THE Pearl of Pandora

Golden Bay Argus, Volume VI, Issue 73, 21 October 1897, Page 3

THE Pearl of Pandora

PART XIV (Continued)

boat had a small sail unfurled about an hour after sunrise, and about that time Bloomfield stood in the stern and pushed the craft off from the yielding strand. In a few moments the graceful vessel floated past the battered timbers of the old Pandora, and the three men had started the long and perilous voyage. Certainly everything was in their favour. The craft was well provisioned and found, By the ingenuity of Jarvis comfortable arrangements had been made for sleeping and water-tight lockers contained all the articles likely to be damaged by obtrusive waves. The muskets and powder were specially guarded, as on the weapons their lives might at any time depend. Nothing had been overlooked which could conduce to the safety and comfort of the voyage. Three barrels of fresh water were on board, and as the men intended to coast as much as possible frequent landings could be made to cook food.

As the craft glided over the smooth water towards the entrance both the white men turned and looked back at the beautiful spot where they had spent more than two years. Their eyes did not seem to range far inland, but fixed upon the black timbers which was all that was left of the brig Pandora. For several minutes they silently looked across the waters at the receding shore until the flapping of the sail roused them to a sense of the situation.

As they turned a low strangled cry broke simultaneously from the lips of the men, for there, just gracefully sweeping into the entrance, was a large sloop crowded with men—and yes, women, too —for on the deck was a form both quickly recognised. ' Mistress Nell!' the hunchback gasped, and then with a savage oath he cut away the sail, and seizing the oar, called upon his companions to pull back to the shore.

PART XV.

It will be necessary to carry the reader back in the imagination a couple of years and to a distant scene in order to make him conversant with the facts which led up to the dramatic meeting at the little cove of the Pandora pirates. We left the survivors of the old brig safely established in Sydney after their perilous journey southward. After Ellen Cooney's marriage with Captain James of the " Oxley " she did not fail to impress him with the value of the pearl-shell deposits which the girl believed were to be found in the vicinity of the island at which the great pearl was discovered. The discovery of the great pearl itself was a valuable and striking proof of her statements, which were strongly backed up by Farrell, Kinloch, Palmer, and Murdoch.

Though in comfortable circumstances when compared with the privations of a life at sea, they were all eager once again to tempt fortune, and it was only the assurrance of the young captain that the first opportunity would be seized which kept them quiet.

James was a man who regarded duty to the government as his first consideration, and certainly neither he himself or his friends lost anything by his devotion in that respect. His action in giving the great pearl to his employers at half its price had been more than compensated for by the liberal treatment bestowed on the crew of the lost Pandora. He therefore felt it incumbent on himself to consult those above him regarding the advisability of fitting out an expedition to go in search of further treasures. Indeed it was the wisest thing he could do. To fit out an exploring party such as would be required could not be done without a large expenditure, but that was not all. Captain James and the others would have to resign their positions in the government service, and there would be other disabilities in the way. All these facts impelled Captain James to urge upon the government the advisability of sending out an expedition, but it was fully a year before he succeeded in the wish which was as dear to his own heart as to those of his wife and friends. At the end of that period authority was given to fit up the Oxley and augument the crew by the addition of Farrell, Kinloch, and Murdock. Palmer did not care to go, and was consequently left out. He had married in Sydney, and that was his only but sufficient reason for not going in quest of the wealth which was supposed to exist on the reefs and shoals at the northern point of the Great Barrier.

Mrs. Young, however, was anxious to accompany 'Mistress Nell,' who was not to be separated from her husband, and arrangements were made to gratify her request. Her husband had not vet recovered from the effects of the murderous blow in the Mangrove and, in fact, never would—but he was much better and quite harmless. It was arranged that he should remain with Palmer and his wife until the return of the expedition, and within a month every detail was completed for the trip. The Oxley was an excellent little vessel for the purpose as her draught was light and no expense was spared in seeing that she was thoroughly equipped to meet all emergencies. In addition to the crew of twelve men, not counting the captain, his mate (Green), the carpenter and the cook, there was a surgeon named Phillips taken, making, with Mrs. James and

