Yr Ynys Unyg; or, The lonely island

by Julia de Winton

So it was agreed, greatly to the little boys' disgust, that we must try some experiments to make them know they had friends on the island. They declared that if we lost so much time they might both be eaten up before they could rescue them, and that it ought to be tried to-night. Not being so alarmed as the boys about the eating part of the business, the commander-in-chief merely ordered out a couple of scouts, who, from their practical knowledge of the country, knew the best places to drop little bits of paper, on which was written in English the following Notice:—

"If the prisoners would like to hear of something to their advantage, let them burn a light some night when communication can be uninterrupted and convenient, and to shew that they and only they have got this notice, let them tie something white round each arm."

We wrote in English, because we knew that the pirates understood French.

Gatty and Jenny were the two scouts, and we were very uneasy until they returned, which they did after two hours absence in the night. We diligently watched all that day, but saw no signs of the white mark on the prisoners' arms, though one was kept working hard in the very course where some of the billet doux were placed. The other we supposed was ill, as he did not appear until evening, when supported by the one we had seen all day. They retired together to a ledge of rocks by themselves, and seemed to hold earnest communion. One wrung his hands and seemed in the greatest grief, which made the children half-wild to get at them, to whisper comfort and release. Three days passed and no white sign, though every day they sat in the evening by themselves in this spot, and always secured in the utmost sorrow. We agreed we must put a billet doux there, if another day passed without the sign, though it was dangerously near Pirate Hall. In the meantime they were villainously used and ill-treated by the pirates, besides very hardly worked, so that they sometimes staggered and fell down from the weights they had to carry. Our indignation was great, and, like an impatient army as we were, we implored the commander in chief to give the word of march. We longed to hear him say "Up, guards, and at them." But that very evening surely we saw the white sign. It was true, indeed; how pleased we were. And then the delightful hope that they must be English was nearly confirmed, and showed how all our secret hopes and wishes had been in unison. This added to our zest in a wonderful manner. But now such a row, everybody wanted to go to the rescue, and it became a matter of difficulty to quell the military ardour of the army.

It was arranged that Schillie was to go first, with a rope in her hand, I was to follow holding the end of hers and the beginning of another, Oscar ditto, Jenny ditto, Gatty, Serena, Felix, Sybil, Zoë, Madame, Winny, Lilly, Hargrave the last. So that we were all linked together, and had a regular chain of communication. Any danger in front was indicated by pull of the ropes. And then it was to be "Sauve qui pent." Thus the whole army was employed, and we were not likely to lose our way home, as the line extended so far that Hargrave would be close at home. The only risk we ran was, that, to enable us to perform this manœuvre, we had to go out at the Cartref Pellenig entrance, which we had in consequence to pull down and open for the first time in four months. However, we trusted to our good cause, and the fact that the entrance was at all times difficult to find, and would not take half an hour to put to rights again. But this notable plan was to depend in a great measure whereabouts the signal light would be placed.

When it was quite dark, we looked out with beating hearts. No light. We watched and waited half an hour; suddenly a light shone for a minute or so, and then darkness again. "That must certainly be a signal," said we, "however, we will wait another half hour." In less than half an hour, again a light shone for only a few minutes, and, as far as we could judge, just in the usual spot where they went every evening to talk by themselves. In fact, the spot where the before-mentioned manœuvre of our great army was to be executed. So we rushed up the caverns in a most disorderly manner, and were all ready to obey the word of command in less than ten minutes at the Cartref Pellenig entrance. To our honour be it spoken, as an army composed of so many females, not a word was spoken, and we emerged from the entrance as noiselessly as bats out of an old chimney.

Cautiously we proceeded, keeping close to the rock, so as to feel our way, but had to pass dangerously near Pirate Hall. We could hear them snoring in sleep; but there were watchers also, for they were talking noisily in one of the rooms. Now we must pause a moment, in hopes the light will again shine, and also to still our hearts, if possible, they are beating so loud. Five minutes passed, Schillie was then going slowly on, when her rope jumped with a start, so did mine, so I suppose did all the others, and I was sure I recognised the faintest little scream from Madame. The light shone out all of a sudden, not ten yards from us; it was that which made us start so. We noted the two men distinctly, and, waiting until the light was out again, we then advanced, and Schillie touching one and I the other, we took hold of some hard horny hands, and made the signal by shaking the ropes to return.

Back we went, in rather a hurry-scurry I must allow. As everybody got into the cavern, the others came rushing in quicker and quicker; Schillie and I alone kept a stately march, holding the hard horny hands, not a word passing between the delivered and the deliverers; but if gratitude could be expressed by a grasp, it was done by the hand I held in mine. I had the lame prisoner, and while the hand trembled in mine like the hand of a timid woman, I felt his hairy mouth touching it, and the other hand trying in a gentle but earnest manner to feel the arm and as much of me as he could. He seemed to shake like an aspen leaf, and almost choked with suppressed emotion. But we are nearer, Gatty is in, Jenny, Oscar, the General slipped by me, and unhandsomely got in first. Now we were all safe. Jenny, Hargrave, and the girls flew for the torches to do up the entrance again. We silently led the rescued prisoners to a little cavern, which was somewhat remote from the others.

Madame brought us a torch, and with acknowledged curiosity we proceeded to examine what were now our prisoners. Two great hairy men. Why did we start? A deep groan, and an English "God be thanked" burst from the lips of one as he fell senseless to the ground. The other rushed to the boys with vehement gesture, and catching both in his arms, uttered a shout that made the cavern ring again. "Oh, Smart, Smart," said they, "our dear, dear Tom Smart, is it really you? are you come back for us? are you alive?"

Could this be real? It was indeed too true. The prisoners about whom we had been so anxious, the poor fellows we had so intuitively been interested in, and determined to risk our lives to save, were no other than our dear lamented captain and equally beloved Smart. Surely we could now tell why, from the first, we had been so anxious about them. There yet remained a trace in their sadly-altered appearance of something we had loved and lost. But the news spread like lightning, the entrance was left to its fate, every one flocked with their own eyes to behold that it was really true. The little ones flew into Smart's arms, and kissed his great face, and welcomed him as a father. The dear captain still remains insensible on the ground. We poured water over him, we chafed his hands, we called him by every tender name, but his insensibility remained deep and profound. It was necessary that something should check our joy, otherwise we should have been too elated for safety and prudence.