BLOWN TO BITS OR THE LOMLY MAN OF RAKATA BY R. M. BALLANTYNE A.UTHon OF *'rnri ibox korsk;" **f'ioHT!NO tub flames;** "the t-ift^boat ; ** kto. SSElith illnsttitttons tg the ^ttth0r TWELFTH THOUSAND LONDON JAMES NISBET & CO., LIMITED 21 BERNEES STEEET [AH Hgkts reserved.] PEEFACK The extremely violent nature of the volcanic «-ruption in Krakatoa in 1883. the peculiar beautv q{ those parts of the eastern seas where the event occurred, the wide-spread influences of the accom- panying phenomena, and the tremendous devaata* tion which resulted, have all inspired me with a desire to bring the matter, in the garb of a tale, before that portion of the juvenile world which accords me a hearing. Yox most of the facts connected with the eruption which have been imported into my story, I have to acknowledge myself indebted to the recently published important and exhaustive "Eeport" of the Krakatoa Committee, appointed by the Eoyal Society to make a thorough investigation of the whole matter in all its phases, I have also to acknowledge having obtained IV ^REFACB. mucli interesting and useful infonnation from the following among other works : — The Malay Archie pelagOj hy A. E. Wallace ; A Maturalisfs Wander- ings in the Eastern Archipelago, by H. 0. Forbes ; and Darwin's Journal of Researches round the world in H,M.S." Beagle/' R M. BALLANTYNH Habrow-ok-thb Hill, 1889. CONTENTS. CHAP. I.— THE PLAT COMMENCKS, II.— THE HAVEN IN THE CORAL RING, .... III.-— INTKUK&TING PAHTICUX.AHS OB' VARIOUS KINDS, . IV.^jfXQKL UNDESaOKS SOME QUll'E NEW AN1> INTEUKSTINO EXPEltlKNCES, V,--CAI*TAIK ROV SUlli^RISKS A^D GllATirms HIS SON, WHO suaruibES a nkgro, and suddenly fokms AN ASTONISHING EESOLVK, .... PAOB 1 9 19 VI.— THE HERMIT OP HAKATA INTRODUCED, Vn,— WONDEUS OV TUK HERMIT'S CAVE AND ISLAND, . Vin. — PERBOEWATAN BKCOMKS MODERATE LV VIOLENT, IX.— DE8CRIBKS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A SINGULAR MEET- INQ UNDER nsCULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES, . X.—A CURIOUS SKA-GOING CRAFT— THE UNKNOWN VOYAGE BEGUN XL — CANOEING ON TiJS SEA— A MYSTERIOUS NrflHT'.SUR PRISB AND SUDDEN FLIGHT, .... XIL— WEATHERING A STORM IN THK Of EN SEA, . XIJI.— FRIENDS ARE MET WITH, ALSO PIRATES, AND A LIFE OR-DKATH PADDLE ENSUES, .... 47 68 72 89 99 111 123 140 153 Vi CONTENTS. PAGE CHAF. XIV. —A NBW FIllEND FOUND --NKW DANGERS ENCOUNTERED AND NEW HOPES DELAYED, 173 XV.— HUNTING THE GREAT MAN-MONKEY^ . . .189 XVI. —BEGINS WITH A TEKBIBLK FIGHT AND ENDS WITH A HASTY FLIGHT, ....... 204 XVn.— TELLS OF THE JOYS, ETC., OF TUB PROFESSOR IN THE aUMATRAN FORESTS, ALSO OF A CATASTROPHE AVERTED, 217 XVIIL — A TRYING ORDEAL—DANGER THREATENS AND FLIGHT AGAIN RESOLVED ON, .... 230 XIX.— A TERRIBLE MURDER AND A STRANGE REVELA- TION, 243 XX.— NIGEL MAKES A CONFIDANT OF MOSES— UNDER- TAKES A LONELY WATCH AND SEES SOMETHING WONDERFUL, 259 XXL— IN WHICH THE PROFESSOR DISTINGUISHES HIM- SELF 276 XXIL— A PYTHON DISCO VKUED AND A GEYSER INTER- VIEWED, 297 XXIIL "TELLS OJ' VOLCANIC FIRES AND A STRANGE RETURN *' HOME," tS07 XXIV.— AN AWFUL NIGHT AND TETtUtlJLE MORNING, . 324 XXV.— ADVENTURES OF TIIK *' SUNSHINE" AND AN UN- EXPECTED REUNION, 343 XXVI.— A CLIMAX, ..,.,... 361 XXVIL- ^* BLOWN TO ItTTS," 371 XXVIII.— THE FATE OF THE "SUNSHINE," .... 377 CONTENTS. CIIAr. XXIX. — TELtS CHIEFLY OF THE WONDimKUL EFFECTS OP THIS ERUrTIOK ON THE WOHJJ) AT LAUGEj , SXX. - COMING EVKNTS, KTC— WOI^DEIIFUT. OUANGKS AMONG THK 3SLAKB3, ... ... XXXT.— ENDS WITH A SXRUOGLB BETWEEN tNCFJNATrOK AND DUn?, , . , . . XXXII.— THE LAST * ♦ LIST OF ILLUSTEATIONS. YiaKETTE TITLE. "HE CAME UNEXPECTEDLY ON A CAVERN." —Page 112, ...... Frontispiece* AET ON THE KEELING ISLANDS, . facing page 36 THEY DISCOVER A PIRATES' BIVOUAC. . . 164 ' * DO YOU HEAR ? " SAID VERKIMIER, STERNLY, 187 BLOWN TO BITS. 342 BLOWN TO BITS A TALE OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO, CHAPTEE L THK FLAY COMMENCES. Blown to bits ; bits so inconceivably, so ineffably, so "microscopically" small that — but let us not anticipate. About the darkest hour of a very dark night, in the year 1883, a large brig lay becalmed on the Indian Ocean, not far from that region of the Eastern world which is associated in some minds with spices, volcanoes, coffee, and piratical junks, namely, the Malay Archipelago. Two men slowly paced the brig's quarter-deck for some time in silence, as if the elemental quietude which prevailed above and below had infected them. Both men were broad, and apparently strong. One of them was tall ; the other short. More than this the feeble light of the binnacle-lamp failed to reveal, " rather/* said the tall man to the short one, " I A 2 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE do like to hear the gentle pattering of the reef points on the sails ; it is so suggestive of peace and rest. Doesn't it strike you so ? " " Can't say it does, lad," replied the short man, in a voice which, naturally mellow and hearty, had been rendered nautically harsh and gruff by years of persistent roaring in the teeth of wind and weather, " More suggestive to me of lost time and lee-way." The son laughed lightly, a pleasant, kindly, soft laugh, in keeping with the scene and hour. "Why, father," he resumed after a brief pause, " you are so sternly practical that you drive all the sentiment out of a fellow. I had almost risen to the regions of poetry just now, under the pleasant influences of nature." "Glad I got hold of 'ee, lad, before you rose," growled the captain of tlie brig — for such the short man was, " When a young fellow like you gets up into the clouds o' poetry, he's like a man in a balloon — scarce knows how he got there; doesn't know very well how he's to get down, an' has no more idea where he 's goiu' to, or what he 's drivin' at, than the man in the moon. Take my advice, lad, an' get out o* poetical regions as fast as ye can. It don't suit a young fellow who has got to do duty as first mate of his father's brig and push his way in the world as a seaman. When I sent you to school an' made you a far better scholar than my- OF THE MALAY AKC[TI1^MLAG0. 3 self, I had no notion they was goiu' to teach you poetry." The captain delivered the last word with an emphasis which was meant to convey the idea of profound but not ill-natured scorn. " Why, father/' returned the young man, in a tone which plainly told of a gleeful laugh within him, which was as yet restrained, "it was not school that put poetry into me — if indeed there be any in me at all." ''What was it, then?" "It was mother," returned the youth, promptly, " and surely you don't object to pootry in lier'^ " Object !" cried the captain, as though speaking in the teeth of a KorVester. " Of course not. But then, Nigel, poetry in your mother is poetry, an' she can do it, lad — screeds of it — equal to anything that Dibdin, or, or, — that other fellow, you know, I forget his name — ever put pen to — why, your mother is herself a poem ! neatly made up, rounded off at the corners, French-polished and all shipshape. Hal you needn't go an' shelter yourself under litr wings, wi' your inflated, up in the clouds, reef-point- patterin', balloon-like nonsense." " Well, well, fatlier, don't get so hot about it ; I won't offend again. Besides, I'm quite content to take a very low place so long as you give mother her right position. We won't disagree about that. 4 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE but I suspect that we differ considerably about the other matter you mentioned." " What other matter 1 " demanded the sire. "My doing duty as first mate," answered the sou. "It must be quite evident to you by this time, I should think, that I am not cut out for a sailor. After all your trouble, and my own efforts during this long voyage round the Cape, I'm no better than an amateur. I told you that a youth taken fresh from college, without any previous experience of the sea except in boats, could not be licked into shape in so short a time. It is absurd to call me first mate of the Sunshine. That is in reality Mr. Moor's position " "No, it isn't, Nigel, my son," interrupted the captain, firmly. " Mr. Moor is second mate. / say so, an' if I, the skipper and owner o' this brig, don't know it, I *d like to know who does ! Now, look here, lad. You've always had a bad habit of underratin* yourself an* contradictin' your father. I 'm an old salt, you know, an' I tell *ee that for the time you 've bin at sea, an' the opportunities you've had, you 're a sort o' walkin' miracle. You 're no more an ammytoor than I am, and another voyage or two will make you quite fit to work your way all over the ocean, an' finally to take command o' this here brig, an* let your old father stay at home wi* — wi' " OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO, G " With the Poetess," suggested Nigel. "Just so — wi' the equal o' Dibdiu, not to mention the other fellow. Now it seems to me . How 's 'erhead?" The captain suddenly changed the subject here. Nigel, who chanced to be standing next the binnacle, stooped to examine the compass, and the flood of light from its lamp revealed a smooth but manly and handsome face which seemed quite to harmonise with the cheery voice tliat belonged to it. " Nor'-east-and-by-east," he said, "Are *ee sure, lad?" " Your doubting me, father, does not correspond with your lately expressed opinion of my seaman- ship ; does it ?" "Let me see," returned the captain, taking no notice of the remark, and stooping to look at the compass with a critical eye. The flood of light, in this case, revealed a visage in which good-nature had evidently struggled for years against the virulent opposition of wind and weather, and had come ofi' victorious, though not without evidences of the conflict. At the same time it revealed features similar to those of the son, though somewhat rugged and red, besides being smothered in hair. *' Vulcan must be concoctin' a new brew," he 6 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE muttered, as he gazed incj[uiringly over the bow, " or he 's stirring up an old one." "What d' you mean, father?" "I mean that there's somethin* goin' on there- away — in the neighbourhood o* Sunda Straits," answered the Captain, directing attention to that point of the compass towards which the ship's head was turned. "Darkness like this don't happen without a cause. I've had some experience o' them seas before now, an' depend upon it that Vulcan is stirring up some o' the fires that are always blazin' away, more or less, around the Straits Settlements." " By which you mean, I suppose, that one of the numerous volcanoes in the Malay Archipelago has become active," said Nigel ; " but are we not some hve or six hundred miles to the sou'-west of Sunda? Surely the influence of volcanic action could scarcely reach so far." "So far!" repeated the captain, with a sort of humph which was meant to indicate mild con- tempt ; " that shows how little you know, with all your book-learnin', about volcanoes." " I don't profess to know much, father," retorted Nigel in a tone of cheery defiance. " Why, boy," continued the other, resuming his perambulation of the deck, "explosions have sometimes been heard for hundreds, ay hundreds, of OP THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 7 miles. I thought I heard one just now, but no doubt the unusual darkness works up my imagina- tion and makes me suspicious, for it's wonderful what fools the imag . Hallo! D'ee feel thatr He went smartly towards the binnacle-light, as he spoke, and, holding an arm close to it, found that his sleeve was sprinkled with a thin coating of fine dust. " Didn't I say so ? " he exclaimed in some excite- ment, as he ran to the cabin skyliglit and glanced earnestly at the barometer. That glance caused him to shout a sudden order to take in all sail. At the same moment a sigh of wind swept over the sleeping sea as if the storm-fiend were expressing regret at having been so promptly discovered and met. Seamen are well used to sudden danger — espe- cially in equatorial seas — and to prompt, unques- tioning action. Not many minutes elapsed before the Sunshine was under the smallest amount of sail she could carry. Even before this had been well accomplished a stilf breeze was tearing up the surface of the sea into wild foam, which a furious gale soon raised into raging billows. The storm came from the Sunda Straits about which the captain and his son had just been talk- ing, and was so violent that they could do nothing 8 BLOWN TO BITS, k TALE but scud before it under almost bare poles. All that night it raged. Towards morning it increased to such a pitch that one of the back-stays of the foremast gave way- The result was that the addi- tional strain thus thrown on the other stays was too much for them. They also parted, and the fore- top-mast, snapping short off with a report like a cannon-shot, went over the side, carrjung the main-topgallant-mast and all its gear along with it. OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. CHAPTER II. THE HAVEN IN THR OOEAL RlNa, It seemed as if the storm-fiend were satisfied witli the mischief he had accomplished, for imme- diately after the disaster just described, the gale began to moderate, and when the sun rose it had been reduced to a stiff but steady breeze. Prom the moment of the accident onward, the whole crew had been exerting themselves to the utmost with axe and knife to cut and clear away the wreck of the masts and repair damages. Not the least energetic among them was our amateur first mate, Nigel Koy. When all had been made comparatively snug, he went aft to where his father stood beside the steersman, with his legs nautically wide apart, his sou'-wester pulled well down over his frowning brows, and his hands in their native pockets. " This is a bad ending to a prosperous voyage," said the youth, sadly; "but you don't seem to take it much to heart, father ! " 10 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE " How much or little I take it to heart you know nothin* whatever about, my boy, seein' that I don't wear my heart on my coat-sleeve, nor yet on the point of my nose, for the inspection of all and sundry. Besides, you can't tell whether it's a bad or a good endin', for it has not ended yet one way or another. Moreover, what appears bad is often found to be good, an* what seems good is pretty often uncommon bad." " You are a walking dictionary of truisms, father ! I suppose you mean to take a philosophical view of the misfortune and make the best of it," said Nigel, with what we may style one of his twinkling smiles, for on nearly all occasions that young man's dark, brown eyes twinkled, in spite of him, as vigorously as any " little star " that was ever told in prose or song to do so — and much more expressively, too, because of the eyebrows of which little stars appear to be destitute. " N*o, lad," retorted tlie captain ; " I take a common- sense view — not a philosophical one ; an' when you 've bin as long at sea as I have, you 11 call nothin' a misfortune until it's proved to be such. The only misfortune I have at present is a son who cannot see things in the same light as his father sees 'em." "Well, then, according to your own principle that is the reverse of a misfortune, for if I saw OF THE MALAY ARCTTIPELAGO. 11 everything in the same light that you do, you 'd have no pleasure in talking to me, you 'd have no occasion to reason me out of error, or convince me of truth. Take the subject of poetry, now " " Luff','' said Captain Koy, sternly, to the man at the wheel. When the man at the wheel had gone through the nautical evolution involved in " hiff," the captain turned to liis son and said abruptly — " We 11 run for the Cocos-Keelin' Islands, Nigel, an' refit." "Are the Keeling Islands far off?" " Lift up your head and look straiglit along the bridge of your nose, lad, and you 11 see them. They're an interesting group, are the Keelin Islands. Volcanic, they are, with a coral top- dressin', so to speak. Sit down here an' 1 11 tell 'ee about 'em." Nigel shut up the telescope through which he had been examining the thin, blue line on the horizon that indicated the islands in question, and sat down on the cabin skylight beside his father." "They've got a romantic history too, though a short one, an* are set like a gem on the bosom of the deep blue sea " " Come, father, you're drifting out of your true course — that 's poetical ! " 12 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE " I know it, lad, but I 'm only quotin' your mother. Well, you must know that the Keelin' Islands — we call them Keelin* for short — were un- inhabited between fifty and sixty years ago, when a Scotsman named Eoss, thinking them well situated as a port of call for the repair and provisioning of vessels on their way to Australia and China, set his heart on them and quietly took possession in the name of England. Then he went home to fetch his wife and family of six children, intendin* to settle on the islands for good. Eeturning in 1S27 with the family and fourteen adventurers, twelve of whom were English, one a Portugee and one a Javanee, he found to his disgust that an Englishman named Hare had stepped in before him and taken posses- sion. This Hare was a very bad fellow ; a rich man who wanted to live like a Kajah, with lots o* native wives and retainers, an' be a sort of independent prince. Of course he was on bad terms at once with Eoss, who, finding that things were going badly, felt that it would be unfair to hold his people to the agreement which was made when he thought the whole group was his own, so he offered to release them. They all, except two men and one woman, accepted the release and went off in a gun-boat that chanced to touch there at the time. For a good while Hare and his rival lived there — the one tryin* to get the Dutch, the other to induce the English OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 13 Govemmeiit to claim possession. Neither Dutch nor English would do so at first, but the English did it at long-last — in 1878 — and annexed the islands to the Government of Ceylon. "Long before that date, however — before 1836 — Hare left and went to Singapore, where he died, leaving Boss in possession — the ' King of the Cocos Islands ' as he came to be called. In a few years — chiefly through the energy of Koss's eldest son, to whom he soon gave up the management of affairs — the Group became a prosperous settlement. Its ships traded in cocoa-nuts (the chief produce of the islands) throughout all the Straits Settlements, and boat- buildin' became one of their most important in- dustries. But there was one thing that prevented it from bein' a very happy though prosperous place, an* that was the coolies who had been hired in Java, for the only men that could be got there at first were criminals who had served their time in the chain-gangs of Batavia. As these men were fit for anything — from pitch-and-toss to murder — and soon outnumbered the colonists, the place was kept in constant alarm and watchfulness. For, as I dare say you know, the Malays are sometimes liable to have the spirit of amok on them, which leads them to care for and fear uothin', and to go in for a fight- to-death, from which we get our sayin' — run amuck An' when a strong fellow is goiu* about loose in this 14 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE state 0* mind, it's about as bad as havin' a tiger prowlin' in one's garden." "Well, sometimes two or three o' these coolies would mutiny and hide in the woods o* one o' the smaller uninhabited islands. An' the colonists would have no rest till they hunted them down. So, to keep matters right, they had to be uncommon strict. It was made law that no one should spend the night on any but what was called the Home Island with- out permission. Every man was bound to report himself at the guard-house at a fixed hour; every fire to be out at sunset, and every boat was numbered and had to be in its place before that time. So they went on till the year 1862, when a disaster befell them that made a considerable change — at first for the worse, but for the better in the long-run. Provin' the truth, my lad, of what I was — well, no — I was goin* to draw a moral here, but I won't ! " It was a cyclone that did the business. Cyclones have got a free-an'-easy way of makiu' a clean sweep of the work of years in a few hours. This cyclone completely wrecked the homes of the Keelin' Islanders, and Eoss — that's the second Eoss, the son of the first one — sent home for 7m son, who was then a student of engineering in Glasgow, to come out and help him to put things to rights. Eoss the third obeyed the call, like a good son, — observe that, Ni^rel," OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 15 " All right, father, fire away ! " " Like a good son/' repeated the captain, " au' he turned out to be a first-rate man, wliich was lucky, for his poor father died soon after, leavin' him to do the work alone. An' well able was the young engineer to do it. He got rid o' the chain-gang men altogether, and hired none but men o' the best character in their place. He cleared off the forests and planted the ground with cocoa-nut palms. Got out steam mills, circular saws, lathes, etc.^ and established a system of general education with a younger brother as lioad-master — an' tail-master too, for I believe there was only one. He also taught the men to work in brass, iron, and wood, and his wife — a Cocos girl that he married after comin' out — taught all the women and girls to sew, cook, and manage the house. In short, everything went on in full swing of prosperity, till the year 1876, when the island-boru inhabitants were about 600, as con- tented and happy as could be. "In January of that year another cyclone paid them a visit. The barometer gave them warn- ing, and, remembering the visit of fourteen years before, they made ready to receive the new visitor. All the boats were hauled up to places of safety, and every other preparation was made. Down it came, on the afternoon o' the 28th — worse than they had expected. Many of the storehouses and 16 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK mills had been lately renewed or built. They were all gutted and demolished. Everything movable was swept away like bits of paper. Lanes, hundreds of yards in length, were cleared among the palm trees by the whirling wind, which seemed to per- form a demon-dance of revelry among them. In some cases it snapped trees off close to the ground. In others it seemed to swoop down from above, lick up a patch of trees bodily and carry them clean away, leaving the surrounding trees untouched. Sometimes it would select a tree of thirty years growth, seize it, spin it round, and leave it a per- manent spiral screw. 1 was iu these regions about the time, and had the account from a native who had gone through it all and couldn't speak of it except with glaring eyeballs and gasping breath. '* About midnight of the 28th the gale was at its worst. Darkness that could be felt between the flashes of lightning. Thunder that was nearly drowned by the roaring of the wind an' the crash- ing of everything all round. To save their lives the people had to fling themselves into ditches and hollows of the ground. Mr. Eoss and some of his people were lying in the shelter of a wall near his house. There had been a schooner lying not far off. When Jlr. Boss raised his head cautiously above the wall to liave a look to wind'ard he saw the schooner comin' straight for him on the top of OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO, 17 a big wave. * Hold on ! ' he shouted, fell flat down, and If lid hold o' the nearest busli. Next moment the wave burst right over the wall, roared ou up to the garden, 150 yards above highwater mark, and swept his house clean away ! By good fortune the wall stood the shock, and the schooner stuck fast just before reachin' it, but so near that the end of the jib-boom passed right over the place where the household lay hold in' on for dear life and half drowned. It was a tremendous night," concluded the captain, "an* nearly everything on the islands was wrecked, but they 've survived it, as you *11 see. Though it's seven years since that cyclone swep' over them, they 're all right and goin' ahead again, full swing, as if nothin* liad happened." " And is Eoss in. still king ? " asked Nigel with much interest. "Ay — at least he was king a few years ago when I passed this way and had occasion to land to replace a tops'l yard that had been carried away/' "Then you won't arrive as a stranger? " " I should think not," returned the captain, getting up and gazing steadily at the atoll or group of islets enclosed within a coral ring which they were gradu- ally approaching. Night had descended, however, and the gale had decreased almost to a calm, ere they steered through the narrow channel — or what we may call a broken 6 18 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE part of the ring — wliicli led to the calm lagoon inside. Nigel Hoy leaned over the bow, watching with profound attention the numerous phosphor- escent fisli and eel-like creatures which darted hither and thither like streaks of silver from beneath their advancing keel. He had enough of the naturalist in him to arouse in his mind keen interest in the habits and action of the animal life around him, and these denizens of the coral-groves were as new to him as their appearance was unexpected. " You 11 find 'cm very kind and hospitable, lad," said the captain to his son. '* What, the fish?" " No, the inhabitants. Port — port — steady ! " " Steady it is ! " responded the man at the wheel. " Let go 1 " shouted the captain. A heavy plunge, followed by the rattling of chains and swinging round of the brig, told that they had come to an anchor in the lagoon of the Cocos-Keeling Islands. OF THE MALAY AKCHIPKLAGO. 19 CHAPTER IIL INTERESTING PARTICULARS OF VARIOUS KINDa By the first blush of dawn Nigel Roy hastened on deck, eager to see the place in regard to which his father's narrative had awakened in him consider- able interest. It not only surpassed but differed from all his preconceived ideas. The brig floated on the bosom of a perfectly calm lake of several miles in widths the bottom of which, with its bright sand and brilliant coral-beds, could be distinctly seen through the pellucid water. This lake was encompassed by a reef of coral which swelled here and there into tree-clad islets, and against which the breakers of the Indian Ocean were dashed into snowy foam in their vain but ceaseless efforts to invade the calm serenity of the lagoon. Smaller islands, rich with vegetation, were scattered here and there within the charmed circle, through which several channels of various depths and sizes connected the lagoon with the ocean. 20 BLOWN TO BITS, A TAIiTS "We shall soon have the king himself off to welcome us " said Captain Roy as he came on deck and gave a sailor-like glance all round the horizon and then up at the sky from the mere force of habit. " Visitors are not numerous here. A few scientific men have landed now and again ; Darwin the great naturalist among others in 1836, and Forbes in 1878. No doubt they'll be very glad to welcome Nigel Hoy in this year of grace 1883." " liut I'm not a naturalist, father, more's the pity." " No matter, lad ; you 're an ammytoor first mate, an' pr*aps a poet may count for somethin* here. Tliey lead poetical lives and aro fond o' poetry." " Perhaps that accoimts for the fondness you say they have for you, father." " Just so, lad. See ! — there 's a boat puttin' off already : the king, no doubt." He was right. Mr. Eoss, the appointed governor, and *'King of the Cocos Islands," was soon on deck, heartily sliaking hands with and welcoming Captain Eoy as an old friend. He carried him and bis son off at once to breakfast in his island-home ; intro- duced Nigel to his family, and then showed them round the settlement, assuring them at the same time that all its resources were at their disposal for the repair of the Sunshine, " Thank 'ee kindly," said the captain in reply, but OF THE MALAY AKCllIPELAGO. 21 I '11 only ask for a stick to rig up a foretop-mast to carry us to Batavia, where we '11 give the old craft a regular overhaul — for it's just possible she may have received some damage below the water-line, wi' bumpin' on the mast and yards." The house of the "King" was a commodious, comfortable building in the midst of a garden, in which there were roses in great profusion, as well as fruit-trees and flowering shrubs. Each Keeling family possessed a neat well-fiirnished plank cottage enclosed in a little garden, besides a boat-house at the water-edge on the inner or lagoon side of the reef, and numerous boats were lying about on the white sand. The islanders, being almost born sailors, were naturally very skilful in everything connected with the sea. There was about them a good deal of that kindly innocence which one somehow expects to find associated with a mild paternal government and a limited intercourse with the surrounding world, and Nigel was powerfully attracted by them from the first. After an extensive ramble, during which Mr. Eoss plied the captain with eager questions as to the latest news from the busy centres of civilisation — especially with reference to new inventions connected with engineering — the island king left them to their own resources till dinner-time, saying that he had duties to attend to connected with the kingdom ! 22 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE "Now, boy," said the captain when their host had gone, " what '11 *ee do ? Take a boat and have a pull over the lagoon, or go with me to visit a family I 'm particularly fond of, an' who are uncommon fond o'mc!" " Visit the family, of course," said Nigel. " I can have a pull any day." " Come along then." He led the way to one of the neatest of the plank cottages, which stood on the highest ridge of the island, so that from the front windows it commanded a view of the great blue ocean with its breakers that fringed the reef as with a ring of snow, while, on the opposite side, lay the peaceful waters and islets of the lagoon. A shout of joyful surprise was uttered by several boys and girls at sight of the captain, for during his former visit he had won their hearts by telling them wild stories of the sea, one half of each story being founded on fact and personal experience, the other half on a vivid imagination ! " We are rejoiced to see you," said the mother of the juveniles, a stout woman of mixed nationality — that of Dutch apparently predominating. She spoke English, however, remarkably well, as did many of the Cocos people, though Malay is the language of most of them." The boys and girls soon hauled the captain down OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 23 on a seat and began to urge liiiu to tuU them stories, iisiiig a style of English that was by no moans equal to that of the mother. '* Stop, stop, let me see sister Kathy first. I eau't begin without her. Where is she ? " ** Somewhere, I s'posc," said the eldest boy. "No doubt of that. Go — fetch her," returned the captain. At that moment a back-door opened, and a girl of about seventeen years of age entered. She was pleasant-looking rather than pretty — tall, graceful, and with magnificent black eyes. " Here she comes," cried the captain, rising and kissing her. *' Why, Kathy, how you 've grown since I saw you last ! Quite a woman, I declare ! " Kathy was not too much of a woman, however, to join her brothers and sisters in forcing the captain into a seat and demanding a story on the spot. " Stop, stop 1 " cried the captain, grasping round their waists a small boy and girl who had already clambered on his knees. " Let me inquire about my old friends first — and let me introduce my son to you — you Ve taken no notice of Mm yet ! That's not hospitable," All eyes were turned at once on Nigel, some boldly, others with a shy inquiring look, as though to say, Can you tell stories ? 24 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE "Come, now," said Nigel, advancing, "since you are all so fond of my father, I must shake hands with you all round." The hearty way in which this was done at once put the children at their ease. They admitted him, as it were, into their circle, and then turning again to the captain continued their clamour for a story, " No, no — ahout old friends first. How — how *s old mother Morris ? " "Quite well," they shouted, "batterer than ever," added an urchin, who in England would have been styled cheeky. "Yes,'* lisped a very little girl; "one of 'e doors in 'e house too small for she," " Why, Gerchin, you 've learned to speak English like the rest," said the captain. "Yes, father make every one learn." " Well, now," continued the captain, " what about Black Sam ? " "Gone to Batavia," chorused the children. "And — and — what 's-'is-name ? — the man wi* the nose " A burst of laughter and, "We's all got noses here ! " was the reply. " Yes, but you know who I mean — the short man wr the " " Oh ! with the turned up nose. 1 know," cried OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 25 the cheeky boy; '^ you means Johnson? He goed away nobody know wbar'." " And little Nelly Drew, what of her ? " A sudden silence fell on the group, and solemn eyes were turned on sister Kathy, who was evidently expected to answer. " Not dead ? '* said the captain earnestly. " No, but very very ill," replied the girl. " Dear Nelly have never git over the loss of her brother, who " At this point they were interrupted by another group of the captain's little admirers, who, having heard of his arrival, ran forward to give him a noisy welcome. Before stories could be commenced, how- ever, the visitors were summoned to Mr. Eoss's house to dinner, and then tlie captain had got into such an eager talk with the king that evening was upon them before they knew where they were, as Nigel expressed it, and the stories had to be post- poned until the following day. Of course beds were offered, and accepted by Captain Eoy and Nigel. Just before retiring to them, father and son went out to have a stroll on the margin of the lagoon. " Ain*t it a nice place, Nigel ? " asked the former, whose kindly spirit had been stirred up to quite a jovial pitch by the gushing welcome he had received alike from old and young. 26 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE "It's charming, father. Quite different from what you had led me to expect." " My boy," returned the captain, with that solemn deliberation which he was wont to assume when about to deliver a palpable truism. "Wen you've come to live as long as me you 11 find that every- thing turns out different from what people have bin led to expect. Leastways that's my experience." "Well, in the meantime, till I have come to your time of life, I '11 take your word for that, and I do hope you intend to stay a long time here." "No, my son, I don't. Why do ye ask ? " "Because I like the place and the people so much that I would like to study it and them, and to sketch the scenery." " Business before pleasure, my lad," said the cap- tain with a grave shake of the head. " You know we've bin blown out of our course, and have no business here at all I'll only wait till the carpenter completes his repairs, and then be off for Batavia. Duty first ; everything else after- wards." "But you being owner as well as commander, there is no one to insist on duty being done," objected Nigel "Pardon me," returned the captain, "there is a certain owner named Captain David lioy, a very stern disciplinarian, who insists on the connuandcr OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 27 o' this here brig performiri' his duty to the letter. You may depend upon it that if a man ain't true to himself he 's not likely to be true to any one else. But it 's likely that we may be here for a couple of days, so I release you from duty that you may make the most o' your time and enjoy yourself. By the way, it will save you wastin* time if you ask that little girl, Kathy Holbein, to show you the best places to sketch, for she 's a born genius with her pencil and brush." " No, thank you, father," returned Nigel. " I want no little girl to bother me while I 'm sketch- ing — even though she be a born genius — for I think I possess genius enough myself to select the best points for sketching, and to get along fairly well without help. At least I'll try what I can do." " Please yourself, lad. Nevertheless, I think you wouldn't find poor Kathy a bother; she's too modest for that — moreover, she could manage a boat and pull a good oar when I was here last, and no doubt she has improved since." "Nevertheless, I'd rather be alone," persisted Nigel. " But why do you call hnvpoor Kathy ? She seems to be quite as strong and as jolly as the rest of her brothers and sisters." " Ah, poor thing, tlicsc arc not her brothers and sisters," returned the captain in a gentler tone. 28 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE " Kathy is only an adopted child, and an orphaa Her name, Kathleen, is not a Dutch one. She came to these islands in a somewhat curious way. Sit down here and 1 11 tell 'ee the little I know about her." Father and son sat down on a mass of coral rock that had been washed up on the beach during some heavy gale, and for a few minutes gazed in silence on the beautiful lagoon, in which not only the islets, but the brilliant moon and even the starry hosts were mirrored faithfully. "About thirteen years ago," said the captain, " two pirate junks in the Sunda Straits attacked a British barque, and, after a fight, captured her. Some o' the crew were killed in action, some were taken on board the junks to be held to ransom I s'pose, and some, jumping into the sea to escape if possible by swimming, were probably drowned, for they were a considerable distance from land. It was one o* these fellows, however, who took to the water that managed to land on the Java shore, more dead than alive. He gave information about the affair, and was the cause of a gun-boat, that was in these waters at the time, bein' sent off in chase o* the pirate junks. " This man who swam ashore was a Lascar. He said that the chief o' the pirates, who seemed to own both junks, was a big ferocious Malay with only OF THK MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 29 one eye — he might liavc added with no heart at all, if what he said o* the scoundrel was true, for he behaved with horrible cruelty to the crew o' the barque. After takiu' all he wanted out of his prize he scuttled her, and then divided the people that were saved aUve between the two junks. There were several passengers in the vessel ; among them a young man— a widower — with a little daughter, four year old or so. He was bound for Calcutta. Being a very powerful man he fought like a lion to beat the pirates off, but he was sur- rounded and at last knocked down by a blow from behind. Then his arms were made fast and he was sent wi' the rest into the biggest junk. " This poor fellow recovered his senses about the time the pirates were dividin' the prisoners among them. He seemed dazed at first, so said the Lascar, but as he must have bin in a considerable funk himself I suspect his observations couldn't have bin very correct. Anyhow, he said he was sittin' near the side o' the junk beside this poor man, whose name he never knew, but who seemed to be an Englishman from his language, when a wi\d scream was heard in the other junk. It was the little girl who had caught sight of her father and began to understand that she was going to be separated from him. At the sound o* her voice he started up, and, looking round like a wild bull, caught sight o* the 30 BLOWN TO BITS, A TAUS little one on the deck o' the other junk, just as they were hoistin' sail to take advantage of a breeze that had sprung up. " Whether it was that they had bound the man with a piece o' bad rope, or that the strength o' Samson had been given to him, the Lascar could not tell, but he saw the Englishman snap the rope as if it had bin a bit o' pack-thread, and jump overboard. He swam for the junk where his little girl was. If he had possessed the strength of a dozen Samsons it would have availed him nofchin', for the big sail had caught the breeze and got way on her. At the same time the other junk lay over to the same breeze and the two separated. At first the one-eyed pirate jumped up with an oath and fired a pistol shot at the Englishman, but missed him. Then he seemed to change his mind and shouted in bad English, with a diabolical laugh — * Swim away ; swim hard, p'raps you kitch 'im up I' Of course the two junks were soon out of sight o' the poor swimmer— and that was the end of Mm^ for, of course, he must have been drowned." " But what of the poor little girl ? " asked Nigel, whose feelings were easily touched by the sorrows of children, and who began to have a suspicion of what was coming. "I'm just comin' to that. Well, the gun-boat that went to look for the pirates sighted one o' the OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 31 jnnks out in the Indian Ocean after a long search and captured her, but not a single one o* the barque's crew was to be found in her, and it was supposed they had been all murdered and thrown overboard wi* shots tied to their feet to sink them. Enough o' the cargo o' the British barque was found, however, to convict her, and on a more careful search bein' made, the little girl was discovered, hid away in the hold. Bein* only about four year old, the poor little thing was too frightened to under- stand the questions put to her. All she could say was that she wanted ' to go to father,' and that her name was Kathy, probably short for Kathleen, but she could not tell." "Then that is the girl who is now here?" ex- claimed Nigel " The same, lad. The gun-boat ran in here, like as we did, to have some slight repairs done, and Xathy was landed. She seemed to take at once to motherly Mrs. Holbein, who offered to adopt her, and as the captain of the gun-boat had no more notion than the man-in-the-moon who the child belonged to, or what to do with her, he gladly handed her over, so here she has been livin' ever since. Of course attempts have been made to discover her friends, but without success, and now all hope has been given up. The poor girl herself never speaks on the subject, but old Holbein and his wife tell mQ 32 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE she is sure that Kathy has never forgotten her father. It may be so ; anyhow, she has forgotten his name — if she ever knew it." Next day Nigel made no objections to being guided to the most picturesque spots among the coral isles by the interesting orphan girl. If she had been older he might even have fallen in love with her, an event which would have necessitated an awkward modification of tlie ground-work of onr tale. As it was, he pitied the poor child sincerely, and not only — recognising her genius — asked her advice a good deal on the subject of art, but — recog- nising also her extreme youth and ignorance — volun- teered a good deal of advice in exchange, quite in a paternal way 1 OF TUK MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 33 CHAPTER IV. MTOEL UNDKROOES BOMB QUITE NEW AND INTKUKSTIKO EXPERIENCES. Thk arrangements made on the following day iurned out to be quite iu accordance with the wishes and tastes of the various parties concerned. The ship's carpenter having been duly set to work on the repairs, and being inspected in that serious piece of prosaic business by the second mate, our captain was set free to charm the very souls of the juveniles by wandering for miles along the coral strand inveuting,narrating, exaggerating to his heart's content. Pausing now and then to ask questions irrelevant to the story in hand, like a wily actor, for the purpose of intensifying the desire for more, he would mount a block of coral, and thence, some- times as from a throne, or platform, or pulpit, impress some profound piece of wisdom, or some thrilling point, or some exceedingly obvious moral on his followers open-mouthed and open-eyed. These were by no means idlers, steeped in the too common business of having nothing to do. No, they Q 34 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE had regularly sought and obtained a holiday from work or school ; for all the activities of social and civilised life were going on full swing — fuller, indeed, than the average swing — in that remote, scarcely known, and beautiful little gem of the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile Nigel and Kathy, with sketch-books under their arms, went down to where the clear waters of the lagoon rippled on the white sand, and, launching a cockleshell of a boat, rowed out toward tlie islets. " Now, Kathy, you must let me pull," said Nigel, jiushing out the sculls, "for although the captain tells me you are very good at rowing, it would never do for a man, you know, to sit lazily down and let himself be rowed by a girl." " Very well," said Kathy, with a quiet and most oontented smile, for she had not yet reached the self-conscious age — at least, as ages go in the Cocos-Keeling Islands ! Besides, Kathy was gifted with that charming disposition which never ohjects to anything — anything, of course, that does not involve principle ! But it was soon found that, as the cociueshell had no rudder, and the intricacies they had to wind among were numerous, frequent directions and corrections were called for from the girl. *^D'you know," said Nigel at last, "as I don't OF THE MA.LAY ARCHIPELAGO. 35 know where you want me to go to, it may be as well, after all, that you should row !" "Very well," said Kathy, with another of her innocent smiles. "I thinked it will be better so at first." Nigel could not help laughing at the way she said this as he handed her the sculls. She soon proved herself to be a splendid boat- woman, and although her delicate and shapely arms were as mere pipe-stems to the great brawny limbs of her companion, yet she had a deft, mys- terious way of handling the sculls that sent the cockleshell faster over the lagoon than befoi'e. "Now, we go ashore here," said Kathy, turning the boat, — with a prompt back-water of the left scull, and a vigorous pull of the right one, — into a little cove just big enough to hold it. The keel went with such a plump on the sand, that Nigel, who sat on a forward thwart with his back landward, reversed the natural order of things by putting his back on the bottom of the boat and his heels in the air. To this day it is an unsettled question whether this was done on purpose by Kathy. Certain it is that she did not tumble, but burst into a hearty fit of laughter, while her large lustrous eyes half shut themselves up and twinkled. "Why, you don't even apologise, you dreadful ART ON THE KEELING ISLANDS. --P age 36. 36 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE creature!" exclaimed Nigel, joining in the laugh, as he picked himself up. "Why should I Apologise?" asked the girl, in the somewhat broken English acquired from her adopted family. " Why you not look out ?" "Eight, Kathy, right; I'll keep a sharp look- out next time. Meanwhile I will return good for evil by offering my hand to help you a hallo I" While he spoke the girl had sprung past him like a grasshopper, and alighted on the sand like a butterfly. A few minutes later and this little jesting fit had vanished, and they were both engaged with pencil and bookj eagerly — for both were enthusiastic — sketching one of the most enchanting scenes that can well be imagined. We will not attempt the impossible. Description could not convey it. We can only refer the reader's imagination to the one old, hackneyed but expressive, word — fairyland ! One peculiarly interesting point in the scene was, that on the opposite side of the lagoon the captain could be seen holding forth to his juvenile audience. When a pretty long time had elapsed in absolute silence, each sketcher being totally oblivious of the other, Nigel looked up with a long sigh, and said : — "Well, you have chosen a most exquisite scene OF THE MALAY ARCHIPKT.AGO. 37 for me. The more I work at it, the more I find to udmire. May I look now at what you have done ?" "Oh yes, but I have done not much. I am slow," said the girl, as Nigel rose and looked over her shoulder, " Why ! — what — how beautiful I — but — but — what do you mean V exclaimed the youth. " I don't understand you," said the girl, looking up in surprise. " Why, Kathy, I liad supposed you were drawing that magniiicent landscape all this time, and — and you Ve only been drawing a group of shells. Splendidly done, I admit, but why " He stopped at that moment, for her eyes sud- denly filled witli tears. "Forgive me, dear child," said Kigel, hurriedly; "I did not intend to hurt your feelings. I was only surprised at your preference." " You have not hurt me," returned Kathy in a low voice, as she resumed her work, " but what you say calls back to me — my father was very fond of shells." She stopped, and Nigel, blaming himself for having inadvertently touched some tender chord, hastened, somewhat clumsily, to change the subject " You draw landscape also, I doubt not ? " "Oh yes — plenty. If you come home to me to-night, I will show you some." 38 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE " I shall be only too happy," returned the youth, sitting down again to his sketch, "and perhaps I may be able to give you a hint or two — especially in reference to perspective — for I've had regular training, you know, Kathy, and I dare say you have not had that here." " Not what you will think much, perhaps, yet I have study a little in school, and very much from Nature." "Well, you have been under the best of mas- ters,** returned Nigel, " if you have studied much from Nature. And who has been your other teacher ? " " A brother of Mr. Eoss. I think he must under- stand very much. He was an engineer, and has explained to me the rules of perspective, and many other things which were at first very hard to under- stand. But I do see them now." "Perhaps then, Kathleen," said Nigel, in that drawling, absent tone in which artists are apt to indulge when busy at work — " perhaps you may be already too far advanced to require instruction from tne. "Perhaps — but I think no, for you seems to understand a great deal. But why you call me Kathleen just now ? " "Because I suppose that is your real name — Kathy being the short for it Is it not so ? " OF THK MALAY ATlCIIIPELAGO. 39 " Well, p'raps it is. I have hear mother Holbein say so once. I like Kathleen best." " Then, may I call you Kathleen ? " " If you like." At this point both artists had become so engrossed in their occupation that they ceased to converse, and for a considerable time profound silence reigned — at least on their part, though not as regarded others, for every now and then the faint sound of laughter came floating over the tranquil lagoon from that part of the coral strand where Captain Koy was still tickling the fancies and expanding the imagina- tions and harrowing or soothing the feelings of the Cocos-Keelirig juveniles. Inferior animal life was also in ceaseless activity around the sketchers, filling the air with those indescribably quiet noises which are so suggestive of that general happiness which was originally in terrestial paradise and is ultimately to be the lot of redeemed creation. Snipe and curlews were wading with jaunty step and absorbed inquiring gaze in the shallow pools. Hermit crabs of several species and sizes were scuttling about searching for convenient shells in which to deposit their naturally homeless and tender tails. Overhead there was a sort of sea-rookery, the trees being tenanted by numerous gannets, frigate birds, and terns — the first gazing with a 40 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE stupid yet angry air ; the last — one beautiful little snow-white species in particular— hovering only a few feet above the sketchers* heads, while their large black eyes scanned the drawings with the owlish look of wisdom peculiar to connoisseurs. Noddies also were there, and, on the ground, lizards and spiders and innumerable ants engaged in all the varied activities connected with their several domestic arrangements. Altogether it was a scene of bright peaceful felicity, which seemed to permeate Nigel's frame right inward to the spinal marrow, and would have kept him entranced there at his work for several hours longer if the cravings of a healthy appetite had not warned him to desist. "Now, Kathleen," he said, rising and stretching himself as one is apt to do after sitting long in a constrained position, " it seems to me about time to — by the way, we 've forgotten to bring something to eat!" His expression as he said this made his companion look up and laugh. " Plenty cocoa-nuts," she said, pointing with her pencil to the overarching trees, "True, but I doubt my ability to climb these long straight stems ; besides, I have got only a small clasp-knife, which would be but a poor weapon with which to attack the thick outer husk of the nuts." OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 41 "But I have got a few without the husks in the boat," said the girl, rising and running to the place where the cockleshell had been left. She returned immediately with several nuts divested of their thick outer covering, and in the condition with which we are familiar in England. Some of them were already broken, so that they had nothing to do hut sit down to lunch. "Here is one," said Kathy, handing a nut to Nigel, "that has got no meat yet in it — only milk. Eoro a hole in it and drink, but see you bore in the right hole." "The right hole?" echoed the youth, "are some of them wrong ones ? " "Oh yes, only one of the three will do. One of our crawbs knows that and has claws that can bore through the husk and shell. We calls him cocoa- nut crawb." " Indeed I That is strange ; I never heard before of a crab that fed on cocoa-nuts." "This one do. He is very big, and also climbs trees. It goes about most at night. Perhaps you see one before you go away." The crab to which Kathy referred is indeed a somewhat eccentric crustacean, besides being un- usually large. It makes deep tunnels in the ground larger than rabbit burrows, which it lines with cocoa-nut fibre. One of its claws is developed 42 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE into an organ of extraordinary power with which it can break a cocoa-nut shell, and even, it is said, a man's limb! It never takes all the husk off a cocoa-nut — that would be an unnecessary trouble, but only enough off the end where the three eyelets are, to enable it to get at the inside. Having pierced the proper eye witli one of its legs it rotates the nut round it until the hole is large enough to admit the point of its great claw, with which it continues the work. This remarlcable creature also climbs the palm-trees, but not to gather nuts ; that is certain, for its habits have been closely watched and it has been ascertained that it Feeds only on fallen nuts. Possibly it climbs for exercise, or to obtain a more extended view of its charming habitat, or simply "for fun." Why not? All this and a great deal more was told to Nigel by Kathleen, who was a bit of a naturalist in her tendencies — as they sat there under the graceful fronds of the palm-trees admiring the exquisite view, eating and drinking cocoa-nuts. "I suppose you have plenty of other kinds of food besides this?" said Nigel. " Oh yes, plenty. Most of the fish in our lagoon be good for eating, and so also the crawbs, and we have turtle too." " Indeed ! How do you catch the turtle ? An- other nut, please. — Thank you." OF THE MALAY AKCHirELAGO. 43 "The way we gets turtle is by the men diving for them and catching them in the water. We has pigs too — ^plenty, and the wild birds are some very nice."i When the artists had finished they proceeded to the shore, and to their surprise and anan.scment found the cocldeshell in possession of a piratical urchin of about four years of age in a charmingly light state of clothing. He was well known to Kathleen, and it turned out that, having seen the cockle start at too great a distance to be hailed, and having set his heart on joining in the excursion, he had watched their movements, observed their land- ing on the islet — which was not far from the main circlet of land — and, running round till he came opposite to it, swam off and got into the boat. Being somewhat tired he liad lain down to rest and fallen sound asleep. On the way liouie this urchin's sole delight was to lean over the bow and watch the fish and coral groves over which they skimmed. In this he was imitated by Nigel who, ungallantly permitting his companion to row, also leaned over the side and gazed down into the clear crystal depths with unwearying deliglit. 1 We recommend those who desire more curious information on the fauna and flora of the Keeling Islands to apply to Henry 0. Forbes* most intereBting book, A Naturalist's Wanderings in the EasUm Archipelago. --(Sampson Low.) 44 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE For the wonderful colours displayed in those depths must be seen to be believed. Not only is the eye pleased with the ever-varying formations of the coral bowers, but almost dazzled with the glittering fisli — blue, emerald, green, scarlet, orange, banded, spotted, and striped — that dart hither and thither among the rich-toned sea-weed and the variegated anemones which spread their tentacles upwards as if inviting the gazer to come downi Among these, crabs could be seen crawling with undecided motion, as if unable to make up their minds, while in out of the way crevices clams of a gigantic size were gaping in deadly quietude ready to close with a snap on any unfortunate creature that should give them the slightest touch. Nig(il was sharply awakened from his dream by a sudden splash. Looking up he observed that the small boy was gone. With a bound he stood erect, one foot on the gunwale and hands clasped ready to dive, when a glance revealed the fact that Kathy was smiling broadly ! "Don't jumpl" she said. ''He is only after a fish." Even while she spoke Nigel saw the brown little fellow shooting about like a galvanised tadpole, with a small harpoon in his liand ! Next moment lie appeared on the surface shout- ing and spluttering, with a splendid fish on the end OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 45 of his harpoon! Both were hauled into the boat, and very soon after they drew near to land. In the shallow water Nigel observed some re- markable creatures which resembled hedgehogs, having jaws armed with formidable teeth to enable them to feed, Kathy said, on coral insects. File- fishes also drew his attention particularly. These were magnificently striped and coloured, and ap- parently very fearless. " What convenient tails they have to lay hold of/' remarked our hero, as they slowly glided past one ; " I believe I could catch it with my hand !" Stooping swiftly as he spoke, he dipped his arm into the water, and actually did grasp the fish by its tail, but dropped it again instantly — to the shrieking delight of the urchin and Kathy, — for the tail was armed with a series of sharp spines which ran into his hand like lancets. This was an appropriate conclusion to a day that would have been otherwise too enjoyable. Poor Nigel's felicity was further diluted when he met his father, " We 'U have to sleep a-board to-night," said the captain, '* for there 's a fair breeze outside which seems likely to hold, and the mast has been tem- porarily rigged up, so we '11 have to up anchor, and away by break of day to-morrow," Nigel's heart sank. 46 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE " To-morrow 1 father?" "Ay, to-morrow. Business first, pleasure after- wards." "Well, I suppose you are right, but it seems almost a shame to leave such a heaven upon earth as this in such a hurry. Besides, is it not unkind to such hospitable people to bolt off after you 've got all that you want out of them ? " " Can't help that, lad— ** Dooty first, an* fun to foUow, That *B what beats creation hollow." "Come father, don't say that you quote tliat from mother!" " No more I do, my boy. It 's my own — home- made. I put it together last night when I couldn't sleep for your snorin'." "Don't tell fibs, father. You know I never snore. But — really — are we to start at daylight ?" " We are, if the wind holds. But you may stay as late as you choose on shore to-night." Nigel availed himself of the opportunity to see as much of the place and people as was possible in the limited time. Next morning the good though damaged brig was running in the direction of Sunda Straits before a stiff and steady breeze. OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 47 CHAPTER V. OAPTAIN ROY SURPRISES AND GRATIFIES HTB SON, WHO SURPRISES A NEGROj AND SUDDENLY FORMS AN ASTONISHING RESOLVE. Arbived in Eatavia — the low-lying seaport and »)apital of the Dutch island of Java — Captain Eoy had his brig examined, and found that the damage she had sustained was so serious that several months would probably elapse before she would be again ready for sea. "Now, Nigel, my lad," said the old gentleman, on the morning after the examination had been made, " come down below with me ; I want to have a confabulation with 'ee/' "Why, father," said the youth, when seated at the small cabin table opposite his rugged parent, "you seem to be in an unusually solemn frame of mind this morning. Has anything happened ?" "Nothin*, boy — nothin'. Leastwise nothin' in particular. You know all about the brig, an* what a deal o' repair she's got to undergo ?" " Of course I do. You know I was present when 48 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE you talked the matter over with that fellow •^- what 's-'is-name — that gave you his report." " Just so. Well now, Nigel, you don't suppose, do you, that I 'm goin' to keep you here for some months knockin' about with nothin' to do — eatin' your grub in idleness?" "Certainly not," said the youth, regarding the stern countenance of his parent with an amused look. "I have no intention of acting such an ignoble part, and I 'm surprised at you askin' the question, for you know I am not lazy — at least not more so than average active men — and there must be plenty of work for me to do in looking after the cargo, superintending repairs, taking care of the ship and men. I wonder at you, father. You must either have had a shock of dotage, or fallen into a poetical vein, What is a first mate fit for if '* " Nigel," said Captain Eoy, interrupting, " T 'm the owner an' commander of the Sunshine, besides bein' the paternal parent of an impertinent son, and I claim to have the right to do as I please — there- fore, hold your tongue and listen to me." " All right, father," replied the young man, with a benignant grin ; " proceed, but don't be hard upon me; spare my feelings." " Well now, this is how the land lies," said the old seaman, resting his elbows on the table and OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 49 clasping his hands hefore him. " As Mr. Moor and I, with the stooard and men, are quite sufficient to manage the affairs o' the brig, and as we sliall cer- tainly be here for a considerable time to come, I Ve made up my mind to give you a holiday. You're young, yon see, an' foolish, and your mind needs improvin'. In short, you want a good deal o' the poetry knocked out o' you, for it's not like your mother's poetry by any means, so you needn't flatter yourself — not built on the same lines by a long way. Well — where was I ? " " Only got the length of the holiday yet, father." " Only, indeed. You ungrateful dog 1 It 's a con- siderable length to get, that, isn't it ? Well, I also intend to give you some money, to enable you to move about in this curious archipelago — not much, but enough to keep you from starvation if used with economy, so I recommend you to go into the town, make general inquiries about everything and every- where, an' settle in your mind what you 'U do, for I give you a rovin' commission an* don't want to be bothered with you for some time to come," " Are you in earnest, father ? " asked Nigel, who had become more interested while the captain un- folded his plan, " Never more in earnest in my life — except, p'raps, when I inquired over twenty years ago whether you was a boy or a gurl." D 60 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK **Well, now, that is good of you, father. Of course I need not say that I am charmed at the prospect you open up to me. And — and when may I start ? " " At once. Up anchor and away to-night if you choose." "But— where?" "Anywhere — everywhere, Java, Sumatra, Borneo — all Malaysia before you where to choose. Now be off, and think over it, for I 've got too much to do to waste time on you at present/' said the captain, rising, " and, stay — Nigel." "Well?" said the youth, looking back as he was about to leave the cabin. " Whatever you do, don't grow poetical about it. You know it is said somewhere, that mischief is found for idle hands to do." "All right, father. I'll keep clear of poetry- leave all that sort o' nonsense to you, I '11— " I'll flee Temptation's siren voice, Throw poesy to the crows, And let my soul's ethereal fire Ouah out in sober prose." It need scarcely be said that our hero was not slow to take advantage of the opportunity thus thrown in his way. He went off immediately through the town, armed with the introduction of his father's well-known name, and made ino[uiries OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 51 of all sorts of people as to the nature, the conditions, tlie facilities, and the prospects of travel in the Malay Archipelago. In this quest he found himself sorely perplexed for the very good reason that " all sorts " of people, having all sorts of ideas and tastes, gave amaziDgly conflicting accounts of the region and its attractions. Wearied at last with his researches, he sauntered towards afternoon in the direction of the port, and began in a listless sort of way to watch the move- ments of a man who was busily engaged with a boat, as if he were making preparations to put to s(?a. Now, whatever philosophers may say to the con- trary, wc hold strongly to the opinion that likings and dislikings among men and women and children are the result of some profound occult cause wlucli has nothing whatever to do with experience. No doubt experience may afterwards come in to modify or intensify the feelings, but it is not the originating cause. If you say it is, how are wc to account for love at first sight ? Beauty has nothing necessarily to do with it, for men fall in love at first sight with what the world calls plain women — happily ! Character is not the cause, for love assails the human breast, ofttimes, before the loved object has uttered a word, or perpetrated a smile, or even fulminated a glance to indicate character. So, in like manner, affection may arise between man and man. 62 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE It was SO on this occasion with Nigel Eoy. As he stood abstractedly gazing at the boatman he fell in love with him — at least he took a powerful fancy to him, and this was all the more surprising that the man was a negro, — a woolly-headed, flat-nosed^ thick-lipped nigger I We would not for a moment have it supposed that it is unnatural to love such a man. Quite the reverse. But when such a man is a perfect stranger, has never uttered a word in one's presence, or vouch- safed so much as a glance, and is gravely, stolidly engaged in the unsavoury work of greasing some of the tackling of a boat, it does seem unaccountable that he should be unwittingly capable of stirring up in another man's bosom feelings of ardent good- will, to put it mildly. After watching him for some time, Nigel under an almost involuntary impulse shouted " Hullo ! " " Hullo ! " replied the negro, looking up with a somewhat stern frown and a pout of his thick lips, as much as to say — " Who are you ? " Nigel smiled, and made tliat suggestive motion with his forefinger which signifies " Come here." The frown fled and tlie pout became a smile as the negro approached, wiping his hands on a piece of cotton- waste. " What you want wi' me, sar ? " lie asked. "Well, upon my word," said Nigel, somewhat OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 53 perplexed, "I can't very well say. I suppose some- thing must have been in my mind, but — anyhow, I felt a desire to liave a talk with you ; that is, if you can spare the time." The first part of tliis reply induced a slight re- currence of the frown and pout, but at its conclusion the black brow cleared and the mouth expanded to such a gum-and-teeth-exposing extent that Nigel fairly burst into a laugh. " You 's bery good, sar," said the man, " an' I *s hab much pleasure to make your acquaintance. — Der au't no grease on 'em now." The last remark had reference to the enormous black paw which he held out. Nigel at once grasped it and shook it heartily. "I's bery fond ob a talk, sar," continued the negro, " so as you wants one, heabe ahead." Thus encouraged, our hero began by remarking that he seemed to be preparing for a trip. " Dat 's zackly what I 's a-doin', sar." "A long one?" "Well, dat depends on what you call short. Goin* to Sunda Straits, which p'raps you know, sar, is nigh a hundred miles fro' hera" " And what may you be going to do there ?" asked Nigel. " Goin' home to Krakatoa." "Why, I thought that was an uninhabited island. 54 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE I passed close to it on my way here, and saw no sign of inhabitants," " Da 's cause I was absint fro' home. An' massa he keeps indoors a good deal" " And pray who is massa ? " asked Nigeh "Sar," said the negro, drawing up his square sturdy frame with a look of dignity ; " fair-play is eberyt'ing wid me. You've ax me a heap o' questions, Now's my turn. Whar you comes fro'?" " From England " replied Nigel " An' whar you go to ? " " Well, you 've posed me now, for I really don't know where I 'ra going to. In fact that is the very thing I have been trying to find out all day, so if you'll help me I'll be much obliged." Here Nigel explained his position and difficulties, and it was quite obvious, judging from the glitterin

