the winter before French Den was prepared for it. There was a store of food to be got in, so that there should be enough for the enclosure as well as the cave. Many were the trips made to Bog Woods for this purpose. The chariot drawn by the two guanacos made several journeys daily for a fortnight. The winter might last more than the six months, and yet there would be enough wood and seal oil to give fire and light all through it.
These labours did not interfere with the scheme of instruction that had been drawn up. The bigger boys took it in turns to teach the little ones. Donagan continued to show off a little—as was natural to Urn, but it did not gain him any friends. In two months Gordon's term of office would be over, and he reckoned on succeeding him as chief of the colony. He persuaded himself that the position was his as a matter of right. Was it not unjust that he had not been elected at the first ? Wilcox, Cross, and Webb unfortunately encouraged him in these ideas, and began to canvass for him, having no doubt of his success.
But Donagan, all the same, did not command a majority of the votes; nor did Gordon, who saw clearly all that was going on, make any attempt to obtain a continuance of office. He felt that the severity he had had to show during his year of office would not gain him any votes. His practical good sense had not made him popular, and this unpopularity Donagan hoped to turn to good account. When the election came on there would probably be a somewhat interesting contest.
What the youngsters chiefly complained of was Gordon's care in the matter of sweetmeats. And in addition to this, there was his scolding them for not taking proper care of their clothes when they came back to French Den with rags on their backs and holes in their shoes—which required constant repairs, and made the question of foot gear a very serious one. And then for every lost button, what reprimands, and sometimes what punishments I
And then Briant would intercede sometimes for Jenkins, sometimes for Dole,—and in that way lay his road to popularity. Then the youngsters knew that the two cooks, Service and Moko, were devoted to Briant, and if ever he became chief of Charman Island, they saw a savoury future in which there would be a never-ending course of jam tarts and dainty bits!
What is the world coming to ? In this very colony we have but a type of society in general. In what did these children differ from full-grown men ?
Briant took little interest in these things. He worked away steadily, and keeping his brother fully employed, both of them the first and last at work as if they had some special duty to fulfill.
But the days were not entirely devoted to school work. There were hours of recreation set down in the programme. One of the conditions of remaining in health was that exercises should be practised in which old and young took part. The boys climbed trees, getting up to the lower boughs by means of a rope wound round the trunk. They jumped with and without the pole. They swam in the lake, and those who could not swim were soon taught to do so. They ran races and swam races for prizes. They practised with the bolas and the lasso. They played cricket and rounders and quoits, and with regard to the last, a dispute occurred which had very serious consequences.
It was on the 25th of April, in the afternoon. Eight of the boys were playing, four on a side; Donagan, Webb, Wilcox and Cross, against Briant, Baxter, Garnett, and Service.
On the level strip on the terrace the two " pins " had been driven into the ground about fifty feet apart, and it was, of course, the object of the players to throw their quoits on to them, or as near them as possible. The players were greatly excited, particularly as Donagan was opposed to Briant. Two games had been played. Briant's side had won the first with seven points; Donagan's had won the second with six. And now they were playing the conqueror, and there were only two quoits to throw.
" Now, Donagan ! It is your turn," said Webb. " Aim straight. It is our last chance." " Don't get excited," replied Donagan. And with one foot in front of the other he stood, the right hand holding the quoit, the body bent forward, and in such a position as to give him the best chance of a good throw. His whole soul was in the game, his teeth were clenched, his cheeks were pale, his eyes glowed beneath the knitted brows. After a careful look, he threw the quoit straight and true—a long, low throw that only just missed ringing the pin, and struck it just at the side.
" It's a pity you missed," said Cross, " but it's the best throw yet."
" And the game is ours," added Wilcox, " unless Briant manages to drop on to the pin. Look out! "
Briant took up his position, moving the quoit backwards and forwards once or twice, and aimed so well that, rising high in curve, it dropped right on to the pin. " A ringer !" shouted Service triumphantly. " That makes us seven, and it is our game."
" No ! " said Donagan, stepping forward, " the game is not yours."
" Why not ? " asked Baxter. " Because Briant cheated." " Cheated ! " said Briant.
"Yes! Cheated !" said