' Mrs. Young, nineteen souls all told. The best appliances for dredging the shells were also put on board, but turned out utterly useless, the uneven bottom of the sea rendering diving a necessity, A week before Bloomfield and Jarvis started out in the " Pearlshell " for Pandora Isle the Oxley left Sydney Cove with the good wishes of all, from the highest to the lowest. The sloop was particularly well armed, having a small brass cannon on ' deck, mounted as a bow-chaser, as well as a liberal equipment of small arms. Doctor Phillips was an amateur mineralogist, and that was one of the reasons why he was added to the strength of the sloop. The instructions given to Captain James were of a liberal character. He was first required to visit the Moreton Bay station and deliver certain despatches, after which he had a free hand to go on his quest. Knowing his sterling character both as a man and a sailor, the authorities knew there was no fear but that he would do his duty in every respect. His wife was on board, and that was another guarantee if such were wanted—that the safety of ship and crew would be a first consideration. Going where he was danger was inseperable, for in 1844 many of the rocks and shoals in the Coral Sea were yet uncharted. After two days spent in Moreton Bay the Oxley left on the serious business of the expedition, but very little progress was made owing to the baffling winds during the first twentyfour hours. Next day the western fringe of the. Great Barrier Reef was reached and a northerly course shaped, and all went well for thirty hours, when serious trouble befel the party. One of the sudden storms peculiar to the region swept down upon the sloop and for a time Captain James looked upon the position as dangerous. Had it not been for the fact that they were opposite the great channel through the Barrier near Magnetic Island the Oxley and her crew would never have been heard of again, and this narrative might have come to a close.

The hurricane swept the vessel through the entrance, and for days it was carried far out of its course into the Pacific. Flinders Reefs were almost touched, the Herald Cays left to the south, and then the storm taking a northerly course carried her beyond Osprey Reef for a distance of quite two hundred miles. Then the calm came, and not three miles distant on the port-bow was an island with a huge peak rising from it. This was in longitute i4Bdeg. east, latitute i2deg. south, as James found on taking observations.

The island was uncharted which was rather singular considering its striking appearance, and as he would have to pass it before he could reach Pandora Isle, James decided to land. It was right in his course, and exploratory work was part of his duty. They were not long in finding a very comfortable haven on the southwest point, into which the sloop was taken. It was a peculiar formation, marine ravins branching off from it. Into one of these the Oxley was taken and moored, and foe three days the party roamed about the island and saw that it was uninhabited. A camp was formed between two and three hundred yards from where the craft was moored on a small range, as those on board had received a severe sea tossing.

The captain found that the mount consisted of a series of terraces difficult to climb, and he therefore did not attempt to do so. During the third night a favourable wind sprung up, and taking advantage of it all went aboard and continued the journey.

The Oxley had, in fact, reached the same island that the Pearlshell touched two days later, and the lights seen by Pera were carried by the captain and crew of the sloop when they were embarking. Amongst them were " Mistress Nell," Farrell, and others, who were in happy ignorance that their hated foes were within arm's length at the time. Had they but known —but there is a destiny which shapes these things, and against which the brain and will of man are but as a breath. On reaching the coral islets to the westward Captain James spent nearly a month examining them .thoroughly and searching for pearl-shell deposits, but success did not smile upon his efforts. He was, however, able to take many interesting and valuable soundings, which have been of use since to the British Admiralty. All this time he was gradually making his way to Pandora Isle, and on the afternoon of the 12th February, 1844, the Oxley rounded the point leading into the little haven, which Ellen and her friends instantly recognised with delight. ' The very spot, Captain. Now we ought to find something,' exclaimed Farrell, going up to the skipper. 'lf we don't get ' ' A sail on the lee bow, sir,' interrupted the look-out man. Turning in the direction indicated neither of the men could see anything, but the additional information from above, 'She's a long way off, sir,' caused Captain James to ascend the mast, where he brought his telescope to bear. Sure enough, far away on the western horizon, was a small spec which none but a practised eye could distinguish as a vessel. To a landsman it would pass for the white foam of a crested wave, but James and the keen look-out knew it was a small vessel.