le excitement that our liero stood for the first time on the top of a volcanic cone and gazed down into its glowing vent. The crater might be described as a huge basin of 3000 i'eet in diameter. From the rim of this baain on which the visitors stood the sides sloped so gradually inward that the flat floor at the bottom w^as not more than half that diameter. This floor — which was about 150 feet below the upper edge — was covered with a black crust, and in the centre of it was the tremendous cavity — between one and two hundred feet in diameter — from which issued the great steam-cloud. The cloud was mixed with quantities of pumice and fragments of what appeared to be black glass. The roar of this huge vent was deafening and stupendous. If the reader will reflect on the wonderful hubbub that can be created even by a kitchen kettle when superheated, and on the 106 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE exasperating shrieks of a steamboat's safety-valve in action, or the bellowing of a fog-horn, he may form some idea of the extent of his incapacity to conceive the thunderous roar of Krakatoa when it began to boil over. When to this awful sound there were added the intermittent explosions, the horrid crackling of millions of rock-masses meeting in the air, and the bubbling up of molten lava — verily it did not require the imagination of a Dante to see in all this the very vomiting of Gehenna 1 So amazed and well-nigh stunned was Nigel at the sights and sounds that he neither heard nor saw the arrival of the excursionists, until the equally awe-stricken Moses touched him on the elbow and drew his attention to several men who suddenly appeared on the crater-brim not fifty yards off, but who, like themselves, were too much absorbed with the volcano itself to observe the other visitors. Probably they took them for some of their own party who had reached the summit before them, Nigel was yet looking at these visitors in some surprise, when an elderly nautical man suddenly stood not twenty yards off gazing in open-mouthed amazement, past our hero's very nose, at the volcanic fires. " Hallo, Father ! " shouted the one. " Zounds ! Nmel I " exclaimed the other. OF THE MALA.Y ARCHirELAGO, 107 Both men glared and were speechless for several seconds. Then Nigel rushed at the captain, and the captain met him half-way, and they shook hands with such hearty goodwill as to arrest in his operations for a few moments a photographer who was hastily setting up his camera ! Yes, science has done much to reveal the mar- vellous and arouse exalted thoughts in the human mind, but it has also done something to crush enthusiasts and shock the romantic. Veracity constrains us to state that there he was, with his tripod, and his eager haste, and his hideous black cloth, preparing to " take " Perboewatan on a " dry plate " ! And he " took " it too ! And you may see it, if you will, as a marvellous frontispiece to the volume by the " Krakatoa Committee " — a work which is apparently as exhaustive of the subject of Krakatoa as was the great explosion itself of those internal fires which will probably keep that volcano quiet for the next two hundred years. But this was not the Great Enjption of Krakatoa — only a rehearsal, as it were» " What brought you here, my son ? " asked the captain, on recovering speecli, " My legs, father," *' Don't be insolent, boy " "It's not insolence, father. It's only poetical licence, meant to assure you that I did not come 108 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE by 'bus or rail though you did by steamer ! But let me introduce you to my friend, Mr. " He stopped short on looking round, for Van der Kemp was not there. " He goed away wheneber he saw de peepil comin' up de hill," said Moses, who had watched the meeting of father and son with huge delight. " But you kin interdooce me instead," he added, with a crater-like smile. " True, true," exclaimed Nigel, laugliing. " This is Moses, father, my host's servant, and my very good friend, and a remarkably free-and-easy friend, as you see. He will guide us back to the cave, since Van der Kemp seems to have left us." " Who 's Van der Kemp ? " asked the captain. " The hermit of Kakata, father — that *s his name. His father was a Dutchman and his mother an English or Irish woman — I forget which. He 's a splendid fellow ; quite different from what one would expect ; no more like a hermit than a hermit- crab, except that he lives in a cave under the Peak of Ilakata, at the other end of the island. But you must come with us and pay him a visit. He will be delighted to see you." ^'What! steer through a green sea of leaves like that?" said the captain, stretching his arm towards the vast forest that lay stretched out below them, " and on my legs, too, that have been used all OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 109 their lives to a ship's dock? No, my son. I will content myself with this lucky meetin*. But, I say, Nigel, ]ad/* continued the old man, somewhat more seriously, " what if the Peak o* Ea — Ea, what *s- 'is-name, should take to spoutin' like this one, an' you, as you say, livin' under it ? " " Ha ! das *zackly what I say," interposed Moses. "Das what I oftin says to massa, but he nebber answers* He only smile. Massa 's not always so purlite as he might be 1 " " There is no fear," said Nigel, " not at present, anyhow, for Van der Kemp says that the force of this eruption is diminishing " " It don't look much like it," muttered the captain, as the volcano at that moment gave vent to a burst which seemed like a sarcastic laugh at the hermit's opinion, and sent the more timid of the excursionists sprawling down the cinder-slope in great alarm. "There's reason in what you say, lather," said Nigel, when the diminution of noise rendered speech more easy; "and after all, as we start off on our travels to-morrow, your visit could not have been a long one." " Where do you go first ? " asked the captain. "Not sure. Do ymjt, know, Moses ? " " No ; no more 'n de man ob de moon. P'r'aps Borneo. He go dar sometimes." At this point another roar from the volcano, and 110 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE a shout from the leader of the excursionists to re- turn on board, broke up the conference. " Well, lad, I 'm glad I Ve seen you. Don't for- get to write your whereabouts. They say there 's a lot o* wild places as well as wild men and beasts among them islands, so keep your weather-eye open an' your powder dry. Good-bye, Nigel. Take care of him, Moses, and keep him out o' mischief if ye can — which is more than ever I could. Good-bye, my boy." "Good-bye, father." They shook hands vigorously. In another minute the old seaman was sailing down the cinder-cone at the rate of fourteen knots an hour, while his son, setting off under the guidance of Moses towards a different point of the compass, was soon pushing his way through the tangled forest in the direction of the hermit's cava OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 1 1 1 CHAPTER X A CURIOUS BEA-GOrWa ORAPT— THE UNKNOTTH VOYAQK BBOUJI. It was early next morning when Van der Kemp and his man left their couches and descended to the shore, leaving their visitor enjoying the benefit of that profound slumber which bids defiance to turmoil and noise, however stupendous, and which seems to be the peculiar privilege of healthy infants and youthful seamen, Perboewatan had subsided considerably towards morning, and had taken to that internal rumbling, which in the feline species indicates mitigated indignation. The hermit had therefore come to the conclusion that the outburst was over, and went with Moses to make arrangements for setting forth on his expedition after breakfast. They had scarcely left the cave when Nigel awoke. Feeling indisposed for further repose, he got up and went out in that vague state of mind which is usually defined as " having a look at the weather." Whether or not he gathered much information from CAME UNEXPECTEDLY OX A CAVERN."— Page lU.-iFrontispiece.) 112 BLOWN TO BITS. A TALE the look we cannot tell, but, taking up his short guu, which stood handy at the entrance of the cave, he sauntered down the path which his host had followed a short time before. Arrived at the shore, he observed that a branch path diverged to the left, and appeared to run in the direction of a high precipice. He turned into it, and after pro- ceeding through the bushes for a short way he came quite unexpectedly on a cavern, the mouth of which resembled, but was much higher and wider than that which led to the hermit's home. Just as he approached it there issued from its gloomy depths a strange rumbhng sound which induced him to stop and cock his gun. A curious feeling of serio-comic awe crept over him as the idea of a fiery dragon leaped into his mind! At the same time, the fancy that the immense abyss of darkness might be one of the volcanic vents diminished the comic and increased the serious feeling. Ere long the sound assumed the definite tone of footsteps, and the dragon fancy seemed about to become a reality when he beheld a long narrow thing of uncertain form emerging from the darkness. "It must be coming out tail-foremost!" he muttered, with a short laugh at his semi-credulity. Another instant and the hermit emerged into the blazing sunshine, and stood pictured against OF TllK MATAY AllCHIPELAGO. 113 the intense darkness like a being of supernatural radiance, with the end of a long narrow canoe on his shoulder. As Nigel passed round a bush to reach him he perceived the dark form of Moses emerging from the depths and supporting the body of the canoe. " I see you are active and an early riser/' said the hermit, with a nod of approval on seeing our hero, " I almost took you for a Krakatoa monster ! " said Nigel, as they came out in front of the cavern and laid the canoe on the ground. "Why, you've got here one of the craft which we in England call a Kob Eoy canoe ! " " It is fashioned on the same pattern/* said the hermit, " but with one or two alterations of my own devising, and an improvement — as I think — founded on what I have myself seen, when travelling with the Eskimos of Greenland." Van der Kemp here pointed out that the canoe was not only somewhat broader than the kind used in England, but was considerably longer, and with three openings or manholes in the deck, so that it was capable of holding three persons. Also, that there was a large rounded mass of wood fixed in front of the three manholes, " These saddles, as I call them," said the hermit, "have been suggested to me by the Eskimos, who, instead of wearying their arms by supporting the H 114 bLOWN 10 BITS, A TALE double-bladed paddle continuously, rest it on the saddle and let it slide about thereon while being used. Thus they are able to carry a much longer and heavier paddle than that used in the Eob Eoy canoe, the weight of which, as it rests on the saddle, is not felt. Moreover it does not require nearly so much dip to put it in the water. I have heard of a sort of upright with a universal joint being applied to the English canoe, but it seems to me a much more clumsy and much less effective, because rigid, contrivance than the Eskimo saddle. Inside, under the deck, as I will show you by and by, I have lighter and shorter paddles for use when in narrow rivers, but I prefer the long heavy paddle when traversing great stretches of ocean." " You don't mean to say you ever go to sea in an eggshell like that ! '* exclaimed Nigel in surprise. ** Indeed we do," returned the hermit, " and we are fitted out for longish voyages and rough weather. Besides, it is not so much of an eggshell as you suppose. I made it myself, and took care that it should be fit for the work required of it. The wood of which it is made, although light, is very tough, and it is lined with a skin of strong canvas which is fixed to the planks with tar. This makes the craft watertight as well as strong. The ribs also are very light and close together, and every sixth rib is larger and aUon;^or *han the others and OF THE MALAY AltClIIPELAGO. 115 made of tougher wood. All these ribs are bound together by longitudinal pieces, or laths, of very tough wood, yet so thin that the whole machine is elastic without being weak. Besides this, there are two strong oiled-canvas partitions, which divide the canoe into three water-tight compartments, any two of which will float it if the third should get filled." " Is this then the craft in which you intend to voyage ? " asked Nigel. " It is. We shall start in an hour or two. I keep it in this cave because it is near the landing- place. But come, you will understand things better when you see us making our arrangements. Of course you understand how to manage sails of every kind ? " "If I did not it would ill become me to call myself a sailor,'* returned our hero. " That is well, because you will sit in the middle, from which position the sail is partly managed. I usually sit in the bow to have free range for the use of my gun, if need be, and Moses steers." Van der Kemp proceeded down the track as he said this, having, with the negro, again lifted the canoe on his shoulder. A few minutes' walk brought them to the beach at the spot where Nigel had originally landed. Here a quantity of cargo lay on the rocks ready to be placed in the canoe. There were several small 116 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE bags of pemmican, which Van der Kemp had learned to make while travelling on the prairies of North America among the Eed Indians, — for this singular being seemed to have visited most parts of the habitable globe during his not yet very long life. There were five small casks of fresh water, two or three canisters of gunpowder, a small box of tea and another of sugar, besides several bags of biscuits. There were also other bags and boxes which did not by their appearance reveal their contents, and all the articles were of a shape and size which seemed most suitable for passing through the manholes, and being conveniently distributed and stowed in the three compartments of the canoe. There was not very much of anything, however, so that when the canoe was laden and ready for its voyage, the hermit and his man were still able to raise and carry it on their shoulders without the assistance of Nigel. There was one passenger whom we have not yet mentioned, namely, a small monkey which dwelt in the cave with the canoe, and which, although per- fectly free to come and go when he pleased, seldom left the cave except for food, but seemed to have constituted himself the guardian of the little craft. Spinkie, as Moses had named him, was an intensely affectionate creature, with a countenance of pathetic melancholy which utterly belied his character, for mischief and fun were the dominating OF THE MALAY ARCHIPEIAGO. 117 qualities of iliat monkey, lie was seated on a \vater-cask when Nigel first caught sight of him, holding the end of his long tail in one hand, and apparently wiping his nose with it. " Is that what he is doing ? " asked Nigel of the negro. " Oh no, Massa Nadgel," said Moses. " Spinkie nebber ketch cold an' hab no need ob a pocket- hangkitcher. He only tickles his nose wid 'is tail. But he 's bery fond ob doin' dat." Being extremely fond of monkeys, Nigel went forward to fondle him, and Spinkie being equally fond of fondling, resigned himself placidly — after one interrogative gaze of wide-eyed suspicion — into the stranger's hands. A lifelong friendship was cemented then and there. After stowing the cargo the party returned to the upper cavern, leaving the monkey to guard the canoe. "An' he*s a good defender ob it," said Moses, " for if man or beast happen to come near it when Spinkie 's in charge, dat monkey sets up a skrickin' fit to cause a 'splosion ob Perboewatan 1 " Breakfast over, the hermit put his cave in order for a pretty long absence, and they again descended to the shore, each man carrying his bed on his shoulder. Each bed, however, was light and simple. It consisted merely of one blanket wrapped up in an 118 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE oil-cloth sheet. Besides, au old-fashioned powder- flask and shot belt. Van der Kemp and Nigel had slung a bullet-pouch on their shoulders, and carried small hatcliets and hunting-knives in their belts. Moses was similarly armed, with this difFereuee, that his cotUemc de chasse bore stronger resemblance to an ancient Eoman sword than a knife, and his axe was of larger size than the hatchets of his companions. Launching the canoe, the hermit and his man held it fast at either end while Nigel was directed to take his place in the central of the three openings or manholes. He did so and found himself seated on a flat board on the bottom of the canoe, which was so shallow that the deck scarcely rose as high as his M^aist. Eound the manhole there was a ledge of thin wood, about three inches high, to which a circular apron of oiled canvas was attached. " Yes, you 'd better understand that thing before we start," said Van der Kemp, observing that Nigel was examining the contrivance with some curiosity. "It's an apron to tie round you in bad weather to keep the water out. In fine weather it is rolled as you see it now round the ledge. Undo the buckle before and behind and you will see how it is to be used." Acting as directed, Nigel unbuckled the roll and OF THE ^^AL1Y AECIIirELAGO. 119 found that he was surrounded by a sort of petticoafc of oil-skin which couhl be drawn up and buckled round his chest. In this position it could be kept by a loop attached to a button, or a wooden pin, thrust through the coat. " You see/' explained the hermit, " the waves may wash all over our deck and round our bodies with- out being able to get into the canoe while we have these things on — there are similar protections round the other holes." * I understand," said Nigel. " But how if water gets in through a leak below ? " " Do you see that brass thing in front of you ? " returned the hermit, "That is a pump which is capable of keeping under a pretty extensive leak. The handle unships, so as to be out of the way when not wanted. I keep it here, under the deck in front of me, along with mast and sails and a good many other things/' As he spoke he raised a plank of the deck in front of the foremost hole, and disclosed a sort of narrow box about six feet long by six inches broad. The plank was hinged at one end and fastened with a hook at the other so as to form a lid to the box. The hole thus disclosed was not an opening into the interior of the canoe, but was a veritable watertight box just under the deck, so that even if it were to get filled with water not a drop could enter the 120 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE canoe itself. But the plank4id was so beautifully fitted, besides shutting tightly down on indiarubber. that the chance of leakage through that source was very remote. Although very narrow, this box was deep, and contained a variety of useful imple- ments ; ainong them a slender mast and tiny sail, which could be rendered still smaller by means of reef points. All these things were fitted into their respective places with so keen an eye to economy of space that the arrangement cannot be better described than by the familiar phrase — mulhtm in parvo. " We don't use the sails much ; we depend chiefly on this," said the hermit, as he seated himself in the front hole and laid the long, heavy, double-bladed paddle on the saddle in front of him. Moses uses a single blade, partly because it is handier for steering and partly because he has been accustomed to it in his own land. You are at liberty to use which you prefer," " Thanks, I will follow the lead of Moses, for I also have been accustomed to the single blade and prefer it — at least while I am one of three. If alone, I should prefer the double blade." " Now, Moses, are you ready ? " asked the hermit. " All ready, massa." "Get in then and shove off. Come along, Spinkie" OF THE MATAY AKCHIPELAGO. 121 The monkey, wliicli all tliis time liad been seated ou a rock lookijig on with an expression of inconsol- able sorrow, at once accepted the invitation, and with a lively bound alighted on the deck close to the little mast, which had been set up just in front of Nigel, and to wliich it held on when the motions of the canoe became unsteady. "You need not give yourself any concern about Spinkie," said the hermit, as they glided over the still water of the little cove in which the canoe and boat were harboured. "He is quite able to take care of himself." Rounding the entrance to the cove and shooting out into the ocean under the influence of Van der Kemp's powerful strokes, thoy were soon clear of the land, and proceeded eastward at a rate which seemed unaccountable to our hero, for he had not sufficiently realised the fact that in addition to the unusual physical strength of Van der Kemp as well as that of Moses, to say nothing of liis own, the beautiful fish-like adaptation of the canoe to tlie water, the great length and leverage of the bow paddle, and the weight of themselves as well as the cargo, gave this canoe considerable advantage over other craft of the kind. About a quarter of an hour later the sun arose in cloudless splendour on a perfectly tranquil sea, lighted up the shores of Java, glinted over the 122 BLOWN TO BITS, K TALB mountains of Sumatra, and flooded, as with a golden haze, the forests of Krakatoa — emulating the volcanic fires in gilding the volumes of smoke that could be seen rolling amid fitful mutteringa from Perboewatan, until the hermit's home sank from view in the western horizon. OP THE MALAY AECIIIPELAGO. 123 CHAPTER XL CANOEINO ON THB SEA— A MTSTEEIOtTS NTGaT-SURPEISB AND SUDDEN FLIGHT. At first the voyagers paddled over the glassy sea in almost total silence. Nigel was occupied with his own busy thoughts ; speculating on the probable end and object of their voyage, and on the character, the mysterious life, and unknown history of the man who sat in front of him wielding so powerfully the great double- bladed paddle. Van der Kemp himself was, as we have said, naturally quiet and silent, save when roused by a subject that interested him. As for Moses, although quite ready at any moment to indulge in friendly intercourse, he seldom initiated a conversation, and Spinlde, grasping the mast and leaning against it with his head down, seemed to be either asleep or brooding over his sorrows. Only a few words were uttered now and then when Nigel asked the name of a point or peak which rose in the distance on either hand. It seemed as if the 124 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE quiescence of sea and air had fallen like a soft mantle on the party and subdued them into an unusually sluggish frame of mind. They passed through the Sunda Straits between Sumatra and Java — not more at the narrowest part than about thirteen miles wide — and, in course of time, found themselves in the great island-studded archipelago beyond. About noon they all seemed to wake up from their lethargic state. Van der Kemp laid down his paddle, and, looking round, asked Nigel if he felt tired. "Not in the least," he replied, "but I feel un- commonly hungry, and I have just been wondering how you manage to feed when at sea in so small a craft." "Ho! ho!" laughed Moses, in guttural tones, " you soon see dat — I 'spose it time for me to get out de grub, massa ? " " Yes, Moses — let 's have it." The negro at once laid down his steering paddle and lifted a small square hatch or lid in the deck which was rendered watertight by the same means as the lid in front already described. From the depths thus revealed he extracted a bird of some sort that had been shot and baked the day before. Tearing off a leg he retained it and handed the remainder to Nigel. OK THE MALAY AECHIPELAGO. 125 " Help you'self, Massa ISTadgel, an' pass 'im forid/' Without helping himself he passed it on to Van der Kemp, who drew his knife, sliced off a wing with a mass of breast, and returned the rest. " Always help yourself hefore passing the food in future," said the hermit ; " we don't stand on cere- mony here." Nigel at once fell in with their custom, tore off the remaining drumstick and began. " Biskit," said Moses, with his mouth full, " an* look out for Spinkie/' He handed forward a deep tray of the sailor's familiar food, but Nigel was too slow to profit by the warning given, for Spinkie darted both hands into the tray and had stuffed his mouth and cheeks fitll almost before a man could wink ! The negro would have laughed aloud, but the danger of choking was too great ; he therefore laughed internally — an operation which could not be fully understood unless seen. "'Splosions of Perboewatan," may suggest the thing. Sorrow, grief — whatever it was that habitually afflicted that monkey — disappeared for the time being, while it devoted itself heart and soul to dinner. Feelings of a somewhat similar kind animated Nigel as he sat leaning back with his mouth full, a biscuit in one hand, and a drumstick in the other. 126 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE and his eyes resting dreamily on the horizon of the still tranquil sea, while the bright sun blazed upon his already bronzed face. To many men the fierce glare of the equatorial sun might have proved trying, but Nigel belonged to the salamander type of humanity and enjoyed the great heat. Van der Kemp seemed to be similarly moulded, and as for Moses, he was in his native element — so was Spinkie. Strange as it may seem, sea-birds appeared to divine what was going on, for several specimens came circling round the canoe with great out- stretched and all but motionless wings, and with solemn sidelong glances of hope which Van der Kemp evidently could not resist, for he flung them scraps of his allowance from time to time. " If you have plenty of provisions on board, I should like to do tliat too," said Nigel. '* Do it," returned the hermit. " We have plenty of food for some days, and our guns can at any time replenish the store. I like to feed these creatures," he added, " they give themselves over so thoroughly to the enjoyment of the moment, and seem to be grateful. Whether they are so or not, of course, is matter of dispute. Cynics will tell us that they only come to us and fawn upon us because of the memory of past favours and the hope of more to come. I don't agree with them." OF TUli: MALAY AUCHIPELAGO. 127 " Neither do I," said Nigel, warmly. ^* Any man who has ever had to do with dogs knows full well that gratitude is a strong element of their nature. And it seems to me that the speaking eyes of Spinkie, to whom I have just given a bit of biscuit, tell of a similar spirit." Ashe spoke, Nigel was conveying another piece of biscuit to his own mouth, when a small brown hand flashed before him, and the morsel, in the twinkling of an eye, was transferred to the monkey's already swollen cheek — whereat Moses again became sud- denly " 'splosive " and red, as well as black in the face, for his capacious mouth was inordinately full as usual. Clear water, from one of the casks, and poured into a tin mug> washed down their cold collation, and then, refreshed and reinvigorated, the trio re- sumed their paddles, which were not again laid down till the sun was descending towards the western horizon. By that time they were not far from a small wooded islet near the coast of Java, on which Van der Kemp resolved to spend the night. During the day they had passed at some distance many boats and jyravs and other native vessels, the crews of which ceased to row for a few moments, and gazed with curiosity at the strange craft which glided along so swiftly, and seemed to them little 128 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALB more than a long plank on the water, but these took no further notice of our voyagers. They also passed several ships — part of that constant stream of vessels which pass westward through those straits laden with the valuable teas and rich silks of China and Japan. In some cases a cheer of recognition, as being an exceptional style of craft, was accorded them, to which the hermit replied with a wave of the hand — Moses and Nigel with an answering cheer. There is something very pleasant in the rest which follows a day of hard and healthful toil. Our Maker has so ordained it as well as stated it, for is it not written, *'The sleep of the labouring man is sweet"? and our travellers experienced the truth of the statement that night in very romantic circumstances. The small rocky islet, not more than a few hundred yards in diameter, which they now ap- proached had several sheltered sandy bays on its shore, which were convenient for landing. The centre was clothed with palm-trees and underwood, so that fuel could be procured, and cocoa-nuts. " Sometimes," said the hermit, while he stooped to arrange the fire, after the canoe and cargo had been carried to their camping-place at the edge of the bushes, — " sometimes it is necessary to keep concealed while travelling in these regions, and I OF THE MALAY AKCIIIPELAGO. 129 carry a little spirit-lamp which enables me to heat a cup of tea or coffee without making a dangerous blaze ; but here there is little risk in kindling a fire." " I should not have thought there was any risk at all in these peaceful times," said Nigel, as he unstrapped his blanket and spread it on the ground under an overhanging bush, "There are no peaceful times among pirates," returned the hermit ; " and some of the traders in this archipelago are little better than pirates." " Where I puts your bed, massa ? " asked Moses, turning his huge eyes on his master. " There — under the bush, beside Nigel." "An* where would you like to sleep, Massa Spinkie?" added the negro, with a low obeisance to the monkey, which sat on the top of what seemed to be its favourite seat — a watercask. Spinkie treated the question with calm con- tempt, turned his head languidly to one side, and scratched himself. *' Unpurliteness is your k'racter from skin to marrow, you son of a insolent mother 1" said Moses, shaking his fist, whereat Spinkie, promptly making an of his mouth, looked fierce. The sagacious creature remained where he was till after supper, which consisted of another roast fowl — hot this time — and ship*s-biscuit washed down with coffee. Of course Spinkie's portion consisted I 130 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALB only of the biscuit with a few scraps of cocoa-nut. Having received it he quietly retired to his native wilds, with the intention of sleeping there, according to custom, till morning ; but his repose was destined to be broken, as we shall see. After supper, the hermit, stretching himstilf on his blanket, filled an enormous meerschaum, and began to smoke. The negro, rolling up a little tobacco in tissue paper, sat down, tailor-wise, and followed his master's example, while our hero — who did not smoke — lay between them, and gazed contemplatively over the fire at the calm dark sea beyond, enjoying the aroma of his coffee. "From what you have told me of your former trading expeditions," said Nigel, looking at his friend, "you must have seen a good deal of this archipelago before you took — excuse me — to the hermit life." " Ay — a good deal." " Have you ever travelled in the interior of the larger islands ? " asked Nigel, in the hope of drawing from him some account of his experiences with wild beasts or wild men — he did not care which, so long as they were wild ! " Yes, in all of them,*' returned the hermit, curtly, for he was not fond of talking about himself. " I suppose the larger islands are densely wooded 1 " continued Nigel interrogatively. OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 131 " They are, very." "But the wood is not of much value, I fancy, in the way of trade," pursued our hero, adopting another line of attack which proved successful, for Van der Kemp turned his eyes on him with a look of surprise that almost forced him to laugh. " Not of much value in the way of trade ! " he repeated — "forgive me, if I express surprise that you seem to know so little about us — but, after all, the world is large, and one cannot become deeply versed in everything." Having uttered this truism, the hermit resumed his meerschaum and continued to gaze thoughtfully at the embers of the fire. He remained so long silent that Nigel began to despair, but thought he would try him once again on the same lines. " I suppose," he said in a careless way, " that none of the islands are big enough to contain many of the larger wild animals." "My friend," returned Van der Kemp, with a smile of urbanity, as he refilled his pipe, "it is evident that you do not know much about our archipelago. Borneo, to the woods and wild animals of which I hope ere long to introduce you, is so large that if you were to put your British islands, including Ireland, down on it they would be en- gulphed and surrounded by a sea of forests. New Guinea is, perhaps, larger than Borneo. Sumatra 132 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE is only a little smaller. France is not so large as some of our islands. Java, Luzon, and Celebes are each about equal in size to Ireland. Eighteen more islands are, on the average, as laige as Jamaica, more than a hundred are as large as the Isle of Wight, and the smaller isles and islets are innumerable. In short, our archipelago is compar- able with any of the primary divisions of the globe, beiui^ full 4000 miles in length from east to west and about 1,300 in breadth from north to south, and would in extent more than cover the whole of Europe" It was evident to Nigel that he had at length succeeded in opening the floodgates. The hermit paused for a few moments and puffed at the meer- schaum, while Moses glared at his master with absorbed interest, and pulled at the cigarette with such oblivious vigour that he drew it into his mouth at last, spat it out, and prepared another. Nigel sat quite silent and waited for more. " As to trade," continued Van der Kemp, resum- ing his discourse in a lower tone, " why, of gold — the great representative of wealth — we export from Sumatra alone over 26,000 ounces annually, and among other gold regions we have a Mount Ophir in the Malay Peninsula from which there is a considerable aimual export." Continuing his discouise, Van der Kemp told a OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 133 great deal more about the products of these prolific islands with considerable enthusiasm — as one who somewhat resented the underrating of his native land. "Were you born in this region, Van der Kemp?" asked Nigel, during a brief pause. " I was — in Java. My father, as my name tells, was of Dutch descent. My mother was Irish. Both are dead." He stopped. The iSre that had been aroused seemed to die down, and he continued to smoke with the sad absent look which was peculiar to him. "And what about large game?" asked Nigel, anxious to stir up his friend's enthusiasm again, but the hermit had sunk back into his usual condition of gentle dreaminess, and made no answer till the question had been repeated. "Pardon me," he said, "I was dreaming of the days that are gone. Ah! Nigel; you are yet too young to understand the feelings of the old — the sad memories of happy years that can never return : of voices that are hushed for ever. No one can know till he has felt I " " But you are not old," said Nigel, wishing to turn the hermit's mind from a subject on which it seemed to dwell too constantly. "Not in years," he returned; "but olA, very old 134 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE in experience, and — stay, what was it that you were asking about? Ah, the big game. Well, we have plenty of that in some of the larger of the islands ; we have the elephant, the rhinoceros, the tiger, the puma, that great man-monkey the orang-utan, or, as it is called here, the mias, besides wild pigs, deer, and innumerable smaller animals and birds " The hermit stopped abruptly and sat motionless, with his head bent on one side, like one who listens intently. Such an action is always infectious. Nigel and the negro also listened, but heard nothing. By that time the fire had died down, and, not being required for warmth, had not been replenished. The faint light of the coming moon, which, however, was not yet above the horizon, only seemed to render darkness visible, so that the figure of Moses was quite lost in the shadow of the bush behind him, though the whites of his solemn eyes appeared like two glow-worms, " Do you hear anything ? " asked Nigel in a low tone. " Oars/' answered the hermit. " I hear 'im, massa," whispered the negro, " but das not su'prisin' — plenty boats about." " This boat approaches the island, and I can tell by the sound that it is a large prau. If it touches here it will be for the purpose of sppnding the OF THE MALAY AKCIIIPELAGO. 135 nightj and Malay boatmen are not always agreeable neighbours. However, it is not likely they will ramble far from where they land, so we may escape observation if we keep quiet." As he spoke ho emptied the remains of the coffee on the dying fire and effectually put it out. Meanwhile the sound of oars had become quite distinct, and, as had been anticipated, the crew ran their boat into one of the sandy bays and leaped ashore with a good deal of shouting and noise. Fortunately they had landed on the opposite side of the islet, and as the bush on it was very dense there was not much probability of any one crossing over. Our voyagers therefore lay close, resolving to be off in the morning before the unwelcome visitors were stirring. As the three lay there wrapped in their blankets and gazing contemplatively at the now risen moon, voices were heard as if of men approaching. It was soon found that two of the strangers had sauntered round by the beach and were slowly drawing near the encampment. Nigel observed that the hermit had raised himself on one elbow and seemed to be again listening intently. The two men halted on reaching the top of the ridges of rock which formed one vside of the little bay, and their voices became audible though too 136 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE far distant to admit of words being distinguishable. At the same time their forms were clearly defined against the sky. Nigel glanced at Van der Kemp and was startled by the change that had come over him. The moon- beams, which had by that time risen above some intervening shrubs, shone full on him and showed that his usually quiet gentle countenance was deadly pale and transformed by a frown of almost tiger4ike ferocity. So strange and unaccountable did this seem to our hero that he lay quite still, as if spell-bound. Nor did his companions move until the strangers, having finished their talk, turned to retrace their steps and finally disappeared. Then Van der Kemp rose with a sigh of relief. The negro and Nigel also sprang up. " What 's wrong, massa ? " asked Moses, in much anxiety. "Nothing, nothing," said the hermit hurriedly. " 1 must cross over to see tliese fellows." "All right, massa. I go wid you." '' No, I go alone." " Not widout arms ? " exclaimed the negro, laying his hand on his master's shoulder. " Yes, without arms ! " As he spoke lie drew the long knife that usually hung at his girdle and flung it down, "Now attend, both of you," he added, with sudden and almost threatening earnestness, OF TIIK MALAY AKCHIPETAGO. 137 " Do not on any account follow me. I am quite able to take care of myself." Next moment he glided into the bushes and was gone. " Can you guess what is the matter with him ? " asked Nigel, turning to his companion with a per- plexed look. " Not more nor de man ob de moon. I nebber saw'd 'im like dat before. I t'ink he 's go mad ! I tell you what — 1 11 f oiler him wid a rifle an' knife and two revolvers." "You'll do nothing of the sort," said Nigel, laying hold of the negro's wrist with a grip of iron ; " when a man lilce Van der Kemp gives an order it's the duty of inferior men like you and me strictly to obey." "Well — p'raps you're right, Nadgel," returned Moses calmly, " If you wasn't, T 'd knock you into de middle ob nixt week for takin' a grip o' me like dat." "You'll wish yourself into the middle of next fortnight if you disobey orders," returned our hero, tightening the grip. Moses threw back his head, opened his cavern, and laughed silently ; at the same time he twisted his arm free with a sudden wrench. " You 's awrful strong, Nadgel, but you don't quite come up to niggers ! Howse'ber, you 's right. 138 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE I'll obey orders; neberdeless I'll get ready for action." So saying, the negro extracted from the canoe several revolvers, two of which he handed to Nigel, two he thrust into his own belt, and two he laid handy for " massa " when he should return. "Now, if you're smart at arithmetic, you'll see dat six time six am t'irty-six, and two double guns das forty — forty dead men 's more 'n enuff — besides de knives." Moses had barely finished these deadly prepara- tions when Van der Kemp returned as quietly as he had gone. His face was still fierce and haggard, and his manner hurried though quite decided. " I have seen him," he said, in a low voice. " Seen who ? " asked Nigel. " Him whom I had hoped and prayed never more to see. My enemy ! Come, quick, we must leave at once, and without attracting their notice. He gave his comrades no time to put further questions, but laid hold of one end of the canoe ; Moses took the other end and it was launched in a few seconds, while Nigel carried down such part of the lading as had been taken out. Five minutes sufficed to put all on board, and that space of time was also sufficient to enable Spinkie to observe from his retreat in the bushes that a departure was about to take place ; he therefore made for the shore with OF TITK MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 139 all speed and bounded to his accustomed place beside the mast. Taking their places they pushed off so softly that they might well have been taken for phantoms. A cloud conveniently hid the moon at the time. Each man plied his paddle with noiseless but powerful stroke, and long before the cloud un- covered the face of the Queen of Night they were shooting far away over the tranq^uil sex 140 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE CHAPTER XIL WIUTHKRING A STORM IN THR OPEW SBA. In profound silence they continued to paddle until there was no chance of their being seen by the party on the islet. Then Van der Kemp rested his paddle in front of him and looked slowly round the horizon and up at the sky as if studying the weather. Nigel longed to ask him more about the men they had seen, and of this " enemy " whom he had mentioned, but there was that in the hermit's grave look which forbade questioning, and indeed Nigel now knew from experience that it would be useless to press him to spealc on any subject in regard to which he chose to be reticent. "I don't like the look of the sky" he said at last. " We are going to have a squall, I fear." " Had we not better run for the nearest land ? " said Nigel, who, although not yet experienced in the signs of the weather in those equatorial regions, had quite enough of knowledge to perceive that OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 141 bad weather of some sort was probably approach- ing. " The nearest island is a good way off/' returned the hermit, " and we might miss it in the dark, for daylight won't help us yet awhile. No, we will continue our course and accept what God sends." This remark seemed to our hero to savour of unreasoning contempt of danger, for the facing of a tropical squall in such an eggshell appeared to him the height of folly. He ventured to reply, therefore, in a tone of remonstrance — " God sends us the capacity to appreciate danger. Van der Kemp, and the power to take precautions." " He does, Nigel — therefore I intend to use both the capacity and the power." There was a tone of finality in this speech which effectually sealed Nigel's lips, and, in truth, his ever-increasing trust in the wisdom, power, and resource of his friend indisposed him to further remark. The night had by this time become intensely dark, for a bank of black cloud had crept slowly over the sky and blotted out the moon. This cloud extended itself slowly, obliterating, ere long, most of the stars also, so that it was scarcely possible to distinguish any object more than a yard or two in advance of them. The dead calm, however, con- tinued unbroken, and the few of heaven's lights 142 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE which still glimmered through the obscurity above were clearly reflected in the great black mirror below. Only the faint gleam of Krakatoa's threaten- ing fires was visible on the horizon, while the occasional boom of its artillery sounded in their ears. It w£is impossible for any inexperienced man, however courageous, to avoid feelings of awe, almost amounting to dread, in the circumstances, and Nigel — as he tried to penetrate the darkness around him and glanced at the narrow craft in which he sat and over the sides of which he could dip both hands at once into the sea— might be excused for wishing, with all his heart, that he were safely on shore, or on the deck of his father's brig. His feelings were by no means relieved when Van der Kemp said, in a low soliloquising tone— "The steamers will constitute our chief danger to-night. They come on with such a rush that it is not easy to make out how they are steering, so as to get out of their way in lime." "But should we not hear them coming a long way o&V* asked Nigel. " Ay, It is not during a calm like this that we run risk, but when the gale begins to blow we cannot hear, and shall not, perhaps, see very well," As he spoke the hermit lifted the covering of the forehatch and took out a small sail which he asked Nigel to pass aft to the negro. OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. U3 " Close-reef it, Moses ; we shall make use of the wind as long as possible. After that we will lay-to." "All right, massa," said the negro, in tlie same cheerful free-and-easy tone in which he was wont to express his willingness to obey orders whether trifling or important. " Don' forgit Spinkie, massa." " You may be sure I won't do that, " replied the hermit. " Come along, monkey 1 " Evidently Van der Kemp had trained his dumb companion as thoroughly to prompt obedience as his black follower, for the little creature instantly bounded from its place by the mast on to the shoulder of its master, who bade it go into the place from which he had just extracted the sail. Nigel could not see this — not only because of the darkness, but because of the intervention of the hermit's bulky person, but he understood what had taken place by the remark — "That's a good little fellow. Keep your head down, now, while I shut you in I " From the same place Van der Kemp had drawn a small triangular foresail, which he proceeded to attach to the bow of the canoe — running its point out by means of tackle laid along the deck — while Moses was busy reefing the mainsail. From the same repository were extracted three waterproof coats, which, when put on by the canoe- men, the tails thrust below-deck, and the aprons drawn over them and belted round their waists, 144 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE protected their persons almost completely from water. " Now, Nigel," said the hermit, " unship the mast, reeve the halyard of this foresail through the top and then re-ship it. Moses will give you the mainsail when ready, and you can hook the hal- yards on to it. The thing is too simple to require explanation to a sailor. I attend to the foresail and Moses manages the mainsheet, hut you have to mind the halyards of both, which, as you would see if it were light enough, run down alongside the mast. All I ask you to remember is to be smart in obeying orders, for squalls are sometimes very sudden here — but I doubt not that such a caution is needless." "Ill do my best," said Nigel. By this time a slight puff of air had ruffled the sea, thereby intensifying, if possible, the blackness which already prevailed. The tiny sails caught the puff, causing the canoe to lean slightly over, and glide with a rippling sound through the water, while Moses steered by means of his paddle. " You have put Spinkie down below, I think," said Nigel, who had been struck more than once with the hermit's extreme tenderness and care of the little creature. "Yes, to prevent it from being washed overboard. I nearly lost the poor little thing once or twice, and OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 145 now when we are lilcely to be caught in bad weather I put him below/' "Is he not apt to be suffocated?" asked Nigel. * With everything made so tight to prevent water getting into the canoe, you necessarily prevent air entering also," " I see you have a mechanical turn of mind," returned the hermit. "You are right. Yet in so large a canoe the air would last a considerable time to satisfy a monkey. Nevertheless, I have made provision for that. There is a short tube alongside the mast, and fixed to it, which runs a little below the deck and rises a foot above it so as to be well above the wash of most waves, and in the deck near the stern there is a small hole with a cap fitted so as to turn the water but admit the air. Thus free circulation of air is established below deck." Suddenly a hissing sound was heard to wind- ward. " Look out, Moses," said Van der Kemp, " There it comes. Let go the sheet. Keep good hold of your paddle, Nigel." The warning was by no means unnecessary, for as the canoe's head was turned to meet the blast, a hissing sheet of white water swept right over the tiny craft, completely submerging it, insomuch that the three men appeared to be sitting more than waist-deep in the water. K U6 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE "Lower the mainsail!" shouted the hermit, for the noise of wind and sea had become deafening. Nigel obeyed and held on to the flapping sheet. The hermit had at the same moment let go the fore- sail, the flapping of which he controlled by a rope- tackle arranged for the purpose. He then grasped his single-blade paddle and aided Moses in keeping her head to wind and sea. For a few minutes this was all that could be done. Then the first violence of the squall passed off, allowing the deck of the little craft to appear above the tormented water. Soon the waves began to rise. The mere keeping of the canoe's head to wind required all the attention of both master and man, while Nigel sat waiting for orders and looking on with mingled feelings of surprise and curiosity. Of course they were all three wet to the skin, for the water had got up their sleeves and down their necks; but, being warm, that mattered little, and the oiled aprons before mentioned, being securely fastened round their waists, effectually prevented any of it from getting below save the little that passed through the thickness of their own gar- ments. No word was spoken for at least a quarter of an hour, during which time, although they rose buoyantly on the water, the waves washed continu- ally over the low-lying deck. As this deck was OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO, 147 flush with the gunwale, or rather, had no gunwale at all, the water ran off it as it does off a whale's back. Then there came a momentary lull. "Now, Moses — 'bout ship!" shouted Van der Kemp. " Stand by, Nigel !" " Ay, ay, sir." Although the canoe was long — and therefore un- fitted to turn quickly — the powerful strokes of the two paddles in what may be called counteracting- harmony brought the little craft right round with her stem to the waves. " Hoist away, Nigel 1 We must run right before it now." Up went the mainsail, the tiny foresail bulged out at the same moment, and away they went like the driving foam, appearing almost to leap from wave to wave. All sense of danger was now overwhelmed in Nigel's mind by that feeling of excitement and wild delight which accompanies some kinds of rapid motion. This was, if possible, intensified by the crashing thunder which now burst forth and the vivid lightning which began to play, revealing from time to time the tumultuous turmoil as if in clearest moonlight, only to plunge it again in still blacker night. By degrees the gale increased in fury, and it soon became evident that neither sails nor cordage could 148 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE long withstand the strain to which they were sub- jected. " A'most too much, massa," said the negro in a suggestive shout " Eight, Moses," returned his master. " I was just thinking we must risk it." " Eisk what ? I wonder," thought Nigel. He had not long to wait for an answer to his thought. "Down wi' the mainsail," was quickly followed by the lowering of the foresail until not more than a mere corner was shown, merely to keep the canoe end-on to the seas. Soon even this was lowered, and Van der Kemp used his double-blade paddle to keep them in position, at the same time telling Nigel to unship the mast. " And plug the hole with that," he added, handing him a bit of wood which exactly fitted the hole in the deck. Watching for another lull in the blast, the hermit at last gave the order, and round they came as be- fore, head to wind, but not quite so easily, and Nigel felt that they had narrowly escaped over- turning in the operation. " Keep her so, Moses, You can help with your paddle, Nigel, while I get ready our anchor." " Anchor 1 " exclaimed our hero in amazement — obeying orders, howeyer, at the same moment. OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO, 140 The hermit either did not hear the exclamation or did not care to notice it. He quickly collected the mast and sails, with a couple of boat-hooks and all the paddles excepting two single ones. These he bound together by means of the sheets and hal- yards, attached the whole to a hawser, — one end of which passed through an iron ring at the bow — and tossed it into the sea — paying out the hawser rapidly at tlie same time so as to put a few yards between them and their floating anchor — if it may be so called — in the lee of which they prepared to ride out the gale. It was well that they had taken the precaution to put on their waterproofs before the gale began, because, while turned head to wind every breaking wave swept right over their heads, and even now while under the lee of the floating anchor they were for some time almost continually overwhelmed by thick spray. Being, however, set free from the necessity of keeping their tiny craft in position, they all bowed their heads on the deck, sheltered their faces in their hands and awaited the end ! Whilst in this attitude — so like to that of prayer —Nigel almost naturally thought of Him who holds the water in the hollow of His hand, and lifted his soul to God ; for, amid the roaring of the gale, the flashes of lightning, the appalling thunder, the feel- ing that he was in reality all but under the waves and 150 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE the knowledge that the proverbial plank between him and death was of the very thinnest description, a sensation of helplessness and of dependence on the Almighty, such as he had never before experienced, crept over liini. What the thoughts of the hermit were he could not tell, for that strange man seldom spoke about himself ; but Moses was not so reticent, for he afterwards remarked that he had often been caught by gales while in the canoe, and had been attached for hours to their floating anchor, but that "dat was out ob sight de wust bust ob wedder dey 'd had since dey come to lib at Krakatoa, an' he had bery nigh giben up in despair ! " The use of the floating breakwater was to meet the full force of the seas and break them just before they reached the canoe. In spite of this some of them were so tremendous that, broken though they were, the swirling foam completely buried the craft for a second or two, but the sharp bow cut its way through, and the water poured off the deck and off the stooping figures like rain from a duck's back. Of course a good deal got in at their necks, sleeves, and other small openings, and wet them consider- ably, but that, as Moses remarked, " was noting to speak ob." Thus they lay tossing in the midst of the raging foam for several hours. Now and then each would raise his head a little to see that the rope held fast, OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 151 but was glad to lower it again. They hardly knew when day broke. It was so slow in coining, and so gloomy and dark when it did come, that the glare of the lightning-flash seemed more cheerful. It may be easily believed that there was no conversation during those hours of elemental strife, though the thoughts of each were busy enough. At last the thunder ceased, or, rather, retired as if in growling defiance of the world which it had failed to destroy. Then the sky began to lighten a little, and although the wind did not materially abate in force it became more steady and equal. Before noon, however, it had subsided so much that Moses suggested the propriety of continuing the voyage. To this Van der Kemp agreed, and the floating anchor was hauled in; the large paddle was re- sumed by the hermit, and the dangerous process of turning the canoe was successfully accom- plished. When the mast was again set up and the close- reefed main and foresails were hoiste^l, tlie light craft bounded away once more before the wind like a fleck of foam. Then a gleam of sunshine forced its way through the driving clouds, and painted a spot of emerald green on the heaving sea. Soon after that Van der Kemp opened the lid, or hatch, of the Ibrehold, and Spinkie, jumping out with alacrity, took possession of his usual seat beside the 152 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE mast, to which he clung with affectionate tenacity. Gradually the wind went down. Eeef after reef of the two sails was shaken out, and for several hours thereafter our travellers sped merrily on. plunging into the troughs and cutting through the crests of the stormy sea. OP TUK MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 153 CIIAPTEE XIIL FRIENDS ARK MET WITH, ALSO FIHATB8, AND A UFRUU-DlUTH PADDLE ENSUES. In physics, as in morals, a storm is frequently the precursor of a dead calm. Much to the monkey's joy, to say nothing of the men, the sun erelong asserted its equatorial power, and, clearing away the clouds, allowed the celestial blue to smile on the turmoil below. The first result of that smile was that the wind retired to its secret chambers, leaving the ships of men to flap their idle sails. Then the ocean ceased to fume, though its agitated bosom still continued for some time to heave. Gradually the swell went down and soon the unruffled surface reflected a dimpling smile to the sky. When this happy stage had been reached our voyagers lowered and stowed the canoe-sails, and continued to advance under paddles, " We get along wonderfully fast, Van der Kemp," said Nigel, while resting after a pretty long spell ; " but it seems to me, nevertheless, that we shall take 154 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE a considerable time to reach Borneo at this rate, seeing that it must be over two hundred miles away, and if we have much bad weather or contrary wind, we shan't be able to reach it for weeks — if at all." " I have been thrown somewhat out of my reckon- ing," returned the hermit, " by having to fly from the party on the islet, where I meant to remain till a steamer, owned by a friend of mine, should pass and pick us up, canoe and all The steamer is a short-voyage craft, and usually so punctual that I can count on it to a day. But it may have passed us in the gale. If so, I shall take advantage of the first vessel that will agree to lend us a hand." " How I — Do you get them to tow you ? " " Nay, that were impossible. A jerk from the tow-rope of a steamer at full speed would tear us asunder. Have you observed these two strong ropes running all round our gunwale, and the bridles across with ring-bolts in them ? " " I have, and did not ask their use, as I thought they were merely meant to strengthen the canoe." " So they are," continued the hermit, " but they have other uses besides " " Massa," cried Moses, at this point. " You *11 'sense me for 'truptin' you, but it 's my opinion dat Spinkie 's sufferin' jus' now from a empty stummik ! " The hermit smiled and Nigel laughed. Laying down his paddle the former said — OT THE MATAY AKCllIfELAGO. 