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The Crater by James Fenimore Cooper

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Another difficulty arose, however, when the first was overcome. Unus
could speak no English, and how was he to communicate with Juno, even
after he had entered her boat? The girl, moreover, was both resolute and
strong, as her present expedition sufficiently proved, and would be very
apt to knock a nearly naked savage on the head, when she saw him
attempting to enter her boat. From this last opinion, however, Bridget
dissented. Juno was kind-hearted, and would be more disposed, she
thought, to pick up a man found in the water at sea, than to injure him.
But Juno could read writing. Bridget herself had taught her slaves to
read and write, and Juno in particular was a sort of 'expert,' in her
way. She wrote and read half the nigger-letters of Bristol, previously
to quitting America. She would now write a short note, which would put
the girl on her guard, and give her confidence in Unus. Juno knew the
whole history of Peters and Peggy, having taken great interest in the
fate of the latter. To own the truth, the girl had manifested a very
creditable degree of principle on the subject, for Jones had tried to
persuade his friend to take Juno, a nice, tidy, light-coloured black, to
wife, and to forget Peggy, when Juno repelled the attempt with spirit
and principle. It is due to Peters, moreover, to add that he was always
true to his island bride. But the occurrence had made Juno acquainted
with the whole history of Peggy; and Bridget, in the few lines she now
wrote to the girl, took care to tell her that the Indian was the brother
of Peggy. In that capacity, he would be almost certain of a friendly
reception. The rest of the note was merely an outline of their
situation, with, an injunction to let Unis direct the movements.

No sooner was this important note written, than Unus hastened down to
the cove. He was accompanied by Mark, Peters and Peggy; the former to
give his instructions, and the two latter to act as interpreters. Nor
was the sister without feeling for the brother on the occasion. She
certainly did not regard his enterprise as it would have been looked
upon by a civilized woman, but she manifested a proper degree of
interest in its success. Her parting words to her brother, were advice
to keep well to windward, in order that, as he got near the boat, he
might float down upon it with the greater facility, aided by the waves.

The young Indian was soon ready. The note was secured in his hair, and
moving gently in the water, he swam out of the cove with the ease, if
not with the rapidity of a fish. Peggy clapped her hands and laughed,
and otherwise manifested a sort of childish delight, as if pleased that
one of her race should so early make himself useful to the countrymen of
her husband. She and Peters repaired to the battery, which was the
proper station of the man, while Mark went nimbly up the Stairs, on his
way to the Peak. And here we might put in a passing word on the subject
of these ascents and descents. The governor had now been accustomed to
them more than a twelvemonth, and he found that the effect they produced
on the muscles of his lower limbs was absolutely surprising. He could
now ascend the Stairs in half the time he had taken on his first trials,
and he could carry burthens up and down them, that at first he would not
have dreamed of attempting even to take on his shoulders. The same was
true with all the colonists, male and female, who began to run about the
cliffs like so many goats--_chamois_ would be more poetical--and who
made as light of the Stairs as the governor himself.

When Mark reached the Peak again, he found matters drawing near to a
crisis. The canoes were within a league of the island, coming on
steadily in line, and paddling with measured sweeps of their paddles. As
yet, the sail of Juno's boat had escaped them. This was doubtless owing
to their lowness in the water, and the distance that still separated
them. The Dido was about five miles from the northern end of the island,
while the fleet was some five more to the southward of it. This placed
the two almost ten miles apart though each seemed so near, seen from the
elevation of the Peak, that one might have fancied that he could throw a
shot into either.

Unus was the great point of interest for the moment. He was just coming
out clear of the island, and might be seen with the naked eye, in that
pure atmosphere, a dark speck floating on the undulating surface of the
ocean. By the aid of the glass, there was no difficulty in watching his
smallest movement. With a steady and sinewy stroke of his arms, the
young savage pursued his way, keeping to windward, as instructed by his
sister, and making a progress in the midst of those rolling billows that
was really wonderful. The wind was not very fresh, nor were the seas
high; but the restless ocean, even in its slumbers, exhibits the repose
of a giant, whose gentlest heavings are formidable and to be looked to.
In one particular, our colonists were favoured. Owing to some accidental
circumstances of position, a current set round the northern end of the
island, and diffused itself on its western side by expanding towards the
south. This carried the canoes from the boat and the cove, and insomuch
increased Juno's chance of escape.

