CHAPTER XXXII.
Quiet prevailed, lessons predominated, we were all getting very stupid again. Schillie was very much subdued after her sojourn with the pirates, and took to following me everywhere, as the faithful dog follows his master. Also, she was very amenable to all my wishes and worked like a horse in the gardens and potatoe grounds, because I thought we had better lay in great stores of food, for fear the pirates should come again. Besides this work, we plaited grass into ropes, and made a ladder or two, with which we practised running up and down into the cavern from the opening at the top. It was something to do, and might be useful. The children were like cats at last, and used to frighten me out of my wits by their feats of agility.
So many of our clothes had been destroyed that it became necessary to do something towards replacing them; and, after various attempts, Schillie and I constructed two rude weaving machines, in which, with hard work, we made a coarse kind of cloth. This was dyed any colour we fancied, and then made into a long loose dress, with hanging sleeves, capable of being tucked up, and a broad belt to confine them round the waist. We found them very convenient and cool, only it was incessant work, spinning, weaving, and making them. We certainly did not eat the bread of idleness, and many a day's holiday was asked from Madame, only to work the poor girls harder at spinning, weaving, or gardening. But they enjoyed it, and grew like palm trees, looking so pretty and lively, that it was quite a sight to look at them: Sybil fair as a lily, and bright as a rose; Gatty glowing like the bright hibiscus; the pale and graceful Serena, faultless in form and action; while the little ones seemed to be growing up into what the elder girls had been when we first landed on the island.
The rainy season came and went. God blessed us in our house and field, and in the hearts content that filled every mind.
Intuitively we all seemed to feel that a good time was coming for us, and we prepared for the fine weather with fresh energies and renewed hopes, not unmixed with the notion that we should have dangers and difficulties to encounter, ere we should be finally restored to all we loved.
We encouraged each other in every way. We relied on some of our letters reaching their proper destination, we assured each other that another six months would not pass without our friends coming to look for us.
We made every preparation, stores of food for a full year were stowed away in the cavern. We concocted a kitchen, from whence the smoke could never betray us, and we sat down in patient expectation, and full trust in our Almighty Father, that should the pirates come again we were quite prepared; therefore, without fear, though with a little palpitation of heart, we received the news one brilliant morning that a sail was to be seen on the horizon.
It came nearer and nearer and yet kept off the island. We might have thought, for a time, that perchance it was our friends, but one after another allowed the mournful fact to escape from our lips, that it was indeed the pirates' vessel.
Supposing us to be inexperienced in vessels, and not likely to know one again, after seeing it once, we imagined they kept dodging on and off the island to deceive us, and that they would do this until dark, and then landing as best they might, they would thus take us by surprise. They little knew how sharp was the watch we kept, as much prompted by affection as fear.