The prospect5 seemed dark, indeed. The ship's boats would, at most, only carry half the men on board; and if the ship had to be abandoned, the whole of her treasures must be lost, as well as many lives.
"There is an island far away to the south," the admiral said. "If the worst come, we must seek refuge on that. It will be well to send a boat to examine it, and see what capabilities6 it offers for the purpose. Then if the weather holds fair we can make several trips, and land our men, and a portion at least of our valuables."
"Will you let me go, sir, with my three friends?" Ned asked. "The canoe which we took from our last halting place will carry the four of us and, as she paddles swiftly, we may be back before many hours."
"The idea is a good one," Captain Drake said. "Make for the island. It is, I should say, fifteen miles off. When you have reached it, see if there be water, fuel, and other necessaries, and whether the landing be good. If you should come upon any natives, parley7 with them. Take a few articles as presents, and explain to them, if they will come out here with their canoes and aid to bring the things ashore8, we will give them presents, which will make them wealthy beyond their grandest dreams.
"Be careful, my boys. I know that you will be brave, if necessary; but care and caution are the great things, and remember that our safety depends upon yours."
The young men speedily lowered the canoe, under the shelter of the lee side of the ship, took some beads9, calicoes, and other articles, and then, seating themselves in the boat, paddled rapidly away. At first they felt a little awkward in using the paddles, in which they had had no practice, whatever. But being powerful men, and accustomed to the use of oars10, they soon fell into regular stroke, and the light boat danced rapidly over the waters. The distance was further than Captain Drake had imagined, the clearness of the air making the land appear nearer than it really was; and it was only after three hours of hard work that they neared it.
It turned out to be an island of about a mile in length, so far as they could judge. A reef of coral ran round it. The center of the island was somewhat elevated, and was covered with coconut11 trees; and it was this, alone, which had enabled it to be seen, from so great a distance, from the deck of the Golden Hind12.
Paddling round the reef, they came to an opening and, entering this, found themselves in perfectly smooth water, and were soon on shore.
"Our best way to look for water," Ned said, "will be to follow the beach all round the island. If there is any stream, we must then come upon it. We had better take our arms, and haul up the canoe."
Ned, although the youngest of the party, being an officer of the ship, was naturally in command.
"It will be hard," Reuben said, "if we do not meet with some adventure. This is the first time that I have been out with you, Ned. The others have had their share, and it will be hard upon me if, when I get home, I have not some tale to tell my friends."
"I hope that it will not be so," Ned said, "for more than story telling depends upon our success. I fear the Golden Hind is fixed13 fast, and that all the fruits of our expedition are lost, even if our lives be saved. Everything depends upon the report we may make when we return; and anything that should occur to delay us, or to prevent our bearing back tidings of this place to the admiral, would be bad fortune, indeed."
"I don't mean," Reuben said, "anything that would prevent our returning. But we might do something, and yet return safely."
A walk round the island showed no signs of water; nor, although they searched for some hours, walking backwards14 and forwards across it, could they find any sign of a pool. It was clear that there were no fresh-water springs on the island, and that the vegetation depended entirely15 upon the rain that fell in the regular season. But they discovered, from the top of the island, another and much larger one; lying, still again, some fifteen miles to the south.
After much deliberation, they determined16 to make for this; as it was of importance that they should have some news, of a place to which the goods could be transported, to carry back to the ship. This island was much higher, and there appeared every probability that water, and all they required, would be found there. Accordingly, taking their place in the canoe, they again paddled out through the entrance to the reef, and steered17 their course for their new discovery.
This was a large island, measuring at least, as they judged from the view of the one side, twenty miles round. The shores were steep, and they rowed for some time before they succeeded in finding a place where a landing could be effected. Then a deep bay suddenly opened out, and into this they rowed.
Scarcely had they fairly entered it when, from some bushes near the shore, two large war canoes, crowded with natives, shot out and made towards them. The lads at first grasped their muskets18, but Ned said:
"Let the arms be. We are here to make peace with the natives, and must take our chance."
They stood up in the canoe, holding up their arms in token of amity19. The canoes came alongside at racing20 pace, the natives uttering yells of joy. The canoe had evidently been seen approaching the island, and preparations had been made to seize it, immediately on its arrival.
