Skeleton Reef; or, The adventures of Jack Rollock, etc

Front matter

SKELETON REEF " HE CAME INTO VIOLENT CONTACT WITH THE SKIPPER, WHO WAS RUSHING TO THE RESCUE." [p. 8s. SKELETON REEF OR THE ADVENTURES OF JACK ROLLOCK BY HUGH ST. LEGER AUTHOR OF "sou'wester and sword," "Hallowe'en ahoy," "an ocean outlaw," etc. FRONTISPIECE BY LANCELOT SPEED LONDON S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO. 8 <y 9 PATERNOSTER ROW V CONTENTS chap. "page I. SCHOOL . 7 II. A FLOGGING 15 III. A RUNAWAY . . . . . -27 IV. QUARANTINE ISLAND ... 43 V. ADRIFT ....... 54 VI. JACK RECOGNISES AN ENEMY . . -67 VII. A FRIEND IN NEED ..... 78 VIII. ONE LIFE FOR FOUR 88 IX. OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN INTO THE FIRE . 97 X. SAFELY LANDED . . . . .110 XI. A LUXURIOUS ISLAND . . . . 120 XII. A DERELICT CANOE . . . . .128 XIII. A GHASTLY DISCOVERY .... 137 XIV. A GOOD CARGO . . . . . -154 XV. A FIERCE BATTLE . . . . . l6l XVI.

COLONISATION 1 77 XVII. A TERRIBLE NIGHT 188 XVIII. A VESSEL SIGHTED 211 XIX. VICTORY AND DEFEAT . . . .227 VI CONTENTS CHAP. PACE XX. IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. . . 250 XXI. WAITING FOR DEATH . . . .266 XXII. A TIMELY SHOT 278 XXIII. THE "PEARL" CAPTURED. . . . 295 XXIV. TOM HACKETT'S END .... 305 XXV. CONCLUSION . . . . . • 3XS OR THE ADVENTURES OF JACK ROLLOCK

Chapter I School

Great excitement prevailed amongst the boys who occupied the lower dormitory at St. Chad's School, as they trooped out of evening chapel ; for a fight had been arranged to take place that night as soon as the coast should be clear. The combatants were Jack Rollock the hero of this story, and one Tom Hackett, an overgrown blustering bully, a boy who was a terror to all younger and weaker than himself, and a crying, fawning creature to all who were stronger, or in any way in power. He was a fairly clever boy, notwithstanding, and was consequently a favourite with his masters, though detested by most of his schoolfellows. The boys went to their beds with considerable promptitude. An under-master took a turn round the dormitory, saying as he went out — " Now, boys, no noise to-night ! This is the very worst dormitory in the whole school.

Hackett, I look to you to keep order." "All right, sir," answered Hackett. A general titter went round the room as the master shut the door, and his footsteps died away down a long corridor. Jack Rollock lay in his bed, waiting events. He did not want to fight if it could be avoided ; he was much smaller and younger than Hackett, and expected to get a good dressing should he have to tackle this bully. The quarrel had arisen the night before, and would have been settled there and then, had it not been for the arrival of a master at the critical point, which put an end to the pro ceedings. There was a small delicate boy, who slept next to Jack Rollock, named Miles. This boy, Hackett was perpetually bullying, and SCHOOL 9 Jack felt it his duty to protect him if possible. He had tried to reason with the bully, who only tortured the youngster the more on account of Jack championing him, so at last Rollock determined to put a stop to these cruelties by fighting the oppressor, though he had little hope of beating him ; yet he thought it pro bable that by fighting, he would at least make Hackett think twice before molesting young Miles again, as it was not at all creditable for so strong and big a boy to fight with one of Jack's size.

Moreover, Hackett wanted to stand well in favour with the masters, and he knew that it would degrade him in their eyes to fight such a boy as Rollock. However, Jack had dared him the night before to touch Miles again, so he felt he was obliged to, in order to keep up his prestige with the other boys, who would think him afraid if he at once ceased from his bullying. For a time everything remained quiet, Hackett had not said a word, and the boys began to think that he was actually afraid of Jack ; this emboldened some who had suffered from his bullying to make remarks. " I say, Rollock," shouted one insignificant boy from under his bed-clothes, "you're a regular brick. It reminds me of David and Goliath." In a moment Hackett was out of bed, and striking a match, lit the gas. Then, pulling the blankets off the bed of the boy who slept next to him, he proceeded to cover up the window.

