the daisy chain, or aspirations-第164章

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fell　a　prey　to　a　return　of　the　fever　which　had　been　his　introduction
to　Dr。　May。

〃There　he　was；〃　said　Harry；　〃laid　up　in　a　little　bit　of　a　stifling
cabin；　just　like　an　oven；　without　the　possibility　of　a　breath　of　air！
The　skin…flint　skipper　carried　no　medicine；　the　watershocking　stuff
it　waswas　getting　so　low；　that　there　was　only　a　pint　a　day　served
out　to　each；　and　though　all　of　us　Alcestes　clubbed　every　drop　we
could　spare　for　himit　was　bad　work！　　Owen　and　I　never　were　more
glad　in　our　lives　than　when　we　heard　we　were　to　cast　anchor　at　the
Loyalty　Isles！　　Such　a　place　as　it　was！　　You　little　know　what　it　was
to　see　anything　green！　　And　there　was　this　isle　fringed　down　close　to
the　sea　with　cocoa…nut　trees！　　And　the　bay　as　clear！you　could　see
every　shell；　and　wonderful　fishes　swimming　in　it！　　Well；　every　one
was　for　going　ashore；　and　some　of　the　natives　swam　out　to　us；　and
brought　things　in　their　canoes；　but　not　many；　it　is　not　encouraged　by
the　mission；　nor　by　Davidfor　those　Yankee　traders　are　not　the　most
edifying　societyand　the　crew　vowed　they　were　cannibals；　and　had
eaten　a　man　three　years　ago；　so　they　all　went　ashore　armed。〃

〃You　stayed　with　him；〃　said　Margaret。

〃Ay；　it　was　my　turn；　and　I　was　glad　enough　to　have　some　fresh　fruit
and　water　for　him；　but　he　could　not　take　any　notice　of　it。　　Did　not
I　want　you；　papa？　　Well；　by　and　by；　Owen　came　back；　in　a　perfect
rapture　with　the　place　and　the　people；　and　said　it　was　the　only　hope
for　Mr。　Ernescliffe；　to　take　him　on　shore〃

〃Then　you　did　really　go　amongst　the　cannibals！〃　exclaimed　Blanche。

〃That　is　all　nonsense；〃　said　Harry。　　〃Some　of　them　may　once　have
been；　and　I　fancy　the　heathens　might　not　mind　a　bit　of　'long　pig'
still；　but　these　have　been　converted　by　the　Samoans。〃

The　Samoans；　it　was　further　explained；　are　the　inhabitants　of　the
Navigator　Islands；　who；　having　been　converted　by　the　Church
Missionary　Society；　have　sent　out　great　numbers　of　most　active　and
admirable　teachers　among　the　scattered　islands；　braving　martyrdom　and
disease；　never　shrinking　from　their　work；　and；　by　teaching　and
example；　preparing　the　way　for　fuller　doctrine　than　they　can　yet
impart。　　A　station　of　these　devoted　men　had　for　some　years　been
settled　in　this　island；　and　had　since　been　visited　by　the　missions　of
Newcastle　and　New　Zealand。　　The　young　chief；　whom　Harry　called　David；
and　another　youth；　had　spent　two　summers　under　instruction　at　New
Zealand；　and　had　been　baptised。　　They　were　spending　the　colder　part
of　the　year　at　home；　and　hoped　shortly　to　be　called　for　by　the
mission…ship　to　return；　and　resume　their　course　of　instruction。

Owen　had　come　to　an　understanding　with　the　chief　and　the　Samoans；　and
had　decided　on　landing　his　lieutenant；　and　it　was　accordingly　done；
with　very　little　consciousness　on　the　patient's　part。　　Black　figures；
with　woolly　mop…heads；　and　sometimes　decorated　with　whitewash　of
lime；　crowded　round　to　assist　in　the　transport　of　the　sick　man
through　the　surf；　and　David　himself；　in　a　white　European　garb；　met
his　guests；　with　dignified　manners　that　would　have　suited　a　prince　of
any　land；　and　conducted　them　through　the　grove　of　palms；　interspersed
with　white　huts；　to　a　beautiful　house　consisting　of　a　central　room；
with　many　others　opening　from　it；　floored　with　white　coral　lime；　and
lined　with　soft　shining　mats　of　Samoan　manufacture。　　This；　Harry
learned；　had　been　erected　by　them　in　hopes　of　an　English　missionary
taking　up　his　abode　amongst　them。

They　were　a　kindly　people；　and　had　shown　hospitality　to　other
Englishmen；　who　had　less　appreciated　it　than　these　young　officers
could。　　They　lavished　every　kindness　in　their　power　upon　them；　and
Mr。　Ernescliffe；　at　first；　revived　so　much；　that　he　seemed　likely　to
recover。