Ned held up in his hands the beads and pieces of cloth. But the natives were too excited for pause or negotiation21. In an instant the boys were seized and placed on board the canoes, two in each. They were tenderly handled, and were clearly objects of veneration22 rather than of hostility23. The moment that they were on board, the contents of the canoe were transferred to the large boat; and it was then cast adrift, and the two war boats, at full speed, made out through the passage.
Ned endeavored, in vain, to attract the attention of the leaders of the savages24 to his gestures; and to explain to them that there was a vessel, from which he had come, at a short distance off; and that, if they would accompany him thither25, they would obtain large quantities of the beads and cloth which he showed them. The natives, however, were too much excited to pay any attention to his efforts; and with a sigh of despair he sat down by the side of Reuben, who was in the same boat with him; as the canoes, on emerging from the bay, turned their heads to the southwest, and paddled steadily26 and rapidly away from the island.
"Whither can they be going to take us?" Reuben said.
"They must belong to some other island," Ned answered, "and be a war party, which has come on plundering27 purposes here. What a misfortune! What terribly bad luck! They have clearly never seen white men before, and regard us as superior beings; and so far as we are concerned, it is probable that our lives are safe. But what will the admiral think, when night comes on and we do not return? What will become of our comrades?"
And at the thought of their messmates, left without help in so perilous28 a position, Ned fairly broke down and cried.
For some hours the natives continued their course without intermission, and gradually an island, which had at first seemed like a low cloud on the horizon, loomed30 up nearer and nearer; and at last, just as night fell, they landed upon its shores. Here in a bay a village of huts, constructed of the boughs31 of trees, had been raised; and the arrival of the war canoes was greeted, with wild and prolonged cries, by the women and children. All prostrated32 themselves in wonder and astonishment33 when the white men, in their strange attire34, were brought on shore; and Ned saw that his suspicions were correct, and that they were regarded by their captors as gods. Further proof was given of this when they were escorted to a large shed, composed of a roof of thatch35 supported on four upright posts, which stood in the center of the village.
Under this were placed some of the hideous36 effigies37 which the South Sea Islanders worship, and which are affixed38 to the prow39 of their boats; and may be seen in the British Museum, and in other places where collections of Indian curiosities are exhibited. These effigies were carved in the shape of human beings, with enormous goggle40 eyes, splashes of bright paint, and strange and immense headdresses of brilliant colors.
Here the lads were motioned to sit down, and the natives brought them offerings of cocoas, and other fruits. The boys could hardly help laughing at their strange position, surrounded by these hideous idols42.
"You wanted an adventure, Reuben, and you have got one, indeed," Ned said. "You are translated into a heathen god and, if you ever get home, will have your story to tell, which will astonish the quiet firesides in Devonshire."
"I think not," Ned replied. "It can do no harm; and we are, at least, better than these wooden idols. So long at least as we are taken for gods, our lives are safe. But I would not say as much if they once became convinced, by our actions, that we are men like themselves."
"But we cannot sit here, all our lives, among these idols," Reuben said.
"I agree with you there, Reuben; but patience does wonders, and I am not troubled in the least about ourselves. Sooner or later, a way of escape will present itself; and when it does, be assured that we will use it. Patience is all that we require, now. It is of our poor shipmates that I am thinking."
As night fell, great bonfires were lighted. The natives indulged in wild dances round them, and feasting and festivities were kept up all through the night. Four watches were stationed, one at each post of the temple; and the boys saw that, for the present, at least, all thought of escape was out of the question. And therefore, stretching themselves at full length on the sand, they were speedily asleep.
For some days, the position remained unchanged. The boys were well fed, and cared for. Offerings of fruit, fish, and other eatables were duly presented. A perfumed wood which, according to the native ideas, personified incense45, was burned in large quantities round the temple, and nearly choked the boys with its smoke.
Upon the fifth day, it was clear that some expedition was being prepared. Four large war canoes were dragged down and placed in the water; and the great idols, which stood in the bow of each, were removed and carried up to the temple, and placed there in position. Then the boys were motioned to come down to the beach.
