The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-04
CHAPTER XI.


CHAPTER XII
For ten days under cloudless skies
and through a gently heaving sea the
WarTigal had been steaming at a mod
crate rate of speed, ecOnOmiZing her
coal as much as possible by using her
canvas whenever the wind favored, and
was now within a hundred miles of
Rapa island at which Christie intend
ed to call, for he was ill-sO i'll that
he was barely able to navigate the
ship-and was in hopes that he would
there be able to, obtain relief from
one Of the Freich missionaries. who
was a medical man, and known to him
personally
There now existed between him and
Tom almost q feeling of friendship
When Lord Howe island was sighted,
Christie had sent for him and said:
Tom, there is Lord Howe's island,
-four hundred miles from Sydney. I am
sending a boat on shore to find out
if there is a vessel there bound for
Sydney, OF. il not. when the settlers
expect one. [ know that they send
away cargo of produce once every
three months or 50, and 1T may be that
there is a vessel there now. If so, or
II one Is expected soon, ! will land YOU
and your boat. If not we may meet
with a Sydney ship at Norfolk island.
five hundred miles further to the east"
Then he added that Tom. even if he
did not stay at Lord HOwe'S island
might as well write to his aunt. and
further assure her of his safety. and
that the letter could be left with the
settlers to forward by first OppOrtuni-
ty.
Having reasons for not approaching
too near the island, and being boarded
by any Of the Misunderstanding were
nearly all retired English and Ameri-
can whaling shippers with their famf-
Iies-Christie stopped the steamers en-
gines when she was about six miles
from the shore. and sent away Toms
DCat- 1t was absent some hours. and
returned laden deep with onions for
which the island is renowned
"Well?' said Christie enquiringly to
Frank, who was IN charge of the boat.
as he stepped on deck.
The settlers schooner left a week
ago, sir, and won't be back for three
months" Then he called the captain
aside, and added in low tones: And
they told me that the. Orpheus cor
Vette called there two days ago, bound
for Norfolk island, where she viii stav
Tor week, as the captain is to make
a fresh survey of the island"
All right, Frank, hoist the boat
aboard. Tom, come OH the bridge with
me- Then he asked Frank if he had
left the letter.
Yes. sir: and the man who is a sort
of a magistrate there, said it was ouite
possible that one of the Hobart Town
whalers might call there anv day ON
the way home and, if so, he would
not fail to send Mr.. Denison's letter
AS soon as they were on the bridge.
Christie said:
1t Is no use your landing at this
island, Tom, on the chance of a home
ward-oound Hobart whaier coming
along And neither can I land you
at Norfolk island, which 7 must loon
clear of-the Orpheus is there. II Womb
be good for you, but bad for me. if
mad TO show my papers. I'm very
sorry, but you will have to STAY with
us for some time longer"
We'll 1t cant be helped" was the
phlosophic answer.
Christie nodded, then the steamer
went ahead again on the same course
instead OF bearing TO the north for Nor
folk island
1t was soon after this incident that
christie was taken ill., and he rapidIv
became worse, unable to go on the
bridge, unassisted to take an Observa
ton. and his anxiety concerning the
navigation Of the Warrigal through the
dangerous seas of the PaumOtu grouD
which the steamer was now nearing
hourly increased. and Tom could NOT
help a feeling Of pity for the man: and
so one day he told him what he had
hitherto carefully concealed from him
hlTn-that he had been taught naviga-
ton by Captain Ryder. and that al
though he had never had the oppor-
tun1ty or working out q Shin's roci
ton at sea, he was pretty sure he co11Id
do so with a little further instr11ctio1,
from him.
Christie gave a sigh of relief. and
at once became more cheerful
All my lad, if you will help me
and you can help me greatIy-I shall
De very grateful If you viii take the
sights we can work them out t0eeth
err" Then he sank back in his hunI,
too exhausted to speak further.
After Lord Howe island was passAd
no further land was seen till the hold
rugged outlines and verdant hills of
Sunday island hove in sight. and here
the WarrtgaI remained three DAYS at
ancnor' taxing In firewood, which
Christie bought from the one family,
living there, who had a large sunnIv
cut and ready for sale to the numerous
American whaleships that yearly called
alta the island. The family consisted
of father, mother, and eleven children
some Of whom were grown up. They
mad come from New Zealand-which
as distant but few days sail-and
although their existence was somewhat
monotonous at times, il was vet a very
happy one, and Tom could not but en-
Wy the younger members. They-both
sons and daughters-helped their faith
er in his work; he was a bOat-builder
by trade. and always had one or two
beautifully finished whalebOats ready
TO sell TO any whaleship which was
short of boats through a mishan. then
they cultivated an extensive and pro
life garden. shot the wild pigs with,