155 " I understand, Moses. That speech means that you are suffering from the same complaint. Weil — get out the biscuit." ** Jus' de way ob de wurld," muttered the negro with a bland smile. " If a poor man obsarves an' feels for de sorrows ob anoder, he allers gits credit for tlnkin* ob hisself. Neber mind, I 's used to it ! " Evidently the unjust insinuation did not weigh heavily on the negro's spirit, for he soon began to eat with the appetite of a healthy alligator. While he was thus engaged, he chanced to raise his eyes towards the south-western horizon, and there saw something which caused him to splutter, for his mouth was too full to speak, but his speak- ing eyes and pointing finger caused his companions to turn their faces q[uickly to the quarter indicated. "A steamer!" exclaimed the hermit and Nigel in the same breath. The vessel in question was coming straight to- wards them, and a very short time enabled Van der Kemp to recognise with satisfaction tne steamer owned by his friend. "Look here, run that to the mast-head," said Van der Kemp, handing a red flag to Nigel. " We lie so low in the water that they might pass quite close without observing us if we showed no signal." An immediate though slight change in the course of the steamer showed that the signal had been 156 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK seen. Hereupon the hermit and Moses performed an operation on the canoe which still further aroused Nigel's surprise and curiosity. He re- solved to ask no questions, however, but to ewait the issue of events. From the marvellous hold of the canoe, which seemed to be a magazine for the supply of every human need, Moses drew a short but strong rope or cable, with a ring in the middle of it, and a hook at each end. He passed one end along to his master who hooked it to the bridle-rope at the bow before referred to. The other end was hooked to the bridle in the stern, so that the ring in the centre came close to Nigel's elbow. This arrangement had barely been completed when the steamer was within hail, but no hail was given, for the captain knew what was expected of him. He reduced speed as the vessel approached the canoe, and finally came almost to a stop as he ranged alongside. "What cheer, Van der Kemp? D'ye want a lift to-day?" shouted the skipper, looking over the side. A nod and a wave of the hand was the hermit's reply. " Heave a rope, boys — bow and stern — and lower away the tackle/' was the skipper's order. A coil was flung to Van der Kemp, who deftly OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 157 caught it and held on tight. Another was flung to Moses, vho also caught it and held on — slack. At the same moment, Nigel saw a large block with a hook attached descending towards his head. "Catch it, Nigel, and hook it to the ring at your elbow," said the hermit. Our hero obeyed, still in surprise, though a glimmer of what was to follow began to dawn. " Haul away 1" shouted the skipper, and next moment the canoe was swinging in the air, kept in position by the lines in the hands of Van der Kemp and Moses. At the same time another order was given, and the steamer went ahead full speed. It was all so suddenly done, and seemed such a reckless proceeding, that Nigel found himself on the steamer's deck, with the canoe reposing beside him, before he had recovered from his surprise sufficiently to acknowledge in suitable terms the welcome greeting of the hospitable skipper. " You see, Nigel," said Van der Kemp that night, as the two friends paced the deck together after supper, I have other means, besides paddles and sails, of getting quickly about in the Java seas. Many of the traders and skippers here know me, and give me a lift in this way when I require it." " Very kind of them, and very convenient," 158 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE returned Nigel. He felt inclined to add : " But why all this moving about?" for it was quite evident that trade was not the hermit's object, but the question, as usual, died on his lips, and he some- what suddenly changed the subject. "D*ye know, Van der Kemp, that I feel as if I must have seen you somewhere or other before now, for your features seem strangely familiar to me. Have you ever been in England ?" "Never. As I have told you, I was born in Java, and was educated in Hongkong at an English School. But a fancy of this sort is not very uncommon. I myself once met a perfect stranger who bore so strong a resemblance to an old friend, that I spoke to him as such, and only found out from his voice that I was mistaken." The captain of the steamer came on deck at that moment and cut short the conversation. "Are you engaged. Van der Kemp ? " he asked. n jf Q — J ajji at your service," " Come below then, I want to have a talk with you." Thus left alone, and overhearing a loud burst of laughter at the fore part of the steamer, Nigel went forward to see what was going on. He found a group of sailors round his comrade Moses, apparently engaged in good-natured " chaff." " Come, now, blackey," said one; " be a good fellow OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. J 59 for once in your life an' tell us what makes yonr master live on a desert island like Kobinsou Crusoe. an* go about the ocean in a canoe." " Look 'ere now, whitey," returned Moses, " what you take me for 1 " " A nigger, of course/' "Ob course, an' you 're right for once, which is sitch an unusual t'ing dat I 'dvise you go an' ax de cappen to make a note ob it in de log. I 's a nigger, an' a nigger 's so much more 'cute dan a white man dat you shouldn't ought to expect him to blab his massa's secrets." " Eight you are, Moses. Come, then, if you won't reweal secrets, give us a song." " Couldn't t'ink ob such a t'ing," said the negro, with a solemn, remonstrant shake of the head. "Why not?" " 'Cause I neber sing a song widout a moral, an* 1 don't like to hurt your feelin's by siugin' a moral dat would be sure to waken up some o' your con- sciences." ** Never mind that, darkey. Our consciences are pretty tough* Heave aliead." '' But dere 's a chorus," said Moses, looking round doubtfully. « What o' that ? We 11 do our best with it— if it ain't too difficult." " Oh, it 's not diffikilt, but if de lazy fellers among 160 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE you sings de chorus deyll be singin' lies, an' I don't 'zaekly like to help men to tell lies. Howseber, here goes. It begins wid de chorus so 's you may know it afore you has to sing it." So saying, Moses struck two fingers on the capstan after the manner of a tuning-fork, and, holding them gravely to his ear as if to get the right pitch, began in a really fine manly voice to chant the following ditty : — "GO TO WORK." Oh when de sun am shinin* bright, and eberyt*ing am fair, Clap on de steam an' go to work, an' take your proper share. De wurld hab got to go ahead, an* dem what's young and strong Mus' do deir best, wid all de rest, to roll de wurld along, De lazy man does all he can to atop its whirlin' round. I£ he was king he 'd loaf an' sing — and guzzle, I '11 be bound, He always shirk de hardest work, an' t'ink he 'a awful clebbar, But boder his head to earn his bread, Oh .' no, he 'n nebber, nebber. Chorus — Oh when de sun, etc. De selfish man would rader dan put out his hand to work. Let women toil, an' sweat and moil — as wicked as de Turk. De cream ob eberyt'ing he wants, let oders hab de skim ; Lq fact de wurld and all it holds was only made for him, Chorvs — Oh when de sun, etc So keep de ball a-rollin', boys, an' each one do his best To make de wurld a happy one — for dat's how man is blest Do unto oders all around de t'ing what 's good and true, An' oders, 'turning tit for tat, will do de same to you. Gh&rvs— Oh when de sun, etc. OF TIIP^ MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 161 The sailors, who were evidently much pleased, took up the chorus moderately at tlie secouu verse, came out strong at the tliird, and sang with such genuine fervour at the last that it was quite evident, as Moses remarked, there was not a lazy man amongst them — at least, if they all sang con- scientiously ! The weather improved every hour, and after a fine run of about twenty-four hours over that part of the Malay Sea, our three voyagers were lowered over the steamer's side in their canoe when within sight of the great island of Eorneo. *'I'm sorry," said the captain at parting, ''that our courses diverge here, for I would gladly have had your company a little longer. Good-bye. I hope we 11 come across you some other time when I 'm in these parts." "Thanks — thanks, my friend,'* replied Van der Kemp, with a warm grip of the hand, and a toucli of pathos in his tones. " I trust that we shall meet again. You have done me good service by sbortea- ing my voyage considerably. — Farewell." " I say, Moses," shouted one of the seamen, as he looked down on the tiny canoe while they were pushing off. "Hallo?" " Keep your heart up, for — we 'U try to * do to oders all ar*)und de t'ing what *s good an' true I * " 162 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE "Das de way, boy — 'an' oders, 'turning tit for tat, will do de same to you 1 ' " He yelled rather than sang this at the top of his tuneful voice, and waved his hand as the sharp craft shot away over the sea. Fortunately the sea was calm, for it was growing dark when they reached the shores of Borneo and entered the mouth of a small stream, up which they proceeded to paddle. The banks of the stream were clothed with mangrove trees. We have said the banks, but in truth the mouth of that river had no distinguishable banks at all, for it is the nature of the mangrove to grow in the water — using its roots as legs with which, as it were, to wade away from shore. Wiien darkness fell suddenly on the landscape, as it is prone to do in tropical regions, the gnarled roots of those mangroves assumed the appearance of twining snakes in Nigel's eyes. Possessing a strongly imaginative mind he could with difficulty resist the belief that he saw them moving slimily about in the black water, and, in the dim mysterious light, tree stems and other objects assumed the appearance of hideous living forms, so that he was enabled to indulge the un- comfortable fancy that they were traversing some terrestrial Styx into one of Dante's regions of horror. In some respects this was not altogether a fancy, for they were unwittingly drawing near to a band OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 163 of human beings whose purposes, if fully carried out, would render the eartli little better than a hell to many of their countrymen. It is pretty well known that there is a class of men in Borneo called Head Hunters. These men hold the extraordinary and gruesome opinion that a youth has not attained to respectable manhood until he has taken the life of some Imman being. There are two distinct classes of Dyaks — those who inhabit the hills and those who dwell on the sea-coast. It is the latter who recruit the ranks of the pirates of those eastern seas, and it was to the camp of a band of such villains that our adventurers were, as already said, unwittingly drawing near. They came upon them at a bend of the dark river beyond which point the mangroves gave place to other trees — but what sort of trees they were it was scarcely light enough to make out very distinctly, except in the case of the particular tree in front of which the Dyaks were encamped, the roots of which were strongly illuminated by their camp fire. We say roots advisedly, for this singular and gigantic tree started its branches from a com- plexity of aerial roots which themselves formed a pyramid some sixty feet high, before the branches proper of the tree began. If our voyagers had used oars the sharp ears of the pirates would have instantly detected them. DISCOVER A PIRATES' BIVOUAC— Page 1G4. 164 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE As it was, the softly moving paddles and the sharp cutwater of the canoe made no noise whatever. The instant that Van der Kemp, from his position in the bow, observed the camp, he dipped his paddle deep, and noiselessly backed water. There was no need to give any signal to his servant. Such a thorough understanding existed between them that the mere action of the hermit was sufficient to induce the negro to support him by a similar movement on the opposite side, and the canoe glided as quickly backward as it had previously advanced. When imder the deep shadow of the bank Moses thrust the canoe close in, and his master, laying hold of the bushes, held fast and made a sign to him to land and reconnoitre. Creeping forward to an opening in the bushes close at hand, Moses peeped througli. Then he turned and made facial signals of a kind so com- plicated that he could not be understood, as notliing was visible save the Hashing of his teeth and eyes. Van der Kemp therefore recalled him by a sign, and, stepping ashore, whispered Nigel to land. Another minute and the three travellers stood on the bank with their heads close together. "Wait here for me," said the hermit, in the lowest possible whisper, " I will go and see who they are." "Strange," said Nigel, when he was gone; OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 165 " strange that in so short a time your master should twice have to stalk strangers in this way. History repeats itself, they say. It appears to do so rather fast in these regions 1 Does he not run a very great risk of hcing discovered ? " *' !N"ot de smallest," replied the negro, with as much emphasis as was possible in a whisper. **Massa hab ride wid de Vaqnieros ob Ameriky au' hunt wid de Injuns on de Eockies. No more fear ob deir ketchin him dan ob ketchin* a streak o' lightnin'. He come back bery soon wid all de news." Moses was a true prophet. Within half-an-hour Van der Kemp returned as noiselessly as he had gone. He did not keep them long in uncertainty. " I have heard enough/' he whispered, " to assure me that a plot, of which I had already heard a rumour, has nearly been laid. We fell in with the chief plotters on the islet the other night ; the band here is in connection with them and awaits their arrival before carrying out their dark designs. There is nothing very mysterious about it. One tribe plotting to attack another — that is all ; but as a friend of mine dwells just now with the tribe to be secretly attacked, it behoves me to do what I can to save him. I am perplexed, however. It would seem sometimes as if we were left in perplexity for wise purposes which are beyond our knowledge." 166 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE "Perhaps to test our willingness to do right'' suggested Nigel. " I know not," returned the hermit, as if musing, but never raising his voice above the softest whisper. " My difficulty lies here ; I must go forward to save the life of my friend. I must riot leave you at the mouth of a mangrove river to die or be captured by pirates, and yet I have no right to ask you to risk your life on my account 1 " *' You may dismiss your perplexities then," said Nigel, promptly, " for I decline to be left to die here or to be caught by pirates, and I am particularly anxious to assist you in rescuing your friend. Besides, am I not your hired servant ? " " The risk we run is only at the beginning," said Van der Kemp. "If we succeed in passing the Dyaks unseen all will be welL If they see us, they will give chase, and our lives, under God, will de- pend on the strength of our arms, for I am known to them and have thwarted their plans before now. If they catch us, death will be our certain doom. Are you prepared ? " " Eeady ! " whispered Nigel. Without another word the hermit took his place in the bow of the canoe. Moses stepped into the stern, and our hero sat down in the middle. Before pushing off, the hermit drew a revolver and a cutlass from his store-room in the bow and OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 167 1 landed them to Nigel, who thrust the first into his belt and fastened the other to the deck by means of a strap fixed there on purpose to prevent its being rolled or swept off. This contrivance, as well as all the other appliances in the canoe, liad pre- viously been pointed out and explained to him. The hermit and negro having armed themselves in similar way, let go the bushes which held them close to the bank and floated out into the stream. They let the canoe drift down a short way so as to be well concealed by the buad in the river and a mass of bushes. Then they slowly paddled over to the opposite side and commenced to creep up as close to the bank as possible, under the deep shadow of overhanging trees, and so noiselessly that they appeared in the darkness like a passing phantom. But the sharp eyes of the pirates were too much accustomed to phantoms of every kind to be easily deceived. Just as the canoe was about to pass beyond the line of their vision a stir was heard in their camp. Then a stern challenge rolled across the river and awoke the slumbering echoes of the forest — perchance to the surprise and scaring away of some prowling beast of prey. '* No need for concealment now," said Van der Kemp, quietly ; " we must paddle for life. If you have occasion to use your weapons, Nigel, take no life needlessly. Mtjses knows my mind on this 168 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE point and needs no warning. Any fool can take away life. Only God can give it." " I will be careful," replied Nigel, as he dipped his paddle with all the muscular power at his command. His comrades did the same, and the canoe shot up the river like an arrow. A yell from the Dyaks, and the noise of jumping into and pushing off their boats told that there was no time to lose. " They are strong men, and plenty of them to relieve each other," said the herinit, who now spoke in his ordinary tones, " so they have some chance of overhauling us in the smooth water ; but a few miles further up there is a rapid which will stop them and will only check us. If we can reach it we shall be safe." While he was speaking every muscle in his broad back and arms was strained to the uttermost; so also were the muscles of his companions, and the canoe seemed to advance by a series of rapid leaps and bounds. Yet the sound of the pursuers' oars seemed to increase, and soon the proverb " it is the pace that kills" received illustration, for the speed of the canoe began to decrease a little — very little at first — while the pursuers, with fresh hands at the oars, gradually overhauled the fugitives. " Put on a spurt I " said the hermit, setting thp example. OF THE MALA.Y ARCHIPKLAGO, 169 The pirates heard the words and understood either them or the action that followed, for they also " put on a spurt," and encouraged each other with a cheer. Moses heard the cheer, and at the same time heard the sound of the rapid to which they were by that time drawing near. He glanced over his shoulder and could make out the dim form of the leading boat, with a tall figure standing up in the bow, not thirty yards behind. " Shall we manage it, Moses ? '' asked Van der Kemp, in that calm steady voice which seemed to be unchangeable either by anxiety or peril. " No, massa. Unpossable — widout dis I " The negro drew the revolver from his belt, slewed round, took rapid aim and iired. The tall figure in the bow of the boat fell back with a crash and a hideous yell. Great shouting and confusion followed, and the boat dropped behind. A few minutes later and the canoe was leaping over the surges of a shallow rapid. They dashed from eddy to eddy, taking advantage of eveiy stone that formed a tail of backwater below it, and gradually worked the light craft upward in a way that the hermit and his man had learned in the nor*-western rivers of America. "We are not safe yet," said the former, rest- ing and wiping his brow as they lloated for a 170 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE few seconds in a calm basin at the head of the rapid. " Surely they cannot take a boat up such a place as that!" " Nay, but they can follow up the banks on foot. However, we will soon baffle tliem, for the river winds like a serpent just above this, and by carrying our canoe across one, two, or three spits of land we will gain a distance in an hour or so that would cost them nearly a day to ascend in boats. They know that, and will certainly give up the chase. I think they have given it up already, but it is well to make sure." " I wonder why they did not fire at us," remarked Nigel. " Probablv because they felt sure of catching us," returned the hermit, " and when they recovered from the confusion that Moses threw them into we were la*it to them in darkness, besides being pretty well beyond range, I hope, Moses, that you aimed low." " Yes, massa — but it 's scarcely fair when life an' def am in de balance to expect me to hit 'im on de legs on a dark night. Legs is a bad targit. Bullet's apt to pass between 'em. Howseber, dat feller won't hop much for some time to come ! " A couple of hours later, having carried the canoe and baggage across the spits of land above referred to, and thus put at least half-a-day's journey OF THE MALAY AROHIFELAGO. 171 between themselves and their foes, they came to a halt for the night. " It won't be easy to find a suitable place to camp on/* remarked Nigel, glancing at the bank, where the bushes grew so thick that they overhung the water, brushing the faces of our travellers and rendering the darkness so intense that they had literally to feel their way as they glided along. "We will encamp where we are," returned the licrmit. " I' 11 make fast to a buah and you may get out the victuals, Moses." "Das de bery best word youVe said dis day, massa," remarked the negro with a profound sigh. " I 's pritty well tired now, an' de bery fought ob grub comforts me ! " " Do you mean that we shall sleep in the canoe ? " asked Nigel. " Ay, why not ? " returned the hermit, who could be heard, though not seen, busying himself with the contents of the fore locker. " You '11 find the canoe a pretty fair bed. You have only to slip down and pull your head and shoulders through the manhole and go to sleep. You won't want blanket-s in this weather, and, see — there is a pillow for you and another for Moses." " I cannot see, but I can feel," said Nigel, with a soft laugh, as he passed the pillow aft. " T'ank ee, Nadgel," said Moses ; " here — feel be- 172 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE hind you an' yon 'li find grub for yourself an' some to pass forid to massa. Mind when you slip down for go to sleep dat you don't dig your heels into -massa's skull. Dere 's no bulkhead to purtect it." "I'll be careful," said Nigel, beginning his in- visible supper with keen appetite. " But how about my skull, Moses? Is there a bulkhead between it and your heels ? " "No, but you don't need to mind, for I allers sleeps doubled up, wid my knees agin my chin. It makes de arms an' legs feel more sociable like." With this remark Moses ceased to encourage conversation — his mouth being otherwise engaged. Thereafter they slipped down into their respec- tive places, laid their heads on their pillows and fell instantly into sound repose, while the dark waters flowed sluggishly past, and the only sound that disturbed the universal stillness was the occa- sional cry of some creature of the night or the liap of an alligator's taiL OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 173 CHAPTER XIV. A NEW PRIBND FOUND— NEW DANOEna ENCOUNTERED AND NEW HOFES DELAYED. When grey dawn began to dispel the gloom of night, Nigel Roy awoke with an uncomfortable sensation of having been buried alive. Stretching himself as was his wont he inadvertently touched the head of Van der Kemp, an exclamation from whom aroused Moses, who, uncoiling himself, awoke Spinkie* It was usually the privilege of that affec- tionate creature to nestle in the negroes bosom. With the alacrity peculiar to his race, Spinkie sprang through the manhole and sat down in his particular place to superintend, perhaps to admire, the work of his human friends, whose dishevelled heads emerged simultaneously from their respective burrows. Dawn is a period of the day when the spirit of man is calmly reflective. Speech seemed distaste- ful that morning, and as each knew what had to be done, it was needless. The silently conducted operations of the men appeared to arouse fellow- 174 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE feeling in the monkey, for its careworn counten- ance became more and more expressive as it gazed earnestly and alternately into the faces of its comrades. To all appearance it seemed about to speak — but it didn't. Pushing out from the shore they paddled swiftly up stream, and soon put such a distance between them and their late pursuers that all risk of being overtaken was at an end. All day they advanced inland without rest, save at the breakfast hour, and again at mid-day to dine. Towards evening they observed that the country through which they were passing had changed much in character and aspect. The low and swampy region had given place to hillocks and undulating ground, all covered with the beautiful virgin forest with its palms and creepers and noble fruit-trees and rich vegetation, conspicuous among which magnificent ferns of many kinds covered the steep banks of the stream. On rounding a point of the river the travellers came suddenly upon an interesting group, in the midst of a most beautiful woodland scene. Under the trees on a flat spot by the river-bank were seated round a fire a man and a boy and a monkey. The monkey was a tame orang-utan, youthful but large. The boy was a Dyak in light cotton drawers, with the upper part of his body naked, OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 175 brass rings on his uriris, heavy ornaments in his ears, and a bright kerchief worn as a turban on his head. The man was a sort of nondescript in a semi-European shooting garb, with a wide-brimmed sombrero on his head, black hair, a deeply tanned face, a snub nose, huge beard and moustache, and immense blue spectacles. Something not unlike a cheer burst from the usually undemonstrative Van der Kemp on coming in sight of the party, and he waved his hand as if in recognition. The nondescript replied by starting to his feet, throwing up both arms and giving vent to an absolute roar of joy. "He seems to know you," remarked Nigel, as they made for a landing-place. " Yes. He is the friend I have come to rescue," replied the hermit in a tone of quiet satisfaction. "He is a naturalist and lives with the Rajali against whom the pirates are plotting," "He don't look z'if he needs much rcscuin'," remarked Moses with a chuckle, as they drew to land. The man looked in truth as if he were well able to take care of himself in most circumstances, being of colossal bulk although somewhat short of limb. " Ah ! mein frond ! mine brodder ! " he exclaimed, in fairly idiomatic English, but with a broken pro- nunciation that was a mixture of Dutch, American, 176 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE and Malay. His language therefore, like himself, was nondescript. In fact he was an A inerican-born Dutchman, who had been transported early in life to the Straits Settlements, had received most of his education in Hongkong, was an old school-follow of Van der Kemp, became an enthusiastic naturalist, and, being possessed of independent means, spent most of his time in wandering about the various islands of the archipelago, making extensive collec- tions of animal and vegetable specimens, which he distributed with liberal hand to whatever museums at home or abroad seemed most to need or desire them. Owing to his tastes and habits he had been dubbed Professor by his friends. " Ach ! Van der Kemp," he exclaimed, while his coal-black eyes glittered as they shook hands, ^'vat a booterfly I saw to-day ! It beat all creation 1 The vay it flew — oh! But, excuse me — v'ere did you come from, and vy do you come ? An' who is your frond?" He turned to Nigel, as he spoke, and doffed his sombrero with a gracious bow, "An Englishman — Nigel Eoy — who has joined me for a few months," said the hermit. " Let me introduce you, Nigel, to my good friend, Trofessor Verkimier." Nigel held out his hand and gave the naturalist's a shake so hearty, that a true friendship was begun OF THE MALAY ARCFJIPELAGO. 177 on the spot — a friendship which was rapidly strengthened when the professor discovered that the English youth had a strong leaning towards his own favourite studies. "Ve vill hont an* shot togezzer, mine frond," he said, on making this discovery, " ant I vill show you v'ere de best booterfiies are to be fount — Oh ! sooch a von as I saw to but, excuse me, Van der Kemp. Vy you come here joost now ?" "To save you'' said the hermit, with a scintil- lation of his half-pitiful smile. "To safe meV* exclaimed Verkimier, with a look of surprise which was greatly intensified by the rotundity of the blue spectacles. "Veil, I don't feel to vant safing joost at present." " It is not that danger threatens yoii so much as your friend the Eajah," returned the hermit. " But if he falls, all under his protection fall along with him. I happen to have heard of a conspiracy against him, on so large a scale that certain de- struction would follow if he were taken by surprise, so I have come on in advance of the conspirators to warn him in time. You know I have received much kindness from the Eajah, so I could do no less than warn him of impending danger, and then the fact that you were with him made me doubly anxious to reach you in time." While the hermit was saying this, the naturalist M 178 teLOWN TO BITS, A TALE removed his blue glasses, and slowly wiped them with a corner of his coat-tails. Eeplacing them, he gazed intently into the grave countenance of his friend till he had finished speaking, " Are zee raskils near ? " he asked, sternly. "No. We have come on many days ahead of them. But we found a party at the river's mouth awaiting their arrival." "Ant zey cannot arrife, you say, for several vceks?" "Probably not — even though they had fair and steady winds." A sigh of satisfaction broke th^o^^gh the natural- ist's moustache on hearing this. "Zen I vill — ve vill, you and I, Mister Koy, — go after ze booterflies to-morrow !" " But we must push on,'' remonstrated Van der Kemp, " for preparations to resist an attack cannot be commenced too soon." " You may push on, mine frond ; go ahead if you vill, but I vill not leave zee booterfMes. You know veil zat I vill die — if need be — for zee Kajah. Ve must all die vonce, at least, and I should like to die — if I must die — in a goot cause. What cause better zan frondship ? But you say joost now zere is no dancher. Veil, I vill go ant see zee booterflies to-morrow. After zat, I will go ant die — if it must be — vith zee Eajah " OF THE MALAY AliCHIPELAGO, 179 " I heartily applaud your sentiment," said Nigel, with a laugh, as he helped himself to some of the food which tlie Dyak youth and Moses had prepared, "and if Van der Kemp will give me leave of absence I will gladly keep you company." "Zank you. Pass round zee victuals. My appetite is strong. It alvays vas more or less strong. Vat say you, Van der Kemp ?" "I have no objection, Moses and I can easily take the canoe up the river. There are no rapids, and it is not far to the Eajah's village ; so you are welcome to go, Nigel/' "Das de most 'straord'nary craze I eber know*d men inflicted wid !" said Moses that night, as he sat smoking his pipe beside the Dyak boy. " It passes my compr*ension what fun dey find runnin' like child'n arter butterflies, an' beetles, an* sitch like varmint. My massa am de wisest man on eart', yet he go a little wild dat way too — some- times 1" Moses looked at the Dyak boy with a puzzled expression, but as the Dyak boy did not understand English, he looked intently at the fire, and said nothing. Next morning Nigel entered the forest under the guidance of Verkimier and the Dyak youth, and the orang-utan, which followed like a dog, and sometimes even took hold of its master's arm and 180 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK walked with him as if it had heen a very small human being. It was a new experience to Nigel to walk in the sombre shade beneath the tangled arches of the wilderness. In some respects it differed entirely from his expectations, and in others it surpassed them. The gloom was deeper than he had pictured it, but the shade was not displeasing in a land so close to the equator. Then the trees were much taller than he had been led to suppose, and the creeping plants more numerous, while, to his surprise, the wild-flowers were comparatively few and small. But the scarcity of these was some- what compensated by the rich and brilliant colour- ing of the foliage. The abundance and variety of the ferns also struck the youth particularly. " Ah ! zey are magnificent ! " exclaimed Verkimier with enthusiasm. " Look at zat tree-fern. You have nothing like zat in England — eh ! I have found nearly von hoondred specimens of ferns. Zen, look at zee fruit-trees. Ye have here, you see, zee Lansat, Mangosteen, Eambutan, Jack, Jambon, Blimbing ant many ozers — but zee queen of fruits is zee Durian. Have you tasted zee Durian ? " " No, not yet." " Ha ! a new sensation is before you ! Stay, you vill eat von by ant by. Look, zat is a Durian tree before you." OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 181 He pointed as he spoke to a large and lofty tree, wliich Mr. A, K. Wallace, the celebrated naturalist and traveller, describes as resembling an elm in general character hut with a more smooth and scaly bark. The fruit is round, or slightly oval, about the size of a man's head, of a green colour, and covered all over with short spines which are very strong and so sharp that it is difficult to lift the fruit from the ground. Only the experienced and expert can cut the tough' outer rind. There are five faint lines extending from the base to the apex of the fruit, through which it may be divided with a heavy knife and a strong hand, so as to get to the delicious creamy pulp inside. There is something paradoxical in the descriptions of this fruit by various writers, but all agree that it is inexpressibly good! Says one — writing of the sixteenth century — " It is of such an excellent taste that it surpasses in flavour all the other fruits of the world." Another writes: *'This fruit is of a hot and hunud nature. To those not used to it, it seems at first to smell like rotten onions ! but im- mediately they have tasted it they prefer it to all other food." Wallace himself says of it: "When brought into the house, the smell is so offensive that some persons can never bear to tast(^ it. This was my own case in Malacca, but in Borneo I found a ripe fruit on the ground, and, eating it out 182 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE of doors, I at once becatue a confirmed Durian- eater!" This was exactly the experience of Nigel Eoy that day, and the way in which the fruit came to him was also an experitnice, but of a very different sort. It hapjiened just as they were looking about for a suitable spot on wliich to rest and eat their mid-day meal. Verkiniier was in front with the orang-utan reaching up to his arm and hobbling affectionately by his side — for there was a strong mutual affection between them. The Dyak youth brought up the rear, with a sort of game-bag on bis shoulders. Suddenly Nigel felt something graze his arm, and heard a heavy thud at his side. It was a ripe Durian which had fallen from an immense height and missed hhn by a hairbreadth. " Zank Got, you have escaped ! " exclaimed the professor, looking back with a solemn countenance. " I have indeed escaped what might have been a severe blow," said Nigel, stooping to examine the fruit, apparently forgetful that more might follow. " Come — come avay. My boy vill bring it. Men are sometimes killed by zis fruit. Here now ve vill dine." They sat down on a bank which was canopied by ferns. While the boy was arranging their meal, Verkimicr drew a heavy hunting-knife from his belt and applying it with an unusually strong hand to OF THK MAT.AY AUCITTPELAGO. 183 the Durian laid it open. Nigel did not at :dl rclisli the smell, but lie was not fastidious or apt to be prejudiced. He tasted — and, like Mr. Wallace, " became a conlirmed Durian eater " from that day. " Ve draw near to zee region vcre ve shall find zee booterflies/' said the naturalist^ during a pause in their luncheon. " I hope we shall be successful," said Nigel, help- ing himself to some njore of what may be styled Durian cream. "To judge from the weight and hardness of this fruit, I should think a blow on one's head from it would be fatal." "Sometimes, not alvays. I suppose zat Dyak skulls are strong. But zee wound is terrible, for zee spikes tear zee flesh dreadfully. Zee Dyak chief, Kajah, vith whom I dwell joost now, was floored once by one, and he expected to die — but he did not. He is alife ant veil, as you shall see/' As he spoke a large butterfly fluttered across the scene of their festivities. With all the energy of liis enthusiastic spirit and strong muscular frame the naturalist leaped up, overturned his dinner, rushed after the coveted specimen, tripped over a root, and measured his length on tlie ground. " Zat comes of too much horry ! " he remarked, as he picked up his glasses and returned, humbly, to continue his dinner. " Mine frond, learn a lesson from a foolish man ! " 184 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE "I shall learn two lessons," said Nigel, laughing — " first, to avoid your too eager haste, and, second, to copy if I can your admirable enthusiasm." ^' You are very goot. Some more cheekin' if you please, Zanks. Ye most make haste viz our meal ant go to vork," The grandeur and novelty of the scenery through which they passed when they did go to work was a source of constant delight and surprise to our hero, whose inherent tendency to take note of and admire the wonderful works of God was increased by the unflagging enthusiasm and interesting running commentary of his companion, whose flow of lan- guage and eager sympathy formed a striking con- trast to the profound silence and gravity of the Dyak youth, as well as to the pathetic and affec- tionate selfishness of the man-monkey. It must not, however, be supposed that the young orang-utan was unworthy of his victuals, for, besides being an amusing and harmless companion, he had been trained to use his natural capacity for climb- ing trees in the service of his master. Thus he ascended the tall Durian trees, when ordered, and sent down some of the fruit in a few minutes — an operation which his human companions could not have accomplished witliout tedious delay and the construction of an ingenious ladder having slender bamboos for one of its sides, and the tree to be OF THE MALAY AKCIIIPELAGO. 185 ascended for its other side, with splinters of banihoo driven into it by way of rounds. " Zat is zee pitcher-plant/' said Verkiinier, as Nigel stopped suddeidy before a plant which he had often read of but never seen. He was told by his friend that jritcher-plants were very numerous in that region ; that every mountain- top abounded with them ; that they would be found trailing along the ground and climbing over shrubs and stunted trees, with their elegant pitchers hanging in every direc- tion. Some of these, he said, were long and slender, others broad and short. The plant at which they were looking was a broad green one, variously tinted and mottled with red, and was large enough to hold two quarts of water. Eesuming the march Nigel observed that the group of orchids was abundant, but a large propor- tion of the species had small inconspicuous flowers. Some, however, had large clusters of yellow flowers which had a very ornamental efl'ect on the sombre forest But, although the exceptions were striking, he found that in Borneo, as elsewhere, flowers were scarcer than he had expected in an equatorial forest. There were, however, more than enough of striking and surprising things to engage the attention of our hero, and arouse his interest. One tree they came to which rendered him for some moments absolutely speechless ! to the intense 186 T^LOWN TO BITS, A TALE delight of the professor, who marched his new-found sympathiser from one object of interest to another with the secret intention of surprising him, and when he had got him to the point of open-mouthed amazement he was wont to turn his spectacles full on his face, like the mouths of a bine binocular, in order to witness and enjoy his emotions I Nigel found this out at last and was rather embarrassed in consequence. "Zat," exclaimed the naturalist, after gazing at his friend for some time in silence, " zat is a tree vitch planted itself in mid-air and zen sent its iX)ots down to zee ground and its branches up to zee sky ! " " It looks as if it had," returned Nigel ; " I have seen a tree of the same kind near the coast. How came it to grow in this way ? " " I know not It is zought zat zey spring from a seed dropped by a bird into zee fork of anozer tree. Zee seed grows, sends his roots down ant his branches up. Ven his roots reach zee ground he lays hold, ant, ven strong enough, kills his support — zus returning efil for good, like a zankless de- pendent Ah ! zere is much resemblance between plants and animals ! Com', ve must feed here," said the professor, resting his gun against one of the roots, " I had expected to find zee bootei'flies sooner. It cannot be helped. Let us make zis our ban- «'D0 YOU HEAR?- SAID VERKIMIER, STERNLY.— Page 187. OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 187 qucLing-hall. Ve vill have a Durian to refresh us, ant here is a haiuly tree which seems to have ripe vones on it. — Go," he added, turning to the orang- utan, " and send down von or two." The creature looked Iielplessly incapable, pitifully unwilling, scratching its side the while. Evidently it was a lazy monkey. " Do you hear ? " said Verkimier, sternly. The orang moved uneasily, but still declined to go. Turning sharply on it, the professor bent dowih placed a hand on each of his knees and stared through the blue goggles into the animal's face. This was more than it could stand. With a very bad grace it hobbled otF to the Durian tree, ascended it with a sort of lazy, lumbering facility, and hurled down some of the fruit without warning those below to look out. "My little frond is obstinate sometimes," re marked the naturalist, picking up the fruit, "but ven I bring my glasses to bear on him he alvays gives in. I never found zem fail. Come now ; eat, an' ve vill go to vork again. Ve must certainly find zee booterflies somevere before night." But Verkimier was wrong. It was his destiny not to find the butterflies that night, or in that region at all, for he and his companion had not quite finislied their meal when a Dyak youth came running up to them saying that he had been sent 188 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE by the Eajah to order their immediate return to the village* " Alas ! ve most go. It is dancherous to disobey zee Eajah — ant I am sorry — very sorry — zat I can- not show you zee booterflies to-day. No matter. — Go " (to the Dyak youth), " tell your chief ve vill come. Better lock zee next lime 1 " OF THE MALAY ARCHirKLAGO. 189 CHAPTEE XV. HUNTING THB GREAT MAN-MONKET. Although Professor Verkimier had promised to return at once, he was compelled to encamp in the forest, being overtaken by night before he could reach the river and procure a boat. Next morning they started at daybreak. The country over which they passed had again changed its character and become more hilly. On the summits of many of the hills Dyak villages could be seen, and rice fields were met with as they went along. Several gullies and rivulets were crossed by means of native bamboo bridges, and the professor explained as he went along the immense value of the bamboo to the natives. With it they make their suspension bridges^ build their houses, and procure narrow planking for their floors. If they want broader planks they split a large bamboo on one side and flatten it out to a plank of about eighteen inches wide. Portions of hollow bamboo serve as receptacles for milk or water. If a preci- 190 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE pice stops a path, the Dyaks will not hesitate to construct a bamboo path along the face of it, using branches of trees wherever convenient from which to hang the path, and every crevice or notch in the rocks to receive the ends of the bamboos by which it is supported. Honey-bees in Borneo hang their combs, to be out of danger no doubt, under the branches of the Tappan, which towers above all the other trees of the forest. But the Dyaks love honey and value wax as an article of trade ; they therefore erect their ingenious bamboo ladder — which can be prolonged to any height on the smooth branchless stem of the Tappan — and storm the stronghold of the bees with much profit to themselves, for bees'-wax will pur- chase from the traders the brass wire, rings, gold- edged kerchiefs and various ornaments with which they decorate themselves. When travelling, the Dyaks use bamboos as cooking vessels in which to boil rice and other vegetables; as jars in which to preserve honey, sugar, etc., or salted fish and fruit. Split bamboos form aqueducts by which water is conveyed to the houses. A small neatly carved piece of bamboo serves as a case in which are carried the materials used in the disgusting practice of betel- nut chewing — which seems to be equivalent to the western tobacco-chewing. If a pipe is wanted the Dyak will in a wonderfully short space of time OF THE MALAY AKCHlPEtAGO. 191 make a huge hubble-bubble out of bamboos of different sizes, and if his long-bladed knife requires a sheath the same gigantic grass supplies one almost ready-made. But the uses to which this reed may be applied are almost endless, and the great outstanding advantage of it is that it needs no other tools than an axe and a knife to work it. At about mid-day the river was reached, and they found a native boat, or prau, which had been sent down to convey them to the Eajah's village. Here Nigel was received with the hospitality due to a friend of Yan der Kemp, who, somehow — pro- bably by unselfish readiness, as well as ability, to oblige — had contrived to make devoted friends in whatever part of the Malay Archipelago he travelled. Afterwards, in a conversation with Nigel, the professor, referring to those qualities of the hermit which endeared him to men every wliere, said, with a burst of enthusiasm, which almost outdid himself — "You cannot oonderstant Van der Kemp. No man can oonderstant him. He is goot, right down to zee marrow — kind, amiable, oonselfish, obliging, uevair seems to zink of himself at all, ant, abof all zings, is capable, Vat he vill do, he can do — vat he can do he vill do. But he is sad — very sad." •'I have observed that, of course," said Nigel. " Do you know what makes him so sad ? " The professor shook his head. 192 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE "No, I do not know. Nobody knows. I have tried to find out, but he vill not speak." The Orang-Kaya, or rich man, as this hill chief was styled, had provided lodgings for his visitors in the "head-house." This was a large circular build- ing erected on poles. There is such a house in nearly all Dyak villages. It serves as a trading- place, a strangers' room, a sleeping-room for un- married youths, and a general council-chamber. Here Nigel found the hermit and Moses enjoying a good meal when he arrived, to which he and the professor sat down after paying their respects to the chief. " The Orang-Kaya hopes that we will stay with him some time and help to defend the village/' said Van der Kemp, when they were all seated, " Of course you have agreed ? " said Nigel. " Yes ; I came for that purpose." * We's allers ready to fight in a good cause," re- marked Moses, just before filling his mouth with rice. " Or to die in it ! " added Yerkimier, engulfing the breast of a chicken at a bite. " But as zee pirates are not expected for some days, ve may as veil go after zee mias — zat is what zee natifs call zee orang- utan. It is a better word, being short." Moses glanced at the professor out of the corners of his black eyes and seemed greatly tickled by his enthusiastic devotion to business. OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 193 "I am also," continued the professor, '' extremely anxious to go at zee booterfiies before " " You die," suggested Nigel, venturing on a plea- santry, whereat Moses opened his mouth in a sound- less laugh, but, observing the professor's goggles levelled at him, he transformed the laugh into an astounding sneeze, and immediately gazed with pouting innocence and interest at his plate. " Do you alvays sneeze like zat?" asked Verkimier. " Not allers," answered the negro simply, " some- times I gibs way a good deal wuss. Depends on de inside ob my nose an' de state ob de wedder." What the professor would have replied we cannot say, for just then a Dyak youth rushed in to say that an unusually large and gorgeous butterfly had been seen just outside the village ! No application of fire to gunpowder could have produced a more immediate effect. The professor's rice was scattered on the floor, and himself was outside the head-house before his comrades knew exactly what was the matter. " He 's always like that," said the hermit, with a slight twinkle in his eyes. " Nothing discourages — nothing subdues him. Twice I pulled him out of deadly danger into which he had run in his eager pursuit of specimens. And he has returned the favour to me, for he rescued me once when a mias had got me down and would certainly have killed 194 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE me, for my gun was empty at the moment, and I had dropped my knife," "Is, then, the orang-utan so powerful and savage ?" " Truly, yes, when wounded and driven to bay," returned the hermit, " You must not judge of the creature by the baby that Verkimier has ta,med. A full-grown male is quite as large as a man, though very small in the legs in proportion, so that it does not stand high. It is also very much stronger than the most powerful man. You would be quite help- less in its grip, I assure you." " I hope, with the professor," returned Mgel, " that we may have a hunt after them, either before or after the arrival of the pirates. I know he is very anxious to secure a good specimen for some museum in which he is interested — I forget which." As he spoke, the youth who had brought informa- tion about the butterfly returned and said a few words to Moses in his native tongue. " What does he say ? " asked Nigel. "I)at Massa Verkimier is in full chase, an* it's my opinion dat when he comes back he'll be wet all ober, and hab his shins and elbows barked." "Why d' you think so?" " 'Cause dat 's de way he goed on when we was huntin* wid him last year. He nebber lams fro' 'sperience." "That's a very fine-looking young fellow," re- OF THE MALA.Y ARCHIPELAGO, 195 marked Nigel, refening to the llyak youth who had just returned, and who, with a number of other natives^ was watcliing the visitors with profound interest while they ate. As the young man referred to was a good sample of the youth of his tribe, we shall describe him. Though not tall, he was well and strongly propor- tioned, and his skin was of a reddish-brown colour. Like all his comrades, he wore little clothing. A gay handkerchief with a gold lace border encircled his head, from beneath which flowed a heavy mass of straight, jet-black hair. Large crescent-shaped ornaments hung from his ears. His face was hand- some and the expression pleasing, though the mouth M'as large and the lips rather thick. Numerous brass rings encircled his arms above and below the elbows. His only other piece of costume was a waist-cloth of blue cotton, which hung down before and behind. It ended in three bands of red, blue, and white. There were also rows of brass rings on his legs, and armlets of white shells. At his side be wore a long slender knife and a little pouch containing the materials for betel- chewing. "Yes, and he is as good as he looks," said the hermit. " His name is Gurulam, and all the people of his tribe have benefited by the presence in Borneo of that celebrated Englishman Sir James Brooke, — Eajah Brooke as h^ was called, — who did so much 196 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE to civilise the Dyaks of Borneo and to ameliorate their condition." The prophecy of Moses about the professor was fulfilled. Just as it was growing dark that genial scientist returned, drenched to the skin and covered with mud, having tumbled into a ditch. His knuckles also were skinned, his knees and shina damaged, and his face scratched, but he was perfectly happy in consequence of having secured a really splendid specimen of a " bootterfly " as big as his hand ; the scientific name of which, for very sufficient reasons, we will not attempt to inflict on our readers, and the description of which may be shortly stated by the single word — gorgeous ! Being fond of Verkimier, and knowing his desire to obtain a full-grown orang-utan, Gurulam went off early next morning to searcli for one. Half-a-dozen of his comrades accompanied him armed only with native spears, for their object was not to hunt the animal, but to discover one if possible, and let the professor know so that he might go after it with his rifle, for they knew that he was a keen sportsman as well as a man of science. They did not, indeed, find what they sought for, but they were told by natives with whom they fell in that a number of the animals had been seen among the tree-tops not more than a day's march into the forest. They hurried home therefore with OF THE MALAY ARCHIPKLAGO. 