Kidnapping in the Pacific; Or, The Adventures of Boas Ringdon / A long four-part Yarn

by William Henry Giles Kingston

”‘I don’t want to die like a brute with my senses gone,’ he answered.

”‘As to that, seamen have to go out of the world somehow, and for my part I don’t think myself worse than the rest,’ I answered; ‘and with regard to the things done aboard this craft, that was the captain’s look out, not mine, nor yours either; so cheer up, Bill, don’t be down-hearted. Daylight will soon return, and then, may be, we shall find ourselves better off than we fancy.’

“You see, I kept up my spirits, and tried to keep up Bill’s; but he got worse and worse, and began raving away so curiously, that I thought he would throw himself into the sea and get drowned.

“To prevent this I passed a rope round his body when he didn’t see what I was about, and lashed him to the top.

“As the night drew on the wind dropped, and at daybreak my eyes were gladdened by the sight of the land about two miles away, while between us and it were numerous small rocks scattered about, by means of which we might make our way, even if we had to swim for it. I remembered, however, the sharks, so I determined to build a raft. Poor Bill could not help me, so I set to work by myself. I was some time putting one together to carry us both, and then, being very hungry, I thought I would try to get hold of the keg of hams and the cask of water which were stowed forward, and also that I might pick up some of the boxes of pearls. I got the hams and water, but could not find the pearls.

“I took some of the food up to Bill, but he would only touch the water.

“At last I managed to lower him on to the raft, and, afraid that the weather might again change, shoved off to make our voyage to the land. It was slow work, for I had only a long pole and a paddle. If Bill had been able to help, we should have got on much faster. At last we came to a small island. I thought to myself I’ll leave Bill here with some ham and water for food, and go back and have another search for the pearls. Bill made no objection; I don’t think even then he knew where he was. I got back with less difficulty than I expected.

“The tide had now fallen, and the after part of the vessel was clear of water. I cannot tell you how I felt when I caught sight of the boxes where I knew the pearls had been stowed in the captain’s cabin. There were a couple of large chests, and in these were several more boxes, with the captain’s money, and some other things of value. I thought to myself, if I turn out everything heavy, these boxes will float and serve to preserve my treasures, even should the raft be capsized. I accordingly, having prepared them as I proposed, put in the boxes of pearls, and having lashed them securely, lowered them on to the raft, loading it with a number of other articles, which I thought would be useful. Shoving off, I made the best of my way towards the rock where I had left poor Bill; it was time I did, for the weather was again, I feared, about to change, and heavy rain was falling. Hoping that he might have revived, I expected to see him looking out for me.

“While making good way through the water, suddenly I found my raft touch ground. The current striking against it drove it further and further on to the reef. To prevent it capsizing, I had to stand up and press my pole against the bottom. There I stood, the rain coming down faster and faster. I shouted to Bill, hoping that he might hear me, and perhaps be able to wade out to my assistance, but no answer came. I might easily have got off by casting the chest and the other articles adrift, but I could not bring myself to do that, not knowing where they and their precious contents might be carried to. At last I thought of mooring the raft, and trying to reach the rock by wading. I had a large axe which would serve as an anchor. I made a rope fast to it, and stuck it securely, as I thought, in a cleft of the coral reef. I then, with the pole in my hand, made my way towards the rock. Reaching it at last, not without difficulty, I looked about for Bill. What was my dismay not to see him! The provisions and water, and the other things I left with him were there, but he was gone. Whether he had fancied I was going to desert him, and had attempted to swim to the mainland, or in his madness had thrown himself into the sea, I could not tell. I climbed to the end of the rock nearest to the shore, shouting at the top of my voice, and still hoping to see him, but not a soul appeared on the beach. I had taken a liking to him, and I felt more unhappy than I had ever felt before, at the thoughts that he was lost. ‘It cannot be helped,’ I said to myself. ‘I’ll go back and tow the chests one by one to the rock, and so get the raft afloat, and in time reach the shore.’ At once I went back to the outer end of the rock, and began to wade towards where I had left the raft. The breeze had got up, and there was some sea on. It struck me that the water was deeper than at first. I hadn’t made many steps when, looking at the raft, I felt convinced that it was moving. I tried to hurry on, but found myself floundering in the water almost up to my neck, and had to scramble back to the rock to save my life. The raft went faster and faster. I shouted, I shrieked to it to stop; the pearls which would have made my fortune were every instant getting further from my reach. Then a wave took it and turned it right over, another struck it and dashed it against a rock, and away floated the pieces with the chests in the direction the current was making.