Having settled these preliminaries, he went across to the boy who had spoken. " I'll attend to you, when I've settled with your champion, young Inglis, so make your mind easy." Then walking across to Rollock's bed, he said, "Now come on, and I'll teach you not to interfere with your seniors." " I don't want to fight, Hackett," said Jack ; "you know what our quarrel was about. That is the only thing that will make me tackle you." Hackett felt emboldened. Now was the time to reassert his authority. " Then what did you interfere for, you young cub ? I'll give you a downright licking, as soon as I've taught your little chum that he need not depend on such a coward as you to protect him." Pulling off the clothes from the trembling Miles, the bully cried — " Now, you little milksop, I'm just going to teach you not to go sneaking.

I've got SCHOOL 11 something to impress it on your memory. Do you see this ? " and he produced a cane. "Oh, don't hit me, Hackett! I never sneaked ! " " Oh, didn't you ? Well, don't do it again," and the brute brought the cane across the boy's bare legs. In a moment Jack was out of bed, " Stop it," he cried, " you big blackguard ! " " Do you want some ? " inquired Hackett calmly. " If so, here you are," and with that he caught Jack a smart cut across the back. " Coward ! " shouted the boys in chorus. " Why don't you fight him ? " "Come on," said Jack, his blood now well up. "I'm ready for you. Come into the middle of the dormitory." " Good, Rollock!" shouted everybody as they formed a ring. " Slip into him. We'll back you. " Well, if you will have a licking," said Hackett, as he surveyed his opponent con temptuously, "don't blame me."

" Never mind the licking. We'll talk of that after. Are you ready?" asked Jack, putting himself into position. The first round but little damage was done on either side. Jack was very nimble and a good boxer ; but he looked so small in com parison with Hackett, that the boys had scarcely any hope of his ultimate victory. Jack acted only on the defensive, hoping to tire his adversary, but by the time the sixth round had been finished, he was in possession of two good black eyes, and a swollen nose. " Will you give in ? " asked Hackett, who was getting rather puffed, though not in anyway hurt. Jack's answer was to again put himself into position. "Time!" Again the two went at it, and this round Jack got one in, which somewhat staggered his opponent. "Good!" shouted the boys. "A few more like that, and he'll go on his knees and beg your pardon."

Hackett was perfectly livid with fury. He lost all control over himself, and made a tremendous blow at Jack, who, cleverly dodging it, planted him one with all his force on the nose. Hackett reeled backwards, and fell with great force, the back of his head coming in contact with the corner of a bed, where he lay stunned. SCHOOL 13 A wild shout went up from the boys when they saw this great bully vanquished. "Here, bring some water!" cried one of them. " I believe he's killed. Here's a °so ! " At that moment the dormitory door opened, and a master entered. " Get to your beds, boys. Hallo ! what's this ?" he continued, catching sight of Hackett's inanimate form lying on the floor, and Jack Rollock, who was covered with blood, trying to restore his opponent to consciousness. " Is this your doing, Rollock ?

" " It was a fair fight, sir," shouted some of the boys. " Silence ! not a word ! " Hackett, after a good sousing with water, opened his eyes. Catching sight of the master, he groaned and breathed heavily. He was lifted on to his bed, and in due course was taken to the infirmary. As soon as he was gone the boys rushed round Jack, patting him on the back, and congratulating him. " My word ! but there'll be a nice row about this," said one of them. " I vote, if you get into a row, Rollock, we tell the head all about it." " No," said Jack ; " don't give him the chance to call us sneaks. It doesn't matter when there's no truth in it, but if we told we should deserve the name. I'll take what I get like a man. Any way, he'll think twice before he starts bullying again." At that moment some one was heard coming along the corridor ; the boys scuttled off to their beds, and began snoring as heavily as if they had been asleep for the last two hours.

The door opened, and in came a man-servant, a sort of general school factotum, by name Thomas Hawks. ' Oh, it's only Hawks," said one of the boys. ' What's the row, Hawks ? " "Master Rollock," said Thomas Hawks, "you are to come along with me. You are to stay in the infirmary until the head-master sends for you to-morrow." " Never mind, Rollock," shouted the boys, as Jack accompanied Hawks. "You're a brick." Down the dimly-lit corridor, up a winding flight of stairs, Jack followed his escort, until, safely deposited in a spare ward, the door was locked, and he was left to his own reflections.

Chapter II

A FLOGGING It was sometime before our hero could sleep His head was aching, as was also his heart. This would make the third time during the week that he had been hauled before the head master. Lately he had done nothing but get into trouble. He seemed to be under an un lucky star, for though he had tried his best to keep out of rows, something was always turning up which landed him into them. " I don't mind a licking," he said to himself, " but the head said that the next time I was brought before him, he would write to my mother, and it will worry her so dreadfully, though if she knew all she would not blame me." In this unhappy frame of mind he fell asleep. Jack Rollock was the only son of a naval officer, who had been killed during an en counter with a slave dhow whilst our hero was still but a baby.

