The Crew of the Water Wagtail | Page 9

spares him."
Little did Paul Burns think, when he made this prophetic speech by the
camp-fire on that distant isle of the sea, that, even while he spoke
William Tyndale was laying the foundation of that minute knowledge
of the Greek and Hebrew languages, which afterwards enabled him to
give the Bible to England in her own tongue, and that so ably translated,
that, after numerous revisions by the most capable of scholars, large
portions of his work remain unaltered at the present day.
The night was far spent, and the other members of the camp had been
long buried in slumber before Paul and Trench and Oliver could tear
themselves away from the manuscript Gospel of John. The latter two,

who knew comparatively little of its contents, were at first impressed
chiefly with the fact that they were examining that rare and costly
article--a book, and a forbidden book, too, for the reading of which
many a man and woman had been burned to death in times past--but
they became still more deeply impressed as Paul went on reading and
commenting and pointing out the value of the Book as God's own
"Word" to fallen man.
"Here is a promise to rest upon," said Paul, as he finally closed the
book and repeated the verse from memory, "Jesus said, If ye continue
in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the
truth, and the truth shall make you free."
"Ay, that's it, Paul--free! We're all slaves, more or less, to something or
other. What we all want is to be free," said Master Trench, as he drew
his blanket round him, pillowed his head on his cloak, and went to
sleep.
Silently Paul and Oliver followed his example, the fires died out, and in
a few minutes the slumbering camp was shrouded in the mantle of
night.
Energetic action was the order of the next day, for those shipwrecked
mariners knew well enough that nothing but hard and steady labour
could enable them to live on an apparently desolate island.
By daybreak most of the crew had scattered themselves along the
shores, or over the interior, to spy out the land. About two hours later
they began to drop into camp as hungry as hawks, each carrying the
result of his researches in his arms or on his shoulders.
"Well done, Squill!" said Paul, who chanced to be first back in camp,
with a huge sail bundled up on his shoulder, and who, just then, was
busy blowing up his fire; "got another barrel of pork, eh?"
"It's myself as doesn't know, sur," answered Squill, "and it wasn't me as
found it, but Jim Heron there. I only helped to sling it on the pole, and
shoulder an end. It's aither pork or gunpowther, so if it ain't good for a

blow out it'll be good for a blow up, anyhow."
"Did you see little Oliver anywhere?" asked Paul.
"Ay, sur, I saw him on the shore, bringing up what seemed to me the
ship's bowsprit--anyhow, a spar o' some sort, about as big as he could
haul along."
"Just so," returned Paul, with a laugh, "a ridge-pole for our tent. He's a
smart boy, little Olly."
"Sure he's all that, sur, and more. Here he comes, blowin' like a
porpoise."
Sure enough, Oliver appeared at the moment, dragging a heavy spar
behind him. Several of the men appeared at the same time, staggering
through the bushes, with various loads of wreckage, which they flung
down, and noisily began discussing their experiences as they lighted
the fires and prepared breakfast.
"Here comes Little Stubbs," cried Jim Heron. "What fortune,
comrade?"
"Good fortune, though my load is the lightest yet brought in."
He flung down a small piece of wood with an air of satisfaction.
"Why, it's only a boat's rudder!" said Oliver.
"Ay, so it is, and the boat lies where I picked it up, but it was too heavy
to bring into camp without your assistance, boy. And the best of it is
that it's not much damaged. Very little repair will make her fit for sea
again."
This was indeed a find of immense importance, and the assembled
party discussed the event in all its bearings till their mouths were
partially stopped by pork and pancakes.
In the midst of this they were interrupted by the arrival of Big Swinton,

George Blazer, and Grummidge with another find, which afterwards
cost them much trouble and regret--namely, a couple of young lads,
natives, whom they led into camp with their wrists tightly bound
behind their backs.
CHAPTER FOUR.
STRANGE VISITORS--DARK PLOTS--AND EVIL PURPOSES.
The youths who had been captured were simple savages, with very
little clothing, and with an expression of considerable alarm on their
faces. As