CHAPTER XIX: SKULL ISLAND.The sailors did not take long in making good the damage done to the sail. A new one was bent and then the schooner’s action changed from a wallowing and rolling in the trough of the waves to a light skimming over them. The storm, now that the wind and waves appeared to have satisfied themselves by inflicting all the damage they could, seemed to die down.“You had better go below to your own cabin,� said the captain to Raynor when all had been made snug again. “You will hear no more of your attempt to get away.�Without waiting for a rejoinder, he was gone. Raynor turned dazedly to Noddy.“I guess I’m in his good books again,� he said.“Well, why wouldn’t yer be?� said the Bowery boy, “you saved his life.�At this juncture there was a shrill yell behind them. It was Pompey.“By de holy poker, de ghostesses done brung back young Massa Raynor, jes lak dey does mah puddin’,� he cried, feeling Raynor’s arm to make sure it was solid flesh and blood.“Gollyumption,� he exclaimed, “it’s Massa Raynor, all right. Whar dose ghostesses done tak you-all to? Ah ’specs dey rides yo on a broomstick an all.�“I haven’t been with any ghosts,� laughed Raynor.But Pompey put on a knowing look.“Yo’ kaint fool dis chile dat ’er way,� he said, “ah knows too much of der mysteriferiousness of der prognosticatius. Dats de science ob ghostesses. Yo’ all went to der same place as dat puddin’ done go when de spooks took it.�It was no use to try to argue with the old negro. Ever since the night the boys had tried to escape, Pompey’s naturally superstitious mind had conceived the idea that thePolly Annwas “hanted.� Nothing would drive it out of his head.Terror Carson made no further advances to Raynor. In fact, the next day he hardly appeared to notice the boy who had saved his life by his quick wit and action. But Raynor did not worry about that. In fact, the less attention he received from the seal poacher, the better pleased he was.The next day they found themselves enveloped in floes of ice. The wind blew hard and cold too. Suddenly, while they were crunching through the floating floes, the look-out gave a loud hail.“Land ho!�The shout was echoed by a score of voices. It brought a thrill to Raynor, who ran to the galley door. Across the ice floes he could make out a rough, low-lying, rocky island. The waves dashed against some low cliffs in clouds of white spray. A few sea birds hovered, wheeling and screaming, above it.Terror Carson hurried forward. He gave the island one glance and then said: “That’s Skull Island. There used to be good sealing there. But that’s all done away with now. The beasts have gone to other places. There’s water there, though. A perennial spring. I’ve a good mind to land and replenish the kegs.�“Why is it called Skull Island?� inquired Raynor, feeling, that as Carson appeared in a good mood, he might venture the question.“On account of a fight that took place there some years ago,� said Carson. “Rival sealers battled on the island and the conquerors stuck up the skulls of their enemies on poles.�“It is a dismal-looking place,� said Raynor. “Does anybody live there?�“No, it is uninhabited. Nothing but a few sea-birds and, once in a while, some sealer, after water, goes there,� was the rejoinder.To the right, or western side of the island, there was a sort of lane or channel through the closely packed ice. It soon appeared that it was Terror Carson’s intention to guide his craft through this to a mooring ground. He took the wheel himself, as he usually did in emergencies. Soon, sharp orders to the sail-handlers came crackling from his lips in a continuous volley.“Easy on your main sheet.�“Aye, aye, sir.�“Blocks and tackles forward.�“All clear, sir.�It was ticklish work, for here and there the gnarled heads of black rocks showed above the surface of the water. If one had penetrated thePolly Ann’shull there would have been an end to her then and there. But Terror Carson steered her, with an expressionless face and consummate skill, past every peril. At last they lay off a rocky cove. The leadsman in the bow sang out that there was plenty of water.“Let go the anchor,� bellowed Carson.The cable roared out, and for the first time in many days, thePolly Annlay at rest.Raynor leaned over the rail, not having anything to do just then, and watched the island with a strange fascination. Even its sinister name did not detract from his desire to go ashore and give it a thorough exploration. In time to come Raynor was to grow to know that island well and regret the day he ever saw it.
