to be exercised. About half-past five, the boatswain ordered the
foresail to be struck. The jib was left as it was, to give steerage way.
It was the
wisest thing to do, to reduce the speed of the boat until the land was sighted.
At night, in
the midst of such profound darkness, there was danger in venturing near a
coast—danger of counter-currents drifting on to it, though there might be no
wind. In similar conditions a ship would not have delayed until the evening to
put out again and seek the security of the open sea. But a boat cannot do what
a ship may. To tack up against the southerly wind, which was freshening now,
would have involved a risk of getting too far away—not to mention the severe
toil.
So the boat
stayed where it was, with only the jib sail set, hardly moving, her head
pointed north.
But at last
all uncertainty and all possibility of mistake was removed. About six o'clock
in the evening the sun showed itself for a moment before disappearing below the
waves.
On the 21st
of September it set exactly in the west, and on the 13th of October,
twenty-three days after the equinox, it set a little above in the southern
hemisphere. Just at that moment the fog lifted, and Fritz could see the sun
drawing near to the horizon. Ten minutes later its fiery disc was flush with
the line of sky and sea.
"That is
the north, over there!" said Fritz, pointing with his hand to a point
rather to the left of that on which the boat was headed.
Almost at
once he was answered by a shout, a shout that all of them uttered together.
"Land!
Land!"
The mist had
just dispersed, and the coast line was revealed not more than a mile away.
The boatswain
steered straight for it. The foresail was set again and swelled out in the
dying breeze.
Half an hour
later the boat had grounded on a sandy beach, and was made fast behind a long
point of rock, well sheltered from the surf.
CHAPTER V - A BARREN SHORE
THE castaways
had reached land at last! Not one of them had succumbed to the fatigue and
privations of their fortnight's voyage under such distressing and dangerous
conditions, and for that thanks were due to God. Only Captain Gould was
suffering terribly from fever. But in spite of his exhaustion, his life did not
appear to be in danger, and a few days' rest might set him up again.
The question
rose, what was this land on which they had disembarked?
Whatever it
was, it unhappily was not New Switzerland, where, but for the mutiny of Robert
Borupt and his crew, the Flag would have arrived within the expected
time. What had this unknown shore to offer instead of the comfort and
prosperity of Rock Castle?
But this was
not the moment to waste time over such questions. The night was so dark that
nothing could be seen except a strand backed by a lofty cliff, at its sides
bastions of rock. It was settled that all should remain in the boat until
sunrise. Fritz and the boatswain were to keep watch until the morning. The
coast might be frequented by natives, and vigilance was necessary. Whether it
were Australian continent or Pacific Island, they must be upon their guard. In
the event of attack they would be able to escape by putting out to sea.
Jenny, Dolly,
and Susan therefore resumed their places beside Captain Gould. Frank and James
stretched themselves out between the benches, ready to spring up at the call of
the boatswain. But for the moment they had reached the limit of their strength,
and they fell asleep immediately.
Fritz and
John Block sat together in the stern and
foresail to be struck. The jib was left as it was, to give steerage way.
It was the
wisest thing to do, to reduce the speed of the boat until the land was sighted.
At night, in
the midst of such profound darkness, there was danger in venturing near a
coast—danger of counter-currents drifting on to it, though there might be no
wind. In similar conditions a ship would not have delayed until the evening to
put out again and seek the security of the open sea. But a boat cannot do what
a ship may. To tack up against the southerly wind, which was freshening now,
would have involved a risk of getting too far away—not to mention the severe
toil.
So the boat
stayed where it was, with only the jib sail set, hardly moving, her head
pointed north.
But at last
all uncertainty and all possibility of mistake was removed. About six o'clock
in the evening the sun showed itself for a moment before disappearing below the
waves.
On the 21st
of September it set exactly in the west, and on the 13th of October,
twenty-three days after the equinox, it set a little above in the southern
hemisphere. Just at that moment the fog lifted, and Fritz could see the sun
drawing near to the horizon. Ten minutes later its fiery disc was flush with
the line of sky and sea.
"That is
the north, over there!" said Fritz, pointing with his hand to a point
rather to the left of that on which the boat was headed.
Almost at
once he was answered by a shout, a shout that all of them uttered together.
"Land!
Land!"
The mist had
just dispersed, and the coast line was revealed not more than a mile away.
The boatswain
steered straight for it. The foresail was set again and swelled out in the
dying breeze.
Half an hour
later the boat had grounded on a sandy beach, and was made fast behind a long
point of rock, well sheltered from the surf.
CHAPTER V - A BARREN SHORE
THE castaways
had reached land at last! Not one of them had succumbed to the fatigue and
privations of their fortnight's voyage under such distressing and dangerous
conditions, and for that thanks were due to God. Only Captain Gould was
suffering terribly from fever. But in spite of his exhaustion, his life did not
appear to be in danger, and a few days' rest might set him up again.
The question
rose, what was this land on which they had disembarked?
Whatever it
was, it unhappily was not New Switzerland, where, but for the mutiny of Robert
Borupt and his crew, the Flag would have arrived within the expected
time. What had this unknown shore to offer instead of the comfort and
prosperity of Rock Castle?
But this was
not the moment to waste time over such questions. The night was so dark that
nothing could be seen except a strand backed by a lofty cliff, at its sides
bastions of rock. It was settled that all should remain in the boat until
sunrise. Fritz and the boatswain were to keep watch until the morning. The
coast might be frequented by natives, and vigilance was necessary. Whether it
were Australian continent or Pacific Island, they must be upon their guard. In
the event of attack they would be able to escape by putting out to sea.
Jenny, Dolly,
and Susan therefore resumed their places beside Captain Gould. Frank and James
stretched themselves out between the benches, ready to spring up at the call of
the boatswain. But for the moment they had reached the limit of their strength,
and they fell asleep immediately.
Fritz and
John Block sat together in the stern and
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