Chapter IV. Consolation.

Our heroes, who in all their antic.i.p.ations had never calculated on anything but fine weather and unlimited rations and congenial occupation, began to entertain serious doubts as to the joys of founding an empire, as they trailed dreadily along in the rain after Bowler and Gayford. The weaker of the party had no spirit to suggest anything themselves, or to question what their leaders suggested; so they followed doggedly where they were led, neither knowing nor caring whither.

With Bowler and Gayford it was otherwise. They felt rather ashamed of themselves for having lost their heads earlier in the day and resolved now to atone for it in the only way they could. They put a brave face on the situation, and tried to impart their courage to their followers.

"I tell you what," said Bowler cheerily, as the seven stood again on the rocks at the water's edge; "it wants a good hour of dark, and the least thing we can do is to spend the daylight in looking for some proper place of shelter and something to eat, if we can find it. Suppose I and Tubbs and Braintree start to walk round this way, and you, Gayford, take the rest round the other way. If any of us find anything, we'll stop till the other party come up. I've got my whistle, so we'll be sure to hear one another."

It could do no harm, and it might do good, so the party tacitly fell in with the suggestion, and divided itself accordingly. Even Crashford was wise enough to feel he could gain nothing by sulking, and returned to his allegiance without demur.

"Can't we have something to eat before we start?" said Wallas.

"My dear fellow," replied Gayford, "I wish we could, but then we shall have nothing left for to-morrow."

Strange to say, Wallas disputed the matter no further, and turned with his companions to start on their tour of discovery.

Bowler kept whistling cheerily, and Gayford shouted in reply till the two parties were out of earshot. Then each walked on in silence, eagerly scanning sea and sh.o.r.e in search of hope. For Bowler's party there seemed very little prospect of anything turning up, for their way lay across bare ledges of rock, with perhaps a pool to wade, or a little cape to scramble across, but never a sign of food or shelter. Braintree did indeed announce that in one place he saw a "cwab" disappear into a hole, but the chances of satisfaction from that source were too remote to be pursued.

How they longed to be back under the roof of old Swishford, and to hear the cheery bell summoning the boys to tea, and how gratefully now would they have welcomed the wholesome plenty of that often abused meal!

Alas! there were no cups of tea, or eggs, or bread-and-b.u.t.ter going on the Long Stork.

"Of course," said Bowler, "we could never be _quite_ stuck up for grub as long as there's seaweed about, and if the rain goes on like this there'll be plenty of water too."

"You're wight there," said Braintree; "but seaweed and wain-water is warthah a spare diet."

"Anyhow," said Bowler, "we have got enough of the shrimps and peaches left for a good breakfast to-morrow; that's one comfort."

And they trudged on in that glorious prospect.

For an hour they toiled along the rocky sh.o.r.e until the daylight almost suddenly vanished, and the gloom of a damp November night fell upon them. What was the use of exploring further? Even Bowler lost heart as he stumbled about in the dusk, and heard Braintree shivering and chattering with cold beside him, and Tubbs's scarcely suppressed whimper of misery.

"Better get back to the rest as soon as we can," said he, taking out his whistle and blowing it again.

They listened, but no answer came, only the shriek of the gulls and the steady splash of the rain on the rocks.

"Never mind, we can't be long before we get round to them," said Bowler; "perhaps they've found a place, you know."

For another half-hour they toiled on, Bowler blowing his whistle every few minutes, but always without response.

"Where can they be? We're almost round at the place we started from, surely," said Bowler, "and--hullo, look out there!"

They had reached a sudden break in the coast about twenty yards across, with rocks on each side which dropped almost precipitously into the water, forming a serious bar to further progress.

They must either scramble down and wade or swim across, or else turn inland and make a long detour round the head of the chasm.

Bowler made a careful inspection of the rocks, and then said--

"I think we could do it; what do you say? If we went round we might miss the others."

"All wight," said Braintree, blowing his hands; "I'm game, so's Tubbs."

Tubbs said nothing, but stood by miserably, ready to follow Bowler's lead.

"I'll go down first," said the latter. "Mind how you come, the rocks are slippery."

He lowered himself cautiously down the steep rock, finding just enough to cling on to with his hands, while he felt his way down with his feet.

He got to the bottom safely, and found firm footing in a ledge of rock close to the water's edge.

"Now, then," shouted he, "down you come, Braintree."

Braintree obeyed, and managed with difficulty to reach the ledge. Then Tubbs attempted. But he, poor fellow, clumsy at all times, and now utterly unnerved by the miseries of the day, was not man enough for the venture, and, after one feeble effort, begged to be allowed to stay where he was.

"Nonsense!" cried Bowler; "come on, old man, we'll help you down all right."

So Tubbs tried again. Had not the situation been so perilous, the appearance he presented as he clung wildly on to the rock with his hands, and kicked still more wildly with his feet, would have been ludicrous. But it was no time for joking. The two at the bottom piloted his feet as well as they could, and encouraged him in his downward career. But before they could reach him he slipped, and with a howl fell backward into the sea.

In a moment Bowler, dressed as he was, was in beside him, holding him up and striking out to where Braintree, with outstretched hand, waited to help them in. But it was long before they could haul his half-senseless form from the water; and by the time this was accomplished, Bowler himself was so exhausted that he in turn needed all Braintree's aid to land himself. At last, however, all three were on the ledge.

But what were they to do next? Tubbs lay still half-stupefied, utterly unable to help himself. The rock they had descended frowned above them, defying any attempt to return the way they had _come_, and between the ledge they stood on and the rock the other side twenty yards of uneasy water intervened.

"Could we swim across with him?" said Bowler, after a little.

"I'll do my best," said Braintree.

"The thing is," said Bowler, "the tide was dead out an hour ago, so it must be coming in now. Oh, what a cad I was to lead you into this, Braintree!"

"Shut up, old man, I say," said Braintree; and he began to take off his coat and boots.

Bowler did the same.

"We shall have to leave them behind," said he. "It can't be helped.

Are you ready?"

"Yes. But I say, old man, if I get done up and have to let go, don't wait for me. I'm not much of a swimmer."

Bowler hesitated.

"If I could only be sure of getting _him_ over," said he, pointing to Tubbs, "I might come back and--"

"Hullo! I say, Bowler, look there!" exclaimed Braintree suddenly, pointing out to sea. "Wasn't that a light? Blow your whistle, I say."

Bowler obeyed, eagerly gazing in the direction indicated by Braintree.

There was neither answer nor light.

"I'm certain I saw something!" exclaimed Braintree. "Blow again, old man."

And once more the whistle sent forth a shrill cry seaward, accompanied by a loud shout from Braintree.