Part 47 (1/2)

”No,” he said; ”if anybody attempts the thing, it must be me, my impulsive laddie! Do you think I could remain here quietly while you were risking your life to get food for us both?”

”And how do you expect me to do so either?” was the prompt rejoinder.

”I am the eldest, and ought to decide.”

”Ah, we are brothers in misfortune now, as well as in reality; so the accident of birth shall not permit you to a.s.sert a right of self- sacrifice over me!” cried Eric, using almost glowing language in his zealous wish to secure his brother's safety at the expense of his own.

”What fine words, laddie!” said Fritz, laughing again at the other's earnestness, as if to make light of it, although he well recognised the affection that called forth Eric's eloquence. ”Why, you are speaking in as grand periods as little Burgher Jans!”

Eric laughed, too, at this; but, still, he was not going to be defeated by ridicule.

”Grand words or not, brother,” he said, with a decision that the other could not bear down; ”you shall not venture upon the swim while I stop here doing nothing!”

”Nor will I allow you to go and I remain behind,” retorted Fritz.

”I tell you what, then,” cried Eric; ”as we're two obstinate fellows and have both made up our minds, suppose we attempt the feat together, eh?”

Fritz urged at first that it was unnecessary for both to run the risk; however, Eric's pleadings made him finally yield.

”You see,” argued the sailor lad, ”we can swim side by side, the same as we have done many a time in the old ca.n.a.l at Lubeck; and then, should either of us get the cramp, or feel 'played-out,' as the skipper used to say, why the other can lend a helping hand!”

And, so it was finally settled, that, on the first bright calm day when there should be but little wind, and while the tide was setting out of the bay in the direction favourable for them, which was generally at the full and change of the moon, they were to attempt the task of swimming round the headland to the west sh.o.r.e of the island. Thence they could ascend the plateau in search of that animal food which they so sadly required, the two having been restricted for some weeks to a diet of dry potatoes, without even a sc.r.a.p of b.u.t.ter or grease to make them go down more palatably.

This being determined on, the two quickly made their preparations for the undertaking, which to them appeared almost as formidable as poor Captain Webb's feat of trying to go down the Falls of Niagara; although, it might be mentioned incidentally, that, at the time they attempted their natatory exploit, that reckless swimmer's name was unknown to fame.

Of course, they had to consider that, should they reach the beach on the other side all right and thus get up to the tableland, they would require some weapon to bring down the animals they were going in chase of; and, as both the Remington rifles as well as Fritz's shot gun had been lost with the whale-boat, the only firearm remaining was the needle-gun, which the elder brother had brought with him from Germany-- more, indeed, as a reminiscence of the campaign in which he had been engaged than from any idea of its serviceableness.

However, for want of anything better, there it was; and, as Fritz had plenty of cartridges which would fit it, the weapon had a chance of now being employed for a more peaceful purpose than that for which it was originally intended. It would, certainly, still take life, it is true; but it would do so with the object of ultimately saving and not destroying humanity.

There was the weapon and the cartridges; but, how to get them round with them was the question?

The brothers could swim well enough without any enc.u.mbrance, still, they would be crippled in their efforts should they be foolish enough to load themselves with a heavy gun, as well as sundry other articles which they thought it necessary to take with them for the success of their expedition.

Why, such a procedure would be like handicapping themselves heavily for the race!

What was to be done?

Eric, the ”inventive genius,” very soon solved this difficulty.

”I tell you what we'll do, brother,” he said; ”let us put our blankets, with the kettle and rifle and the other things we require, in one of the oil casks. We can then push this before us as we swim along, the cask serving us for a life buoy to rest upon when we are tired, besides carrying our traps, eh?”

”Himmel, Eric, you're a genius!” exclaimed Fritz, clapping him on the back. ”I never knew such a fellow for thinking of things like you, laddie; you beat Bismark and Von Moltke both rolled into one!”

”Ah, the idea only just flashed across my mind,” said the other, somewhat shamefaced at his brother's eulogy and almost blus.h.i.+ng. ”It came just on the spur of the moment, you know!”

”But, how are we going to get the needle-gun into the barrel?” asked Fritz suddenly, taking up the weapon and seeing that its muzzle would project considerably beyond the mouth of the said article, even when the b.u.t.t end was resting on the bottom.

”Why, by uns.c.r.e.w.i.n.g the breech, of course,” said Eric promptly.

Fritz gazed at him admiringly.