Books: The Little Savage
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Captain Marryat >> The Little Savage
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I remained with them while the supper was cooking, asking all manner
of questions, which caused great mirth. The pitch kettle, which was a
large iron pot on three short legs, surprised me a good deal, I had
never seen such a thing before, or anything put on the fire. I asked
what it was, and what it was made of. The potatoes also astonished
me, as I had never yet seen an edible root.
"Why, where have you been all your life?" said one of the men.
"On this island," replied I, very naively.
I waded into the water to examine the boat as well as I could by the
light of the fire, but I could see little, and was obliged to defer
my examination till the next day. Before the supper was cooked and
eaten, I did, however, gain the following information.
That they were a portion of the crew of a whaler, which had struck
on a reef of rocks about seventy miles off, and that they had been
obliged to leave her immediately, as she fell on her broadside a few
minutes afterwards; that they had left in two boats, but did not know
what had become of the other boat, which parted company during the
night. The captain and six men were in the other boat, and the mate
with six men in the one which had just landed--besides the lady.
"What's a lady?" said I.
"I mean the woman who sits there; her husband was killed by some of
the people of the Sandwich Isles, and she was going home to England.
We have a consort, another whaler, who was to have taken our cargo of
oil on board, and to have gone to England with that and her own
cargo, and the missionary's wife was to have been sent home in her."
"What's a missionary?" inquired I.
"Well, I don't exactly know; but he is a preacher who goes out to
teach the savages."
By this time the supper was cooked, and the odour from the pitch
kettle was more savoury than anything that I had ever yet smelt. The
kettle was lifted off the fire, the contents of it poured into a kid,
and after they had given a portion in the small kid to the woman, who
still remained huddled up in the blanket by the fire, they all sat
round the large kid, and commenced their supper.
"Come, boy, and join us," said the mate, "you can't have had your
supper; and as you've found one for us, it's hard but you should
share it with us."
I was not sorry to do as he told me, and I must say that I never
enjoyed a repast so much in my life.
"I say, boy, have you a good stock of them dried chickens of yours?"
said the mate.
"Yes, I have a great many, but not enough to last long for so many
people."
"Well, but we can get more, can't we?"
"No!" replied I, "not until the birds come again, and that will not
be for these next five moons."
"Five moons! what do you mean?"
"I mean, five full moons must come, one after another."
"Oh, I understand; why then we must not remain on the island."
"No," replied I, "we must all go, or we shall starve; I am so glad
that you are come, and the sooner you go the better. Will you take
Nero with you?"
"Who is Nero?"
"Nero--my seal--he's very tame."
"Well, we'll see about it; at all events," said he, turning to the
other men, "we must decide upon something, and that quickly, for we
shall starve if we remain here any time."
It appeared that they had left the whaler in such a hurry, that they
had only had time to throw into the boat two breakers of water, four
empty breakers to fill with saltwater for ballast to the boat, and
the iron pitch kettle, with a large sack of potatoes.
As soon as supper was finished, they went to the cask for the rum,
and then the mate said to me--
"Now I'll go and speak to the woman, and you shall take her to sleep
in your cabin."
During the whole of this time the woman, as the mate called her, had
never spoken a word. She had taken her supper, and eaten it in
silence, still remaining by the fire, huddled up in the blanket. On
the mate speaking to her, she rose up, and I then perceived that she
was much taller than I thought she could have been; but her Panama
hat still concealed her face altogether.
"Now then, my lad," said the mate, "shew the lady where she is to
sleep, and then you can join us again if you like."
"Will you come with me?" said I, walking away.
The woman followed me up the path. When we arrived at the platform
opposite the cabin, I recollected Nero, whom I had ordered to stay
there till my return.
"You won't be afraid of the seal," said I, "will you? he is very
good-natured. Nero, come here."
It was rather dark as Nero came shuffling up, and I went forward to
coax him, for he snarled a little at seeing a stranger.
"Have you no light at hand?" said my companion, speaking for the
first time in a very soft, yet clear voice.
"No, I have not, but I will get some tinder, and make a fire with
one of the faggots, and then you will be able to see."
"Do so, then, my good lad," replied she.
I thought her voice very pleasing.