The sailors did not take long in making good the damage done to the sail. A new one was bent and then the schooner’s action changed from a wallowing and rolling in the trough of the waves to a light skimming over them. The storm, now that the wind and waves appeared to have satisfied themselves by inflicting all the damage they could, seemed to die down.
“You had better go below to your own cabin,� said the captain to Raynor when all had been made snug again. “You will hear no more of your attempt to get away.�
Without waiting for a rejoinder, he was gone. Raynor turned dazedly to Noddy.
“I guess I’m in his good books again,� he said.
“Well, why wouldn’t yer be?� said the Bowery boy, “you saved his life.�
At this juncture there was a shrill yell behind them. It was Pompey.
“By de holy poker, de ghostesses done brung back young Massa Raynor, jes lak dey does mah puddin’,� he cried, feeling Raynor’s arm to make sure it was solid flesh and blood.
“Gollyumption,� he exclaimed, “it’s Massa Raynor, all right. Whar dose ghostesses done tak you-all to? Ah ’specs dey rides yo on a broomstick an all.�
“I haven’t been with any ghosts,� laughed Raynor.
But Pompey put on a knowing look.
“Yo’ kaint fool dis chile dat ’er way,� he said, “ah knows too much of der mysteriferiousness of der prognosticatius. Dats de science ob ghostesses. Yo’ all went to der same place as dat puddin’ done go when de spooks took it.�
It was no use to try to argue with the old negro. Ever since the night the boys had tried to escape, Pompey’s naturally superstitious mind had conceived the idea that thePolly Annwas “hanted.� Nothing would drive it out of his head.
Terror Carson made no further advances to Raynor. In fact, the next day he hardly appeared to notice the boy who had saved his life by his quick wit and action. But Raynor did not worry about that. In fact, the less attention he received from the seal poacher, the better pleased he was.
The next day they found themselves enveloped in floes of ice. The wind blew hard and cold too. Suddenly, while they were crunching through the floating floes, the look-out gave a loud hail.
“Land ho!�
The shout was echoed by a score of voices. It brought a thrill to Raynor, who ran to the galley door. Across the ice floes he could make out a rough, low-lying, rocky island. The waves dashed against some low cliffs in clouds of white spray. A few sea birds hovered, wheeling and screaming, above it.
Terror Carson hurried forward. He gave the island one glance and then said: “That’s Skull Island. There used to be good sealing there. But that’s all done away with now. The beasts have gone to other places. There’s water there, though. A perennial spring. I’ve a good mind to land and replenish the kegs.�
“Why is it called Skull Island?� inquired Raynor, feeling, that as Carson appeared in a good mood, he might venture the question.
“On account of a fight that took place there some years ago,� said Carson. “Rival sealers battled on the island and the conquerors stuck up the skulls of their enemies on poles.�
“It is a dismal-looking place,� said Raynor. “Does anybody live there?�
“No, it is uninhabited. Nothing but a few sea-birds and, once in a while, some sealer, after water, goes there,� was the rejoinder.
To the right, or western side of the island, there was a sort of lane or channel through the closely packed ice. It soon appeared that it was Terror Carson’s intention to guide his craft through this to a mooring ground. He took the wheel himself, as he usually did in emergencies. Soon, sharp orders to the sail-handlers came crackling from his lips in a continuous volley.
“Easy on your main sheet.�
“Aye, aye, sir.�
“Blocks and tackles forward.�
“All clear, sir.�
It was ticklish work, for here and there the gnarled heads of black rocks showed above the surface of the water. If one had penetrated thePolly Ann’shull there would have been an end to her then and there. But Terror Carson steered her, with an expressionless face and consummate skill, past every peril. At last they lay off a rocky cove. The leadsman in the bow sang out that there was plenty of water.
“Let go the anchor,� bellowed Carson.
The cable roared out, and for the first time in many days, thePolly Annlay at rest.
Raynor leaned over the rail, not having anything to do just then, and watched the island with a strange fascination. Even its sinister name did not detract from his desire to go ashore and give it a thorough exploration. In time to come Raynor was to grow to know that island well and regret the day he ever saw it.