"I do believe," said Tom, bursting into a shout of laughter, "that they are going to put us in the bows of their canoes, in place of their old gods."
The others joined in the laughter, for to act as the figurehead of a canoe was indeed a comical, if an unpleasant situation.
When they reached the boats, the boys saw that their suspicions were correct, and that the natives were preparing to lash41 them to the lofty prows46; which rose, some twelve feet above the water, in a sweep inwards.
"This will never do," Tom said. "If we are fastened like that, our weight will cut us horribly. Let us show them how to do it."
Whereupon, with great gravity he took a large piece of flat wood, and motioned to the savages to lash this in front of the bow of one of the boats, at a height of three feet above the water, so as to afford a little platform upon which he could stand. The natives at once perceived the drift of what he was doing, and were delighted that their new deities47 should evince such readiness to fall in with their plans. The additions were made at once to the four canoes; but while this was being done, some of the leading chiefs, with every mark of deference48, approached the boys with colored paints; and motioned, to them, that they would permit them to deck them in this way.
Again the boys indulged in a hearty49 laugh and, stripping off their upper garments, to the immense admiration50 of the natives. They themselves applied51 paint in rings, zigzags52, and other forms to their white shirts; painted a large saucer-like circle round the eyes with vermilion, so as to give themselves something the appearance of the great idols; and having thus transmogrified themselves, each gravely took his place upon his perch53; where, leaning back against the prow behind them, they were by no means uncomfortable.
"If these fellows are going, as I expect, upon a war expedition," Ned shouted to his friends, as the boats, keeping regularly abreast54, rowed off from the island; amidst a perfect chaos56 of sounds, of yells, beatings of rough drums made of skins stretched across hollow trunks of trees, and of the blowing of conch shells; "our position will be an unpleasant one. But we must trust to circumstances to do the best. At any rate, we must wish that our friends conquer; for the next party, if we fall into their hands, might take it into their heads that we are devils instead of gods, and it might fare worse with us."
It was manifest, as soon as they started, that the object of the expedition was not the island upon which they had been captured, but one lying away to the south. It was a row of several hours before they approached it. As they did so, they saw columns of smoke rise from several points of the shore, and knew that their coming there was observed by the islanders.
Presently six canoes, equally large with their own and crowded with men, were observed pulling out, and yells of defiance57 came across the water.
"It is clear," Tom said, "that this island is stronger than our own; and that it is only on the strength of our miraculous58 presence that the islanders expect to conquer their foes59; for they would never, with four canoes, venture to attack a place of superior force, unless they deemed that their victory was certain."
With wild yells, which were answered boldly from their own canoes, the enemy approached, and the combat began with a general discharge of arrows. Then the canoes rowed into each other, and a general and desperate hand-to-hand combat commenced. The enthusiasm with which the inmates60 of the boys' canoes were animated61 at first gave them the superiority, and they not only beat back the attacks of their foes but, leaping into their enemy's boats, succeeded in clearing two of them of their occupants. Numbers, however, told; and the enemy were, with very heavy clubs and spears, pointed62 with sharp shells, gradually forcing the adventurers back; when Ned saw that a little supernatural interference was desirable, to bring matters straight again. Giving the word to his friends, he stood up on his perch and, swinging himself round, alighted in the boat; giving as he did so a loud British cheer, which was answered by that of his comrades. Then, with his arms erect63, he began to move along the benches of the canoe, towards the conflict which was raging on either side.
The sudden interference of the four deities, at the head of the boat, was received with a yell of terror by the natives who were attacking them; which was increased when the boys, each seizing a club from the hands of a native, jumped into the enemy's canoes, and began to lay about them with all their strength. This was, however, required but for a moment. The sight of so terrible and unexampled an apparition64 appalled65 the islanders; who, springing overboard with yells of despair, swam rapidly towards land, leaving their boats in the hands of the victors.
These indulged in wild yells of triumph, knelt before their good geniuses, and then, taking their places, paddled towards the shore. Before they had reached it, however, the defeated savages had landed and, running up to their village, had borne the news of the terrible apparitions66 which had taken part against them.
The conquerors67, on reaching the village, found it deserted68; plundered69 it of a few valuables; carried down all their enemy's gods in triumph into the canoes; and then, having fired the huts, started again, with the ten canoes, towards their own island.