I soon lighted the faggot and enabled her to see Nero (who was now
quite quiet) and also the interior of the cabin.
She examined the cabin and the bed-places, and then said,
"Where do you sleep?"
I replied by shewing her my bed-place. "And this," said I, pointing
to the one opposite, "was Jackson's, and you can sleep in that. Nero
sleeps with me. Here are plenty of seal skins to keep you warm if you
are cold. Are your clothes wet?"
"No, they are quite dry now," replied she; "if you will get me some
seal skins, I will lie down on them, for I am very tired."
I spread five or six skins one on the other, in Jackson's bed-place,
and then I went out and threw another faggot on the fire, that we
might have more light.
"Do you want anything else?" said I.
"Nothing, I thank you. Are you going to bed now?"
"I was meaning to go down again to the men, but now I think of it, I
do not like to leave you alone with Nero, as he might bite you. Are
you afraid of him?"
"No, I'm not much afraid, but still I have no wish to be bitten, and
I am not used to sleep with such animals, as you are."
"Well then, I'll tell you how we'll manage it. I will take some
skins outside, and sleep there. Nero will not leave me, and then you
won't be afraid. The weather is clearing up fast, and there's very
little wind to what there was--besides, it will be daylight in three
or four hours."
"As you please," was the reply.
Accordingly I took some seal skins out on the platform, and
spreading them, I lay down upon them, wishing her good-night, and
Nero soon joined me, and we were both fast asleep in a few minutes.
Chapter XX
Nero, who was an early riser, woke me up at day-break, or I should
have slept much longer; for I had been tired out with the fatigue and
excitement of the night before. As soon as I was up, I looked into
the cabin, and found the woman was fast asleep; her straw hat was
off, but she had lain down in her clothes. Her black hair was hanging
about her shoulders. Having only seen Jackson with his bushy beard, I
had been somewhat surprised when I first saw the men on their landing
so comparatively clear of hair on their face; my astonishment at the
clear white skin of a woman--and in this instance, it was peculiarly
white and pallid--was very great. I also perceived how much more
delicate her features were than those of the men; her teeth, too,
were very white, and Jackson's were discoloured and bad; I longed to
see her eyes, but they were closed. Any other difference I could not
perceive, as she had drawn the blanket close up to her chin.
"This is then a woman," said I to myself: "yes, and it's very like
what I used to see in my dreams." I looked a little longer, and then,
hearing Nero coming into the cabin behind me, and afraid that she
would awake, I made a hasty retreat.
I remained at this part of the cabin considering what I should do. I
thought I would light a fire, and go down for a fish to broil on the
embers for her breakfast, so I called Nero to come down with me. On
arriving at the pool, I found all the seamen fast asleep under the
tent they had made with the boat's sails; and they appeared to be
much the same as Jackson used to be after he had got drunk the night
before; I presumed therefore, that such was their state, and was not
far wrong. Nero went into the pool and brought out a fish, as I
ordered him, and I then walked to the boat to examine it. This took
me half an hour, and I was sorry that none of the men were awake,
that so I might ask any questions I wished. I examined the pitch-kettle,
and the boat's sails, and the breakers. Breakers are small casks,
holding about six to seven gallons of water, and are very handy
for boats. I remained about an hour, and then went back to the
cabin, carrying a faggot on my shoulder, Nero following with the fish
in his mouth. We were met by the woman, who came out of the cabin;
she no longer had the blanket round her, for it was a beautiful
bright morning, and very warm.
"Nero is bringing you your breakfast," said I, "so you ought to like
him."
"I dare say I shall, if we are to be companions in future," replied
she.
"Do you want anything?" said I.
"Yes, a little water, if you can get me some."
I filled the kid from the spring, put it down by her, and then took
out the inside of the fish, and fed the birds, who were crowding
round me.
The woman washed her face and hands, braided up her hair, and then
sat down on the rock. In the meantime, I had lighted my faggot,
cleaned the fish, and waited till the wood was burnt to ashes before
I put the fish on the fire. Having then nothing to do, I thought that
reading would amuse the woman, and I went in for the Bible.
"Shall I read to you?" said I.
"Yes," replied she, with some astonishment in her looks.
I read to her the history of Joseph and his brethren, which was my
favourite story in the Bible.
