The usual watch was set, and most of the passengers retired to their narrow berths. The ladies had a small cabin aft, in which Mrs Clagget declared that there was scarcely room to allow her to move her tongue, an observation which brought a smile on the countenances of her companions.
Willy was walking the deck with Bill Windy, with whom he had become very friendly, when he caught sight of a dark object moving towards the vessel. “There is a boat,” he exclaimed; “where can she come from?”
“She is the cutter, depend on it, which those scoundrels ran away with,” answered Windy. “They may mean mischief. Call the captain and the watch below; it’s as well to be prepared for them.”
Captain Westerway and all hands were quickly on deck. The boat approached cautiously, as if those in her were doubtful whether or not they were perceived. At length she came alongside. The schooner’s crew stood ready for an attack, and it was then seen that she contained but three people.
“Who are you, and what do you want?” asked Bill Windy.
“Oh, take us on board and give us some food,” answered a voice. “We are dying of hunger.”
“Make fast the boat and lend them a hand,” said Captain Westerway, and the three men were helped up the schooner’s side.
They were found to be two of the emigrants and one of the seamen who had mutinied. They appeared thoroughly humbled and wretched. As soon as they had taken a little food, they gave an account of their sufferings.
They stated that they were themselves the only survivors of the party—two having fallen down precipices, one having been killed by a seal which he incautiously approached, another having been drowned when scrambling out on the rocks in search of mussels, and the rest having died of starvation. Job Mawson, they declared, had been their ringleader. They had last seen him lying in a sinking state in the woods.
Although the vessel had already as many on board as could be accommodated, the captain humanely received them, and the next morning the cutter was sent on shore to be hauled up on the beach, as she was too large either to tow or to be taken on board.