Leaving the children to watch, with Sybil in charge of them, we ran for our lives. Here we found the wise and thoughtful Madame beforehand with us, she and the maids had been moving everything, and it required but willing hands and quick work to pile up stones, and remove all vestiges of the cavern. Of course our house would speak for itself. Luckily we had been living in the cavern for a month, so that no very recent traces of us could be discovered. Gatty grumbled a little, indeed I don't think she would have worked had she not anticipated some amusement in watching the new arrivals, whilst they must be utterly ignorant of our existence. Schillie worked with a will; from the first I think she had a foreboding that all was not right about these people. We now went back, and found the watchers full of news, and also full of squabbles amongst themselves. More people had come from the ship; fires had been lighted. Every one had gone to look at the big snake's skin. Working was going on; symptoms of a tent had been commenced. The squabbles amongst the little ones arose because of their different opinions of the new comers. Oscar voted them pirates, and declared he would shoot the first one that came near us. The little girls declared they must be friends, and would be sure to take them home if they gave them money. Felix was most anxious to be amongst them and get on board, and go home, and every other variety of scheme, but the promise from Oscar that he should have the first chance of shooting the first pirate completely turned him, and he became perfectly convinced that they were horrible robbers, perhaps slave-stealers, and did he not shoot them he and his Mother would be stolen and sold for slaves to different masters. A climax of fate that seemed to him would settle the period of his life.
We took little food that day, and the strangers never imagined that throughout the whole time at least four pairs of eyes were constantly watching them; nay, even when night arrived two of us kept watch, though we had most of us fits of impatience, not to say remorse, at thus welcoming strangers so long desired. In fact, if it had not been for Schillie and Madame we should certainly have rushed upon our fate in our anxiety to find out whether they were friends or foes. Gatty chafed like a young lion, every handkerchief that came near her was soon in tatters. Sybil glowed with animation as she said, "They never could harm us, they will be only too glad to help us, they will pity us so much for our sad fate; we have only to tell them our story and they would take us all away; oh I am sure, quite sure they would. It seems so unkind and ungracious to be thus suspicious of the first human beings we have seen so long."
Schillie.—"Pooh, pooh, child, it is better to leave them in ignorance of our unkindness, for fear you should find out when too late that they will be equally unkind in chopping you up into beefsteaks, at least you had better make up your mind which of the two acts will be the most unkind."
Sybil.—"But, surely they are not cannibals; I don't think there is a sailor in the world who could be a cannibal, they are all such good fellows."
Schillie.—"Humph! Think as you like my dear. I honour your innocence and applaud your approbation of sailors. But you are such a noodle, and, being the stoutest of the party, ought to have more compassion on yourself."
Serena.—"But I agree with Sybil in thinking it very ungracious, not giving them the option of being kind to us, if they like it. They can but leave us behind if they don't like us."
Schillie.—"If they would promise to leave us behind in case they don't like us, I am ready to go and meet them now."
Gatty.—"Then do come, for I do think this most horrid work, peeping and watching, and imagining every evil thing against them. Besides, supposing they do turn out uncivil, what is to prevent us when they are all asleep rising and taking possession of their vessel, and sailing off with it, leaving them a note to say we will pay them for it as soon as ever we arrive in England."
Schillie.—"And I trust you are prepared to act captain to the vessel, as well as mate and crew. I promise you that I am not going to sea without some experienced hands to guide the ship."
Sybil.—"Perhaps we can bribe some of them to come with us. For if they are wicked people there are sure to be some unfortunate good ones among them, who will be glad to get away."