"Who taught you to read?" said she, as I shut the book, and put the
fish on the embers.
"Jackson," said I.
"He was a good man, was he not?" replied she.
I shook my head. "No, not very good," said I, at last. "If you knew
all about him, you would say the same; but he taught me to read."
"How long have you been on this island?" said she.
"I was born on it, but my father and mother are both dead, and
Jackson died three years ago--since that I have been quite alone,
only Nero with me."
She then asked me a great many more questions, and I gave her a
short narration of what had passed, and what Jackson had told me; I
also informed her how it was I procured food, and how we must soon
leave the island, now that we were so many, or the food would not
last out till the birds came again.
By this time the fish was cooked, and I took it off the fire and put
it into the kid, and we sat down to breakfast; in an hour or so, we
had become very sociable.
I must however now stop a little to describe her. What the men had
told me was quite true. She had lost her husband, and was intending
to proceed to England. Her name was Reichardt, for her husband was a
German, or of German family. She was, as I have since ascertained,
about thirty-seven years old, and very tall and elegant; she must
have been very handsome when she was younger, but she had suffered
much hardship in following her husband as she had done, through all
the vicissitudes of his travels.
Her face was oval; eyes black and large; and her hair black as the
raven's wing; her features were small and regular; her teeth white
and good; but her complexion was very pallid, and not a vestige of
colour on her cheeks. As I have since thought, it was more like a
marble statue than anything I can compare her to. There was a degree
of severity in her countenance when she did not smile, and it was
seldom that she did. I certainly looked upon her with more awe than
regard, for some time after I became acquainted with her; and yet her
voice was soft and pleasant, and her manners very amiable; but it
must be remembered I had never before seen a woman. After breakfast
was over, I proposed going down to where the seamen lay, to see if
they were awake, but I told her I thought that they would not be.
"I will go with you, as I left a basket with some things of mine in
the boat, and it will be as well to bring them up at once."
We therefore set off together, I having ordered Nero to stay in the
cabin. On our arrival at the pool we found the men still fast asleep;
and by her directions I went into the water to the boat, and brought
out a basket and a small bundle which she pointed out.
"Shall I wake them?" said I.
"No, no," replied she; "so long as they sleep, they will be doing no
harm. But," said she, "we may as well take some potatoes up with us;
fill both these handkerchiefs," continued she, taking two out of the
bundle. I did so, and she took one and I the other, and we returned
to the cabin.
"Are these all the birds that you have for food?" said she, looking
at the pile in the cabin.
"Yes," replied I. "But what are we to do with the potatoes?"
"We can roast them by the fire if we like," said she; "but at
present we had better take them into the cabin. Did you plant all
these flowers and creepers which grow over the cabin?"
"Yes," replied I. "I was alone and had nothing to do, so I thought I
would make a garden."
"They are very pretty. Now that I am back, you can go down to the
men if you please, and tell them, when they wake up, that I wish to
have the smallest of the boat's sails, to make a screen of. Tell the
mate, he is the most civil."
"I will," said I. "Is there anything else?"
"Yes, bring up a few more potatoes; they will let you take them if
you say that I told you."
"Shall I take Nero with me?"
"Yes, I do not want his company, for I am a little afraid of him."
I called Nero, who came after me, and went down to the pool, when I
found that the men had all woke up, and were very busy, some lighting
a fire, some washing potatoes, and some trying to catch the fish in
the pool.
"Oh, here he is. Come, boy, what have you got for our breakfast?
We've been trying to catch some of these fish, but they're as quick
as eels."
"Nero will soon catch you what you want," replied I. "Here, Nero, in."
Nero plunged in, and soon brought out a fish, and I then sent him in
for another.
"Thanks, lad," said the mate; "that will be enough for our
breakfast. That seal of yours is a handy fellow, and well trained."