The meeting between Unus and the boat took place when the latter was
within a league of the land. As the sailing directions were for every
craft to fall in with the island rather to windward of the Peak, on
account of the very current just mentioned, it was questionable with
Mark and Betts whether any in the canoes could now perceive the boat, on
account of the intervening heights. It was pretty certain no one, as
yet, had made this important discovery, for the impetuosity of savages
would instantly have let the fact be known through their shouts and
their eagerness to-chase. On the contrary, all remained tranquil in the
fleet, which continued to approach the land with a steady but regulated
movement, that looked as if a secret awe pervaded the savages as they
drew nearer and nearer to that unknown and mysterious world. To them the
approaching revelations were doubtless of vast import; and the stoutest
heart among them must have entertained some such sensations as were
impressed on the spirits of Columbus and his companions, when they drew
near to the shores of Guanahani.

In the mean time, Juno came confidingly on, shaping her course rather
more to windward than usual even, on account of the lightness of the
breeze. This effectually prevented her seeing or being seen from the
canoes; the parties diagonally drawing nearer, in utter ignorance of
each other's existence. As for Unus, he manoeuvred quite skilfully.
After getting a couple of miles off the land, he swam directly to
windward; and it was well he did, the course of the boat barely
permitting his getting well on her weather-bow, when it was time to
think of boarding.

Unus displayed great judgment in this critical part of the affair. So
accurately did he measure distances, that he got alongside of the Dido,
with his hand on her weather gunwale, without Juno's having the least
idea that he was anywhere near her. At one effort he was in the boat;
and while the girl was still uttering her scream of alarm, he stood
holding out the note, pronouncing the word "Missus" as well as he could.
The girl had acquired too much knowledge of the habits of the South Sea
islanders, while passing through and sojourning in the different groups
she had visited, to be overwhelmed with the occurrence. What is more,
she recognised the young Indian at a glance; some passages of gallantry
having actually taken place between them during the two months Heaton
and his party remained among Ooroony's people. To be frank with the
reader, the first impression of Juno was, that the note thus tendered to
her was a love-letter, though its contents instantly undeceived her. The
exclamation and changed manner of the girl told Unus that all was right;
and he went quietly to work to take in the sail, as the most effectual
method of concealing the presence of the boat from the thousand hostile
and searching eyes in the canoes. The moment Mark saw the canvas come
in, he cried out 'all is well,' and descended swiftly from the Peak, to
hasten to a point where he could give the necessary attentions to the
movements of Waally and his fleet.




Chapter XVII.



"Ho! strike the flag-staff deep, Sir Knight,--
Ho! scatter flowers, fair maids,--
Ho! gunners fire a loud salute--
Ho! gallants, draw your blades;--"

Macaulay.


So much time had passed in the execution of the plan of Unus, that the
canoes were close under the cliffs, when the governor and his party
reached the wood that fringed their summits, directly over the northern
end of their line. Even this extremity of their formation was a mile or
two to leeward of the cove, and all the craft, catamarans included, were
drifting still further south, under the influence of the current. So
long as this state of things continued, there was nothing for the
colonists to apprehend, since they knew landing at any other spot than
the cove was out of the question. The strictest orders had been given
for every one to keep concealed, a task that was by no means difficult,
the whole plain being environed with woods, and its elevation more than
a thousand feet above the sea. In short, nothing but a wanton exposure
of the person, could render it possible for one on the water to get a
glimpse of another on the heights above him.

