diff options
Diffstat (limited to '21360.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 21360.txt | 11240 |
1 files changed, 11240 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/21360.txt b/21360.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aaa04af --- /dev/null +++ b/21360.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11240 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Old Gold, by George Manville Fenn + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Old Gold + The Cruise of the "Jason" Brig + +Author: George Manville Fenn + +Illustrator: Stanley L. Wood + +Release Date: May 8, 2007 [EBook #21360] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD GOLD *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Old Gold; or, The Cruise of the Brig Jason, by George Manville Fenn. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +Here we have yet another suspense-filled adventure novel by Fenn. There +seems to be no end to the situations into which the people in the book +can get themselves, and from which there seem to be no escape. + +A couple of wealthy Englishmen are determined to sail as far as they can +up one of the great rivers of South America, perhaps the Orinoco or +perhaps the Amazon. At the time this has never before been done. After +finding a ship and skipper they are joined by Briscoe, a rather pushy +young man, who has some good characteristics, but whom none of them +really like, and who gets on board, with all his stores and a servant, +by a series of subterfuges. + +As they make their way up the river--they choose the Amazon--they are +attacked by the local natives, armed with bows and arrows. Then a boat +they send out to explore near a great cataract is sucked in by the +towback of the falls. This is normally fatal, but the wind slightly +changes, and they find an eddy which carries them clear. + +Creating a trackway to enable them to haul a large ship's boat past the +falls, they leave their brig at anchor below the falls, and continue +with the exploration. They find an extraordinary rock-hewn city in the +cliffs bordering a canyon, abandoned perhaps for centuries, and now +inhabited by serpents, bats and possibly with various deadfalls guarding +the various chambers. Needless to say they find golden artefacts in +profusion, but just as they find them they are attacked by a huge fleet +of local savages in canoes, so they leave in a hurry. + +Re-equipping the brig next year, they cannot find the way back to this +El Dorado, and it is the same in future years. + +A most enjoyable book. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +OLD GOLD; OR, THE CRUISE OF THE BRIG JASON, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +OVER YONDER. + +It was very, very hot. That is to say, it was as hot as it knows how to +be in Johnstown, Guiana, which means a damp, sticky, stifling kind of +heat. The sun made the muddy river look oily, and the party of three +seated under the great fig-tree which shaded the boarding-house by the +wharf seemed as if they were slowly melting away like so much of the +sugar of which the wharves and warehouses and the vessels moored in the +river smelt. + +Let us be quite correct: it was more the smell of treacle, and the casks +and sugar bags piled up under an open-sided shed all looked gummy and +sticky; while the flies--there, it was just as if all the flies in the +world, little and big, had been attracted to hum, buzz, and in some +cases utter useless cries for help when they had managed to get their +wings daubed with the sweet juice and strove vainly to rise in the air. + +Captain David Banes, a weather-beaten sailor of about forty, took off +his Panama hat, drew a yellow silk handkerchief out of the crown, and +dabbed the drops off his face, brow, and the top of his head, which +looked as if it had been rubbed and polished till all the hair for a +broad space had been cleared away. + +Then he said: "_Phe-ew_!" put the handkerchief back, and nursed his hat +upon his knees, as he stared across the rough table, upon which coffee +and breakfast-cups were standing, at the sun-burned gentleman who looked +something like a modern yachtsman, though it was a good seventy years +ago. + +The latter looked back at him half-smilingly, took out a handkerchief +and wiped his face, and glanced across at another sun-burned individual, +to wit, a young man something like him in face, who was driving away +flies from the sugar-basin, at which interference with their sweet +pleasure they buzzed angrily, and the moment a spoonful of sugar had +been taken out settled back. + +"It's hot, Brace," said the second personage. + +"Yes, I know," said the young fellow, smiling. "I found that out +myself." + +"Ay, youngster," said the captain, "and it don't want a man o' genous to +find that out. I always say this is the hottest place there is, for I +never found a hotter. I dessay it is worse in our cook's oven, but I +never tried that." + +He looked first at one and then at the other, as if he expected them to +laugh; but as they did not he screwed up his face, coughed +unnecessarily, and then said: + +"Yes, it is hot, gentlemen. Wants to be if you mean to grow sugar." + +"And coffee, captain," said the second personage; and just then there +was a dismal creaking sound made by a windlass, a musical _yo-yo-ing_ +came from a vessel moored to the wharf, and a big sugar hogshead was +wound up to a certain height, the crane which bore it was swung round, +and as the wheels creaked the great hogshead began to descend slowly +towards a gaping hole in the vessel's deck, while the captain swung +himself round as if bound to follow the motion of the crane and the cask +of sugar, and then lowered himself imitatively by bending his back till +the cask disappeared, when he started upright, banged the table with his +fist, and exclaimed sharply: + +"I don't believe they're using a bit of dunnage, and if they don't the +first storm they get those hogsheads'll be rempaging about in that hold, +and if they don't mind that vessel'll sink, to the bottom of the sea, +the sea. She'll sink to the bottom of the sea!" + +He half sang the latter words, with a merry look upon his face; but it +did not sound like singing, for his voice was not musical, and he turned +then to his young companion. + +"Know that song, squire?" he said. + +"No," said the lad, smiling in turn. "Is it a song?" + +"Yes, and a good one too. That's `The Mermaid,' that is." + +"But we did not come here to breakfast and discuss old songs, captain," +said the second personage. + +"That's a true word, sir; and we--Hullo! there you are again, are you? +Anyone would think you wanted to know. See that chap, sir?" + +"Oh, yes, I've seen him several times; and he does seem as if he wanted +to know something. He has been watching me about ever since my brother +and I have been here." + +"So he has me, sir. He's one of those chaps who take a lot more +interest in other persons' affairs than they do in their own, and if he +comes poking his long thin sharp nose in my business he'll be getting +himself into trouble." + +It was a long thin nose, and on either side was a very sharp black beady +eye, which did not set off or improve a thin, wrinkled yellow face, as +the owner sauntered by with a roughly-made cigar in his mouth, the +smoking of which seemed to necessitate the sucking in of the smoker's +cheeks, as he gazed eagerly at the seated party and went on. + +"He's a slave-driver; that's what he is, for a guinea," said the captain +sourly. "So that's your brother, is it, sir?" + +"Yes, this is my brother," was the reply. + +"Thought he was. Be just like you when he's a dozen years older." + +"I doubt it, captain. You don't suppose I shall stand still during the +next twelve years?" + +"No, of course not, sir." + +"But this is not business, captain." + +"No, sir, it isn't," said that individual angrily; "and if I'd known +that I was going to be played such an unbusinesslike trick you wouldn't +have caught me off Johnstown in my brig, I can tell you. I was as good +as promised a full cargo of sugar back to Bristol, and I'm thrown +overboard for the sake of saving a few dirty pounds by the agents here. +But it ain't my business." + +"And my proposal is, captain?" + +"Well, I dunno, sir. You've come to me in a very pleasant, +straightforward sort o' way to make me what sounds like a good offer. +But, you see, we're strangers; I don't know you." + +"And I did not know you till yesterday, when I was making enquiries +about a vessel." + +"That's right, sir. Well, you see, I'm a business man, and I always +speak out straight what I mean." + +"Speak out then, captain." + +"Who may you be?" + +"There is my card," was the reply, and a slip was taken out of a +pocket-book and pushed across the table, to be picked up by the captain, +who read: + +"`Sir Humphrey Leigh, Pioneers' Club, Pall Mall.' Humph! Pall Mall's +in London, isn't it, sir?" + +"Yes." + +"Then now I know your name, sir. But do you know anyone here, sir?" + +"The bankers will be my reference, and, what will suit you better, +captain, credit your account with any sum you and I agree shall be paid +to you for the use of your ship." + +"Yes, sir, that's all very straightforward and nice; but, you see, +before I close with you there's the what for!" + +"What for?" + +"Yes, sir; I can't go blindfold into a bargain like this. I want to +know who you are and what you want to do. In plain English, sir, what +are you up to?" + +"You know who I am, Captain Banes, and you can satisfy yourself at the +bankers' that I am in a position to pay you well and to make your voyage +a far more lucrative one than carrying home a cargo of sugar would be." + +"That's right, sir; but I'm, so to speak, answerable for my brig and for +the lives of my crew. Just have the goodness to tell me again what you +want me to do." + +"Take on board an ample supply of stores for a year's cruise, and then +sail with me to the mouth of the Amazon." + +"Yes, sir." + +"And up the river as far as you possibly can, and then anchor, and man a +boat to go on up the river or rivers as far as we can go." + +"That's what you said yesterday, sir. But what for? What's the good of +it?" + +"That's my business, captain; and here is your friend coming back +wanting to make it his apparently," said Sir Humphrey, for the +keen-looking yellow-faced man came sauntering back and approached the +table so as to pass closer to them. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +THE CAPTAIN'S BARGAIN. + +"Then he isn't going to know," said the captain, and then aloud: "Yes, +sir, as you say, it's a hot country, and those who settle down to a +sugar plantation must have rather a rough time of it. If you think of +settling down I should advise you to look round a bit first. Don't be +in too great a hurry." + +By this time the yellow-faced man had passed, and the captain gave each +of his companions a solemn wink. + +"Let him turn that over," he said. "I like to put chaps like that on a +false scent. He's a Poll Pry, that's what that chap is. P'raps he'll +be wanting to sell you a plantation. But now then, sir, business. +Directly I tell my mates and crew where we're going--if so be as we +agree--the first question will be: What are we going for?" + +"I don't know myself, captain," said Sir Humphrey. + +"You don't know yourself, sir?" + +"Not thoroughly. But I will be as open with you as I can. I am an +Englishman of some means, and it is my wish to travel with my brother +here, collecting." + +"Oh!" said the captain. + +"At the present time comparatively nothing is known of the central parts +of South America." + +"Wrong," said the captain. "I can tell you something: it's all big +rivers running into one another like a net o' waters." + +"Exactly, and that should make travelling in ship and boat easy," +replied Sir Humphrey. + +"But what's to be got by it, sir?" + +"Who can tell," was the reply, "until the country is examined? We want +to search. It may mean gold." + +"That's good," said the captain. + +"Or diamonds." + +"That's better, sir." + +"Or other precious stones. This is, of course, doubtful; but it is sure +to mean an infinity of discoveries about the country and its flora and +fauna." + +"Its what, sir?" + +"Well, its botany and zoology." + +"Eh?" + +"Its flowers, plants, and wild beasts." + +"Oh, I see: you'd be hunting, shooting, and collecting a bit?" + +"Certainly." + +"But it's a feverish sort o' place, gentlemen, very hot. There's lot's +o' dangerous and poisonous things about, and I have heard that the +Injuns on the banks have a bad habit of shooting poisoned arrows from +their bows, or little tiny ones from their blowpipes. Ain't it rather a +mad idea?" + +"That's what the sailors told Columbus," said the younger man, who had +been sitting in silence. + +"Yes," said his brother, "and it was not a mad thing to discover +America." + +"Well, no, sir," said the captain, dabbing his dewy head once more; "but +you can't discover America over again." + +"Of course not, but though North America has been traversed over and +over again, how very little is known of the interior of South America!" + +"Ha!" ejaculated the captain, screwing up his face; "if you put it in +that way, gentlemen, we don't seem to know much about it, certainly: +only that there's some big rivers there. I s'pose about as big as any +of 'em. I did sail up one of the mouths for a bit once." + +"Ah!" cried the younger man excitedly, "and what did you see? Strange +wild beasts--wonderful trees on the shores--beautifully-coloured birds-- +great serpents--monkeys, and the great sea-cows?" + +The captain's face shone as he wrinkled it up till his eyes were nearly +closed. + +"Well, why don't you speak?" said his questioner. "You could not go up +that vast river without seeing some wonders. What did you see?" + +"Water, sir: lots of it," said the captain bluffly. + +"Of course," said the young man impatiently. + +"We sailed up for three days." + +"Yes?" + +"And then we sailed down again." + +"Oh, absurd! But the shores: what were they like?" + +"Don't know, my lad. I never saw them." + +"What?" + +"Too far away on either hand. It was like being at sea off that coast, +where the water's all muddy. That river and the big ones that run into +it, according to the charts, from north, south, and west all seem as if +they were hard at work washing all the land away and carrying it out to +sea. It's bad enough here, but down south yonder it's wonderful: the +water's muddy for miles away out to sea." + +"Oh, but you couldn't sail far up that great river without seeing +something interesting if you kept your eyes open," said the young man +contemptuously. + +"My eyes were wide open enough, my lad," said the captain, with a laugh. +"I don't shut 'em much when I'm in strange waters, I can tell you. Too +fond of David Banes, Esquire. Never was skipper of a ship, was you, +squire?" + +"Never," said the young man, laughing. + +"Then take my advice--never you do be. Ships are shes, as you well +know, and they're about the most obstinate, awkward creatures to deal +with there are. Let 'em have their heads