While the other men were getting breakfast, one of them went up to
Nero, I believe with the intention of making friends with him, but
Nero rejected his advances, and showed his sharp teeth, snapping at
him several times. The man became angry, and caught up a piece of
rock to throw at the seal. He aimed at the animal's nose, and
narrowly missed hitting it. Had he done so, he would probably have
killed it. This made me very angry, and I told the man not to do so
again; upon this, he caught up another, and was about to throw it,
when I seized him by the collar with my left hand, and with my right
drawing my American knife, I threatened to stab him with it, if he
attacked the beast. The man started back, and in so doing, fell over
a piece of rock, on his back. This quarrel brought the mate to us,
along with two or three of the men. My knife was still lifted up,
when the mate said--
"Come, my hearty, no knives, we don't allow them. That's not
English. Put it up, no one shall hurt the beast, I promise you. Bob,
you fool, why couldn't you leave the animal alone? You forget you are
among savages, here."
At this, the other men burst out into a laugh.
"Yes," observed one; "I can swear, when I get back, that the natives
of this island are savages, who eat raw flesh, have seals for
playmates, and don't wear clothes enough for common decency."
This made them laugh more, and the man who had attacked Nero, and
who had got upon his legs again, joined with the others; so all was
again good-humour. The men sat down to their breakfast, while I
examined the boat again, and afterwards asked many questions, with
which they were much amused, every now and then observing, "Well, he
is a savage!"
After they had breakfasted, I made Nero catch another fish and sent
him up to the cabin with it, as I was afraid that the man might do
him an injury, and then told the mate that the woman had desired me
to bring up some potatoes.
"Take them," said he; "but you have nothing to carry them up with.
Here, fill the pail, and I will go to the cabin with you."
"She told me that I was to ask you for a small boat's sail, to hang
up as a screen."
"Well, she shall have the boat's mizen. We don't want it. I'll carry
it up."
The mate threw the sail and yard over his shoulder, and followed me
up to the cabin. On our arrival, we found the missionary's wife
sitting on the platform, Nero lying not far from her, with the fish
beside him. The mate took off his hat, and saluted my new companion,
saying, "That he hoped she was comfortable last night."
"Yes," replied she, "as much so as I could expect; but I turned this
good lad out of his cabin, which I do not wish to do again, and
therefore I requested the sail for a screen. Now, John Gough, what do
you intend to do?" continued she.
The mate replied, "I came up here to see what quantity of provisions
the lad might have. By his account, it will not last more than a
month, and it will take some time before we can reach where we are
likely to fall in with any vessel. Stay here we cannot, for we shall
only eat the provision and lose time, therefore, the sooner we are
off the better."
"If you take all the provision, of course you will take the lad with
you?" replied she.
"Of course we will."
"And my chest, and my seal?" inquired I.
"Yes, your chest, certainly, but as for your seal, I do not know
what to say to that--he will be starved in the boat, and if you give
him his liberty, he will do well enough."
"What you say is very true," replied the woman. "I am afraid, boy,
that you will have to part with your friend. It will be better for
both of you."
I made no reply, for it cut me to the heart to think of parting with
Nero; but still I had sense enough to perceive that what they said
was right.
The mate then went into the cabin, and examined the heap of dried
birds which I had collected, and having made his calculation, said
that there were sufficient for three weeks, but not more.
"And when do you think of leaving this island?" inquired the woman.
"The day after to-morrow, if I can persuade the men, madam," replied
he; "but you know they are not very easy to manage, and very
thoughtless, especially now that they have so unexpectedly fallen in
with liquor."
"That I admit," replied she; "but as they will probably take the
liquor in the boat, that will not make so great a difference."
"I shall go down and speak to them now they're all sober," replied
the mate, "and will let you know in the evening, or to-morrow
morning, perhaps, will be better." The mate then saluted her by
touching his hat, and left us.
Chapter XXI
There was one thing which had made a great impression on me in the
conversation with the men in the morning. They called me a Savage,
and said that I had not sufficient clothes on; and as I observed that
they were all dressed in jackets and trousers, which covered them
from head to foot, I took it for granted that my shirt, which was all
that I wore, was not a sufficient clothing. This had never occurred
to me before, nor can the reader be surprised at it. I had been like
our first parents in Eden--naked but not ashamed--but now that I had
suddenly come in contact with my fellow-men, I felt as if something
were amiss. The consequence was, that I went to the chest and got out
a pair of white trousers, and put them on. I thought them very
uncomfortable and very unnecessary articles, but others wore them,
and I felt that I must do so also. They were rather long for me, but
I rolled up the bottoms of the legs, as I observed that the seamen
did, and then came out on the platform, where the missionary's wife
was still seated, looking out upon the waves as they lashed the
rocks. She immediately observed the addition that I had made to my
dress, and said,
"That is a great improvement. Now you look like other people. What
is your name? you have not told me."
