FOR OUR BOYS & GIRLS

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 440, 25 January 1890, Page 3

FOR OUR BOYS & GIRLS

A True Story of Shipwreck.

EDITED BY

MRS FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT

[COPYRIGHT.]

[Att. Rights Reserved.]

Bv Maurice Thompson.

Off the gulf-coast of Louisiana, not fa r from the outlet of Lake Borgne, lies a small island which, properly speaking, is one of the Chandeleurs, a crescent-shaped group's mostly marshes and sand-bars, scattered across a beautiful stretch of sea and basking in a climate as rich and sweet as any in the world. This island is almost a semi-circle in outline, presenting on its convex side a bold ridge of white sand, while on its concave side it flattens out into a marsh which is covered with tall rush grass and tufts of feathery, reed-like p ants, in the midst of whicn the herons, bitterns, and various other marsh birds delight to hide. Along the wa er-line the sand is white and gleams like a ribbon of silk. Scarcely any other place in the world affords a better camping place for the naturalist who is interested in the study of birds and fishes, for the air is nearly all the time rustling with wings and the water teems with life. Nor is a sojourn on this island in any way uncomfortable if the mosquitoes can be outwitted, they at times being very abundant, swarming above the grass tops in the evening like wafts of grey smoke, and making a sound like the hum of a distant busy city. In the spring of a now quite distant year two boys reached this lonely island, having sailed from Mobile Bay five days before in a little old sloop, of about two tons burthen, whose sails were nob much more than half large enough for her. The weather, with the exception of one day of wind and rain, had been superb, and the voyage had been keenly enjoyed. Our young sailors were bound for New Orleans, and were trying to make the inlet to Lake Borgne with a view to passing the Rigolets mto Ponchartrain, when suddenly their craft sprang a leak and would h»v© gone down with them if they had not beached her on the marshsi. eof the island. To their intense dismay they found upon examination that the sloop’s bottom was hopelessly rotten. Such a thing as calking her was out of the question. Indeed, she appeared to be altogether unmendable and ready to fall into pieces. Fortunately the spot upon which they had chanced to run her ashore was at the most sheltere t part of the island s hollow margin, where she would be very little exposed to heavy seas. The boys had with them a negro man who was a slave to their father, and who was an excellent sailor as well as a most trusty and expert fellow generally, kind, loving, always happy when with his young masters, a d never so contented as when sailing in the Redsnapper. their sloop, now lying so forlorn on .the sandy edge of the marsh. It was a revelation of a most startling •character to find that the Redsnapper was rotten. 'They knew she was old, but no one Shad ever dreamed that she was unsafe, much less absolutely worthless. For a while little was said beyond rather forlorn ejaculations. The bovs loosed at each other, and then at Congo, who for the first time in his life appeared to be quite serious, even astounded. ‘ Well afoah de good Lor ! the negro presently groaned out, ‘ dab do peat the whole worPJ’ He stood ankle deep in the water, and Tested his large black hands on his hips, ■and hung his thick underlip down till his ibrillianMvhite teeth shone like ivory. ‘ Wha’ is we now ? What gwine ter come obus? How'S we gwine ter git 'way f’om heah. chillen?’ ..... The boys had no answer ready just then. The hint of what shipwreck on a lonely Island really meant had leapt into their hearts. Many a time they had read with thrills of pleasure descri tions of charming adventure coupled with mishaps of this sort, but somehow the experience coming to them as reality did not afford the gentle amusement they had drawn from the