to themselves for a few +minutes, and they give their bowsprits a toss, and if they don't run on +the first rock they can find they rush into some outrageous current, or +else go straight ashore, to get knocked to pieces by the breakers. +That's the sort o' character I give a ship. I'd a deal rather sit +behind a wild horse without any reins than trust myself in a ship +without a good man and true at the wheel." + +"Yes, yes, that's all very right, Captain Banes," said Sir Humphrey +drily, "but you'll excuse me: we are not talking business." + +"I beg your pardon, sir, but we are," said the captain stoutly. "I +suppose you'll own that you propose rather an outrageous thing?" + +"I do not look upon it as outrageous, captain; but certainly it is wild +and adventurous." + +"Same thing, sir. Wants thinking about, and I'm thinking as hard as +ever I can. It means risk of life to my men and me." + +"I will pay well to balance the risks," said Sir Humphrey. + +The captain smiled grimly. + +"I don't want to drive a hard bargain, sir," said the captain, rather +sternly now. "I only want to say that I don't know what pay you could +offer me and my crew that would balance the loss of our lives. I s'pose +you're a man of property?" + +Sir Humphrey shrugged his shoulders, and smiled at his brother. + +"Then look here, sir," said the captain, "if you'll reckon all you're +worth, multiply it by ten, and then do that again and offer it to me for +my life, I won't take it--there!" + +"No, captain, I don't suppose you would," said Sir Humphrey, smiling. +"But if you feel disposed to undertake this journey, and in an honest +business-like spirit set down what you consider would be a fair payment +for the use of your brig and the services of yourself and crew, I have +no doubt that I shall close with you at once." + +"And about what we get during the voyage--gold and silver and precious +stones?" + +"Or more likely strange specimens of unknown animals, plants, and +curiosities, captain. Well, of course they would belong to me." + +"Yes," said the captain thoughtfully; "that would be only fair. But +there's another thing, sir: I've got a medicine-chest, and I know how to +mix up a powder or a draught for the men in an ordinary way; but I don't +think anyone ought to go right up country like you talk of doing without +having a doctor on board who could physic for fevers and stop holes and +plaster up cuts, and deal with damages generally. It wouldn't be fair." + +"You would have such a person on board, captain, for I have studied +medicine and surgery, and practised for six years busily before I +succeeded unexpectedly to my property and title, and then determined to +see more of the world in which we live." + +"H'm!" said the captain, looking from one to the other thoughtfully; "I +don't like knocking about in strange places begging for a cargo, and I +don't like driving my brig through the sea light in ballast. You've +took me at a weak time, sir." + +"Stop!" said Sir Humphrey sternly. "I don't want to take advantage of +any man at a weak time and bribe him into undertaking a task over which +he would repent." + +"I'm not that sort of chap, sir," said the captain shortly. "If I make +a bargain I stick to it, and I answer for my lads." + +"That is what I want," said Sir Humphrey. "There are plenty of foreign +and native skippers that I could engage; but I want a staunch Englishman +whom my brother and I can look upon as a trusty friend: one who, if it +came to a pinch, would fight for us as we would fight for him: a good +sailor, patient, enterprising, but at the same time cautious and +thoughtful, while ready to take as well as give advice." + +The captain smiled grimly at the younger man, and gave his head a jerk +in the direction of Sir Humphrey. + +"He wants a good deal for his money, young gentleman," he said, "and I'm +afraid he won't get a skipper with all that stuff in him unless he has +him made to order. Look here, sir," he continued, turning upon Sir +Humphrey almost fiercely, "I'm a very ordinary sort of man, and I can't +strike a bargain with you, promising all sorts of things of that kind. +I've got a well-found vessel, and if there's water enough I can make my +crew sail her anywhere; but I've got a bit of a temper if people cut up +rough with me, and don't do their duty honest. That's all I can say, I +think. You want a superior sort of skipper altogether, and I don't like +you any the worse for that. We've had a very pleasant chat or two, and +it's been a pleasure to me to meet a couple of English gentlemen out +here, and there's no harm done. I wish you and your brother good luck." + +"Stop!" said Sir Humphrey; "let us understand one another. You refuse +to enter into an engagement with me?" + +"Yes, sir. I couldn't honestly promise to do all you want. I'm not +such a perfect man as you've made up your mind to get." + +"And you don't like the risk of such an expedition as I propose?" + +"I never said so, sir," cried the captain bluffly. "It's what I should +like." + +"Then why not go?" + +"Because, sir, I tell you I am not the sort of man you want. I dessay I +could do a bit of fighting if I was put to it. Anyhow, I should try if +anyone began to meddle with me or those who were with me, but--oh, no, +you want too much." + +"Brace," said Sir Humphrey, turning to his brother, "speak out frankly. +It is dangerous to be hasty in choosing one's companions, but I want to +know what you think of Captain Banes." + +"He's just the very man we want," cried the young man, flushing. + +"Thankye, my lad, thankye," said the captain, clapping the young fellow +on the shoulder. "That's honest, for your eyes say it as well as your +lips. But you're a pretty sort of fellow to drive a bargain! Why, +you're asking me to raise my terms because you want me. That's not +business." + +"Never mind about that, captain," said Sir Humphrey, smiling. "Hullo, +what's the matter?" + +"I want to go and ask that tall thin yellow chap what he means by spying +round this table and trying to hear what we're talking about." + +"Let the man alone, captain, and take my advice. Don't quarrel with +strangers in a foreign port." + +"Advice taken, sir, and paid for," said the captain, stretching out a +big brown hairy hand and gripping Sir Humphrey's firmly. "Quite right. +Thankye, sir. I like you better for that than I did ten minutes ago. +You make me feel half sorry that I can't come to terms with you. You +want too much." + +"No, he doesn't," cried Brace warmly. "We want you." + +"But I'm not the sort of man for you at all, gentlemen." + +"A man does not know himself so well as others know him," said Sir +Humphrey, smiling. "Captain Banes, I shall be sorry if we do not come +to terms, for I believe we should soon become firm friends." + +"Well, I've some such idea as that, gentlemen," said the captain. + +"Think it over for a couple of days, Captain Banes," said Sir Humphrey. +"I will wait till then." + +"Nay," said the captain firmly; "a man wants to be careful, but he +doesn't want two days to go shilly-shallying over such a thing as this; +and if you gentlemen think that you can trust me--" + +"There's my hand," said Sir Humphrey. + +"And mine," said Brace, eagerly holding out his. + +"And there are mine, gentlemen," said the captain bluffly; "if you think +I'm your man, your man I am, and I'll stick to you both through thick +and thin." + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +THE PUSHING STRANGER. + +Wise people say that one ought to get up very early in the morning, and +that it makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. + +It is a matter to be settled to a great extent by climate, and Brace +Leigh wanted no urging to hurry out of--or, rather, off from his--bed +just as the stars were beginning to pale, and open his window more +widely, to breathe in the comparatively cool air. + +His first thought was, of course, a bath or a plunge into the river for +a swim. + +But the latter was not to be thought of, for more than one reason. Mud +was one, but that might have been borne; another reason was that certain +loathsome lizardy creatures lurked about in those waters on the look-out +for food. + +It a pity, for the hotel was rather a primitive place, and did not boast +a bath-room, nor even a good tub or a large basin, and the young fellow +had to sigh and make believe with a sponge before dressing hurriedly and +going out to wait for the sun's rising and the first notes of the birds. + +"Morning is the time out here in the tropics," he said to himself, as he +stepped out into the cool darkness, apparently the first person up that +morning, for all was very still. + +"I'll go down to the waterside and have a good look at Captain Banes's +vessel." + +He found out directly, though, that he was not the first person up, for +the door was open, and as he was in the act of stepping out a peculiarly +harsh, wiry voice said: + +"Good morning!" + +The young man felt taken aback, for he dimly made out the figure of the +thin, inquisitive-looking personage who had hung about them the previous +day during the interview with the captain. + +"I thought you'd be up early, so I waited for you." + +"What for?" said Brace sharply. + +"Just for a chat. Folks get friendly when they're thrown together in an +out-of-the-way place like this. I took to you as soon as I saw you. +Brother up yet?" + +"No, he is not," said Brace surlily. + +"Ha, ha!" laughed the man. "You want your breakfast." + +"Do I?" said Brace. "You seem to know." + +"A man don't want to be very knowing to find out that. One always feels +a bit snappish first thing. You're going down to have a look at the +skipper's brig." + +"Well, really--," began Brace. + +"Don't be huffy, squire. It's quite natural that you should." + +"And pray why, sir? I saw the vessel lying moored yonder yesterday." + +"Of course, but when one's going for a voyage in a ship one likes to +look at her a bit." + +"Then I'm going on a voyage in that ship, am I?" said Brace. + +"Of course--you and your brother. Up the Amazons, eh?" + +This was said in a questioning tone, but Brace made no reply. + +"Well, of course you've a right to choose, but I say you ought to go up +the Orinoco. Deal more to see there, I believe. Dessay, though, +there's plenty up the Amazons. They'll do." + +"That's a comfort," said Brace, smiling in spite of his annoyance, for +the man was as cool as he was imperturbable. + +"Is it?" he said. "Glad of it. Glad too that you young Englishmen are +so enterprising. As a rule you're downright sleepy and leave nearly +everything in the finding out way to us Amurricans. Didn't know I was +an Amurrican, did you?" + +"I never doubted it from the moment you spoke." + +"Didn't you, now? Well, that is curious. It's my pushing way, +perhaps." + +"Yes, that was it," said Brace, laughing. + +"Well, there's nothing like it if you want to get ahead. So you're +going up the big rivers, are you?" + +"Look here, sir," said Brace: "my brother will be down soon. Wait a +little while, and then you can ask him about his plans." + +"No, thankye, sir," said the man. "He's short and sharp, and maybe he +wouldn't like it. You're easier to deal with. Don't be huffy. Two +fellows meeting out here in a place like this ought to help one +another." + +"I see," said Brace good-humouredly. "Now then, you want me to help you +in something?" + +"To be sure. That's it exactly." + +"Well, sir, what is it?" + +"Look here, never mind the _sir_. That's so English. Now you're +getting stand-offy again, as if you thought I was a sharper with a story +about being hard up." + +"H'm!" coughed Brace. + +"Hah! that's what you did think?" + +"Well, perhaps so." + +"No perhaps about it, squire. But you're wrong. I am hard up, but it +isn't for dollars." + +"Then what help do you want?" + +"Friendly help. I'm down in a hole, and I want you and your brother to +pull me out." + +"Please explain." + +"Don't be in a hurry. You've been too sharp for me as it is." + +"How? I never saw you till yesterday, when you came hanging about our +table." + +"Enough to make any man hang about. It made me wild, squire, to see the +ground cut from under my feet. I'm not used to it." + +"I am quite ignorant of having done anything to injure you, sir," said +Brace. "Will you explain yourself?" + +"Oh, I'll precious soon explain. You and your brother pushed in before +me and stole my skipper." + +"Did what?" cried Brace. + +"Stole my skipper, squire. I came here straight, after being too late +over a schooner at Trinidad. Found out that Skipper Banes had been +disappointed of a cargo and was just the man likely to make a bargain +with me, but before I could get in tow with him you and your brother had +hooked on." + +"Really, I'm very sorry for you." + +"Never mind the sorrow, squire: I want something more substantial than +that. What do you say to tossing for him?" + +"Nothing," said Brace. + +"Of course I knew you'd say that. What do you say to letting me have +him, and I'll take you with me, both of you?" + +"Nothing again," replied Brace, laughing. + +"Why not? Lookye here: I'm going up the Orinoco exploring and +collecting, shooting, fishing, and hunting, and finding every precious +thing there is to be found. That's just what you're going to do." + +"Is it?" + +"Yes, of course it is: only you two say Amazons, while I say Orinoco." + +"You seem to know all about our affairs, sir," said Brace stiffly. + +"Yes, I do, pretty tidy," said the American. "Come, what do you say? +You and your brother can pay half, and we'll share everything we get. +What do you say to that?" + +"You had better explain your position to my brother, sir," said Brace +quietly; "that is all that I can say." + +"That means your brother won't come unless he can boss the whole show." + +"Yes, that's it," said Brace, laughing. "It's a way we English have." + +"That's true, but then, you see, we Amurricans have got the old AS blood +in us." + +"AS--Anglo-Saxon?" said Brace. + +"That's the stuff; sir, and all the best of the British race in us along +with our own qualities. It came out over the row with George Three, and +it's come out more and more ever since. We like to boss the whole show +too, and we do it." + +"Or try to." + +"Yes, and try wins, squire. But look here, I suppose you're right. +That's what your brother will say. He has made his plans and he don't +want any Yankee meddling in them, eh?" + +"Well! But I believe he will put it in a more gentlemanly way." + +"Fine words won't better it, squire, and the disappointment will be as +hard as ever. Look here: I want to go, and I'll pitch over the Orinoco +and make it Amazons and go with you. Now then, what do you say to +that?" + +"Do you want the plain truth?" + +"I want the words of an English gentleman," said the American sharply. + +"Then I must say that I feel sure he will decline." + +"Why?" + +"You are a perfect stranger." + +"Can't help that." + +"Well, I'll be frank," said Brace: "he would not like it because of a +certain English feeling of exclusiveness." + +"Yes, that's it, squire; and that's where you Britishers go wrong. But +look here: do I speak plain? I'll pay a