3 We Sart For a Ramble

Twenty steps, or thereabouts, brought us off this rough rock; and then we found ourselves treading over a thick, soft carpet of mossy meadow, kept fresh by a little runnel of pure, sweet water, that found its way down to the sea through the same shaded valley that was leading us up into the interior of the island. Over our heads, the trees arched and met one another, lacing their branches across, to form a natural bower, which the rays of the sun could not penetrate, or very dimly. And many of them were such trees as we had never seen, though I had read of them often; with ferns and reeds, from ten to eighteen feet high. For, as we had come from a colder latitude, and had not touched land before, this was our first acquaintance with the vegetation of the tropics.

The change from our confinement on ship-board, together with the freshness and perfume of the avenue through which our line of march lay, and which you might have supposed was planted and kept in order on purpose for our benefit, with the knowledge, too, that we had some hours before us on this delightful island (so it now seemed) to do what we would and range where we pleased; all these things did so raise our spirits, that I, for my part, could scarce keep from racing along the avenue: and Harvey and another of the seamen broke out into singing snatches of their rude sea songs. Even Don Manuel appeared more excited than was common with him: and the whole party kept laughing and talking, some saying one thing, some another, but all merry and contented: till on a sudden I stopped, and bade them remember, we were all in an unknown land, and knew not, as yet, what we might have to encounter. It might, I said, be savages, or it might be wild beasts. “ Please God, it may be neither”, said the priest, and crossed himself. “I hope so too, sir”, added I; “ but no one of us can tell: and the part of prudence is, to guard against whatever may come”. 
So we agreed to keep all close together, and march in some sort of order. I volunteered to lead the vanguard, and told them the reason; not that I claimed any authority over them, (men being jealous enough about that, where each reckoned himself as good as his fellow), but because I was better armed with my rifle, and wished to take a full share of the danger, whatever it might be. After me, came the three men with fowling-pieces: the muskets had been left in the boat, as seemed only reasonable, for defence of those who stayed in her.
And here is a place, as good as any, for giving a list of our party as we stood there, and loaded our arms for our ramble up the country.
First, I place Tom Harvey at the head of the list; for a more active, honest, cheerful fellow I believe never sailed. He became my right-hand man, always ready to second me in whatever was for good order and good feeling among our party.
Then comes Edward Hilton; a well-disposed lad enough in himself, but easily led by others of a firmer character than he; and one that gave me some trouble afterwards, on that very score.
These two completed, in my mind, the brighter side of the picture: for as to the other couple of seamen, Richard Prodgers, and Harry Gill, I had not so much trust in them; though indeed they were not quite the black sheep of the vessel’s crew, neither.
For Don Manuel, I knew not as yet what place to give him in my thoughts. As I have said, he was a Catholic priest, and I knew no Catholics at all. What I had seen of him was quiet and harmless: but I had my opinion still to form; and, on the whole, rather a prejudice against him, except when we conversed on the subjects we had in common, botany and medicine.

Lastly, as to the three we had left in the boat, they were among the very worst of the. crew, though the most in the captain’s confidence: and I was heartily glad when I found they were to be none of our party.

But now, our first care was to fill the jars with fresh water: and this was soon done, by placing them in the channel of the little stream that was running swiftly by us. We scooped out with our hands so much of its bed as to sink them to half their depth in the gravel and stones; then built up the stones we had displaced, into a kind of wall, or dyke, on both sides of the jars, till the water rose towards their brims. So we left them ; knowing they would both be filled within a quarter of an hour.

After this, the important matter was, to decide upon the plan of our campaign. I summoned a council of war; told them, as our time was not long (about four or five hours, at the most, for it was now past three), we should consider how best to explore the island, and the mountain, which seemed the most remarkable part of it, while our leave of absence lasted. That we had come for a ramble, and a ramble we would have; for I supposed none of them wished to lie down under the trees, and sleep away their time — a thing they might do as well under the shade of a sail on board ship. At this they all laughed, and declared for an active bout of it till they must go aboard again. Then, said I, my proposal is, to make a circuit under the base of yonder mountain, following its bend, but still keeping in the valley, for plants and game. In this we may spend a couple of hours, or thereabouts: then double back, and return to this spot over a part of the mountain itself, yet not to ascend too high. Our return will take from two hours and a half to three hours, allowing for the ruggedness of the travelling we may expect to find on the mountain. And thus, what with our progress through the lowlands, what with the elevation of our homeward journey, we shall have seen what the island produces, had a view of both sides of it (for to all appearance it cannot extend far beyond the mountain), and may chance to meet with some wild game on the way.

Such was my plan, and I heard no voice raised against it. Indeed, as is often to be remarked, where there is no point started which touches their self-love, or interest, the ninetenths of mankind are only too glad to have their plans laid down for them, or anything to save them the trouble of thinking for themselves. This was just the case now. No one amongst us had anything better to propose, so they all agreed, and we started. First, I led the way, by general consent: my rifle ready slung for immediate use, and my hanger at my side. Next, very naturally, for we had our specimens to collect, and were the most suited companions, came the Spanish priest, armed with such a staff as they use in going over the Alps, and his long cloak gathered over his shoulders for more easy walking. Then Prodgers, Harvey, and Gill, with their fowling-pieces. Lastly, Ned Hilton brought up the rear with a marlin-spike which he had borrowed out of the boat ; for, being an easy fellow, he let himself be over-persuaded by the rest, though I afterwards found he could shoot with the best of them, and indeed better than Prodgers, by a good deal. However, in this world (we all know), things are carried away, not by the most able, but by the most determined, to use them.