Their triumphant70 arrival at the village was received with frantic71 excitement and enthusiasm. The sight of six canoes towed in, by the four belonging to the place, was greeted with something of the same feeling which, in Nelson's time, Portsmouth more than once experienced upon an English vessel arriving with two captured French frigates72, of size superior to herself. And when the warriors73 informed their relatives of the interposition of the white gods in their favor, the latter rose to an even higher estimation in public opinion than before. They were escorted to their shrine74 with wild dancing and gesticulation, and great heaps of fruit, fish, and other luxuries were offered to them, in token of the gratitude75 of the people.
But this was not all. A few hours later a solemn council was held on the seashore, and after a time a great hurrying to and fro was visible in the village. Then, to the sound of their wild music, with dancing, brandishing76 of spears, and the emission77 of many wild yells, the whole population moved up towards the shrine.
"What can they be going to do now?" Tom said. "Some fresh piece of homage78, I should guess. I do wish they would leave us alone. It is annoying enough to be treated as a god, without being disturbed by these constant worshippings."
When the crowd arrived before the shed they separated, and in the midst were discovered four girls. On their heads were wreaths of flowers, and their necks and arms were loaded with necklaces, and shells, and other ornaments79.
"Don't laugh, you fellows," said Ned. "I do believe that they have brought us four wives, in token of their gratitude."
The lads had the greatest difficulty in restraining themselves from marring the effect of the solemnity by ill-timed laughter. But they put a great restraint upon themselves, and listened gravely while the chief made them a long harangue80, and pointed to the four damsels; who, elated at the honor of being selected, but somewhat shy at being the center of the public gaze, evidently understood that the village had chosen them to be the wives of the gods.
Although the boys could not understand the words of the speaker, there was no question as to his meaning, and they consulted together as to the best steps to be taken, under the circumstances.
"We must temporize," said Tom. "It would never do for them to consider themselves slighted."
After a short consultation81, they again took their places in a solemn row, in front of the shed. Reuben, who was the tallest and most imposing82 of the set, and who was evidently considered by the villagers to be the leading deity83, then addressed a long harangue to the chief and villagers. He beckoned84 to the four girls, who timidly advanced, and one knelt at the feet of each of the whites.
Then Reuben motioned that a hut must be built, close to the shrine; and, pointing to the sun, he traced its way across the sky, and made a mark upon the ground. This he repeated fourteen times, signifying that the girls must be shut up in the hut and guarded safely for that time, after which the nuptials85 would take place.
"You are quite sure, Ned," he said, pausing and turning round to his friend, "that we shall be able to make our attempt to escape before the end of the fourteen days? Because it would be fearful, indeed, if we were to fail, and to find ourselves compelled to marry these four heathen women."
"We will certainly try before the fourteen days are up, Reuben; but with what success, of course we cannot say. But if we lay our plans well, we ought to manage to get off."
The villagers readily understood the harangue of Reuben, and without delay the whole scattered86 into the wood and, returning with bundles of palm leaves and some strong posts, at once began to erect the hut. Fires were lighted as the evening came on, and before they ceased their labor87 the hut was finished.
During this time the girls had remained sitting patiently in front of the shrine. The lads now offered them their hand, and escorted them with grave ceremony to the hut. The palm leaves which did service as a door were placed before it, and the boys proceeded to dance, one after the other in solemn order, fourteen times round the hut.
They then signified to the natives that provisions, fruit, and water must be daily brought for the use of their future wives; and having made another harangue, thanking the natives for their exertions88, and signifying future protection and benefits, they retired89 under the shelter of the shed, and the village subsided90 to its ordinary state of tranquility.
"There are two difficulties in the way of making our escape," Ned said. "In the first place, it is useless to think of leaving this island, until we have a sufficient stock, of provisions and water to put in a canoe, to last us until we can get back to Ternate. Did we put into any island on the way, our position might be ten times as bad as it now is. Here at least we are well treated and honored and, did we choose, could no doubt live here in a sort of heathen comfort, for the rest of our lives; just as many white sailors on the western isles91 have turned natives, and given up all thought of ever returning to their own country.