197 this information, and that day — accompanied by the Dyak youths, Nigel, the hermit, and Moses — Verkimier started off in search of the mias ; intend- ing to camp out or to take advantage of a native hut if they should chance to be near one when night overtook them. Descending the hill region, they soon came to more level ground, where there was a good deal of swamp, through which they passed on Dyak roads. These roads consisted simply of tree-trunks laid end to end, along which the natives, being barefooted, walk with ease and certainty, but our booted hunters were obliged to proceed along them with extreme caution. The only one who came to misfortune was, as usual, the professor ; and in the usual way ! It occurred at the second of these tree-roads. " Look, look at that remarkable insect ! " exclaimed Nigel, eagerly, in the innocence of his heart. The professor was in front of him ; he obediently looked, saw the insect, made an eager step towards it, and next moment was flat on the swamp, while the woods rang with his companions* laughter. The remarkable insect, whatever it was, vanished from the scene, and the professor was dragged, smiling though con- fused, out of the bog. These things affected him little. His soul was large and rose superior to such trifies. The virgin forest into which they penetrated was 198 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE of vast extent ; spreading over plain, mountain, and morass in every direction for hundreds of miles, for we must remind the reader that the island of Borneo is considerably larger than all the British islands put together, while its inhabitants are comparatively iew, Verkimier had been absolutely revelling iu this forest for several months — ranging its glades, penetrating its thickets, bathing (inadvertently) in its quagmires, and maiming himself generally, with unwearied energy and unextinguishable enthusiasm ; shooting, skinning, stuffing, preserving, and boiling the bones of all its inhabitants —except the human — to the great advantage of science and the immense interest and astonishment of the natives. Yet witli all his energy and perseverance the professor had failed, up to that time, to obtain a large specimen of a male orang-utan, though he had succeeded in shooting several small specimens and females, besides catching the young one which he had tamed. It was therefore with much excitement that he learned from a party of bees'-wax hunters, on the second morning of their expedition, that a large male mias had been seen that very day. Towards the afternoon they found the spot that had been described to them, and a careful examination began. "You see," said Verkimier, in a low voice, to Nigel, as he went a step in advance peering up into the trees, with rifle at the " ready " and bending a OF THE MALAY ARCHIPKLAGO. 199 little as if by that means he better avoided the chance of being seen. " You see, I came to Borneo for zee express purpose of obtaining zee great man- monkey and vatching his habits. — Hush I Do I not hear somet'ing ? " "Nothing but your own voice, I think/' said Nigel, with a twinkle in his eye. " Veil — hush ! Keep kviet, all of you." As the whole party marched in single file after the professor, and were at the moment absolutely silent, this order induced the display of a good manj teeth. Just then the man of science was seen to put his rifle quickly to the shoulder; the arches of the forest rang with a loud report; various horrified creatures were seen and heard to scamper away, and next moment a middle-sized orang-utan came crash- ing through the branches of a tall tree and fell dead with a heavy thud on the ground. The professor's rifle was a breechloader. He therefore lost no time in re-charging, and hurried forward as if he saw other game, while the rest of the party — except Van der Kemp, Nigel, and Gurulam — fell behind to look at and pick up the fallen animal. "Look out!" whispered Nigel, pointing to a bit of brown hair that he saw among the leaves high overhead. 200 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE "Vere? I cannot see him" whispered the naturalist, whose eyes blazed enough almost to melt his blue glasses, " Do you fire, Mr. Eoy ? " "My gun is charged only with small-shot, for birds. It is useless for such game," said Nigel. "Ach! I see!" Up went the rifle and again the echoes were startled and the animal kingdom astounded, especi- ally that portion at which the professor liad fired, for there was immediately a tremendous commotion among the leaves overhead, and another orang of the largest size was seen to cross an open space and disappear among the thick foliage. Evidently the creature had been hit, but not severely, for it travelled among the tree-tops at the rate of full five miles an hour, obliging the hunters to run at a rapid pace over the rough ground in order to keep up with it. In its passage from tree to tree the animal showed caution and foresight, selecting only those branches that interlaced with other boughs, so that it made uninterrupted progress, and also had a knack of always keeping masses of thick foliage underneath it so that for some time no opportunity was found of firing another shot. At last, however, it came to one of those Dyak roads of which we have made mention, so that it could not easily swing from one tree to another, and tlie stuj^page of rustling an)ong the leaves told that the creature had OF THE MALAY AECHIPKLAGO. 201 halted. For some time they gazed up among the branches without seeing anytliing, but at last, in a place where the leaves seemed to have been tljrust aside near the top of one of the highest trees, a great red hairy body was seen, and a huge black face gazed fiercely down at the hunters. Verkimier fired instantly, the branches closed, and the monster moved off in another direction. In desperate anxiety Nigel fired both barrels of his shot-gun. JTo might as well have fired at the moon. Gurulam was armed only with a spear, and Van der Kemp, who was not niucli of a sportsman, carried a similar weapon. The rest of the party were still out of sight in rear looking after the dead niias. It was astonishing how little noise was made by so large an animal as it moved along. More than once the hunters had to halt and listen intently for the rustling of the leaves before tliey could make sure of being on the right track. At last they caught sight of him again on the top of a very high tree, and the professor got two more shots, but without bringing him down. Then he was seen, quite exposed for a moment, walking in a stooping posture along the large limb of a tree, but the hunter was loading at the tinie and lost the chance. Finally he got on to a tiee whose top was covered with a dense mass of creepers which com- 202 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALB pletely hid him from view. Then he halted and the sound of snapping branches was heard. '* You Ve not much chance of him now," remarked the hermit, as they all stood in a group gazing up into the tree-top. " I have often seen the mias act thus when severely wounded. He is making a nest to lie down and die in." "Zen ve must shoot again," said the professor, moving round the tree and looking ont for a sign of tlie animal. At last he seemed to have found what he wanted, for raising his rifle he took a steady aim and fired, A considerable commotion of leaves and fall of broken branches followed. Then the huge red body of the mias appeared falling through, but it was not dead, for it caught hold of branches as it fell and hung on as long as it could; then it came crashing down, and alighted on its face with an awful thud. After firing the last shot Verkimier had not reloaded, being too intent on watching the dying struggles of the creature, and when it fell with such violence he concluded that it was dead. For the same reason Nigel had neglected to reload after firing. Tluis it happened that when the enormous brute suddenly rose and made for a tree with the evident intention of climbing it, no one was prepared to stop it except the Dyak youth OF THE MALAY ARCIUPELAGO. 203 Guriilam, He chanced to be standing between the mias and the tree. Boldly he levelled his spear and made a thrust that would probably have killed the beast, if it had not caught the point of the spear and turned it aside. Then with its left paw it caught the youth by the neck, seized his thigh with one of its hind paws, and fixed its teeth in his right shoulder. Never was man rendered more suddenly and completely helpless, and death would have been his sure portion before the hunters had reloaded if Van der Kemp had not leaped foward, and, thrusting his spear completely through the aniniars body, killed it on the spot. 204 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALB CHAPTER XVI. BEGINS WITH A TJ5BBXBLB FIGHT AND EKD3 WITH A HABTT FLIGHT, The hunt, we need scarcely say, was abruptly terminated, and immediate preparations were made for conveying the wounded man and the two orangs to the Dyak village. This was quickly arranged, for the convenient bamboo afforded ready-made poles wherewith to form a litter on which to carry them. The huge creature which had given them so much trouble, and so nearly cost them one human life, was found to be indeed of the largest size. It was not tall but very broad and large. The exact measure- ments, taken by the professor, who never travelled without his tape measure, were as follows : — Height from beol to top of bead, 4 feet 2 inclies. Outstretched arms across cheat, . 7 »f 8 .» Width of face 1 foot 2 „ Girth of arm, . . . . 1 „ 3 „ Girth of wrist, .... 8 „ The muscular power of such a creature is of course immense, as Nigel and the professor had u OV THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 205 rare chance of seeing that very evening — of which, more presently. On careful examination by Nigel, who possessed some knowledge of surgery, it was found tliat none of Gurulani's bones had been broken, and that although severely lacerated about the shoulders and right thigh, no very serious injury had been done — thanks to the promptitude and vigour of the hermit's spear-thrust. The poor youth, however, was utterly helpless for the time being, and had to be carried home, That afternoon the party reached a village in a remote part of the forest where they resolved to halt for the night, as no other resting-place could be reached before dark. While a supper of rice and fowl was being cooked by Moses, Van der Kemp attended to the wounded man, and Nigel accompanied the professor along the banks of the stream on which the village stood. Having merely gone out for a stroll they carried no weapons except walking-sticks, intending to go only a short distance. Interesting talk, how- ever, on the character and habits of various animals, made them forget time until the diminution of day- light warned them to turn. They were about to do so when they observed, seated iu an open place near the stream, the largest oiting they had yet seen. It was feeding on succulent suoots by the water-side ; 206 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALB a fact which surprised the professor, for his inquiries and experience had hitherto taught him that orangs never eat such food except when starving. The fat and vigorous condition in which this animal was for- bade the idea of starvation. Besides, it had brought a Durian fruit to the banks of the stream and thrown it down, so that either taste or eccentricity must have induced it to prefer the shoots. Perhaps its digestion was out of order and it required a tonic. Anyhow, it continued to devour a good many young shoots while our travellers were peeping at it in mute surprise through the bushes. That they had approached so near without being observed was due to the fact that a brawling rapid flowed just there, and the mias was on the other side of the stream. By mutual consent the men crouched to watch its proceedings. They were not a little concerned, however, when the brute seized an overhanging bough, and, with what we may style sluggish agility, swung itself clumsily but lightly to their side of the stream. It picked up the Durian which lay there and began to devour it. Biting off some of the strong spikes with which that charming fruit is covered, it made a small hole in it, and then with its powerful fingers tore off the thick rind and began to enjoy a feast. Now, with monkeys, no less than with men, there is many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip, for OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 207 the mias had just begun its meal, or, rather, its dessert, when a crocodile, wliich the professor had not observed and Nigel had mirilakeu for a log, suddenly opened its jaws and seized the big monkey's leg. The scene that ensued baffles de- scription ! Grasping the crocodile with its other three hands by nose, throat, and eyes, the mias almost performed the American operation of goug- ing — digging its powerful thunibs and fingers into every crevice and tearing open its assailant's jaws. The crocodile, taken apparently by surprise, went into dire convulsions, and making for deep water^ plunged his foe therein over head and ears. Nothing daunted, the mias regained his footing, hauled his victim on to a mudbank, and, jumping on his back began to tear and pommel him. There was notliing of the prize-fighter in the mias. He never clenched his fist — never hit straight from the shoulder, but the buffeting and slapping which he gave resounded all over the place. At last he caught hold of a fold of his opponent's throat, which he began to tear open with lingers and teetli. Wrenching hiujself free with a supreme effort the crocodile shot into the stream and disappeared with a sounding splash of its tail, while the mias waded lamely to the shore with an expression of sulky indignation on its great black face. Slowly the creature betook itself to the shelter of 208 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE the forest, and we need scarcely add that the excited observers of the combat made no attempt to hinder its retreat. It ]S said that the python is the only other creature that dares to attack the orang-utan, and that when it does so victory usually declares for the man-monkey, which bites and tears it to death. The people of the village in which the hunters rested that night were evidently not accustomed to white men — perhaps had never seen them before — for they crowded round them while at supper and gazed in silent wonder as if they were watching a groiip of white-faced baboons feeding ! They were, however, very hospitable, and placed before their visitors abundance of their best food without expect- ing anything in return. Brass rings were the great ornament in this village — as they are, indeed, among the Dyaks generally. Many of the women had their arms completely covered with them, as well as their legs from the ankle to the knee. Their petticoats were fastened to a coil of rattan, stained red, round their bodies. They also wore coils of brass wire, girdles of small silver coins, and some- times broad belts of brass ring-armour. It was break of dawn next morning when our hunters started, bearing their wounded comrade and the dead orangs with them. Arrived at the village they found the people in OF THE MALAY AllCHIPELAGO. 209 j^^reat excitement preparing for (defence, as news had been brought to the effect that the pirates had landed at the mouth of the river, joined the dis- affected band which awaited them, and tliat an attack might be expected without delay, for they were under command of the celebrated Malay pirate Eaderoon. Nigel observed that the countenance of his friend Van der Kemp underwent a peculiar change on hearing this man's name mentioned. There was a combination of anxiety, which was unnatural to him, and of resolution, which was one of his chief characteristics. " Is Eaderoon the enemy whom you saw on the islet on our first night out ? " asked Nigel, during a ramble with the hermit that evening. " Yes, and I fear to meet him,*' replied his friend in a low voice. Nigel was surprised. The impression made on his mind since their intercourse was that Van der Kemp was incapable of the sensation of fear. " Is he so very bitter against you ? " asked Nigel " Very," was the curt reply. " Have you reason to think he would take your life if he could ? " " I am sure he would. As I told you before, I have thwarted his plans more than once. When he hears that it is I who have warned the Orang- 510 bLOWN TO Bits, A TALE Kaya against him'he will pursue me to the death—, aud — and I must not meet him." " Indeed 1 " exclaimed Nigel, with renewed sur- prise. But the hermit took no note of the exclamation. Anxiety had given place to a frown, and his eyes were fixed on the ground. It seemed to Nigel so evident that he did not wish to pursue the subject, that he slightly changed it. " I suppose," he said, '* that there is no fear of the Dyaks of the village being unable to beat ofif the pirates now that they have been warned ? " " None whatever. Indeed, this is so well known to Baderoon that I think he will abandon the attempt. But he will not abandon his designs on me. However, we must wait and see how God will oixier events." Next morning spies returned to the village with the information that the pirates had taken their departure from the mouth of the river. "Do you think this is an attempt to deceive us ? " asked the chief, turning to Van der Kemp, when he heard the news. " I think not. And even should it be so, and they should return, you are ready and well able to meet them." " Yes, ready — and well able to meet them/' replied the Orang-Kaya, drawing himself up proudly. OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 21 1 "Did they a^^ go in one direction ?" asked Van der Kemp of the youths who had brought the news. "Yes, all went in a body to the north — except one boat which rowed southward." " Hm ! I thought so. My friends, listen to me. This is no pretence. They do not mean to attack you now you are on your guard ; but that boat which went south contains Baderoon, and I feel certain that he means to haug about here till he gets the chance of killing me." "That is well," returned the chief, calmly. *'My young men will hunt till they find where he is. Then they will bring us the information and Van der Kemp will go out with a band and slay his enemy." " No, my friend," said the hermit, firmly ; " that shall not be. I must get out of his way, and in order to do so will leave you at once, for there will be no further need for my services here." The chief looked at his friend in surprise. " Well," he said, " you have a good judgment, and understand your own affairs. But you have already rendered me good service, and 1 will help you to fly — though such is not the habit of the Dyaks ! Tliere is a trader's vessel to start for Sumatra by the first light of day. Will my friend go by that ? " " I am grateful," answered the hermit, " but I need no help — save some provisions, for I have mj little canoe, which will suffice." 212 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE As this colloquy was conducted in the native tongue it was uninteDigible to Nigel, but after the interview with the chief the hermit explained matters to him, and bade Moses get ready for a start several hours before dawn. " You see we must do the first part of our trip in the dark, for Baderoon has a keen eye and ear. Then we will land and sleep all day where the sharpest eye will fail to find us — and, luckily, pirates have been denied the power of scenting out their foes. When night comes we will start again and get out of sight of land before the next dawn." "Mine frond," said the professor, turning his moon-lilce goggles full on the hermit. " I vill go viz you." " I should be only too happy to have your com- pany," returned the hermit, " but my canoe cannot by any contrivance be made to hold more than three.'' "Zat is no matter to me," rejoined Verkimier; " you forget zee trader's boat. I vill go in zat to Sumatra. Ve vill find out zee port he is going to, ant you vill meet me zere. Vait for me if I have not arrived — or I vill vait for you. I have longed to visit Sumatra, ant vat better fronds could I go viz zan yourselfs ? " " But, my good friend," returned the hermit, " my movements may not exactly suit yours. Here they OK THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 213 are, — you can judge for yourself, i'irst I will, God permitting, cross over to Sumatra in my canoe." "But it is t'ree hoondert miles across, if not more ! " " No matter — there are plenty of islands on the way. Besides, some passing vessel will give me a lift, no doubt. Then I will coast along to one of the eastern ports, where I know there is a steamboat loading up about this time. The captain is an old friend of mine. He brought me and my companions the greater part of the way here. If I find him I will ask him to carry my canoe on his return voyage through Sunda Straits, and leave it with another friend of mine at Telok Betong on the south coast of Sumatra — not far, as you know, from my home in Krakatoa, Then I will proceed overland to the same place, so that my friend Nigel Eoy may see a little of the country." " Ant vat if you do not find your frond zee captain of zee steamer?" "Why, then I shall have to adopt some other plan. It is the uncertainty of my movements that makes me think you should not depend on them." " Zat is nothing to me. Van der Kemp ; you joost go as you say. I vill follow ant take my chance. I am use' to ooncertainties ant difficoolties. Zey can not influence me." 214 BLOWN TO BITS; A TALE After a good deal of consideration this plan was agreed to. The professor spent part of the night in giving directions about the preserving of his speci- mens, which he meant to leave at the village in charge of a man whom he had trained to assist him, while Van der Kemp with his companions lay down to snatch a little sleep before setting out on their voyage, or, as the Dyak chief persisted in calling it, their flight! When Nigel had slept about five minutes — as he thought — he was awakened by Moses. " Don't make a noise, Massa Na Jgel 1 Dere may be spies in de camp for all we knows, so we mus' git off like mice. Canoe 's ready an' massa waitin' ; we gib you to de last momint." In a few minutes our hero was sleepily following the negro through the woods to the spot where the canoe was in waiting. The night was very dark. This was in their favour, — at least as regarded discovery. "But how shall we ever see to make our way down stream?" asked Nigel of the hermit in a whisper on reaching the place of embarkation. "The current will guide us. Besides, I have studied the river with a view to this flight. Be careful in getting in. Now, Moses, are you ready ? " " All right, massa." " Shove off, then." OF THB MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 215 There was sonictliing so eerie in tlio isubdued tones, and stealthy motions, and profound darkness, that Nigel could not help feeling as if they were proceed- ing to commit some black and criminal deed ! Floating with the current, with as little noise as possible, and having many a narrow escape of running against points of land and sandbanks, they flew swiftly towards the sea, so that dawn found them among the mud flats and the mangrove swamps. Here they found a spot where mangrove roots and bushes formed an impenetrable screen, behind which they spent the day, chiefly in sleep, and in absolute security. When darkness set in they again put forth, and cautiously clearing the river's mouth, were soon far out on the open sea, which was fortunately calm at the time, the slight air that blew being in their favour. "We are safe from pursuit now," said Van der Kemp in a tone of satisfaction, as they paused for a breathing spell "0 niassa!" exclaimed AIoscs at that moment, in a voice of consternation ; " we 's forgotten Spinkie!" " So we have ! " returned the hermit in a voice of regret so profound that Nigel could scarce restrain a laugh in spite of his sympathy. But Spinkie had not forgotten himself. Observing 216 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE probably, that these night expeditions were a change in his niaster*s habits, he had kept an unusually watchful eye on the canoe, so that when it was put in the water, he had jumped on board unseen in the darkness, and had retired to the place where he usually slept under hatches when the canoe travelled at night. Awakened from refreshing sleep at the sound of his name, Spinkie emerged suddenly from the stern-manhole, right under the negro's nose, and with a sleepy " oo, oo !" gazed up into his face. " Ho ! Bare you is, you mis'rible hyperkrite ! " exclaimed Moses, kissing the animal in the depth of his satisfaction. "He's here, massa, all right. Now, you go to bed agin, you small bundle ob hair." The creature retired obediently to its place, and laying its little cheek on one of its small hands, committed itself to repose. Van der Kemp was wrong when he said they were safe. A pirate scout had seen the canoe depart. Being alone and distant from the rendez- vous of his commander, some time elapsed before the news could be conveyed to him. When Baderoon was at length informed and had sailed out to sea in pursuit, returning daylight showed him that his intended victim had escaped. OF THE MALAY ABCUIFELAGO. 217 CHAPTER XVIL TBLLS OF THE JOYS, ETC., OF THE mOFESSOR IN THE SUMATRAN FORESTS, ALyO OF A CATASTROPHE AVERTED. Fortunately the weather continued fine at first, and the light wind fair, so that the canoe skimmed swiftly over the wide sea that separates Borneo from Sinnatra. Sometimes our travellers proceeded at night when the distance between islets compelled tliem to do so. At other times they landed on one of these isles when opportunity offered to rest and replenish the water-casks. We will not follow them step by step in this voyage, which occupied more than a week, and during which they encountered without damage several squalls in which a small open boat could not have lived. Eeaching at last the great island of Sumatra — which, like its neighbour Borneo, is larger in extent than the British Islands — they coasted along southwards, without further delay than was absolutely necessary for rest and refresh- ment, until they reached a port where they found the steamer of which they were in search just about 218 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK to start on its return voyage. Van der Kemp committed his little craft to the care of the captain, who, after vainly advising his friend to take a free passage with hiiu to the Straits of Sunda, promised to leave the canoe in passing at Telok Betong. We may add that Spink ie was most unwillingly obliged to accompany the canoe. "Now, we must remain here till our friend Verkimier arrives," said the hermit, turning to Nigel after they had watched the steamer out of sight. " I suppose we must," said Nigel, who did not at all relisli the delay — "of course we must," he added with decision. " I sees no ' ob course ' about it, Massa Nadgel," observed Moses, who never refrained from offering his opinion from motives of humility, or of respect for his employer. " My 'dvice is to go on an* let de purfesser foller." "But I promised to wait for him," said the hermit, with one of his kindly, half-humorous glances, "and you know I never break my promises." "Das true, massa, but you di'n't promise to wait for him for eber an' eber !'" " Not quite ; but of course I meant that I would wait a reasonable time." The negro appeared to meditate for some moments on the extent of a " reasonable " time, for his huge OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 219 eyes became liugcr as he gazed frowniiigly at the ground. Then he spoke. " A 'reasonable' time, massa, is such an ouccrtaiu time — wariable, so to speak, accordin' to the mind that t'inks upon it! Hows'eber, if you's fromised^ ol> coorse dat 's an end ob it ; for w'eu a man promises, he 's bound to stick to it." Such devotion to principle was appropriately rewarded the very next day by the arrival of the trading prau in which the professor had embarked. "We did not expect you nearly so soon," said Nigel, as they heartily shook hands. " It vas because zee vind freshen soon after ve set sail — ant, zen, ve made a straight line for zis port, w'ereus you possibly crossed over, ant zen push down zee coast." "Exactly so, and that accounts for your over- taking us," said the hermit. "Is that the lad Baso I see down there with the crew of the prau ?" " It is. You must have some strainch power of attracting frondship, Van der Kemp, for zee poor yout' is so fond of you zat he beg ant entreat me to take him, ant he says he vill go on vit zee traders if you refuse to let him follow you." "Well, he may come. Indeed, we shall be the better for his services, for I had intended to hire a man here to help to carry our things. Much of our journeying, you see, must be done on foot." 220 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE Base, to his great joy, thus became one of the party. We pass over the next few days, which were spent in arranging and packing their provisions, etc», in such a way that each member of the party should carry on his shoulders a load proportioned to his strength. In this arrangement the professor, much against his will, was compelled to accept the lightest load in consideration of his liability to dart off in pursuit of creeping things and " bootterflies " at a moment's notice. The least damageable articles were also assigned to him in consideration of his tendency at all times to tumble into bogs and stumble over fallen trees, and lose himself, and otherwise get into difficulties. We also pass over part of the journey from the coast, and plunge with our travellers at once into the interior of Sumatra. One evening towards sunset they reached the brow of an eminence which, being rocky, was free from much wood, and permitted of a wide view of the surrounding country. It was covered densely with virgin forest, and tliey ascended the eminence in order that the hermit, who had been there before, might discover a forest road which led to a village some miles off, where they intended to put up for the night. Having ascertained his exact position, Van der Kemp led his followers down to this foot- path, which led through the dense forest. OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 221 The trees by which they were surrounded were varied and magnificent — some of them rising clear up seventy and eighty feet without a branch, many of them had superb leafy crowns, under any one of which hundreds of men might have found shelter. Others had trunks and limbs warped and intertwined with a wild entanglement of huge creepers, which hung in festoons and loops as if doing their best to strangle their supports, themselves being also encumbered, or adorned, with ferns and orchids, and delicate twining epiphytes. A forest of smaller trees grew beneath this shade, and still lower down were thorny shrubs, rattan-palms, broad- leaved bushes, and a mass of tropical herbage which would have been absolutely impenetrable but for the native road or footpath along which they travelled. " A most suitable abode for tigers, I should think," remarked Nigel to the hermit, who walked in front of him — for they marched in single file. "Are there any in these parts ? " "Ay, plenty. Indeed, it is because I don't like sleeping in their company that I am so anxious to reach a village." " Are zey dangerows ? " asked the professor, who followed close on Nigel. " Well, they are not safe ! " replied the hermit. "I had an adventure with one on this very road only two years ago.'* 222 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE '* Indeed ! vat vas it ? " asked the professor, whose appetite for anecdote was insatiable. " Do tell us about it." "With pleasure. It was on a pitch-dark night that it occurred, I had occasion to go to a neigh- bouring village at a considerable distance, and borrowed a horse from a friend " "Anozer frond!" exclaimed the professor; "vy. Van der Kemp, zee country seems to be svarming vid your fronds." "I have travelled much in it and made many friends," returned the hermit. "The horse that I borrowed turned out to be a very poor one, and went lame soon after I set out Business kept me longer than I expected, and it was getting dark before I started to return. Erelong the darkness became so intense that I could scarcely see beyond the horse's head, and could not distinguish the path. I there- fore let the animal find his own way — knowing that he would be sure to do so, for he was going home. As we jogged along, I felt the horse tremble. Then he snorted and came to a dead stop, with his feet planted firmly on the ground. I was quite unarmed, but arms would have been useless in the circum- stances. Suddenly, and fortunately, the horse reared, and next moment a huge dark object shot close past my face — so close that its fur brushed my cheek — as it went with a heavy thud into the OF I'HK MALAV AUCHIPELAGO. 223 jungle on tlie other side. I knew tliat it was a tiger and felt that my life, humanly speaking, was due to the rearing of the poor horse." " Are ve near to zee spote ? " asked the professor, glancing from side to side in some anxiety. " Not far from it ! " replied the hermit, " but there is not much fear of such an attack in broad daylight and with so large a party." "Ve are not a very large party," returned the professor. "I do not z'uik I would fear much to face a tiger vid my goot rifle, but I do not relish his choomping on me unavares. Push on, please." They pushed on and reached the village a little before nightfall. Hospitality is a characteristic of the natives of Sumatra. The travellers were received with open arms, so to speak, and escorted to the public build- ing which corresponds in some measure to our western town-halls. It was a huge building com- posed largely of bamboo wooden-planks and wicker- work. Math a high thatched roof, and it stood, like all the other houses, on posts formed of great tree- stems which rose eight or ten feet from the ground. "You have frunds here too, I zink," said Ver- kimier to the hermit, as they ascended the ladder leading to the door of the hall. "Well, yes — T believe I have two or throe." There could be no doubt upon that point, unless 224 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE the natives were consummate hypocrites, for they welcomed Van der Kemp and his party with effusive voice, look and gesture, and immediately spread before them part of a splendid supper which had just been prepared ; for they had chanced to arrive on a festive occasion. "I do believe," said Nigel in some surprise, " that they are lighting up the place with petroleum lamps !" " Ay, and you will observe that they are lighting the lamps with Congreve matches — at least with matches of the same sort, supplied by the Dutch and Chinese. Many of their old customs have passed away (among others that of procuring fire by friction), and now we have the appliances of western civilisation to replace them." " No doubt steam is zee cause of zee change," re- marked the professor. " That/' said Nigel, " has a good deal to do with most things — from the singing of a tea-kettle to the explosion of a volcano ; though, doubtless, the com- mercial spirit which is now so strong among men is the proximate cause." "Surely dese people mus' be reech," said the professor, looking round him with interest. "They are rich enough — and well off in every respect, save that they don't know very well how to make use of their riches. As you see, much of OF THE MALAY AKCIIIPELAGO. 225 their wealth is lavished on their women in the shape of ornaments, most of which are of solid gold and silver," There could be little doubt about that, for, besides the ornaments proper, such as the bracelets and rings with wliich the arms of the young women were covered, and earrings, etc., — all of solid gold and native-made — there were necklaces and collars composed of Spanish and American dollars and British half-crowns and other coins. In short, these Sumatran young girls carried much of the wealth of their parents on their persons, and were entitled to wear it until they should be relegated to the ranks of the married — the supposed-to-be unfrivolous, and the evidently unadorned ! As this was a region fall of birds, beasts, and insects of many kinds, it was resolved, for the pro- fessor's benefit, that a few days should be spent in it. Accordingly, the village chief set apart a newly- built house for the visitors* accommodation, and a youth na]ned Grogo was appointed to wait on them and act as guide when they wished to traverse any part of tl^e surrounding forest. The house was on the outskirts of the village, a matter of satisfaction to the professor, as it enabled him at once to plunge into his beloved work un- observed by the youngsters. It also afforded him a better opportunity of collecting moths, etc., by the P 22 6 bliOWN TO BITS, A TALft simple method of opening his window at night. A mat or wicker-work screen divided the hut into two apartments, one of which was entirely given over to the naturalist and his matirieL " I vil begin at vonce," said the eager man, on taking possession. And he kept his word by placing his lamp on a table in a conspicuous position, so that it could be well seen from the outside. Then he threw his window wide open, as a general invitation to the insect world to enter ! Moths, flying beetles, and other creatures were not slow to accept the invitation. They entered by twos, fours, sixes — at last by scores, insomuch that the room became uninhabitable except by the man himself, and his comrades soon retired to their own compartment, leaving him to carry on his work alone. " You enjoy this sort of thing ? " said Nigel, as he was about to retire. " Enchoy it ? yes — it is ' paradise regained ' I " He pinned a giant moth at the moment and gazed triumphant through his blue glasses. " * Paradise lost ' to the moth, anyhow," said Nigel with a nod, as he bade him good-night, and carefully closed the wicker door to check the incursions of uucaptured specimens. Being rather tired with the day's journey, he lay down on a mat beside the hermit, who was already sound asleep. OF THE MALAY ARCHIPKLAGO. 227 But our hero found that sleep was not easily attainable so close to an inexhaustible enthusiast, whose every step produced a rattling of the bamboo floor, and whose unwearied energy enabled him to hunt during the greater part of the night. At length slumber descended on Nigel's spirit, and he lay for some time in peaceful oblivion, when a rattling crash awoke him. Sitting up he listened, and came to the conclusion that the professor had upset some piece of furniture, for he could hear him distinctly moving about in a stealthy manner, as if on tip-toe, giving vent to a grumble of dissatisfac- tion every now and then. "What can he be up to now, I wonder?" mur- mured the disturbed youth, sleepily. The hermit, who slept tlirough all noises with infantine simplicity, made no answer, but a peculiar snort from the negro, who lay not far off on his other side, told that he was struggling with a laugh. " Hallo, Moses I are you awake ? " asked Nigel, in a low voice. " Ho yes, Massa Nadgel. I 's bin wakin' a good while, larfin fit to bu'st my sides. De purfesser 's been agoin' on like a mad renoceros for more *n an hour. He's arter suthin, which he can't ketch. Listen ! You hear 'im goin' round an' round on his tip-toes. Dere goes anoder chair. I only hope he won't smash do lamp an' set de house a-fue." 228 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE " Veil, veil ', I Ve missed him zee tence time, Nevair mind. Have at you vonce more, you aggra- vating leetle zing ! " Thus the unsuccessful man relieved his feelings, in a growling tone, as he continued to move about on tip-toe, rattling the bamboo flooring in spite of his careful efforts to move quietly. " Why, Verlcimier, what are you after ? " cried Nigel at last, loud enough to be heard through the partition. " Ah ! I am sorry to vake you," he replied, with- out, however, suspending his hunt, " I have tried my best to make no noice, but zee bamboo floor is — hah I I have 'im at last ! " " What is it ? " asked Nigel, becoming interested. " Von leetle bat. He come in vis a moss " "A what?" " A moss — a big, beautiful moss," " Oh ! a moth— well ? " " Veil, I shut zee window, capture zee moss, ant zen I hunt zee bat vith my bootterfly-net for an hour, but have only captured him zis moment. Ant he is — sooch a — sooch a splendid specimen of a very rar' species, zee Gcelo'ps frizii — gootness ! Zere goes zee lamp I" The crash that followed told too eloquently of the catastrophe, and broke the slumbers even of the hermit. The whole party sprang up, and entered the OF THE MALA.Y ARCHIPELAGO. 229 naturalist's room with a light, for the danger from fire was great. Fortunately the lamp had been ex- tinguished in its fall, so that, beyond an overpower- ing smell of petroleum and the destruction of a good many specimens, no serious results ensued. After securing the Gcslops frithii removing the shattered glass, wiping up the oil, and putting chairs and tables on their legs, the professor was urged to go to bed, —advice which, in his excitement, he refused to take until it was suggested that, if he did not, he would be totally unfit for exploring the forest next day. " Vy, it is next day already ! " he exclaimed, con- sulting his ^^•atch. " Just so. Now do turn in." "Iviir And he did. 230 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE OHAPTEE XVIII. A THYING ORDEAL— DANGER THREATENS AND PLIGHT AGAIN Bi:SOLVED ON. When the early birds are singing, and the early mists are scattering, and the early sun is rising to gladden, as with the smile of God, all things with life in earth and sea and sky — then it is that early- rising man goes forth to reap the blessings which his lazy fellow-man fails to appreciate or enjoy. Among the early risers that morning was our friend Moses. Gifted with an inquiring mind, the negro had proceeded to gratify his propensities by making inquiries of a general nature, and thus had acquired, among other things, the particular infor- mation that the river on the banks of which the village stood was full of fish. Now, Moses was an ardent angler, " I lub fishing," he said one day to Nigel when in a confidential mood ; " I can *t tell you how much I lub it. Seems to me dat der's nuffin' like it for proggin' a man ! " When Nigel demanded an explanation of what OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 231 proggin' meant, Moses said he wasn't quite sure. He could " understand Viugs easy enough though he couldn't allers 'splain *em/' On the whole he thought that prog had a compound meaning — it was a combination of poke and pull " wid a flavour ob ticklin' about it/* and was rather pleasant. "You see/* he continued, "when a leetle fish plays wid your hook, it progs your intellec' an' tickles up your fancy a leetle. When he grabs you, dat progs your hopes a good deal. When a big fish do de same, dat progs you deeper. An' when a real walloper almost pulls you into de ribber, dat progs your heart up into your t'roat, where it stick till you land him." With surroundings and capacities such as we have attempted to describe, it is no wonder that Moses sat down on the river-bank and enjoyed himself, in company with a little Malay boy, who lent him his bamboo rod and volunteered to show him the pools. But there were no particular pools in that river It was a succession of pools, and fish swarmed in all of them. There were at least fifteen different species which nothing short of an ichthyologist could enumerate correctly. The line used by Moses was a single fibre of bark almost as strong as gut ; the hook was a white tinned weapon like a small anchor, supplied by traders, and meant originally 232 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE for service in the deep sea. The bait was nothing in particular, but as the fish were not particular that was of no consequence. The reader will not be surprised, then, when we state that in an hour or so Moses had had his heart progged considerably and had filled a large bag with superb fish, with which he returned, perspiring, beaming, and triumphant to breakfast. After breakfast the whole party went forth for what Verkimier styled "zee business of zee day," armed with guns, spears, botanical boxes, bags, wallets, and butterfly nets. In the immediate neighbourhood of the village large clearings in the forest were planted as coffee gardens, each separated from the other for the purpose of isolation, for it seems that coffee, like the potato, is subject to disease. Being covered with scarlet flowers these gardens had a fine effect on the landscape when seen from the heights behind the village. Passing thi>3ugh the coffee grounds the party was soon in the tangled thickets of underwood through which many narrow paths had been cut We do not intend to drag our readers through bog and brake during the whole of this day's expedition; suffice it to say that the collection of specimens made, of all kinds, far surpassed the professor^s most sanguine expectations, and, as for the others, tJiose who could more or less intelli- or THE MALAY AKCHirELAGO. 233 gently sympathise did so, while those who could not were content with the reflected joy of the man of science. At luncheon — which they partook of on the river-bank, tinder a magnificently umbrageous tree — plans for the afternoon were fixed. "We have kept together long enough, I think," said Van der Kemp. " Those of us who have guns must shoot something to contribute to the national feast on our return. "Yell, let us divide," assented the amiable naturalist Indeed he was so happy that he would have assented to anything — except giving up the hunt. " Yon party can go von vay, anoder can go anoder vay. I vill continue mine business. Zee place is move of a paradise zan zee last. Ye must remain two or tree veeks." Ttie hermit glanced at Nigel. " I fear it is impossible for me to do so," said the latter. " I am pledged to return to Batavia within a specified time, and from the nature of the country I perceive it will take all the time at my disposal to reach that place so as to redeem my pledge." " Ha 1 Zat is a peety. Yell, nevair mind. Let us enchoy to-day. Com', ve must not vaste more of it in zee mere gratification of our animal natures." Acting on this broad hint they all rose and scattered in different groups — the professor going 234 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE off ahead of his patty in his eager haste, armed only with a butterfly net Now, as the party of natives, — including Baso, who carried the professor*s biggest box, and Grogo, who bore his gun, — did not overtake their leader, they concluded that he must have joined one of the other parties, and, as it was impossible to ascertain which of them, they calmly went hunting on their own account ! Thus it came to pass that the man of science was soon lost in the depths of that primeval forest ! But little cared the enthusiast for that— or, rather, little did he realise it. With per- spiration streaming from every pore — except where the pores were stopped by mud — he dashed after " bootterflies " with the wisdom of Solomon and the eagerness of a school-boy, and not until the shades of evening began to descend did his true position flash npon him. Then, with all the vigour of a powerful intellect and an enlightened mind, he took it in at a glance — and came to a sudden halt. "Vat shall I do ? " he asked. Not even an echo answered, and the animal king- dom was indifferent "Lat me see. I have been vandering avay all dis time. Now, I have not'ing to do but right- about-face and vander back." Could reasoning be clearer or more conclusive? He acted on it at once, but, after wandering back a OF THE MALAY AKCTITPELAGO. 235 long time, he did not arrive at any place or object that he had recognised on the outward journey. Meanwhile, as had been appointed, the rest of the party met a short time before dark at the rendez- vous where they had lunched. " Where is the professor, Baso ? " asked Van der Kemp as he came up. Baso did not know, and looked at Grogo, who also professed ignorance, but both said they thought the professor had gone with Nigel. "I thought he was with yoiil' said the latter, looking anxiously at the hermit " He 's goed an' lost hisself ! " cried Moses with a look of concern. Van der Kemp was a man of action. "Not a moment to lose," he said, and organised the band into several smaller parties, each led by a native familiar with the jungle. "Let this be our meeting-place," he said, as they were on the point of starting off together ; " and let those of us who have fire-arms discharge them occasionally." Meanwhile, the professor was walking at full speed in what he supposed to be — and in truth was — "back," He was not alone, however. In the jungle close beside him a tiger prowled along with the stealthy, lithe, sneaking activity of a cat. By that time it was not absolutely dark, but the forest had assumed 236 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE a very sombre appearance. Suddenly the tiger made a tremendous bound on to the track right in front of the man. Whether it had miscalculated the position of its intended victim or not we cannot say, but it crouched for another spring. The pro- fessor, almost instinctively, crouched also, and, being a brave man, stared the animal straight in the face without winking! and so the two crouched there, absolutely motionless and with a fixed glare, such as we have often seen in a couple of tom-cats who were mutually afraid to attack each other. What the tiger thought at that critical and crucial moment we cannot tell, but the professor's thoughts were swift, varied, tremendous — almost sublime, and once or twice even ridiculous ! "Vat shall I do ? Deaf stares me in zee face ! No veapons ! only a net, ant he is not a bootterfly 1 Science, adieu! Home of my chilthood, farevell! My moder — Hah ! zee fusees I " Such were a few of the thoughts that burned but found no utterance. The last thought however led to action. Verkimier, foolish man I was a smoker. He carried fusees. Slowly, with no more apparent motion than the hour-liaiid on the face of a watch, he let his hand glide into his coat-pocket and took out the box of fusees. The tiger seemed uneasy, but the bold man never for one instant ceased to glare, and no disturbed expression or hasty move- OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 237 merit gave the tiger fche slightest excuse for a spring. Bringiiig the box up by painfully slow degrees in front of his nose the man opened it, took out a fusee, struck it, and revealed the blue binoculars I The effect on the tiger was instantaneous and astounding. With a deini-volt or backward somer- sault it hurled itself into the jungle whence it had come with a terrific roar of alarm, and its tail — undoubtedly though not evidently — between its legsl Heaving a deep, long-drawn sigh, the professor stood up and wiped his forehead. Then he listened intently. " A shote, if mine ears deceive me not ! " he said, and listened again. He was right. Another shot, much nearer, was heard, and he replied with a shout to which joy as much as strength of lung gave fervour. Hurrying along the track — not without occasional side-glances at the jungle — the hero was soon again in the midst of his friends ; and it was not until his eyes refused to remain open any longer that he ceased to enter- tain an admiring circle that night with the details of his face-to-face meeting with a tiger. But Verkimier's anticipations in regard to that paradise were not to be realised. The evil passions of a wicked man, with whom he had personally nothing whatever to do, interfered with his plans. 238 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE In the middle of the night a native Malay youth named Babu arrived at the village and demanded an interview with the chief. That worthy, after the interview, conducted the youth to the hut where his visitors lived, and, rousing Van der Kemp without disturbing the others, bade him listen to what the young man bad to say. An expression of great anxiety overspread the hermit's usually placid countenance while Babu was speaking. " It is fate!" he murmured, as if communing with himself — then, after a pause — " no, there is no such thing as fate. It is, it must be, the will of God. Go, young man, mention this to no one. I thank you for the kindness which made you take so long a journey for my sake." " It is not kindness, it is love that makes me serve you," returned the lad earnestly. " Every oue loves you, Van der Kemp, because that curse of mankind, revenge^ has no place in your breast." " Strange ! how little man does know or guess the secret thoughts of his fellow ! " said the hermit with one of his pitiful smiles. " Revenge no place in me ! — but I thank you, boy, for the kind thought as well as the effort to save me. My life is not worth much to any one. It will not matter, I think, if my enemy should succeed. Go now, Babu, and God be with you ! " " lie will surely succeed if you do not leave this Ot" THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO, 239 place at once," rejoined the youtli, in a tone of de- cision. " Baderoon is furious at aR times. He is worse than ever just now, because you have thwarted his plans — so it is said — very often. If he knew that I am now thwarting them also, he would hunt me to death. I will not leave you till you are safe beyond his reach." The hermit looked at the lad with kindly sur- prise. " How comes it," he said, " that you are so uiucli interested in me ? I remember seeing you two years ago, but have no recollection of having done you any service." " Do you not remember that my mother was ill when you spent a night in our hut, and my little sister was dying ? You nursed her, and tried your best to save her, and when you could not save her, and she died, you wept as if the child had been your own. I do not forget that, Van der Kemp. Sympathy is of more value than service." " Strangely mistaken again ! " murmured the her- mit. " Who can know the workings of the human mind] Self was mixed with my feelings — pro- foundly — yet my sympathy with you and your mother was sincere." " We never doubted that," returned Babu with a touch of surprise in his tone. " Well now, what do you propose to do, as you 240 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE refuse to leave me ? " asked the hermit with some curiosity. " I will go on with you to the next village. It is a large one. The chief man there is my uncle, who will aid me, I know, in any way I wish, I will tell him what I l^now and have heard of the pirate's intention, of which I have proof. He will order Baderoon to be arrested on suspicion when he arrives. Then we will detain him till you are beyond his reach. That is not unjust." "True — and I am glad to know by your last words that you are sensitive about the justice of what you propose to do. Indifference to pure and simple justice is the great curse of mankind. It is not indeed the root, but it is the fruit of our sins. The suspicion that detains Baderoon is more than justified, for I could bring many witnesses to prove that he has vowed to take my life, and I hnow him to be a murderer." At breakfast-time Van der Kemp announced to his friends his intention of quitting the village at once, and gave an account of his interview with the Malay lad during the night. This, of course, reconciled them to immediate departure, — though, in truth, the professor was the only one who required to be reconciled. " It is very misfortunate," he remarked with a sigh, which had difficulty in escaping through a huge OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 241 mass of fish and rice. "You see zee vonderful variety of ornizological specimens I could find here, ant zee herbareum, not to mention zee magnificent AmUypodia eumol2ms ant ozer bootterflics — ach ! — a leet]e mor* feesh if you please. Zanks. My frond, it is a great sacrifice, but I vill go avay viz you, for I could not joostify myself if I forzook you, ant I cannot ask you to remain vile your life is in dancher." "I appreciate your sentiments and sacrifice thoroughly," said the hermit. " So does I," said Moses, helping himself to coffee ; " but ob course if I didn't it would be all de same. Pass de venison, Massa Nadgcl, an' don't look as if you was goin' to gib in a'ready. It spoils my appetite." "You will have opportunities," continued Van der Kemp, addressing the professor, " to gather a good many specimens as we go along. Besides, if you will consent to honour my cave in Krakatoa with a visit, I promise you a hearty welcome and an interesting field of research. You have no idea what a variety of species in all the branches of natural history my little island contains." Hereupon the hermit proceeded to enter into details of the flora, fauna, and geology of his island- home, and to expatiate in such glowing language on its arboreal and herbal wealth and beauty, that the Q 242 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE professor became quite reconciled to immediate departure. " But how/' he asked, " am I to get zere ven ve reach zee sea-coast ? for your canoe holds only free, as you have told me." " There are plenty of boats to be had. Besides, I can send over my own boat for you to the main- land. The distance is not great." " Goot, Zat vill do. I am happay now." " So," remarked Nigel as he went off with Moses to pack up, "his 'paradise regained' is rather speedily to be changed into paradise forsaken ! ' Off wi' the old love and on wi' the new.' ' The expulsive power of a new affection!'" " Das true, Massa N adgel," observed Moses, who entertained profound admiration for anything that sounded like proverbial philosophy, " n3e purfesser am an affectionit creeter. Tears to me dat he lubs de whole creation. He kills an' tenderly stuffs 'most eberyt'ing he kin lay hands on. If he could only lay hold ob Baderoon an' stuff an' stick him in a moozeum, he 'd do good service to my massa an' also to de whole ob mankind." OF THE MALAY ARCHIPKLAGO. 243 CHAPTER XIX, A TEERIBLE MUUHKR AM) A STBANGB BBVELATION. ArrER letting the chief of the village know that the news just received rendered it necessary that they should proceed at once to the next town — but carefully refraining from going into particulars lest Baderoon should by any means be led to sus- pect their intentions — the party started off about daybreak under the guidance of the Malay youth Babu. Anxious as he was that no evil should befall hia friend, Nigel could not help wondering that a man of such a calm spirit, and such unquestionable courage, should be so anxious to escape from this pirate. " I can't understand it at all," he said to Moses, as they walked through the forest together a little in rear of the party. "No more kin I, Massa Nadgel," answered the negro, with one of those shakes of the head and glares of solemn perplexity with which he was wont to regard matters that were too deep for him. 244 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE " Surely Van der Kemp is well able to take care of himself against any single foe." "Das true, Massa Nadgel, — 'gainst any half-dozen foes as well." "Fear, therefore, cannot be the cause," The negro received this with a quiet chuckle. " No," said he. ** Massa nebber knowed fear, but ob dis you may be bery sure, massa 's allers got good reasons for what he does. One t'ing 's sartin, I neber saw him do nuffin for fear, nor revenge, nor anger, no, nor yet for fun ; allers for lub — and," added Moses, after a moment's thought, "sometimes for money, when we goes on a tradin' 'spiJition — but he don't make much account ob dat." "Well, perhaps the mystery may be cleared up in time," said Nigel, as they closed up with the rest of the party, who had halted for a short rest and some refreshment. This last consisted largely of fruit, which was abundant everywhere, and a little rice with water from sparkling springs to wash it down. In the afternoon they reached the town — a large one, with a sort of market-place in the centre, which at the time of their arrival was crowded with people. Strangers, especially Europeans, were not often seen in that region, so that Van der Kemp and his friends at once attracted a considerable num- ber of followers. Among these was one man who OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 245 followed them about very unobtrusively, usually hanging well in rear of the knot of followers whose curiosity was stronger than their sense of propriety. This man wore a broad sun-hat and had a bandage round his head pulled well over one eye, as if he had recently met with an accident or been wounded. He was unarmed, with the exception of the kriss, or long knife, which every man in that region carries. This was no other than Baderoon himself, who had outwitted his enemies, had somehow discovered at least part of their plans, and had hurried on in advance of them to the town, where, disguising himself as described, he awaited their arrival. Babu conducted his friends to the presence of his kinsman the chief man of the town, and, having told his story, received a promise that the pirate should be taken up when he arrived and put in prison. Meanwhile he appointed to the party a house in which to spend the night. Baderoon boldly accompanied the crowd that followed them, saw the house, glanced between the heads of curious natives who watched the travellers wliile eating their supper, and noted the exact spot on the floor of the building where Van der Kemp threw down his mat and blanket, thus taking posses- sion of his intended couch ! He did not, however, see that the hermit afterwards shifted his position 246 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE a little, and that Babu, desiring to be near his friend, lay down on the vacated spot. In the darkest hour of the night, when even the owls and bats had sought repose, the pirate captain stole out of the brake in which he had concealed himself, and, kriss in hand, glided under the house in which his enemy lay. Native houses, as we have elsewhere explained, are usually built on posts, so that there is an open space under the floors, which is available as a store or lumber-room. It is also unfortunately available for evil purposes. The bamboo flooring is not laid so closely but that sounds inside may be heard dis- tinctly by any one listening below. Voices were heard by the pirate as he approached, which arrested his steps. They were those of Van der Kemp and Nigel engaged in conversation. Baderoon knew that as long as his enemy was awake and conversing he might probably be sitting up and not in a posi- tion suitable to his fell purpose. He crouched therefore among some lumber like a tiger abiding its time. " Why are you so anxious not to meet this man ? " asked Nigel, who was resolved, if possible without giving ofience, to be at the bottom of the mystery. For some moments the hermit was silent, then in a constrained voice he said slowly — "Because revenge bums fiercely in my breast. OV THK MAL^IY ARCHIPELAGO. 