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Updated: June 12, 2025
Already some progress had been made with the fortifications, and Mr Thudicumb expressed his opinion that even should the pirates appear at once, they would afford us great assistance in keeping them at bay. The remainder of our stakes were now brought up, and we were still driving them in, when, the sun setting, darkness began to steal over the forest.
As the boat could not carry the whole party, Mr Thudicumb and Tarbox remained on board, sending Potto Jumbo with Oliver and I on shore, while Roger Trew was to return with the boat for them. We pulled away as fast as we could lay our backs to the oars, and as soon as we landed we hurried up to the house.
You may be sure we gave a shout of joy when up went a flag in return, and the brig stood towards the island. She was no other than this little Dugong, as they call her, and Mr Thudicumb, and your friend Mr Hooker, come to look for us. We were all very glad to see each other; but we felt very sorry when we thought that you and Oliver had been lost.
Maybe they are near the wreck, and that's too close in to be seen." We thought that perhaps by erecting a higher post we might obtain a better view; but when Mr Thudicumb went up, he calculated that the trees were far too high near the shore to enable us to do this.
I asked, looking eagerly towards the vessel. "Is Emily well, and Grace, and Oliver?" "Yes, yes," he answered; "all are well. We left them at the island; but there is no time to be lost. The weather looks threatening, Mr Thudicumb says, and the sooner you are away from this the better. Step in now. I suppose there is nothing to detain you?"
As may be supposed, we were all eager to mount to the top of the post, and have a look at the stranger. Mr Thudicumb with his spy-glass followed Roger. "Yes, there is no doubt about it. She is a British man-of-war; and I daresay she has been cruising in search of these very fellows. They are all off, though; yes five, six, eight prows, making their way to the eastward.
"We must try and secure her," said Mr Thudicumb; "for though she is getting a fearful bumping, if she is thrown on shore we may manage to launch her again some day when we are ready for her."
"We must be ready for him, sir, at all events," said the first officer, looking at his watch. "It is not far off noon now." "Tell Oliver to bring me my sextant," said the captain, as the mate descended from the poop into his cabin. Mr Thudicumb soon returned, bringing his own instrument, and followed by a boy with the captain's.
I observed them on deck going about their duty as quietly and orderly as any one. Mr Thudicumb had not again alluded to the subject, and I could not tell whether or not he had informed the captain. I could not, however, help suspecting that Ali had seen Potto speaking to me, and that he might therefore be acting as he was doing for the purpose of throwing us off our guard.
The timber and planks which had been brought on shore did not appear very promising; at first, indeed, I thought it would be impossible to make a vessel out of them. "Perseverance will overcome difficulties," observed Mr Thudicumb. "Never fear, Walter. With our axes and saws we shall be able in time to smooth away these planks and fit the ribs to the new craft.
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