But　the　ship　had　completed　her　repairs；　and　was　ready　to　sail。　　The
two　midshipmen　thought　it　would　be　certain　death　to　their　lieutenant
to　bring　him　back　to　such　an　atmosphere；　〃and　so；〃　continued　Harry's
letter　to　his　father；　〃I　thought　there　was　nothing　for　it　but　for　me
to　stay　with　him；　and　that　you　would　say　so。　　I　got　Owen　to　consent；
after　some　trouble；　as　we　were　sure　to　be　fetched　off　one　time　or
another。　　We　said　not　a　word　to　Mr。　Ernescliffe；　for　he　was　only
sensible　now　and　then；　so　that　Owen　had　the　command。　　Owen　made　the
skipper　leave　me　a　pistol　and　some　powder；　but　I　was　ashamed　David
should　know　it；　and　stowed　it　away。　　As　to　the　quarter…master；　old
Jennings；　whose　boy　you　remember　we　picked　up　at　the　Roman　camp；　he
had　not　forgotten　that；　and　when　we　were　shaking　hands　and　wishing
good…bye；　he　leaped　up；　and　vowed　'he　would　never　leave　the　young
gentleman　that　had　befriended　his　boy；　to　be　eaten　up　by　them　black
savage　niggers。　　If　they　made　roast…pork　of　Mr。　May；　he　would　be
eaten　first；　though　he　reckoned　they　would　find　him　a　tougher
morsel。'　　I　don't　think　Owen　was　sorry　he　volunteered；　and　no　words
can　tell　what　a　blessing　the　good　old　fellow　was　to　us　both。

〃So　there　we　stayed；　and；　at　first；　Mr。　Ernescliffe　seemed　mending。
The　delirium　went　off；　he　could　talk　quite　clearly　and　comfortably；
and　he　used　to　lie　listening；　when　David　and　I　had　our　odd　sort　of
talks。　　I　believe；　if　you　had　been　there；　or　we　could　have
strenthened　him　any　way；　he　might　have　got　over　it；　but　he　never
thought　he　should；　and　he　used　to　talk　to　me　about　all　of　you；　and
said　Stoneborough　had　been　the　most　blessed　spot　in　his　life；　he　had
never　had　so　much　of　a　home；　and　that　sharing　our　grief；　and　knowing
you；　had　done　him　great　good；　just　when　he　might　have　been　getting
elated。　　I　cannot　recollect　it　all；　though　I　tried　hard；　for
Margaret's　sake；　but　he　said　Hector　would　have　a　great　deal　of
temptation；　and　he　hoped　you　would　be　a　father　to　him；　and　Norman　an
elder　brother。　　You　would　not　think　how　much　he　talked　of　Cocksmoor；
about　a　church　being　built　there；　as　Ethel　wished；　and　little　Daisy
laying　the　first　stone。　　I　remember　one　night；　I　don't　know　whether
he　was　quite　himself；　for　he　looked　full　at　me　with　his　eyes；　that
had　grown　so　large；　till　I　did　not　know　what　was　coming；　and　he　said；
'I　have　seen　a　ship　built　by　a　sailor's　vow；　the　roof　was　like　the
timbers　of　a　shipthat　was　right。　　Mind；　it　is　so。　　That　is　the　ship
that　bears　through　the　waves；　there　is　the　anchor　that　enters　within
the　veil。'　　I　believe　that　was　what　he　said。　　I　could　not　forget
thathe　looked　at　me　so；　but　much　more　he　said；　that　I　dimly
remember；　and　chiefly　about　poor　dear　Margaret。　　He　bade　me　tell　her…
…his　own　precious　pearl；　as　he　used　to　call　herthat　he　was　quite
content；　and　believed　it　was　best　for　her　and　him　both；　that　all
should　be　thus　settled；　for　they　did　not　part　for　ever；　and　he
trusted　But　I　can't　write　all　that。〃　　（There　was　a　great　tear…blot
just　here）。　　〃It　is　too　good　to　recollect　anywhere　but　at　church。　　I
have　been　there　to…day；　with　my　uncle　and　aunt；　and　I　thought　I　could
have　told　it　when　I　came　home；　but　I　was　too　tired　to　write　then；　and
now　I　don't　seem　as　if　it　could　be　written　anyhow。　　When　I　come　home；
I　will　try　to　tell　Margaret。　　The　most　part　was　about　her；　only　what
was　better　seemed　to　swallow　that　up。〃

The　narrative　broke　off　here；　but　had　been　subsequently　resumed。

〃For　all　Mr。　Ernescliffe　talked　as　I　told　you；　he　was　so　quiet　and
happy；　that　I　made　sure　he　was　getting　well；　but　Jennings　did　not；
and　there　came　an　old　heathen　native　once　to　see　us；　who　asked　why　we
did　not　bury　him　alive；　because　he　got　no　better；　and　gave　trouble。
At　last；　one　nightit　was　the　third　of　Augusthe　was　very　restless；
and　could　not　breathe；　nor　lie　easily；　I　lifted　him　up　in　my　arms；
for　he　was　very　light　and　thin；　and　tried　to　make　him　more
comfortable。　　But　presently　he　said；　'Is　it　you；　Harry？　　God　bless
you；'　and；　in　a　minute；　I　knew　he　was　dead。　　You　will　tell　Margaret
all　about　it。　　I　don't　think　she　can　love　him　more　than　I　did；　and
she　did　not　half　know　him；　for　she　never　saw　him　on　board；　nor　in　all
that　dreadful　time；　nor　in　his　illness。　　She　will　never　know　what　she
has　lost。〃

There　was　another　break　here；　and　the　story　was　continued。

〃We　buried　him　the　next　day；　where　one　could　see　the　sea；　close　under
the　great　palm；　wh