"The Golden Hind was four days on her journey from Ternate to the place where she refitted; another two to the spot where she went on the reef. The wind was very light, and her speed was not above five knots an hour. We should be able to paddle back in the course of ten days, and must take provisions sufficient for that time.
"The first point, of course, will be to find whether the old ship is still on the reef. If she is not there she may have succeeded in getting off, or she may have gone to pieces. I trust however that the admiral, who is full of resource, has managed to get her off in safety. He will, no doubt, have spent a day or two in looking for us; but finding no signs of us, in the island to which we were sent, or in the other lying in sight to the southward, he will have shaped his way for the Cape44.
"The first difficulty, then, is to procure92 sufficient provisions. The next is to make our escape unseen. The four natives who, night and day, watch at the corners of this shed, mean it as a great honor, no doubt; but, like many other honors, it is an unpleasant one. Our only plan will be to seize and gag them suddenly, each pouncing93 upon one.
"Then there is the fear that the natives, who are, I must say, the most restless sleepers94 I ever saw, may in their wanderings up to look at us find that we have gone, before we are fairly beyond reach of pursuit; for one of their great canoes will travel at least two feet to our one.
"Hitherto we have only taken such provisions, from the piles they have offered us, as were sufficient for our day's wants, and left the rest for them to take away again next morning. In future we had best, each day, abstract a considerable quantity; and place it conspicuously95 in the center of this shed. The people will perhaps wonder, but will probably conclude that we are laying it by, to make a great feast upon our wedding day.
"As to water, we must do with the calabashes which they bring the day before, and with the milk which the cocoas contain, and which is to the full as quenching96 as water. With a good number of cocoas, we ought to be able to shift for some days without other food; and there is, indeed, an abundance of juice in many of the other fruits which they offer us."
This programme was carried out. Every morning the lads danced in solemn procession round the hut, lessening97 their rounds by one each day. Daily the heap of fruit, dried fish, and vegetables under the shed increased; and the natives, who believed that their new deities were intent upon the thoughts of marriage, had no suspicion whatever of any desire, on their part, to escape.
Having settled how to prevent their escape being detected before morning, they accustomed themselves to go to sleep with the cloths, woven of the fiber98 of the palm with which the natives had supplied them, pulled over their heads.
Seven days after the fight with the other islanders, the lads judged that the pile of provisions was sufficiently99 large for their purpose, and determined upon making the attempt that night. A canoe of about the size that they desired, which had been used during the day for fishing, lay on the shore close to the water's edge.
They waited until the village was fairly hushed in sleep. An hour later they believed that the four guards--or worshipers, for it struck them that their attendants partook partly of both characters--were beginning to feel drowsy100; and each of the boys, having furnished himself with a rope of twisted coconut fiber, stole quietly up to one of these men.
To place their hands over their mouths, to seize and throw them upon their faces, was but the work of a moment; and was accomplished101 without the least noise, the natives being paralyzed by the sudden and unexpected assault. A piece of wood was shoved into the mouth of each, as a gag; and secured by a string, passing round the back of the head, and holding it in its place. Their arms and legs were tied, and they were set up against the posts, in the same position they had before occupied.
Four of the great effigies were then taken from their places, and laid down upon the ground and covered over with the mats, so that to any casual observer they presented exactly the same appearance as the boys, sleeping there.
Then, loading themselves with provisions, the boys stole backwards and forwards, quietly, to the boat. Once they had to pause, as a sleepless102 native came out from his hut, walked up to the shrine, and bowed himself repeatedly before the supposed deities. Fortunately he perceived nothing suspicious, and did not notice the constrained103 attitude of the four guardians104. When he retired the boys continued their work, and soon had the whole of the store of cocoas and other provisions in the canoe, together with some calabashes of water.
Then with some difficulty they launched the boat and, taking their places, paddled quietly away from the island. Once fairly beyond the bay, they laid themselves to their work, and the light boat sped rapidly across the waters. In order that they might be sure of striking the point where they had left the ship, they made first for the island where they had been captured, and when day broke were close beside it. They then shaped their course northwards, and after two hours' paddling were in sight of the low island, which they had first visited. By noon they reached the spot where, as they judged, the Golden Hind had gone on the reef; but no sign whatever of her was to be discovered. By the position in which the island they had left lay they were sure that, although they might be two or three miles out in their direction, they must be within sight of the vessel, were she still remaining as they had left her.