Consequently his mother had lavished all her affection on him. She was ■s never tired of telling him long yarns about sea fights and foreign lands, which she had heard from her husband. These tales young Jack listened to with the keenest interest, and inwardly determined to follow the profession of his father, though he never mentioned this resolve to his mother, as he knew it would pain her ; and she, poor lady, continued to tell him tales which fired his blood, in happy ignorance of the effect they had upon him. At last the time came for Jack to go to school. It was a bitter wrench for his mother to part with him, but it had to be done, and in due course he was ensconced at St. Chad's. He had certainly done his best whilst there, and for a time got along capitally, but, alas ! after a time he got into a form under a master who thought every sign of high spirits in a boy a vice, and Jack soon got into disgrace, and at the time our story opens was thought to be almost incorrigible.

He felt that he was being unfairly treated, and his desire to go to sea would come upon him with such intensity, that he often, whilst smarting under a sense of in justice, made up his mind to run away, and indeed was only kept from such a foolish course f, by the thoughts of how it would hurt his mother were he to do so. The ringing of the school-bell roused him from a somewhat disturbed slumber. It sounded indistinct, and it was some minutes before he realised where he was ; but soon the events of the preceding night rushed upon him. He jumped out of bed and made straight for a looking-glass. He gave vent to a long whistle as he surveyed his countenance. Two black eyes, a swollen nose, and an interview with the head-master! "Here's a go ! I wonder how Hackett looks ! " he said aloud as he prepared to make his toilet.

" I hope I didn't hurt him badly. Dormitories are horrid places for a scrimmage ; if he wants any more I'll fight out in the fives court — much the best place." He had scarcely finished dressing when the door was unlocked, and the kindly old school nurse, Mrs. Binder, entered. "Well, bless me, Master Rollock ! " she said, " you do look horrid. To think that you should fight so savage. I wouldn't have thought it of you. You ought to be ashamed of yourself." " Well, Nurse, perhaps I ought, but Hackett is quite big enough to look after himself. I hope he's not much hurt ; I didn't mean him to knock his head against the bed, you know," " That I'm sure you didn't, Master Rollock, and I admires you for it. I knows what Master Hackett is. Many of the little boys have told me of his barbarities, and if it weren't that I makes a rule of never interfering, I should have reported him long since.

But as for him, there ain't much the matter, though he makes out he's terrible hurt. I've got some nice breakfast for you in my room, then you can tell me all about it." " That's stunning, Nurse. Nothing like a good breakfast when one's got to go and see the head! It fortifies you against corporal chas tisement, as he calls it, doesn't it?" "Can't say, my dear boy ; I was a girl, you know, so was not treated so brutally as you are, but I hope he won't go and flog you, for I know you weren't in the wrong. How did it all happen ? " "Oh! it was only a little quarrel we had to settle between ourselves. It's all over now, and I daresay we'll soon be friends." "That I'm sure you won't, for a nastier dis positioned boy than Master Hackett I never did come across. However, as you won't tell me, it doesn't matter, for I'll soon hear from the other boys.

I know most things, Master Rollock, though I keeps a still tongue." Jack let the kind old lady keep on talking whilst he polished off a good breakfast. ' "Now I'm ready for anything that may happen, Nurse, thanks to your breakfast. Hallo ! there goes the chapel bell ; I suppose I'll be wanted directly. I look a sight to go into chapel, don't I ? I shouldn't wonder if he lets me off. No, here comes some one to escort me. It's like going to execution." At that moment the door opened, and in came Stephens, the captain of the school. " Well, young Rollock ! You seem to have given Hackett what he deserved ; but I'm afraid you'll get a licking from the head. You've to go to his study immediately after chapel." " Am I to come into chapel ? " " Yes, to sit with me in the end seat. It's a pity you didn't do something to get the black out of your eyes.

You look perfectly disgraceful." "He ought to be proud of them, Master Stephens. I'm sure he got them in defending a small boy from a brute, and I call it a shame if he is punished," said the old nurse. " There, good-bye, laddie, and if you get flogged, up and tell all about it." "Good-bye, Nursie. It isn't the first time I've had a licking. I'm getting pretty tough now." As the boys came into chapel they took side glances at Jack as he sat with Stephens in what was usually called the "condemned cell," as all boys who had committed serious offences were put into the end seat until they had received their punishment. As soon as the service was over Jack was conducted to the door of the head-master's study. "Stay here," said Stephens. "I'll go and see if he's ready to see you." Jack waited with a somewhat trembling heart whilst Stephens went in.