When I had answered the question, I said to her--
"I have brought up more of the potatoes, as you call them; what am I
to do with them?"
"First tell me, have you any spot that you know about the island
where there is mould--that is, earth, like you have in your garden--
where we can plant them?"
"Yes," replied I, "there is some up there," and I pointed to one-third
up the ravine. "I brought all this earth from there, and there is
plenty of it; but what is the good of planting them?"
"Because," said she, "one of the potatoes planted will, in a very
short time, grow, and then it will produce perhaps thirty or forty
potatoes at its roots as large as these; they are excellent things
for food, and where there is nothing else to be had, may be the means
of preserving life."
"Well, that may be," replied I, "and if we were going to remain on
the island, it would be well to plant them, but as we are going away
the day after to-morrow, what's the use of it? I know that they are
very nice, for I had some for supper last night."
"But are we only to think of ourselves in this world, and not of
others?" replied she. "Suppose, two or three years hence, another
boat were to be cast away on this island, and not find, as we have,
you here, with provisions ready for them, they would starve
miserably; whereas, if we plant these potatoes, they may find plenty
of food and be saved. Only think how glad your father and mother
would have been to have found potatoes on the island when they were
thrown on it. We must not live only for ourselves, but we must think
and try to do good to others--that is the duty of a Christian."
"I think you are very right," replied I, "and a very kind person
too. If you wish it I will go and plant the potatoes this day. How am
I to plant them?"
"They have a shovel in the boat," said she, "for I saw them throwing
the water out with it. Go down and get it, and then I will go with
you and show you."
I went down and the mate gave me the shovel, which I carried up to
her. I found her cutting the potatoes into pieces, and she showed me
how she cut them, leaving an eye in each piece, and explained the
reason for it. I was soon very busy cutting away alongside of her,
and before long the pail of potatoes was all ready to be planted.
We then walked to the ravine, and she showed me how to use the
shovel, and I made the holes. Before noon we had planted all that we
had cut, but we had still the two handkerchiefs full that we had at
first brought up with us. We returned to the cabin, and I prepared
the fish for dinner. After it was on the embers, she wished to have
the screen put up beside her bed-place.
"Go down to the mate," said she, "and ask him for the hammer and
three or four nails. I know they have them in the boat."
"I may as well take them down some birds for their dinner," replied
I, "for they will want them."
"Yes, do so; and then come back to me as soon as you can."
The mate gave me the hammer, an article I had never seen before, and
five or six nails, with which I returned to the cabin, and nailed up
the sail as a screen.
"Now you will be able to sleep in your own bed-place to-night," said
she.
I made no reply, but I could not imagine why I could not have done
so the night before, for I had only gone out of the cabin that she
might not be frightened by Nero being so close to her.
After we had eaten our dinner, she said to me--
"How could you contrive to live on this island, if you had no dried
birds?"
"How?" replied I; "why, very badly. I might catch fish; but there
are times in the year when you can catch no fish, they won't take
bait, neither will they when the weather is rough. Besides, I have
only two lines, and I might lose them both--then what would become of
me? I should starve."
"Well, then, you see under all circumstances, it was just as well to
plant the potatoes, for other people may come here and be in your
position."
"Yes, that is true, but we shall not be here long now, and you don't
know how glad I am to go. I want to see all the things that I have
read about in my books. I want to go to England and look for
somebody; but you don't know all that I know; some day I will tell
you all--everything. I am so tired of living here by myself--nothing
to say--no one to talk to--no one to care for, except Nero, and he
can't speak. I can't bear the idea of parting with him though."
"Would you rather stay on the island with Nero, than go away without
him?"
"No," replied I; "go I must, but still I do not like to part with
him. He is the only friend that I ever had, that I can remember."
"When you have lived longer, and mixed more with the world, my poor
boy, you will then find how many sacrifices you will be obliged to
make, much more serious than parting with an animal that you are
attached to. I suppose you expect to be very happy if ever you get
back to England?"
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