There had been no great storm since she had grounded; and it was unlikely, therefore, that she could have gone entirely to pieces. This afforded them great ground for hope that she had beaten off the reef, and proceeded on her voyage. Hitherto they had been buoyed105 up with the expectation of again meeting their friends; but they now felt a truly unselfish pleasure, at the thought that their comrades and admiral had escaped the peril29 which threatened the downfall of their hopes, and the termination of an enterprise fairly and successfully carried out, so far.
There was nothing now for them but to make for Ternate. They found no difficulty whatever in doing without water, their thirst being amply quenched106 by the milk of the cocoas, and the juice of the guavas and other fruits. They paddled for two days longer, working steadily all day and far into the night, and passed one or two islands.
In the course of the next day's passage they went within a short distance of another, and were horrified107 at seeing, from the narrow bay, a large war canoe put out, and make rapidly towards them.
The Four Gods
They had already talked over what would be their best course in such a contingency108, and proceeded at once to put their plans into execution. They had, at starting, taken with them a supply of the paints used in their decoration; and with these they proceeded to touch up the coloring on their faces and white shirts, and on the strange ornaments which had been affixed to their heads. Two of them now took their place, one at the stern and the other at the bow of the canoe. The other two stood up, and paddled very quietly and slowly along; and as the canoe approached rapidly, the four broke into a song--one of the old Devonshire catches, which they had often sung together on board ship.
The war canoe, as it approached, gradually ceased paddling. The aspect of this small boat, paddling quietly along and taking no heed109 of their presence, filled its occupants with surprise. But when the way on their canoe drifted them close to it, and they were enabled to see the strange character of the freight, a panic of astonishment and alarm seized them. That a boat, navigated110 by four gods, should be seen proceeding111 calmly along the ocean, alone, was a sight for which Indian legend gave them no precedent112 whatever; and after gazing for a while, in superstitious113 dread114 at the strange spectacle, they turned their boats' head and paddled rapidly back to shore.
For an hour or two the boys continued their course, in the same leisurely115 manner; but when once convinced that they were out of sight of their late visitors, they again sat down, and the four stretched themselves to their work.
On the evening of that day there was a heavy mist upon the water. The stars were with difficulty seen through it, and the lads were all convinced that a change of weather was at hand. Before nightfall had set in, an island had been seen at a short distance to the north, and they decided116 at once to make for this; as, if caught in mid55 ocean by a storm, they had little hope of weathering it in a craft like that in which they were placed; although the natives, habituated to them, were able to keep the sea in very rough weather in these little craft; which, to an English eye, appeared no safer than cockleshells.
The boys rowed with all their strength in the direction in which the island lay, but before they reached it sharp puffs117 of wind struck the water, and the steerage of the canoe became extremely difficult. Presently, however, they heard the sound of a dull roar, and knew that this was caused by the slow heaving swell118, of which they were already sensible, breaking upon a beach.
Ten minutes later they were close to the shore. Had it been daylight, they would have coasted round the island to search for a convenient spot for landing; but the wind was already rising, so fast that they deemed it better to risk breaking up their canoe, than to run the hazard of being longer upon the sea.
Waiting, therefore, for a wave, they sped forward, with all their strength. There was a crash, and then they all leaped out together and, seizing the canoe, ran her up on the beach, before the next wave arrived.
"I fear she has knocked a great hole in her bottom," Reuben said.
"Never mind," Ned replied. "We shall be able to make a shift to mend it. The great point, now, is to drag it up so high among the bushes, that it will not be noticed in the morning by any natives who may happen to be about. Until this storm is over, at any rate, we have got to shelter here."
The canoe, laden119 as she still was with provisions, was too heavy to drag up; but the boys, emptying her out, lifted her on their shoulders and carried her inland; until, at a distance of some sixty or seventy yards, they entered a grove120 of coconut trees. Here they laid her down, and made two journeys back to the beach to fetch up their provisions, and then took refuge in the grove; thankful that they had escaped on shore in time, for scarcely had they landed when the hurricane, which had been brewing121, burst with terrific force.