247 I have striven to crush it, but cannot. I fear to meet him lest I kill him." " Has he, then, done you such foul wrong ? " " Ay, he has cruelly — jSendishly — done the worst he could. He robbed me of my only child — but I may not talk of it. The unholy desire for vengeance burns more fiercely when I talk. * Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.' My constant prayer is that I may not meet him. Good-night/' As the hermit thus put an abrupt end to the con- veT'sation he lay down and drew his blanket over him. Nigel followed his example, wondering at what he had heard, and in a few minutes their steady regular breathing told that they were both asleep. Then Baderoon advanced and counted the bamboo planks from the side towards the centre of the house. When looking between the heads of the people he had counted the same planks above. Standing under one he looked up, listened intently for a few seconds, and drew his kriss. The place was almost pitch dark, yet the blade caught a faint gleam from without, which it reflected on the pirate's face as he thrust the long keen weapon swiftly, yet deliberately, between the bamboos, A shriek, that filled those who heard it with a thrill of horror, rang out on the silent night. At the stune moment a gush of warm blood poured over the murderer's face before he could leap aside. 248 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE Instant uproar and confusion burst out in the neiglibourliood, and spread like wildfire until the whole town was aroused. When a light was pro- cured and the people crowded into tlie hut where the strangers lay, Van der Kemp was found on his knees holding the hand of poor Babu, who was at his last gasp. A faint smile, that yet seemed to Ijave something of gladness in it, flitted across his pale face as he raised himself, grasped the hermit's liand and pressed it to his lips. Then the fearful drain of blood took effect and he fell back — dead. One great convulsive sob burst from the hermit as he leaped up, drew his knife, and, with a fierce glare in his blue eyes, rushed out of the room. Vengeance would indeed have been wreaked on Baderoon at that moment if the hermit had caught him, but, as might have been expected, the murderer was nowhere to be found. He was hid in the impenetrable jungle, which it was useless to enter in the darkness of night. When daybreak enabled the townspeople to undertake an organised search, no trace of him could be discovered. Flight, personal safety, formed no part of the pirate's plan. The guilty man had reached that state of depravity which, especially among the natives of that region, borders close on insanity. While the inhabitants of the village were hunting far a-field for him, Baderoon lay concealed among OF THE MALAY AKCIITPELAGO. 249 some lumber in rear of a hut awaiting his oppor- tuaity. It was not very long of coming. Towards afternoon the various searching parties began to return, and all assembled in the market- place, where the chief man, with the hermit and his party, were assembled discussing the situation. "I will not now proceed until we have buried poor Babu," said Van der Kemp. " Besides, Bade- roon will be sure to return. I will meet him now " "I do not agree viz you, mine frond," said the professor. " Zee man is not a fool isough he is a villain. He knows vat avaits him if he comes." " He will not come openly," returned the hermit, " but he will not now rest till he has killed me." Even as he spoke a loud shouting, mingled with shrieks and yells, was heard at the other end of the main street. The sounds of uproar appeared to approach, and soon a crowd of people was seen rushing towards the market-place, uttering cries of fear in which the word "a-mok" was heard. At the sound of that word numbers of people — specially women and children — turned and fled from the scene, but many of the men stood their ground, and all of them drew tlieir krisses. Among tlie latter of course were the white men and their native companions. We have already referred to that strange madness, to which the Malays seem to be peculiarly liable, 250 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE during the paroxysms of which those affected by it rush in blind fury among their fellows, slaying right and left From the terrified appearance of some of the approaching crowd and the maniac shouts in rear, it was evident that a man thus possessed of the spirit of amok was venting his fury on them. Another minute and he drew near, brandishing a kriss that dripped with the gore of those whom he had already stabbed. Catching sight of the white men he made straight for them. He was possessed of only one eye, but that one seemed to concentrate and flash forth the fire of a dozen eyes, while his dishevelled hair and blood-stained face and person gave him an appalling aspect, "It is Baderoonl" said Van der Kemp in a subdued but stern tone. Nigel, who stood next to him, glanced at the hermit. His face was deadly pale ; his eyes gleamed with a strange, almost unearthly light, and his lips were firmly compressed. With a sudden neiTOUs motion, unlike his usually calm demeanour, he drew his long knife, and to Nigel's surprise cast it away from him. At that irioment a woman who came in the madman's way was stabbed by him to the heart and rent the air with her dying shriek as she fell. No one could have saved her, the act was so quickly done. Van der Kemp would have leaped to her rescue, but it was too late ; besides, there was no OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 251 need to do so now, for the maniac, recognising his enemy, rushed at him with a shout that sounded like a triumphant yell. Seeing this, and that his friend stood unarmed, as well as unmoved, regarding Baderoon with a fixed gaze, Nigel stepped a pace in advance to protect him, but Van der Kemp seized his arm and thrust him violently asida Next moment the pirate was upon him with uplifted knife, but the hermit caught his wrist, and with a heave worthy of Samson hurled him to the ground, where he lay for a moment quite stunned. Before he could recover, the natives, who bad up to this moment held back, sprang upon the fallen man with revengeful yells, and a dozen knives were about to be buried in his breast when the hermit sprang forward to protect his enemy from their fury. But the man whose wife had been the last victim came up at the moment, and led an irresist- ible rush which bore back the hermit as well as his comrades, who had crowded round him, and in another minute the maniac was almost hacked to pieces. " I did not kill him — thank God ! '* muttered Van der Kemp as he left the market-place, where the relatives of those who had been murdered were wailing over their dead. After this event even the professor was anxious to leave the place, so that early next morning the 252 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALB party resumed their journey, intending to make a short stay at the next village. Failing to reach it that night, however, they were compelled to en- camp in the woods. Fortunately they came upon a hill which, although not very high, was sufficiently so, with the aid of watch-fires, to protect them from tigers. From the summit, which rose just above the tree-tops, they had a magnificent view of the forest. Many of the trees were crowned with flowers among which the setting sun shone for a brief space with glorious effulgence. Van der Kemp and Nigel stood together apart from the others, contemplating the wonderful scene. " What must be the dwelling-place of the Creator Himself when his footstool is so grand ? " said the hermit in a low voice. " That is beyond mortal ken," said Nigel. « True — true. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor mind conceived it. Yet, methinks, the glory of the terrestrial was meant to raise our souls to the contemplation of the celestial." " And yet how signally it has failed in the case of Baderoon," returned Nigel, with a furtive glance at the hermit, whose countenance had quite recovered its look of quiet simple dignity. " Would it be presumptuous if I were to ask why it is that this pirate had such bitter enmity against you ? " " It is no secret," answered the hermit, in a sad OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 253 tone, " The truth is, I had discovered some of his nefarious plans, and more than once have been the means of preventing his intended deeds of violence — as in the case of the Dyaks whom we have so lately visited Besides, the man had done me irreparable itijury, and it is one of the curious facts of human experience that sometimes those who injure us hate us because they have done so." "May I venture to ask for a fuller account of the injury he did you ? " said Nigel with some hesitancy. For some moments the hermit did not answer. He was evidently struggling with some suppressed feelings Turning a look full upon his young friend, he at length spoke in a low sad voice — " I have never mentioned my grief to mortal man since that day when it pleased God to draw a cloud of thickest darkness over my life. But, Nigel, there is that in you which encourages confidence, I confess that more than once I have been tempted to tell you of my grief — for human hearts crave intelligent sympathy. My faithful servant and friend Moses is, no doubt, intensely sympathetic, but — but — well, I cannot understand, still less can I explain, why I shrink from making a confidant of him. Certainly it is not because of his colour, for I hold that the souls of men are colourless ! "I need not trouble you with the story of my 254 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE early life," continued the hermit. " I lost my dear wife a year after our marriage, and was left with a little girl whose lovely face became more and more like that of her mother every day she lived. My soul was wrapped up in the child. After three years I went with her as a passenger to Batavia. On the way we were attacked by a couple of pirate junks. Baderoon was the pirate captaia He killed many of our men, took some of us prisoners, sank the vessel, seized my child, and was about to separate us, putting my child into one junk while I waa retained, bound, in the other," He paused, and gazed over the glowing tree-tops into the golden horizon, with a longing, wistful look. At the same time something like an electric shock passed through Nigel's frame, for was not this narrative strangely similar in its main features to that which his own father had told him on the Keel- ing Islands about beautiful little Kathleen Holbein and her father? He was on the point of seizing the hermit by the hand and telling him what he knew, when the thought occurred that attacks by pirates were common enough in those seas, that other fathers might have lost daughters in this way, and that, perhaps, his suspicion might be wrong. It would be a terrible thing, he thought, to raise hope in his poor friend's breast unless he were pretty sure of the hope being well founded. He would OF THE MALAY AliCIIIPKLAGO. 255 wait and hear more. Ho liad just come to this con- clusion, and managed to subdue the feelings which had been aroused, when Van der Kemp turned to him again, and continued his narrative — " I know not how it was, unless the Lord gave me strength for a purpose as he gave it to Samson of old, but when I recovered from the stinging blow I had received, and saw the junk hoist her sails and heard my child scream, I felt the strength of a lion come over me ; I burst the bonds that held me and leaped into the sea, intending to swim to her. But it was otherwise ordained. A breeze which had sprung up freshened, and the junk soon left me far behind. As for the other junk, I never saw it again, for I never looked back or thought of it — only, as I left it, I heard a mocking laugh from the one-eyed villain, who, I afterwards found out, owned and commanded both junks. Nigel had no doubt now, but the agitation of his feelings still kept him silent. " Need I say," continued the hermit, " that revenge burned fiercely in my breast from that day forward ? If I had met the man soon after that, I should certainly have slain him. But God mercifully forbade it. Since then He has opened my eyes to see the Crucified One who prayed for His enemies. And up till now I have prayed most earnestly that Baderoon and I might not meet. My prayer has 256 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE not been answered in the way I wished, but a better answer has been granted, for the sin of revenge was overcome within me before we met." Van der Kemp paused again, "Go on," said Nigel, eagerly. "How did you escape ? " "Escape! Where was I — Oh! I remember," said the hermit, awaking as if out of a dream "Well, I swam after the junk until it was out of sight, and then I swam on in silent despair until so completely exhausted that I felt consciousness leav- ins me. Then I knew that the end must be near and I felt almost glad ; but when I began to sink, the natural desire to prolong life revived, and I struggled on. Just as my strength began a second time to fail, I struck against something. It was a dead cocoa-nut tree. I laid hold of it and clung to it all that night. Next morning I was picked up by some fishermen who were going to Telok Betong by the outer passage round Sebesi Island, and were willing to land me thera But as my business con- nections had been chiefly with the town of Aujer, I begged of them to land me on the island of Krakatoa. This they did, and it has been my home ever since. I have been there many years." ** Have you never seen or heard of your daughter since ? " asked Nigel eagerly, and with deep sympathy. OF THE MALAY AKCHIPBLAGOt 257 " Never — I have travelled far and near, all over the archipelago ; into the interior of the islands, great and small, but have failed to find her. I have long since felt that she must be dead — for — for she could not live with the monsters who stole her away." A certain contraction of the mouth, as he said this, and a gleam of the eyes, suggested to Nigel that revenge was not yet dead within the hermit's breast, although it had been overcome. " Wliat was her name ? " asked Nigel, willing to gain time to think how he ought to act, and being afraid of the effect that the sudden communication of the news might have on his friend. "Winnie — darling Winnie — after her mother," said the hermit with deep pathos in his tone. A feeling of disappointment came over our hero, Winnie bore not the most distant resemblance to Kathleen ! " Did you ever, during your search," asked Nigel slowly, " visit the Cocos-Keeling Islands ? " " Never. They are too far from where the attack on us was made." " And you never heard of a gun-boat having cap- tured a pirate junk and " "Why do you ask, and why pause?" said the hermit, looking at his friend in some surprise. Nigel felt that he had almost gone too far. K 258 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE "Well, you know — " he replied in some con- fusion, "you — you are right when you expect me to sympathise with your great sorrow, w^hich I do most profoundly, and — and — in short, I would give anything to be able to suggest hope to you, my friend. Men should never give way to despair." "Thank you. It is kindly meant," returned the hermit, looking at the youth with his sad smile. ** But it is vain. Hope is dead now." They were interrupted at this point by the announcement that supper was ready. At the same time the sun sank, like the hermit's hope, and dis- appeared beyond the dark forest. OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 299 CHAPTER XX. NIGEL UAKB3 A CONFIDANT OP MOSKS— UNDEUTAKRS A tONBtT WATCH AND SEES SOMETHING WONDEllFUL. It was not much supper that Nigel Eoy ate that night. The excitement resulting from his supposed discovery reduced his appetite seriously, and the intense desire to open a safety-valve in the way of confidential talk with some one induced a nervously absent disposition which at last attracted atten- tion. "You vant a goot dose of kvinine," remarked Verkimier, when, having satiated himself, he found time to think of others — not that the professor was selfish by any means, only he was addicted to con- centration of mind on all work in hand, inclusive of feeding. The hermit paid no attention to anything that was said. His recent conversation had given vent to a flood of memories and feelings that had been pent up for many years. After supper Nigel resolved to make a confidant of Moses. The negro's fidelity to and love for his 260 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK master would ensure his sympathy at least, if not wise counsel. " Moses/' he said, when the professor had raised himself to the seventh heaven by means of tobacco fumes, " come with me. I want to have a talk." "Das what I's allers wanting Massa Nadgel; talkin 's my strong point if I hab a strong point at all." They went together to the edge of a clifiP on the hill-top, whence they could see an almost illimitable stretch of tropical wilderness bathed in a glorious flood of moonlight, and sat down. On a neighbouring cliff, which was crowned with a mass of grasses and shrubs, a small monkey also aat down, on a fallen branch, and watched them with pathetic interest, tempered, it would seem, by cutaneous irritation. "Moses, I am sorely in need of advice," said Nigel, turning suddenly to his companion with ill- suppressed excitement. " Well, Massa Nadgel, you does look like it, but I'm sorry I ain't a doctor. Pra'ps de purfesser would help you better nor me." *' You misunderstand me. Can you keep a secret, Moses ? " " I kin try — if— if he 's not too diffikilt to keep." "Well, then; listen." The negro opened his eyes and his mouth as if these OF THK MALA.Y ARCH IPKLAGO. 261 wore the chief orifices for the entrance of sound, and advanced an ear. The distant monkey, observing, apparently, that some unusual coinniunication was about to be made, also stretched out its little head, cocked an ear, and suspended its other operations. Then, in low earnest tones, Nigel told Moses of his belief that Van der Kemp's daughter might yet be alive and well, and detailed the recent conversation he had had with his master. " Now, Moses ; what d' ye think of all that ? " Profundity unfathomable sat ou tlie negro's sable brow as he replied, " Massa Nadgel, I don't bery well know what to tlnk." " But remember, Moses, before wo go further, that I tell you all this in strict confidence ; not a word of it must pass your lips." The awful solemnity with which Nigel sought to impress this on his companion was absolutely trifling compared with the expression of that com- panion's countenance, as, with a long-drawn argu- mentative and remonstrative Oh I he replied : — " Massa — Nadgel. Does you really t'ink I would say or do any mortal t'ing w'atsumiver as would injure my massa ? " " I 'm mre you would not," returned Nigel, quickly. "Forgive me, Moses, I merely meant that you would have to be very cautious — very careful — that you do not let a word slip — by accident, you know. 262 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE I beUeve you 'd sooner die than do an intentional injury to Van der Kemp. If I thought you capable of thaty T think I would relieve my feelings by giving you a good thrashing." The listening monkey cocked its ear a little higher at this, and Moses, who had at first raised his flat nose indignantly in the air, gradually lowered it, while a benignant smile supplanted indignation. "You're right dere, Massa Nadgel. I'd die a thousand times sooner dan injure massa. As to your last obserwation, it rouses two idees in my mind. First, I wonder how you 'd manidge to gib me a t^rashin', an' second, I wonder if your own moder would rikognise you arter you'd tried it" At this the monkey turned its other ear as if to make quite sure that it heard aright. Nigel laughed shortly, " But seriously, Moses," he continued ; " what do you think I should do ? Should I reveal my sus- picions to Van der Kemp ? '* " Cer'nly not ! " answered the negro with prompt decision. "What! wake up all his old hopes to hab 'em all dashed to bits p'raps when you find dat you 's wrong t " "But I feel absolutely certain that I'm not wrong!" returned Nigel, excitedly. "Consider — there is, first, the one-eyed pirate ; second, there is " 0¥ THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 263 " 'Souse me, Massa Nadgel, clere 's no occasion to go all ober it again. I '11 tell you what you do." "Well?" exclaimed Nigel, anxiously, while his companion frowned savagely under the force of the thoughts that surged through his brain, *' Here's what you'll do," said Moses. " Well ? " (impatiently, as the negro paused.) " We're on our way home to Krakatoa." -Yes— well?" " One ob our men leabes us to-morrer — goes to 'is home on de coast. Kitch one ob de steamers dat 's allers due about dis time." " Well, what of that ? " "Whatob dat! why, you'll write a letter to your fadder. It'll go by de steamer to Batavia. Ho gits it long before we gits liome, so dere 's plenty time for 'ini to take haction." "But what good will writing to my father do?" asked Nigel in a somewhat disappointed tone. '*Zre can't help us" '* Ho yes, he can," said Moses with a self-satisfied nod. " See here, I '11 tell you what to write. You begin, 'Dear fadder — or Dearest fadder — I's not quite sure ob de strengt' ob your affection. P'raps de safest way ." " Oh I get on, Moses. Never mind that." " Ho 1 it's all btiry well for you to say dat, but de ole gen'lemau '11 mind it. Hows' ever, put it as you 264: BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE t'ink best — 'Dear fadder, victual your ship; up aachor ; hois' de sails, an* steer for de Cocos-Keelin' Islands. Go ashore; git hold ob de youiig *oonian called Kat'leen Hobbleben '" '^Holbein, Moses." "What! is she Mosos too?" " No, no ! get on, man," " Well, ' Dearest fadder, git a hold ob her, what- eber her name is, an' carry her off body and soul, an* whateber else b'longs to her. Take her to de town ob Anjer an' wait dere for furder orders/ Ob course for de windin' up o' de letter you must appeal agin to de state ob your affections, for, as " ''Not a bad idea," exclaimed Nigel "Why, Moses, you 're a genius [ Of course I '11 have to explain a little more fully," "'Splain what you please," said Moses. "My business is to gib you de bones ob de letter ; yours — bein' a scholar — is to clove it wid flesh." " I '11 do it, Moses, at once." "I should like " rejoined Muses, with a tooth-and- gum-disclosing smile, " to see your fadder when he gits dat letter ! " The picture conjured up by his vivid imagination caused the negro to give way to an explosive laugh that sent the eavesdropping monkey like a brown thunderbolt into the recesses of its native jungle, OF THK MALAY AlJCIllPELAGO. 265 while Nigel went ofY to write and despatch the important letter Next day the party arrived at another village, where, the report of their approach having preceded them, they were received with much ceremony — all the more that the professor*s power with the rille had been made known, and that the neighbourhood was infested by tigers. There can be little doubt that at this part of the journey the travellers must have been dogged all the way by tigers, and it was matter for surprise that so small a party should not have beeji molested. Possibly the reason was that these huge members of the feline race were afraid of white faces, being unaccustomed to them, or, perchance, the appearance and vigorous stride of even a few stalwart and fearless men had intimidated them. Wliatever the cause, the party readied the village without seeing a single tiger, thouglv their footprints were observed in many places. The wild scenery became more and more beauti- ful as this village was neared. Although tiowers as a rule were small and incon- spicuous in many parts of the great forest through which they passed, the rich pink and scai'let of many of the opening leaves, and the autum]i- tinted foliage which lasts through all seasons of the 3'ear, fully made up for the want of them — at least as 266 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALB regards colour, while the whole vegetation was inter- mingled in a rich confusion that defies description. The professor went into perplexed raptures, his mind being distracted by the exuberant wealth of subjects which were presented to it all at the same time. " Look zere ! " he cried, at one turning in the path which opened up a new vista of exquisite beauty — " look at zat ! " "Ay, it is a Siamang ape — next in size to the orang-utan/' said Van der Kemp, who stood at his friend's elbow. The animal in question was a fine fall-grown specimen, with long jet-black glancing hair. Its height might probably have been a few inches over three feet, and the stretch of its arms over rather than under five feet, but at the great height at which it was seen — ^not less than eighty feet — it looked much like an ordinary monkey. It was hanging in the most easy nonchalant way by one hand from the branch of a tree, utterly indifferent to the fact that to drop was to die ! The instant the Siamang observed the travellers it set up a loud barking howl which made the woods resound, but it did not alter its position or seem to be alarmed in any degree. "Vat a 'straordinary noise ! " remarked the pro- fessor. OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 267 " It is indeed," returned the hermit, " and it has an extraordinary appliance for producing it. There is a large bag under its throat extending to its lips and cheeks which it can fill with air by means of a valve in the windpipe. By expelling this air in sudden bursts it makes the varied sounds you hear." " Mos' vonderf ul ! A sort of natural air-gun I I vill shoot it/' said the professor, raising his deadly rifle, and there is no doubt that the poor Siamang would have dropped in another moment if Van der Kemp had not quietly and gravely touched his friend's elbow just as the explosion took place. " Hah ! you tooched me ! " exclaimed the dis- appointed naturalist, looking fiercely round, while the amazed ape sent forth a bursting crack of its air-gun as it swung itself into the tree-top and made off. " Yes, I touched you, and if you mil shoot when I am so close to you, you cannot wonder at it — especially when you intend to take life uselessly. The time now at tlie disposal of my friend Nigel Koy will not permit of our delaying long enough to kill and preserve large specimens. To say truth, my friend, we must press on now, as fast as we can, for we have a very long way to go." Verkimier was not quite pleased with this ex- planation, but there was a sort of indescribable 268 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK power about the hermit, wheu he was resolved to have his way, that those whom he led found it im- possible to resist. On arriving at the village they were agreeably surprised to find a grand banquet, consisting chiefly of fruit, with fowl, rice, and Indian com, spread out for them in the Balai or public hall^ where also their sleeping quarters were appointed. An event had recently occurred, however, which somewhat damped the pleasure of their reception. A young man had been killed by a tiger. The brute had leaped upon him while he and a party of lads were traversing a narrow path through the jungle, and had killed him with one blow of its paw. The other youths courageously rushed at the beast with their spears and axes, and, driviiig it off, carried the body of their comrade away. " We have just buried the young man," said the chief of the village, " and have set a trap for the tiger, ibr he will be sure to visit the grave." " My friends would like to see this trap," said the hermit, who, of course, acted the part of interpreter wherever they went, being well acquainted with most of the languages and dialects of the archi- pelago. "There will yet be daylight after you have finished eating,*' said the chief. Although anxious to go at once to see this trap, OF THE MALAY AECHIPELAGO. 269 they felt the propriety of doing justice to what had been provided for them, and sat down to their meal, for which, to say truth, they were quite ready. Then they went with a large band of armed natives to see this curious tiger-trap, the bait of which was the grave of a human being 1 The grave was close to the outskirts of the village, and, on one side, the jungle came up to within a few yards of it. The spot was surrounded by a strong and high bamboo fence, except at one point where a narrow but very conspicuous opening had been left. Here a sharp spear was so arranged beside the opening that it could be shot across it at a point corresponding with tlie height of a tiger's heart from the ground — as well, at least, as that point could be estimated by men who were pretty familiar with tigers. The motive power to propel this spear was derived from a green bamboo, so strong that it required several powerful men to bend it in the form of a bow. A species of trigger was arranged to let the bent bow fly, and a piece of fine cord passed from this across the opening about breast-high for a tiger. The intention was that the animal, in entering the enclosure, should become its own executioner — should commit unintentional suicide, if we may so put it. " I have an ambition to shoot a tiger," said Nigel to Van der Kemp that evening. *' Do you think 270 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE the people would object to my getting up into a tree with my rifle and watching beside the grave part of the night?" "I am sure that they would not. But your watch will probably be in vain, for tigers are uncommonly sagacious creatures and seem to me to have excep- tional powers for scenting danger." "Nomatter, I willtry." Accordingly, a little before dark that evening our hero borrowed the professor's double-barrelled rifle, being more suitable for large game than his own gun, and sauntered with Moses down to the grave where he ensconced himself in the branches of a large tree about thirty feet from the ground. The form of the tree was such, that among its forks Nigel could form a sort of nest in which he could sit, in f uU view of the poor youth's grave, without the risk of falling to the ground even if he should chance to drop asleep. "Good-night, massa Nadgel," said Moses as he turned to leave his companion to his solitary vigil " See you not go to sleep." "No fear of that I " said Nigel. " An' whateber you do, don't miss." « I *11 do my best— Good-night." While there was yet a little daylight, our hunter looked well about hitn; took note of the exact position of the fence, the entrance to the enclosure, OF THE MALAY ARCHrPELA^GO. 271 and the grave; judged the various distances of objects, and arranged the sights of the rifle, which was already loaded with a brace of hardened balls. Then lie looked up through the tree-tops and wished for darkness. It came sooner than he expected. Night always descends more suddenly in tropical than in tem- perate regions. The sun had barely dipped below the horizon when night seemed to descend like a pall over the jungle, and an indescribable sensation of eerieness crept over Nigel's spirit. Objects became very indistinct, and he fancied that he saw some- thing moving on the newly-made grave. With a startled feeling he grasped his weapon, supposing that the tiger must have entered the enclosure with cat-like stealth. On second thoughts, however, he discarded the idea, for the entrance was between him and the grave, and still seemed quite visible. Do what he would, however, the thought of ghosts insisted on intruding upon him ! He did not believe in ghosts — oh no ! — had always scouted the idea of their existence. Why, therefore, did he feel un- comfortable ? He could not tell. It must simply be the excitement natural to such a very new and peculiar situation. He would think of something else. He would devote his mind to the contempla- tion of tigers ! In a short time the moon would rise, he knew — then he would be able to see better. 272 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE While he was in this very uncomfortable state of mind, with the jungle wrapped in profound silence as well as gloom, there broke on the night air a wail so indescribable that the very marrow in Nigers bones seemed to shrivel up. It ceased, but again broke forth louder than before, increasing in length and strength, until his ears seemed to tingle with the sound, and then it died away to a sigh of un- utterable woe. " I have always," muttered Nigel, " believed myself to be a man of ordinary courage, but n(m — I shall write myself a coward, if not an ass ! '* He attempted to laugh at this pleasantry, but the laugh was hollow and seemed to freeze in his gullet as the wail broke forth again, ten times more hideous than at first. After a time the wail became more continuous, and the watcher began to get used to it. Then a happy thought flashed into his mind — this was, perhaps, some sort of mourning for the dead ! He was right. The duty of the father of the poor youth who had been killed was, for several days after the funeral, to sit alone in bis house and chant from sunset till daybreak a death-dirge, or, as it is called, the Tjerita hari. It was not till next day that this was told to him, but meanwhile the surmise afforded him instantaneous relief. As if nature sympathised with his feelings, the moon arose at the same time and dispelled the thick OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 273 darkness, though it was not till much later that, sailing across a clear sky, she poured her bright beams through the tree-tops and finally rested on the dead man's grave. By that time Nigel had quite recovered his equa- nimity, and mentally blotted out the writing of " coward " and " ass " which he had written against himself. But another trouble now assailed him. He became sleepy! Half-a-dozen times at least within haif-an-hour he started wide awake under the impression that he was falling off the tree. "This will never do," he exclaimed, rising to his feet, resting his rifle in a position of safety, and then stretching liimself to his utmost extent so that he became thoroughly awake. After this " rouser," as he called it, he sat down again, and almost im- mediately fell fast asleep. How long he sat in this condition it is impossible to say, but he opened his eyes at length with an indescribable sensation that something required attention, and the first thing they rested on (for daylight was dawning) was an enormous tiger not forty yards away from him, gliding like a shadow and with cat-like stealth towards the opening of the enclosure. The sight was so sudden and so un- expected that, for tlie moment, he was paralyset-. Perhaps he thought it was a dream. Before he could recover presence of mind to seize his rifle, s 274 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE the breast of the animal had touched the fatal line; the trigger was drawn; the stout bamboo straightened with a booming sound, and the spear —or, rather, the giant arrow — was shot straight through the tiger's side ! Then occurred a scene M^hich might well have induced Nigel to imagine that he dreamt, for the transfixed creature bounded into the enclosure with a terrific roar that rang fearfully through the arches of the hitherto silent forest Rushing across the grave, it sprang with one tremendous bound right over the high fence, carrying the spear along with it into the jungle beyond. By that time Nigel was himself again, with rifle in hand, but too late to fire. The moment he heard the thud of the tiger's descent, he slid down tlie tree, and, forgetful or regardless of danger, went crashing into the jungle, while the yells and shouts of hundreds of aroused natives suggested the peoj)ling of the region with an army of fiends. But our hero had not to go far. In his haste he almost tumbled over the tiger. It was lying stone dead on the spot where it had fallen ! A few minutes more and the natives came pour- ing round him, wild with excitement and joy. Soon he was joined by his own comrades. "Well, you Ve managed to shoot him, I sec," said Van der Kemp as he joined the group. OF THE MALA.Y ARCHIPELAGO. 275 "Alas ! no. I have not fired a shot," said Nigel, with a half disappointed look, "You 's got de better ob him anyhow" remarked Moses as he pushed to the front. " The spear got the better of him, Moses." "Veil now, zat is a splendid animal, Lat me see " said the professor, pulling out his tape-measure. It was with difficulty that the man of science made and noted his measurements, for the people were pressing eagerly round the carcase to gratify their revenge by running their spears into the still warm body. They dipped the points in the blood and passed their krisses broadside over the creature that they might absorb the courage and boldness which were supposed to emanate from it ! Then they skinned it, and pieces of the heart and brain were eaten raw by some of those whose relatives had been killed by tigers. Finally the skull was hacked to pieces for the purpose of distributing the teetli, which are used by the natives as charms* 276 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE OHAPTEK XXI IK WHICH THB FBOFESSOB DISHKOUISHEB HZM9SLF. Leaving this village immediately after the slaying of the tiger, the party continued to journey almost by forced marches, for not only was Nigel Koy very anxious to keep tryst with his father, and to settle the question of Kathleen's identity by bringing father and daughter together, but Van der Kemp himself, strange to say, was filled with intense and unaccount- able anxiety to get back to his island home. " I don't know how it is," he said to Nigel as they walked side by side through the forest, followed by Moses and the professor, who had become very friendly on the strength of a certain amount of vacant curiosity displayed by the former in regard to scientific matters — " I don't know how it is, but I feel an unusually strong desire to get back to my cave. I have often been absent from home for long periods at a time, but have never before experi- enced these strange longings. I say strange, because there is no such thing as an effect without a cause." OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 277 " May not the cause be presentiment? " suggested Nigel, who, knowing what a tremendous possibility for the hermit lay in the future, felt a little inclined to be superstitious. It did not occur to him just then that an equally, if not more, tremendous possi- bility lay in the future for himself — touching his recent discovery or suspicion ! "I do not believe in presentiments," returned the hermit. "They are probably the result of indigestion or a disordered intellect, from neither of which complaints do I suffer — at least not consciously !" "But you have never before left home in such peculiar circumstances," said Nigel. "Have you not told me that this is the first time for about two hundred years that Krakatoa has broken out in active eruption ? " "True, but that cannot be to me the cause of longings or anxieties, for I have seen many a long- dormant crater become active without any important result either to me or to any one else." "Stop, stop!" cried Professor Verkimier in a hoarse whisper at that moment ; "look ! look at zee monkeys!" Monkeys are very abundant in Sumatra, but the nest of them which the travellers discovered at that time, and which had called forth the professor's admiration, was enough — as Moses said — to make a "renocerus laugh." The trees around absolutely 278 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALB swarmed with monkeys; those of a slender form and with veiy long tails being most numerous. They were engaged in some sort of game, swinging by arms, legs, and tails from branches, holding on to or chasing each other, and taking the most astonishing leaps in circumstances where a slip would have no doubt resulted in broken limbs or in death. "Stand still! Oh! do stand still — like you vas petrivied," said the professor in a low voice of entreaty. Being quite willing to humour him, the whole party stood immovable^ like statues, and thus avoided attracting the attention of the monkeys, who continued their game. It seemed to be a sort of " follow my leader," for one big strong fellow led off with a bound from one branch to another which evidently tried the nerves of his more timid and less agile companions. They all succeeded, how- ever, from the largest even to the smallest — which last was a very tiny creature with a pink face, a sad expression, and a corkscrew tail. For a time they bounded actively among the branches, now high now low, till suddenly the big leader took a tremendous leap, as if for the express purpose of baffling or testing his companions. It was immensely amusing to see the degrees of trepi- dation with which the others followed. The last OIP TRT; MALAY ARCHXPELAGO. 279 two seemed quite unable to make up their minds to the leap, until tlie others seemed about to disappear, when one of tliein took heart and bounded wildly across. Thus little pink-face with the corkscrew tail was left alone ! Twice did that little monkey make a desperate resolution to jump, and twice did its little heart fail as it measured the distance between the branches and glanced at the abyss below. Its companions seemed to entertain a feel- ing of pity for it. Numbers of tliem came back, as if to watch the jump and encounige the little one. A third time it made an abortive effort to spring, and looked round pitifully, whereupon Moses gave vent to an uncontrollable snort of suppressed laughter, " Vat you mean by zat ? " growled the professor angrily. The growl and snort together revealed the in- truders, and all the monkeys, except pink-face, crowding the trees above the spot where they stood, gazed down upon tliem with expressions in which unparalleled indigTiation and inconceivable surprise struggled for the mastery. Then, with a wild shriek, the whole troop fled into the forest. This was too much for poor, half-petrified pink- face with the twisted tail. Seeing that its comrades were gone in earnest, it became desperate, Hung itself frantically into the air with an agonising 280 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE squeak, missed its mark, went crashing through the slender branches and fell to tlie ground. Fortunately these branches broke its fall so that it arose unhurt, bounded into a bush, still squeak- ing with alarm, and made after its friends. "Why did you not shoot it, professor?" asked Nigel, laughing as much at Verkimier's grave ex- pression as at the little monkey's behaviour, "Vy did I not shot it?" echoed the professor. "I vould as soon shot a baby. Zee pluck of zat Icetle creature is admirable. It vould be a horrible shame to take his life. No ! I do love to see ploock vezer in man or beast! He could not shoomp zat. He knew he could not shoomp it, but he tried to shoomp it He vould not be beat, an' I vould not km him — zough I vant *im very mooch for a specimen." It seemed as if the professor was to be specially rewarded for his generous self-denial on this occa- sion, for while he was yet speaking, a soft "hush!" from Van der Kemp caused the wiiole party to halt in dead silence and look at the hermit inquiringly. "You are in luck, professor," he murmured, in a soft, low voice — very different from that hissing whisper which so many people seem to imagine is an inaudible utterance. *'I see a splendid Argus pheasant over there making himself agree- able to his wife !" OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 281 "Vare? oh! vare?" exclaimed the enthusiast with blazing eyes, for although he had already seen and procured specimens of this most beautiful creature, he had not yet seen it engage in the strange love-dance — if we may so call it — which is peculiar to the bird. " You '11 never get near enough to see it if you hiss like a serpent/' said the hermit. "Get out your binoculars, follow ine, and hold your tongue, all of you — that will be the safest plan. Tread lightly." It was a sight to behold the professor crouching almost double in order to render himself less conspicuous, with liis hat pushed back, and the blue glasses giving him the appearance of a gieat- eyed seal He carried his butterfly-net in one hand, and the unfailing rifle in the other. Fortunately the hermit's sharp and practised eye had enabled him to distinguish the birds in the distance before theii' advance had alarmed them, so that they were able to reach a mound topped with low bushes over which they could easily watch the birds. " Zat is very koorious an' most interesting," murmured the professor after a short silence. He was right. There were two Argus pheasants, a male and female — the male alone being decorated superbly. The Argus belongs to the same family 282 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALB as the peacock, but is not so gaudy in colouring, and therefore, perhaps, somewhat more pleasing. Its tail is formed chiefly by an enormous elongation of the two tail quills, and of the secondary wing feathers, no two of which are exactly the same, and the closer they are examined the greater is seen to be the extreme beauty of their markings, and the ricli varied harmony of their colouring. When a male Argus wishes to show off his magnificence to his spouse —or when she asks him to show it off, we know not which — he makes a circle in the forest some ten or twelve feet in diameter, which he clears of every leaf, twig, and branch. On the margin of this circus there is invariably a projecting branch, or overarching root a few feet above the ground, on which the female takes her place to watch the exhibition. This con- sists of the male strutting about, pluming his feathers, and generally displaying his gorgeous beauty. " Vat ineffable vanity !" exclaimed the professor, after gazing for some time in silence. His own folly in thus speaking was instantly proved by the two birds bringing the exhibition to an abrupt close and hastily taking wing. Not long after seeing this they came to a small but deep and rapid river, which for a time checked their progress, for there was no ford, and the porters who carried Verkimier's packages seemed to know OF THE MALAY ARCIIirELAGO. 283 nothing about a brid^^ either natural or artificial. After wandering for an hour or so along its banks, however, they found a giant tree which had fallen across the stream and formed a natural bridge. On the other side of the stream the ground was more rugged and the forest so dense that they had to walk in a sort of twilight — only a glimpse of blue sky being visible here and there through the tree-tops. In some places, however, there occurred bright little openings which swarmed with species of metallic tiger-beetles and sand-bees, and where sulphur, swallow-tailed, and other butterflies sported their brief life away over the damp ground by the water's edge. The native forest path which they followed was little better than a tunnel cut through a grove of low rattan-palms, the delicate bub exceedingly tough tendrils of which hung down in all directions. These were fringed with sharp hooks which caught their clothing and tore it, or held on uniolentingly, so that the only way of escape was to step quietly back and unhook themselves. This of itself would have rendered their progress slow as well as painful, but other things tended to increase the delay. At one place they came to a tree about seven feet in diameter which lay across the path and had to be scrambled over,and this was donewith great difficulty. At another, a gigantic mud-bath — the wallowing 284 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE hole of a herd of elephants — obstmcted the way, and a yell from one of the porters told that in at- tempting to cross it he had fallen in up to the waist. A comrade in trying to pull him out also fell in and sank up to the armpits. But they got over it — as resolute men always do — somehow 1 " Zis is horrible ! " exclaimed the professor, pant- ing from his exertions, and making a wild plunge with his insect-net at some living creature. " Hah ! zee brute ! I have 'im." The man of science was flat on his stomach as he spoke, with arm outstretched and the net pressed close to the ground, while a smile of triumph beamed through the mud and scratches on his face. "What have you got?" asked Nigel, doing his best to restrain a laugh. *' A splendid Omifopiera a day-flying moss'," said Verkimier as he cautiously rose, " vich mimics zee Trepsichrois mulciber. Ant zis very morning I caught von Leptocircus mrescens, vich derives pro- tection from mimicking zee habits ant appearance of a dragon-fly." " What rubbish dat purfesser do talk ! " remarked Moses in an undertone to the hermit as they moved on again. " Not such rubbish as it sounds to you, Moses. These are the scientific names of the creatures, and you know as well as he does that many creatures OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 285 think they find it advantageous to pretend to be what they are not, Man himself is not quite free from this characteristic. Indeed, you have a little of it yourself," said the hermit with one of his twinkling glances. " When you are almost terrified of your wits don't you pretend that there *s nothing the matter with you ? " "Nebber, massa, nebber!" answered the negro with remonstrative gravity. " When I 's nigh out ob my wits, so 's my innards feels like nuffin' but warmish water, I gits whitey-grey in de chops, so I 's told, an' blue in de lips, an' I pretends nuffin' — I don't care who sees it ! " The track for some distance beyond this point became worse and worse. Then the nature of the ground changed somewhat — became more hilly, and the path, if such it could be styled, more rugged in some places, more swampy in others, while, to add to their discomfort, rain began to fall, and night set in dark and dismal without any sign of the village of which they were in search. By that time the porters who carried Verkimier's boxes seemed so tired tliat the hermit thought it advisable to en- camp, but the ground was so wet and the leeches were so numerous that they begged him to go on, assuring him that the village could not be far distant. In another half-hour the darkness became intense, so that a man could scarcely see his fellow even when 286 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK within two paces of him. Ominous mutterings and rumblings like distant thunder also were heard, which appeared to indicate an approaching storm. In these circumstances encamping became unavoid- able, and the order was given to make a huge fire to scare away the tigers, which were known to be numerous, and the elephants whose fresh tracks had been crossed and followed during the greater part of the day. The track of a rhinoceros and a tapir had also been seen, but no danger was to be antici- pated from those creatures. "Shall we have a stormy night, think you?" asked Nigel, as he assisted in striking a light. " It may be so/' replied the hermit, flinging down one after another of his wet matches, which failed to kindle, " What we hear may be distant thunder, but I doubt it. The sounds seem to me more like the mutterings of a volcano. Some new crater may have burst forth in the Sumatran ranges. This thick darkness inclines me to think so — especially after the new activity of volcanic action we have seen so recently at Krakatoa. Let me try your matches, Nigel, perhaps they have escaped — mine are useless." But Nigel's matches were as wet as those of the hermit. So were those of the professor. Luckily Moses carried the old-fashioned flint and steel, with which, and a small piece of tinder^ » spark was at Ot THE MALAV AUCHIPELAGO. 287 last kindled, but as tliey were about to apply it to a liandful of dry bamboo scrapings, an extra spirt of rain extinguished it. For an hour and more they made ineffectual attempts to strike a light. Even the cessation of the rain was of no avail. " Vat must ve do 7iow ? " asked the professor in tones that suggested a wo-begone countenance, though there was no light by which to distinguish it. " Grin and bear it/* said Nigel, in a voice sugges- tive of a slight expansion of the mouth — though no one could see it. *' Dere 's nuffin' else left to do," said Moses, in a tone which betrayed such a very wide expansion that Nigel laughed outright. *' Hah ! you may laugh, my yoong frond, hot if zee tigers find us out or zee elephants trample on us, your laughter vill be turned to veeping. Vat is zsit ? Is not zat vonderful ? " The question and exclamation were prompted by the sudden appearance of faint mysterious lights among the bushes. That the professor viewed them as unfriendly lights was clear from the click of his rilie-locks which followed. " It is only phosphoric light," explained Van der Kemp. " I have often seen it thus in electric states of the atmosphere. It will probably increase — meanwhile we must seat ourselves on our boxes and 288 BLOWN TO BITS, A. TALK do the best we can till daylight. Are you there, boys?" This question, addressed to the bearers in their native tongue, was not answered, and it was found, on a feeling examination, that, in spite of leeches, tigers, elephants, and the whole animal creation, the exhausted porters had flung themselves on the wet ground and gone to sleep while their leaders were discussing the situation. Dismal though the condition of the party was, the appearances in the forest soon changed the pro- fessor's woe into eager delight, for the phosphor- escence became more and more pronounced, until every tree-stem blinked with a palish green light, and it trickled like moonlight over the ground, bringing out thick dumpy mushrooms like domes of light. Glowing caterpillars and centipedes crawled about, leaving a trail of light behind them, and fire- flies darting to and fro peopled the air and gave additional animation to the scene. In the midst of the darkness, thus made singularly visible, the white travellers sat dozing and nodding on their luggage, while the cries of metallic-toned horned frogs and other nocturnal sounds peculiar to that weird forest formed their appropriate lullaby. But Moses neither dozed nor nodded. With a pertinacity peculiarly his own he continued to play a running accompaniment to the lullaby with his OF THE MATAT ARCHIPELAGO. 28^ flint and steel; until his perseverance was rewarded with a spark which caught on a dry portion of the tinder and continued to bum. By that time the phosphoric lights had faded, and his spark was the only one which gleamed through intense dark- ness. How he cherished that spark! He wrapped it in swaddling clothes of dry bamboo scrapings with as much care as if it had been the essence of his life. He blew upon it tenderly as though to fan its delicate brow with the soft zephyrs of a father's affection. Again he blew more vigorously, and his enormous pouting lips came dimly into view. Another blow and his flat nose and fat cheeks emerged from darkness. Still another — with grow- ing confidence — and his huge eyes were revealed glowing with hope. At last the handful of com- bustible burst into a flame, and was thrust into a prepared nest of twigs. This, communicating with a heap of logs, kindled a sudden blaze which scattered darkness out of being, and converted thirty yards of the primeval forest into a chamber of glorious light, round which the human beings crowded with joy enhanced by the unexpectedness of the event, and before which the wild things of the wilderness fled away. When daylight came at last, they found that the village for which thej^ had been searching was only 290 BLOWN to felTS, A *AtE two miles beyond the spot where they had en- camped. Here, being thoroughly exhausted, it M*as resolved that they should spend that day and night, and, we need scarcely add, they spent a considerable portion of both in sleep — at least such parts of both as were not devoted to food. And here the professor dis- tinguished himself in a way that raised him greatly in the estimation of his companions and caused the natives of the place to regard him as something of a demi-god. Of course we do not vouch for the truth of the details of the incident, for no one save him- self was there to see, and although we enter- tained the utmost regard for himself, we were not sufficiently acquainted with his moral character to answer for his strict truthfulness. As to the main event, there was no denying that. The thing happened thus : — Towards the afternoon of that same day the travellers began to wake up, stretch themselves, and think about supper. In the course of conversation it transpired that a tiger had been prowling about the village for some days, and had hitherto success- fully eluded all attempts to trap or spear it. They had tethered a goat several times near a small pond and watched the spot from safe positions among the trees, with spears, bows and arrows, and blow-pipes ready, but when they watched, the tiger did not come, OF THK MALAY ARCIIirELAGO. 291 and when they failed to watch, the tiger did come and carried ofF the goat. Thus they had been baffled. " Mine frond," said the professor to the hermit on hearing this. "I vill shot zat tiger! I am resolved. Vill you ask zee chief to show me zee place ant zen tell his people, on pain of def, not to go near it all night, for if zey do I vill certainly shot zem — by accident of course 1 " The hermit did as he was bid, but advised his sanguine friend against exposing himself recklessly. The chief willingly fell in with his wishes. " Won't you tell us what you intend to do, pro- fessor ? " asked Nigel, " and let us help you." " No, I vill do it all by niineself — or die ! I vill vant a shofel or a spade of some sort." The chief provided the required implement, con- ducted his visitor a little before sunset to the spot, just outside the village, and left him there armed with his rifle, a revolver, and a long knife or kriss, besides the spade. When alone, the bold man put off his glasses, made a careful inspection of the ground, came to a conclusion — founded on scientific data no doubt — as to the probable spot whence the tiger would issue from the jungle when about to seize the goat, and, just opposite that spot, on the face of a slope about ten yards from the goat, he dug a hole deep enough to contain his own person. The soil was sandy 292 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE easy to dig, and quite dry. It was growing dusk when the professor crept into this rifle-pit, drew his weapons and the spade in after him, and closed the mouth of the pit with moist earth, leaving only a very small eye-hole through which he could see the goat standing innocently by the brink of the pool. " Now/* said he, as he lay resting on his elbows with the rifle laid ready to hand and the revolver beside it ; '* now, I know not vezer you can smell or not, but I have buried mineself in eart', vich is a non-conductor of smell. Ve shall see!" It soon became very dark, for there was no moon, yet not so dark but that the form of the goat could be seen distinctly reflected in the pond. Naturally the professor's mind reverted to the occasion when Nigel had watched in the branches of a tree for another tiger. The conditions were different, and so, he thought, was the man ! "Mine yoong frond," he said mentally, "is brav*, oondoubtedly, but his nerves have not been braced by experience like mine. It is veil, for zere is more dancher here zan in a tree. It matters not I am resolf to shot zat tigre — or die ! " In this resolute and heroic frame of mind he commenced his vigil. It is curious to note how frequently the calcu- lations of men fail them — even those of scientific OF THE MALAY AKCHIPETAGO. 293 men ! The tiger came indeed to the spot, but he came in precisely the opposite direction from that which the watcher expected, so that while Ver- kimier was staring over the goat's head at an opening in the jungle beyond the pond, the tiger was advancing stealthily and slowly through the bushes exactly behind the hole in which he lay. Suddenly the professor became aware of some- iking ! He saw nothing consciously, he heard nothing, but there stole over him, somehow, the feeling of a dread presence ! Was he asleep ? Was it nightmare ? No, it was night-tiger ! He knew it, somehow; he felt it — but he could not see it. To face death is easy enough — according to some people — but to face nothing at all is at all times trying. Verkimier felt it to be so at that moment. But he was a true hero and conquered himself. " Come now," he said mentally. " don't be an ass ! Don't lose your shance by voomanly fears. Keep kviet." Another moment and there was a very slight sound right over his head. He glanced upwards — as far as the little hole would permit — and there, not a foot from him, was a tawny yellow throat! with a tremendous paw moving slowly forward — so slowly that it might have suggested the imper- ceptible movement of the hour-hand of a watch. 