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down to Bickley's instruments and medicines and Bastin's
religious works； to say nothing of a great quantity of tinned
food and groceries。 Lastly on the deck above the saloon had stood
two large lifeboats。 Although these were amply secured at the
commencement of the gale one of them； that on the port side； was
smashed to smithers； probably some spar had fallen upon it。 The
starboard boat； however； remained intact and so far as we could
judge； seaworthy； although the bulwarks were broken by the waves。
〃There's something we can get away in if necessary；〃 I said。
〃Where to？〃 remarked Bastin。 〃We don't know where we are or if
there is any other land within a thousand miles。 I think we had
better stop here as Providence seems to have intended； especially
when there is so much work to my hand。〃
〃Be careful；〃 answered Bickley； 〃that the work to your hand
does not end in the cutting of all our throats。 It is an awkward
thing interfering with the religion of savages； and I believe
that these untutored children of Nature sometimes eat
missionaries。〃
〃Yes； I have heard that；〃 said Bastin； 〃they bake them first as
they do pigs。 But I don't know that they would care to eat me；〃
and he glanced at his bony limbs； 〃especially when you are much
plumper。 Anyhow one can't stop for a risk of that sort。〃
Deigning no reply； Bickley walked away to fetch some fine fish
which had been washed up by the tidal wave and were still
flapping about in a little pool of salt water。 Then we took
counsel as to how to make the best of our circumstances； and as a
result set to work to tidy up the saloon and cabins； which was
not difficult as what remained of the ship lay on an even keel。
Also we got out some necessary stores； including paraffin for the
swinging lamps with which the ship was fitted in case of accident
to the electric light； candles； and the guns we had brought with
us so that they might be handy in the event of attack。 This done；
by the aid of the tools that were in the storerooms； Bickley； who
was an excellent carpenter； repaired the saloon door； all that
was necessary to keep us private； as the bulkhead still remained。
〃Now；〃 he said triumphantly when he had finished and got the
lock and bolts to work to his satisfaction； 〃we can stand a siege
if needed； for as the ship is iron built they can't even burn us
out and that teak door would take some forcing。 Also we can shore
it up。〃
〃How about something to eat？ I want my tea；〃 said Bastin。
〃Then； my reverend friend；〃 replied Bickley； 〃take a couple of
the fire buckets and fetch some water from the stream。 Also
collect driftwood of which there is plenty about； clean those
fish and grill them over the saloon stove。〃
〃I'll try；〃 said Bastin； 〃but I never did any cooking before。〃
〃No；〃 replied Bickley； 〃on second thoughts I will see to that
myself； but you can get the fish ready。〃
So； with due precautions； Bastin and I fetched water from the
stream which we found flowed over the edge of the cliff quite
close at hand into a beautiful coral basin that might have been
designed for a bath of the nymphs。 Indeed one at a time； while
the other watched； we undressed and plunged into it； and never
was a tub more welcome than after our long days of tempest。 Then
we returned to find that Bickley had already set the table and
was engaged in frying the fish very skilfully on the saloon
stove； which proved to be well adapted to the purpose。 He was
cross； however； when he found that we had bathed and that it was
now too late for him to do likewise。
While he was cleaning himself as well as he could in his cabin
basin and Bastin was boiling water for tea； suddenly I remembered
the letter from the Danish mate Jacobsen。 Concluding that it
might now be opened as we had certainly parted with most of the
Star of the South for the last time； I read it。 It was as
follows：
〃The reason； honoured Sir； that I am leaving the ship is that
on the night I tore up the paper； the spirit controlling the
planchette wrote these words： 'After leaving Samoa the Star of
the South will be wrecked in a hurricane and everybody on board
drowned except A。 B。 and B。 Get out of her！ Get out of her！ Don't
be a fool； Jacob； unless you want to come over here at once。 Take
our advice and get out of her and you will live to be old。
SKOLL。〃
〃Sir； I am not a coward but I know that this will happen； for
