Books: The Little Savage
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Captain Marryat >> The Little Savage
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Gradually the fury of the gale abated, the rain was only heavy at
intervals, and we could now hear the beating of the waves, as they
dashed against the rocks beneath us. The sky also cleared up a
little, and we could dimly discern the white foam of the breakers. I
crawled out of the cabin, and stood upon the platform in front,
straining my eyes to see the vessel. A flash of lightning, for a
second, revealed her to me; she was dismasted, rolling in the awful
breakers, which bore her down upon the high rocks, not a quarter of a
mile from her.
"There it is," exclaimed I, as the disappearance of the lightning
left me in darkness, more opaque than ever.
"She's done for," growled my companion, who, I was not till then
aware, stood by my side. "No hopes this time, confound it!" Then he
continued for some time to curse and swear awfully, as I afterwards
discovered, for I did not then know what was cursing and swearing.
"There she is again," said I, as another flash of lightning revealed
the position of the vessel.
"Yes, and she won't be there long; in five minutes she'll be dashed
to atoms, and every soul perish."
"What are souls?" inquired I.
My companion gave me no reply.
"I will go down to the rocks," said I, "and see what goes on."
"Go," said he, "and share their fate."
Chapter III
I left him, and commenced a careful descent of the precipices by
which we were surrounded, but, before I had gone fifty paces, another
flash of lightning was followed up by a loud shriek, which arrested
my steps. Where the noise came from, I could not tell, but I heard my
companion calling to me to come back. I obeyed him, and found him
standing where I had left him.
"You called me, master?"
"Yes, I did; take my hand, and lead me to the cabin."
I obeyed him, wondering why he asked me so to do. He gained his bed-place,
and threw himself down on it.
"Bring the kid full of water," said he--"quick!"
I brought it, and he bathed his head and face. After a time, he
threw himself back upon the bed-place, and groaned heavily.
"O God! it's all over with me," said he at last. "I shall live and
die in this cursed hole."
"What's the matter, master?" said I.
He gave me no answer, but lay groaning and occasionally cursing.
After a time, he was still, and then I went out again. The tornado
was now over, and the stars were to be seen here and there, but still
the wind was strong and the wild clouds flew fast. The shores of the
island were one mass of foam, which was dashed high in the air and
fell upon the black rocks. I looked for the vessel, and could see
nothing--the day was evidently dawning, and I sat down and waited its
coming. My companion was apparently asleep, for he lay without motion
or noise. That some misfortune had happened, I was convinced, but
what, I knew not, and I passed a long time in conjecture, dividing my
thoughts between him and the vessel. At last the daylight appeared--the
weather was moderating fast, although the waves still beat furiously
against the rocky shore. I could see nothing of the vessel, and I
descended the path, now slippery and insecure from the heavy fall of
rain, and went as near to the edge of the rocks as the breaking billows
would permit. I walked along, occasionally drenched by the spray,
until I arrived where I had last seen the vessel. The waves were
dashing and tossing about, as if in sport, fragments of timber, casks,
and spars; but that was all I could see, except a mast and rigging,
which lay alongside of the rocks, sometimes appearing above them
on the summit of the waves, then descending far out of my sight, for
I dared not venture near enough to the edge to look over. "Then the
vessel is dashed to pieces, as my companion said," thought I. "I wonder
how she was made." I remained about an hour on the rocks, and then
turned back to the cabin. I found my companion awake, and groaning
heavily.
"There is no ship," said I, "nothing but pieces of wood floating
about."
"I know that," replied he; "but what do I care now?"
"I thought by your making a smoke, that you did care."
"Yes, I did then, but now I am blind, I shall never see a ship or
anything else again. God help me! I shall die and rot on this cursed
island."
"Blind, what is blind?" inquired I.
"The lightning has burned out my eyes, and I can see nothing--I
cannot help myself--I cannot walk about--I cannot do anything, and I
suppose you will leave me here to die like a dog."
"Can't you see me?"
"No, all is dark, dark as night, and will be as long as I live." And
he turned on his bed-place and groaned. "I had hope, I lived in hope
--it has kept me alive for many weary years, but now hope is gone, and
I care not if I die to-morrow."
And then he started up and turned his face towards me, and I saw
that there was no light in his eyes.
"Bring me some more water, do you hear?" said he, angrily. "Be
quick, or I'll make you."