itories. , Charles, the elder of the brothers, was a tall lad of sixteen, while the younger, George, vra« a slight boy ot about fourteen. Both were healthy and strong, and usually Quite happy under almost any conditions ; ibut now they looked pale and felt deeply the calamity that had befallen them, • Well, we’s got er do somefin,’ said Congo ; ‘ ’taint ny use er stan'in’ heah wid bur eyes all squinch up an our faces long as fence rail". Yar we is an’ yar we’s gwine ter be fo’ de Lor’ knows how long.’ The object of this voyage had been a visit to the bovs’ uncle, who owned a large plantation on the river, near New Orleans - and whose wide and varied landed estate afforded fine shooting in the spring. Charles and George had expected to have a glorious time with their cousins, who were jollv lads and fond of sport. In those days there was no railway from Mobile to New Orleans, and the only way of making the journey was by ves e\ or by a long and to-lsome ride on horseback. No small part of the consternation attending the sudden determination of their voyage midway was the destruction of their dreams «>t exquisite pie isure, dreams that had filled ttheir minds for many days past. ■ * But what on earth are we to do: Charles at last found tongue to inquire. , »Got mighty little yearth ter do anyfing .on,’answered Congo, ‘Mos’ly warter an mud’roun\ yeah.’ a Overhe 'd flew a large flock of pelicans ■whose wing ß winnowing again-fc the pale blue of the sky made a singular shimmering on the lightly rippling sea. Plovers were piping and chattering alj along the slender crescent of sandy shore between the marsh and the water and over the higher part of the island some eagles and fish-hawks were whirling round and round. The sloop lay with her stem well down in the shallow water, while her prow was run •ashore so that forward was tightly wedged in the sand. Congo tumbled her anchor •out and dragged it as far into the marsh as ftie could, so that it would hold the vessel m splaoe. . ■ _ AU this happened early in'the morning iof as fine a day as ever shone over the 'Golf of Mexico, , ‘We’ve got ter do gomsfin, 1 tole yo, insisted Congo. ‘ We’s right ys-’S an ain’t no gee er tbUinV we’s ’to stay ■ yer, too. ; ,

Charles tried to shake off a kind of stupor that had fallen on his mind. Turning his eyes from Congo to George, he said ‘ That’s so, we must do something.’ * But) what?’ inquired George, who was of* a very practical burn. ‘Dab’s it—what?’ assented Congo. The silence that followed seemed to fill the whole wide lonely space around them George’s grey eyes became thoughtful. ‘ Well,’ said he presently, * the first thing is to try to fix up to live till we can get away.’ * Dat’s so,’ exclaimed Congo. *Mu s’ sabe our eatables and our warter, easel ’spose dey’s nuffin ter eat or drink on dis yar lone some place. ’ * On, for that matter we can kill all the birds and get all the oysters and fish we want,’ replied George, ‘ but 1 don’t know how it may be about fresh water.’ After a goad deal of conversation it was agreed that at would not be safe to risk leaving their provisions and clothing in the sloop, and so their next step was to find a suitable place for their deposit. The Red-snapper carried one good boat, and it was determined that in this Charles and George should make a little voyage aiong the island’s shore with a view to selecting the spot whereon they could erect a tent of their sails. Meantime, Congo was to remain with the sloop, and see that no harm came to their stores. ~

The boys pulled away in a direct line toward the eastern horn of the crescent shore, and soon saw that a considerable grove of live-oak trees grew at one point on the farthest side of the island near its middle from west to east. *We may find tolerable water there,’ said George, *if the casks give out; there is usually fresh water where those oaks grow.’ At a point about a half-mile east of the spot where the Red snapper was beached they found a most excellent camping spot, whither they transported by means of the boat all their effects, including the two casks of fresh water and the sails and ropes of the sloop. Congo soon had made a large and substantial tent, which was pitched on a beautiful sand heap just above a bit of shell beach. Just back of the tent arose the dusky live - oak grove with its thick undergrowth of bay and other hummock plants. The po ition gave a wide view of the open gulf in one direction and of the island-studded waters in the direction of Mississippi Sound in the other. North-eastward, 40 or 50 miles was the bay of St. L mis, with its beautiful town and attractive summer cottages. Farther eastward were the villages of Pass Christian, Biloxi, and Mississippi city; but all these were beyond the horizan and therefore nob visible The inlet to Lake Borgne was bo the northward, an 1 occasionally a sail or two crept along, far up in that direction, going in or coming out of the charmed waters that used to float the Spanish fleets, or harbour the dark crafts of the pirates and buccaneeis.