fair half of all it costs-- +straightforward dollars." + +"My brother would not be influenced by money. But there, take no notice +of what I say. He will be down soon: ask him." + +"But I want you to back me up, squire." + +"I can't do that, sir. Can't you see that it would be very +unreasonable?" + +"No," said the American shortly; "can't see anything, only that I want +to go in that captain's vessel, and I don't mind whether it's up the +Orinoco or the Amazons. I wouldn't mind if it was only up this bit of a +river here to where the gold grows. They say there's plenty up there." + +"Then go up this river and seek it," said Brace, "and you'll soon get +over this disappointment." + +"Maybe," said the American; "but it's getting light now: the sun comes +up quickly in these parts. Let's go down to the waterside and have a +look at the skipper's boat." + +Feeling that it would be a welcome change in the conversation, Brace +walked with him to where they could get a good view of Captain Banes's +brig, whose taut rigging and shapely sides began to show plainly now in +the early morning, a flash of sunlight seeming to have fallen just +beneath the bows on the head of the white painted figurehead beneath the +bowsprit; but it proved to be only the gilded Phrygian cap which the +carvers had formed, while as they walked up, admiring the trimness of +the well-kept vessel the while, there was another gleam of sunlight, but +only on the gilt name "Jason." + +"Ah," said the American, "`Jason': that had hold of me as soon as I saw +it. He was the chap who went after the golden fleece, wasn't he?" + +"I believe so," replied Brace. + +"Yes, that's it; and if I'd had that ship I might have got a cargo of +golden fleeces, or other things that would have done as well. You'll +have to back me up, squire. I feel as if I must go." + +"Impossible, sir. Charter another boat. You are prepared for such a +voyage, I suppose?" + +"Prepared?" exclaimed the American. "I've got a dozen cases ashore here +where I'm staying, full of guns, ammunition, tackle, and all sorts. My +servant's got 'em in charge. There's not too much of anything, and +nothing but what's likely to be useful to a man going to where he's +surrounded by savages and wild beasts." + +"Then you take a great interest in exploration?" said Brace. + +"Interest? I should think I do, sir. I'm a regular Columbus, Marco +Polo, and Captain Cook rolled up into one. Only just wish I'd a dozen +smart chaps instead of only one. I'd go off in a boat, capture that +brig, and sail right away." + +"To be followed, caught, and put in prison for piracy," said Brace, +smiling contemptuously. + +"Eh?" said the American. "Yes, I suppose that's about the size of it." + +"Ship ahoy, there! What cheer, oh? Morning, sir," came from the brig, +and Captain Banes, who had just come on deck, took off his hat and waved +it, but stopped suddenly as he made out who was Brace Leigh's companion. + +"Morning, skipper!" cried the latter. + +"Morning, sir, morning," shouted the captain gruffly, and then, turning +sharply round, he began to give orders to the crew, which were +immediately followed by sounds of holystone upon the already white +boards, and splashing of water as buckets came over the side and were +hauled up again. + +"Don't seem as if he's going to ask us aboard," said the American. + +"No," replied Brace, smiling. "Which way are you going, sir, because I +am going to stroll along by those sugar-warehouses and back to the hotel +on the other side." + +"That's just my way; so I'll walk with you. Ah, here's the sun. Going +to be another stinging hot day." + +"It's hot already," said Brace, whose cheeks were beginning to tingle at +the man's persistency. + +"Yes, it is hot, and--I say, ain't that your brother coming this way?" + +"Yes," said Brace eagerly, and he uttered a sigh of relief as he felt +that an unpleasant business would be brought to an end at once. + +He soon saw that there was a frown on his brother's brow, and Sir +Humphrey's voice told plainly what he felt upon the stranger attacking +him at once about the business he had in hand. + +He heard him courteously to the end, and then, with a few words of +sympathy for the disappointment he was causing, plainly told the +applicant that his proposal was quite out of the question. + +"Humph!" said the American. "Well, I don't like it, mister. I've come +all this way to go up one of these rivers, and I don't mean to be put +off. They're as free for me as for you." + +"Quite so," said Sir Humphrey, "and you will go your way while I go +mine." + +"Ye-e-es, but it seems a pity. I like you two gentlemen, and I don't +think you'd find much harm in me." + +"I have nothing against you, Mr--Mr--" + +"Don't you mind about the `mister.' My name's P Franklyn Briscoe, +squire, and I should like to be friends with you." + +"So you shall be," said Sir Humphrey, smiling, "for I promise you I will +not quarrel." + +"Then you'll make a bargain of it?" cried the American eagerly. + +"Decidedly not, Mr Briscoe," said Sir Humphrey firmly. "Make up an +expedition of your own, sir: and I wish, you success." + +"But we should do so much better, squire, if we joined hands." + +"Possibly, sir, but I must decline to enter into any kind of +partnership." + +"With a stranger, eh?" + +"Well, yes, with a stranger. Once more, sir, I wish you success." + +"I'm a very useful sort of man, squire." + +"That I do not doubt; but I prefer to take my own journey my own way." + +"Wouldn't stop to pick me up, I suppose, if you found me drowning or +starving, eh?" + +"I hope I have an Englishman's share of humanity towards a fellow-man in +distress, sir," said Sir Humphrey coldly; "but on your own showing you +have a goodly supply of necessaries and ample funds for prosecuting your +journey." + +"Well, yes, tidy." + +"Then once more good morning. Come, Brace, my lad, I daresay we can get +some breakfast now." + +Sir Humphrey bowed to the American and turned away, followed by his +brother, after the latter had saluted the stranger, who stood looking +after them. + +"All right," he said. "People don't take to me don't like my ways, I +suppose: I thought I was as polite as a man could be. But if you keep +on whittling you're sure to get through the stick: whether it take a +long time or a short time, PFB, my friend, depends upon the blade. Now, +is your blade a sharp one, or will it only cut cheese if you put a lot +of strength into the stroke? Well, we shall see." + +Before the brothers had finished their meal Captain Banes was ashore, +and an earnest conversation ensued about ways and means. + +"Let's see," said the captain; "what about your luggage and stores? You +haven't much, gentlemen?" + +"Indeed, but we have," said Brace: "tons." + +"Oh, that's nothing." + +"I think you will say it is something when you see," said Brace. "We +have stores of all kinds to last for a couple of years if necessary." + +"Then you have plenty of ammunition, I suppose?" + +"Plenty," said Sir Humphrey. "In fact, we brought everything we could +think necessary. When will you have it on board?" + +"Some time this afternoon, gentlemen. I shall warp in alongside the +wharf so as to get it under hatches easily. The sooner it's aboard the +better. I'll give orders to the mate, and he'll see to that while I +arrange about what fresh stores are necessary. That won't take long." + +"Then you propose sailing soon?" said Sir Humphrey. + +"Yes, sir, as soon as you like. We can settle our little business +affairs in five minutes, or I can take your word. That's enough for +me." + +"Thank you, Captain Banes," said Sir Humphrey gravely; "but I should +prefer you to draw up a business letter that would be binding upon us +both." + +"Very well, sir: it shall be done." + +"But what about your mate and the crew?" said Brace. + +"Oh, I had a talk to them last night, sir." + +"You mean that they are willing to come?" + +"They all look upon it as a holiday, sir, and are as pleased as can be." + +"But they've not seen us yet," said Sir Humphrey. + +"What, sir?" cried the captain, laughing. "They all came ashore as soon +as I'd told 'em about you, and crept up to the open window of the room +where you two gentlemen sat talking by the lighted lamp." + +"Indeed?" cried Brace. "I did not hear them." + +"Only came one at a time, sir, and they'd no shoes on." + +"Well, what did they say?" cried Brace. + +"Like to hear, gentlemen?" + +"Of course," cried Brace. + +"They're good trusty lads, gentlemen, but, like all British sailors, a +bit plain-spoken. P'raps Sir Humphrey here mightn't like it, though I +answer for 'em that they meant no harm." + +Brace looked merrily at his brother as if asking a question. + +"Oh, yes, speak out, captain," he said. + +"Well, gentlemen, they all agreed that they thought Mr Brace here would +turn out a regular trump as it would be a treat to follow." + +"Come, that's a good character," cried Brace; "eh, Free?" + +"The poor fellows don't know you yet, Brace, my boy," said Sir Humphrey +drily. + +"Oh, my chaps aren't far wrong, sir," cried the captain, smiling. + +"Well, what did they say about me?" asked Sir Humphrey. + +The captain's eyes twinkled, and he cocked one of his eyes at Brace; but +he did not speak. + +"Was their report so very bad?" said the young man. + +"Yes, sir; pretty tough," replied the captain. + +"Never mind," said Sir Humphrey, "so long as it was honest. What did +they say, captain?" + +"Said they didn't quite know what to make of you, sir; but they all +agreed that you looked a bit hard in the mouth, and bull-doggy--that's +what they called it. The first mate said, too, that he quite agreed +with them, for he could see that if ever it came to a fight with any of +the natives, two-foots or four-foots, you'd never flinch." + +"I hope not," said Sir Humphrey; "but I also hope we may never be put to +the test." + +"But--" + +The captain stopped. + +"Oh, there's a _but_," said Brace merrily. "It would have been quite a +decent character if it had not been for that _but_." + +"What was the _but_, captain?" asked Sir Humphrey. + +"He couldn't say how you'd come up to the scratch if it was trouble with +the long twisters that swarm up the rivers and in the damp forests of +these parts." + +"Snakes?" suggested Brace. + +"That's right, sir: boa constructors, as the showman said they was +called, because they constructed so many pleasing images with their +serpentile forms." + +"Well," said Sir Humphrey, "to be perfectly frank, I don't know myself +how I should behave under such circumstances, for I have a perfect dread +of serpents of all kinds. The poisonous ones are a horror to me." + +"Or anyone else, sir," growled the captain. "I'd rather have a set-to +with one of the tigers here." + +"Tigers!" cried Brace; "there are no tigers in the New World." + +"They call 'em tigers here, sir, though they've got spots instead of +stripes. Jaggers I suppose is the proper name. Fierce beasts they are +too. But poisonous snakes--ugh! They give me the creeps. But there, +these things always get away from you if they can." + +"Let us change the subject," said Sir Humphrey; "I am quite satisfied +with your men's judgment, Captain Banes, and I daresay we shall become +very good friends." + +"Of course, sir," said the bluff man addressed. "I'll answer for them, +as I told them I'd answer for you two gents. By the way, I hear the +Yankee chap wants to charter a vessel for some such a voyage as you +gentlemen mean to make." + +"Yes," said Sir Humphrey; and the brothers related their interviews of +the morning. + +"Want'll have to be his master," said the captain, who had listened, +smiling grimly during the narration. "I don't see myself going on such +a trip with him. I took a dislike to that chap as soon as I saw him. +Well, I wish him luck. Then if it's all the same to you, gentlemen, +I'll have your stores on board a bit late in the afternoon when the +sun's getting lower, and--Well, now! look at that. Think he heard what +I said?" + +"I hope not," said Sir Humphrey quietly. "It's as well not to excite +people's dislike by making remarks about their appearance before them." + +"Right, sir," said the captain. "That's one for me." + +"I beg your pardon, Captain Banes," cried Sir Humphrey earnestly. "I +did not mean to--" + +"It's all right, sir; I deserved it," said the captain bluffly, "and I +hope now he didn't hear. Poor beggar! It is his nature to. Now, +gentlemen, what do you say to coming and having a look over your cabin +and berths? All being well, they'll be your quarters for many a long +month to come." + +"By all means," they cried, and started for the brig at once. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +ABOARD THE "JASON." + +"Sits like a duck, don't she, gentlemen?" said the captain proudly, as +they approached the riverside. "I don't say but what you may find +faster boats, but I do say you won't find a better-built or +better-proportioned brig afloat. Look at her." + +The captain had good cause to be proud of his vessel, and he showed his +pride by having her in particularly trim order, while his crew of a +dozen men were smart, good-looking young fellows, as trim as their +vessel, and very different from the ordinary run of merchant seamen, +being quite the stamp of the smart, active, healthy-looking Jacks of Her +Majesty's Fleet. + +Everything was smartly done, beginning with the manning and rowing +ashore of the captain's boat, while as the little party ran alongside +and stepped on deck the crew were gathered together ready to salute the +brothers with a cheer. + +"Why, captain," said Sir Humphrey, after a sharp glance of satisfaction +around him, "you surprise me. The `Jason' looks more like a yacht than +a merchant brig." + +"No, no, no, no, no, sir," said the captain, in a remonstrant tone; "as +clean and smart, p'raps; but there isn't the show. Look here, though," +he continued, nodding to one of the brothers and taking the other by the +edge of his coat, "things happen rum sometimes, don't they?" + +"Certainly," said Sir Humphrey, smiling at the skipper's mysterious way +of taking them into his confidence. "With regard to what? Has anything +happened rum, as you call it?" + +"To be sure it has," said the skipper, screwing up his eyes. "You want +a boat suitable for going up rivers, don't you?" + +"Certainly," said Sir Humphrey, "and I seem to have found her." + +"You have, sir, and no mistake, accidentally, spontaneous-like, as you +might say. Do you know, I planned the rigging-out of that boat so that +she might go up big rivers in South America?" + +"Indeed?" said Sir Humphrey, looking at the speaker curiously. + +"Ah, you think I'm blowing, sir, as the Yankees call it--bragging." + +"I have no right to doubt your word, captain," said Sir Humphrey +stiffly. + +"Thankye, sir," said the captain; "but you do," he added sharply, +turning upon Brace. + +"That I don't," said the latter quietly. "I don't know much about you, +captain, but you look too much of the straightforward Englishman to +boast." + +The captain's eyes closed quite up now--well, not quite, for a sharp +flash came from out of the narrow slits as their owner