But I now fully comprehended his condition, and how powerless he
was. My feelings, as I have before said, were anything but cordial
towards him, and this renewed violence and threatening manner had its
effect. I was now, I suppose, about twelve or thirteen years old--
strong and active. I had more than once felt inclined to rebel, and
measure my strength against his. Irritated, therefore, at his angry
language, I replied--
"Go for the water yourself."
"Ah!" sighed he, after a pause of some seconds, "that I might have
expected. But let me once get you into my hands, I'll make you
remember it."
"I care not if I were in your hands," replied I; "I am as strong as
you." For I had thought so many a day, and meant to prove it.
"Indeed! well, come here, and let us try."
"No, no," replied I; "I'm not such a fool as you say I am--not that
I'm afraid of you; for I shall have an axe in my hand always ready,
and you will not find another."
"I wish that I had tossed you over the cliffs when you were a
child," said he, bitterly, "instead of nursing you and bringing you
up."
"Then why have you not been kind to me? As far back as I can
remember you have always treated me ill; you have made me work for
you; and yet never even spoken kindly to me. I have wanted to know
things, and you have never answered my questions, but called me a
fool, and told me to hold my tongue. You have made me hate you, and
you have often told me how you hated me--you know you have."
"It's true, quite true," replied he, as if talking to himself. "I
have done all that he says, and I have hated him. But I have had
cause. Come here, boy."
"No," replied I; "do you come here. You have been master, and I have
been boy, long enough. Now I am master and you are boy, and you shall
find it so."
Having said this, I walked out of the cabin and left him. He cried
out, "Don't leave me," but I heeded him not, and sat down at the edge
of the fiat ledge of the rock before the cabin. Looking at the white
dancing waves, and deep in my own thoughts, I considered a long while
how I should behave towards him. I did not wish him to die, as I knew
he must if I left him. He could not obtain water from the rill
without a great chance of falling over the cliff. In fact, I was now
fully aware of his helpless state; to prove it to myself, I rose and
shut my own eyes; tried if I could venture to move on such dangerous
ground, and I felt sure that I could not. He was then in my power; he
could do nothing; he must trust to me for almost everything. I had
said, let what would follow, I would be master and he boy; but that
could not be, as I must still attend upon him, or he would die. At
last the thought came suddenly upon me--I will be master,
nevertheless, for now he shall answer me all my questions, tell me
all he knows, or he shall starve. He is in my power. He shall now do
what I have ever tried to make him do, and he has ever refused.
Having thus arranged my plans, I returned to the cabin, and said to
him:
"Hear what I say--I will be kind to you, and not leave you to
starve, if you will do what I ask."
"And what is that?" replied he.
"For a long while I have asked you many questions, and you have
refused to answer them. Instead of telling me what I would know, you
have beaten or thrown stones at me, called me names, and threatened
me. I now give you your choice--either you shall promise to answer
every question that I put to you, or you may live how you can, for I
shall leave you to help yourself. If you do as I wish, I will do all
I can to help you, but if you will not, thank yourself for what may
happen. Recollect, I am master now; so take your choice."
"Well," replied he slowly, "it's a judgment upon me, and I must
agree to it. I will do what you wish."
"Well, then, to begin," said I, "I have often asked you what your
name was, and what was mine. I must call you something, and Master I
will not, for I am master now. What is your name?"
He groaned, ground his teeth, and then said, "Edward Jackson."
"Edward Jackson! very well; and my name?"
"No, I cannot bear the name. I cannot say it," replied he, angrily.
"Be it so," replied I. "Then I leave you."
"Will you bring me some water for my eyes? they burn," said he.
"No, I will not, nor anything else, unless you tell me my name."
"Frank Henniker--and curses on it."
"Frank Henniker. Well, now you shall have the water."
I went out, filled a kid, and put it by his side,
"There is the water, Jackson; if you want anything, call me. I shall
be outside."
"I have gained the mastery," thought I,--"it will be my turn now. He
don't like to answer, but he shall, or he shall starve. Why does he
feel so angry at my name? Henniker! what is the meaning of Henniker,
I wonder? I will make him tell me. Yes, he shall tell me everything."
I may here observe, that as for pity and compassion, I did not know
such feelings. I had been so ill-treated, that I only felt that might
was right; and this right I determined upon exercising to the utmost.