The fleet of Waally presented an imposing sight. Not only were his
canoes large, and well filled with men, but they were garnished with the
usual embellishments of savage magnificence. Feathers and flags, and
symbols of war and power, were waving and floating over the prows of
most of them, while the warriors they contained were gay in their
trappings. It was apparent, however, to the members of the council, who
watched every movement of the fleet with the utmost vigilance, that
their foes were oppressed with doubts concerning the character of the
place they had ventured so far to visit. The smoke of the Volcano was
visible to them, beyond a doubt, and here was a wall of rock interposed
between them and the accomplishment of their desire to land. In this
last respect, Rancocus Island offered a shore very different from that
of Vulcan's Peak. The first; in addition to the long, low point so often
mentioned, had everywhere a beach of some sort or other; while, on the
last, the waves of the Pacific rose and fell as against a precipice,
marking their power merely by a slight discoloration of the iron-bound
coast. Those superstitious and ignorant beings naturally would connect
all these unusual circumstances with some supernatural agencies; and
Heaton early, gave it as his opinion that Waally, of whom he had some
personal knowledge, was hesitating, and doubtful of the course he ought
to pursue, on account of this feeling of superstition. When this opinion
was expressed, the governor suggested the expediency of firing one of
the carronades, under the supposition that the roar of the gun, and most
especially the echo, of which there was one in particular that was truly
terrific, might have the effect to frighten away the whole party. Heaton
was in doubt about the result, for Waally and his people knew something
of artillery, though of echoes they could not know anything at all.
Nothing like an echo, or indeed a hill, was to be found in the low coral
islands of their group, and the physical agents of producing such sounds
were absolutely wanting among them. It might be that something like an
echo had been heard at Rancocus Island, but it must have been of a very
different calibre from that which Heaton and Mark were in the habit of
making for the amusement of the females, by firing their fowling-pieces
down the Stairs. As yet neither of the guns had been fired from the
proper point, which was the outer battery, or that on the shelf of rock,
though a very formidable roaring had been made by the report of the gun
formerly fired, as an experiment to ascertain how far it would command
the entrance of the cove. After a good deal of discussion, it was
decided to try the experiment, and Betts, who knew all about the means
necessary to produce the greatest reverberations, was despatched to the
shelf-battery with instructions to scale its gun, by pointing it along
the cliff and making all the uproar he could.

This plan was carried out just as Waally had assembled his chiefs
around his own canoe, whither he had called them by an order, to consult
on the manner in which the entire coast of the island ought to be
examined, that a landing might be effected. The report of the gun came
quite unexpectedly to all parties; the echo, which rolled along the
cliffs for miles, being absolutely terrific! Owing to the woods and
intervening rocks, the natives could see no smoke, which added to their
surprise, and was doubtless one reason they did not, at first,
comprehend the long, cracking, thundering sounds that, as it might be,
rolled out towards them from the island. A cry arose that the strange
rocks were speaking, and that the Gods of the place were angry. This was
followed by a general and confused flight;--the canoes, paddling away as
if their people were apprehensive of being buried beneath the tumbling
rocks. For half an hour nothing was seen but frantic efforts to escape,
nothing heard but the dip of the paddle and the wash of its rise.

Thus far the plan of the governor had succeeded even beyond his
expectations. Could he get rid of these savages without bloodshed, it
would afford him sincere delight, it being repugnant to all his feelings
to sweep away rows of such ignorant men before the murderous fire of his
cannon. While he and Heaton were congratulating each other on the
encouraging appearances, a messenger came down from the Peak, where
Bridget remained on the look-out, to report that the boat had drifted
in, and was getting close under the cliffs, on the northern end of the
island, which was in fact coming close under the Peak itself. A signal
to push for the cove had been named to Juno, and Bridget desired to know
whether it ought to be made, else the boat would shortly be too near in,
to see it. The governor thought the moment favourable, for the canoes
were still paddling in a body away from the spot whence the roar had
proceeded, and their course carried them to the southward and westward,
while Unus would approach from the northward and eastward. Word was
sent, accordingly, to make the signal.

Bridget no sooner received this order than she showed the flag, which
was almost immediately answered by setting the boat's sail. Unus now
evidently took the direction of matters on board the Dido, It is
probable he appreciated the effect of the gun and its echo, the first of
which he fully comprehended, though the last was as great and as awful a
mystery to him, as to any one of his countrymen. Nevertheless, he
imputed the strange and fearful roar of the cliffs to some control of
the whites over the power of the hills, and regarded it as a friendly
roar, even while he trembled. Not so would it be with his countrymen,
did he well know; they would retire before it; and the signal being
given at that instant, the young Indian had no hesitation about the
course he ought to take.

