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Is mortal power capable of overcoming every difficulty? We shall see. A day or two after the entertainment at Rockhouse, Becker whispered to the Pilot "Willis, take a rifle, and come along with me; I have something to say to you." They walked a quarter of an hour or so without uttering a word, when Willis broke the silence. "You seem sad, Mr. Becker." "Yes, Willis, I am almost distracted."
"Here it is," said Jack, issuing from the hatchway; "here are our stores: a ham, two Dutch cheeses, two callabashes full of Rockhouse malaga, and there is plenty of fresh water in the gourds; with these, we have wherewithal to defy hunger till to-morrow." "Capital!" said Willis. This time, however, a cap did not appear in the air, as the last one had not been seen since the former ovation.
"Well, that excuse has, at least, the merit of being reasonable; and let it be so. Fritz and Frank will return to Rockhouse; Ernest and myself will continue the work in hand, and receive the friend or enemy which God has sent us, should he return to resume his quarters; Willis and Jack will investigate the neighborhood." "By land or water, Willis?" inquired Jack.
Hereupon the chimpanzee seized a bottle of Rockhouse malaga, and filled a glass. "He has erred on the safe side there," said Jack, drily. "Well," added Willis, laughing, "we must let that pass. Jocko," said he, assuming a sententious tone, "I asked you for a plate." The chimpanzee looked at him, hesitated a moment, then seized the glass, and drank the contents off at a single draught.
This gentleman was on his way to join his son at the Cape of Good Hope, but had been taken seriously ill previous to the Nelsons arrival on the coast. He and his family were invited on shore by Becker, and had taken up their quarters at Rockhouse.
Our first duty is to care for the safety of the ladies; Mr. Wolston is still ailing and feeble, so that, if a stranger were suddenly to appear amongst them, they might be terribly alarmed." "There are six of us here," remarked Willis, "the cream of our sea and land forces; we could divide ourselves into three squadrons, one of which might sail for Rockhouse."
They had erected dwellings here and there, but chiefly lived in a cave near the shore, over the entrance to which they had built a sort of gallery. This structure, conjointly with the cave, formed a commodious habitation, to which they had given the name of Rockhouse.
"Well, Willis, I shall give up the pinnace to you till dark," said Becker, "and may God guide us; we shall return to-night, so as to arrive at Rockhouse early in the morning." "Hurrah for the captain!" cried Willis, throwing a cap into the air. The evolutions of a cap, thrown up towards the sky or down upon the ground, were very usual modes with Willis of expressing his joy or sorrow.
"Just so; let Fritz and Frank start for Rockhouse." "And what shall we say to the ladies, father?" inquired the latter; "it does not seem to me necessary to alarm our mother, Mrs. Wolston, and the young ladies, until something more certain is ascertained." "Your idea is good, my son, and I thank you for bringing it forward; it is one of those that arise from the heart rather than the head."
"Good," thought Becker, "our chatterers have not been able to hold their tongues; I am surprised at that as regards Frank." "We expected to have found them at Rockhouse." "To have found whom?" "The sailors from the wreck." "What wreck?" "The Nelson." "I sincerely hope that the Nelson has not been wrecked." "In that case, whom do you refer to yourself, Miss Sophia?"