'Let me know which way she's going, Ned. I didn't expect to meet a sail round here,' said the skipper as he descended to the deck. In the excitement of once again reaching the spot where the old Pandora had ridden proudly at anchor, and where the great pearl was found, neither Ellen or the seamen were as

much interested in the cry of 'sail ho!' as they otherwise would have been. They were eager to get on the beach and go to the cairn on which ill-fated Captain Cooney had reared the flagpole with his own hands. In fact, the first thing his devoted daughter did when landed was to run to the cairn, and kneeling beside it as though it formed a monument over her father's body, fervently prayed for his eternal rest. Then she caused the flag-pole to be carried back to the Oxley, as she determined to keep it in memory of her father. In the meantime the spec of sail had disappeared on the western horizon, and no one knew that it was the ' Pearlshell,' with the ruffians—Bloomfield and Jarvis— which they had seen. The schooner only left Pandora Isle that morning, and thus a second time had the betrayed survivors of the old brig been within sight of the two whom they never expected to meet on this earth again, As the evening wore on a strong gale, which soon increased in violence to a hurricane, rose, and round their camp-fire Captain James said : ' I wouldn't give much for the chance that craft we saw to-day has of weathering this. It is blowing right on to the coast, which is not very inviting over yonder. We are lucky to be here, lads.' As the storm howled round their comfortable shelter and the sloop rested in comparatively smooth water, the seamen recognised that they were in luck's way, and appreciated it by vieing with the storm in singing old songs of sea daring and death. At daylight they proceeded to work with high hopes, but as one day succeeded another and pearls were not obtained their hopes began to fall. It was soon found that no shell deposits were in the little haven, and then Captain James turned his attention to other parts of the little isle. He was a thorough man and not daunted byfirst failures.

In the course of a week one of the searchers dropped on the pearl-shell at the spot already exploited by Jarvis and Bloomfield—or rather Pera, as he had the biggest share of the work. As stated, the shell was thrown overboard by these after it had been examined for pearls and some had drifted into shallow water, where it was easily discovered by the seamen. This gave fresh life to the quest, and all efforts were directed to the spot. The result was that all the shells were recovered, but they were, of course, barren of gems, and were, in fact, * dead ' shells. This was patent to anyone, and Doctor Phillips sagely attributed the fact to some strange disease which had broken out and spread epidemic-like. Occasionally a ' live' shell would be found, but not a solitary pearl was in it. Nearly three months was spent in the search, but nothing resulted in the way of gems, though a good deal shell was placed on board. &* The result of this failure, it might be here stated, was somewhat farreaching. When it was afterwards found in Sydney that no pearls were discovered at Pandora Isle, the authorities were laggard in prosecuting further quests, and the now great and flourishing industry of pearl-fishing was thrown back twenty years. The authorities at Sydney had no doubt unreasonable expectations on the subject, and probably thought the sloop would return with chests of pearls. As a matter of fact, the cruise of the Oxley well repaid the government, but in a different manner to that anticipated. After making the prolonged search mentioned, Captain James decided to continue the exploration along the Barrier Reef right to its northern limit. If possible he would not return empty handed, and moreover, the opportunity was an excellent one to carry out certain surveying work on the Reef, which would have to be done later on, and thus cause a special trip. With this object he gradually worked along the reef and was thus occupied for about two months. His researches being completed, the course of the Oxley was turned to the west, and in the beginning of July Cape York was sighted. It was the intention of James to make certain surveys down the coast, and he was utilising to the utmost his pearl-seeking excursion. Alter a brief day ashore to stretch their legs, the vessel was headed southward, but little forward progress was made, each inlet and bay having to be examined and soundings taken. On the third day after reaching the mainland the crew of the Oxley were a little surprised on entering a small haven to the north of Newcastle Bay to see a large proah at the beach and a number of Malays on shore. The latter seemed inclined to make into the bush on the appearance of the Oxley, but Captain James speedily reassured them. He knew something of their habits, having been twice in the Malayan archipelago, and the signals of peace which he gave won the trust of the dark-skinned men.

' These poor devils are in trouble, Nell, or they wouldn't be here. We may be able to help them/ James remarked to his wife.

He was about to lower a boat and go ashore when he saw half-a-dozen of the Malays get into the proah and pull towards the sloop, an act which saved further trouble on board. In a few minutes they reached the side of the vessel and seized the ropes thrown to them, when immediately the stoutest among the half-a-dozen fearlessly clambered on deck, introducing himself in broken English as ' Serang.' James quickly got into conversation with the man, and the story he learned astonished him. There is no need to detail it, as the facts are already known to the reader. The Oxley had in fact met the Malays who had recently so

deadly encounter with Bloomfield and Jarvis. These they had left but two days previously, and their reason for putting into that particular haven was to bury one of their comrades who had died the previous night.