‘ Now ynr we is.’ exclaimed Congo after the tent had been completed and he had lib his huge pipe. ‘Yar we is an’ w’at we gwine ter do next ’ Seem laker poorty good place ter be at; but den w’at we gwine ter do about it ?’ The boys were pretty strong-hearted, but when night began to draw on, and the soft gloom of a semi-tropic twilight tell around them they could sca'cely refraitt from crying. They thought of mother and sisters at home, and then thought doubled the dreariness and thelonelinessof the situation. It would have been quite different if they had been on the island as voluntary visitors, able to go away whenever they might wish it. It"'was the uncertainty, the horrible impossibility of the future that gave such a forbidding aspect to their condition. Thendistress book away their appetites, and the supper was scarcely touched, save by Congo, who did it liberal ju-tice. With nightcamethemosquitoesin swarms of millions humming likea thousand spindles in a great factory. They poured upon the boys in hungry floods, so to speak, alighting on their faces and hands ten times as fast as they could drive them off. They tried every plan of getting rid of the pests they made slow fires of green grass and lay in the smoke, they rubbed pennyroyal extract (brought along for the purpose) on their skin—they wrapped themselves up ‘ head and ears ’ in their blankets, all to no avail. Every moment the swarms grew thicker and more ravenous. Many times bad the boyssuffered frommosquitoesonsummer nights, but never had they even dreamed of an experience like this. Their skin burned like fire, and every moment added to the excruciating torture. Congo at length, in the extremity of his suffering, jumped up; ran out of the tent, and sped away like a madman, flinging his arms about, and blowing like a porpoise. Rapid motion, so tong as it can be kept up, gives relief from the attacks of the mosquitoes, and Congo ran with a right good will holding his way along the sand-ridge that skirted the live oak wood. It was not moonlight, but the stars were very strong and the air quite clear, so that it was by no means dark. Congo in his flight chanced to reach a spot where the breeze sweeping across the island found no obstruction, and there it was too strong for the mosquitoes, blowing them away as fast as they came. The panting negro stopped and felt a delicious relief creep through his excited blood and nerves. His first distinct thought was to call the two boys so that they too might enjoy his triumph over the ravenous insects; but just a* he was about to raise his voice in a loud halloo, a large animal bounded forth from the wood and cam # j u mping toward him uttering a low, peculiar cry. For a moment he was utterly paralysed with terror, standing there as stiff as a man of stone. It did nob take many long bounds to bring the animal very near him. He saw its white teeth gleam and its fiery eyes glow. Then he gave a mighty yell and burning about fled, as fast as he could, in the direction o fthe tent. Before he had run fifty yards he heard his pursuer close to his heels and the next moment it was upon his hack. He felt its fore-feet strike him between the shoulders; but apparently it failed to catch any hold. Again it -prang against him. this time almost throwing him down by the violence of its stroke. He redoubled his efforts to outrun it, all to no effect, for suldenlyib leaped past him and sprang at his face, uttering all.the time its low, peculiar cry. Congo was a powerful man physically, and in the desperate etraib which was now upon him he exerted almost giant strength. When the assailing animal, large and heavy as it was, leaped towards him he caught it on h’S: arm and flung it from him as if it had boon but a kitten. It fell upon. its back and, rolled over on the sand. ! The negro rushed past it and ran veiling and pantin ' towards the tent, now oqly a few rods distant. His assailant was quickly, upon him again, -this, time running along ao hi 3 side with open mouth, red, lolling tongue aud gleaming eyes, watching for. a chance to spring at him. All this required bub a few minutes of time, though it seemed like an age to the flying negro. In the meantime Charles and George had waded into the water as far as they could, hoping.by this, means to avoid the mosqui toes, and whop, they heard Congo yell they, thought it was only his way of expressing, the torture the inseets were causing, hijn., •Tbeir, guns Were in the, tent, bub of coutse

