In this way the whole night passed, principally in telling stories of adventure by sea and land.We all hoped that by morning at any rate the wind would have abated; but at daybreak, as we looked anxiously out over the tempestuous sea, it was blowing as hard as ever; and by ten o'clock the storm had increased to a terrific gale.Our men unanimously declared they dared not attempt to reach the ship in their small boat, although we could see the vessel plainly riding at her old anchorage.What followed Gladys and Igathered afterwards, just before the dreadful thing happened.We were all safe enough on land, but, it became evident to the sailors with us that the ship could not weather the storm unless she weighed anchor and stood out to sea.The crew watched with eager eyes to see what my father would do.Manifestly he was in too much distress of mind about us to go right away, and I suppose he preferred to trust to the strength of his cables:
"Shortly after ten o'clock in the morning, however, the ship began to drag her anchors, and in spite of all that could be done by my father and his officers, the shapely little vessel gradually drifted on to the coral reefs.All this time Gladys and I, quite ignorant of seamanship and everything pertaining to it, were watching the doomed ship, and from time to time asked anxiously what was the meaning of all the excitement.The men returned us evasive answers, like the kind-hearted fellows they were, and cheered us up in every possible way.Presently we heard signals of distress (only we didn't know they were signals of distress then), and our companions saw that the captain realised only too well his terribly dangerous position.It was, however, utterly impossible for them to have rendered him any assistance.The rain was now descending in sheets, lashing the giant waves with a curious hissing sound.The sky was gloomy and overcast, and altogether the outlook was about as terrible as it could well be.Presently we became dreadfully anxious about our father; but when the sailors saw that the ship was apparently going to pieces, they induced us to return to the camp fire and sit there till the end was past.By this time the barque was being helplessly buffeted about amongst the reefs, a little less than a mile and a half from shore.
"Suddenly, as we afterwards learnt, she gave a lurch and completely disappeared beneath the turbulent waters, without even her mastheads being left standing to show where she had gone down.She had evidently torn a huge hole in her side in one of her collisions with the jagged reefs, for she sank with such rapidity that not one of the boats could be launched, and not a single member of the crew escaped--so far as we knew--save only those who were with us on the island.The loss of the ship was, of course, a terrible blow to our valiant protectors, who were now left absolutely dependent on their own resources to provide food and means of escape.Thus passed a dreadful day and night, the men always keeping us ignorant of what had happened.They resolved to make for Port Darwin, on the mainland of Australia, which was believed to be quite near; for we had no water, there being none on the guano island.The interval was spent in collecting turtles' eggs and sea-fowl, which were intended as provisions for the journey.Next morning the storm had quite abated, and gradually the stupefying news was communicated to us that our father and his ship had gone down with all hands in the night.Indeed, these kind and gentle men told us the whole story of their hopes and doubts and fears, together with every detail of the terrible tragedy of the sea that had left us in such a fearful situation.No one needs to be told our feelings.
"Shortly before noon next day the sail was hoisted; we took our places in the boat, and soon were rippling pleasantly through the now placid waters, leaving the guano island far behind.The wind being in our favour, very satisfactory progress was made for many hours; but at length, tortured by thirst, it was decided to land on the mainland or the first island we sighted, and lay in a stock of water--if it was obtainable.Gladys and I welcomed the idea of landing, because by this time we were in quite a disreputable condition, not having washed for several days.It was our intention, while the crews were getting water and food, to retire to the other side of the island, behind the rocks, and there have a nice bath.The boat was safely beached, and there being no signs of natives anywhere in the vicinity, the men soon laid in a stock of water without troubling to go very far inland for it.My sister and I at once retired several hundred yards away, and there undressed and went into the water.
"We had scarcely waded out past our waists when, to our unspeakable horror, a crowd of naked blacks, hideously painted and armed with spears, came rushing down the cliffs towards us, yelling and whooping in a way I am never likely to forget.They seemed to rise out of the very rocks themselves; and I really think we imagined we were going mad, and that the whole appalling vision was a fearful dream, induced by the dreadful state of our nerves.My own heart seemed to stand still with terror, and the only description I can give of my sensations was that I felt absolutely paralysed.At length, when the yelling monsters were quite close to us, we realised the actual horror of it all, and screaming frantically, tried to dash out of the water towards the spot where we had left our clothes.But some of the blacks intercepted us, and we saw one man deliberately making off with the whole of our wearing apparel.
"Of course, when the boat's crew heard the uproar they rushed to our assistance, but when they were about twenty yards from our assailants, the blacks sent a volley of spears among them with such amazing effect that every one of the sailors fell prostrate to the earth.The aim of the blacks was wonderfully accurate.
