The skipper therefore summoned Mr Macdougall to a consultation, at which I also was allowed to be present, for our sad plight had united us all together on the most brotherly terms, if I may so speak of the relations both the mate and Captain Billings bore towards me—although the skipper had always remembered Sam Pengelly’s exhortation on parting with me when he left me in his charge, to “remember the b’y!”
I think, too, I have already mentioned that since I had helped to save his life, Mr Macdougall had not only completely changed in his treatment towards me, but was an altogether different man in every respect. The men used to say, “That bath of salt water washed all the confounded bumptiousness out of him!”
“I have determined—that is, if you agree with me, Macdougall,” said the skipper, when we had assembled in the tent, pointing with his ringer to a spot on a chart of the coast that he had brought with him from the Esmeralda, and which the wetting it had received in our spill among the breakers had not damaged very materially, for it looked right enough now, spread out on top of Mr Macdougall’s chest, he being lucky enough to get his safe on shore—“I have determined,” repeated Captain Billings—“that is, if you agree with me—to make a tour of inspection of the neighbouring islands, to see if we can get any help or some provisions to keep us going until a ship passes.”
“That’s weel, vara weel,” said Mr Macdougall, with an approving cough.
“And if our quest should be unsuccessful, why, we must proceed to Good Success Bay—that point to the south-east of the mainland, opposite Staten Island—where there’ll be more chance of our intercepting a vessel.”
“Hech, mon, but it’s a gude long deestance, I reecken?” replied the mate, in a questioning way.
“About a hundred miles I make it,” said the skipper, measuring the space on his chart with his fingers, for lack of a pair of callipers. “But, with the southerly and westerly wind that we nearly always have here, the boats ought to fetch the place in a couple of days at most.”
“Vara weel, Cap’en, I’m ae weelin’ to agree to eenything; but I misdoubt tak’ing to the sea since more in yon open boat. ’Twas only the grace o’ Proveedence that saved us in landin’ here, and we didna get clear off then!”
“No, we didn’t,” said the skipper, with a chuckle. “But we won’t essay that long trip yet awhile—at all events, not until we are forced to. We will try the islands near us first; and then, if we meet with no luck there, why, we’ll shape a course for Good Success Bay.”
“All richt, I’m agree’ble,” answered Mr Macdougall, quite satisfied that we were not going to put to sea again in a hurry in our frail craft, which were indeed not very staunch to brave the perils of the open sea; so it was decided, accordingly, that the jolly-boat, with a picked party, should proceed the next day on a surveying tour amongst the neighbouring islands.