I felt an inconceivable pleasure at the idea of my being the master,
and he the boy. I felt the love of power, the pride of superiority. I
then revolved in my mind the daily task which I would set him, before
he should receive his daily sustenance. He should talk now as much as
I pleased, for I was the master. I had been treated as a slave, and I
was now fully prepared to play the tyrant. Mercy and compassion I
knew not. I had never seen them called forth, and I felt them not. I
sat down on the flat rock for some time, and then it occurred to me
that I would turn the course of the water which fell into the hole at
the edge of the cliff; so that if he crawled there, he would not be
able to obtain any. I did so, and emptied the hole. The water was now
only to be obtained by climbing up, and it was out of his power to
obtain a drop. Food, of course, he could obtain, as the dried birds
were all piled up at the farther end of the cabin, and I could not
well remove them; but what was food without water? I was turning in
my mind what should be the first question to put to him; and I had
decided that I would have a full and particular account of how the
vessel had been wrecked on the island, and who were my father and
mother, and why I was named Henniker--when I was roused by hearing
Jackson (as I shall in future call him) crying out, "Boy, boy!" "Boy,
indeed," thought I--"no longer boy," and I gave no reply. Again he
called, and at last he cried out, "Henniker," but I had been ruffled
by his calling me boy, and I would not answer him. At last he fairly
screamed my name, and then was silent. After a moment, I perceived
that he crawled out of his bed-place, and feeling by the sides of the
cabin, contrived on his hands and knees to crawl in the direction of
the hole into which the water had previously been received; and I
smiled at what I knew would be his disappointment when he arrived
there. He did so at last: put his hand to feel the edge of the hole,
and then down into it to feel for the water; and when he found that
there was none, he cursed bitterly, and I laughed at his vexation. He
then felt all the way down where the water had fallen, and found that
the course of it had been stopped, and he dared not attempt anything
further. He dashed his clenched hand against the rock. "Oh! that I
had him in this grasp--if it were but for one moment. I would not
care if I died the next."
"I do not doubt you," replied I to him, above, "but you have not got
me in your hands, and you will not. Go in to bed directly--quick,"
cried I, throwing a piece of rock at him, which hit him on the head.
"Crawl back as fast as you can, you fool, or I'll send another at
your head directly. I'll tame you, as you used to say to me."
The blow on the head appeared to have confused him; but after a time
he crawled back to his bed-place, and threw himself down with a heavy
groan.
Chapter IV
I then went down to the water's edge to see if I could find anything
from the wreck, for the water was smooth, and no longer washed over
the rocks of the island. Except fragments of wood, I perceived
nothing until I arrived at the pool where we were accustomed to
bathe; and I found that the sea had thrown into it two articles of
large dimensions--one was a cask of the size of a puncheon, which lay
in about a foot of water farthest from the seaward; and the other was
a seaman's chest. What these things were I did not then know, and I
wish the reader to recollect that a great portion of this narrative
is compiled from after knowledge. The cask was firm in the sand, and
I could not move it. The chest was floating; I hauled it on the rocks
without difficulty, and then proceeded to open it. It was some time
before I could discover how, for I had never seen a lock, or a hinge
in my life; but at last, finding that the lid was the only portion of
the chest which yielded, I contrived, with a piece of rock, to break
it open. I found in it a quantity of seamen's clothes, upon which I
put no value; but some of the articles I immediately comprehended the
use of, and they filled me with delight. There were two new tin
pannikins, and those would hold water. There were three empty wine
bottles, a hammer, a chisel, gimlet, and some other tools, also three
or four fishing-lines many fathoms long. But what pleased me most
were two knives, one shutting up, with a lanyard sheath to wear round
the waist; and the other an American long knife, in a sheath, which
is usually worn by them in the belt. Now, three or four years back,
Jackson had the remains of a clasp knife--that is, there was about an
inch of the blade remaining--and this, as may be supposed, he valued
very much; indeed, miserable as the article was, in our destitute
state it was invaluable.