chuckled softly +and clapped his young passenger heartily upon the shoulder. + +"And thank you, youngster," he cried. "You and me's going to be good +friends, I see. No, my lad, there's no brag in my make. I've got +plenty of faults, including a bad temper; but sham was left out when I +was made. But about the `Jason': I did contrive her for river work." + +"So much the better," said Sir Humphrey. "She draws little water, I +suppose?" + +"Bit too much, sir; but I didn't mean that. I was alluding to her rig." + +"Indeed!" said Sir Humphrey. + +"Why, you ought to have had her schooner-rigged," said Brace sharply. + +"Nay, I oughtn't," said the Skipper, screwing up his features more +tightly. "Schooner wouldn't do so well for these river waters. A +brig's best." + +"Why?" said Sir Humphrey. + +"Square sails up aloft come in handiest. I've seen the Hightalians who +do the fruit trade up the big rivers that run north from the Plate--La +Plata, you call it. They sail up for months to go and buy oranges to +bring down for Europe and the States. They use brigs with spars so long +you'd think they'd topple their boats over. Do you know why?" + +Brace shook his head. + +"Then I'll tell you, my lad. They sail up and up, and the banks close +in till at last they're going up what looks like a great canal with the +forest trees right down to the water's edge, shutting them quite in." + +"That is just the sort of place we want to sail up, eh, Free?" said +Brace. + +"Exactly," replied his brother. + +"Plenty of 'em up where you're going," said the skipper, "and you'll be +able to sit on deck and fish and shoot without going ashore. But a +schooner of the regular sort would be no use there." + +"Why?" asked Brace. + +"Because a schooner would be becalmed. Her big fore and aft sails would +have all the wind shut out from them by the trees. With a brig like +this all you have to do is to run up a couple of topgallant spars like +those you see tucked under the bulwarks there, long thin tapering +fellows like fishing-rods, and hoist a couple of square sails high up on +them, and you catch the wind, and on you go." + +"Yes, I see," said Brace. "Then those long thin masts are ready for +such an emergency." + +"That's right, squire," said the captain, smiling; "only I don't call +that an emergency, only a matter of plain sailing. It makes one ready +to go straight on, for I don't know anything more wherriting to a sailor +than having a nice breeze blowing overhead and not coming down low +enough to fill his sails. I've been like that before now in one of +these rivers, but I don't think I shall be again. Of course one must +expect a stoppage now and then in the dry times when the water falls and +leaves the river shallow. There's no fighting against that, and no +seamanship will teach a skipper how to find the deep channels in a river +where the banks and shoals are always shifting. But come and look at +the quarters below. You won't find any polished wood and gilding, +squire," he continued, turning to Brace, with a dry smile. + +"Do you suppose I expected any?" said Brace shortly. + +"Well, no, I suppose not. But there is some polish, because the lads +put that on with elbow-grease. No stuffing neither on the seats." + +"Of course not," said Brace. "We did not try to find a fancy yacht." + +"That's right," said the captain; "but anyhow, when a man's tired, a +wooden seat is a bit hard, so I've got some horsehair cushions to go on +the lids of the lockers. I like 'em myself. Now then, gentlemen, can +you make shift here?" + +"Yes, and a very good shift too," said Sir Humphrey as he and his +brother stood looking round the fairly roomy cabin, whose fittings were +of Quakerish simplicity, but scrupulously clean. + +"As clean as on board a man-o'-war," said Brace. + +"To be sure," said the skipper drily. "Why not?--Then you think it will +do, gentlemen?" + +"Excellently," said Sir Humphrey. + +"That's right, gentlemen. There are your berths in there. That's mine, +and those two belong to my mates," he continued, pointing out the +different divisions in the stern of the brig. "I've got a good cook +too, for I like decent eating and drinking. He can't make what you call +side dishes and French kickshaws. But he can make turtle-soup when we +catch a turtle, and I'll back him against any cook in the British Navy +to make a good cup of coffee." + +"That will do," said Brace. + +"Frizzle a rasher o' bacon." + +"So will that." + +"And make bread cakes." + +"Why, Brace, we shall be in clover," said Sir Humphrey, laughing. + +"But he has his faults, sir," said the captain solemnly. + +"All cooks have," said Sir Humphrey, smiling. "What is his worst?" + +"His plum-duff isn't fit to give a pig." + +"Is it like the one of which the passenger complained?" said Brace, +laughing. + +"Eh? I dunno," said the skipper, staring. "I don't know that I ever +heard of that one. What sort of a pudding was that?" + +"It must have been worse than your cook's, for the passenger said he did +not mind putting up with flies for currants, but when it came to +cockroaches for raisins he felt bound to strike." + +The skipper screwed his face up till there were so many wrinkles that +there did not seem to be room for another. + +"No," he said, "my cook's plum-duff was never so bad as that, squire; +but there's no knowing what may happen. If it ever does get so bad you +and me'll drop him overboard. Now then, gentlemen, like to see the +men's quarters?" + +"Oh, no, captain," said Sir Humphrey; "we're quite satisfied." + +"You take the rest from the sample you've seen?" + +"Certainly," replied Sir Humphrey. + +"Then the next thing is to get your traps on board, sir--later on, as I +said." + +"Exactly. We'll go back ashore, and you can look at them, and then I +suppose we may leave it to you." + +"Yes, gentlemen; I'll give orders to my first mate, and he'll have 'em +brought aboard and stored in a compartment below that I've got +partitioned off with bulkheads. There's a hatch in the deck, and a way +in as well from the cabins, so that you can get to the stores when you +like." + +"What about the ammunition?" + +"There's a place below communicating with the compartment by a trap, +sir. Come and see." + +The captain led the way into the dark store-like place, which proved to +be eminently satisfactory, cut off as it was from the brig's hold. Soon +afterwards the brothers went ashore, congratulating themselves upon how +capitally matters had turned out; and the first face they saw upon +landing was that of the American, who was seated under a tree smoking an +enormously long cigar and making the fumes of the tobacco hang round +beneath the wide brim of his white Panama hat. + +"Keeps the flies off," he said, nodding to Brace. "Try one?" + +"Thanks, no," said Brace, as he had a whiff of the strong, rank tobacco. +"I'd rather have the flies." + +"So would I, Brace," said Sir Humphrey angrily, as they went into the +hotel; "and the smoke too, rather than that man's company. Bah! how he +does annoy me with his inquisitive ways!" + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +LUGGAGE ABOARD. + +Inquisitive ways indeed, for as the evening drew near there was the +American still smoking as he sat in a deck chair watching the crew of +the "Jason" busily getting the packages belonging to the brothers on +board. + +Brace had made up his mind to see the luggage and stores placed on board +the brig, which had now been warped alongside one of the wharves; but, +on going out from the hotel and catching sight of the American, he went +back and joined his brother, who was having a long final chat with +Captain Banes. + +Consequently, so to speak, the American had a clear course, and he sat +in the deck chair he had borrowed, smoking cigar after cigar, as if, +like a steamer, he could not get on with the simplest thing without +sending up vapour into the hot air. + +But he did not sit in silence, for his tongue ran on, and he found +something to say to the second mate, who was superintending the getting +on board of what he called the passengers' "traps," and something else +to every man of the busy crew, who, in consequence of a hint given by +Captain Banes to his first officer, carefully took everything on board +themselves, without invoking any of the black or coolie labour to be +obtained upon the wharf. + +"He's a rum one, my lads," said the second mate to the men. "Let him +talk: it pleases him, and it don't do you any harm." + +"All right, sir," said one of the sailors: "I don't mind. He's pretty +free with the terbacker." + +"What?" said the mate, putting his hand in his pocket and fingering one +of half a dozen cigars lying loose therein: "has he given you some?" + +"Yes, sir, a lot: says it's real Virginny." + +"Humph!" ejaculated the mate. "Must be pretty well off.--Mind those +chests, my lad. Those are ammunition." + +The men went on unloading a rough truck piled up with chests, +portmanteaux, and cases of various kinds, before attacking a second +truck-load, while the American sat lolling back in his chair, smoking +away, his eyes twinkling as he scanned each package in turn and watched +for every opportunity to have a word with the busy mate, never letting a +chance go by. + +"Why, lufftenant," he said, "why don't you smoke and make your miserable +life happy?" + +"Because I'm at work," said the mate bluffly. + +"My skipper don't stand smoking when we're busy." + +"Don't he now? Bit of a tyrant, I suppose," said the American. + +"Humph!" ejaculated the mate gruffly. + +"I like him, though," said the American: "seems to know the ropes." + +"Oh, yes, he knows the ropes," said the mate. "Easy there with that +chest." + +"Easy it is, sir." + +"Now, I wonder what's in that case," said the American. "It's marked +with two X's and a cross and SpG and OG. Now, what would that be, +lufftenant?" + +"Dunno," replied the mate. "Rareohs for meddlers, I should say, sir." + +"Should you now?" said the American drily. "I shouldn't. Yes, I like +your skipper, and I should have liked to have a voyage with him." + +"Pity you didn't, sir," said the mate. + +"Yes, that's jest how I feel; but I was too late. They're taking a deal +of luggage with 'em, ain't they?" + +"Yes," said the mate, as the men had the empty truck wheeled out of the +way and attacked the next. "A pretty tidy lot, and it's heavy too." + +"Seems to be," said the American. "Fine lot o' gun tackle, ammunition, +and suchlike. Wish I'd been going too." + +"Wish you had, sir," said the mate, fingering the presentation cigars, +and then to himself: "What a whopping fib! I wouldn't sail in the same +craft with such a nuisance." + +"I'd tell my men not to let that case of cartridges down if I was you, +lufftenant," said the American, as the men raised a heavy chest. + +"What case of cartridges?" said the mate, turning sharply. "Humph I +didn't know that was ammunition." + +"Looks like it," said the would-be passenger drily. + +"'Tarn't branded," said the mate. "Oh, yes, it is. But what fool +marked it there at the bottom instead of the top?" + +"I reckon that is the top," said the American, taking his cigar from his +lips to send forth a great puff of smoke. + +The loading and unloading went on, the heavy packages being swung on +board by means of a crane, the lighter being carried over a gangway on +the sailors' backs; and as fast as they reached the brig's decks they +were lowered through an open hatch. + +As the packages were taken off the truck, the American's eyes twinkled, +and he had something to say about each. + +"Strange deal of baggage," he said, when nearly all was on board. "Must +say it's a big lot for two passengers." + +"More than you've got, sir?" said the mate. + +"Twice as much, lufftenant. But hullo, what have you got there--barrel +o' brandy?" + +"No," said the mate roughly; "it isn't juicy: it's dry." + +"That's queer, lufftenant, but so it is: there's holes in the top. What +do they mean?" + +"I haven't been inside, sir," said the mate roughly. + +"Ain't you though? Well, I s'pose not. Ain't anything alive, though, +is it?" + +"Alive? Pooh! Ventilation holes to keep the things from fermenting. I +dessay it's something in the eating line." + +"Be nice too, I dessay," said the American. "Wish I was going. I +should like to have had some of that. Anyhow, mister, I think I'd be +careful with that hogshead in case your men might let it go down. It'd +be a pity to spoil it by letting it slip 'twixt the wharf and the ship." + +"We'll take care of that, sir," said the mate, as the chains were +hitched to the barrel and it rose slowly from the stones of the wharf, +swinging slowly in a half-circle, and was lowered through the deck of +the brig. + +"There we are," said the mate, with a laugh, as he turned to the +American. + +"Yes, there you are, lufftenant. Bit heavy, wasn't it?" + +"Oh, no, nothing much.--Now, my lads, look alive!" + +There was a chorus of: "Ay, ay, sir!" and a few minutes later the +contents of the last truck were reposing in the partitioned-off space in +the brig's hold. + +Then, and then only, the second mate turned to the American, and, taking +out one of the cigars presented to him, bit off the end. + +"Now," he said, "work done, play begins. I'll trouble you for a light." + +"A light? Oh, certainly, lufftenant," replied the American, handing his +match-box. "You'll like those cigars. They're good ones." + +"I'm sure of that," said the mate. + +"Stop ashore, and have a bit of dinner with me up at the hotel." + +"You're very good," said the mate; "but I must get back on board. +There's a lot to do. I expect we shall drop down the river to-night." + +"Eh? Soon as that?" + +"Yes. The skipper is off to sea." + +"Oh, but you might find time for that. A man must eat. Ask the boss to +give you leave." + +"Humph! I hardly like to ask him, as the time for sailing is so near; +but well, there, I will." + +"That's right. Come and dine at the hotel just for a pleasant chat. +Wish I'd been coming with you on your voyage." + +"I begin to wish you were," said the mate, smiling. "You'd have found +me handy when you wanted to ask questions." + +The American looked at the speaker keenly, and then smiled. + +"I understand," he said. "So you think I ask a lot?" + +"Well, yes," said the mate, laughing. "You are pretty good at it." + +"I suppose so. Way I've got. Pick up knowledge that how. Seems to me +the way to learn. Hullo! What are they doing with your ship?" + +"Warping her out again so as to be ready for dropping down when we +start." + +"Is that better than going off from the wharf?" + +"Yes, a dear; but excuse me: there's the skipper yonder. I'll go and +tell him I want to be off for a few hours." + +"You do," said the American, "and you'll find me here when you come +back." + +"If the skipper knows where I want to go," thought the mate, "he'll say +no directly, for he hates that Yankee, so I won't say anything about +him. Not a bad sort of fellow when you come to know him; but of all the +inquisitive Paul Prys I ever met he's about the worst. Never mind: he +has asked me to dinner, and I'll go." + +The next minute the mate was face to face with Captain