294 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALB or of a glacier. There was indeed motion, but it was not perceptible. The professor's perceptions were quick. He did not require to think. He knew that to use the rifle at such close quarters was absolutely im- possible. He knew that the slightest motion would betray him. He could see that as yet he was un- discovered, for the animaFs nose was straight for the goat, and he concluded that either his having buried himself was a safeguard against being smelt, or that the tiger had a cold in its head. He thought for one moment of bursting up with a yell that would scare the monster out of his seven senses — if he had seven — but dismissed the thought as cowardly, for it would be sacrificing success to safety. He knew not what to do, and the cold per- spiration consequent upon indecision at a supreme moment broke out all over him. Suddenly he thought of the revolver ! Like lightning he seized it, pointed it straight up and fired. The bullet — a large army revolver one — entered the throat of the animal, pierced the root of the tongue, crashed through the palate ob- liquely, and entered the brain. The tiger threw one indescribable somersault and fell — fell so promptly that it blocked the mouth of the pit, all the covering earth of which had been blown away by the shot, and Verkimier could feel the hairy side of the OF THE MALAY AKCIIIPELAGO. 295 creature, and hear the beating of its heart as it gasped its life away. But in his cramped position he could not push it aside. Well aware of the tenacity of life in tigers, he thought that if the creature revived it would certainly grasp him even in its dying agonies, for the weight of its body and its struggles were already crushing in the upper part of the hole. To put an end to its sufferings and his own danger, he pointed the revolver at its side and again fired. The crash in the confined hole was tremendous — so awful that the professor thought the weapon must have burst. The struggles of the tiger became more violent than ever, and its weight more oppressive as the earth crumbled away. Again the cold perspiration broke out all over the man, and he became unconscious. It must not be supposed that the professor's friends were unwatchful. Although they had pro- mised not to disturb him in his operations, they had held themselves in readiness with rifle, revolver, and spear, and the instant the first shot was heard, they ran down to the scene of action. Before reaching it the second shot quickened their pace as they ran down to the pond — a number of natives yelling and waving torches at their heels. " Here he is," cried Moses, who was first on the scene, " dead as mutton 1 " 296 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALB " What ! the professor ? " cried Nigel in alarm. "No; de tiger." "Wlaere's Verkimier?" asked the hermit as he came up. " I dun know, massa/' said Moses, looking round him vacantly. " Search well, men, and be quick, he may have been injured," cried Van der Kemp, seizing a torch and setting the example. " Let me out I " came at that moment from what appeared to be the bowels of the earth, causing every one to stand aghast gazing in wonder around and on each other. " Zounds ! vy don't you let me out ? *' shouted the voice again. There was an indication of a tendency to flight on the part of the natives, but Nigel's asking " Where are you 1 " had the effect of inducing them to delay for the answer. " Here — oonder zee tigre ! Kveek, I am suffocat ! * Instantly Van der Kemp seized the animal by the tail, and, with a force worthy of Hercules, heaved it aside as if it had been a dead cat, reveal- ing the man of science underneath — alive and well, biit dishevelled, scratched, and soiled —also, as deaf as a door-post ! OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 297 CHAPTER XXIL A PYTHON DISCOVERED AND A GBYSBR tNTBRVIEWED. "It never rains but it pours" is a well-known proverb which finds frequent illustration in the experience of almost every one. At all events Verkimier had reason to believe in the truth of it at that time, for adventures came down on him, as it were, in a sort of deluge, more or less astounding, insomuch that his enthusiastic spirit, bathing, if we may say so, in an ocean of scientific delight, pronounced Sumatra to be the very paradise of the student of nature. We have not room in this volume to follow him in the details of his wonderful experiences, but we must mention one adventure which he had on the very day after the tiger-incident, because it very nearly had the effect of separating him from his travelling companions. Being deaf, as we have said — owing to the explosion of his revolver in the hole — but not necessarily dumb, the professor, after one or two 298 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE futile attempts to hear and converse, deemed it wise to go to bed and spend the few conscious minutes that might precede sleep in watching Van der Kemp, who kindly undertook to skin his tiger for him. Soon the self-satisfied man fell into a sweet infantine slumber, and dreamed of tigers, in which state he gave vent to sundry grunts, gasps, and half-suppressed cries, to the immense delight of Moses, who sat watching him, indulging in a running commentary suggestive of the recent event, and giving utterance now and then to a few imita- tive growls by way of enhancing the eiFect of the dreams ! " Look ! look 1 Massa N"adgel, he 's twitchin' all ober. De tiger's comin' to him now." " Looks like it, Moses/' " Yes — an', see, he grip de Volver — no, too soon, or de tiger's goed away, for he's stopped twichin' — dare ; de tiger comes agin !" A gasp and clenching of the right hand seemed to warrant this assumption. Then a yell rang through the hut; Moses displayed all, and more than all his teeth, and the professor, springing up on one elbow, glared fearfully, "I'n't it awrful ?" inquired Moses in a low tone. The professor awoke mentally, recognised the situation, smiled an imbecile smile, and sank back again on his pillow with a sigh of relief. OF THE MALAY AECIIIPEIJIGO. 299 After that, when the skinning of the tiger was completed, the dreams appeared to leave him, and all his comrades joined him in the land of Nod. He was first to awake when daylight entered their hut the following morning, and, feeling in a fresh, quiescent state of mind after the excitement of the preceding night, he lay on his back, his eyes fixed contentedly on the grand tiger-skin which hung on the opposite wall. By degrees his eyes grew wearied of that object, and he allowed them to travel languidly upwards and along the roof until they rested on the spot directly over his head, where they became fixed,^ and, at the same time, opened out to a glare, com- pared to which all his previous glaring was as nothing— for there, in the thatch, looking down upon him, was the angular head of a huge python. The inake was rolled up in a tight coil, and had evidently spent the night within a yard of the professor's head ! Being unable to make out what sort of snake it was, and fearing that it might be a poisonous one, he crept quietly from his couch, keeping his eyes fixed on the reptile as he did so. One result of this mode of action was that he did not see where he was going, and inadvertently thrust one finger into Moses* right eye, and another into his open mouth. The negro naturally shut his mouth with a snap, while the professor opened his 300 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE with a roar, and in another moment every man was on his feet blinking inquiringly. " Look ! zee snake V cried the professor, when Moses released him. " We must get him out of that," remarked Van dor Kemp, as he quietly made a noose with a piece of rattan, and fastened it to the end of a long pole. With the latter he poked the creature up, and, when it had uncoiled sufiSciently, he slipped the noose deftly over its head. " Clear out, friends," he said, looking round. All obeyed with uncommon promptitude except the professor, who valiantly stood his ground. Van der Kemp pulled the python violently down to the floor, where it commenced a tremendous scuffle among the chairs and posts. The hermit kept its head off with the pole, and sought to catch its tail, but failed twice. Seeing this the professor caught the tail as it whipped against his legs, and spring- ing down the steps so violently that he snapped the cord by which the hermit held it, and drew the crea- ture straight out — a thick monster full twelve feet long, and capable of swallowing a dog or a child. "Out of zee way ! " shouted the professor, making a wild effort to swing the python against a tree, but the tail slipped from his grasp, the professor fell, and the snake went crashing against a log, under which it took refuge. OP THE MALAY ASCHlJeBLAGO. 301 Nigel, who was nearest to it, sprang forward, fortunately caught its tail, and, swinging it and himself round with such force that it could not coil up at all, dashed it against a tree. Before it could recover from the shock, Moses had caught up a hatchet and cut its head off with one hlow. The tail wriggled for a few seconds, and the head gaped once or twice, as if in mild surprise at so sudden a finale. " Zat is strainch — very strainch," slowly remarked the professor, as, still seated on the ground, he solemnly noted these facts. "Not so very strange, after all," said Van der Kemp ; " I *ve seen the head of many a bigger snake cut off at one blow." " Mine frond, you mistake me. It is zee vorking of physical law in zee spiritual vorld zat perplexes me. Moses has cut zee brute in two — physical fact, substance can be divided. Zee two parts are still alife, zerfore, zee life — zee spirit — has also been divided!" "It is indeed very strange," said Nigel, with a laugh. " Stranger still that you may cut a worm in- to several parts, and the life remains in each, but, strangest of all, that you should sit on the ground, professor, instead of rising up, while you philoso- phise. You are not hurt, I hope — are you ? " " I razer zink I am," returned the philosopher with a faint smile ; "mine onkle, I zink, is spraint*' 302 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK This was indeed true, and it seemed as if the poor man's wanderings were to be, for a time at least, brought to an abrupt close. Fortunately it was found that a pony could be procured at that village, and, as they had entered the borders of the moun- tainous regions, and the roads were more open and passable than heretofore, it was resolved that the professor should ride until his ankle recovered. We must now pass over a considerable portion of time and space, and convey the reader, by a forced march, to the crater of an active volcano^ By that time Verkimier's ankle had recovered and the pony had been dismissed. The heavy luggage, with the porters, had been left in the low grounds, for the mountain they had scaled was over 10,000 feet above the sea-level. Only one native from the plain below accompanied them as guide, and three of their porters whose inquiring minds tempted them to make the ascent. At about 10,000 feet the party reached what the natives called the dempo or edge of the volcano, whence they looked down into the sawah or ancient crater, which was a level space composed of brown soil surrounded by cliffs, and lying like the bottom of a cup 200 feet below them. It had a sulphurous odour, and was dotted here and there with clumps of heath and rhododendrons. In the centre of this was a cone which formed the true — or modern — OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 303 crater. On scrambling up to the lip of the cone and looking down some 300 feet of precipitous rock they beheld what seemed to be a pure white lake set in a central basin of 200 feet in diameter. The surface of this lakelet smoked, and although it reflected every passing cloud as if it were a mirror, it was in reality a basin of hot mud, the surface of which was about thirty feet below its rim. " You will soon see a change come over it," said the hermit, as the party gazed in silent admiration at the weird scene. He had scarcely spoken, when the middle of the lake became intensely black and scored with dark streaks. This, though not quite obvious at first from the point where they stood, was caused by the slow formation of a great chasm in the centre of the seething lake of mud. The lake was sinking into its own throat. The blackness increased. Then a dull sullen roar was lieard, and next moment the entire lake upheaved, not violently, but in a slow, majestic niannyr some hundreds of feet into the air, whence it fell back into its basin with an awful roar which reverberated and echoed from the rocky walls of the caldron like the singing of an angry sea. An immense volume of steam — the motive power which had blown up the lake — was at the same time liber- ated and dissipated in the air. The wave-circles died away ou the margin of the 304 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE lake, and the placid, cloud-reflecting surface was restored until the geyser had gathered fresh force for another upheaval. "Amazing!" exclaimed Nigel, who had gazed with feelings of awe at this curious exhibition of the tremendous internal forces with which the Creator has endowed the earth. "Vonderful!" exclaimed the professor, whose astonishment was such, that his eyebrows rose high above the rim of his huge blue binoculars. Moses, to whom such an exhibition of the powers of nature was familiar, was, we are sorry to say, not much impressed, if impressed at all ! Indeed he scarcely noticed it, but watched, with intense teeth- and-gum disclosing satisfaction, the faces of two of the native porters who had never seen anything of the kind before, and whose terrified expressions suggested the probability of a precipitate flight when their trembling limbs became lit to resume duty. " Will it come again soon ? *' asked Nigel, turning to Van der Kemp. " Every fifteen or twenty minutes it goes through that process all day and every day," replied the hermit " But, if I may joodge from zee stones ant scoriae around," said the professor, "zee volcano is not alvays so peaceful as it is joost now." OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 305 "You are riglit. About once in every three years, and sometimes oftener, the crops of coffee, bananas, rice, etc., in this region are quite destroyed by sulphur-rain, which covers everything for miles around the crater." " Hah ! it vould be too hote a place zis for us, if zat vas to happin joost now," remarked Verkimier with a smile. " It cannot be far off the time now, I should think/' said Van der Kemp. All this talk Moses translated, and embellished, to the native porters with the solemn sincerity of a true and thorough-paced hypocrite. He had scarcely finished, and was watching with immense delight the changeful aspect of their whitey-green faces, when another volcanic fit came on, and the deep- toned roar of the coming explosion was heard. It was so awesome that the countenance even of Van der Kemp became graver than usual As for the two native porters, they gazed and trembled. Nigel and the professor also gazed with lively expectation, Moses — we grieve to record it — hugged himself internally, and gloated over the two porters. Another moment and there came a mighty roar. Up went the mud-lake hundreds of feet into the air ; out came the steam with the sound of a thousand trombones, and away went the two porters, head over heels, down the outer slope of the cone and u 30e BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE across the sawah as if the spirit of evil were after them. There was no cause, however, for alarm. The mud-lake, falling back into its native cup, resumed its placid aspect and awaited its next upheaval with as much tranquillity as if it had never known dis- turbance in the past^ and were indifferent about the future. That evening our travellers encamped in close proximity to the crater, supped on fowls roasted in an open crevice whence issued steam and sul- phurous smells, and slept with the geyser's inter- mittent roar sounding in their ears and re-echoing in their dreams. OF THE MALAY AltOlUrELAGO. 307 CHAPTEE XXIIL TBLLS OF VOLCANIC FIRES AND A STBANQE RBTUBN " HOME." This tremendous introduction to volcanic fires was but the prelude to a period of eruptive action which has not been paralleled in the world's history. Por a short time after this, indeed, the genial nature of the weather tended to banish from the minds of our travellers all thoughts of violence either in terrestrial or human affairs, and as the professor devoted himself chiefly to the compara- tively mild occupation of catching and transfixing butterflies and beetles during the march southward, there seemed to be nothing in the wide universe above or below save peace and tranquillity — except, perhaps, in the minds of beetles and butterflies 1 Tliroughout all this period, nevertheless, there were ominous growlings, grumblings, and tremors — faint but frequent — which indicated a condition of mother earth that could not have been called easy. " Some of the volcanoes of Java must be at work, 308 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE I think," said Nigel one night, as the party sat in a small isolated wood-cutter's hut discussing a supper of rice and fowls with his friends, which they were washing down with home-grown coffee. *' It may be so" said Van der Kemp in a dubious tone; "but the sounds, though faint, seem to mo a good deal nearer, I can't help thinking that the craters which have so recently opened up in Krakatoa are still active, and that it may be neces- sary for me to shift my quarters, for my cave is little more, I suspect, than the throat of an ancient volcano." "Hah! say you so, mine frond? Zen I vould advise you to make no delay," said the professor, critically examining a well-picked drumstick. " You see, it is not pleasant to be blown up eizer by the terrestrial eruptions of zee vorld or zee celestial explosions of yoiir vife. — A leetle more rice, Moses if you please. Zanks." " Now, mine fronds," he continued, after having disposed of a supper which it might have taxed a volcano's throat to swallow, "it is viz great sorrow zat I must part from you here." " Part ! Why ? " asked the hermit in surprise. " Vy, because I find zis contrie is heaven upon eart'. Zat is, of course, only in a scientific point of view. Zee voods are svarming, zee air is teeming, ant zee vaters are vallo'ing vit life. I cannot tear OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 309 myself avay. But ve shall meet again — at Telok Betong, or Krakatoa, or Anjer, or Eatavia." It was fouud that the man of science was also a man of decision. Nothing would persuade him to go a step further. The wood-cutter's hut suited him, so did the wood-cutter himself, and so, as he said, did the region around him. With much regret, therefore, and an earnest invitation from the hermit to visit his cave, and range the almost un- explored woods of his island, the travellers parted from him ; and our three adventurers, dismissing all attendants and hiring three ponies, continued their journey to the southern shores of Sumatra. As they advanced it soon became evident that the scene of volcanic activity was not so far distant as the island of Java, for the air was frequently darkened by the falling of volcanic dust which covered the land with a greyish powder. As, however, at least sixteen volcanoes have been registered in the island of Sumatra, and there are probably many others, it was impossible to decide where the scene of eruption was that caused those signs. One afternoon the travellers witnessed a cata- strophe which induced them to forego all idea of spending more time in examining the country. They had arrived at a village where they found a traveller who appeared to be going about without any special object in view. He spoke English, but 310 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE with a foreign accent, Nigel naturally felt a desire to become sociable with him, but he was very- taciturn and evidently wished to avoid intercourse with chance acquaintances. Hearing that there were curious hot-water and mud springs not far off, the stranger expressed a desire to visit them. Nigel also felt anxious to see them, and as one guide was sufficient for the party the stranger joined the party and they went together. The spot they were led to was evidently a mere crust of earth covering fierce subterranean fires. lu the centre of it a small pond of mud was boiling and bubbling furiously, and round this, on the indurated clay, were smaller wells and craters full of boiling mud. The ground near them was obviously unsafe, for it bent under pressure like thin ice, and at some of the cracks and fissures the sulphurous vapour was so hot that the hand could not be held to it without being scalded. Nigel and the stranger walked close behind the native guide, both, apparently, being anxious to get as near as possible to the central pond. But the guide stopped suddenly, and, looking back, said to Van der Kemp that it was not safe to approach nearer. Nigel at once stopped, and, looking at the stranger, was struck by the wild, incomprehensible expression of his face as he ^«n tinned to advance. OF THE MALAY ARCniPELAGO. 311 " Stop 1 stop, sir ! " cried the hermit on observ- ing this, but the man paid no attention to the warning. Another instant and the crust on which he stood gave way and he sank into a horrible gulf from which issued a gust of sulphurous vapour and steam. The horror which almost overwhelmed Nigel did not prevent him bounding forward to the rescue. Well was it for him at that time that a cooler head than his own was near. The strong hand of the hermit seized his collar on the instant, and he was dragged backward out of danger, while an appalling shriek from the stranger as he disappeared told that the attempt to succour him would have been too late. A terrible event of this kind has usually the effect of totally changing, at least for a time, the feelings of those who witness it, so as to almost incapacitate them from appreciating ordinary events or things. For some days after witnessing the sudden and awful fate of this unknown man, Nigel travelled as if in a dream, taking little notice of, or interest in, anything, and replying to q^uestions in mere mono- syllables. His companions seemed to be similarly affected, for they spoke very little. Even the volatile spirit of Moses appeared to be subdued, and it was not till they had reached nearly the end of their journey that their usual flow of spirits returned. 312 BLOWN TO BITS, A. TALE Arriving one night at a village not very far from the southern shores of Sumatra they learned that the hermit's presentiments were justified, and that the volcano which was causing so much disturbance iu the islands of the arciiipelago was, indeed, the long extinct one of Krakatoa. " I 've heard a good deal about it from one of the cliief men here," said the hermit as he returned to his friends that night about supper-time. " He tells me that it has been more or less in moderate eruption ever since we left the island, but adds that nobody takes much notice of it, as they don't expect it to increase much in violence. I don't agree with them in that," he added gravely. « Why not ? " asked Nigel. " Partly because of the length of time that has elapsed since its last eruption in 1680 ; partly from the fact that that eruption — judging from ap- pearances — must have been a very tremendous one, and partly because my knowledge of volcanic action leads me to expect it ; but I could not easily explain the reason for my conclusions on the latter point. I have just been to the brow of a ridge not far off whence I have seen the glow in the sky of the Krakatoa fires. They do not, however, appear to be very fierce at the present moment." As he spoke there was felt by the travellers a blow, as if of an explosion under the house in OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 313 which they sat. It was a strong vertical bump which nearly tossed them all off their cliairs. Van der Kemp and his man, after an exclamation or two, continued supper like men wlio were used to such interruptions, merely reniarlcing that it was an earthquake. But Nigel, to whom it was not quite so familiar, stood up for a few seconds with a look of anxious uncertainty, as if undecided as to the path of duty and prudence in the circumstances. Moses relieved him. " Sot down, Massa Nadgel," said that sable worthy, as he stuffed his mouth full of rice; "it's easier to sot dan to stand w'en its eart'quakin'." Nigel sat down with a tendency to laugh, for at that moment he chanced to glance at the rafters above, where he saw a small anxious-faced monkey gazing down at him. He was commenting on this creature when an- other prolonged shock of earthquake came. It was not a bump like the previous one, but a severe vibration which only served to shake the men in their chairs, but it shook the small monkey off the rafter, and the miserable little thing fell with a shriek and a flop into the rice-dish ! " Git out o' dat — you scoundril ! " exclaimed Moses, but the order was needless, for the monkey bounced out of it like indiarubber and sought to hide its confusion in the thatch, while Moses helped 314 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALIS himself to some more of the rice, which, he said, was none the worse for being monkeyfied ! At last our travellers found themselves in the town of Telok Eetong, where, being within forty-five miles of Krakatoa, the hermit could both see and hear that his island-home was in violent agitation ; tremendous explosions occurring frequently, while dense masses of smoke were ascending from its craters. " I *m happy to find," said the hermit, soon after their arrival in the town, " that the peak of Eakata, on the southern part of the island where my cave lies, is still quiet and has shown no sign of break- ing out. And now I shall go and see after my canoe." " Do you think it safe to venture to visit your cave ? *' asked Nigel. " Well, not absolutely safe," returned the hermit with a peculiar smile, " but, of course, if you think it unwise to run the risk of " " I asked a simple question. Van der Kemp, with- out any thought of myself," interrupted the youth, as he flushed deeply. " Forgive me, Nigel," returned the hermit quickly and gravely, " it is but my duty to point out that we cannot go there without running some risk." "And it is my duty to point out," retorted his hurt friend, "that when any man, worthy of the OV THE MALAY ABCHIPELAGO. 315 name, agrees to follow another, he agrees to accept all risks." To this the hermit vouchsafed no further reply than a slight smile and nod of intelligence. There- after he went off alone to inquire about his canoC; which, it will be remembered, his friend, the captain of the steamer, had promised to leave for him at this place. Telok Betong, which was one of the severest sufferers by the eruption of 1883, is a small town at the head of Lanipong Bay, opposite to the island of Krakatoa, from which it is between forty and fifty miles distant. It is built on a narrow strip of land at the base of a steep mountain, but little above the sea, and is the chief town of the Lampong Eesidency, which forms the most southerly province of Suma- tra. At the time we write of, the only European residents of the place were connected with Govern- ment. The rest of the population was composed of a heterogeneous mass of natives mingled with a number of Chinese, a few Arabs, and a large fluctu- ating population of traders from Borneo, Celebes, New Guinea, Siam, and the other innumerable isles of the archipelago. These were more or less con- nected with praus laden with the rich and varied merchandise of the eastern seas. As each man in the town had been permitted to build his house according to his own fancy, picturesque irregularity 316 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK was the agreeable result. It may be added that, as jach man spoke his own language in his own tones, Babel and noise were the consequence. In a small hut by the waterside the hermit found the friend — a Malay — to whom his canoe had been consigned, and, in a long low shed close by, he found the canoe itself with the faithful Spinkie in charge. " Don't go near the canoe till you Ve made friends with the monkey," said the Malay in his own tongue, as he was about to put the key in the door, « Why not ? " asked the hermit. "Because it is the savagest brute I ever came across," said the man. " It won't let a soul come near the canoe. I would have killed it long ago if the captain of the steamer had not told me you wished it to be taken great care of. There, look out ! The vixen is not tied up." He flung open the shed-door and revealed Spinkie seated in his old place, much deteriorated in appear- ance and scowling malevolently. The instant the poor creature heard its master's voice and saw his form — for his features must have been invisible against the strong light — the scowl vanished from its little visage. With a shriek of joy it sprang like an acrobat from a spring-board and plunged into the hermit's bosom — to the alarm of the Malay, who thought this was a furious attack. OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 817 We need not say that Van der Kemp received his faithful little servant kindly, and it was quite touching to observe the monkey's intense affection for him. It could not indeed wag its tail like a dog, but it put its arms round its master's neck with a wondrously human air, and rubbed its little head in his beard and whiskers, drawing itself back now and then, putting its black paws on his cheeks, turning his face round to the Hght and opening its round eyes wide — as well as its round little mouth — as if to make sure of his identity — then plunging into the whiskers again, and sometimes, when unable to contain its joy, finding a safety- valve in a little shriek. When the meeting and greeting were over, Van der Kemp explained that he would require his canoe by daybreak the following morning, ordered a few provisions to be got ready, and turned to leave. "You must get down, Spinkie, and watch the canoe for one night more," said the hermit, quietly. But Spinkie did not seem to perceive the ne- cessity, for he clung closer to his master with a remonstrative. croak. "Get down, Spinkie," said the hermit firmly, " and watch the canoe." The poor beast had apparently learned that Medo- Persic law was not more unchangeable than Van der Kemp's commands I At all events it crept down 318 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE his arm and leg, waddled slowly over the floor of the shed with bent back and wrinkled brow, like a man of ninety, and took up its old position on the deck, the very personification of superannuated woe. The hermit patted its head gently, however, thus relieving its feelings, and probably introducing hope into its little heart before leaving. Then he re- turned to his friends and bade them prepare for immediate departure. It was the night of the 24th of August, and as the eruptions of the volcano appeared to be getting more and more violent. Van der Kemp's anxiety to reach his cave became visibly greater. "I have been told," said the hermit to Nigel, as they went down with Moses to the place where the canoe had been left, " the history of Krakatoa since we left. A friend informs me that a short time after our departure the eruptions subsided a little, and the people here had ceased to pay much attention to them, but about the middle of June the volcanic activity became more violent, and on the 19th, in particular, it was observed that the vapour column and the force of the explosions were decidedly on the increase." "At Katimbang, from which place the island can be seen, it was noticed that a second column of vapour was ascending from the centre of the island, OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 319 and that the appearance of Perboewatan had en- tirely changed, its conspicuous summit having ap- parently been blown away. In July there were some explosions of exceptional violence, and I have now no doubt that it was these we heard in the interior of this island when we were travelling hither, quite lately. On the 11th of this month, I believe, the island was visited in a boat by a government ofi&cer, but he did not land, owing to the heavy masses of vapour and dust driven about by the wind, which also prevented him from maldng a careful examination, but he could see that the forests of nearly the whole island have been de- stroyed — only a few trunks of blighted trees being left standing above the thick covering of pumice and dust. He reported that the dust near the shore was found to be twenty inches thick." " If so," said Nigel, " I fear that the island will be no longer fit to inhabit." "I know not," returned the hermit sadly, in a musing tone, "The officer reported that there is no sign of eruption at Rakata, so that my house is yet safe, for no showers of pumice, however deep, can injure the cave." Nigel was on the point of asking his friend why he was so anxious to revisit the island at such a time, but, recollecting his recent tiff on tliat sub- ject, refrained. Afterwards, however, when Van der 320 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE Kemp was settling accounts with the Malay, he put the question to Moses. " I can't help wondering/' he said, " that Van der Kemp should be so anxious to get back to his cave just now. If he were going in a big boat to save some of his goods and chattels I could understand it, but the canoe, you know, could carry little more than her ordinary lading." "Well, Massa Nadgel," said Moses, "it's my opinion dat he wants to go back 'cause he 's got an uncommon affekshnit heart." " How ? Surely you don't mean that his love of the mere place is so, strong that " *' No, no, Massa Nadgel — 's not dat. But he was awrful fond ob his wife an' darter, an' I know he 's got a photogruff ob 'em bof togidder, an' I t'ink he 'd sooner lose his head dan lose dat, for I 've seed him look at 'em for hours, an' kiss 'em sometimes w'en he fought I was asleep." The return of the hermit here abruptly stopped the conversation. The canoe was carried down and put into the water, watched with profound interest by hundreds of natives and traders, who were all more or less acquainted with the hermit of Eakata. It was stiU daylight when they paddled out into Lampong Bay, but the volumes of dust which rose from Krakatoa — although nearly fifty miles off — did much to produce an unusually early twilight OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 321 " Goin' to be bery dark, massa," remarked Moses as they glided past the shipping. " Shall I light de lamp?" " Do, Moses, but we shan't need it, for as we get nearer home the volcanic fires will light us on our way/' " De volcanic dust is a-goin' to powder us on our way too, massa. Keep your hands out o' the way, Spinkie," said the negro as he fixed a small oil-lamp to the mast, and resumed his paddle. " After we get out a bit the wind will help us," said the hermit. " Yes, massa, if he don't blow too strong," returned Moses, as a sciuull came rushing down the mountains and swept over the bay, ruffling its now dark waters into foaming wavelets. Altogether, what with the increasing darkness and the hissing squall, and the night- voyage before them, and tlie fires of Krakatoa which were now clearly visible on the horizon, Nigel Eoy felt a more eerie sensation in his breast than he ever remem- bered to have experienced in all his previous life, but he scorned to admit the fact — even to himself, and said, mentally, that it was rather romantic than otherwise ! Just then tliere burst upon their ears the yell of a steam-whistle, and a few moments later a steamer bore straight down on them, astern. X 322 feLOWN TO Bits, A TALK " Steamer ahoy ! " shouted Van der Kemp. "Will ye throw us a rope ? " " Ay ! ay ! — ease 'er ! — stop *cr ! where are *ee bound for?" demanded an unmistakably English voice. "Krakatoa!" replied the hermit. "Where are you?" "Anjer, on the Java coast. Do 'ee want to be smothered, roasted, and blown up?" asked the captain, looking down on the canoe as it ranged alongside the dark hull. " No, we want to get home." " Home ! Well, you 're queer fellows in a queer eggshell for such waters. Eveiy man to his taste- Look out for the rope !" "All right, cappen," cried Moses as he caught the coil. Next moment the steamer went ahead, and the canoe ploughed over the Sunda Straits at the rate of thirteen miles an hour, with her sharp prow high out of the water, and the stern correspondingly low. The voyage, which would have otherwise cost our three travellers a long laborious night and part of next day, was by this means so greatly shortened that when daybreak arrived they were not more than thirteen miles to the east of Kraka- toa. Nearer than this the steamboat could not take them without going out of her course, but as Van OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 323 der Kemp and Nigel gratefully acknowledged, it was quite near enough. "Well, I should just think it was rather too near !" said the captain with a grin. And, truly, he was justified in making the remark, for the explosions from the volcano had by that time become not only very frequent, but tremendously loud, while the dense cloud which hung above it and spread far and wide over the sky covered the sea with a kind of twilight that struggled successfully against the full advent of day. Lightning too was playing among the rolling black masses of smoke, and the roaring explosions every now and then seemed to shake the very heavens. Casting off the tow-rope, they turned the bow of their canoe to the island. As a stiffish breeze was blowing, they set the sails, close-reefed, and steered for the southern shore at that part which lay under the shadow of Eakata. S2i BLOWK TO BITS, A TALE CHAPTER XXIV. AW AWFUL NIGHT AND TERRIBLJS MORNING. It was a matter of some satisfaction to find on drawing near to the shore that the peak of Eakata was still intact, and that, although most other parts of the island which could be seen were blighted by- fire and covered deeply with pumice dust^ much of the forest in the immediate neighbourhood of the cave was still undestroyed though considerably damaged. " D' you think our old harbour will be available, Moses ? " asked Van der Kemp as they came close to the first headland, "Pr'aps. Bes' go an' see," was the negro's practical reply. " Evidently Eakata is not yet active," said Nigel, looking up at the grey dust-covered crags bs the canoe glided swiftly through the dark water. "That is more than can be said for the other craters," returned the hermit. " It seems to me that not only all the old ones are at work, but a number of new ones must have been opened*" OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO, 325 The constant roaring and explosions that filled their ears and the rain of fine ashes bore testimony to the trutli oi this, though the solid and towering mass of Eakata rose between them and the part of Krakatoa which was in eruption, preventing their seeing anything that was passing except the dense masses of smoke, steam, and dust which rose many miles into the heavens, obstructing the light of day, but forming cloud-masses from which the lurid flames of the volcano were reflected downward. On reaching the little bay or harbour it was found much as they had left it, save that the rocks and bushes around were thickly covered with dust, and their boat was gone. "Strange! at such a time one would scarcely have expected thieves to come here," said the hermit, looking slowly round. " No t'ief bin here, massa," said Moses, looking over the side of the canoe. " I see de boat 1 " He pointed downwards as he spoke, and on look- ing over the side they saw the wreck of the boat at the bottom, in about ten feet of water, and crushed beneath a ponderous mass of lava, which must have been ejected from the volcano and afterwards descended upon the boat. The destruction of the boat rendered it impossible to remove any of the property of the hermit, and Nigel now saw, from his indifference, that this could 326 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE not have been the cause of his friend's anxiety and determination to reach his island home in spite of the danger that such a course entailed. That there was considerable danger soon became very obvious, for, having passed to some extent at this point beyond the shelter of the cliffs of Eakata, and come partly into view of the other parts of the island, the real extent of the volcanic violence burst upon Nigel and Moses as a new revelation. The awful sub- limity of the scene at first almost paralysed them, and they failed to note that not only did a constant rain of pumice dust fall upon them, but that there was also a pretty regular dropping of small stones into the water around them. Their attention was sharply aroused to this fact by the fall of a lump of semi-molten rock, about the size of a cannon shot, a short distance off, which was immediately followed by not less than a cubic yard of lava which fell close to the canoe and deluged them with spray. "We must go," said the hermit quietly. "No need to expose ourselves here, though the watching of the tremendous forces that our Creator has at command does possess a wonderful kind of fascina- tion. It seems to me the more we see of His power as exerted on our little earth, the more do we realise the paltriness of our conception of the stupendous Might that upholds the Universe." While he was speaking, Van der Kemp guided OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 327 the canoe into its little haven, and in a few minutes he and Moses had carried it into the shelter of the cave out of which Nigel had first seen it emerge. Then the lading was carried up, after which they turned into the track which led to the hermit's home. The whole operation may bo said to have been performed under fire, for small masses of rock kept pattering continually on the dust-covered ground around them, causing cloudlets, like smoke, to spring up wherever they struck. Nigel and Moses could not resist glancing upward now and then as they moved quickly to and fro, and they experienced a shrinking sensation when a stone fell very near them, but each scorned to exhibit the smallest trace of anxiety, or to suggest that the sooner they got from under fire the better ! As for Van dor Kemp, he moved about deliberately as if there was nothing unusual going on, and with an absent look on his grave face as though the outbursts of smoke, and fire, and lava, which turned the face of day into lurid niglit, and caused the cliffs to reverberate with unwonted thunders, had no effect whatever on his mind. A short walk, however, along the track, which was more than ankle-deep in dust, brought them under the sheltering sides of Eakata, up which they 3000 scrambled to the mouth of their cave, 328 BLOWN TO BITS, A TAUE Here all was found as tliey had left it, save that the entrance was knee-deep in pumice dust. And now a new and very strange sensation was felt by each of them, for the loud reports and crackling sounds whicli had assailed their ears out- side were reduced by the thick walls of the cave to a continuous dull groan, as it were, like the soft but thunderous bass notes of a stupendous organ. To these sounds were added otliers which seemed to be peculiar to the cave itself. They appeared to rise from crevices in the floor, and were no doubt due to the action of those pent-up subterranean fires which were imprisoned directly, though it may be very far down, under their feet. Every now and then there came a sudden increase of the united sounds as if the " swell " of the great organ had been opened, and such out-gushing was always accompanied with more or less of indescribable shocks followed by prolonged tremors of the entire mountain. If the three friends had been outside to observe what was taking jilace, they would have seen that these symptoms were simultaneous with occasional and extremely violent outbursts from the crater of Perboewatan and his compeers. Indeed they guessed as much, and two of them at least were not a little thankful that, awesome as their position was, they had the tliick mountain between them and the fiery showers outside. OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. S29 Of all this the hermit took no notice, but, hasten- ing into the inner cavern, opened a small box, and took therefrom a bundle of papers and a little ob- ject which, at a first glance, Nigel supposed to be a book, but whicli turned out to be a photograph case. These the liermit put carefully into the breast- pocket of his coat and then turned to his companions with a sigh as if of relief. " I think there is no danger of anything occurring at this part of the island," he remarked, looking round tlie cave, " for there is no sign of smoke and no sulphurous smell issuing from any of the crevices in walls or floor. This, I think, shows that there is no direct communication with Rakata and the active volcano — at least not at present." " Do you then think there is a possibility of an outbreak at some future period ? " asked Nigel. "Who can tell? People here, who don't study the nature of volcanoes much, though surrounded by them, will expect things ere long to resume their normal condition. I can never forget the fact that the greater part of Krakatoa stands, as you know, exactly above the spot where the two great lines of volcanic action cross, and right over the mouth of the immense crater to which Perboewatan and all the other craters serve as mere chimneys or safety-valves. We cannot tell whether a great eruption similar to that of 1680 may not be in store 330 BLOWN TO BITS, A TAI^B for us. The only reason that I can see for the quiescence of this peak of Kakata is, as I said to you once before, that it stands not so much above the old crater as above and on the safe side of its lip," '* I t'ink, massa, if I may ventur* to speak," said Moses, " dat de sooner we git off his lip de better lest we tumble into his mout'." "You may be right, Moses, and I have no ob- jection to quit," returned the hermit, ''now that I have secured the photograph and papers. At the same time I fear the rain of stones and lava is growing worse. It might be safer to stay till there is a lull in the violence of the eruption, and then make a dash for it. What say you, Nigel ? " " I say that you know best. Van der Kemp. I *m ready to abide by your decision, whatever it be." " Well, then, we will go out and have a look at the state of matters." The view from tlie entrance was not calculated to tempt them to forsake the shelter of the cave, however uncertain that might be. The latest ex- plosions had enshrouded the island in such a cloud of smoke and dust, that nothing whatever was visible beyond a few yards in front, and even that space was only seen by the faint rays of the lamp issuing from the outer cave. This lamp-light was sufficient, however, to show that within the semi- circle of a few yards there was a continuous rain of OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 331 grey ashes and dust mingled with occasional stones of various sizes — some larger than a man's fist. "To go out in that would be simply to court death/' said Nigel, whose voice was almost drowned by the noise of the explosions and fall of material. As it was manifest that nothing could be done at the moment except to wait patiently, they returned to the cave, where they lighted the oil-stove, and Moses — who had taken the precaution to carry up some provisions in a bag from the canoe — proceeded to prepare a meal. *'Stummicks must be attended to," he murmured to himself as he moved about the cave-kitchen and shook his head gravely. " Collapses in dat region is wuss, a long way, dan 'splosion of the eart' ! " Meanwhile, Nigel and the hermit went to examine the passage leading to the observatory. The erup- tion had evidently done nothing to it, for, having passed upwards without difficulty, they finally emerged upon the narrow ledge. The scene that burst upon their astonished gaze here was awful in the extreme. It will be re- membered that while the hermit's cave was on the southern side of Krakatoa, facing Java, the stair and passage leading to the observatory completely penetrated the peak of Eakata, so that when stand- ing on the ledge they faced northward and were thus in full view of all the craters between them 332 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE and Perboewatari. These were in full blast at the time, and, being so near, the heat, as well as the dust, molten lava, and other missiles, instantly drove them back und(ir the protection of the passage from which they had eniui-ged. Here they found a small aperture which appeared to have been recently formed — probably by a blow from a mass of falling rock — through which they were able to obtain a glimpse of the pandemonium that lay seething below them. They could not see much, however, owing to the smoke which filled the air. The noise of the almost continuous explosions was so loud, that it was impossible to converse save by placing the mouth to the ear and shouting. Fortunately soon after their ascent the wind shifted and blew smoke, fire, and dust away to the norths ward, enabling them to get out on the ledge, where for a time they remained in comparative safety. " Look ! look at your mirrors ! " exclaimed Nigel suddenly, as his wandering gaze happened to turn to the hermit's sun-guides. And he might well exclaim, for not only was the glass of these ingenious machines shivered and melted, but their iron frameworks were twisted up into fantastic shapes. "Lightning has been at work here," said Van der Kemp. It did not at the moment occur to either of them OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 333 that the position on which they stood was peculiarly liable to attack by the subtle and dangerous fluid which was darting and zig-zagging everywhere among the rolling clouds of smoke and steam. A louder report than usual here drew their attention again to the tremendous scene that was going on in front of them. The extreme summit of Perboewatan had been blown into a thousand fragments, which were hurtling upwards and crack- ling loudly as the smaller masses were impelled against each other in their skyward progress. This crackling has been described by those who heard it from neighbouring shores as a "strange rustling sound." To our hermit and his friend, wlio were, so to speak, ia the very midst of it, the sound rather resembled tlie continuous musketry of a battle-field, while the louder explosions might be compared to the booming of artillery, though they necessarily lose by the comparison, for no invention of man ever produced sounds equal to those which thundered at that time from the womb of Krakatoa. Immediately after this, a fountain of molten lava at white heat welled up in the great throat that had been so violently widened, and, overflowing the edges of the crater, rolled down its sides in fiery rivers. All the other craters in the island became active at the same moment and a number of new ones burst forth. Indeed it seemed to those who watched 334 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE them that if these had not opened up to give vent to the suppressed forces the whole island must have been blown away. As it was, the sudden generation of so much excessive heat set fire to what remained of trees and everything combustible, so that the island appeared to be one vast seething conflagration, and darkness was for a time banished by a red glare that seemed to Nigel far more intense than that of noonday. It is indeed the partiality (if we may say so) of conflagration-light which gives to it the character of impressive power with which we are all so familiar — the intense lights being here cut sharply oflf by equally intense shadows^ and then grading into dull reds and duller greys. The sun, on the other hand, bathes everything in its genial glow so completely that all nature is permeated with it, and there are no intense contrasts, no absolutely black and strik- ing shadows, except in caverns and holes, to form startling contrasts. "These safety-^valves," said the hermit, referring to the new craters, "have, under God, been the means of saving us from destruction." "It would seem so," said Nigel, who was too overwhelmed by the sight to say much. Even as he spoke the scene changed as if by magic, for from the cone of Perboewatan there issued a spout of liquid fire, followed by a roar so OS- THE MALAY AROHlPELAGO, 335 tremendous that the awe-struck men shrank within themselves, feeling as though that time had really come when the earth is to melt with fervent heat ! The entire lake of glowing lava was shot into the air, and lost in the clouds above, while mingled smoke and steam went bellowing after it, and dust fell so thickly that it seemed as if sufficient to extinguish the raging fires. Whether it did so or not is un- certain. It may have been that the new pall of black vapour only obscured them. At all events, after the outburst the darkness of night fell sud- denly on all around. Just then the wind again changed, and the whole mass of vapour, smoke, and ashes came sweeping like the very besom of destruction towards the giddy ledge on which the observers stood. Nigel was so entranced that it is probalile he might have been caught in the horrible tempest and lost had not his cooler companion grasped his arm and dragged him violently into the passage — where they were safe, though half suffocated by the heat and sulphurous vapours that followed them. At the same time the thunderous roaring became so loud that conversation was impossible. Van der Kemp therefore took his friend's hand and led him down to the cave, where the sounds were so greatly subdued as to seem almost a calm by contrast. 336 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE "We are no doubt in great danger," said the hermit, gravely, as he sat down in the outer cave, "but there is no possibility of taking action to- night. Here we are, whether wisely or unwisely, and here we must remain —at least till there is a lull in the eruption. ' God is our refuge/ He ought to be so at all times, but there are occasions when tliis great, and, I would add, glorious fact is pressed upon our understandings with unusual power. Such a time is this. Come — we will see what His word says to us just now. To Nigel's surprise, and, he afterwards confessed, to his comfort and satisfaction, the hermit called the negro from his work, and, taking down the large Bible from its shelf, read part of the 46th Psalm, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." He stopped reading at the verse where it is written, " Be still, and know that I am God." Then, going down on his knees, — without even the familiar formula, " Let us pray " — he uttered a brief but earnest prayer for guidance and de- liverance " in the name of Jesus." Eising, he quietly put the Bible away, and, with the calmness of a thoroughly practical man, who looks upon religion and ordinary matters as parts OF THE MALAY AliClllPELAGO. 337 of one grand whole, ordered Moses to serve the supper. Thus they spent part of that memorable night of 26th August 1883 in earnest social intercourse, conversing chiefly and naturally about the character, causes, and philosophy of volcanoes, while Per- boewatan and his brethren played a rumbling, illustrative accompaniment to their discourse. The situation was a peculiar one. Even the negro was alive to that fact. "Ain't it koorious," he remarked solemnly in a moment of confidence after swallowing the last bite of his supper, "Ain't it koorious, Massa Nadgel, dat we *re a sottin' here comf rably enjoyin' our wittles ober de mout' ob a Vlicano as is quite fit to blow us all to bits an' hois' us into de bery middle ob next week — if not farder?'* " It is strange indeed, Moses," said Nigel, who however added no commentary, feeling indisposed to pursue the subject. Seeing this, Moses turned to his master. " Massa," he said. " You don' want nuflfin' more to-night, T s'pose ? *' " No, Moses, nothing." " An' is you quite easy in your mind ? " "Quite," replied the hermit with his peculiar little smile. " Den it would be wuss dan stoopid for me to Y §38 JBLOWK to BITS, A TAtft be OM-easy, so I'll bid ye bof good-night, an* tntn in. In this truly trustful as well as philosophical state of mind, the negro retired to his familiar couch in the inner cave, and went to sleep, Nigel and the hermit sat up for some time longer, " Van der Kemp," said the former, after a pause, "I — I trust you won't think me actuated by impertinent curiosity if I venture to ask you about — the — photograph that I think you " "My young friend 1" interrupted the hermit, taking the case in question from his breast pocket; " I should rather apologise to you for having appeared to make any mystery of it — and yet," he added, pausing as he was about to open the case, " I have not shown it to a living soul since the day that Well, well, — why should I hesitate? It is all I have left of my dead wife and child." He placed the case in the hands of Nigel, who almost sprang from his seat with excitement as he beheld the countenance of a little child of appar- ently three or four years of age, who so exactly resembled Kathy Holbein — allowing of course for the difference of age — that he had now no doubt whatever as to her being the hermit's lost daughter. He was on the point of uttering her name, when uncertainty as to the effect the sudden disclosure might have upon the father checked him. OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 339 " You seem surprised, my friend," said Van der Kemp gently. " Most beautiful ! " said Nigel, gazing intently at the portrait. "That dear child's face seems so familiar to me that I could almost fancy I had seen it." He loolced earnestly into his friend's face as he spoke, but the hermit was quite unmoved, and there was not a shadow of change in the sad low tone of his voice as he said — ** Yes, she was indeed beautiful, like her mother. As to your fancy about having seen it — mankind is formed in groups and types. We see many faces that resemble others." The absent look that was so common to the solitary man here overspread his massive features, and Nigel felt crushed, as it were, back into him- self. Thus, without having disclosed his belief, he retired to rest in a very anxious state of mind, while the hermit watched. " Don't take off' your clothes," he said. " If the sounds outside lead me to think things are quieting down, I will rouse you and we shall start at once." It was very early on the morning of the 27th when Van der Kemp roused our hero. "Are things quieter ? " asked Nigel as he rose. "Yes, a little, but not much—- nevertheless we must venture to leave." 340 BLOWN TO BITB, A TALE "Is it daylight yet?" " No. There will be no daylight to-day ! " with which prophecy the hermit left him and went to rouse Moses. "Massa," said the faithful negro. "Isn't you a goin' to take nufBn' wid you? None ob do books or t'ings 1 " "No — nothing except the old Bible. All the rest I leave behind. The canoe could not carry much. Besides, we may have little time. Get ready; quick ! and follow me." Moses required no spur. The three men left the cave together. It was so intensely dark that the road could not be distinguished, but the hermit and his man were so familiar with it that they could have followed it blindfold. On reaching the cave at the harbour, some light was obtained from the fitful outbursts of the volcano, which enabled them to launch the canoe and push off in safety. Then, without saying a word to each other, they coasted along the shore of the island, and, finally, leaving its dangers behind them, made for the island of Java — poor Spinkie sitting in his accustomed place and looking un- commonly subdued 1 Scarcely had they pushed o£F into Sunda Straits when the volcano burst out afresh. They had happily seized on the only quiet hour that the day OF THE MALAY AKCHIPErAGO. 341 offered, and had succeeded, by the aid of the sails, in getting several miles from the island without receiving serious injury, although showers of stones and masses of rock of all sizes were falling into the sea around them. Van der Kemp was so far right in his prophecy that there would be no daylight that day. By that time there should have been light, as it was nearly seven o'clock on the memorable morning of the 27th of August. But now, although the travellers were some miles distant from Ki-akatoa, the gloom was so impervious that Nigel, from his place in the centre of the canoe, could not see the form of poor Spinkie — which sat clinging to the mast only two feet in front of him — save when a blaze from Per- boewatan or one of the other craters lighted up island and ocean with a vivid glare. At this time the sea began to run very high and the wind increased to a gale, so that the sails of the canoCj small though they were, had to be reduced. "Lower the foresail, Nigel," shouted the hermit "I will close- reef it. Do you the same to the mainsail." "Ay, ay, sir," was the prompt reply. Moses and Nigel kept the little craft straight to the wind while the foresail was being reefed, Van der Kemp and the former performing the same duty while Nigel reefed the mainsail. Suddenly there came a brief but total cessation oi BLOWN TO BITS— Page 342. 