The Great Secret/Chapter 15
CHAPTER XV.
FLOTSAM.
Dr Fernandez led his little party over the snow-covered cliffs down to where the wide and sheltered fjord opened a passage inland from the tempestuous ocean.
They were all hungry, faint and exhausted, yet they were forced to make a long fast, and to the credit of the three women, they did not murmur, as the Israelites did in the wilderness. They had sacrificed others, they had suffered in former days justly and unjustly for their crimes or for their principles, therefore they did not complain over this harsh decree of Fate.
It seems a strange link that of murder to bind men and women together in the holy bonds of fraternity, and yet these three men and three women, with all their individual vices and vanities, were loyal and true to their crimson cause. They had cast aside all the prejudices of society in favour of honesty and virtue, except honesty regarding their bond towards each other. Their individual habits and innate inclinations were their own to indulge in or refrain from as it pleased them best, so long as these habits did not endanger or interfere with the sacred cause of destruction. They had abjured the creeds and beliefs of their infancy as superstition, and mocked openly at the idea of their being a God or a Providence watching over the affairs of earth, and yet had embraced with passionate devotion and fervour a superstition as profitless to themselves and injurious to their fellows as the worship of Bowana or the devil.
Their war was against Capital and Power, but they had no desire to rebuild any other structure from the ruins they hoped to make. Their principle was annihilation—to make the surface of the earth a smoking field of destruction, to reduce the world to chaos; but they did not wish to re-create the world that they had destroyed. They were ready to perish in the universal holocaust. Their faith was one of "Nothingness," yet they were as sincere and devoted as any Thug who ever drew his scarf, and would have aided each other to the death.
The devil and his satellites walking over the snow-covered ridges of hell were not more resolute than were these shipwrecked Anarchists to live if possible, and to escape from this land of desolation for the sake of their propaganda; all, save one, looked towards Europe as the theatre of their future actions, and for the present made the cravings of nature subordinate to their mad enthusiasm. They were as mercilessly devout to their cause as ever was the bigot of the Inquisition, priest of Baal, Calvinistic reformer, or pitiless scientist in the pursuit of knowledge, as devoutly mad, as mankind ever must be, when he permits himself to be possessed of any single emotion, be it love, hatred, religion, science or patriotism.
They had been but lightly clad at the moment of the shock, for, as we have said, they were at dinner. The women particularly, with their exposed necks and arms, suffered most, although, all being drenched through, there was not much to choose amongst them. They looked like pinched masqueraders returning from a late ball, and suffered from those keen blasts bitterly, even although they walked as quickly as they could, and hid their exposed parts as much as possible, the men by tying their handkerchiefs round their heads, and burying their hands in their pockets, the women by making shawls of their thin skirts, lifting them up and wrapping them round their shoulders and faces.
After a couple of miles of this active misery they came to a gully, bare as was the ridges of any trees, yet plentifully scattered with rocks and stones.
It was warmer in the shelter of this gap, and the snow was not so deep as they scrambled down; also, for the first time since landing, they saw grass growing—a coarse description of grass, full of moisture, and bog-like.
They were not long, however, in reaching the sea-shore, which they found smoother here, for they were within the shelter of a bold headland, and walking upon firm sand, the tide being out, while in front of them spread a harbour-like bay, well protected from the incoming breakers by a number of rocky islands.
Outside these islands they could see the white surf leaping high up as it broke against the outer barriers, but inside the waves were only slightly disturbed. On the rocks, also, they could see the basking seals and sea-lions resting, their smooth bodies and round heads glistening with the wet; this was a favourite fishing-ground of theirs evidently, for they were in considerable numbers.
Crowds of bird life hovered above them—the long-winged and snowy albatross, penguins, teal, petrels, gulls, sheathbills, cormorants and Cape pigeons. The rocks were white with them in parts, and to the experienced eyes of Anatole and MacBride, who were both sailors and had been shipwrecked before, these, at anyrate, promised them occupation bird-nesting, for a time they need not actually starve while eggs were to be obtained for the climbing.
As far as their eyes could follow it, this ocean estuary ran open and wide inland, but what pleased them most was to see, floating on the surface of this natural harbour, a number of articles from the wreck—cases and barrels, which looked like provisions, with other objects drawn to this sheltered haven by the tides, and prevented from floating out again by the rocks. The doctor's knowledge of tides had proved correct. They were there, and would probably drift shoreward with the next incoming tide, but to get hold of some of them now was a vital point with all.
Anatole and Dennis settled the question by throwing aside their upper garments; stripping, in fact, to their under drawers without troubling to ask permission from the ladies, who looked on apathetically as they crouched down on the sand close together and shivered under their skirt mantles. At a time like this the civilised and the savage approach one another very nearly.
Dr Fernandez was a fatal shot with the pistol, but he could not swim, therefore he was forced to stand beside the females and watch these two dauntless ruffians prepare to face cramp in those icy waters for the sake of the common weal. He did not soften towards the unlucky Anatole for all he was doing, yet he would send in his report without bias when he reached Europe, and let Anatole have a fair chance with the council. Meanwhile he trusted that they would be successful, for he was decidedly faint with his long fast.
"That case nearest looks like spirits," observed Dennis to his comrade, as they stood on the strand. "Let us get that one out first."
"Right, comrade," replied Anatole, and together they stepped into the water and began to wade.