Banes. + +"Ah, Lynton," cried the skipper, "there you are, then. Got the +gentlemen's tackle and things on board?" + +"Yes, sir, all on board." + +"That's right. We shall drop down the river about one; so see that +all's right." + +"All is right, sir, and I want you to spare me for three or four hours." + +"Spare you to-night?" + +"Yes. I want to dine with a friend." + +The skipper raised his eyebrows and stared. + +"Want to dine with a friend? Why--oh, well, I'm not going to imitate +that Yankee and ask questions about what doesn't concern me. I was +going to ask you to join us in the cabin, to meet the gentlemen; but +that will do another time. Yes, of course, Lynton, and I wish you a +pleasant evening; but no nonsense: I sail at the time I told you." + +"And if I'm not back you'll sail without me?" + +"That's right." + +"No fear, sir," said the mate. + +"I know there isn't, my lad, or I should have said no. I'll tell Dellow +to send a boat ashore for you at ten." + +The skipper walked off leaving the mate looking after him and frowning. + +"He needn't have been so nasty about it. But he wouldn't sail without +me if I were not back." + +The mate did not stir till he had seen Captain Banes on board. Then and +then only he went in search of the American, but did not find him, and +after a certain amount of search and enquiry he was walking along with +overcast brow, thinking that there was some cause for the skipper's +dislike to his host in prospective, and that the American was a bit of +an impostor, when he came suddenly upon Sir Humphrey and his brother, +followed by one of the men from the hotel carrying a portmanteau, and on +their way to the brig. + +"Wonder whether they'll know me again?" thought the mate; but the next +moment he ceased to wonder, for he received a friendly nod from both as +he passed them and went on to the hotel to enquire whether anything was +known about the American gentleman there. + +"Mr Franklyn Briscoe?" was the answer. "Oh, yes, he's coming in here +to stay now those two gentlemen are gone. He has ordered a dinner for +himself and a friend." + +"Oh, here you are then," came from behind him the next moment. "I've +been looking for you everywhere." + +"So have I for you," said Lynton, rather surlily. + +"Oh, I see. I am sorry. You see, I had to find a place where they +would give us some dinner. Here, come into my room. This is the place. +It won't be a New York nor a London dinner, but it's the best I can do +here, and it won't spoil our chat." + +"Of course not," replied Lynton, "and I came for that more than for the +eating and drinking." + +"That's right," said the American bluffly. "There, come on: this is my +room now those Englishmen are gone." + +The mate followed his host, and after a certain amount of patient +waiting the dinner was brought in, and he found the American friendly in +the extreme, so that the time passed quickly, and the hour of departure +was close at hand with the guest wishing that he had asked the captain +to make the hour eleven instead of ten for the boat to be sent ashore +from the brig, which was once more swinging from the buoy in mid-stream. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +THE FIRST NIGHT ON THE BRIG. + +"The night is pleasanter out here on the river, captain," said Sir +Humphrey, as he sat with his brother on the deck in company with the +captain and the first mate. + +"Yes, sir, one can breathe," said the gentleman addressed, "and I can +always breathe better out at sea than I can in a river. Well, have you +thought of anything else you want from the shore, for time's getting +on?" + +"No; I have been quite prepared for days," replied Sir Humphrey. "What +about you, Brace?" + +"Oh, I'm ready," was the reply: "as ready as Captain Banes." + +"But I'm not, my lad," said the captain. "I can't sail without my +second officer. By the way, Dellow, did you give orders for the boat to +go ashore for Lynton at ten o'clock town time?" + +"I?" said the first officer staring in the dim light cast by the +swinging lanthorn under which they sat talking. "No. Do you want one +sent?" + +"Of course," said the captain tartly. "I told you to send one." + +"I beg pardon, sir," replied the first officer. "When?" + +"Tut, tut, tut!" cried the captain angrily, as he glanced at his watch. +"When I came aboard: and it's now half an hour later. How came you to +forget?" + +"Well, really, sir--" began the first mate warmly. "Tut, tut, tut! +bless my heart!" cried the captain. "Really, Dellow, I beg your pardon. +It quite slipped my memory." + +"Indeed, sir," said the first officer stiffly. "It did not slip mine." + +"No. How absurd. I forgot all about Lynton. Send a boat ashore at +once to fetch him off to the brig. He must be waiting." + +"No, sir, he's not waiting, or he would have hailed," said the first +officer, as he strolled off to give the orders, while the two +passengers, being tired after a very busy day, bade the captain "good +night," and went below. + +"You won't sit up to see us start, then?" said the skipper. + +"No, for there will be nothing particular to see," replied Sir Humphrey. +"I'll keep my admiration till we are well out at sea." + +"And that will be at breakfast-time to-morrow morning, gentlemen. I +should not mind turning in for good myself. As it is, I'm just going +down to snatch a couple of hours before Dellow comes and rouses me up." + +As Brace Leigh and his brother closed the door of their cabin the former +saw the captain in the act of lying down upon one of the lockers, and +as, about half an hour after, Brace lay awake listening to the strange +sounds of the night which came through the open window, he distinctly +heard the plash of oars, and soon afterwards the rubbing of a boat +against the brig's side, followed by sips on deck, then upon the stairs. + +After that there was a rustling sound as of someone passing into a cabin +and closing the door, while after a little pacing about all was still on +deck, and then a cloud of darkness seemed to come suddenly over the +young man's brain, one which did not pass away for many hours, and not +even then till his brother took him by the shoulder and shook him. + +"Come, Brace, lad, wake up. Going to sleep all day?" + +"No, no," cried the young man, springing out of his berth. "Why, the +sun's up!" + +"Yes, long enough ago. I've been sleeping as soundly as you, and the +cook has been to say that breakfast will soon be ready." + +"How stupid! I meant to have been on deck at daybreak. Where are we-- +out at sea?" + +"No; as far as I can make out we are not above a mile or two below the +town, and at anchor." + +"Why's that?" said Brace, who was dressing hurriedly. + +"I don't know, unless the skipper is repenting of his bargain. I was +afraid he was too easy over everything." + +"Oh, don't say that," cried Brace, in a disappointed tone. + +The brothers were not long before they stepped on deck, to find all +hands looking anxious and strange of aspect, as they stood watching the +captain and first officer. + +"Good morning, captain," said Sir Humphrey warmly. "Why, I thought we +were to be out at sea by now." + +"It's a bad morning, gentlemen," said the captain, frowning, "and I +don't see how we are to start." + +"What!" said Sir Humphrey, frowning and speaking angrily. + +"Ah, I thought you'd take it that way, sir," said the skipper, scowling; +"but you're wrong. I'm not going back on what I said." + +"Then what does this mean?" + +"It means, sir, that I've lost Jem Lynton, my second mate." + +"Lost him?" said Brace quickly. "Why, he stopped ashore to spend the +evening with somebody." + +"That's right, squire." + +"You mean he hasn't come back," said Brace contemptuously. + +"No, I don't, sir," said the captain; "because he did come back." + +"But you said you had lost him," cried Brace. + +"That's right, sir: so I have," the captain answered. "He was to be +fetched back from the shore, as you heard last night." + +"Yes, I heard you tell Mr Dellow to send the boat for him," said Brace. +"Well?" + +"Boat was sent, sir, and the men say they brought him aboard. That's +right, isn't it, Dellow?" and the captain turned round to his first +officer. + +"Quite," said the first mate, who looked very much disturbed, and kept +on wiping his dewy forehead with the back of his hand. + +"Tell 'em," said the captain. "Speak out." + +"Tom Jinks was with the boat, gen'lemen," said the first mate slowly; +"and he says Mr Lynton come down a bit rolly, as if he'd had too much +dinner. He'd got his collar turned up and his straw hat rammed down +over his eyes. Never said a single word, on'y grunted as he got into +the boat, and give another grunt as he got out and up the side. Then he +went below directly, and they've seen no more of him!" + +"Tell 'em you didn't either," said the captain. + +"No, I didn't neither," said the mate. + +"To make it short, gentlemen," said the captain, "Dick Dellow here went +on deck about one to cast off and go downstream in the moonlight, and +sent the boy to rouse me up; and when I come on deck Dick says: `Jem +Lynton don't show his nose yet.' I didn't say anything then, for I was +too busy thinking, being a bit sour and gruff about Jem, and with having +to get up in the middle of the night; and then I was too busy over +getting off with a bit o' sail on just for steering. Then I felt better +and ready to excuse the poor chap, for I said, half-laughing like, to +Dick Dellow here: `Jem aren't used to going out to dinners. Let him +sleep it off. He'll have a bad headache in the morning, and then I'll +bully him. He won't want to go to any more dinners just before leaving +port, setting a bad example to the men.'" + +"Then, to make it shorter still," said Brace, "the second mate did not +come back?" + +"Didn't I tell you he did come back, sir?" said the mate huskily. + +"Yes, but--" began Brace. + +"You don't mean to say--" began Sir Humphrey. + +"Yes, gentlemen, that's what I do mean to say," growled the captain. +"He came aboard right enough, and went below. Nobody saw him come up +again, and there's his bed all tumbled like. But he must have come up +again and fallen overboard, for he isn't here now; and as soon as we +found it out I give the order to drop anchor, and here we are." + +"But how did you happen to find it out?" said Sir Humphrey. + +"Tell him, Dick," said the captain. + +The first mate shrugged his shoulders, and said gloomily: + +"It was like this, gen'lemen. The skipper said one thing, but I says to +myself another. `Jem Lynton's no business to go off ashore the night +we're going to sail,' I says, `and I shan't go on doing his work and +leaving him sleeping below there like a pig.' So I waited till the +skipper was busy forward talking to the look-out, and then I slips down +below to get hold of poor old Jem by the hind leg and drop him on the +floor." + +"Yes?" said Brace, for the mate stopped. + +"Well, sir, I goes to the side of his berth, holds out my right hand-- +nay, I won't swear it was my right hand, because it might have been my +left; but whichever it was, it stood out quite stiff, and me with it, +for there was no Jem Lynton there: only the blanket pulled out like, and +half of it on the floor." + +"One moment," said Sir Humphrey. "The second mate slept in your cabin?" + +"Yes, sir. I see what you mean. Did I see him? Yes, I did, fast +asleep and snoring, with his back to me." + +"And when you went down again he was not there?" + +"That's it, gentlemen," said the captain, breaking in; "and he's not +aboard now. There's only one way o' looking at it: the poor fellow must +have been took bad in the night, got up and gone on deck, and fell +overboard." + +"Horrible!" exclaimed Brace. + +"That's right, sir. Soon as Richard Dellow here found it out he come up +to me on deck and give me a horrid turn. `Poor Jem's drowned,' he says, +`for he aren't down below.'" + +"But have you thoroughly searched the vessel?" cried Brace. + +"Searched, squire?" replied the captain. "Where is there to search? He +wasn't here, and as soon as I could think a bit I let go the anchor, for +we must go back to Johnstown and give notice, so that an enquiry can be +made. Not that there's anything to enquire about, for it's all as plain +as a pikestaff. I don't know what I could be thinking about to let him +go, when he ought to have been aboard at his work; but I didn't want to +be hard. There, you know all we know, gen'lemen, and as soon as the +tide begins to make we must run back to port, for we can't do anything +more till that bit o' business is settled." + +Sir Humphrey and his brother were silent, for there seemed to be nothing +to say in face of such a terrible catastrophe; and, as if moved by a +mutual desire to separate, while the brothers walked forward towards +where the crew were gathered together watching them, the captain and +mate went aft, the former shaking his head sadly, the latter looking +terribly depressed and out of heart. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +THE MISSING MAN. + +"This is a terrible business, Brace," said Sir Humphrey. + +"Yes; it quite puts a damper upon our plans." + +"Seems like a suggestion of unknown horrors of a similar kind which will +dog our footsteps all through." + +"Don't say that, Free," said Brace earnestly. "I know it is terrible; +but it might have happened under any circumstances. You talk as if it +was to do away with our expedition." + +"I'm afraid it will as far as Captain Banes is concerned, my lad. He is +sure to back out of it now." + +"I'm afraid so too," said Brace sadly; "but only for a few days." + +"I don't know, my boy: sailors are very superstitious and fond of +looking upon things as omens. It is very sad, for that second mate was +a smart, intelligent fellow, and I looked forward to his taking an +interest in our work and being our companion in many a pleasant trip." + +"Oh, it's horrible," said Brace bitterly. "So well and strong only +yesterday when seeing to our cases and luggage, and now--" + +"Dead," said Sir Humphrey sadly, "and--" + +"Boat ahoy!" shouted one of the men, drawing attention to a canoe +paddled by a black, coming down with the tide in mid-stream, and only a +few hundred yards above where the brig swung from her chain cable, which +dipped down from her bows into the muddy water. + +At the hail a second man; a white, with a coloured handkerchief tied +about his head, rose up in the stern of the fragile vessel, snatched off +the handkerchief to wave it above his head, and nearly capsized the +canoe, only saving it by dropping down at once. + +"Ugh!" yelled one of the crew, a big bronzed fellow of six- or +seven-and-twenty, and, turning sharply round, he upset one of his mates +as he made for the forecastle hatch, but was hindered from going below +by the brothers, who were standing between him and the opening. + +"What is it, Tommy, mate?" shouted one of the men. + +"Look, look!" groaned the scared sailor. "His ghost--his ghost!" + +In an instant the rest of the men took fright and shrank away from the +bows, to hang together in a scared-looking group, the first man, +addressed as Tommy, holding one hand to his mouth as if to check his +chattering teeth. + +"Stand by there with a rope," came from the boat; but not a man stirred, +and just then the captain and mate came trotting up from aft. + +"Here, what's the matter, my lads?" cried the former. + +"Master Lynton's ghost, sir," stammered the trembling sailors. + +"Mr Lynton's grandmother!" roared the captain, snatching up a coil of +rope and flinging it to the bareheaded man in the boat, who caught it +deftly as it opened out in rings. "Here, what do you mean by that +cock-and-bull story, Dick Dellow?" + +"Cock-and-bull?" stuttered the mate, scratching his head. + +"Yes, cock-and-bull," roared the captain. "Can't you see he's there, +all alive, oh! in that canoe? Here, you, Tom Jinks, lay hold of this +rope, and don't stand making faces there like a jibbering idiot. Catch +hold." + +"No, no," faltered the great sailor; "it's his--" + +"Catch hold!" roared the captain; "if any man here says ghost to me, law +or no law, I'll rope's-end him." + +The big sailor's hands trembled as he took the rope, but before he had +given it a pull one occupant of the canoe came scrambling on board with +the other end of the rope in his hand, while the canoe, now lightened of +half its load, glided astern, with the black paddling hard. + +"There's going to be a row," whispered Brace merrily to his brother, as +they stood there, feeling as though a great weight had been removed from +their breasts. He was quite right, for before the supposed drowned man +had taken a couple of steps the captain was at him. + +"Here, you, sir," he roared, "do you want to have sunstroke? Where's +your hat?" + +"I dunno," was the reply. + +"Here," shouted the captain, who was in a towering passion, "where's +that Tom Jinks?" + +"Here he is, sir; here he is, sir," cried half a dozen voices, and the +men opened out to give him a full view of the trembling sailor. + +"Now, sir, what call had you to tell us that you had brought Mr Lynton +aboard last night?" + +"So we did--didn't we, mate?" + +This to another of the sailors, who was staring hard at the new-comer. + +"Oh, yes, we fetched him off in the little boat," said the man +addressed. + +"No, you didn't," said the second mate sourly. + +"Well!" exclaimed Tom Jinks, who began to see now that it was real flesh +and blood before him. "Why, we did, and you was--well, I ain't going to +say what. Wasn't he, mate?" + +"Oh, yes, that's a true word," said the other man. + +"You don't know what you're talking about," said the second mate +indignantly; "and if either of you says that I was on I'll knock you +down." + +"No, you won't, James Lynton," said the captain warmly. "You don't +handle either of my men. Look here, did you come aboard last night in +the boat?" + +"No, of course not." + +"Then who did?" cried the captain. "The men must have brought +somebody." + +"Oh, yes," said Tom Jinks, "we brought him aboard." + +"I say you didn't," cried Lynton. "I went to sleep, I s'pose, after +dinner, and I didn't wake up again till this morning." + +"Then you ought to be ashamed of yourself, James Lynton," said the +captain indignantly. + +"I _ham_," cried the second mate boldly: "right down, and no mistake." + +"A warning to you not to go out eating and drinking more than is good +for you," said the captain. + +"I didn't," replied the mate. "I took just what was good for me, and no +more." + +"It seems like it," said the captain sarcastically. "Instead of coming +aboard in your own ship's boat according to the terms of your leave, you +come back in a dug-out after your vessel's sailed, and without a hat." + +"Yes, I know," said the mate testily; "but didn't I tell you I felt +ashamed of myself? Eh? what say?" + +"Is this here yours?" said the first mate, who had suddenly gone below +to the cabin, and returned with a straw hat in his hand. + +"Yes, that's mine. How did you get it?" + +"You came aboard in it last night." + +"I didn't," cried the second mate, who looked staggered. + +"Oh, yes, you did, sir," cried Tom Jinks. "Didn't he, mate?" + +"That's so," said the man addressed. + +"But I tell you I didn't. I went to sleep after dinner, and didn't wake +till this morning, and found the brig had sailed." + +"Of course she had--to her time," said the captain angrily. "He don't +know what he's talking about, gentlemen," he continued, turning to the +brothers. "I'm very sorry, but I'm not going to have any more time +wasted. Now then, my lads, capstan bars, and bring that anchor up with +a run. You, James Lynton," he went on, as the men ran to obey their +orders, "I'm ashamed of your goings-on. What have you been about? +Walking in your sleep, I suppose." + +"I dunno," said the second mate, scratching one ear. "I can only +recollect Mr Franklyn Briscoe saying--" + +"Mr Who?" roared the captain. + +"That American gentleman who wanted to come with us." + +"You don't mean to say you've been with that inquisitive chap, do you, +sir?" + +"Yes. What harm was there in that?" + +"What harm? Look at you this morning." + +"Oh, well, I don't know how it was," said the mate. + +"Then I'll tell you how it was, sir. It was my second officer making an +excuse to go ashore, and getting into bad company. But never no more, +James Lynton: never no more. You don't deceive me twice like this." + +"It was all an accident," grumbled the delinquent. + +"Yes, of course, and a nice state we were in, believing that after you +came aboard you fell over the side and were drowned." + +"You didn't think that, did you?" cried Lynton. + +"Didn't think it? Why, of course we did, sir. Didn't I come to an +anchor as soon as I found you were not aboard?" + +"I don't know," said Lynton, looking from one to the other. + +"Then you know now, sir. Pretending to me that you were going to a +dinner--_eating_." + +"So I was," cried the mate. + +"Not you, sir. Going somewhere drinking." + +"That I wasn't. Mr Franklyn Briscoe came and asked me to go and have a +bit of dinner with him." + +"What! that American?" cried the captain. + +"Yes." + +"Then that makes worse of it." + +"There, I don't know: bad or worse," said the mate. "All I know is that +I went to sleep after dinner, and when I woke up he was gone and I +couldn't find my hat." + +The first mate exchanged glances with the captain, who spoke out at +once. + +"Then how did your hat come on board, sir?" + +"I don't know, I tell you, captain," cried Lynton. "All I know is that +as soon as I woke up I went half-mad, and ran down to the river, to find +you'd sailed without me; and then I got that black fellow to paddle me +down after you in his canoe." + +"And a deal of good that would have been if I hadn't anchored," growled +the captain. "There, sir, get to your duties, and let's have no more of +it." + +"But I want to clear my character, captain, before the crew and these +two gentlemen." + +"You hold your tongue, my lad, or you'll be making worse of it." + +"But there's some mystery about it," said the mate warmly. "Yes, I can +see you nodding and winking, Dellow, and making signs to the men. Here +you, Tom Jinks, you said I came on board last night?" + +"Yes, me and my mate here rowed you aboard; didn't we, mate?" + +"Ay, ay, lad," was the reply, and their questioner banged his right fist +down into his left palm as if to get rid of some of his rage. + +"There," he cried, "have it your own way, all of you; but you don't +catch me going ashore to dine with a gentleman again." + +"No," said the captain sharply, "I shan't. Now then, look alive there." + +The anchor was soon after swinging from the bows, the sails filled, and +the brig began to glide down with the stream, and by the time the cabin +breakfast was at an end the banks of the muddy river were growing +distant, and various signs pointed to the fact that they were +approaching the open sea. That evening, with a gentle breeze from the +north sending them swiftly along, the low coast-line looked dim and +distant across the muddy waters, the mighty rivers discolouring the sea +far away from land, and, glass in hand, Brace was seated in a deck chair +trying to make out some salient point of the South American coast. + +Then all at once something dark eclipsed the picture formed by the +glass, and Brace Leigh lowered it suddenly from his eye to try and make +out what it was. He found that it was the second mate's head. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +SOMETHING STARTLING. + +"Evening, sir," said Lynton. "Growing too dark to see much with a +glass, isn't it?" + +"Yes; I was just going to shut it up and put it in the case," replied +Brace. "I say, don't you go and sham dead to upset us all again." + +"There you go!" cried the mate angrily. "I did think it was going to +drop now. Nobody seems to believe my word." + +"Don't say nobody, for I will," said Brace quietly. "I was only joking +you a bit. But tell me: that coast-line I could see before it grew so +dark was all forest, I suppose?" + +"A lot of it," replied the mate, with a sigh or relief; "great thick +dense forest with dwarfish trees growing out of the mud, and if you +could see now, you'd find all the leaves sparkling with fireflies up the +creeks and streams." + +"Then the sooner we reach our river and begin to sail up, the better I +shall like it. How soon it grows dark out here!" + +"It does in these latitudes," replied the mate. + +"But I say, Mr Leigh, don't you go thinking that I went ashore carrying +on and drinking, because I didn't." + +"I promise you I will not." + +"Thankye," said the mate, as he stood looking along the darkened deck, +with the lanthorns now swinging aloft. Beneath a rough awning the +captain had made the men rig up over the cabin, that gentleman was +seated chatting with Sir Humphrey, while the first mate stood by them, +listening to their conversation, and occasionally putting in a word. + +Three or four folding-chairs had been placed aft for the benefit of the +passengers, one of which Brace had marked down for his own use, and he +was thinking of fetching it along to where they stood, as he talked to +the second and fastened the strap of his binocular case. + +"Ah," said the mate, "you'll find that little glass handy when you begin +shooting for picking out the birds and serpents and things, and--" + +He took off his straw hat to wipe his forehead, for the air was hot, +moist, and sultry. He did not, however, apply his handkerchief, but +stood with it in his right hand, his straw hat in his left, gazing down +at it. + +"Puzzles me," he said, changing the subject suddenly. + +"What: how to find the birds and reptiles among the leaves of the great +trees?" + +"No, no," said the mate impatiently. "I mean, how it was this straw hat +of mine came on board." + +Then, in a hoarse whisper: "Mr Leigh, sir: look--look there!" + +He stretched out his hand with the hat in it, using it to point towards +the spot where one folding-chair stood, dimly seen, close up to the +starboard bulwark. + +"Well, I see it," said Brace. "It does not seem any the worse for +coming on board without you." + +"But I can't make it out," whispered the man, in a strange way. "I hung +it up in the American gent's room--the one you had, sir--and the last I +remember is seeing him sitting opposite to me across the table; and now +look there. See him?" + +"No," said Brace; "I can see no him. What do you mean?" + +"The American," whispered Lynton, catching the young man by the arm. +"There, can't you see him sitting in the dark yonder?" + +"No," said Brace quietly. "I say, Mr Lynton, you'll be better when +you've had a good night's rest. You talk as if you could see a ghost." + +"That's it, sir; that's it," whispered the man wildly. "Come away--come +away." + +"Nonsense, man. There's nothing over yonder, only--" + +Brace stopped short in blank astonishment, for the nearest lanthorn +turned round a little as the brig heeled over, and there, faintly seen, +and looking strangely transparent, the seated figure of the inquisitive +American seemed to loom out of the shadow. + +But the startled fancy that it might be anything supernatural passed +away in an instant, and he felt ready to laugh at the superstitious +sailor, as he saw a glowing spot of light about on a level with the +figure's lips, and directly after smelt the peculiar odour of tobacco as +it was wafted to him by the warm night air. + +"Come away," whispered the mate, gripping Brace's arm with painful +force. + +"Nonsense," said Brace firmly. "That's how your hat came on board." + +"Ugh!" ejaculated the mate, and he sent the straw hat he held whirring +away from him with all his might. + +He meant to have sent it overboard, but straw hats have boomerang-like +ways of behaving peculiar to themselves, as most wearers know to their +cost; and the one in question, instead of rising and skimming like a +swallow over the bulwark and dropping into the sea, performed a peculiar +evolution, turned in the direction of the group under the awning, dived +down, rose again, just touching Sir Humphrey's ear, missing the first +mate, and striking the captain with its saw-like revolving edge just +below the chin. + +"Here, hullo!" roared the latter gentleman; "what are you about?" + +"Guess it warn't a bad throw, though, in the dark," said a familiar +voice, which made the captain spring to his feet with a cry of +astonishment; and the next moment the group from beneath the awning were +gathered about the imperturbable smoker seated in the folding-chair. + +"That you?" shouted the captain, and the personage addressed took his +cigar slowly from his lips and emitted a great puff of vapour. + +"Yes, skipper," he said coolly; "it's me," and he replaced his cigar. + +"What in the name of all that's wonderful are you doing here?" + +"Doing, skipper?" said the American quietly. "Smoking. Precious hot, +ain't it?" + +"Hot, sir?" roared the captain; "it's nothing to what it's going to be. +How dare you? Why, you're a stowaway!" + +"Am I, skipper? Well, do you know," said the American, in the most +imperturbable way, "I thought I was a lump of human fat melting slowly +away and running out on to your deck." + +"How did you get here?" + +"How did I get here? Why, two of your men brought me aboard last night +in your boat." + +"Well, of all the impudence!" + +"Now, now, now, skipper, don't get in a wax. Just act like a man, and +order me a drink, half water, half lime-juice, for my throat feels as if +it had been sanded with hot sand." + +"I'll order you over the side, and set you ashore at the nearest point +of land." + +"Not you, skipper. It would be like committing murder, and raise up +international difficulties." + +"I don't care, sir; I'll do it. You've got the wrong man to deal with +if you think you're going to play any of your Yankee tricks with David +Banes. Here, Dellow, heave-to and man the big boat." + +"Good ten miles to the shore," said the first mate in a low remonstrant +tone of voice. + +"I don't care if it's twenty. I said I wouldn't take him as a +passenger, and I won't." + +"Ten miles for your chaps to pull in the dark, and ten miles back," said +the American coolly: "that's twenty, and say another ten miles as +allowance for currents, which run strong, I've