Adventures in Southern Seas | Page 8

an agony of
remorse. Alas, poor Moira! Faithful friend! True heart, and loyal to
death! A thousand times I reproached myself with my neglect of her,
but my regrets were unavailing, and my repentance came too late.
It now became necessary if I would live to provide myself with food,
and in this enforced occupation I obtained some relief from the
dejection which had formerly obsessed me. I found no difficulty in
procuring fish, and I quickly became expert with Moira's bow and
arrows. Salt, also, I gathered from the rocks, and some roots which
Moira had shown me served as vegetables. Of water I had an
abundance from a fresh-water lagoon near by. So that I lacked nothing
for my support. But although my body was nourished, my mind
became so oppressed by solitude that, at times, I even thought of
returning to the blacks and conforming to their ways, and had it not
been that I knew them to be cannibals I might have spent the remainder
of my life among them, so intense had become my longing to meet with
others of my kind.
Another cause for anxiety now made me consider whether I had not
better move my habitation to some cave along the coast. Within a week
from the carrying off of Moira by the sea-spider, I began to miss
supplies of fish and flesh which I kept in the storehouse cave. Strange
sounds, also, as of some heavy body dragging itself over the rocks kept
me awake at night, and filled me with alarm. Could it be that the
monster was once more paying its visits to the cave? The sounds
continued during the night, but with the break of dawn they ceased.
One morning, however, when I had resolved upon moving my camp,
on mounting the cliff I sighted a vessel which I recognized as the
"Endraght", coming up the coast from the south. In a frenzy of
excitement I lighted the beacon and taking a silk handkerchief from my
neck I waved it to attract attention. A dread overpowered me that my
signals might not be observed, and had the ship passed without seeing

me I verily believe I would have cast myself from the cliff on which I
stood to certain death upon the rocks below. But now I saw that the
vessel was heading for the shore, and presently a boat put off for the
beach. Carried away by the thought of my salvation, I waded knee deep
to meet my comrades, and climbing into the boat I soon found myself
on board the "Endraght".
So wild-looking and unkempt had I become that at first my shipmates
did not know me, but when they recognized me I was given a hearty
welcome.
"Of a truth, Peter," said Hartog, smiling at my sorry appearance, "I
have small wonder the cannibals did not make a meal off one so
skinny." And, indeed, the hard life I had led on the island had reduced
me to a bag of bones. But when I had washed and trimmed my hair and
after I had clothed myself from my own sea-chest Hartog declared me
fit to become, once more, his secretary.
I sat late that night with my comrades, to whom I recounted my
adventures, and when I reflected upon the dangers I had passed I could
scarcely contain my joy at my rescue from a fate worse than death.
CHAPTER V
THE VOYAGE CONTINUED
Dirk Hartog, convinced that he had discovered the continent known as
Terra Australis, determined now to seek the gold and gems which this
fabled land was said to contain. The "Endraght" was accordingly
brought to anchor near to the mouth of a river on the coast, and
preparations were made to explore the stream in one of the ship's boats
for some distance along its banks. In the course of the afternoon we
attempted a landing, but as the boat neared the shore a number of
natives ran down to the water's edge with spears in their hands, and
with loud cries forbade our progress. A present of some nails and beads
thrown among them seemed, for the moment, to produce a good effect,
but on our attempt to land being renewed the natives again showed
signs of opposition. Hartog endeavoured to make them understand that

no injury was intended, but his friendly advances met with no success.
A musket was then fired amongst them, which was replied to by a
flight of spears, but no damage was done on either side. One of the
natives then threw a stone at our boat, which was answered by a
discharge of small shot, which struck him in the legs, causing him to
jump like one of the hopping animals I had seen on