Seas of immense height came rolling in upon the shore. The trees of the grove waved to and fro before it, and shook the heavy nuts down, with such force that the boys were glad to leave it and to lie down on the open beach, rather than to run the risk of having their skulls122 fractured by these missiles from above. The sound of the wind deadened their voices, and even by shouting they could not make themselves heard. Now and then, above the din2 of the storm, was heard the crash of some falling tree; and even as they lay, they were sometimes almost lifted from the ground by the force of the wind.
For twenty-four hours the hurricane continued, and then cleared as suddenly as it had commenced. The lads crept back to the grove, refreshed themselves with the contents of two or three cocoas apiece, and then, lying down under the canoe, which they had taken the precaution of turning bottom upwards123, enjoyed a peaceful sleep till morning.
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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din
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vessel
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fathoms
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prospect
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capabilities
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parley
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ashore
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beads
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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coconut
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| n.椰子 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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13
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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15
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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17
steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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18
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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19
amity
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| n.友好关系 | |
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20
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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21
negotiation
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| n.谈判，协商 | |
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22
veneration
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| n.尊敬，崇拜 | |
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23
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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24
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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25
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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26
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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27
plundering
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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28
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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29
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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30
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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31
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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32
prostrated
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| v.使俯伏，使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 )；（指疾病、天气等）使某人无能为力 | |
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33
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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34
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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35
thatch
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| vt.用茅草覆盖…的顶部；n.茅草(屋) | |
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36
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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37
effigies
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| n.（人的）雕像，模拟像，肖像( effigy的名词复数 ) | |
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38
affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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39
prow
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| n.(飞机)机头，船头 | |
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40
goggle
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| n.瞪眼，转动眼珠，护目镜；v.瞪眼看，转眼珠 | |
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41
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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42
idols
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| 偶像( idol的名词复数 )； 受崇拜的人或物； 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物； 神像 | |
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43
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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44
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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45
incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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46
prows
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| n.船首( prow的名词复数 ) | |
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47
deities
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| n.神，女神( deity的名词复数 )；神祗；神灵；神明 | |
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48
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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49
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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50
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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51
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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52
zigzags
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| n.锯齿形的线条、小径等( zigzag的名词复数 )v.弯弯曲曲地走路，曲折地前进( zigzag的第三人称单数 ) | |
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53
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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54
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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55
mid
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| adj.中央的，中间的 | |
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56
chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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57
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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58
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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59
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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60
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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61
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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62
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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63
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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64
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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65
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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66
apparitions
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| n.特异景象( apparition的名词复数 )；幽灵；鬼；（特异景象等的）出现 | |
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67
conquerors
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| 征服者，占领者( conqueror的名词复数 ) | |
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68
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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69
plundered
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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71
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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72
frigates
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| n.快速军舰( frigate的名词复数 ) | |
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73
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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74
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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75
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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76
brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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77
emission
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| n.发出物，散发物；发出，散发 | |
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78
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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79
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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80
harangue
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| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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81
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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82
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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83
deity
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| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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84
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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85
nuptials
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| n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
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86
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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87
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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88
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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89
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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90
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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91
isles
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| 岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
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92
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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93
pouncing
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的现在分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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94
sleepers
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| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
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95
conspicuously
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| ad.明显地，惹人注目地 | |
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96
quenching
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| 淬火，熄 | |
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97
lessening
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| 减轻，减少，变小 | |
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98
fiber
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| n.纤维，纤维质 | |
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99
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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100
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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101
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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102
sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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103
constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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104
guardians
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| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
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105
buoyed
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| v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神 | |
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106
quenched
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| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
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107
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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108
contingency
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| n.意外事件，可能性 | |
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109
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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110
navigated
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| v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的过去式和过去分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃 | |
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111
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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112
precedent
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| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
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113
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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114
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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115
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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116
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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117
puffs
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| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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118
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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119
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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120
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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121
brewing
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| n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式 | |
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122
skulls
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| 颅骨( skull的名词复数 )； 脑袋； 脑子； 脑瓜 | |
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123
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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