Humph! is a very expressive word, observed Paul, and in some sense satisfactory to those who utter it, but it is ambiguous. Do you mean to deny, Master Trench, that some of your late crew were very good fellows? and dont you admit that Little Stubbs and Squill and Grummidge were first-rate specimens of
I dont admit or deny anything! said the captain, rising, with a light laugh, and I have no intention of engaging in a controversy with you before breakfast. Come, Olly, blow up the fire, and go to work with your pork and cakes. Ill fetch some more wood, and Paul will help me, no doubt.
With a good grace Paul dropped the discussion and went to work. In a few minutes breakfast was not only ready, but consumed; for a certain measure of anxiety as to the probability of there being an available path to the top of the cliffs tended to hasten their proceedings.
The question was soon settled, for after ascending a few yards above their encampment they found an indentation or crevice in the cliff which led into an open spota sort of broader shelfwhich sloped upwards, and finally conducted them to the summit.
Here, to their surprise, they discovered that their new home, instead of being, as they had supposed it, one of a series of large islands, was in truth a territory of vast, apparently boundless, extent, covered with dense forests. Far as the eye could reach, interminable woods presented themselves, merging, in the far distance, into what appeared to be a range of low hills.
Newfoundland is bigger than we have been led to believe, said Paul Burns, surveying the prospect with great satisfaction.
Ay is it, responded Trench. The fact is that discoverers of new lands, bein naturally in ships, have not much chance to go far inland. In a country like this, with such a wild seaboard, its no wonder they have made mistakes. We will find out the truth about it now, however, for well undertake a land voyage of discovery.
What! without arms or provisions, father? asked Oliver.
What dye call the two things dangling from your shoulders, boy? returned the captain, with some severity; are these not arms? and have not woodsgenerally got lakes in em and rivers which usually swarm with provisions?
Thats so, father, returned the lad, somewhat abashed; but I did not raise the question as a difficulty, only Ive heard you sometimes say that a ship is not fit for sea till she is well-armed and provisioned, so I thought that it might be the same with land expeditions.
Before the skipper could reply, Paul drew attention to an opening in the woods not far from them, where an animal of some kind was seen to emerge into an open space, gaze for a moment around it, and then trot quietly away.
Some of our provisionsuncooked as yet, remarked Oliver.
More of them, returned his father, pointing to a covey of birds resembling grouse, which flashed past them at the moment on whirring wings. How we are to get hold of em, however, remains, of course, to be seen.
There are many ways of getting hold of them, and with some of these I am familiar, said Paul. For instance, I can use the long-bow with some skillat least I could do so when at school. And I have no doubt, captain, that you know how to use the cross-bow?
That I do, returned Trench, with a broad grin.
I was noted at school as bein out o sight the worst shot in the neighbourhood where I lived. Indeed, Ive bin known to miss a barn-door at twenty yards!
Well, well, you must learn to shoot, thats all, said Paul, and you may, perchance, turn out better with the sling. That weapon did great execution, as no doubt you know, in the hands of King David.
But where are we to get long-bows and cross-bows and slings? asked Oliver eagerly.
Why, Olly, my boy, excitement seems to have confused your brain, or the air of Newfoundland disagrees with you, said Paul. We shall make them, of course. But come, he added, in a more serious tone, we have reached a pointI may say a crisisin our lives, for we must now decide definitely what we shall do, and I pray God to direct us so that we may do only that which is right and wise. Are you prepared, captain, to give up all hope of returning to our shipmates?
Of course I am, returned Trench firmly, while a slight frown gathered on his brow. The few who are on our side could not make the rest friendly. They may now fight it out amongst themselves as best they can, for all that I care. We did not forsake them. They sent us away. Besides, we could not return, if we wished it ever so much. No; a grand new country has been opened up to us, and I mean to have a cruise of exploration. What say you, Olly?
Im with ee, father! answered the boy, with a nod of the head that was even more emphatic than the tone of his voice.
With a laugh at Olivers enthusiasm, Paul declared himself to be of much the same mind, and added that, as they had no boxes to pack or friends to bid farewell to, they should commence the journey there and then.
I dont agree with that, said the captain.
Why not, Master Trench?
Because we have not yet made our weapons, and it may be that we shall have some good chances of getting supplies at the very beginning of our travels. My opinion is that we should arm ourselves before starting, for the pork and cakes cannot last long.
This being at once recognised as sound advice, they entered the forest, which was not so thick at that place as it at first appeared to be. They went just far enough to enable them to obtain a species of hardwood, which the experienced eye of Paul Burns told them was suitable for bow-making. Here they pitched their camp. Paul took the axe and cut down several small trees; the captain gathered firewood, and Oliver set about the fabrication of a hut or booth, with poles, bark, turf, and leaves, which was to shelter them from rain if it should fall, though there was little chance of that, the weather being fine and settled at the time.
The work which they had undertaken was by no means as easy as they had anticipated. Paul had indeed made bows and arrows in former years, but then all the materials had been furnished in the rough to his hands, whereas he had now not only to select the tree best adapted to his purpose, but had to choose the best part of it, and to reduce that portion from a massive trunk to suitably slender proportions. It was much the same with the arrows and cross-bow bolts. However, there was resolution and perseverance in each member of the party far more than sufficient to overcome such little difficulties; only, as we have said, they were slower about it than had been expected, and the work was far from completed when the descent of night obliged them to seek repose.
Not a bad little bower, remarked Paul, as they sat down to supper in the primitive edifice which Oliver had erected.
The said bower was about four feet high, eight wide, and five deep, of irregular form, with three sides and a roof; walls and roof being of the same materialbranchy, leafy, and turfy. The fourth side was an open space in which the inhabitants sat, facing the fire. The latter, being large enough to roast a sheep whole, was built outside.
Why, Olly, youre a selfish fellow, said the captain, during a pause in the meal; youve thought only of yourself in building this bower. Just look at Pauls feet. They are sticking out ten or twelve inches beyond our shelter!
That comes of his being so tall, daddy. But it does not matter much. If it should come on to rain he can draw his feet inside; theres room enough to double up. Dont you think so, Paul?