The Wreck, 403 



both rode up to the tent, and we all went down to the beach to 

 pick up some nuts, which were scattered along the whole coast just 

 like gravel. For some days we had not seen a hogshead come in, 

 but on this morning it seemed to be fated that, just as we got down 

 to the beach, the last cask of gin should come tumbling in. Three 

 ]\Ielbourne roughs disputed possession, but our party was too strong 

 for them, and we rolled it above high-water mark. If we had but 

 known that death lay in that cask, we might not have been so 

 eager to secure it. We had neither gimlet nor pannikin, so it was 

 tapped with a knife 3 and as there was a beautiful spring of cold 

 water close by, in a kind of grotto we used to call " the Smugglers' 

 Cave," we filled a cabbage-tree hat, and mixing some gin therein, 

 retired to the shelter of the cave to rest till the heat of the day was 

 over. Most of us slept, and when I woke the sun was getting low. 

 As it was my turn to cook for the week, I returned to the tent to 

 get supper ready, leaving the rest of the party sleeping. I waited 

 for a couple of hours, but as none came home I went to a neigh- 

 bouring hut to see if they were there, and I shall not easily forget 

 the scene that hut presented. A bucket of brandy, with a pannikin 

 floating about in it, stood in the middle of the floor j and a rough 

 fellow, the master of the ceremonies, lay on his bunk, yelling out, 

 "Drink mates, drink ! We don't get a wreck every week." The 

 hut was filled with strange-looking fellows in every degree of 

 intoxication — squabbling, quarrelling, swearing 3 and such was the 

 din and uproar that we none of us heard a horse gallop up to the 

 door, which suddenly opened, and Jack, with a face as pale as 

 death, leant against the door-post. Every one seemed sobered by 

 this sudden apparition, for all instinctively felt that something was 

 wrong. It was some little time before he could speak, but at last 

 he stammered out, '^Is there a sober man among you?" It was 

 curious to hear the different answers to this (as they all considered 

 It then) insulting question, and every one seemed prepared to take 

 his oath in the most solemn manner that he, at least, was perfectly 

 sober. But I could hardly notice this, for my heart felt sick and 



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