Unus understood sailing a boat perfectly well. On setting his sail, he
stood on in the Dido until he was obliged to bear up on account of the
cliffs. This brought him so close to the rocks as greatly to diminish
the chances of being seen. There both wind and current aided his
progress; the first drawing round the end of the island, the coast of
which it followed in a sort of eddy, for some time, and the latter
setting down towards the cove, which was less than two miles from the
north bluff. In twenty minutes after he had made sail, Unus was entering
the secret little harbour, Waally and his fleet being quite out of sight
from one as low as the surface of the ocean, still paddling away to the
south-west, as hard as they could.

Great was the exultation of the colonists, at this escape of Juno's. It
even surpassed their happiness at the retreat of their invaders. If the
boat were actually unseen, the governor believed the impression was
sufficient to keep the savages aloof for a long time, if not for ever;
since they would not fail to ascribe the roar, and the smoke of the
volcano, and all the mysteries of the place, to supernatural agencies.
If the sail _had_ been seen, however, it was possible that, on
reflection, their courage might revive, and more would be seen of them.
Unus was extolled by everybody, and seemed perfectly happy. Peggy
communicated his thoughts, which were every way in favour of his new
friends. Waally he detested. He denounced him as a ruthless tyrant, and
declared he would prefer death to submission to his exactions. Juno
highly approved of all his sentiments, and was soon known as a sworn
friend of Peggy's. This hatred of tyranny is innate in men, but it is
necessary to distinguish between real oppression and those restraints
which are wholesome, if not indispensable to human happiness. As for the
canoes, they were soon out of sight in the south-western hoard, running
off, under their sails, before the wind. Waally, himself, was too
strong-minded and resolute, to be as much overcome by the echo, as his
companions; but, so profound and general was the awe excited, that he
did not think it advisable to persevere in his projects, at a moment so
discouraging. Acquiescing in the wishes of all around him, the
expedition drew off from the island, making the best of its way back to
the place from which it had last sailed. All these circumstances became
known to the colonists, in the end, as well as the reasoning and the
more minute incidents that influenced the future movements; For the time
being, however, Woolston and his friends were left to their own
conjectures on the Subject; which, however, were not greatly out of the
way. It was an hour after Juno and Unus were safe up on the plain,
before the look-outs at the Peak finally lost sight of the fleet, which,
when last seen, was steering a course that would carry it between the
volcano and Rancocus Island, and might involve it in serious
difficulties in the succeeding night. There was no land in sight from
the highest points on Rancocus Island, nor any indications of land, in a
south-westerly direction; and, did the canoes run past the latter, the
imminent danger of a general catastrophe would be the consequence. Once
at sea, under an uncertainty as to the course to be steered, the
situation of those belonging to the expedition would be painful, indeed,
nor could the results be foreseen. Waally, nevertheless, escaped the
danger. Edging off to keep aloof from the mysterious smoke, which
troubled his followers almost as much as the mysterious echoes, the
party, most fortunately for themselves, got a distant view of the
mountains for which they were running, and altered their course in
sufficient time to reach their place of destination, Ly the return of
light the succeeding morning.

