Mabel interrupted the conversation at this point by rushing up to Captain Gray and Etta, exclaiming: “What can be the matter! Listen, what is it?” Listening a moment they could hear the shouts of hundreds of voices, which before, they had been too much occupied to notice. As they looked, they saw Allen running in the direction of the village, waving his arms wildly; he was closely followed by hundreds of the inhabitants of Howcu, all gesticulating and shouting. The sight filled the hearts of Mabel, Etta and Captain Gray with a horrible fear. Allen had, perhaps, done something to anger the people of his village and they were pursuing him that they might wreak their vengeance upon him, and he, in his extremity, had come to Nahua to seek protection with them. The thought filled the heart of each of the three, as they saw the mad rush onward of the men and women who followed him. Mabel ran to Ahleka, who was crossing toward the place where the two frightened girls and Captain Gray stood. Throwing herself into his arms she cried, “Save us Ahleka, save us! Do not let them kill your brother. Call on your young men to get their spears in readiness to protect us from these people.” He held her closely in his arms but laughed heartily at her fears. “Why, my precious moonflower, it is a shout of joy, not a battle cry you hear. There has happened some great thing at Howcu and they are coming to tell us of it.”
By now, Allen had reached them and dropping, almost exhausted, upon the ground, exclaimed: “A ship! A ship!”
“What do you say, a ship? Do you mean that you have seen a ship?” asked the listeners, in a breath.
“Yes, a vessel of some description. I do not know whether it is a ship, a barque or what. But whatever she is, she is making for the island, I am sure.”
The listeners could hardly believe their ears; they quickly ascended the burial hill, which was the highest point on the island. They could then plainly see the vessel, which Captain Gray pronounced to be a barque. She was some little distance out, but it was evident that she meant, in some manner, to reach the island. The anxious group watched every movement of the men, who could be seen lowering away a boat, which was manned by eight sturdy sailors. They finally set out for the island. Now, there was but one safe approach to that side of the island, and that was at the point where Captain Gray and his party had come ashore three years before.
A party, consisting of Captain Gray, Allen Thornton and four Nahua boys, had already left for the spot where their boat had remained since their landing on the island, safely moored under a huge rock, as it had been considered best to leave it there, its size making it inconvenient to carry it across the island to the village. It had been used occasionally for fishing excursions. Having arrived where the boat was lying, they quickly loosened her from her moorings, set her afloat and were soon threading the narrow channel between the treacherous coral reefs, out to meet the boat that was seeking a landing place.
The ship’s boat was now hid from their view by projecting rocks but they were not long in getting clear of most of the obstructions in their way, as they were well used to this tortuous little channel. When they appeared in full view of the approaching crew the effect was startling. The sailors turned suddenly, and with redoubled energy rowed toward the vessel; they were fleeing in terror from what they imagined to be hostile natives, come out to capture them, and their only chance of safety seemed to them to lie in reaching their vessel. Captain Gray and Allen as soon as they discovered how their party had frightened those to whom they were so anxiously hurrying, began to halloo to them. At first the fleeing crew paid no heed, except to renew their efforts to reach their ship. Finally they halted, and apparently listened; then, as if they had assured themselves that it was really English that they heard, they turned their boat a second time toward the land.
It was but a few moments before the two boats were close together. Captain Gray addressed the newcomers. He was answered by the mate of the vessel who was in command of the boat. “We belong to the Eliza Judd,” said he, “and such a knocking about as we’ve had ain’t often come my way, though I’ve been to sea off an on these twenty odd years. I’ll tell ye now, we’ve had a tough time of it.”
“Where do you come from?” asked Captain Gray.
“We hail from New Zealand, and are bound for San Francisco, but we have had such bad weather and been delayed so long that our stock of fresh water, which was not large at the start, has given out and under this devilish hot sun we can’t stand it long without water. So, sighting this island, the captain made up his mind he would land in search of fresh water and run the chance of meeting with unfriendly natives, but by George, we didn’t expect to find the island inhabited by whites.”
“Well, the island not exactly inhabited by whites, as you suppose, for we are only a small party of shipwrecked travellers. We have been here for three years, and I can tell you we will be glad enough to get a chance to leave.”
While this conversation was taking place the two boats had reached the shore where a large body of natives had collected. The two girls were also there. The excitement was intense, as, of course, all realized that the coming of this vessel furnished means of escape from the island.
“Where do you live?” inquired Mate Jenkins. “This don’t look like the likeliest place in the world to live in, now, does it?”
“I must say, this side of the island is not a promising looking place,” replied the captain, “but the other side is quite different, in fact, it is a delightful place, if it were not that we are in exile here.”
“How is the water supply on this side?”
“Fine; it couldn’t be better or handier. Right beyond that next turn, is a stream of water as sweet and pure as one could find in many a month’s travel.”
“Now, I swan, that’s good. I didn’t know but what we’d have to bring it over from the other side.”
The work of filling casks which they had brought with them, and conveying them to the ship was soon begun.