The Gifts of Frank Cobbold. Arthur W. UpfieldЧитать онлайн книгу.
native at his leisure.
Poor Clark had found life on Hurd Island to be much worse than merely boring. His self-imposed separation from alcohol had proved too much to bear, and he had invented a still from an old musket barrel with which he succeeded in manufacturing a most potent spirit from the native toddy. His efforts delighted the natives who encouraged him to such a degree that they kept him at work with threats of diverse pains and penalties should he attempt to go on strike. He became perpetually drunk: they held parties at which they waxed both excited and violent, so much so that many of them received broken hands, while Clark was slashed with shark's tooth swords and prodded painfully with spears.
The still was maintained at full capacity production and, when the Trent arrived, the natives were almost speechless and Clark was in delirium tremens. Unable, of course, to leave him there to certain death - either by the still or by a shark's tooth sword - Captain Bruce had him brought on board to return to Levuka.
By this time the ship's stores were becoming low, and Bruce shaped a course for an island where it was hoped to barter for yams and perhaps a pig or two. When they were a mile off the shore of this island the Mate, with the cook and Cobbold, took the ship's boat ashore and landed about a quarter of a mile from a native village.
The cook was ordered to remain by the boat, while Cobbold and the Mate walked to the village where they were received with unmistakable signs of hostility. The only defensive weapon between them was an old pepperbox revolver carried by the young man, who was the more expert shot. The inhabitants seemingly did not understand a word of Fijian, yet this was the only dialect known to Cobbold. The Mate knew not even that. All the natives were armed with spears and shark's tooth swords, and they appeared much more inclined to fight than to negotiate. There was nothing else for it but to make a strategic retreat, backing all the way to the boat while Cobbold menaced the crowding natives. This way, they reached the boat and were able to row safely back to the ship.
From Wairiki, the Trent sailed to the island's southern extremity, where they landed at Vuna Point. In the course of his stay, Francis Cobbold met a Mr Davene, who was the manager of Holmehurst, the principal plantation.
However, he did not rejoin the Trent. The voyage made in her had distinctly improved his health and the urge to be up and doing something, to be getting on with the serious business of life, was again burning in his heart.
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