they did nob think of trying to get them, not; dreaming that there was any prese.it need for them. The water was shallow for a good way but from .shore, and they continued to wade farther and farther, glad to find that the mosquitoes became less numerous as they proceeded. They did nob mind wetti- g their night-clothes if on y they could esc «pe the insects. The water was almost up.to their armpits when, something in the cries of C -ngo fairly startled them ; then they heard hitn running swiftly bub heavily. What did it mean ? They looked at each other hopelessly and askance. On came the negro straight down pa«t the tent and out upon the little white beach where the sand and the shells were shining in the starlight. Then tho boys saw the large beast jumping at him, and heard its low hall human cries mingled with Congo s vigorous yel ing. Naturally enough, the boys were frightened too much to make any effort whate /er for the negro’s relief bub Georg& happened to think of yelling out. ‘Run into the water. Run into the water, Congo !’ And in he ru-hed, the great' beast following, all the time oounding at Congo,, who threw it off each time with desperate force. They splashed along through the water, and soon enough the beast was swimming, its legs being shorter than those of Congo. To the utoer consternation of the boys the negro went straight towards them, meantime letting go all manner of yells and imprecations, prayers and ejaculations of terror.

Under the sudden influence of their fright - Charles and George had rushed backward till the water was up to their necks. Congo, who was taller, could wade farther. He came right on to where ihey stood ; but fortunately the pursuing beast, apparently not a very expert swimmer and fearing to trust itself so far from shore, turned and went back to the beach, where it began walking back and forth with its nose high in air, occasionally shaking itself to throw off the water from its coat.

‘ De goo’ Lor’ a massy !’ cried Congo, his teeth chattering and his eyes rolling wildly, ‘ wlia’ we gwine ter do?’ The boys could think of nothing to say. * Dar it come agin !’ screamed the negro, as the animal waded into the water again and uttered its half-plaintive howl. But it did not) try to reach them. In a few minutes, after glaring at them, it turned and went back to sib upon its haunches and watch them, taking a position exactly between them and their tent. ‘lf we only had our guns,’ George muttered, with the water bubbling around his lips that were blue with the congestion of fright. ‘ 0 o-o-h,Lordy !’ groaned Congo, ‘ wish I hadn’t cl - come—wish I’s at home an’ in my bed !’

The bea«t sab quite still and watched them, apparently determined upon waiting patiently until they should come ashore. The water was chilly and after a while it began to be uncomfortable, but there was nothing to do but bear it. A man, no mutter how powerful, would have been desperate who should have dared go emptyhanded to meet that savage animal. Slowly the time dragged on every minute like a day to those shivering victims, while the beast sab on its haunches or w dked to and fro occasionally sniffing the ground. Once George, who was always ready with a practical suggestion told Congo and Charles to attract the thing’s attention, and he would see if he could slip asho e and get the guns: but the scheme was a complete failure. No sooner did he move ttiward the shore than the watchful animal came to meet him, and he. was glad bo scramble back in the deep water again.

Very late in the nigho the men arose, slender and pale, out of a hovering mist in the east, its wan light only adding vagueness and weird effect to the scene. It would soon be daylight, and then perhaps the bea-t would slink away to the darn woodß. Vain hope ! The grey of dawn slowly overcame the moon and.stars, and at last the sun flared up a red flame on the horizon. But the beast kept its place. Cold, numb, and shivering, the three unfortunates stood there in the water up to their chins utterly helpless and hopeless. Not a sail was in sight, not a sound was heard save the cries of sea-birds and the wide, lonely swashing of the waters. The animal had stretched itself out on the sand as if it were a-leep. 4 Well, well, I des do say ’at dis yar do beat anyfitig !' snarle I Congo. 4 Don’t see w’at ’pon yearth we is er gwine ter do ! I’s pow ful hongry.’ He was thinking of some cold pork and corn bread that ho had left ju»b inside the door of the tent.. It, was as if the bea-t understood his words and divined his thoughts ; for it arose, stretched itself, gave its shaggy brown body a shake, and went forthwith straightway to the tent door, and dragging out the provisions began, eating them.