that spirit which signs itself Skoll never tells a lie。 I did try
to give the captain a hint to stop at Apia； but he had been
drinking and openly cursed me and called me a sneaking cheat。 So
I am going to run away； of which I am very much ashamed。 But I do
not wish to be drowned yet as there is a girl whom I want to
marry； and my mother I support。 You will be safe and I hope you
will not think too badly of me。JACOB JACOBSEN。
〃P。S。It is an awful thing to know the future。 Never try to
learn that。〃
I gave this letter to Bastin and Bickley to read and asked them
what they thought of it。
〃Coincidence；〃 said Bickley。 〃The man is a weak…minded idiot
and heard in Samoa that they expected a hurricane。〃
〃I think；〃 chimed in Bastin； 〃that the devil knows how to look
after his own at any rate for a little while。 I dare say it would
have been much better for him to be drowned。〃
〃At least he is a deserter and failed in his duty。 I never wish
to hear of him again；〃 I said。
As a matter of fact I never have。 But the incident remains
quite unexplained either by Bickley or Bastin。
Chapter VII
The Orofenans
To our shame we had a very pleasant supper that night off the
grilled fish； which was excellent； and some tinned meat。 I say to
our shame； in a sense； for on our companions the sharks were
supping and by rights we should have been sunk in woe。 I suppose
that the sense of our own escape intoxicated us。 Also；
notwithstanding his joviality； none of us had cared much for the
captain； and his policy had been to keep us somewhat apart from
the crew； of whom therefore we knew but little。 It is true that
Bastin held services on Sundays； for such as would attend； and
Bickley had doctored a few of them for minor ailments； but there；
except for a little casual conversation； our intercourse began
and ended。
Now the sad fact is that it is hard to be overwhelmed with
grief for those with whom we are not intimate。 We were very sorry
and that is all that can be said； except that Bastin； being High
Church； announced in a matter…of…fact way that he meant to put up
some petitions for the welfare of their souls。 To this Bickley
retorted that from what he had seen of their bodies he was sure
they needed them。
Yes； it was a pleasant supper； not made less so by a bottle of
champagne which Bickley and I shared。 Bastin stuck to his tea；
not because he did not like champagne； but because； as he
explained； having now come in contact with the heathen it would
never do for him to set them an example in the use of spirituous
liquors。
〃However much we may differ； Bastin； I respect you for that
sentiment；〃 commented Bickley。
〃I don't know why you should；〃 answered Bastin； 〃but if so； you
might follow my example。〃
That night we slept like logs； trusting to our teak door which
we barricaded； and to Tommy； who was a most excellent watch…dog；
to guard us against surprise。 At any rate we took the risk。 As a
matter of fact； nothing happened； though before dawn Tommy did
growl a good deal； for I heard him； but as he sank into slumber
again on my bed； I did not get up。 In the morning I found from
fresh footprints that two or three men had been prowling about
the ship； though at a little distance。
We rose early； and taking the necessary precautions； bathed in
the pool。 Then we breakfasted； and having filled every available
receptacle with water； which took us a long time as these
included a large tank that supplied the bath； so that we might
have at least a week's supply in case of siege； we went on deck
and debated what we should do。 In the end we determined to stop
where we were and await events； because； as I pointed out； it was
necessary that we should discover whether these natives were
hostile or friendly。 In the former event we could hold our own on
the ship； whereas away from it we must be overwhelmed； in the
latter there was always time to move inland。
About ten o'clock when we were seated on stools smoking； with
our guns by our sidefor here； owing to the overhanging cliff in
which it will be remembered the prow of the ship was buried； we
could not be reached by missiles thrown from abovewe saw
numbers of the islanders advancing upon us along the beach on
either side。 They were preceded as before by women who bore food
on platters and in baskets。 These people； all talking excitedly
and laughing after their fashion； stopped at a di