This knife he had laid on the rock when fishing, and it had been
dragged into the sea as his line ran out; and he was for many days
inconsolable for its loss. We had used it for cutting open the birds
when we skinned them, and, indeed this remains of a knife had been
always in request. Since the loss of it, we had had hard work to get
the skins off the birds; I therefore well knew the value of these
knives, which I immediately secured. The remainder of the articles in
the chest, which was quite full, I laid upon the rocks, with the
clothes, to dry; of most of them I did not know the use, and
consequently did not prize them at the time. It was not until
afterwards, when I had taken them to my companion, that I learned
their value. I may as well here observe, that amongst these articles
were two books, and, from the positive commands of my companion, not
to touch the book in the cabin, I looked upon them with a degree of
awe, and hesitated upon taking them in my hand; but, at last, I put
them out to dry on the rocks, with the rest of the contents of the
chest.
I felt the knives, the blades were sharp; I put the lanyard of the
clasp knife round my neck; the sheath knife, which was a formidable
weapon, I made fast round my waist, with a piece of the fishing
lines, which I cut off; and I then turned my steps towards the cabin,
as night was coming on, though the moon was high in the heavens, and
shining brightly. On my return, I found Jackson in his bed-place; he
heard me come in, and asked me, in a quiet tone, whether I would
bring him some water? I answered,
"No, that I would not, for what he had said about me, and what he
would do, if he got me into his power. I'll tame you," cried I. "I'm
master now, as you shall find."
"You may be," replied he, quickly, "but still, that is no reason why
you should not let me have some water. Did I ever prevent you from
having water?"
"You never had to fetch it for me," I rejoined, "or you would not
have taken the trouble. What trouble would you take for me, if I were
blind now, and not you? I should become of no use to you, and you
would leave me to die. You only let me live that you might make me
work for you, and beat me cruelly. It's my turn now--you're the boy,
and I'm the master."
The reader must remember that I did not know the meaning of the word
"boy"; my idea of it was, that it was in opposition to "master," and
boy, with me, had the same idea as the word "slave."
"Be it so," replied he, calmly. "I shall not want water long."
There was a quietness about Jackson which made me suspect him, and
the consequence was, that although I turned into my bed-place, which
was on the ground at the side of the cabin opposite to his, I did not
feel inclined to go to sleep, but remained awake, thinking of what
had passed. It was towards morning when I heard him move; my face
being turned that way, I had no occasion to stir to watch his
motions. He crept very softly out of his bed-place towards me,
listening, and advancing on his knees, not more than a foot every ten
seconds. "You want me in your grasp," thought I, "come along," and I
drew my American knife from its sheath, without noise, and awaited
his approach, smiling at the surprise he would meet with. I allowed
him to come right up to me; he felt the side of my bed, and then
passed his right hand over to seize me. I caught his right hand with
my left, and passing the knife across his wrist, more than half
divided it from his arm. He gave a shriek of surprise and pain, and
fell back.
"He has a knife," exclaimed he, with surprise, holding his severed
wrist with the other hand.
"Yes, he has a knife, and more than one," replied I, "and you see
that he knows how to use it. Will you come again? or will you believe
that I'm master?"
"If you have any charity or mercy, kill me at once," said he, as he
sat up in the moonlight, in the centre of the floor of the cabin.
"Charity and mercy," said I, "what are they? I never heard of them."
"Alas! no," replied he, "I have shewed none--it's a judgment on me--
a judgment on me for my many sins; Lord, forgive me! First my eyes,
now my right hand useless. What next, O Lord of Heaven?"
"Why, your other hand next," replied I, "if you try it again."
Jackson made no reply. He attempted to crawl back to his bed, but,
faint with loss of blood, he dropped senseless on the floor of the
cabin. I looked at him, and satisfied that he would make no more
attempts upon me, I turned away, and fell fast asleep. In about two
hours, I awoke, and looking round, perceived him lying on the floor,
where he had fallen the night before. I went to him and examined him--
was he asleep, or was he dead? He lay in a pool of blood. I felt him,
and he was quite warm. It was a ghastly cut on his wrist, and I
thought, if he is dead, he will never tell me what I want to know. I
knew that he bound up cuts to stop the blood. I took some feathers
from the bed, and put a handful on the wound. After I had done it, I
bound his wrist up with a piece of fishing-line I had taken to secure
the sheath knife round my waist, and then I went for some water. I
poured some down his throat; this revived him, and he opened his eyes.
"Where am I?" said he faintly.
"Where are you?--why, in the cabin," said I.
"Give me some more water."
