A trying time—The fatal crash—Ben Rudall’s last effort—Among the breakers—Thrown on shore—The first shelter—The carpenter’s chest—Setting traps—A very satisfactory meal—Visit of Nep—A present for Lord Reginald—Dick building his hut—Meeting of the rival Crusoes—Supplies stopped—Collecting stores—Boat-building—Useful employment of time—Constructing a cot—The megapodes—A crossbow.
We must now go back to the night of the shipwreck. Dick, with Ben Rudall and several other men, had been stationed forward, and remained at their posts when land was first seen under the lee.
“There’ll be a watery grave for most of us,” said Ben when the cry arose of “Land, land!” often so cheering to seamen, but on the present occasion of such dreadful import.
“We must have a struggle for our lives, at all events,” said Dick. “Better than going down in mid-ocean, without a plank to cling to.”
“You don’t know what a surf like that breaking on a lee-shore under your lee can do!” observed an old salt, who stood holding on to the bulwarks with one hand, while he searched for a quid of tobacco with the other.
“They would grind up a stout ship like this in a few minutes if she strikes. It can’t be helped; I’ll take one chaw, though it may be my last, and I only wish that I could get a glass or two of grog. It would make one feel more comfortable like.”
“We can do without grog, surely,” said Dick. “It strikes me that we ought to try and keep our senses wide awake, so that we can judge of what’s best to be done. I for one shall struggle to the last, and hope to reach the beach in spite of the surf, either on a spar or a piece of wreck.”
“We arn’t wrecked yet; maybe we shall be able to run into some cove or other where we can bring up.”
“Not unless we had a pilot on board who knows the coast. From what I hear, none of the officers have ever been in these seas before, and we have little chance of dropping anchor in a safe harbour.”
The gale came down with increased fury. “Hold on, lads, for your lives!” cried Ben, who had cast one anxious look to leeward. “Keep clear of the falling masts, for before a minute is over we shall be on shore!”