‘ Hi, dar ! you blame ole scoun’rel. Hay dar 1 stop dat! g’long.f’rorc dar ! Git out! blame yo’ onery hide !’ yelled the negro, rushing so fast toward the shore that he beat the water into foam.. Strange to say the animal dropped its tail and slunk bo one side licking its jaws and behaving in a very guilty and crestfallen manner. 4 Why* it’s nothing bub a dog !’ exclaimed both the boys in a breath. ‘Be gone f’om dar.! Yo’ o’e sneak—t’ief 1 Off wid yo, or I break yo’ onery neck !’ bawled Congo, running out of the water and up to the tent. A 3 the negro advanced the dog lay down with its tail between its legs and began to howl. ‘ Don’t hurt him ! Don t hurt him, Congo !’ commanded George, who had followed quite nimbly-despite the numbness of his limbs.

4 Well I des be to blame !’ ejaculated the burly negro, standing with arms akimbo over the cowering and whining animal, 4 Well, I be dog gone !’ Notwithstanding their forlorn condition they all had to laugh. ‘A dog, an’ a purp-dog at that!’ continued Congo, ‘ an’ var we is a standin’ in de water all night an’ skeered pooty nigh ter def! Ya—ya yah ! Dat's a mighty loud joke on us ! A mighty loud joke, I tell yo’!’ It would have been hard to make out which one of the group, including the poor scared dog, was the most pitiable. .The boys were laughing and shivering at the same time, while C ingo ,kept up his oddly comical ‘ jes’ ter see me a run.ning f’om dat pore purp-dog las’ night! ; It er try.in’ ter mek friens’ wid me an’ me er sposin’ ’at its tryin’ ter eat me bodaciously up ! It do heat all!’ The dog was a tall, fine young Irish setter, somewhat lank for lack of f food, but strong and lively. As afterwards transpired, it had been inadvertently left on the island a day or two, before by a oarty of hunter’s and fishermen from Bay St. Louis. So glad was it to see a human being that it triad to show its feeling by jumping against Congo and striving to lick him in the face. , ; After tfiey aU'hadput on dry clothes and _eaten a hearty breakfast, washed down with some excellent , coffee prepared by Congo, they felt better, and began to,wonder again h.ow they were, to: get away - from that ~desolate 'and, Jojiely f place. ; They talked

over many -plans, the most feasible of which was to trust bo the little opeii row-boat and try to reach the nearest ma nland ; but so dangerous did this appear, remembering the stiff breezes, anr rough seas likely to come at any hour, that Charles flatly vetoed it save as a la.-b chance. They spent the day exploring the island, keeping a lookout for passing ships or steamers, hoping by signals of distress to get aid in this way ; but night came on again and with the plague of mosquitoes ; no sign of succour, however, appeared.

Meantime Congo had moved the tent to the spot ..on the sand ri Ige vvhere the breeze helped them, and there, with the aid of a * smudge,’ or grass-lire smoke, they ound a tolerable situation, and w«-re able to sleep for most of the night. There came up a gale with heavy rain just before davlight, however, am, so sound was their slumber, the tent was blown from over them, and the falling water had soaked them thoroughly before they knew it. To add to their discomfiture, when daylight came they found that the storm, still raging, had torn their little boat from its mooring and carried it away to sea. The waves were rolling high, and fairly threatening to tumble across the island, even at its highe-b point, while the force of I be wind increased everv moment. It was a grand but tearful sight bo see the leapir g billows break over the bars and dash their foam into the very 7 tops of the trees, but it was almost, stunning to hear the mighty throbbing roar and the grinding crash of the elements. Fortunately the storm was of short duration, ana by noon it was clear again, with only a stiff breeze from the south-east. Now, indeed, was all their hope gone, so far as leaving the island by their own means was concerned. Still, they were beginning to gather courage from the stress of their situation. The more deeply they realised their danger, the stronger became their self-reliance. After all, it was the dog that caused their deliverance, for its owner, a gentleman of the name of Drouet, living at Bay St. Louis, came in his yseht to see if his favourite setter were still alive, and found the shipwrecked voyagers as well as the dog. All were taken to the beautiful little town, where they were hospitably cared for until Congo and the boys could go by steamer to New Orleans.

It wa? from George’s own lips that the facts of this true story were received by the writer, while sailing with him many years afterward- on the beautiful waters of Pensacola Bay.