I did so, for I did not wish to kill him. I wanted him to live, and
to be in my power. After drinking the water he roused himself, and
crawled back to his bed-place. I left him then, and went down to bathe.
The reader may exclaim--What a horrid tyrant this boy is--why, he is
as bad as his companion. Exactly--I was so--but let the reader
reflect that I was made so by education. From the time that I could
first remember, I had been tyrannised over; cuffed, kicked, abused
and ill-treated. I had never known kindness. Most truly was the
question put by me, "Charity and mercy--what are they?" I never heard
of them. An American Indian has kind feelings--he is hospitable and
generous--yet, educated to inflict, and receive, the severest
tortures to and from, his enemies, he does the first with the most
savage and vindictive feelings, and submits to the latter with
indifference and stoicism. He has, indeed, the kindlier feelings of
his nature exercised; still, this changes him not. He has been from
earliest infancy brought up to cruelty, and he cannot feel that it is
wrong. Now, my position was worse. I had never seen the softer
feelings of our nature called into play; I knew nothing but tyranny
and oppression, hatred and vengeance. It was therefore not surprising
that, when my turn came, I did to others as I had been done by.
Jackson had no excuse for his treatment of me, whereas, I had every
excuse for retaliation. He did know better, I did not. I followed the
ways of the world in the petty microcosm in which I had been placed.
I knew not of mercy, of forgiveness, charity, or goodwill. I knew not
that there was a God; I only knew that might was right, and the most
pleasurable sensation which I felt, was that of anxiety for
vengeance, combined with the consciousness of power.
After I had bathed, I again examined the chest and its contents. I
looked at the books without touching them. "I must know what these
mean," thought I, "and I will know." My thirst for knowledge was
certainly most remarkable, in a boy of my age; I presume for the
simple reason, that we want most what we cannot obtain; and Jackson
having invariably refused to enlighten me on any subject, I became
most anxious and impatient to satisfy the longing which increased
with my growth.
Chapter V
For three days did Jackson lie on his bed; I supplied him with
water, but he did not eat anything. He groaned heavily at times, and
talked much to himself, and I heard him ask forgiveness of God, and
pardon for his sins. I noted this down for an explanation. On the
third day, he said to me,
"Henniker, I am very ill. I have a fever coming on, from the wound
you have given me. I do not say that I did not deserve it, for I did,
and I know that I have treated you ill, and that you must hate me,
but the question is, do you wish me to die?"
"No," replied I; "I want you to live, and answer all my questions,
and you shall do so."
"I will do so," replied he. "I have done wrong, and I will make
amends. Do you understand me? I mean to say, that I have been very
cruel to you, and now I will do all you wish, and answer every
question you may put to me, as well as I can."
"That is what I want," replied I.
"I know it is, but my wound is festering and must be washed and
dressed. The feathers make it worse. Will you do this for me?"
I thought a little, and recollected that he was still in my power,
as he could not obtain water. I replied, "Yes, I will."
"The cord hurts it, you must take it off."
I fetched the kid of water, and untied the cord, and took away the
feathers, which had matted together with the flow of blood, and then
I washed the wound carefully. Looking into the wound, my desire of
information induced me to say, "What are these little white cords,
which are cut through?"
"They are the sinews and tendons," replied he, "by which we are
enabled to move our hands and fingers; now these are cut through, I
shall not have the use of my hand again."
"Stop a moment," said I, rising up, "I have just thought of
something." I ran down to the point where the chest lay, took a shirt
from the rock, and brought it back with me, and tearing it into
strips, I bandaged the wound.
"Where did you get that linen?" said Jackson.
I told him.
"And you got the knife there, too," said he, with a sigh. I replied
in the affirmative.
As soon as I had finished, he told me he was much easier, and said,
"I thank you."
"What is I thank you?" replied I.
"It means that I am grateful for what you have done."
"And what is grateful?" inquired I again. "You never said those
words to me before."
"Alas, no," replied he; "it had been better if I had. I mean that I
feel kindly towards you, for having bound up my wound, and would do
anything for you if I had the power. It means, that if I had my
eyesight, as I had a week ago, and was master, as I then was, that I
would not kick nor beat you, but be kind to you. Do you understand me?"
"Yes," replied I, "I think I do; and if you tell me all I want to
know I shall believe you."
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