Green saw indeed that it was important to get back, and did not therefore waste words with the master or his ill-mannered surgeon. On returning on deck, he found that the mates had sent the blacks below again, while the crew were shortening sail. The weather had become rapidly worse; he could not help regretting that he had come so far from the island, with the prospect of a pull back through a heavy sea. He could not hoist the boats on board, or, under the circumstances, he might have compelled the schooner to beat back to Santa Cruz. Had he attempted to do so, and to tow the boats, they would, in all probability, have been swamped.
“We must make the best of it,” he said to Tom, who had for the last few minutes been feeling anything but comfortable about the matter.
“A safe voyage to you, my friends,” he said, as he leaped into his boat.
The mates made no reply, but as he shoved off he fancied that he heard a laugh, and at the same time he caught sight of the ill-favoured visage of the scientific doctor looking over the quarter, while the schooner stood away to the southward. Scarcely, however, were they a quarter of a mile apart than the wind came down with greater force than before, and he found that it was impossible to make any headway against it. The nearest island was that of Tinakula; by running under its lee he might get shelter for the night; but should an eruption occur, it would prove a dangerous neighbourhood. There were other islands beyond, but they were surrounded by reefs which might prevent the possibility of landing upon them, while, from the savage character of the natives on the inhabited ones, they could only expect a hostile reception.
“We’ll try it a little longer, Rogers,” sang out Green; “perhaps the weather will moderate; and if it grows worse, we must run under the lee of that burning mountain; we can only hope that it will remain quiet for a few hours.”
The weather did not moderate, and when the men had been pulling hard for a couple of hours without gaining ground, the boats’ heads were put round, and with reefed sails they steered towards the eastern side of the mountain, Green intending to haul round it, so as to be able to anchor during the night under its lee. Night rapidly came down over the stormy ocean; the wind increased, and the seas came roaring up astern, threatening every instant to swamp them. Green led, Tom following in his wake.
“I wish we hadn’t been sent after that abominable slaver!” exclaimed Billy, who was feeling more uncomfortable than he had ever before been in his life. “I wonder whether the ship will come to look after us?”
“Not likely,” answered Tom; “as well hunt for a needle in a bundle of hay; she wouldn’t know where to find us if she did. My brother trusts Green, who always knows what he’s about, and he will not be unhappy on our account. We shall soon be under the lee of the island, and then we shall be snug enough; though, for my part, I would rather have been comfortably stowed away in my hammock.”
“You take things very coolly, Rogers!” cried Billy. “Oh, look at that big sea! it will tumble aboard us in a moment.”
“If it does, you must stand by to bale it out,” answered Tom; “hold on though, in case it should wash you overboard.”