342 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE the grtle, though not of the tumultuous heaving of the waters. During that short interval there burst upon the world a crash and a roar so tremendous that for a few moments the voyagers were almost stunned 1 It is no figure of speech to say that the world heard the crash. Hundreds, ay, thousands of miles did the sound of that mighty upheaval pass over land and sea to startle, more or less, the nations of the earth. The effect of a stupendous shock on the nervous system is curiously various in different individuals. The three men who were so near to the volcano at that moment involuntarily looked round and saw by the lurid blaze that an enormous mass of Kraka- toa, rent from top to bottom, was falling headlong into the sea; while the entire heavens were alive with flame, lightning, steam, smoke, and the upward- shooting fragments of the hideous wreck ! The hermit calmly rested his paddle on the deck and gazed around in silent wonder. Nigel, not less smitten with awe, held his paddle with an iron grasp, every muscle quivering with tension in readi- ness for instant action when the need for action should appear. Moses, on the other hand, turning round from the sight with glaring eyes, resumed paddling with unreasoning ferocity, and gave vent at once to his feelings and his opinion in the sharp exclamation — " Blown to bits 1 " OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. Si$ CHAPTER XXV, vilJVKNTDRES OF THB "SUNSHINE" AND AN UNEXPECTED HECTNION. We must request the reader to turn back now for a brief period to a very different scene. A considerable time before the tremendous cata- strophe described in the last chapter — which we claim to have recorded without the slightest exag- geration, inasmuch as exaggeration were impossible — Captain David Roy, of the good brig Smishine, re- ceived the letter which his son wrote to him while in the jungles of Sumatra. The captain was seated in the back oflQce of a Batavian merchant at the time, smoking a long clay pipe — on the principle, no doubt, that moderate poisoning is conducive to moderate health ! As he perused the letter, the captain's eyes slowly opened; so did his mouth, and the clay pipe, falling to the floor, was reduced to little pieces. But the captain evidently cared nothing for that. He gave forth a prolonged whistle, got up, smote upon his thigh, and exclaimed with deep-toned emphasis— 344 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE "The rascal r Then he sat down again and re-pernsed the letter, with a variety of expression on his face that might have recalled the typical April day, miniis the tears, "The rascal!" he repeated, as he finished the second reading of the letter and thrust it into his pocket. "I knew there was somethin' i' the wind wi' that little girl ! The memory o' my own young days when I boarded and captured the poetess is strong upon me yet. I saw it in the rascal's eye the very first time they met — an' he thinks I'm as blind as a bat, I'll be bound, with his poetical reef-point-pattering sharpness. But it's a strange discovery he has made and must be looked into. The young dog ! He gives me orders as if he were the owner." Jumping up, Captain Roy hurried out into the street. In passing the outer office he left a message with one of the clerks for his friend the merchant. " Tell him," he said, " that 1 11 attend to that little business about the bill when I come back. I'm going to sail for the Keeling Islands this afternoon." " The Keeling Islands ? " exclaimed the clerk in surprise, " Yes — I 've got business to do there. I '11 be back, all bein' well, in a week — more or less." The clerk's eyebrows remained in a raised posi- tion for a few moments, until he remembered tliat OF THE MALAY AUOHIPELAGO. 345 Cai)tain Eoy, being owner of liis ship and cargo, was entitled to do what he pleased witJi his own and himself. TJien they descended, and he went on with his work, amusing himself with the thought tliat the most curious beings in the world were seafaring men. "Mr. Moor/' said tlie captain somewhat excitedly, as he reached 1 he deck of his vessel, " are all the men aboard ? "All except Jim Sloper, sir." " Then send and hunt up Jim Sloper at once, for we sail this afternoon for the Keeling Islands." "Very well, sir." Mr, Moor was a phlegmatic man ; a self-contained and a reticent man. If Captain Eoy had told him to get ready to sail to the moon that afternoon, he would probably have said " Very well, sir," in the same tone and witli the same expression. "May I ask, sir, what sort of cargo you expect thei-e ? " said Mr. Moor ; for to his practical mind some re-arrangement of the cargo already on board might be necessary for the reception of that to be picked up at Keeling. " The cargo we 11 take on board will be a girl/' said the captain. " A what, sir ? " "A girl" '* Very well, sir." 316 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK This eiuled the business part of the conversation. Thereafter they went into details so highly nautical that we shrink from recording them. An amateur detective, in the form of a shipmate, having captured Jim Sloper, the Sunshine finally cleared out of the port of Batavia that evening, shortly before its namesake took his departure from that part of the southern hemisphere. Favouring gales carried the brig swiftly through Sunda Straits and out into the Indian Ocean. Two days and a half brought her to the desired haven. On the way, Captain Koy took note of the condition of Krakatoa, which at that time was quietly working up its subterranean forces with a view to the final catastrophe; opening a safety- valve now and then to prevent, as it were, pre- mature explosion. " My son's friend, the hermit of llakata," said the captain to his second mate, " will find his cave too hot to hold him, I think, when he returns." "Looks like it, sir," said Mr. Moor, glancing up at the vast clouds which were at that time spread- ing like a black pall over the re-awakened volcano, "Do you expect *em back soon, sir ? " " Yes — time 's about up now. I shouldn't wonder if they reacli Batavia before us." Arrived at the Keeling Islands, Captain Eoy was received, as usual, with acclamations of joy, but he OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 347 iownd that he was by no means as well fitted to act the part of a diplomatist as he was to sail a ship. It was, in truth, a somewhat delicate mission on which his son had sent him, for he could not assert definitely that the hermit actually was Kathleen Holbein's father, and her self-constituted parents did not relish the idea of letting slip, on a mere chance, one whom they loved as a daughter, "Why not bring this man who claims to be her father here ? " asked the perplexed Holbein. "Because — because, p'raps he won't come," answered the puzzled mariner, who did not like to say that he was simply and strictly obeying his son's orders. "Besides," he continued, "the man does not claim to be anything at all» So far as I understand it, my boy has not spoken to him on the subject, for fear, I suppose, of raisin' hopes that ain't to be realised." " He is right in that," said Mrs. Holbein, " and we must be just as careful not to raise false hopes in dear little Kathy. As your son says, it may be a mistake after all. We must not open our lips to her about it." "Eight you are, madam," returned the captain. " Mum 's the word ; and we Ve only got to say she *3 goin* to visit one of your old friends in Anjer — which '11 be quite true, you know, for the landlady o' the chief hotel there is a great friend o' yours, 348 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK and we '11 take Kathy to her straight. Besides, the trip will do her health a power o' good, though I 'm free to confess it don't need no good to be done to it, bein' A,l at the present time. Now, just you agree to give the girl a holiday, an' I '11 pledge myself to bring her back safe and sound — with her lather, it he 's Mm ; without him if he isn't." With such persuasive words Captain Eoy at length overcame the Holbein objections. With the girl herself he had less difficulty, his chief anxiety being, as he himself said, " to give her reasons for wishin* her to go without tellin' lies." "Wouldn't you like a trip in my brig to Anjer, my dear girl ? " He had almost said daughter, but thought it best not to be too precipitate. " Oh ! I should like it so much," said Kathleen, clasping her little hands and raising her large eyes to the captain's face. " J)ear child ! " said the captain to himself. Then aloud, "Well, I'll take you" " But I — I fear that father and mother would not like me to go — perhaps." "No fear o' them, my girl," returned the captain, putting his huge rough hand on her pretty little head as if in an act of solemn appropriation, for, unlike too many fathers, this exemplary man con- sidered only the sweetness, goodness, and personal worth of the girl, caring not a straw for other OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 349 matters, and being strongly of opinion that a man should marry young if he possess the spirit of a man or the means to support a wife. As he was particularly fond of Kathleen, and felt quite sure that his son had deeper reasons than he cliose to express for his course of action, he entertained a strong hope, not to say conviction, that she would also become fond of Nigel, and that all things would thus work to- gether for a smooth course to this case of true love. It will be seen from all this that Captain David Eoy was a sanguine man. Whether his hopes were well grounded or not remains to be seen. Meanwhile, having, as Mr. Moor said, shipped the cargo, the Sunshine set sail once more for Sunda Straits in a measure of outward gloom that formed a powerful contrast to the sunny hopes within her commander^s bosom, for Krakatoa was at that time progressing rapidly towards the consummation of its designs, as partly described in the last chapter. Short though that voyage was, it embraced a period of action so thrilling that ever afterwards it seemed a large slice of life's little day to those who went through it. We have said that the culminating incidents of the drama began on the night of the 26th. Before that time, however, the cloud-pall was fast spread- ing over land and sea, and the rain of pumice and ashes had begun to descend. 550 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE The wind being contrary, it was several days before the brig reached the immediate neighbour- hood of Krakatoa, and by that time the volcano had begun to enter upon the stage which is styled by vulcanologists "paroxysmal," the explosions being extremely violent as well as frequent. " It is very awful," said Kathleen in a low voice, as she clasped the captain's arm and leaned her slight figure on it. " I have often heard the thunder of distant volcanoes, but never been so near as to hear such terrible sounds." " Don't be frightened, my ducky," said the cap- tain in a soothing tone, for he felt from the appear- ance of things that there was indeed some ground for alarm. "Volcanoes always look worse when you 're near them." " I not frightened/' she replied. " Only I got strange, solemn feelings. Besides, no danger can come till God allows," " That 's right, lass. Mrs. Holbein has been a true mother if she taught you that." "No, she did not taught me that. .My father taught me that." "Wliat! Old Holbein?" " No — my father, who is dead," she said in a low voice, "Oh! I see. My poor child, I should have understood you. Forgive me." OF THE MALAY AUCHItELAGO. $51 As the captain spoke, a tremendous outburst on Krakatoa turned their minds to other subjects. They were by that time drawing near to the island, and the thunders of the eruption seemed to shake not only the heavens but even the great ocean itself. Though the hour was not much past noon the darkness soon became so dense that it was difficult to perceive objects a few yards distant, and, as pieces of stone the size of walnuts, or even larger, began to fall on the deck, the captain sent Kathleen below. " There 's no saying where or when a big stone may fall, my girl/' he said, " and it 's not the habit of Englishmen to let women come under fire, so you'll be safer below. Besides, you'll be able to see something of what 's goin' on out o' the cabin windows." With the obedience that was natural to her, Kathleen went down at once, and the captain made everything as snug as possible, battening down the hatches and shortening sail so as to be ready for whatever might befall. " I don't like the look o' things, Mr. Moor," said the captain when the second mate came on deck to take his watch. '' No more do I, sir," answered Mr. Moor calmly. The aspect of things was indeed very changeable. Sometimes, as we have said, all nature seemed to be steeped in thick darkness, at other times the fires 352 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE of the volcano blazed upward, spreading a red glare on the rolling clouds and over the heaving sea. Lightning also played its part as well as thunder, but the latter was scarcely distinguishable from the volcanoes roar. Three days before Sunday the 26th of August, Captain Eoy — as well as the crews of several other vessels that were in Sunda Straits at the time — had observed a marked though gradual increase in the violence of the eruption. On that day, as we read in the Beport of the Krakatoa Com- mittee of the Royal Society, about 1 P.M. the de- tonations caused by the explosive action attained such violence as to be heard at Batavia, about 100 English miles away. At 2 r.M. of the same day. Captain Thompson of the Medea, when about 76 miles E.N.E. pf the island, saw a black mass rising like clouds of smoke to a height which has been estimated at no less than 17 miles ! And the detona- tions were at that time taking place at intervals of ten minutes. But, terrible though these explosions must have been, they were but as the whisperings of the volcano. An hour later they had increased so much as to be heard at Bandong and other places 160 miles away, and at 5 p.m. they had become so tremendous as to be heard over the whole island of Java, the eastern portion of which is about 650 miles from Krakatoa. And the sounds thus heard were not merely like OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 363 distant thunder. In Batavia— althongli, as we have said, 100 miles off — they were so violent during the whole of that terrible Sunday night as to prevent the people from sleeping. They were compared to the " discharge of artilleiy close at hand " and caused a rattling of doors, windows, pictures, and chandeliers. Captain Watson of the Charles Bal, who chanced to be only 10 miles south of the volcano, also com- pared the sounds to discharges of artillery, hut this only shows the feebleness of ordinary language in at- tempting to describe such extraordinary sounds, for if they were comparable to close artillery at Batavia, the same comparison is inappropriate at only ten miles' distance. He also mentions the crackling noise, probably due to the impact of fragments in the atmosphere, which were noticed by the hermit and Nigel while standing stunned and almost stupefied on the giddy ledge of Eakata that same Sunday. About five in the evening of that day, the brig Sunshine drew still nearer to the island, but the commotion at the time became so intense, and the intermittent darkness so profound, that Captain Roy was afraid to continue the voyage and shortened sail. Not only was there a heavy rolling sea, but the water was seething, as if about to boil. "Heave the lead, Mr. Moor," said the captain, who stood beside the wheel. 2 354 BLOWN TO BITS. A TALE "Yes, sir/* answered the imperturbable second mate, who thereupon gave the necessary order, and when the depth was ascertained, the report was " Ten fathoms, sand, with a 'ot bottom." " A hot bottom ! what do you mean ? " " The lead 'a 'ot, sir," replied the sailor. This was true, as the captain found when he applied his hand to it. "I do believe the world's going on fire," he muttered ; " but it's a comfort to know that it can't very well blaze up as long as the sea lasts I " Just then a rain of pumice in large pieces, and quite warm, began to fall upon the deck. As most people know, pumice is extremely light, so that no absolute injury was done to any one, though such rain was excessively trying. Soon, however, a change took place. The dense vapours and dust- clouds which had rendered it so excessively dark were entirely lighted up from time to time by fierce flashes of lightning which rent as well as painted them in all directions. At one time this great mass of clouds presented the appearance of an immense pine-tree with the stem and branches formed of volcanic lightning. Captain Eoy, fearing that these tremendous sights and sounds would terrify the poor girl in the cabin, was about to look in aud reassure her, when the words "Oh' how splendid I" came throiigh the OF THE MALAY AKCHIPEtAGO. 355 slightly opened door. He peeped in and saw- Kathleen on her knees on the stern locker, with her hands clasped, gazing out of one of the stern windows. "Hm! she's all right," he muttered, softly re- closing the door and returning on deck. "If she thinks it 's splendid, she don't need no comfortin' ! It's q^uite clear that she don't know what danger means — and why should she? Humph I there go some more splendid sights for her/' he added, as what appeared to be chains of fire ascended from the volcano to the sky. Just then a soft rain began to fall It was warm, and, on examination at the binnacle lamp, turned out to be mud. Slight at first, it soon poured down in such quantities that in ten minutes it lay six inches thick on the deck, and the crew had to set to work with shovels to heave it overboard. At this time there was seen a continual roll of balls of white fire down the sides of the peak of Eakata, caused, doubtless, by the ejection of white-hot frag- ments of lava. Then showers of masses Like iron cinders fell on the brig, and from that time onward till four o'clock of the morning of the 27th, ex- plosions of indescribable grandeur continually took place, as if the mountains were in a continuous roar of terrestrial agony — the sky being at one moment of inky blackness, the next in a blaze of 356 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE light, while hot, choking, and sulphurous smells almost stifled the voyagers. At this point the captain again became anxious about Kathleen and went below. He found her in the same place and attitude — still fascinated ! "My child," he said, taking her hand, *'you must lie down and rest." "Oh! no. Do let me stay up," she begged, entreatingly. " But you must be tired — sleepy." "Sleepy! who could sleep with such wonders going on around? Pray don't tell me to go to bed!" It was evident that poor Kathy had the duty of obedience to authority still strong upon her. Perhaps the memory of the Holbein nursery had not yet been wiped out. "Well, well," said the captain with a pathetic smile, " you are as safe — comfortable, I mean — here as in your berth or anywhere else." As there was a lull in the violence of the eruption just then, the captain left Kathleen in the cabin anli went on deck. It was not known at that time what caused this lull, but as it precede'^ the first of the four grand explosions which effectually evis- cerated — emptied — the ancient crater of Krakatoa, we will give, briefly, the explanation of it as con- jectured by the men of science. OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 357 Lying as it did so close to the sea-level, the Krakatoa volcano, having blown away all its cones, and vents, and safety-valves — from Perboewatan southward, except the peak of Eakata — let the sea rush in upon its infernal fires. This result, ordinary people think, produced a gush of steam which caused the grand terminal explosions. Vulcanologists think otherwise, and with reason — which is more than can be said of ordinary people, who little know the power of the forces at work below the crust of our earth! The steam thus produced, although on so stupendous a scale, was free to expand and therefore went upwards, no doubt in a sufficiently effective gust and cloud. But nothing worthy of being named a blow-up was there. The effect of the in-rushing water was to cool the upper surface of the boiling lava and convert it into a thick hard solid crust at the mouth of the great vent. In this condition the volcano resembled a boiler with all points of egress closed and the safety- valve shut down I Oceans of molten lava creating expansive gases below ; no outlet possible under- neath, and the neck of the bottle corked with tons of solid rock ! One of two things must happen in such circumstances : the cork must go or the bottle must burst 1 Both events happened on tliat terrible night. All night long the corks were going, and at last— Krakatoa burst ! 368 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE In the hurly-burly of confusion, smoke, and noise, no eye could note the precise moment when the island was shattered, but there were on the morning of the 27th four supreme explosions, which rang loud and high above the horrible average din. These occurred — according to the careful investigations made, at the instance of the Dutch Indian Govern- ment, by the eminent geologist, Mr. R. D. M. Verbeek— at the hours of 6.30, 6.44, 10.2, and 10.62 in the morning. Of these the third, about 10, was by far the worst for violence and for the wide- spread devastation which it produced. At each of these explosions a tremendous sea- wave was created by the volcano, which swept like a watery ring from Krakatoa as a centre to the surrounding shores. It was at the second of these explosions — that of 6.44 — that the fall of the mighty cliff took place which was seen by the hermit and his friends as they fled from the island, and, on the crest of the resulting wave, were carried along they scarce knew whither. As the previous wave — that of 6.30 — had given the brig a tremendous heave upwards, the captain, on hearing the second, ran down below for a moment to tell Kathleen there would soon be another wave, but that she need fear no danger. "The brig is deep and has a good hold o' the water," he said, " so the wave is sure to slip under OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 359 her without damage, I wish I could hope it would do as little damage when it reaches the shore." As he spoke a strange and violent crash was heard overhead, quite different from volcanic explosions, like the falling of some heavy body on the deck. " One o' the yards down ! " muttered the captain as he ran to the cabin door. " Hallo, what *s that, Mr. Moor ? " " Canoe just come aboard, sir." " A canoe ? " " Yes, sir. Crew, three men and a monkey. All insensible — hallo ! " The "hallo!" with which the second mate finished his remark was so unlike his wonted tone, and so full of genuine surprise, that the captain ran forward with unusual haste, and found a canoe smashed to pieces against the foremast, and the mate held a lantern close to the face of one of the men while the crew were examining the others. A single glance told the captain that the mud- bespattered figure that lay before him as if dead was none other than his own son ! The great wave had caught the frail craft on its crest, anc., sweeping it along with lightning speed for a short distance, had hurled it on the deck of the Sunshine with such violence as to completely stun the whole crew. Even Spinkie lay in a melancholy little heap in the lee scuppers. 360 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK You think this a far-fetched coincidence, good reader ! Well, all we can say is that we could tell you of another — a double — coincidence, which was far more extraordinary than this one, but as it has nothing to do with our tale we refrain firom inflicting it on you. Off XllK MALAY AUOUIPELAGO. 361 CHAPTER XXVI. A CLIMAX. Three of those who had tumbled thus uncerc- iiioniously on the deck of the Sunshine were soon sufficiently recovered to sit up and look around in dazed astonishment — namely Kigel, Moses, and the monkey — but the hermit still lay prone where he had been cast, with a pretty severe wound on his head, from which blood was flowing freely, " Nigel, my boy ! " " Father ! " exclaimed the youth. " Where am II What has happened ? " "Don't excite yourself, lad,*' said the mariner, stooping and whispering into his son's ear. '' We Ve got her aboard 1 " No treatment could have been more effectxial in bringing Nigel to his senses than this whisper. " Is — is — Van der Kemp safe ? " he asked anxiously. " All right — only stunned, I think. That 's him 362 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE they're just goin' to carry below. Put 'im in my bunk, Mr. Moor." *'Ay ay, sir." Nigel sprang up. " Stay, father," he said in a low voice. "She must not see him for the first time like this." " All right, boy, I understand. You leave that to me. My bunk has bin shifted for'id — more amidships — an' Kathy's well aft. They shan't be let run foul of each other. You go an' rest on the main hatch till we get him down. Why, here's a nigger ! Where did you pick him oh ! I re- member. You 're the man we met, I suppose, wi' the hermit on Krakatoa that day o* the excursion from Batavia," " Yes, das me. But we '11 meet on Krakatoa no more, for dat place am blown to bits." "I'm pretty well convinced o' that by this time, my man. Not hurt much, I hope ? " "No, sar — not more 'n I can stan'. But I 's 'fraid dat poor Spinkie's a'most used up — hallo! what you gwine to do with massa?" demanded the negro, whose wandering faculties had only in part returned. "He's gone below» All right. Now, you go and lie down beside my son on the hatch. I'll- see to Van der Kemp." But Captain David Roy's intentions, like those of OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 363 many men of greater note, were frustrated by the hermit himself, who recovered consciousness just as the four men who carried him reached the foot of the companion-ladder close to the cabin door. Owing to the deeper than midnight darkness that prevailed a lamp was burning iu the cabin — dimly, as if, infected by the universal chaos, it were un- willing to enlighteii the surrounding gloom. On recovering consciousness Van der Kemp was, not unnaturally, under the impression that he had fallen into the hands of foes. With one effectual convulsion of his powerful limbs he scattered his bearers right and left, and turning — like all honest men — to the light, he sprang into the cabin, wrenched a chair from its fastenings, and, facing round, stood at bay. Kathleen, seeing this blood-stained giant in such violent action, naturally fled to her cabin and shut the door. As no worse enemy than Captain Eoy presented himself at the cabin door, unarmed, and with an anxious look on his rugged face, the hermit set down the chair, and feeling giddy sank down on it with a groan. "I fear you are badly hurt, sir. Let me tie a handkerchief round your wounded head," said the captain soothingly. " Thanks, thank« Your voice is not unfamiliar 564 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE to me," returned the hermit with a sigh, as he sub- mitted to the operation. "I thought I had fallen somehow into the hands of pirates. Surely an ac- cident must have happened. How did I get here ? Where are my comrades — Nigel and the negro ? " "My son Nigel is all right, sir, and so is your man Moses. Make your mind easy — an' pray don't speak while I 'm working at you. I '11 explain it all in good time. Stay, I'll be with you in a moment." The captain — fearing that Kathleen might come out from curiosity to see what was going on, and remembering his son's injunction — went to the girl's berth with the intention of ordering her to keep close until he should give her leave to come out. Opening the door softly and looking in, he was startled, almost horrified, to see Kathleen stand- ing motionless like a statue, with both hands pressed tightly over her heart. The colour had fled from her beautiful face; her long hair was flung back; her large lustrous eyes were wide open and her lips slightly parted, as if her whole being had been concentrated in eager expectancy. "What's wrong, my girl?" asked the captain anxiously. "You've no cause for fear. I just looked in to ." "That voice!" exclaimed Kathleen, with some- thing of awe in her tones — " Oh ! I 've heard it so olten in my dreams." OF THE MALAY AltCITIPKLAGO^ 365 *' Hush 1 sli ! my girl," said the captain in a low tone, looking anxiously round at the wounded man. But his precautions were unavailing, — Van dcr Kemp had also luiard a voice which he thought had long been silent in death. The girl's expression was almost repeated in his face. Before the well- meaning mariner could decide what to do, Kathleen brushed lightly past him, and stood in the cabin gazing as if spell-bound at the hermit "Winnie!" he whispered, asf if scarcely daring to utter the name. "Father!" She extended both hands towards him as she spoke. Then, with a piercing shriek, she staggered backward, and would have fallen had not the captain caught her and let her gently down. Van der Kemp vaulted the table, fell on his knees beside her, and, raising her light form, clasped her to his heart, just as Nigel and Moses, alarmed by the scream, sprang into the cabin, " Come, come ; away wi' you — you stoopid gram- pusses!" cried the captain, pushing the intruders out of the cabin, following them, and closing the door behind him. " This is no place for bunglers like you an* me. We might have known that uatur* would have her way, an' didn't need no help from the like o' us. Let's on deck. There's enough work there to look after that 's better suited to us." 366 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK Truly there was enough — and more than enough — to claim the most anxious attention of all who were on board of the Sunshine that morning, for hot mud was still falling in showers on the deck, and the thunders of the great volcano were still shaking heaven, earth, and sea. To clear the decks and sails of mud occupied every one for some time so earnestly that they failed to notice at first that the hermit had come on deck, found a shovel, and was working away like the rest of them. The frequent and prolonged blazes of intense light that ever and anon banished the dark- ness showed that on his face there sat an expression of calm, settled, triumphant joy, which was strangely mingled with a look of quiet humility* " I thank God for this," said Nigel, going forward when he observed him and grasping his hand, "You knew it?" exclaimed the hermit in sur- prise. "Yes. I knew it — indeed, helped to bring you together, but did not dare to tell you till I was quite sure, I had hoped to have you meet in very different circumstances," "'It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps,' " returned the hermit reverently. " God bless you, NigeL If you have even aimed at bringing this about, I owe you more than my life/' "You must have lost a good deal of blood. Van OY THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 367 der Kemp- Are yon much hurt ? " asked Nigel, as he observed the bandage round his friend's head. " Somewhat. Not much, I hope — but joy, as well as blood, gives strength, Nigel," A report from a man who had just been ordered to take soundings induced the captain at this time to lay-to. "It seems to me," he said to Nigel and the hermit who stood close beside him, "that we are getting too near shore. But in cases o* this kind the bottom o' the sea itself can't be depended on." " What part of the shore are we near, d' you think, father?" "Stand by to let go the anchor!" roared the captain, instead of answering the question. "Ay, ay, sir/' replied the second mate, whose cool, sing-song, business-like tone at such a moment actually tended to inspire a measure of confidence in those around him. Another moment, and the rattling chain caused a tremor through the vessel, which ceased when the anchor touched bottom, and they rode head to wind. Coruscations of bluish light seemed to play about the masts, and balls of electric fire tipped the yards, throwing for a short time a ghastly sheen over the ship and crew, for the profound darkness had again settled down, owing, no doubt, to another choking of the Krakatoa vent. 368 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK Before the light referred to went out, Moses was struck violently on the chest by. something soft, which caused him to stagger. It was Spinkie! In the midst of the unusual horrors that surrounded him, while clinging to the unfamiliar mizzen shrouds on which in desperation the poor monkey had found a temporary refuge, the electric fire showed him the dark figure of his old familiar friend standing not far oflE With a shriek of not quite hopeless despair, and an inconceivable bound, Spinkie launched himself into space. His early training in the forest stood him in good stead at that crisis ! As already said he hit the mark fairly, and clung to Moses with a tenacity that was born of mingled love and desperation. Finding that nothing short of cruelty would unfix his little friend, Moses stuffed him inside the breast of his cotton shirt. In this haven of rest the monkey heaved a sigh of profound contentment, folded his hands on his bosom, and meekly went to sleep. Two of the excessively violent paroxysms of the volcano, above referred to, had by that time taken place, but the third, and worst — that which occurred about 10 A.M. — was yet in store for them, though they knew it not, and a lull in the roar, accompanied by thicker darkness than ever, was its precursor. There was not, however, any lull in the violence of the wind. "I don't like these lulls/' said Captain Eoy to the OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO, 369 hermit, as they stood close to the binnacle, in the feeble light of its lamp. "What is that striking against our sides, Mr. Moor ? " "Looks like floating pumice, sir," answered the second mate, " and I think I see palm-trees amongst it/' " Ay, I thougtit so, we must be close to land," said the captain, "We can't be far from Anjer, and I fear the big waves that have already passed us have done some damage. Lower a lantern over the side, — no, fetch an empty tar-barrel and let's have a flare. That will enable us to see things better." While the barrel was being fastened to a spar so as to be thrust well out beyond the side of the brig, Van der Kemp descended the companion and opened the cabin door. " Come up now, Winnie, darling." " Yes, father," was the reply, as the poor girl, who had been anxiously awaiting the summons, glided out and clasped her father's arm with both hands, *' Are things quieting down ? " "They are, a littla It may be temporary, but — Our Father directs it all," " True, father. I 'm so glad of that I " ''Mind the step, we shall have more light on deck. There is a friend there who has just told me he met you on the Cocos-Keeling Island, Nigel Roy ;— you start, Winnie ? " 370 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE « Y — yes, father. I am so surprised, for it is his father who sails this ship ! And I cannot imagine how he or you came on board.*' " Well, I was going to say that I believe it is partly through Nigel that you and I have been brought together, but there is mystery about it that I don't yet understand; much has to be explained, and this assuredly is not the time or place. Here, Nigel, is your old Keeling friend." "Ay — friend! humph!" said old Eoy softly to himself. " My eZear— child ! " said young Eoy, paternally, to the girl as he grasped her hand. " I cannot tell you how thankful I am that this has been brought about, and — and that / have had some little hand in it." "There's more than pumice floating about in the sea, sir," said Mr. Moor, coming aft at the moment and speaking to the captain in a low tone. "You'd better send the young lady below — or get some one to take up her attention just now." "Here, Nigel. Sit down under the lee of the companion, an' tell Kathy how this all came about," said the captain, promptly, as if issuing nautical orders. " I want you here. Van der Kemp." So saying, the captain, followed by the hermit, went with the second mate to the place where the flaming tar-barrel was casting a lurid glare upon the troubled sea. OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO, 371 CHAPTEE XXVIL "BLOWN TO BITS," The sight that met their eyes was well calculated to shock and sadden men of much less tender feeling than Van der Kemp and Captain Roy. The water had assumed an appearance of inky blackness, and large masses of pumice were floating past, among which were numerous dead bodies of men, women, and children, intermingled with riven trees, fences, and other wreckage from the land, showing that the two great waves which had already passed under the vessel had caused terrible devastation on some parts of the shore. To add to the horror of the scene large sea-snakes were seen swimming wildly about, as if seeking to escape from the novel dangers that surrounded them. The sailors looked on in awe-stricken silence for some time. " P'raps some of 'em may be alive yet ! " whis- pered one. "Couldn't we lower a boat ? " " Impossible in such a sea," said the captain, who 372 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK overheard the remark. '* Besides, no life could exist there." *' Captain Koy," said Van der Kemp earnestly, "let me advise you to get your foresail ready to hoist at a moment's notice, and let them stand by to cut the cable." " Why so ? There seems no need at present for such strong measures/* " You don't understand volcanoes as I do," returned the hermit. " This lull will only last until the im- prisoned fires overcome the block in the crater, and the longer it lasts the worse will be the explosion. From my knowledge of the coast I feel sure that we are close to the town of Anjer. If another wave like the last comes while we are here, it will not slip under your brig like the last one. It will teal her from her anchor and hurl us all to destruction. You have but one chance; that is, to cut the cable and run in on the top of it — a poor chance at the best, but if God wills, we shall escape." " If we are indeed as near shore as you think/' said the captain, " I know what you say must be true, for in shoal water such a wave will surely carry all before it. But are you certain there will be another explosion ? " "No man can be sure of that. If the last explosion emptied the crater there will be no more. If it did not, another explosion is certain All I OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 373 advise is that you should be ready for whatever is coming, and ready to take your only chance." "Bight you are, sir. Send men to be ready to cut the cable, Mr. Moor. And stand by the top- sail halyards." " Ay, ay, sir." During the anxious minutes that followed, the hermit rejoined Winnie and Nigel on the quarter- deck, and conversed with the latter in a low voice, while he drew the former to his side with his strong arm. Captain Koy himself grasped the wheel and the men stood at their various stations ready for action. "Let no man act without orders, whatever happens," said the captain in a deep powerful voice which was heard over the whole ship, for the lull that we have mentioned extended in some degree to the gale as well as to the volcano. Every one felt that some catastrophe was pending. "Winnie, darling," said the hermit tenderly, as he bent down to see the sweet face that had been restored to him. "I greatly fear that there is suie to be another explosion, and it may be His will that we shall perish, but comfort yourself with the certainty that no hair of your dear head can faU without His permission — and in any event He will not fail us." "I know it, father. I have no fear — at least, only a little!" 37* BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE " Nigel," said the hermit, " stick close to us if you can. It may be that, if anything should befall me, your strong arm may succour Winnie ; mine has lost somewhat of its vigour," he whispered, " Trust me — nothing but death shall sunder us," said the anxious youth in a burst of enthusiasm. It seemed as if death were indeed to be the immediate portion of all on board the Sunshine, for a few minutes later there came a crash, followed by a spout of smoke, fire, steam, and molten lava, compared to which all that had gone before seemed insignificant ! The crash was indescribable ! As we have said elsewhere, the sound of it was heard many hundreds of miles from the seat of the volcano, and its effects were seen and felt right round the world. The numerous vents which had previously been noticed on Krakatoa must at that moment have been blown into one, and the original crater of the old volcano — said to have been about six miles in diameter— must have resumed its destructive work. All the eye-witnesses who were near the spot at the time, and sufficiently calm to take note of the terrific events of that morning, are agreed as to the splendour of the electrical phenomena displayed during this paroxysmal outburst. One who, at the time, was forty miles distant speaks of the great vapour-cloud looking "like an immense wall or OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 375 blood-red curtain with edges of all shades of yellow, and bursts of forked lightning at times rushing like large serpents through the air/' Another says that " Krakatoa appeared to be alight with flicker- ing flames rising behind a dense black cloud." A third recorded that " the lightning struck the main- mast conductor five or six times," and that "the mud-rain which covered the decks was phosphor- escent, while the rigging presented the appearance of St. Elmo's fire." It may be remarked here, in passing, that giant steam-jets rushing through the orifices of the earth's crust constitute an enormous hydro-electric engine ; and the friction of ejected materials striking against each other in ascending and descending also gener- ates electricity, which accounts to some extent for the electrical condition of the atmosphere. In these final and stupendous outbursts the vol- cano was expending its remaining force in breaking up and ejecting the solid lava which constituted its framework, and not in merely vomiting forth the lava-froth, or pumice, which had characterised the earlier stages of the eruption. In point of fact — as was afterwards clearly ascertained by careful sound- ings and estimates, taking the average height of the missing portion at 700 feet above water, and the depth at 300 feet below it — two-thirds of the island were blown entirely off the face of the earth. The 376 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE mass had covered an area of nearly six miles, and is estimated as being equal to 1| cubic miles of solid matter which, as Moses expressed it, was blown to bits! If this had been all, it would have been enough to claim the attention and excite the wonder of the intelligent world — but this was not nearly all, as we shall see, for saddest of all the incidents connected with the eruption is the fact that upwards of thirty- six thousand human beings lost their lives. The manner in which that terrible loss occurred shall be shown by the future adventures of the Sunshifie, OF THE MAtAY ARCHIPELAGO. 377 CHAPTEE XXVIIL THB FATE OP THE *' 8UNSHINB.*' Stunned at first, for a few minutes, by the extreme violence of the explosion, no one on board the Sunshine spoke, though each man stood at his post ready to act. *' Strange," said the captain at last '* There seems to be no big wave this time/' "That only shows that we are not as near the island as we thought. But it won't be long of See ! There it comes," said the hermit. " Now, Winnie, cling to my arm and put your trust in God.'* Nigel, who had secured a life-buoy, moved close to the girl's side, and looking anxiously out ahead saw a faint line of foam in the thick darkness which had succeeded the explosion. Already the distant roar of the billow was heard, proving that it had begun to break. " Tlie wind comes with it," said Van der Kemp. "Stand by I" cried the captain, gazing intently over the side. 378 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE Next moment came the sharp order to hoist the foretopsail and jib, soon followed by " Cut the cable ! " There was breeze enough to swing the vessel quickly round. In a few seconds her stern was presented to the coming wave, and her bow cleft the water as she rushed upon what every one now knew was her doom. To escape the great wave was no part of the captain's plan. To have reached the shore before the wave would have been fatal to all. Their only hope lay in the possibility of riding in on the top of it, and the great danger was that they should be unable to rise to it stem first when it came up, or that they should turn broadside on and be rolled over. They had not long to wait. Th(i size of the wave, before it came near enough to be seen, was indicated by its solemn, deep-toned, ever-increasing roar. The captain stood at the wheel himself, guiding the brig and glancing back from time to time uneasily. Suddenly the volcano gave vent to its fourth and final explosion. It was not so violent as its predecessors had been, though more so than any that had occurred on the day before, and the light of it showed them the full teiTors of their situation, for it revealed the mountains of Java — apparently OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO, 379 q^uite close in front, though in reality at a con- siderable distance — with a line of breakers beating white on the shore. But astern of them was the most appalling sight, for there, rushing on with awful speed and a sort of hissing roar, came the monstrous wave, emergiug, as it were, out of thick darkness, like a mighty wall of water with a foaming white crest, not much less — according to an average of the most reliable estimates — than 100 feet high. Well might the seamen blanch, for never before in all their varied experience had they seen the like of that. On it came with the unwavering force of Fate. To the eye of Captain Eoy it appeared that up its huge towering side no vessel made by mortal man could climb. But the captain had too often stared death in the face to be unmanned by the prospect now. Steadily be steered the vessel straight on, and in a quiet voice said — " Lay hold of something firm — every man ! '* The warning was well timed. In the amazement* if not fear, caused by the unwonted sight, some had neglected the needful precaution. As the billow came on, the biibbling, leaping, and seething of its crest was apparent both to eye and ear. Then the roar became tremendous. "Darling Winnie" said Nigel at that moment. " I will die for you or with you ! " 380 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK The poor girl heard, but no sign of appreciation moved her pale face as she gazed up at the approach- ing chaos of watera Next moment the brig seemed to stand on its bows. "Van der Kemp had placed his daughter against the mast, and, throwing his long arms round both, held on. Nigel, close to them, had grasped a handful of ropes, and every one else was holding on for life. Another moment and the brig rose as if it were being tossed up to the heavens. Immediately thereafter it resumed its natural position in a perfect wilderness of foam. They were on the summit of the great wave, which was so large that its crest seemed like a broad, rounded mass of tumbling snow with blackness before and behind, wliile the roar of the tumult was deafening. The brig rushed onward at a speed which she had never before equalled even in the fiercest gale — tossed hither and thither by the leaping foam, yet always kept going straight onward by the expert steering of her captain. " Come aft— all of you ! " he shoutea, when it was evident that the vessel was being borne surely forward on the wave's crest. " The masts will go for certain when we strike." The danger of being entangled in the falling spars and cordage was so obvious that every one except the hermit and Nigel obeyed. OF THE MALAY AKCIIIPELAGO. 381 "Here, Nigel," gasped the former. "I — I've — lost blood — faint ! " Our hero at once saw that Van der Kemp, fainting from previous loss of blood, coupled with exertion, was unable to do anything but hold on. Indeed, he failed even in that, and would have fallen to the deck had Nigel not caught him by the arm. " Can you run aft, Winnie ?" said Nigel anxiously. " Yes ! " said the girl, at once understanding the situation and darting to the wheel, of which and of Captain Eoy she laid firm hold, while Nigel lifted the hermit in his arms and staggered to the same spot. Winnie knelt beside him immediately, and, forgetting for the moment all the horrors around her, busied herself in replacing the bandage which had been loosened from his head. " Oh ! Mr. Eoy, save him ! — save him ! " cried the poor child, appealing in an agony to Nigel, for she felt instinctively that when the crash came her father would be utterly helpless even to save him- self. Nigel had barely time to answer when a wild shout from the crew caused him to start up and look round. A flare from the volcano had cast a red light over the bewildering scene, and revealed the fact that the brig was no longer above the ocean's bed, but was passing in its wild career right through, or rather (wey, the demolished town oj 382 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE Anjer, A few of the houses that had been left standing by the previous waves were being swept — hurled — away by this one, but the mass of uoUmg, rushing, spouting water was so deep, that the vessel had as yet struck nothing save the tops of some palm-trees which bent their heads like straws before the flood. Even in the midst of the amazement, alarm, and anxiety caused by the situation, Nigel could not help wondering that in this final and complete destruction of the town no sign of struggling human beings should be visible. He forgot at the moment, what was terribly proved afterwards, that the first waves had swallowed up men, women, and children by hundreds, and that the few who survived had fled to the hills, leaving nothing for the larger wave to do but complete the work of devastation on inanimate objects. Ere the situation had been well realised the volcanic fires went down again, and left the world, for over a hundred sur- rounding miles, in opaque darkness. Only the humble flicker of the binnacle light, like a trusty sentinel on duty, continued to shed its feeble rays on a few feet of the deck, and showed that the compass at least was still faithful to the pole ! Then another volcanic outburst revealed the fact that the wave which carried them was thundering on in the direction of a considerable cliff or OF THE MALAY AECHIPELAGO. 383 precipice — not indeed quite straight towards it, but sufficiently so to render escape doubtful. At the same time a swarm of terror-stricken people were seen flying towards this cliff and clambering up its steep sides. They were probably some of the more courageous of the inhabitants who had summoned courage to return to their homes after the passage of the second wave. Their shrieks and cries could be heard above even the roaring of the water and the detonations of the volcano, " God spare us ! " exclaimed poor Winnie, whose trembling form was now partially supported by Nigel As she spoke darkness again obscured everything, and they could do naught but listen to the terrible sounds — and pray. On — on went the Sunshine, in the midst of wreck and ruin, on this strange voyage over land and water, until a check was felt. It was not a crash as had been anticipated, and as might have naturally been expected, neither was it an abrupt stoppage. There was first a hissing, scraping sound against the vessel's sides, then a steady checking — we might almost say a hindrance to progress — not violent, yet so very decided that the rigging could not bear the strain. One and another of the back- stays parted, the foretopsail burst with a cannon- 384 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE like report, after which a terrible rending sound, followed by an indescribable crash, told that both masts had gone by the board. Then all was comparatively still — comparatively we say, for water still hissed and leaped beneath tliem like a rushing river, though it no longer roared, and the wind blew in unfamiliar strains and laden with unwonted odours. At that moment another outburst of Krakatoa revealed the fact that the great wave had borne the brig inland for upwards of a mile, and left her imbedded in a thick grove of cocoa-nut palms I OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 385 CHAPTEE XXIX. TBtLS OHIBFLT OF THB WONDERFUL EFFECTS OF THIS ERUPTION ON THB WORLD AT LARGE. The great explosions of that morning had done more damage and had achieved results more astounding than lies in the power of language adequately to describe, or of history to parallel. Let us take a glance at this subject in passing. An inhabitant of Anjer — owner of a hotel, a ship-chandler's store, two houses, and a dozen boats — went down to the beach about six on the morning of that fateful 27th of August. He had naturally been impressed by the night of the 26th, though, accustomed as he was to volcanic eruptions, he felt no apprehensions as to the safety of the town. He went to look to the moorings of his boats, leaving his family of seven behind him. While engaged in this work he observed a wave of immense size approaching. He leaped into one of his boats, which was caught up by the wave and swept inland, carrying its owner there in safety. But this was the wave that sealed the doom of the 2b 386 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE town and most of its inhabitants, including the hotel-keeper's family and all that he possessed. This is one only out of thousands of cases of bereavement and destruction, A lighthouse-keeper was seated in his solitary watch-tower, speculating, doubtless, on the probable continuance of such a violent outbreak, while his family and mates — accustomed to sleep in the midst of elemental war — were resting peacefully in the rooms below, when one of the mighty waves suddenly appeared, thundered past, and swept the lighthouse with all its inhabitants away. This shows but one of the many disasters to lighthouses in Sunda Straits. A Dutch man-of-war — the Beroww — was lying at anchor in Lampong Bay, fifty miles from Krakatoa. The great wave came, tore it from its anchorage, and carried it — like the vessel of our friend David Koy — nearly two miles inland I Masses of coral of immense size and weight were carried four miles inland by the same wave. The river at Anjer was choked up ; the conduit which used to carry water into the place was destroyed, and the town itself was laid in ruins. But these are only a few of the incidents of the great catastrophe. Who can conceive, much less tell of, those terrible details of sudden death and disaster to thousands of human beings, resulting OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO, 387 from an eruption which destroyed towns like Telok Betong, Anjer, Tyringin, etc., besides numerous villages and hamlets on the shores of Java and Sumatra, and caused the destruction of more than 36,000 souls ? But it is to results of a very different kind, and on a much more extended scale, that we must turn if we would properly estimate the magnitude, the wide-spreading and far-reaching influences, and the extraordinary character, of the Krakatoa outburst of 1883. In the first place, it is a fact, testified to by some of the best-known men of science, that the shock of the explosion extended appreciably nght round the world, and seventeen miles (some say even higher I ) up into the heavens. Mr. Verbeek, in his treatise on this subject, estimates that a cubic mile of Krakatoa was pro- pelled in the form of the finest dust into the higher regions of the atmosphere — probably about thirty miles! The dust thus sent into the sky was of "ultra-microscopic fineness," and it travelled round and round the world in a westerly direction, pro- ducing those extraordinary sunsets and gorgeous effects and afterglows which became visible in the British Isles in the month of November following^ the eruption ; and the mighty waves which caused such destruction in the vicinity of Sunda Straits 388 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE travelled — not once, but at least — six times round the globe, as was proved by trustworthy and inde- pendent observations of tide-gauges and barometers made and recorded at the same time in nearly all lands — including our own. Other volcanoes, it is said by those who have a right to speak in regard to such matters, have ejected more "stuff," but not one has equalled Krakatoa in the intensity of its explosions, the appalling results of the sea-waves, the wonderful effects in the sky, and the almost miraculous nature of the sounds. Seated on a log under a palm-tree in Batavia, on that momentous morning of the 27th, was a sailor who had been left behind sick by Captain Roy when he went on his rather Quixotic trip to the Keeling Islands. He was a somewhat delicate son of the sea. Want of self-restraint was his complaint — ^leading to a surfeit of fruit and other things, which terminated in a severe fit of indigestion and indisposition to life in general. He was smoking — that being a sovereign and infallible cure for indi- gestion and all other ills that flesh is heir to, as every one knows ! " I say, old man," he inquired, with that cheerful tone and air which usually accompanies incapacity for food. " Do it always rain ashes here ? " The old man whom ho addressed was a veteran Malay seaman, OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 389 " No," replied the Malay, " sometimes it rain mud — hot mud/' " Do it? Oh ! well— anything for variety, I s'pose," returned the sailor, with a growl which had reference to internal disarrangements. " Is it often as dark as this in the daytime, an* is the sun usually green ? " he asked carelessly, more for the sake of distracting the mind from other matters than for the desire of knowledge. " Sometime it's more darker," replied the old man. "I've seed it so dark that you couldn't see how awful dark it was." As he spoke, a sound that has been described by ear- witnesses as " deafening " smote upon their tympanums, the log on which they sat quivered, the earth seemed to tremble, and several dishes in a neighbouring hut were thrown down and broken. " I say, old man, suthin' busted there," remarked the sailor, taking the pipe from his mouth and quietly ramming its contents down with the end of his blunt forefinger. The Malay looked grave. " The gasometer ? " suggested the sailor* " No, that n&ver busts." " A noo mountain come into action, p'raps, an* blow'ditstopoff?" "Shouldn't wonder if that's it — close at hand 390 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE too. We 's used to that here. But them *s bigger cracks than or'nar'.'* The old Malay was right as to the cause, but wrong as to distance. Instead of being a volcano " close at hand," it was Krakatoa eviscerating itself a hundred miles off, and the sound of its last grand effort "extended over 50 degrees = about 3000 miles." On that day all the gas lights were extinguished in Batavia, and the pictures rattled on the walls as though from the action of an earthquaka But there was no earthquake. It was the air- wave from Kra- katoa^ and the noise produced by the air-waves that followed was described as " deafening." The effect of the sounds of the explosions on the Straits Settlements generally was not only striking but to some extent amusing. At Carimon, in Java — 355 miles distant from Krakatoa — it was supposed that a vessel in distress was firing guns, and several native boats were sent off to render assistance, but no distressed vessel was to be found ! At Acheen, in Sumatra — 1073 miles distant — they supposed that a fort was being attacked and the troops were turned out under arms. At Singapore — 522 miles off — they fancied that the detonations came fl^om a vessel in distress and two steamers were despatched to search for it. And here the effect on the tele- phone, extending to Ishore, was remarkable. On raising the tubes a perfect roar as of a waterfall OF THE MALAY AKCIIIPELAGO. 