The head-master was a heavy flogger, and Jack expected no mercy, as he knew his form master would have painted him in the blackest colours, and lauded Hackett up to the skies. The door opened and Stephens reappeared. "Come with me," he said gently. As soon as they had got clear of the head master's room he continued, " Look here, young Rollock, he's going to give you a public thrashing. I know all about this row. If I were you I would tell him the whole affair from beginning to end. You have plenty of evidence to back you up." " I never sneak, Stephens," answered Jack. " He ought to find things out for himself." "Well, as you please. I'm very sorry for you, but I can't help you." By this time they had arrived at the door of the big schoolroom, where they halted and awaited the arrival of the head-master.

He was not long in coming, arrayed in cap and gown, his college cap pushed rather to the back of his head, a habit he had when in a bad temper. He came strutting along the passage, Stephens opening the door for him. " Bring the boy in," he said, without casting a glance at the culprit. There was a deadly silence in the schoolroom as the head-master took up his position on a dais, Jack and Stephens standing close by. After a preliminary cough he began. " Boys, I have a most painful duty to per form, that of flogging in public one of your number ; a thing I only do when an offence is of the gravest kind. This boy (pointing to Jack with his cane) has committed an offence not only against discipline, but one of extra ordinary brutality. A hard-working, trustworthy boy is placed in charge of a dormitory.

He is specially warned to keep his juniors in order ; in the execution of this high duty he is brutally attacked by this lazy, incorrigible boy, is ren dered insensible, and a bright intellect and clear judgment is in danger of being marred." Here a buzz of disapproval came from the boys in Jack's form. " Silence, boys ! I see his conduct is con tagious ; nevertheless, I will take a merciful view of his case. I will not expel him, though he thoroughly deserves it. I will deal kindly with him, in the hope that he may reform, and that the flogging which I am about to admini ster will be a life-long warning to .him, and to others who think it a fine thing to set authority at defiance." " Please, sir," came a feeble voice from the end of the room, "may I speak?" " Silence ! " It was young Miles, who was overcoming his natural shyness at the thought of his pro tector's danger, and was about to speak up ; but the voice of the head-master subdued him, and he relapsed into silence.

We will not go into the details of the flogging. Suffice it to say that Jack bore the twelve cuts which were administered without a groan, though he nearly bit his lip through in his efforts not to cry out. He looked very pale, and, in spite of his black eyes, handsome, when he was once more set at liberty. "Shall I take him to the infirmary, sir?" inquired Stephens. " No, certainly not ! Let him rejoin his form. Now, who is the boy who wanted to speak ? " Young Miles was brought up trembling to the dais. "Well, what have you to say?" asked the head-master. " Please, sir, it wasn't his fault," stammered the unfortunate youth. "Oh, indeed! I heard that you were the primary cause of the disturbance. I was about to let you off on account of your youth, and thinking you to be under the influence of that bad boy, but I see I must make an example of you also.

Hold out your hand," and poor little Miles received four cuts for his pains. Alas! how many a boy's career in life has been spoilt through the indiscretion of a master. Thank God, things are better now. But the sea, the army, and the colonies all have a nucleus of men, whose career in life has been marred by an injudicious or unjust flogging, probably from men who at the time thought they were doing their duty. Jack took his place in his form, not the light hearted, merry, forgiving lad that he had been but a short time before, but a boy who, suffering from an injustice, was filled with a demon of revenge. A good cry would probably have relieved him, but he was too proud for that, and he sat gloomily doing no work, and only thinking how he could be revenged on Hackett, the head-master, and also on the master of his form, whom he blamed most of all, for it must have been he who gave him such a bad char acter and Hackett such a good one.

Time flew on unheeded by him until the morning lessons were over, and the boys ran out to the play ground. He was following on sullenly in the hope of getting to some secluded spot, where he could indulge in the evil thoughts which assailed him, but he was not allowed to be by himself, for the boys gathered round him. "Never mind, Rollock," they said, "you're a regular brick ; you took that licking like a man. We'll pay that brute Hackett out as soon as he is better. Cheer up, old chap!" and with such like expressions the boys tried to comfort him, but Jack pushed his way through them, and was soon alone in a quiet nook. Hidden from the sight of his school-fellows, he lay on the grass, and gave way to a flood of tears. They were hot bitter tears, but they somewhat relieved him. Jumping up, he picked up a laree stone and threw it against a tree. o o "There," he cried aloud, "I wish that was my fist, Hackett, and the tree your head."