The sands sloped rapidly down, so that they were soon beyond their depth, which they were glad of, for the gradual immersion was a torture. They both knew that these waters were at times infested with sharks even more daring and verocious than the tropical species, also that they would most likely be about in numbers now with the dead, yet they had to take that risk, and could only hope that the monsters might be engaged outside the reefs.
Five minutes' energetic swimming did them good, for they were both well matched in strength, and good swimmers, and brought them up to the nearest group of rocks, against which the case with some loose spars and planks floated as they had been left by the returning tide. As they were both needing a rest, they drew themselves up to the rock and began to consult how best to manage their prize. The sight of the spars and planks inspired them with a new idea.
"I don't relish making too many trips of this kind, Dennis, if we can help it," said Anatole.
"Nor do I, you bet," replied Dennis.
"Then let us sling these spars and this case together and move on to where some of the other articles are; it will be a longer voyage and keep our hungry comrades longer out of their food, but it will save time in the long run."
"That is so, comrade," assented Dennis, and together they set to work, their progress watched anxiously from the shore.
It took them a good half-hour to make the temporary raft, and when it was done they found that it would only carry one of them, but farther out, about sixty yards, they saw other objects floating, and toward these they directed their attention.
Again taking to the water, they pushed their raft in front of them, slowly and with great effort, resting on the spars when tired, until they reached the second layer of rocks. On these several seals, who were resting, watched their approach with alarmed interest, until satisfied that these were dangerous strangers. They flopped rapidly under the surface, leaving their perches to the invaders.
They had been over an hour traversing those sixty yards, and were chilled to the very heart as they reached the rocks, yet they did not pause longer than to stretch themselves and swing their arms about before they began to collect the packages and other flotsam, and lash them together.
"The tide is on the turn, Anatole. We shall get back more quickly than we came," cried Dennis, as they secured the last package and tested their raft, which was at last solid enough to carry them.
They had also a couple of planks which they could use as oars. Then with a covetous look at some other articles, which floated still further away, they began the return journey.
The tide had indeed turned, and was rushing in swiftly between the rocks, which rendered their labour comparatively easy as they floated back. The strip of sand where their companions had been left was nearly covered, while the watchers had been forced to climb the rocks; but, to their great joy, they saw that the wreckage was beginning to drift landwards. If they were lucky, they would be able to secure the bulk of these before nightfall without having to swim for them.
The damp and cold blast still blew hard from the sea upon their bare backs and chests, but they no longer felt the cold as they worked these heavy plank-oars with all their strength. They were better off now, even in their nakedness, than were the damp and shivering watchers ashore.
At last their loaded raft touched the rocks, and, springing off, they secured it with some spare rope, before re-dressing themselves. They were in a happy mood with the prospect of meat and drink before them, and glowing with their heroic exertions, therefore they both laughed, as they advanced like brawny savages towards the ladies, when they saw how they had utilised the cast-off garments.
"I shall treasure these trousers ever after this for having been worn by you as a mantle, Eugenie," cried Anatole, as he took them from the countess with a polite bow.
"They were of great comfort, Anatole, although decidedly damp," answered the poor Countess de Bergamont.
"But oh! have you brought anything to eat and drink?"
"I hope so, my dear, but we must try to secure the other articles which are coming towards us before dark, and for this we shall need all hands."
"Give us something first to break our fast, and then we can work better."
It was no easy matter without tools to force open the cases, yet, with the aid of their united efforts, they managed after a time to get at the cognac and a small case of biscuits, which, being slightly made, was more easily burst open.
These two cases they carried above water-mark first, gauging their contents from the outside, and then eagerly helped themselves.
The top of a brandy bottle was adroitly broken off by the doctor, and handed round the company. It was good old liqueur brandy, and the draught gave them almost instantly new life. Certainly never did cognac and biscuit taste more delicious than this did to the famishing ones, even although so rudely served round.
"There is a small cave a short distance from here, where we can find shelter for to-night," observed the doctor, when the first sharp edge of their hunger was over.
"Then let us lose no time, comrades," answered Anatole, "for we shall have another wild night. You and the ladies bear a hand, and carry what we have brought to the cave, while Dennis helps me to secure what flotsam we can as it comes in. We have little time left us."
The three women sprang to their feet, eager to work now that they were comparatively comfortable, and proved that they were not dilettanti, although accustomed to luxuries and being waited upon in their palmy days.
Fate or Providence was more merciful to these human tigers than they deserved, or it might be that they were the chosen and blind instruments of some Retributive Force, who were preserved to follow out their decreed mission to the bitter end. "The wicked flourish like a green bay tree," Holy Writ declares, although why it is so, it is impossible for the reasoner to answer. We think sometimes we know why the beasts of prey have been created, with the monsters of the deep, the spider and the snake, also the human beasts of prey; and again we are lost in wondering speculation by reason of our innate instinct of justice.
Perhaps the disembodied demons who had been their comrades were assisting them, aided by the haunting developments of former murderers; but they were successful in capturing most of that flotsam and storing it inside their cave.
They found provisions enough to last them for some time, also some boxes of clothing, and amongst other useful things, a carpenter's box about half filled with tools, and, what was more to their present comfort, means to light a fire and warm the tins of soup.
They were for the time jovial and hopeful, with a further investigation before them on the morrow, as they lay down to sleep, on their second night, warm and dry.
And while they slept, securely sheltered, the storm again rose and lashed the island with flying foam, driving in more of the freightage from the disjointed ship that had gone down the night before.