CHAPTER XVIII.

      Afloat Once More

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      And now a new era began for the colonists of Charman Island.

      Up to now they had had to struggle for their existence, now they were to work for their deliverance.

      After the excitement caused by the incidents of the strife, a very natural reaction set in.

      They were, as it were, overwhelmed with their success. The danger was over, and it appeared greater than it had ever been—much greater, in fact, than it was. After the first engagement in Trap Woods, their chances had considerably improved. But without Forbes's intervention, Walston, Cook, and Brandt would have escaped. Moko would not have dared to fire his gun and risk killing Costar and Jack.

      What would then have happened ? At what price would Walston have given back his prisoners ?

      When Briant and his comrades coolly reviewed the situation, a sort of terror seized hold of them. It did not last long, for until the fate of Rock and Cope was settled, life on Charman Island could not be considered absolutely safe.

      The heroes of the battle were congratulated as they deserved to be. Moko for his shot with the cannon, Jack for his coolness with the revolver. Fan received her fair share of caresses and a stock of marrowbones, with which Moko regaled her for having so cleverly pinned that rascal, Brandt.

      After Moko's shower of grape, Briant had returned to the litter. A few minutes afterwards, Donagan had been laid in the hall without having recovered consciousness, while Forbes was laid on the floor of the store-room. All through the night Kate, Gordon, Briant, Wilcox, and Mr. Evans watched over the wounded.

      That Donagan had been seriously hurt was only too evident. But as he respired regularly, it looked as though the lung had not been touched. To dress the wound, Kate had used certain leaves such as are used in Western America, which she found growing on some of the bushes at the river-side. They were leaves of the alder-tree which rubbed and made into compresses, are very good for checking internal bleeding, in which the chief danger consisted. But with Forbes it was different; Walston had wounded him in the stomach. He knew the thrust was mortal, and when he returned to consciousness, and saw Kate bending over him, he had murmured,—

      " Thank you, Kate ! Thanks ! It is useless ! I am done for ! " And the tears welled into his eyes. " Hope, Forbes ! " said Evans. " You have atoned for your crimes. You will live."

      No ! the unfortunate man was to die. In spite of all that was done, he grew hourly worse, and about four o'clock his spirit passed away.

      They buried him in the morning near Baudoin, and two crosses now mark the two graves.

      But the presence of Rock and Cope was dangerous; security could not be complete until they were unable to do injury. And Evans decided to have done with them before starting for Bear Rock. With Gordon, Briant, Baxter, and Wilcox, he went off that very day, fully armed, and accompanied by Fan, to whose instinct they trusted to recover the trail.

      The search was neither difficult, nor long, nor dangerous. There was nothing to fear from Walston's mates. Cope was found dead a few yards from where he had received the volley in his back. Pike was found where he had been shot at the beginning of the battle, and the mystery of Rock's disappearance was soon solved by his being found in one of Wilcox's traps, which soon served for the grave of all three mutineers.

      When Evans returned with the news that the colony had now nothing to fear, the joy would have been complete, had not Donagan been so grievously wounded. But none could help hoping.

      In the morning there was a discussion as to future plans. It was evident that the first thing to be done was to take possession of the boat. That necessitated a voyage and even a sojourn at Bear Rock where the repairs would have to be made to get her seaworthy. And it was agreed that Evans, Briant, and Baxter, should cross by way of the lake and East River, which was at once the safest and shortest way.

      The yawl had been recovered in one of the backwaters of the river. The men had fallen out of her and been carried away out to sea, and she had been almost unhurt by Moko's volley which had passed just over her. She was brought back to French Den and loaded with tools and provisions, and with a favourable wind, she was off on the 6th of December in Evans's charge.

      She was soon across the lake, and before half-past eleven, Briant pointed out the creek by which the river entered. Running down with the tide, she was soon down the river, and on the sand near Bear Rock they found the Severn boat high and dry.

      After a careful examination, Evans reported as follows:—

      " We have the needful tools, but we want timber for the ribs and planking. Now at French Den, you have the remains of the schooner which would work in admirably. And if we could get the boat round to Zealand River—"

      " Which I am afraid is impossible," said Briant.

      " I don't think so," continued Evans. " If the boat can be got from Severn Shore to Bear Rock, why can't it be got from Bear Rock to Zealand River ? We could do the work there so much more easily, and from French Den we could go down to Schooner Bay, and then start for the voyage home."

      If the plan could be carried out, nothing could be better. And it was decided to make the attempt next morning's tide, the boat being towed up by the yawl. And at once Evans set to work to plug the leaks with pieces of tow that he had brought with him from French Den, which occupied him till somewhat late in the evening.

      The night passed quietly enough in the cavern where Donagan and his companions had camped on their first visit to Deception Bay.

      Next morning the boat was got afloat, and the yawl went ahead to tow her along. Hard work it was, and when the ebb made itself felt, the work was harder, and it was not till five o'clock that evening that they got her into the lake.

      Evans did not think it prudent to cross that night, and so he pitched his camp on the shore under a big beech-tree, where all slept soundly till the morning.

      Then " Aboard ! " was the word, and the sail was set, and with the heavy boat behind her, away went the yawl for French Den. The boat was full of water to the thwarts, and if she had sunk, would have dragged down the yawl with her, so that Evans stood ready all the time to cut the tow rope. But, fortunately, all went well, and at five o'clock the boat and her tug were in Zealand River, moored off the pier.

      While the boys had been away, Donagan had become a little better, and was now able to return the pressure of the hand that Briant gave him. His breathing came more easily, and evidently the lung was safe. Although he was kept on a low diet, his strength began to return, and under Kate's leaf compresses, which she renewed every two hours, the wound began to close. Probably his mending would take some time, but he had sufficient strength to make his recovery almost a certainty.

      The work was begun in earnest next morning. A long pull, and a strong pull, was required to begin with to get the boat ashore.

      Evans, who was as good a carpenter as he was a sailor, could appreciate Baxter's skill. There was no scarcity of materials or tools. With the remains of the schooner's hull, they could replace the broken ribs and gaping strakes, and old tow steeped in pine sap served to caulk