391 was heard. By shouting at the top of his voice, the clerk at one end could make the clerk at the other end hear, but he could not render a word intelligible. At Perak — 770 miles off — the sounds were thought to be distant salvos of artillery, and Commander Hon. F. Vereker, R.K, of H.M.S. Mag- pie, when 1227 miles distant (in lat. 6"" 52' N, long. 118* 22' E.). states that the detonations of Krakatoa were distinctly heard by those on board his ship, and by the inhabitants of the coast as far as Banguey Island, on August 27th. He adds that they resembled distant heavy cannonading. In a letter from St. Lucia Bay — 1 116 miles distant — it was stated that the eruption was plainly heard all over Borneo. A government steamer was sent out from the Island of Timor — 1351 miles off — to ascertain the cause of the disturbance ! In South Australia also, at places 2250 miles away, explosions were heard on the 26th and 27th which "awakened" people, and were thought worthy of being recorded and reported. From Tavoy, in Burmah — 1478 miles away — the report came — " All day on August 27th unusual sounds were heard, resembling the boom of guns. Thinking there might be a wreck or a ship in distress, the Tavoy Superintendent sent out the police launch, but they ' could see nothing.' " And so on, far and near, similar records were made, the most distant spot where the sounds were re- 392 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE ported to have been heard being Eodriguez, in the Pacific, nearly 3000 miles distant ! One peculiar feature of the records is that some ships in the immediate neighbourhood of Krakatoa did not experience the shock in proportionate severity. Probably this was owing to their being so near that a great part of the concussion and sound flew over them — somewhat in the same way that the pieces of a bomb-shell fly over men who, being too near to escape by running, escape by fling- ing themselves flat on the ground. Each air-wave which conveyed these sounds, commencing at Krakatoa as a centre, spread out in an ever-increasing circle till it reached a distance of 180* from its origin and encircled the earth at its widest part, after which it continued to advance in a contracting form until it reached the antipodes of the volcano ; whence it was reflected or reproduced and travelled back again to Krakatoa. Here it was turned right-about-face and again despatched on its long journey. In this way it oscillated backward and forward not fewer than six times before traces of it were lost. We say "traces," because these remarkable facts were ascertained, tracked, and corroborated by independent barometric observation in all parts of the earth. For instance, the passage of the great air-wave from Krakatoa to its antipodes, and from its anti- OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 393 pedes back to Krakatoa, was registered six times by the automatic barometer at Greenwich. The instru- ment at Kew Observatory confirmed the records of Greenwich, and so did the barometers of other places in the kingdom. Everywliere in Europe also this fact was corroborated, and in some places even a seventh oscillation was recorded. The Greenwich record shows that the air-waves took about thirty- six hours to travel from pole to pole, thus proving that they travelled at about the rate of ordinary sound-waves, which, roughly speaking, travel at the rate of between six and seven hundred miles an hour. The height of the sea-waves that devastated the neighbouring shores, being variously estimated at from 60 to 135 feet, is sufficiently accounted for by the intervention of islands and headlands, etc., which, of course, tended to diminish the force, height, and volume of waves in varying degrees. These, like the air-waves, were also registered — by self-acting tide-gauges and by personal observa- tion — all over the world, and the observations coi?i- cided as to date with the great eruptions of the 26th and 27th of August The influence of the sea- waves was observed and noted in the Java sea — which is shallow and where there are innumerable obstructions — as far as 450 miles^ but to the west they swt^pt over the deep waters of the Indian 394 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE Ocean on to Cape Horn, and even, it is said, to the English Channel. The unusual disturbance of ocean in various places was sufficiently striking. At Galle, in Ceylon, where the usual rise and fall of the tide is 2 feet, the master-attendant reports that on the afternoon of the 27th four remarkable waves were noticed in the port. The last of these was preceded by an unusual recession of the sea to such an ex- tent that small boats at their anchorage were left aground — a thiug that had never been seen before. The period of recession was only one-and-a-half minutes ; then the water paused, as it were, for a brief space, and, beginning to rise, reached the level of the highest high-water mark in less than two minutes, thus marking a difference of 8 feet 10 inches instead of the ordinary 2 feet. At one place there was an ebb and flood tide, of unusual extent, within half-an-hour. At another, a belt of land, including a burying-ground, was washed away, so that according to the observer " it appeared as if the dead had sought shelter with the living in a neighbouring cocoa-nut garden ! " Elsewhere the tides were seen to advance and recede ten or twelve times — in one case even twenty times — on the 27th. At Trincomalee the sea receded three times and returned with singular force, at one period leaving part of the shore suddenly bare, with fish struggling OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 395 in the mui The utilitarian tendency of mankind was at once made manifest by some fishermen who, seizing the opportunity, dashed into the struggling mass and began to reap the accidental harvest, when — alas for the poor fishermen ! — the sea rushed in again and drove them all away. In the Mauritius, however, the fishers were more fortunate, for when their beach was exposed in a similar manner, they succeeded in capturing a good many fish before the water returned. Even sharks were disturbed in their sinister and slimy habits of life by this outburst of Krakatoa — and no wonder, when it is recorded that in some places " the sea looked like water boiling heavily in a pot," and that " the boats which were afloat were swinging in all directions." At one place several of these monsters were flung out of their native home into pools, where they were left struggling till their enemy man terminated their career. Everywhere those great waves produced pheno- mena which were so striking as to attract the atten- tion of aU classes of people, to ensure record in most parts of the world, and to call for the earnest investigation of the scientific men of many lands — and the conclusion to which such men have almost universally come is, that the strange vagaries of the sea all over the earth, the mysterious sounds heard in so many widely distant places, and the wonderful 396 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE effects in the skies of every quarter of the globe, were all due to the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in 1883. "With reference to these last— the sky-effects — a few words may not be out of place here. The superfine "ultra-microscopic" dust, which was blown by the volcano in quantities so enorm- ous to such unusual heights, was, after dropping its heavier particles back to earth, caught by the breezes which always blow in the higher regions from east to west, and carried by them for many month R round and round the world. The dust was thickly and not widely spread at first, but as time went on it gradually extended itself on either side, becoming visible to more and more of earth*s inhabitants, and at the same time becoming neces- sarily less dense. Through this medium the sun's rays had to pene- trate. In so far as the dust-particles were opaque they would obscure these rays ; where they were trans- parent or polished they would refract and reflect them. That the material of which those dust-particles was composed was very various has been ascertained, proved, and recorded by the Krakatoa Committee. The attempt to expound this matter would probably overtax the endurance of the average reader, yet it may interest all to know that this dust-cloud tiavelled westward within the tropics at the rate of OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 397 about double the speed of an express train — say 120 miles an hour; crossed the Indian Ocean and Africa in three days, the Atlantic in two, America in two, and, in short, put a girdle round the world in thirteen days. Moreover, the cloud of dust was so big that it took two or three days to pass any given point. During its second circum- navigation it was considerably spread and thinned, and the third time still more so, having expanded enough to include Europe and the greater part of North America. It had thinned away altogether and disappeared in the spring of 1884. Who has not seen — at least read or heard of — the gorgeous skies of the autumn of 1883? Not only in Britain, but in all parts of the world, these same skies were seen, admired, and commented on as marvellous. And so they were. One of the chief peculiarities about them, besides their splendour, was the fact that they consisted chiefly of " after- glows " — that is, an increase of light and splendour aftenr the setting of the sun, when, in an ordinary state of things, the grey shadows of evening would have descended on the world. Greenish-blue suns ; pink clouds ; bright yellow, orange, and crimson afterglows; gorgeous, magnificent, blood-red skies — the commentators seemed unable to find language adequately to describe them. Listen to a German observer's remarks on the subject ; — 398 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE "The display of November 29th was the grandest and most manifold. I give a description as exactly as possible, for its overwhelming magnificence still presents itself to me as if it had been yesterday. When the sun had set about a q[uarter of an hour there was not much afterglow, but I had observed a remarkably yellow bow in the south, about 10° above the horizon. In about ten minutes more this arc rose pretty quickly, extended itself all over the east and up to and beyond the zenith. The sailors declared, 'Sir, that is the Northern Lights/ I thought I had never seen Northern Lights in greater splendour. After five minutes more the light had faded, though not vanished, in the east and south, and the finest purple-red rose up in the south-west ; one could imagine one's-self in Fairyland/' All this, and a great deal more, was caused by the dust of Krakatoa ! " But how — how — why ? " exclaims an impatient and puzzled reader. "Ay — there's the rub." Rubbing, by the way, may have had something to do with it At all events we are safe to say that whatever there was of electricity in the matter resulted from friction. Here is what the men of science say — as far as we can gather and condense. The fine dust blown out of Krakatoa was found, under the microscope, to consist of excessively thin. OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 399 transparent plates or irregular specks of pumice — which inconceivably minute fragments were caused by enormous steam pressure in the interior and the sudden expansion of the masses blown out into the atmosphere. Of this glassy dust, that which was blown into the regions beyond the clouds must have been much finer even than that which was examined. These glass fragments were said by Dr. Flligel to contain either innumerable air- bubbles or minute needle-like crystals, or both. Small though these vesicles were when ejected from the volcano, they would become still smaller by bursting when they suddenly reached a much lower pressure of atmo- sphere at a great height. Some of them, however, owing to tenacity of material and other causes, might have failed to burst and would reniEttin float- ing in the upper air as perfect microscopic glass balloons. Thus the dust was a mass of particles of every conceivable shape, and so fine that no watches, boxes, or instruments were tight enough to exclude from their interior even that portion of the dust which was heavy enough to remain on earth ! Now, to the unscientific reader it is useless to say more than that the innumerable and varied positions of these glassy particles, some transparent, others semi-transparent or opaque, reflecting the sun's rays in different directions, with a complex modification of colour and effect resulting from the 400 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE blueness of the sky, the condition of the atmosphere, and many other causes — all combined to produce the remarkable appearances of light and colour which aroused the admiration and wonder of the world in 1883. The more one thinks of these things, and the deeper one dives into the mysteries of nature, the more profoundly is one impressed at once with a humbling sense of the limited amount of one's knowledge, and an awe-inspiring appreciation of the illimitable fields suggested by that comprehensisre expression : " The wonderful works of God." OF THE MALAT ASCHIFELAGO. 401 OHAPTEE XXX. COMING BVEWTS, BTC— WONDEHFDL OHANGBS AMONG THE ISLANDS. Some days after the wreck of the SunshiTis, as described in a previous chapter, Captain Eoy and his son stood on the coast of Java not far from the ruins of Anjer. A vessel was anchored in the offing, and a little boat lay on the shore. All sign of elemental strife had passed, though a cloud of smoke hanging over the remains of Kra- katoa told that the terrible giant below was not dead but only sleeping — to awake, perchance, after a nap of another 200 years. " Well, father," said our hero with a modest look, " it may be, as you suggest, that Winnie Van der Kemp does not care for me more than for a fathom of salt water " *' I did not say salt water, lad, I said bilge — a fathom o' bilge water," interrupted the captain, who, although secretly rejoiced at the fact of his son having fallen- over head and ears in love with the pretty little Cocos-Keeling islander, deemed it his 20 40^ bLOWN to Bits, A TALK duty, nevertheless, as a sternly upright parent, to make quite sure that the love was mutual as well as deep before giving his consent to anytliing like courtship, " It matters not ; salt or bilge water makes little difference,'* returned the son with a smile. " But all I can say is that I care for Winnie so much that her love is to me of as much importance as sunshine to the world — and we have had some experience lately of what the want of that means/' " Nonsense, Nigel/' returned the captain severely. "You're workin' yourself into them up-in-the- clouds, reef-point-patterin* regions again — which, by the way, should be pretty well choked wi' Kra- katoa dust by this time. Come down out o' that if ye want to hold or'nary intercourse wi' .your old father. She's far too young yet, my boy. You must just do as many a young fellow has done before you, attend to your dooties and forget her." " Forget her ! " returned the youth, with that amused, quiet expression which wise men some- times assume when listening to foolish suggestions. " I could almost as easily forget my mother ! " " A very proper sentiment, Nigel, very —especially the ' almost * part of it." " Besides," continued the son, " she is not so very young — and that dif&culty remedies itself every hour. Moreover, I too am young. I can wait" OF THE M^LAY ARCHIPELAGO. 403 " The selfishness of youth is only equalled hy its presumption/* said the captain. " How d' ee know she will wait ? " " I don't know, father, but I hope she will — I — I — think she will." " Nigel," said the captain, in a tone and with a look that were meant to imply intense solemnity, " have you ever spoken to her about love ? " " No, father." " Has she ever spoken to you ? " " No — at least — not with her lips." " Come, boy, you 're humbuggin' your old father. Her tongue couldn't well do it without the lips lendin' a hand." "Well then — with neither," returned the son. " She spoke with her eyes — not intentionally, of course, for the eyes, unlike the lips, refuse to be under control." ** Hm ! I see — reef-point-patterin' poetics again ! An' what did she say with her eyes ? " " Really, father, you press me too hard ; it is difficult to translate eye-language, but if you 11 only let memory have free play and revert to that time, nigh quarter of a century ago, when you first met with a certain real poetess, perhaps " " Ah ! you dog ! you have me there. But how dare you, sir, venture to think of marryin' on nothin' ? " 404 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE " I don't think of doing so. Am I not a first mate with a handsome salary ? " " No, lad, you're not. You're nothin' better than a seaman out o' work, with your late ship wrecked in a cocoa-nut grove ! " ** That 's true," returned Nigel with a laugh. " But is not the cargo of the said ship safe in Batavia ? Has not its owner a good bank account in England ? Won't another ship be wanted, and another first mate, and would the owner dare to pass over his own son, who is such a competent seaman — according to your own showing ? Come, father, I turn the tables on you and ask you to aid rather than resist me in this matter." " Well, I will, my boy, I will," said the captain heartily, as he laid his hand on his son's shoulder. " But, seriously, you must haul oif this little craft and clap a stopper on your tongue — ay, and on your eyes too — till three points are considered an* made quite clear. First, you must find out whether the hermit would be agreeable. Second, you must look the matter straight in the face and make quite sure that you mean it. For better or for worse. No undoin' that knot, Nigel, once it's fairly tied ! And, third, you must make quite sure that Winnie is sure of her own mind, an' that — that " " We 're all sure all round, father. Quite right. I agree with you. 'AH fair an' aboveboard' should OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 405 be the sailing orders of every man in such matters, especially of every seaman. But, will you explain how I am to make sure of Winnie's state of mind without asking her about it ? " " Well, I don't exactly see my way/' replied the captain slowly. "What d'ee say to my soundin' her on the subject ? " " Couldn't think of it 1 You may be first-rate at deep-sea soundings, father, but you couldn't sound the depths of a young girl's heart. I must reserve that for myself, however long it may be delayed." "So be it, lad. The only embargo that I lay upon you is — haul off, and mind you don't let your figurehead go by the board. Meanwhile, here comes the boat. Now, Nigel, none o' your courtin' till everything is settled and the wind fair — dead aft my lad, and blowin' stiff. You and the hermit are goin' off to Krakatoa to-day, I suppose ? " "Yes. I am just now waiting for him and Moses," returned Nigel " Is Winnie going ? " " Don't know. I hope so." " Humph ! Well, if we have a fair wind I shall soon be in Batavia," said the captain, descending to business matters, " and I expect without trouble to dispose of the cargo that we landed there, as well as that part o' the return cargo which I had 406 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE bought before I left for Keeling — at a loss, no doubt, but that don't matter much. Then I'll come back here by the first craft that offers — arter which . Ay ! — Ay ! shove her in here. Plenty o' water." The last remark was made to the seaman who steered the boat sent from the vessel in the offing. A short time thereafter Captain Eoy was sailing away tor Batavia, while his son, with Van der Kemp, Moses, "Winnie, and Spinkie, was making for Kraka- toa in a native boat. The hermit, in spite of his injuries, had recovered his wonted appearance, if not his wonted vigour. Winnie seemed to have suddenly developed into a mature woman under her recent experiences, though she had lost none of her girlish grace and attractiveness. As for Moses — time and tide seemed to have no effect whatever on his ebony frame, and still less, if possible, on his indomitable spirit. " Now you keep still," he said in solemn tones and with warning looks to Spinkie. "If you keep fidgitin' about you '11 capsize de boat. You hear ? " Spinkie veiled his real affection for the negro under a look of supreme indifference, while Winnie went off into a sudden giggle at the idea of such a small creature capsizing the boat. Mindful of his father's warning, Nigel did hia best to ''haul off" and to prevent his "figurehead" OF THE MATAt \KCHIPKLAGO. 407 from going " by the board." But he found it un- commonly liard work, for Winnie looked so inno- cent, so pretty, so unconscious^ so sympathetic with everybody and everything, so very young, yet so wondrously wise and womanly, that he felt an irre- sistible desire to prostrate himself at her feet iu abject slavery. "Dear little thing," said Winnie, putting her hand on Spinkie's little head and smoothing him down from eyes to taih Spinkie looked as if half inclined to withdraw his allegiance from Moses and bestow it on Winnie, but evidently changed his mind after a moment's reflection. " that I were a monkey ! *' thought Nigel, para- phrasing Shakespeare, " that I might " but it is not fair to our hero to reveal him in his weaker moments ! There was something exasperating, too, in being obliged, owing to the size of the boat, to sit so close to Winnie without having a right to touch her hand ! Who has not experienced this, and felt himself to be a very hero of self-denial in the cir- cumstances ? " Mos' awrful hot ! " remarked Moses, wiping his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt " YoiL hot I " said Nigel in surprise. " I thought nothing on earth could be too hot for you," 408 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALK " Dat *s your ignerance," returned Moses calmly. " Us niggers, you see, ought to suffer more fro' heat dan you whites/' "How so?" "Why, don't your flossiphers say dat black am better dan white for 'tractin' heat, an' ain't our skins black ? I wish we 'd bin' born white as clialk. I say, Massa Nadgel, seems to me dat dere *s not much left ob Krakatoa." They had approached near enough to the island by that time to perceive that wonderful changes had indeed taken place, and Van der Kemp, who had been for some time silently absorbed in con- templation, at last turned to his daughter and said — " I had feared at first, Winnie, that my old home had been blown entirely away, but I see now that the Peak of Eakata still stands, so perhaps I may yet show you the cave in which I have spent so many years." " But why did you go to live in such a strange place, dear father ? " asked the girl, laying her hand lovingly on the hermit's arm. Van der Kemp did not reply at once. He gazed in his chil4*s face with an increase of that absent air and far-away look which Nigel, ever since he met him, had observed as one of his characteristics. At this time an anxious thought crossed him, — that OP THE MALAY AEOHIPELAGO. 409 perhaps the blows which his friend had received on his head when he was thrown on the deck of the SuTishine might have injured his brain. "It is not easy to answer your question, dear one," he said after a time, laying his strong hand on the girl's head, and smoothing her luxuriant hair which hung in the untrammelled freedom of nature over her shoulders. ''I have felt sometimes, during the last few days, as if I were awaking out of a long long dream, or recovering from a severe illness in which delirium had played a prominent part Even now, though I see and touch you, I sometimes tremble lest I should really awake and find that it is all a dream. I have so often — so very often — dreamed something like it in years gone by, but never so vividly as now! I cannot doubt — it is sin to doubt — that my prayers have been at last answered. God is good and wise. He knows what is best and does not fail in bringing the best to pass. Yet I have doubted Him — again and again." Van der Kemp paused here and drew his hand across his brow as if to clear away sad memories of the past, while Winnie drew closer to him and looked up tenderly in his face. " When your mother died, dear one," he resumed, "it seemed to me as if the sun had left the heavens, and when you were snatched from me, it was as though my soul had fled and nought but animal 410 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE life remained. I lived as if in a terrible dream. I cannot recall exactly what I did or where I went for a long long time. I know I wandered through the archipelago looking for yon, because I did not believe at first that you were dead. It was at this time I took up my abode in the cave of Eakata, and fell in with my good faithful friend Moses ," "Your sarvint, massa," interrupted the negro humbly. " I 's proud to be call your frind, but I 's only your sarvint, massa." " Truly you have been my faithful servant, Moses,*' said Van der Kemp, " but not the less have you been my trusted friend. He nursed me through a long and severe illness, Winnie. How long, 1 am not quite sure. After a time I nearly lost hope. Then there came a very dark period, when I was forced to believe that you must be dead. Yet, strange to say, even during this dark time I did not cease to pray and to wander about in search of you. I suppose it was the force of habit, for hope seemed to have died. Then, at last, Nigel found you. God used him as His instrument. And now, praise to His name, we are reunited — for ever I " "Darling father!" were the only words that Winnie could utter as she laid her head on the hermit's shoulder and wept for joy. Two ideas, which had not occurred to him before, struck Nigel with great force at that moment. The OP THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 41 1 one was that whatever or wherever his future house- hold should be established, if Winnie was to be its chief ornament, her father must of necessity become a member of it. The other idea was that he was destined to possess a negro servant with a consequent and unavoidable monkey attendant ! How stranj^e the links of which the cliain of liuman destiny is formed, and how wonderful the powers of thought by which that chain is occasionally forecast ! How to convey all these possessions to England and get them comfortably settled there was a problem which he did not care to tackle just then. " See, Winnie," said Van dcr Kemp, pointing with interest to a mark on the side of Eakata, " yonder is the mouth of my cave. I never saw it so clearly before because of the trees and bushes, but every- thing seems now to have been burnt up." " Das so, massa, an' what hasn't bin bu'nt up has bin blow'd up ! " remarked the negro. " Looks very like it, Moses, unless that is a haze which enshrouds the rest of the island," rejoined the other, shading his eyes with his hands. It was no haze, however ; for they found, on draw- ing nearer, that the greater part of Krakatoa had, as we have already said, actually disappeared from the face of the earth. When the boat finally rounded the point which hid the northern part of the island from view, a 412 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE sight was presented which it is not often given to human eyes to look upon. The whole mountain named the Peak of Eakata (2623 feet high) had been split from top to bottom, and about one-half of it, with all that part of the island lying to the northward, had been blown away, leaving a wall or almost sheer precipice which presented a grand section of the volcano. Pushing their boat into a creek at the base of this precipice, the party landed and tried to reach a position from which a commanding view might be obtained. This was not an easy matter, for there was not a spot for a foot to rest on which was not covered deeply with pumice-dust and ashes. By dint of perseverance, however, they gained a ledge whence the surrounding district could be observed, and then it was clearly seen how wide- spread and stupendous the effects of the explosion had been. Where the greater part of the richly wooded island had formerly flourished, the ocean now rippled in the sunshine, and of the smaller islands around it Lang Island had been considerably increased in bulk as well as in height. Verlaten Island had been enlarged to more than three times its former size and also much increased in height. The island named Polish Hat had disappeared altogether, and two entirely new islets — afterwards OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 413 named Steers and GalTaeyer Islands — had arisen to the northward. '* Now, friends," said Van der Kemp, after they had noted and commented on the vast and wonderful changes that had taken place, " we will pull round to our cave and see what has happened there." Descending to the boat they rowed round the southern shores of Kakata until they reached the little harbour where the boat and canoe had formerly been kept 414 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE CHAPTEE XXXI. EKDS TVITH A STRUGOLE BETWEEN INCLINATION AND DtJTT, "De cave 's blowed away too!" was the first re- mark of Moses as they rowed into the little port. A shock of disappointment was experienced by Winnie, for she fancied that the negro had referred to her father's old home, but he only meant the lower cave in which the canoe had formerly been kept. She was soon relieved as to this point, how- ever, but, when a landing was ef!*ected, difficulties that seemed to her almost insurmountable presented themselves, for the ground was covered knee-deep with pumice-dust, and the road to the upper cave was blocked by rugged masses of lava and ashes, all heaped up in indescribable confusion. On careful investigation, however, it was found that after passing a certain point the footpath was almost unencumbered by volcanic debris. This was owing to the protection afforded to it by the cone of Eakata, and the almost overhanging nature of some of the cliffs on that side of the mountain ; still the O'F THE MALAY ABCHIPELAGO. 415 track was bad enough, and in places so rugged, that Winnie, vigorous and agile though she was, found it both difficult and fatiguing to advance. Seeing this, her father proposed to carry her, but she laughingly declined the proposal. Whereupon Nigel offered to lend her a hand ovei the rougher places, but this she also declined. Then Moses, stepping forward, asserted his rights. "It's my business," he said, "to carry t'ings w'en dey 's got to be carried. MVover, as I 's bin obleeged to leabe Spinkie in charge ob de boat, I feels okard widout somct'ing to carry, an' you ain't much heavier dan Spinkie, Miss Winnie — so, come along." He stooped with the intention of grasping Winnie as if she were a little child, but with a light laugh the girl sprang away and left Moses behind. '''S'my opinion," said Moses, looking after her with a grin, '' dafc if de purfesser was here he 'd net her in mistook for a buffeifly. Dar!— she's down!" he shouted, springing forward, but Nigel M'as before him. Winnie had tripped and fallen. "Are you hurt, dear — child?" asked Nigel, raising her gently. " Oh no ! only a little sliaken," answered Winnie, with a little laugh that was half hysterical. "I am strong enough to go on presently." 416 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE "Nay, my child, you mtcst suffer yourself to be carried at this part," said Van der Kemp. " Take her up, Nigel, you are stronger than I am now. I would not have asked you to do it before my accident 1 " Our hero did not need a second bidding. Grasp- ing Winnie in his strong arms he raised her as if she had been a feather, and strode away at a pace so rapid that he. soon left Van der Kemp and Jloses far behind. '' Put me down, now," said Winnie, after a little while, in a low voice. "I'm quite recovered now and can walk." "Nay, Winnie, you are mistaken. The path is very rough yet, and the dust gets deeper as we ascend. Do give me the pleasure of helping you a little longer." Whatever Winnie may have felt or thought she said nothing, and Nigel, taking silence for consent, bore her swiftly onward and upward, — with an "Excelsior" spirit that would have thrown the Alpine youth with the banner and the strange device considerably into the shade, — until he placed her at the yawning black mouth of the hermit's cave. But what a change was there! The trees and flowering shrubs and ferns were all gone, lava, pumice, and ashes lay tliick on everything around, and only a few blackened and twisted stumps of OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 417 the larger trees remained to tell that an umbrageous forest had once flourished there. The whole scene might he fittingly described in the two words — grey desolation. " That is the entrance to your father's old home/' said Nigel, as he set his fair burden down and pointed to the entrance. " What a dreadful place ! " said Winnie, peering into the black depths of the cavern. " It was not dreadful when I first saw it, Winnie, with rich verdure everywhere; and inside you will find it surprisingly comfortable. But we must not enter until your father arrives to do the honours of the place himself " They had not to wait long. First Moses arrived, and, shrewdly suspecting from the appearance of the young couple that they were engaged in con- versation that would not brook interruption, or, perhaps, judging from what might be his own wishes in similar circumstances, he turned his back suddenly on them, and, stooping down, addressed himself to an imaginary creature of the animal kingdom. "What a bootiful bufiferfly you is, to be sure! up on sitch a place too, wid nuffin* to eat 'cept Krakatoa dust. I wonder what your moder would say if she know'd you was here. You should be ashamed ob yourself 1 " 80 il8 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE "Hallo! Moses, what are you talking to over there?" "Nuffin', Massa Nadgel. I was on'y habiu' a brief conv'sation wid a member ob de insect wurld in commemoration ob de purfesser. Leastwise, if it warn't a insect it must hab bin suffin' else. Won't you go in. Miss Winnie ? " "No, I'd rather wait for father," returned the girl, looking a little flushed, for some strange and totally unfamiliar ideas had recently floated into her brain and caused some incomprehensible flutter- ings of the heart to which hitherto she had been a stranger. Mindful of his father's injunctions, however, Nigel had been particularly careful to avoid increasing these flutterings. In a few minutes the hermit came up. "Ah! Winnie/' he said, " there has been dire devastation here. Perhaps inside things may look better. Come, take my hand and don't be afraid. The floor is level and your eyes will soon get accustomed to the dim light." "I's af eared, massa," remarked Moses, as they entered the cavern, " dat your sun-lights won't be wu'th much now." " You are right, lad. Go on before us and light the lamps if they are not broken." It was found, as they had expected, that the only OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 419 light which penetrated tho cavern was that wliicli entered by the cave's mouth, wliich of course was very feeble. Presently, to Winnie's surprise, Moses was seen issuing from the kitchen with a petroleum lamp in one hand, the brilliant light of which not only glittered on his expressive black visage but sent a ruddy glare all over the cavern. Van der Kemp seemed to watch his daughter intently as she gazed in a bewildered way around. There was a puzzled look as well as mere surprise in her pretty face. "Father," she said earnestly, "you have spoken more than once of living as if in a dream. Perhaps you will wonder when I tell you that I experience something of that sort now. Strange though this place seems, I have an unaccountable feeling that it is not absolutely new to me — that I have seen it before." " I do not wonder, dear one," he replied, " for the drawings that surround this chamber were the handiwork of your dear mother, and they decorated the walls of your own nursery when you were a little child at your mother's knee. For over ten long years they have surrounded me and kept your faces fresh in my memory — though, truth to tell, it needed no such reminders to do that Come, let us examine them." 420 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE It was pleasant to see the earnest face of Winnie as she half-recognised and strove to recall the memories of early childhood in that singular cavern. It was also a sight worth seeing — the countenance of Nigel, as well as that of the hermit, while they watched and admired her eager, puzzled play of feature, and it was the most amazing sight of all to see the all but superhuman joy of Moses as he held the lamp and listened to facts regarding the past of his beloved master which were quite new to him — for the hermit spoke as openly about his past domestic affairs as if he and Winnie had been quite alone, " He either forgets that we are present, or counts us as part of his family," thought Nigel with a feel- ing of satisfaction. "What a dear comoonicative man!" thought Moses, with unconcealed pleasure, "Come now, let us ascend to the observatory," said the hermit, when all the things in the library had been examined. "There has been damage done there, I know ; besides, there is a locket there which helonged to your mother. I left it by mistake one day when I went up to arrange the mirrors, and in the hurry of leaving forgot to return for it. Indeed, one of my main objects in re-visiting my old home was to fetch that locket away. It contains a lock of hair and one of those miniatures which men used OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 421 to paint before photography drove such work off the field." Winnie was nothing loth to follow, for she had reached a romantic period of life, and it seemed to her that to be led through mysterious caves and dark galleries in the very heart of a still active volcano by her own father — the hermit of Kakata — was the very embodiment of romance itself. But a disappointment awaited them, for they had not proceeded halfway through the dark passage when it was found that a large mass of rock had fallen from the roof and almost blocked it up. " There is a space big enough for us to creep through at the right-hand corner above, I think,'* said Nigel, taking the lantern from Moses and examining the spot. " Jump up, Moses, and try it," said the hermit. " If your bulky shoulders get through, we can all manage it." The negro was about to obey the order when Nigel let the lantern fall and the shock extin- guished it. " Oh ! Massa Nadgel ; das a pritty business ! " " Never mind/' said Van der Kemp. " I 've got matclies, I think, in my no, I haven't. Have you, Moses ? " " No, massa, I forgit to remember him." " No matter, run back — }'ou know the road well 422 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE enough to follow it in the dark. We will wait here till you return. Be smart, now I" Moses started off at once and for some moments the sound of clattering along the passage was heard. " I will try to clamber through in the dark. Look after Winnie, Nigel — and don't leave the spot where you stand, dear one, for there are cracks and holes about that might sprain your little ankles," "Very well, father." "All right. I've got through, Nigel; I'll feel my way on for a little bit. Kemain where you are.** "Winnie," said Nigel when they were alon^ " doesn't it feel awesome and strange to be standing here in such intense darkness ? " " It does — I don't quite like it." " Whereabouts are you ? " said Nigel. lie carefuUy stretched out his hand to feel, as he spoke, and laid a finger on her brow. " Oh 1 take care of my eyes ! " exclaimed Winnie with a little laugh. " I wish you would turn your eyes towards ma for I'm convinced they would give some light — to me at least. Here, do let me hold your hand It will make you feel more confident." To one who is at all familiar with the human frame, the way from the brow to the hand is com- paratively simple. Nigel soon possessed himself of the coveted article. Like other things of great OF THE MALAY AKOIIIPELAGO. d23 value the possession turned the poor youtirs head! He forgot his father's warnings for the moment, forgot the hermit and Moses and Spinkie, and the thick darkness — forgot almost everything in the light of that touch 1 "Winnie!" he exclaimed in a tone that quite alarmed her ; " I — I — " He hesitated. The solemn embargo of his father recurred to him. " What is it ! Is there danger ? " exclaimed the poor girl, clasping his hand tighter and drawing nearer to him. This was too much I Nigel felt himself to be con- temptible. He was taking unfair advantage of her. " Winnie," he began again, in a voice of forced calmness, "there is no danger whatever. I'm an ass — a dolt — that's all! The fact is, I made my father a sort of half promise that I would not ask your opinion on a certain subject until — until 1 found out exactly what you thought about it. Now the thing is ridiculous — impossible — for how can 1 know your opinion on any subject until I have asked you 1 " "Quite true,'* returned Winnie simply, "so you better ask me." " Ha ! ka\ " laughed Nigel, in a sort of desperate amusement, "I — I — Yes, I will ask you, Winnie! But first I must explain " " Hallo I Nigel ! " came at that niouient from the 424 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE other side of the obstruction, "are you there — all right?" "Yes, yes — I'm here — not all right exactly, but 111 be aU right some day, you may depend upon that ! " shouted the youth, in a tone of indignant exasperation. "What said you?" asked Van der Kemp, putting his head through the hole. "Hi I I's a-comin', look out, dar!" hallooed Moses in the opposite direction. "Just so," said Nigel, resuming his quiet tone and demeanour, " we *11 be all right when the light comes. Here, give us your hand, Van der Kemp." The hermit accepted the proffered aid and leaped down amongst his friends just as Moses arrived with the lantern, " It 's of no use going further," he said. " The passage is completely blocked up — so we must go round to where the mountain has been split off and try to clamber up. There will be daylight enough yet if we are quick. Come," OF THE MAI AY ARCH1PELA.G0. 425 CHAPTER XXXIL THE LikST. Descending to the boat they rowed round to the face of the great cliff which had been so suddenly laid bare when the Peak of Eakata was cleft from its summit to its foundations in the sea. It was a wonderful sight — a magnificent section, affording a marvellous view of the internal mechanism of a volcano. But there was no time to spend in contemplation of this extraordinary sight, for evening approached and the hermit's purpose had to be accomplished. High up near the top of the mighty clifP could be seen a small hole in the rock, which was all that remained of the observatory. " It will be impossible, I fear, to reach that spot " said Nigel ; " there does not appear to be foothold for a goat." '' I will roach it," said the liermit in a low voice, as he scanned the precipice carefully. " So will I," said the negro. 426 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE " No, Moses, I go alone. You will remain in the boat and watcL If I fall, you can pick me up." " Pick you up ! " echoed Moses. "If you tumbles a thousand feet into de water how much t'ink you will be lef to pick up ? " It was useless to attempt to dissuade Van der Kemp. Being well aware of this, they all held their peace while he landed on a spur of the riven cliff. The first part of the ascent was easy enough, the ground having been irregularly broken, so that the climber disappeared behind masses of rock at times, while he kept as much as possible to the western edge of the mountain where the cleavage had occurred ; but as he ascended he was forced to come out upon narrow ledges that had been left here and there on the face of the cliff, where he seemed, to those who were watching far below, like a mere black spot on the face of a gigantic wall. Still upward he went, slowly but steadily, till he reached a spot nearly level with the observatory. Here he had to go out on the sheer precipice, where his footholds were invisible from below. Winnie sat in the boat with blanched face and tightly clasped hands, panting with anxiety as she gazed upwards. " It looks much more dangerous from here than it is in reality,'* said Nigel to her in a reassuring tone. OF THE MALAY AHOHIPELAGO. 427 " Das true, Massa Nadgel, das bery true," inter- posed Moses, endeavouring to comfort himself as well as the others by the intense earnestness of his manner. De only danger, Miss Winnie, lies in your fadder losin' his head at sitch a t'riffic height, an' dar's no fear at all ob dat, for Massa neber loses his head — pooh! you might as well talk ob him losin* his heart. Look ! look I he git close to dc hole now — he put his foot — yes — next step — darl he 've done it ! " With the perspiration of anxiety streaming down his face the negro relieved his feelings by a wild prolonged cheer. Nigel obtained the same relief by means of a deep long-drawn sigh, but Winnie did not move ; she seemed to realise her father's danger better than her companions, and remembered that the descent would be much more difficult than the ascent. They were not kept long in suspense. In a few minutes the hermit reappeared and began to retrace his steps — slowly but steadily — and the watchers breathed more freely. Moses was right; there was in reality little danger in the climb, for the ledges which appeared to them like mere threads, and the footholds that were almost invisible, were in reality from a foot to three feet wide. The only danger lay in the hermit's head being unable to stand the trial, but, as Moses had remarked, there was no fear of that. 428 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE The watchers were therefore beginning to feeS somewhat relieved from the tension of their anxiety, when a huge mass of rock was seen to slip from the face of the cliff and descend with the thunderous roar of an avalanche. The incident gave those in the boat a shock, for the landslip occurred not far from the spot which Van der Kemp had reached, but as he still stood there in apparent safety there seemed no cause for alarm till it was observed that the climber remained quite still for a long time and seemed to have no intention of moving. " God help him ! ** cried Nigel in sudden alarm, "the ledge has been carried away and he cannot advance ! Stay by the boat; Moses, I will run to help him!" " No, Massa Nadgel," returned the negro, " I go to die wid 'im. Boat kin look arter itself." He sprang on shore as he spoke, and dashed up the mountain-side like a hunted hare. Our hero looked at Winnie for an instant in hesitation. "Go!" said the poor girl. "You know I can manage a boat— quick ! " Another moment and Nigel was following in the track of the negro. Tliey gained the broken ledge together, and then found that the space between the point which they had reached and the spot on which the hermit stood was a smooth face of OF THE MALAY AKCHIPELAGO. 429 perpendicular rock — an absolutely impassable gulf! Van der Kemp was standing with his back liat against the precipice and his feet resting on a little piece of projecting rock not more than three inches wide. This was all that lay between him and the hideous depth below, for Nigel found on carefully drawing nearer that the avalanche had been more ex- tensive than was apparent from below, and that the ledge beyond the hermit had been also carried away — thus cutting off his retreat as well as his advance. " I can make no effort to help myself," said Van der Kemp in a low but calm voice, when our hero's foot rested on the last projecting point that he could gain, and found that with the utmost reach of his arm he could not get within six inches of his friend's outstretched hand. Besides, Nigel himself stood on so narrow a ledge, and against so steep a cliff, that he could not have acted with his wonted power even if the hand could have been grasped* Moses stood immediately behind Nigel, where the ledge was broader and where a shallow recess in the rock enabled him to stand with comparative ease. The poor fellow seemed to realise the situation more fully than his companion, for despair was written on every feature of his expressive face. ** What is to be done ? " said Nigel, looking back. " De boat-rope," suggested the negro. 430 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE " Useless," said Van der Kemp, in a voice as calm and steady as if he were in perfect safety, though the unusual pallor of his grave countenance showed that he was fully alive to the terrible situation. "I am resting on little more than my heels, and the strain is almost too much for me even now. I could not hold on till you went to the boat and returned. No, it seems to be God's will — and," added he humbly, " His will be done." " God, send us help ! " cried Nigel in an agony of feeling that he could not master. " If I had better foothold I might spring towards you and catch hold of you," said the hermit, " but I cannot spring off my heels. Besides, I doubt if you could bear my weight." "Try, try!" cried Nigel, eagerly extending his hand. ** Don't fear for my strength — I've got plenty of it, thank God I and see, I have my tight arm wedged into a crevice so firmly that nothing could haul it out." But Van der Kemp shook his head. " I cannot even make the attempt," he said. "The slightest move would plunge me down. Dear boy I I know that you and your father and Moses will care for my Winnie, and " "Massa!" gasped Moses, who while the hermit was speaking had been working his body with mysterious and violent energy; "massa! couldn't OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 431 yovi fall (lis way, an' Nadgel could kitcli your hand, an' I 's got my leg shoved into a hole as nuffin' '31 haul it out ob. Dere's a holler place here. If Nadgel swings you into dat, an' I only once grab you by de hair — you 're safe ! " "It might be done — tried at least," said the hermit, looking anxiously at his young friend, " Try it ! " cried Nigel, " I won't fail you." It is not possible for any except those who have gone through a somewhat similar ordeal to under- stand fully the test of cool courage which Van der Kemp had to undergo on that occasion. Shutting his eyes for a moment in silent prayer, he deliberately worked with his shoulders upon the cliff against which he leaned until he felt himself to be on the point of falling towards his friend, and the two outstretched hands almost touched. " Now, are you ready ? " he asked. " Eeady," replied Nigel, while Moses wound both his powerful arms round his comrade's waist and held on. Another moment and the hands clasped, Nigel uttered an irrepressible shout as the hermit swung off, and, coming round with great violence to the spot where the negro had fixed himself, just succeeded in catching the edge of the cliff with his free hand. " Let go, Nigel," he shouted ;—*' safe ! " 432 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE The poor youth was only too glad to obey, for the tremendous pull had wrenched his arm out of the crevice in which he had fixed it, and for a moment he swayed helplessly over the awful abyss. "Don't let me go, Moses 1" he yelled, as he made a frantic but futile effort to regain his hold, — for he felt that the negro had loosened one of his arms though the other was still round him like a hoop of iron. " No fear, Nadgel," said Moses, " I's got you tight — only don' wriggle. Now, massa, up you come." Moses had grasped his master's hair with a grip that well-nigh scalped him, and he held on until the hermit had got a secure hold of the ledge with both hands. Then he let the hair go, for he knew that to an athlete like his master the raising him- self by his arms on to the ledge would be the work of a few seconds. Van der Kemp was thus able to assist in rescuing Nigel from his position of danger. But the expressions of heartfelt thankfulness for this deliverance which naturally broke from them were abruptly checked when it was found that Moses could by no means extract his leg out of the hole into which he had thrust it, and that he was suffering great pain. After some time, and a good deal of violent wrenching, during which our sable hero mingled a OF THE MALAY AT^CIIirFXAGO. 433 few groans in strange fashion with his congratula- tions, he was got free, and then it was found that the strain had been too miich for even his powerful bones and sinews, for the leg was broken. " My poor fellow ! " murmured Van der Kemp, as lie went down on his knees to examine the limb. "Don' care a buttin for dat, massa. You're safe, an' Nadgel's safe — an' it only cost a broken leg ! Pooh! das nuffin' !" said Moses, unable to repress a few tears in the excess of his joy and pain I With considerable difficulty they carried the poor negro down to the boat, where they found Winnie, as might be supposed, in a half- fainting condition from the strain of prolonged anxiety and terror to which she had been subjected; but the necessity of at- tending to the case of the injured Moses was an antidote which speedily restored her. Do you think, good reader, that Kigel and Winnie had much difficulty in coming to an understanding after that, or that the hermit was disposed to throw any obstacles in the way of true love ? If you do, let us assure you that you are mistaken. Surely this is information enough for any intelligent reader. Still, it may be interesting to add, difficulties did not all at once disappear. The perplexities that had already assailed Nigel more than once assailed him again — perplexities about a negro man-servant, and a household monkey, and a hermit father-in- 2e 434 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE law, and a small income — to say nothing of a dis- consolate motlier-poetess in England and a father roving on the high seas ! How to overcome these difficulties gave him much thought and trouble ; but they were overcome at last That which seemed impossible to man proved to be child's-play in the hands of woman* Winnie solved the difficulty by suggesting that they should all return to the Cocos-Keeling Islands and dwell together there for evermore ! « * « « * Let us drop in on them, good reader, at a later period, have a look at them, and bid them all good-bye. On a green knoll by the margin of the lagoon stands a beautiful cottage with a garden around it, and a pleasure-boat resting on the white coral sand in front. From the windows of that cottage there is a most magnificent view of the lagoon with its numerous islets and its picturesque palm-trees. Within that cottage dwell Nigel and Winnie, and a brown-eyed, brown-haired, fair-skinned baby girl who is " the most extraordinary angel that ever was bom," It has a nurse of its own, but is chiefly waited on and attended to by an antique poetess, who dwells in another cottage, a stone's-cast off, on the same green knoll. There she inspires an ancient mariner with poetical sentiments— not your up-in- OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 435 the-clouds, reef-point-pattermg nonsense, observe^ but the real genuine article, superior to " that other fellow's," you know — wlieu not actively engaged with the baby. The first cottage is named Eakata> in honour of our hermit, who is one of its inhabitants. The second is named Krakatoa by its eccentric owner, Captain Eoy. It must not be imagined, however, that our friends have settled down there to spend their lives in idle- ness. By no means. This probably would not be permitted by the " King of the Cocos Islands " even if they wished to do so. But they do not wish that There is no such condition as idleness in the lives of good men and women. Nigel has taken to general superintendence of the flourishing community in the midst of which he has cast his lot. He may be almost regarded as the prime minister of the islands, in addition to which he has started an exteusive boat-building business and a considerable trade in cocoa-nuts, etc., with the numerous islands of the Java Sea ; also a saw-millj and a forge, and a Sunday-school — in which last the pretty, humble-minded Winnie lends most efficient aid. Indeed it is said that she is the chief manager as well as the life and soul of that business, though Nigel gets all the credit. Captain Roy sometimes sails his son's vessels, and 436 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE sometimes looks after the secular education of the Sunday-school children — the said education being conducted on the principle of unlimited story-telling with illimitable play of fancy. But his occupations are irregular — undertaken by fits and starts, and never to be counted on. His evenings he usually devotes to poetry and pipes — for the captain is obstinate, and sticks — like most of us — to his failings as well as his fancies. There is a certain eccentric individual with an enthusiastic temperament and blue binoculars who pays frecjuent and prolonged visits to the Keeling Islands, It need scarcely be said that his name is Verkimier. There is no accounting for the tastes of human beings. Notwithstanding all his escapes and experiences, that indomitable man of science still ranges, like a mad philosopher, far and wide over the archipelago in pursuit of '' booter- fiies ant ozer specimens of zee insect vorld." It is observed, however, even by the most obtuse among his friends, that whereas in former times the pro- fessor's flights were centrifugal they have now become centripetal — the Keeling Islands being the great centre towards which he flies. Verkimier is, and probably will always be, a subject of wonder and of profound speculation to the youthful inhabi- tants of the islands. They don't understand him and he does not understand them. If they were iiisccts OF THE MALAY ARCHIPKLAGO. 437 he would take deep and intelligent interest in them. As they are merely human beings, he regards them with that peculiar kind of interest with which men regard the unknown and unknowable. He is by no means indifferent to them. He is too kindly for that. He studies them deeply, though hopelessly, and when he enters the Sunday-school with his binoculars — which he often does^ to listen — a de- gree of awe settles down on the little ones which it is impossible to evoke by the most solemn appeals to their spiritual natures. Nigel and Winnie have a gardener, and that gardener is black — as black as the Ace of Spades or the King of Ashantee. He dwells in a corner of the Rakata Cottage, but is addicted to spending much of his spare time in the Krakatoa one. He is as strong and powerful as ever, but limps slightly on his right leg— his " game " leg, as he styles it He is, of course, an immense favourite with the young people — not less than with the old. He has been known to say, with a solemnity that miglit tickle the humorous and horrify the timid, that he wouldn't " hab dat game leg made straight agin! no, not for a hundred t'ousand pounds, 'Cause why ? — it was an eber-present visible reminder dat once upon a time he had de libes ob massa and Nadgel in his arms ahangin' on to his game leg, an' dat, through Gracious Goodness, he sabe dem bof I " 438 BLOWN TO BITS, A TALE. Ha ! You may smile at Moses if you will, but he can return the smile with kindly interest, for he is actuated by that grand principle which will sooner or later transform even the scofifers of earth, and which is embodied in the words — " Love is the ful- filling of the law." Even the lower animals testify to this fact when the dog licks the hand that smites it and accords instant forgiveness on the slightest encouragement Does not Spinkie prove it also, when, issuing at call, from its own pagoda in the sunniest corner of the Rakata garden, it forsakes cocoa-nuts, sugar-cane, fruits, and other delights, to lay its little head in joyful consecration on the black bosom of its be- nignant friend ? And what of Moses* opinion of the new home ? It may be shortly expressed in his own words — " It 's heaben upon eart', an' de most happiest time as eber occurred to me was dat time when Sunda Straits went into cumbusti'n an* Krakatoa was Blown to Bits/' THE END. Edinburgh : Printed by T. and A. Constable. BY MR. R. M. BALLANTYNE. 'The fathers, mothers^ guardiansj uncles, and aunts who wish to find an acceptable Birthday jweient for a hcalthy-raioded boy of normal tastes, cannot possibly go wrong i^ they buy a book with Mr, Ballantyne's name on the title-page.'— yf^^at/fwy. Fully illustrated. I-arge Crown 8vo, 2s. 6(1 Blue Lights ; or, Hot Work in the Soudan. A Tale of Soldier Life. Blown to Bits; or. The Lonely Man of Rakata : A Tale of the Malay Archipelago. Charlie to the Rescue : A Tale of the Sea and the Rockies. The Walrus Hunters of the Realnui of Ice. A Romance Erling the Bold t A Tale of the Korse Sea Kings. The E ufifalo Runners : A Tale of the Red River Plains. The Young Trawler : A Story of Xife^ Death, and Rescue in the North Sea. Rivers of Ice : A Tale Illustrative of Alpine Adventurt and Glacier Action, The Floating Light of the Good- win Sanda. The Hot Swamp : A Romance of Old Albion. Red Rooney ; or, The Last of the Crew. Dust7 Diamonds^ Cut and Pol* ished : A Tale of City Arab Life, The Giant of the North j or, Pok- U£* Round the Pole. Fighting the Flames : A Tale oi the I^ndon Fire Brigade. The Norsemen in the West ; or, America before Columbus. The Settler and the Savage : A Tale of Peace and War in South Africa. Black Ivory : A Tale of Adventure among the Slavers of East Africa. Under the Waves ; or, Diving in Deep Waters. The Fugitives; or. The Tyrant Queen of Madagascar. The Rover of the Andes : A Tale of Adventure in South America. The Battery and the Boiler ; or. Adventures of a Telegraph-Cable Layer. The Lonely Island; or, The Refuge of the Mutineers. Post Haste : A Tale of Her Ma- Jesty's Mails. In the Track of the Troops: A Tale of Modem War, The Pirate Cityi An Algerine Tale. The Iron Horse ; or, Life on the Line. A Railway Tale, Deep Down : A Tale of the Cornish Mines. BY MR. R. M. BALLANTYNE. With Illustrations. Crown 8vo. Is, 6d* each. HUNTED AND HARRIED : A Talk op the Scottish Covkkantrrs. A COXSWAIN^S BRIBE; or, Thk Kising Tide. And Other Tales. THE GARRET AND THE OAEDEN ; or, T.ow Life High Up. AndJEF? BICNSON ; or, The Yoong Coastguakdsmak. THE CREW OF THE WATER-WAGTAIL: A Storv op N«wpount>- LAND. THE MIDDY AND THE MOORS : Am Algerink Tale. UFE IN THE RED BRIGADE; A Fiery Talb. Am» FORT DESOLA- TION ; or, Solitude in the Wilderness. THE PRAIRIE CHIEF. THE ISIjAND QUEEN, A Tale of the Southern Hemjsphbbe, THE MADMAN AND THE PIRATE. TWICE BOUGHT : A Tale of the Oeegon Gold-Fields. MY DOGGIE AND I. THE BED MAN'S REVENGE, PHILOSOPHER JACK : A Tale or the Southern Seas. SIX MONTHS AT THE CAPE. A Record op Persowal Experience and Adventure, BATTLES WITH THE SEA ; or, Hehoss op the Lifeboat and thk Rock ar, AN AUTHOR'S ADVENTURES; or, Personal Rkminiscenchs mid Ih- CIDENTS. THE CORAL ISLAND. A Tale of the Pacific Ocean. THE GOLDEN DREAM. A Tale of the Diggings. LONDON : J. NISBET & CO., LTD., U BERNERS STREET