heard say. That's thirty +miles. Say, skipper, hadn't you better take it coolly and make the best +of it?" + +"No, sir, I had not." + +"But I have made up my mind to sail with you, skipper, for I reckon I +shall like this trip." + +"And I reckon you will not," said the captain grimly. "You're very +sharp, sir, but you've cut yourself this time, and you're going to be +rowed ashore as soon as it's light." + +"Hah, that's better, skipper. Your lads couldn't do it in the dark, and +they'd never find the brig again." + +"That's right," said the captain. "I'm not going to run any risks, for +the sake of my men; but ashore you go as soon as it's light." + +"And what about for the sake of me? I have heard that some of the +natives about here are the old Caribs." + +"Yes, sir, regular old-fashioned savages; and you won't find any hotels, +nor captains to worry with questions." + +"I've heard too that they're cannibals, skipper. S'pose they eat me?" + +"So much the better for them and the worse for you. But that's your +look-out, not mine." + +"Well, you are a hard nut, skipper," said the American, leaning back and +smoking away. + +"I am, sir: too hard for you to crack. You're not the first loafing, +cheating stowaway I've had to deal with." + +"Cheating, eh?" said the American, turning his face to Sir Humphrey and +Brace in turn. "Hark at him! I don't want to cheat. I'll pay my share +of all expenses." + +"No, you won't, sir, for I won't have your money. This brig's let to +these two gentlemen for as long as they like. You've played me a dirty +trick after being told that I was engaged, and you've got to go ashore. +I see through your tricks now. You inveigled my second mate ashore to +dinner with you." + +"Asked him, and treated him like a gentleman," said the American. + +"You stole his straw hat." + +"Nay, nay, only borrowed it, skipper." + +"Stole his hat, sir." + +"Say took, and I won't argue, skipper: I was obliged to." + +"Left him asleep, and stole aboard in the ship's boat." + +"Yes, that's right," said the American. "I thought you were going to +say I stole the boat. That's right. The men wouldn't have rowed me +aboard if it hadn't been for the mate's hat." + +"And for aught you cared I might have sailed and left that poor fellow +behind--eh, Lynton?" + +"That seems about the size of it," said the second mate. + +"Gammon!" cried the American good-humouredly. "You're too good a +seaman, Captain Banes, to go off and leave one of your officers ashore." + +"That's oil," said the captain sharply; "but I'm not going to be +greased, sir. You're going ashore: if only for playing me and my second +officer such a dirty trick." + +"Say smart, not dirty, skipper." + +"Dirty, sir, dirty." + +"Only business, skipper. I'd made up my mind to come, and it seemed to +me the only way." + +"Ah, you were very clever; but it won't do sir. You're going ashore." + +"But what about that cool drink, skipper?" + +"And as soon as it's light," said the captain, ignoring the request. +"Mr Dellow." + +"Ay, ay, sir." + +"Set the course a few miles nearer shore. No fear of a squall off +here." + +"Well, I dunno, sir," said the mate. "I don't think I'd run in too +close. The water's shallow, and there's often very heavy seas closer +in." + +"Be bad for an open boat, skipper," said the American. + +"Very, sir," said Captain Banes. "I daresay you'll get pretty wet +before you're set ashore." + +"That's bad, skipper; but I wasn't thinking of myself, but about my +traps." + +"Your traps?" + +"Yes, I've got a lot of tackle that won't bear wetting. Dessay there's +a ton altogether aboard." + +"What!" roared the captain. "You've no goods aboard?" + +"Oh, haven't I? Guns, ammunition, provisions, and stores of all sorts." + +"How did they get here? Bring 'em in your pocket?" + +"Nonsense. Your second mate brought 'em aboard." + +"What? Here, Lynton, speak out. Have you been in collusion with this +fellow, and brought his baggage aboard?" + +"Not a bag, sir," cried the mate indignantly. + +"Oh, come, I like that!" said the American, laughing. "Didn't I come +and sit by you and smoke and see it all done?" + +"No!" cried the second mate angrily. + +"Well, you Englishmen can tell crackers when you like. What about that +big cask with the holes in?" + +"That cask? Was that yours?" + +"Of course it was, and all the rest of the things on that truck," said +the American coolly. "You don't suppose I should have come and sat +there to see anybody else's tackle taken on board, do you?" + +"Well," broke in Brace, laughing, "judging by what I've seen of you, +sir, I should say you would." + +The American turned upon him in the midst of the laugh which arose, and +said smilingly: + +"All right, sir, have your joke; but when I ask questions or hang around +to see what's going on I do it for a reason. I wanted to go on this +voyage in this ship, sir: that's why I was so inquisitive; and here I +am." + +"Yes," said the captain hotly, "for the present. And so you tricked my +second officer and men into bringing your baggage on board, did you?" + +"Schemed it, skipper, schemed it," said the American coolly. + +"Exactly. Very clever of you, my fine fellow; but look here: suppose I +make you forfeit your baggage when I set you ashore?" + +"Law won't let you, skipper." + +"I'm the law on board my ship," cried the captain angrily. "Suppose I +refuse to stop my vessel to get your baggage out of the hold, and that +precious cask?" + +"Good, that's right, skipper--precious cask," said the American coolly. + +"Precious or not precious, I shall set you ashore, and continue my +voyage, and whether it lasts one month or twelve, you may wait for your +baggage till I come back, and you may look for me wherever I am." + +"You can't do it, skipper," said the American smoking away quietly. + +"Oh, can't I, sir?" cried the captain. "You'll see." + +"No, I shan't, skipper. It would be murder, I tell you, to set me +ashore, and double murder to sail away with my luggage." + +"Bah!" cried the captain. + +"You see, there's that cask. What about it?" + +"Hang your cask! I'll have it thrown overboard." + +"Oh, I say, you mustn't do that," cried the American, with some slight +display of energy; "the water would get in through those holes bored in +the top, and spoil the contents." + +"What's that to me, sir?" cried the captain. + +"Murder number three, because I have warned you not to do it in the +presence of witnesses." + +"Murder!" cried the captain, looking startled. "Why, what's in it?" + +"Only my servant." + +"What!" came in a chorus. + +"My boy--my servant," said the American coolly; "and he ought to be let +out now, or he'll be smothered. I found it very hot down there, sitting +among the boxes and chests. I dunno how he finds it, shut up in a +cask." + +"_I_ say, gentlemen," said the captain, with a gasp; "is this fellow an +escaped lunatic--is he mad?" + +"Not I," said the American, answering for himself; "I was, though, down +there when I got in." + +"Hah! broke in," cried the captain sharply. + +"That I didn't. I found the door open when I left the berth where I lay +down when I first came aboard. Pretty sort of a thick-headed chap it +was who stowed that cask. Made me mad as a bull in fly-time. There +were the holes to guide him to keep this side upwards, but he put the +poor fellow upside down. Nice job I had to turn him right in the dark, +and all wedged in among casks. I hope he ain't dead, because it would +be awkward for you, skipper." + +"Look here, sir," cried Sir Humphrey angrily, while Brace stood fuming; +"do you mean to tell me in plain English that you did such a barbarous, +criminal act as to shut up a man or boy in a cask to bring him aboard +this brig?" + +"Barbarous! criminal! Nonsense, sir. He liked the fun of it, and I +made him as comfortable as I could. Plenty of air-holes, cushion and a +pillow to sit on and rest his head. Plenty to eat too, and a bottle of +water to drink. I told him he'd better go to sleep as much as he could, +and he said he would. He must have been asleep when I came up a bit +ago, for I couldn't make him hear." + +"Captain Banes," cried Brace excitedly, "give orders for the hatches to +be taken off at once." + +"Just what I'm going to do, squire," said the captain. "Here, Dellow, +see to it. But I call you all to witness that I wash my hands of this +business. If the man's dead I'm going to sail back to port and hand +this man over to the authorities." + +"We'll settle that afterwards, Captain Banes," said Sir Humphrey +stiffly. + +"Right, sir; I'll lose no time," said the captain, and all present stood +looking on while, under the first mate's orders, the hatches were +opened, more lanthorns lit, and a couple of men sent below with a rope +running through a block. + +"Make it fast, my lads, and be sharp," cried the mate, as he leaned over +the opening in the deck, swinging a lanthorn so that the sailors could +see to hitch the rope about the cask. "Ready?" + +"One moment, sir," came from below. Then: + +"Haul away." + +"Keep him right side upwards, you sir," said the American coolly. + +"Right side upwards, sir!" growled the captain fiercely. "You deserve +to be headed up in the cask yourself and thrown overboard." + +As he spoke, the big cask appeared above the combings of the hatchway, +was swung clear of the opening, and lowered again, to come down with a +bump upon the deck. + +"Here, quick," cried the captain. "Bring an axe and knock off those top +hoops." + +"Nay, nay!" cried the American coolly. + +"Don't interfere, sir," said Sir Humphrey; "it is to get the head out." + +"I know," said the American; "but one of those borings is a round +keyhole. He'll open the head from inside if he's awake: and if he don't +I can." + +"If he's awake!" said Brace bitterly. + +"P'raps he isn't, for he's a oner to sleep. Stand aside, skipper." + +The captain turned upon the man fiercely, but it had not the slightest +effect upon him, for he kept his cigar in his mouth and smoked away, as +he drew out a key like that used for the boot of a coach, thrust it into +one of the holes in the head, gave it a turn, and the head of the cask +opened outward in two pieces which turned upon hinges; while as the +first mate thrust forward the lanthorn he held, it was nearly knocked +out of his hand by the skull-cap-covered head which shot up, sending a +thrill of relief through the circle of lookers-on. + +"Well, Dan, how goes it?" said the American. + +The fresh arrival, who seemed to be a thin diminutive-looking fellow of +any age, whose perfectly smooth face looked peculiarly yellow, planted +his hands one on either side of the cask, sank down, and then sprang up +again, cleverly passed his legs over the side and landed himself--as if +shot out by a spring--upon the deck, where he stood shrinking from the +light, yawned long and widely, and then said slowly: + +"Oh, all right, boss. Bit hot and sleepy. What's o'clock?" + +"Time you and your precious master were over the side," cried the +captain angrily. + +The man or boy, whichever he was, turned in the direction of the voice, +blinking quickly in the faint rays of the lanthorn light as if even they +dazzled him, and went on: + +"Who's him, boss?" + +"That, Dan? That's the captain." + +Brace burst into a hearty fit of laughter, in which his brother joined, +and after a brief pause this was taken up by the two mates and followed +by the men who were looking on. + +"Ho!" cried the captain angrily: "it's a capital joke. Very funny, no +doubt; but it strikes me somebody's going to laugh on the wrong side of +his mouth. Just wait till it's daylight." + +"Oh, it's all right, skipper. You can't set us ashore now," said the +American, laughing. + +"Can't I? Oh! we shall see about that, my fine fellow. If you think +I'm going on this voyage with a couple of lunatics on board you're +preciously mistaken. I'd sooner sail to Egypt with a cargo of black +cats." + +"Hark at him," said the American merrily to Sir Humphrey and his +brother. "He likes his joke." + +"Joke, sir?" cried the captain. "You'll find this no joke, Mr Yankee +Doodle." + +"Go along with you, captain. Yankee Doodle knows John Bull better than +he knows himself. You're not going to make me believe you'll set me and +my man ashore and leave us in a savage place to die of starvation and +ague." + +"You soon will believe it, though, sir," said the captain; but in spite +of his annoyance he could not thoroughly infuse his tones with +sincerity. + +"You're only blowing, skipper, when you might be taking pity on that +poor chap of mine who's been shut up in the barrel all these hours +without giving a single squeak; and all because he'd risk anything so as +to go with his master. That's true, isn't it, Dan?" + +"Yes, that's right, boss," replied the little fellow, who kept passing +his tongue over his lips. + +"Hungry, Dan?" + +"No, boss. Thirsty. Horrid." + +"Did you finish your bottle of water?" + +"No, boss; I couldn't get the cork in proper, and when I knocked it over +while I was asleep the cork came out and all the water ran away." + +"Not amongst my cartridges, I hope, Dan?" + +"I dunno, boss. I never see where it run to in the dark. Only know it +didn't run where I wanted it to go. I _am_ thirsty." + +The second mate handed him a pannikin which he had fetched from the cask +lashed amidships, and the American's servant took it and began to drink +with avidity. + +"Here, you, Lynton," cried the captain: "who ordered you to do that?" + +"Common humanity, sir," said Brace quickly. + +"Then it was like his uncommon impudence to order my officers about, +squire," said the captain gruffly, but without so much of his former +fierceness. + +"Hah!" ejaculated the drinker, as he drained the tin; "never knowed +water was so good before. Thank-ye, mister. Ketch hold." + +The second mate took the tin, and to the astonishment of all, the +uncasked servant threw himself flat upon his chest and stretched himself +out as much as he could, took a few strokes as if swimming, and then +turned quickly over upon his back, went through similar evolutions, +grunted, and stretched again. + +"What's the matter, Dan?" said his master quietly. + +"Taking some of the creases out, boss. That barrel warn't big enough +for a chap my size, and I feel quite curly. There's a crick in my neck, +one of my legs is bent and t'other's quite screwed." + +"Oh, you'll be better soon," said the first mate. + +"Yes, I'm coming right again," replied the man. + +"Wait till you've had a trot or two up and down Captain Banes's deck. +You'll let him, won't you, skipper?" + +"Urrrr!" growled the captain. + +"Oh, come, skipper, ain't it time you left off being so waxy? You can't +set me ashore, you know; so say no more about it. I'll pay handsomely +for the trip." + +"Don't talk to me," growled the captain. "That gentleman has chartered +the brig, and it's his for as long as he likes. I can't make any +bargains with you or anyone else." + +"Ah, now you're talking sense, skipper. That's speaking like a man. +Well, Sir Humphrey Leigh, let's hear what you've got to say to me." + +"I say that you have taken an unwarrantable liberty, and--" + +"Hold