" Rollock," said a voice close beside him, " I should hardly have expected a plucky boy like you to be so spiteful." Jack looked round. He was face to face with one of the masters, the one he liked best out of the whole staff. He felt ashamed. "Well, sir," he said, "it's all so beastly. I must do something. I hate everybody ! " " Send those feelings to the winds, my boy. They are not worthy of you. I've heard a good deal about vour fiofit, and I came to shake hands with you. I'll try and explain matters to the head-master." " Thank you, sir," said Jack, as he shook the master's hand ; " but don't say anything about it. I've made up my mind what to do." "Nothing desperate, I hope? No stone throwing ? " Jack blushed with shame. "No, sir; I'll soon get over all ideas of vengeance — only I was so miserable."

These two had a good long talk, with the result that Jack returned to a better frame of mind, and walked back to join his school-fellows with a firm determination to think no more about the affair, and shake hands with Hackett as soon as he was well again. But, alas ! that afternoon all his good resolutions were knocked on the head. He was put on in a lesson which he had not prepared, and knowing little or nothing about it, was punished. He had meant to get up early in the morning and prepare it, but the events of the preceding night had prevented him. " It's no good trying ; I can't get on, so I'll go off," he said to himself. " Hurrah for the sea ! I'll be a sailor ! "

Chapter III

A RUNAWAY Jack Rollock was a boy of a resourceful and energetic character. No sooner did he thor oughly determine on a line of action than he acted on it, and nothing would turn him from it. He had made up his mind to run away, so he at once began to make his plans. He found there was a train to London at midnight, which would enable him to catch another to his own home at 4.30, arriving before six in the morning. "That's capital," he thought, as he put his time-table away. " I shall be able to see my mother, and explain everything to her before they know here that I am absent. Now as to money — ten shillings and sixpence all told ; barely a fare. I must borrow some from young Miles ; I know he's got some. I shall have to take a cab, and I mustn't seem short, otherwise it will excite suspicion."

Seeking out Miles, he asked him if he would lend him ten shillings. " I'll send it to you to-morrow night," he said, forgetting his secret. " Send it to me!" answered Miles ; " what do you mean ? You're not going away, are you ? " "Oh, what a duffer I am! I've let the cat out of the bag ; but you're a trustworthy chap. Look here ! promise me that you won't say anything about it, and I'll tell you something." " Of course I won't say a word if you don't wish it. But what are you going to do ? " "Why, don't you see, I'm always in trouble and can never get on here, so I'm going to run away and go to sea ? " "O Jack! don't do that," said young Miles ; " please don't do that ? " "Yes, I've made up my mind, and nothing will stop me. My father was a sailor, and I'm going to be one too." " But think of your mother.

Just fancy leaving her without saying good-bye." Jack laughed. "Oh, make your mind easy, Miles! I'm going home first. I'm not such a brute as all that." He then disclosed to young Miles his plans. " I shall want you to help me, for I shall have to get out of the window by sheets, and I will want you to haul them in again after I am gone." " I'll do anything for you, Jack ; but do think quietly over it just for a night. I feel that it is all my fault." " Not it ; you can't help it. All I want is that you should say nothing about it to anybody, and lend me a hand." " I'll do all you want, but I do wish you would take time to consider." "If I considered for a month it would not alter my determination. So make your mind easy. I always meant to be a sailor, and I'm going to be." Just then the evening chapel bell rang.

The boys formed into a line and marched in. Jack felt rather sentimental, as he thought this would be the last service he would ever attend in St. Chad's Chapel. He had not always dis liked the school ; indeed, it was only within the last two terms that he had been made so miserable. But he did not repent of his determination ; he even prayed God to prosper him. Just as the boys came out a sudden squall of wind shook all the windows and slammed the doors of the old school. "That's the style," thought Jack. "It's Neptune sent to welcome one of his sons." He often thought of that squall in after life, whilst fighting with the elements. It many a time appeared to him as if it had come as a warning to him that he would have to contend with storm and tempest, fire and foe, and to pause and consider ere he took a final step.

But luckily youth does not notice such warnings, otherwise we should have lacked many of the sailors who have made our beloved country mistress of the seas. This puff of wind only increased Jack's longing to be on the briny, going through perils and toils as so many famous men had done in times past. When Jack got into the dormitory the boys crowded round him, and lifting him shoulder high carried him round. "That's very nice," he cried, "and thanks for it, but I'm a bit sore with my licking, so wait until another time." "Yes," they shouted, "we'll wait until Hackett comes back ; won't it rile him, though ? we don't expect he'll want to fight any more." Jack was anxious for every one to get to sleep sharp, so that he and Miles might carry out their plans without exciting suspicion. Though he felt sure that all the boys might be trusted, yet he preferred to keep his arrange ments secret.