All thoughts of the expedition to Rancocus Island were temporarily
abandoned by the governor and his council. Mark was greatly
disappointed, nor did his regrets cease with disappointment only.
Should Waally leave a portion of his people on that island, a collision
must occur, sooner or later; there being a moral impossibility of the
two colonies continuing friends while so near each other. The nature of
an echo would be ascertained, before many months, among the hills of
Rancocus Island, and when that came to be understood, there was an end
of the sacred character that the recent events had conferred on the
Peak. Any straggling vagabond, or runaway from a ship, might purchase a
present importance by explaining things, and induce the savages to renew
their efforts. In a word, there was the moral certainty that hostilities
must be renewed ere many months, did Waally remain so near them, and the
question now seriously arose, whether it were better to press the
advantage already obtained, and drive him back to his group, or to
remain veiled behind the sort of mystery that at present enshrouded
them. These points were gravely debated, and became subjects of as great
interest among the colonists, as ever banks, or abolitionism, or
antimasonry, or free-trade, or any other of the crotchets of the day,
could possibly be in America. Many were the councils that were convened
to settle this important point of policy, which, after all, like most
other matters of moment, was decided more by the force of circumstances,
than by any of the deductions of human reason. The weakness of the
colony and the dangers to its existence, disposed of the question of an
aggressive war. Waally was too strong to be assailed by a dozen enemies,
and all the suggestions of prudence were in favour of remaining quiet,
until the Friend Abraham White could, at least, be made available in the
contest. Supported by that vessel, indeed, matters would be changed; and
Mark thought it would be in his power to drive in Waally, and even to
depose him and place Ooroony at the head of the natives once more. To
finish and launch the schooner, therefore, was now the first great
object, and, after a week of indecision and consultations, it was
determined to set about that duty with vigour.

It will be easily seen, that the getting of the Abraham into the water
was an affair of a good deal of delicacy, under the circumstances. The
strait between the Peak and Cape South was thirty miles wide, and it
was twenty more to the crater. Thus the party at work on the vessel
would be fully fifty miles from the main abodes of the colony, and
thrown quite out of the affair should another invasion be attempted. As
for bringing the Neshamony, the Dido, the Bridget, and the fighter, into
the combat, everybody was of opinion it would be risking too much. It is
true, one of the swivels was mounted on the former, and might be of
service, but the natives had got to be too familiar with fire-arms to
render it prudent to rely on the potency of a single swivel, in a
conflict against a force so numerous, and one led by a spirit as
determined as that of Waally's was known to be. All idea of righting at
sea, therefore, until the schooner was launched, was out of the
question, and every energy was turned to effect the latter most
important object. A separation of the forces of the colony was
inevitable, in the meanwhile; and reliance must be placed on the
protection of Providence, for keeping the enemy aloof until the vessel
was ready for active service.

The labour requiring as much physical force as could be mustered, the
arrangement was settled in council and approved by the governor, on the
following plan, viz:--Mark was to proceed to the Reef with all the men
that could be spared, and a portion of the females. It was not deemed
safe, however, to leave the Peak with less than three defenders, Heaton,
Peters and Unus being chosen for that important station; the former
commanding, of course. Mark, Betts, Bigelow, Socrates, and Jones, formed
the party _for_ the Reef, to which were attached Bridget, Martha,
Teresa, and the blacks. Bigelow went across, indeed, a day or two before
the main party sailed, in order to look after Dido, and to get his work
forward as fast as possible. When all was ready, and that was when ten
days had gone by after the retreat of Waally, without bringing any
further tidings from him, the governor sailed in the Neshamony, having
the Bridget and the lighter in company, leaving the Dido for the
convenience of Heaton and his set. Signals were agreed on, though the
distance was so great as to render them of little use, unless a boat
were mid-channel. A very simple and ingenious expedient, nevertheless,
was suggested by Mark, in connection with this matter. A single tree
grew so near the Peak as to be a conspicuous object from the ocean; it
was not large, though it could be seen at a great distance, more
particularly in the direction of the Reef. The governor intimated an
intention to send a boat daily far enough out into the strait to
ascertain whether this tree were, or were not standing; and Heaton was
instructed to have it felled as soon as he had thoroughly ascertained
that Waally was abroad again with hostile intentions. Other signals were
also agreed on, in order to regulate the movements of the boats, in the
event of their being called back to the Peak to repel an invasion.

With the foregoing arrangements completed and thoroughly understood, the
governor set sail for the Reef, accompanied by his little squadron. It
was an exquisitely beautiful day, one in which all the witchery of the
climate developed itself, soothing the nerves and animating the spirits.
Bridget had lost most of her apprehensions of the natives, and could
laugh with her husband and play with her child almost as freely as
before the late events. Everybody, indeed, was in high spirits, the
launching of the schooner being regarded as a thing that would give them
complete command of the adjacent seas.