The headman was careful to impress on the skipper of the Oxley that although the white men had inflicted such injury and death on the party yet it was all a mistake, and since then they had made all the reparation in their power. In fact, said the serang, 'We friends—we brothers.'

Hearing that there were several injured men on shore, Doctor Phillips lost no time in going to them and applying his skill to the alleviation of their wounds. He was accompanied by half-a-dozen armed seamen, but they were not needed, as the Malays did not dream of attacking him.

Meanwhile the headman remained on board speaking with the captain, his wife, and Farrell. They questioned him closely as to the appearance of the men, and under ordinary circumstances he would have been quite unable to satisfy their curiosity on the point, his English vocabulary being so limited. With a single gesture, however, he revealed everything to the wondering group. Stooping towards the deck he humped up his back, looking very comical in the attitude, and imitated to the life misshapen Michael Jarvis. 'By heavens, I thought so. At last God has given them up to vengeance,' cried Peter Farrell in tones so loud and excited that the Malay stood erect in alarm.

His fears were speedily calmed, and when it was found that no further information could be got, the skipper of the Oxley told him he could have any reasonable assistance in the way of stores that the ship afforded. As the reader knows, the Malays were not in want of much, and James could not make out at the time how the white men they spoke of could have such abundance.

When Doctor Phillips came on deck again the captain did not waste much time examining the cove for he had more important work to do. He had obtained from the serang all the information about the intended voyage of the white men to Java, and also the exact locality where they should be found. It was possible from what he learned that the 'birds' might have fiown when he got to the cove, for the Malays expected them to follow within two days. To check escape it would, therefore, be necessary to keep a very sharp look-out and hug the coast as much as possible, it being certain those in the proah would not go very tar. At night-time the Oxley was within five miles of the spot where the white men were expected to be found, and the weather being suitable, the craft lay to during the darkness.

There was little rest for most on board. Everyone of them knew the story of the Pandora outrage, and they were almost as eager to assist in bringing the perpetrators of it to justice as the victims themselves. They gathered in small groups and discussed the chances of finding the two men. and many thought the quest would prove delusive inasmuch as the persons might turn out to be others. It was not so with ' Mistress Nell.' The daughter of the dead captain felt a deep conviction that she was to be afforded an opportunity of seeing the real murderers of her father brought to human justice. In conversation with her husband, Farrell, and others, she spoke her mind on the subject, and it must be confessed there was a good leaven of the desire for vengeance in her heart.

During the night the old brass cannon on board, which had not been used for two months, was carefully cleaned and loaded. It might be required, though the skipper did not think so. Against two men there should be comparatively no fear as to the result. Yet the story of the serang showed that the desperadoes were splendidly armed and would fight to death.

Half an hour before daylight the sloop got under weigh, and as the mists of morning lifted they came in si°ht of the entrance to the fateful cove. The soft breeze just filled the sails and wafted the vessel across the intervening space, and an hour after sunrise the Oxley sailed through the entrance to meet the proah and her crew jnst leaving the haven The recognition between Bloomfield and Jarvis and certain of those on board the sloop was instantaneous and mutual. There was no mistaking the hideous features of the hunchback nor the somewhat handsome yet repulsive face of his companion, while all could see their companion was an Australian aboriginal. Every man on deck was armed, and the captain's wife had revived her old life by claiming a musket. As Jarvis cut the sail and seized the car, James roared to him through his speaking trumpet to surrender, but he might as well have called to the rock near by. Bloomfield and Pera had also taken up each a huge oar, and with the strength of desperation the trio checked the onward motion of the boat and caused it to move rapidly towards the shore. •We'll fare on you/ again cried James, but again the words fell upon dumb ears, and then the tables were turned, for picking up a musket Bloomfield fired at those on the sloop and the bullet embedded itself in the bulwarks behind which Mrs. James was standing. ' For God's sake look out, Nell. Seek shelter, for they mean to kill you if they can. We can deal with the ruffians/ the captain cried. ' Mistress Nell/ recognising that she owed a duty to her husband, did as she was bidden, and dropped behind the sheltering bulwarks only in time to escape a second bullet aimed by the infuriated Bloomfield. To Be Concluded.