This last sentence was muttered between her teeth, but Schillie caught it, and turning round said, "I'll tell you what Miss Gatty, if you say another word on the subject, or favour us with any more of your remarkably silly ideas, I'll have you locked up."
"Where, little Mother?" said Gatty, winding her great arms round Schillie, who struggled in vain to release herself from the potent grasp. "June, June, con—— no, I don't mean that, hang—— no nor that, you horrid—— Well! I am in a vice, June, I say June, make her release me. What arms the wretch has, will you let me out you good-for-nothing, I'll give it you well, Miss; come release me, June, I'll never speak to you again, if you don't let me free instead of laughing in that absurd manner."
Truly it was very ridiculous; Gatty so cool and quiet, but holding her fast; Schillie in a red hot rage, and utterly unable to release herself. But we were getting too noisy, so peace was proclaimed, and harmony restored.
The next morning we found it a true prophecy that the strangers would be all over the island. First of all they examined all our remains and marks of habitation on the cliffs, especially the church, where our foot-marks would be more recent than anywhere else. But we trusted to the great rains that had fallen to obliterate them as much as possible. In examining the cliffs they came so near us that we could distinguish their voices, and even found that they spoke a sort of Spanish. The nearer they came the less prepossessing they appeared, and even Gatty retreated with a shudder as two wild fierce-looking hairy faces showed themselves just above a ledge of rocks within fifty yards of our hiding place.
Some of us remained under the waterfall, the noise of which prevented us hearing anything distinctly, while the remainder ran up and watched at the other entrance. There, through chinks and crevices we could watch them, as they gradually came in different parties towards the little valley in which our house was built. It was quite inevitable their discovering it, so we made up our minds to that matter; and it was not long ere the shouts of those who did so drew all the others to the place.
How rejoiced we were on a nearer view of them that Madame had been so provident in advising us to keep close until we could learn something of them. Even Sybil was obliged to allow that she did not recognise a single good face amongst them. So wild and fierce a set I never saw, and their looks made me shudder. From our small knowledge of Spanish we could make out that they were greatly surprised, and evidently guessed some one was on the island. Also they said a great deal about the snake, and their rejoicings it was dead, making evident allusions to the island as if they knew it quite well. After satisfying their curiosity some sat down to smoke, as if intending to wait patiently for the arrival of the inhabitants, others pursued their researches and we had no doubt went to the other house, while all examined their arms and primed their guns, as if preparing for an engagement with the warlike people who had slaughtered so great a monster as the snake.
We made all these remarks amongst ourselves, and were greatly amused at our conjectures and interpretations of all they said.
But we could not thus calmly give up all our fond hopes and wishes. We had still some struggles, frightened as we were at the sight of our new companions. It was necessary, however, that we should come to some regular arrangement of our time and work, as we were in danger of starving to death in our eagerness to watch these people. Unluckily a great part of our store of food was in the house they were now so busily smoking in. We had enough with us for a few days, but we generally kept our stores there, as they seemed to do better there than in the cavern. Also it was useless the whole set of us watching; accordingly we took it turn about, two at each entrance for two hours at each time, a little one and a big one always together. The remainder went about their usual occupations, all except lessons, about which Madame seemed to have tasted the waters of Lethe. We suffered rather in point of meals, as we dared not light a fire for fear of the smoke discovering us. Besides our kitchen apparatus was all in the house, so that altogether, what with fatigue, worry, and discomfort, we were getting unanimous in abusing our new neighbours. We came to one agreement, namely, that the next day being Sunday we should observe how they spent it. If, in anything like a christian manner we would open negotiations with them by some means yet to be discussed, but, if in a heathen manner, then we should consider them as savages, cannibals, and no one knows what; and, hiding close, we should quietly endure our privations as best we could, until the ill-omened, disappointing black vessel should leave us once more to our fate.
In the security of darkness and secrecy we slept that night, Madame and Jenny moving their mattresses to the waterfall side, Schillie and I to the side where Tir-y-hir was, that, at all events we might have the first intimation of any discovery they might make. Before we went to sleep, however, we assured ourselves that they had been to the other house, and, if anything could have completed our disgust it was the fact that they returned dragging with them all our summer clothes, with which they covered themselves. The pretty white hats belonging to the girls, which they had learned to plait themselves, were thrust on the great, dirty, greasy heads of these horrid men. All the pretty silk Sunday frocks, the shawls, the scarfs, the caps, the bonnets, the carefully hoarded remains of our civilized attire, alas! alas! did they not also tell these wretches what a helpless party were on the island? Everything was recklessly thrown about, torn, and trodden under foot. Hargrave flew from the sight, and hid her tears and stifled her sobs in the darkest corner of the cavern. From that hour they were doomed in her estimation as the acme of wickedness and vice.
Many times during the night were we awakened by their noise and drunken revelry, and alas for the hopes we had formed of the Sabbath-day none ever were less fulfilled.