hard, sir, hold hard. Let's settle that one thing first. Well, +yes, I suppose it was; but here was I with all my plans made: arms, +ammunition, stores, everything, man included--he is a man, you know, +though he's such a dried-up little chap. How old are you, Dan?" + +"Thirty last birthday, boss," said the little fellow promptly. + +"There, sir. Well, that's how I was. Red-hot too to get up one of +these big rivers to explore and collect everything that came in my way, +but no vessel to be had. Felt as if I must get back home when I heard +about you and the skipper here; and then I tried my best to get you to +let me go shares in the expedition, and you wouldn't. You know you +wouldn't." + +"Naturally," said Sir Humphrey. + +"We won't argue about that, sir. That's how I was. Amurricans when +they've got a thing to do don't turn back. It goes against their grain. +Go ahead's our motto. I started to do an expedition up a South +American river, and I'd got to do it--somehow: straightforward if I +could; if I couldn't--back way. That's how it was with me, and here I +am. It was artful, dodgy, and not square; but I couldn't help it. +There, I speak plain, and I want you now as an English gentleman to help +me with the skipper here. You see, I'm a naturalist, ready for any +amount of hard work, a reg'lar enthoosiast of travelling and collecting, +and I'll pay my share of all expenses. That's fair, isn't it?" + +"Oh, yes, that's fair," said Sir Humphrey; "but we don't want you." + +"Not just now, sir; but you may. You don't know what holes you may get +into up the river. Come, sir, I throw myself on your mercy. You're +captain of the expedition, and I'll serve under you. Don't send me +adrift now." + +"Well, of all the enterprising, pushing men I ever encountered--" began +Sir Humphrey. + +"Yes, that's it: enterprising. I am enterprising, ready to do anything +to carry out the objects I have in view. Come, sir, I promise you that +you shan't regret it." + +Sir Humphrey frowned as he looked the American and his man over, and +then turned to his brother, who shrugged his shoulders and smiled. + +"What do you think about this?" said Sir Humphrey. + +"Don't ask me, Free," replied the young man. "I have a strong leaning +towards mercy." + +"But we don't like this man well enough to make him our companion." + +"No, but he may improve," said Brace. + +"He may get worse," said Sir Humphrey shortly. + +"I hope not," said Brace. "You see, we're started, and it would be +horrible to go back. We can't set him ashore." + +"Impossible!" said Sir Humphrey decisively. + +"Very well then, we must take him." + +"It seems as if there is no alternative," said Sir Humphrey, frowning. +"We cannot allow the captain to set him ashore." + +"He wouldn't want stopping," said Brace, laughing gently. + +"You think he would not do it, Brace?" + +"I'm sure he wouldn't," replied the young man. "He barks and makes a +noise, but he wouldn't bite like that." + +"Well, then, we must make the best of it, Brace, for I certainly will +not turn back." + +"Then you'll take him?" + +"I shall give way to the extent of asking Captain Banes to let him go +with us." + +"Don't," said Brace, in a low voice, as he glanced at the American and +saw that he was watching him closely. + +"What! not ask him?" said Sir Humphrey. "Why, just now you were in +favour of doing so." + +"So I am now, Free," said Brace, drawing his brother to the side, so +that they could be alone; "but I want you to take it entirely upon +yourself. You've chartered the brig; and it is yours. Captain Banes +is, so to speak, under your orders, you being head of this expedition." + +"Quite right, Brace," replied Sir Humphrey, nodding his head, and +looking satisfied with his brother's decision. + +"I should act at once as if I were fully in command, and make a stern +bargain with this American naturalist that if he comes with us it is, as +he proposed, completely under your orders." + +"Exactly," said Sir Humphrey, and the brothers walked back to where +their would-be ally stood waiting patiently, and Captain Banes was +giving vent to his annoyance by growling at both mates in turn, and then +at the men for not being smarter over getting up the cask. + +"Captain Banes," said Sir Humphrey. + +"Sir to you," growled the captain. + +"My brother and I have been discussing this business, and we come to the +conclusion that we cannot under any circumstances return to port." + +"O' course not," said the captain, nodding approval. + +"But on the other hand we cannot be guilty of so inhuman an act as to +set this gentleman and his servant ashore upon a wild coast, at the risk +of his life." + +"Hear, hear!" cried the American, and the captain grunted. + +"But, as he has chosen to take the risk and is prepared for an inland +expedition, we decide that he is quite at liberty to join ours and go +with us, on the condition that he follows out my orders as to what is +done." + +"Of course--of course," cried the American. "Hear, Mr Skipper?" + +"Oh, yes, I hear," said the captain. + +"Then that is settled," said Sir Humphrey. "Mr Briscoe, I trust that +in the future we shall be better friends." + +"No fear of that, sir," said the American quietly. "Sir Humphrey, +you're a gentleman. Mr Brace, you're another. It's going to be acts +now, not words. I only say thankye, and I want you and your plucky +young brother to believe me when I say you shan't repent your bargain a +bit." + +"I believe I shall not, sir," said Sir Humphrey gravely. + +"As for you, Captain Banes," continued the new member of the expedition, +"I'm going to show you that I'm not such a ruffian as you think. And +now, gentlemen, as I haven't had a wink of sleep for two nights, I'm +going to ask the skipper to let me have a berth and to give orders for +my man here to be furnished with a bunk. I've kept it up, gentlemen, as +long as I could, but now I'm dead-beat. I've been asleep in my legs for +long enough. Now it has crept up from my waist to my chest, and it's +attacking my head. In another ten minutes I shall be insensible, and +when I shall wake again is more than I know, so I'll say at once: Thank +you all--all round, and good night." + +A little difficulty arose as to a berth; but this was soon solved by the +second mate giving up his in favour of a mattress upon the cabin floor, +and the brothers were left alone with the captain, who preserved an +ominous silence, till Brace spoke half-laughingly: + +"You don't like the new arrangement, captain?" + +There was a grunt. Then: + +"Put that and that together, squire, would you if you were in command of +this brig?" + +"Certainly not," said Brace quickly; "but I shouldn't have put the poor +fellows ashore." + +The captain mumbled a little, and by the light of the swinging lanthorn +Brace caught a gleam of white teeth, and knew that he was laughing. + +"That was what he'd call bunkum, and we call bounce, squire. Of course +I shouldn't have put him ashore. But I felt as if I meant to when I +said it." + +"Then you are not so very much dissatisfied, captain?" said Sir +Humphrey. + +"Yes, I am, sir, for I don't like to be bested. No man does, especially +by one of these clever 'Merican chaps. For they are clever, there's no +getting over that." + +"I don't like that either," said Sir Humphrey; "but it's evident that +this man is an enthusiast in travel and natural history." + +"Oh, yes, sir; but why don't he go and enthoose in somebody else's +vessel? I'm afraid you've been cutting us out an awkward job to get on +with that customer." + +"I hope not," said Sir Humphrey. "He promises very fairly." + +"Yes, sir, but will he perform? You see, if he was an Englishman he +might, but I never knew an American yet who liked to play second fiddle +in anything. But there, sir, you're chief, and I don't see how, short +of going back again to set him ashore, you could have done anything +else." + +"Thank you, captain," said Sir Humphrey. "I did what I thought was best +under the circumstances." + +"You did, sir. Squire here--Mr Brace--thought I was going to turn +rusty, I suppose." + +"I did," said Brace. + +"Yes, but I wasn't. I blaze up a bit when I'm put out, gentlemen, but I +soon settle down into a steady warm glow, and keep within the bars." + +"Then there's an end of an awkward episode, captain," said Sir Humphrey. +"I was afraid at one time that we were going to have a tragedy." + +"So was I, sir," said the captain sharply. "It's a mercy that +ugly-looking yellow monkey of a chap was not smothered in that cask. My +word! he must be a plucky fellow!" + +"Or too stupid to have grasped the danger," said Brace. + +The captain nodded. + +"Well, you gentlemen," he said, "I'm going to stop on deck till we're a +few miles farther off the shore; so I shall keep Mr Dellow company till +it's Lynton's watch, and then I shall turn in. Good night, gentlemen, +good night." + +"Good night," said the brothers in a breath. + +"If you hear it come on to blow before morning, you needn't be +surprised, for I think we're going to have a bit of wind. Young Uncle +Sam was right about sending a boat ashore with him. She'd never have +made the shore, nor the brig again." + +Brace looked sharply round, trying to pierce the darkness, but in vain. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +THE MIGHTY RIVER. + +Before morning the "Jason" was pitching and tossing in a heavy sea which +had risen very suddenly, and for the next week, whenever the brothers +cared to face the rain, wind, and spray, they found Captain Banes on +deck looking very grim and anxious and evidently in no humour for +entering into conversation. + +The officers and crew too looked worn and harassed with hard work and +the buffeting they had received; but it was evident that they took it +all as a matter of course, and were perfectly confident about the +ability of the brig to weather a far worse storm. + +It was quite bad enough, and prolonged till the pitching of the vessel +became very wearisome; but there was one thing which always met the eyes +of the brothers when they went on deck, and that was the figure of +Briscoe tucked up in the best shelter he could find, beneath bulwark or +behind deckhouse, clad in glistening black waterproof; and smoking a big +cigar. + +He always saw the brothers as soon as they appeared on deck, and if they +nodded to him he was quick to respond, but he never forced his company +upon them; and it was so too in the cabin, for he was quiet and +unobtrusive, speaking readily when spoken to, but only to subside at +once when the conversation flagged. + +"What has become of his inquisitive organ, Brace?" + +"That's what I was thinking: he seems quite a different man." + +The storm was over at last, and one morning, as the brig was running due +west under a full press of sail, it suddenly struck Brace that the water +over the side was not so clear as it had been an hour before when he was +leaning over the bulwark gazing down into the crystalline depths, trying +to make out fish, and wondering how it was that, though there must be +millions upon millions in the ocean through which they were sailing, he +could not see one. + +"We must be getting into water that has been churned up by the storm," +thought Brace; but just then the second mate came up and he referred to +him. + +"Water not so clear?" he said. "No wonder; we're right off the mouths +of the Amazon now." + +"So far south?" + +"Yes, and running right in. Before long the water, instead of being +like this--a bit thick--will be quite muddy, and this time to-morrow we +shall be bidding good-bye to the sea, I suppose, for some time to come." + +Lynton's words were quite right, for the next day, after a most +satisfactory run, Brace stood gazing over the bows of the brig at the +thick muddy water that was churned up, and finding it hard to believe +that he was sailing up the mouth of a river; for, look which way he +would, nothing was to be seen but water, while when he tried his glass +it was with no better success. + +But at last the land was to be made out on the starboard bow, or rather +what was said to be land, a long, low, hazy something on the distant +horizon. + +A couple of days later there was land plain enough on both sides of the +brig, and they commenced a long, dismal progress up stream, of a +monotonous kind that was wearisome in the extreme. + +As time went on, though, there was a change, and that was followed by +plenty of variety in the shape of huge trees, with all their branches +and leaves tolerably fresh, floating seaward, just as they had fallen +from the bank after the mighty stream had undermined them. In one case +there were land birds flitting about the few boughs that appeared above +the water, but generally they were gulls snatching at the small fish +attracted by the floating object. + +Once there was a great matted-together patch of earth fully thirty yards +long and half as wide, a veritable island with bushes still in their +places, floating steadily seaward, and helping to explain the muddiness +of the water and the shallowness of the ocean far out and to right and +left of where the great river debouched. + +Several consultations took place between the captain and Sir Humphrey as +to the course to be taken, and the latter politely asked Briscoe to join +in the discussion and give his opinion. + +"No," he said; "I shan't say anything. I've only one idea about it, and +that is to sail up one of the big rivers that run out of this, one that +has not been explored before, so as to get amongst what's new." + +"Well, that's what we want, isn't it, Free?" said Brace. + +"Exactly." + +"Then I needn't interfere in any way, gentlemen," said Briscoe. "I only +say choose your river, and let's get to work: only pick one that has +banks to it where we can land and do something." + +"Then you don't want us to go as far as we can up one of the explored +rivers?" said the captain, smiling. + +"Certainly not," cried Brace. + +"I understand, gentlemen. Give me time, and I'll take you to just the +place you want. I know the river, but I never heard its name. It runs, +as far as I could make out, due nor'-west: that is, as far as I went up. +After that it went no one knows where." + +"That's the place," cried Brace. "Is it very big?" + +"Tidy, squire," said the captain. "It's very deep, and there's plenty +of room for the brig; and, what's better, the current's sluggish, so +that we can make our way." + +"What about the forest? Is it far back from the waterside?" + +"Hangs over it, so that one can send a boat ashore every night with a +cable to make fast to one of the great trees, and save letting down and +getting up the anchor." + +"But about the river itself: can you take the brig up far--no rocks, +shoals, or waterfalls?" + +"Nothing of the kind, sir," said the captain. "It's all deep, muddy, +sluggish water running through a great forest, and I should say it +carries off the drainage of hundreds of miles of country. It must come +from the mountains right away yonder, and sometimes there must be +tremendous rains to flood the stream, for I remember seeing marks of +sand and weeds and dry slime thirty or forty feet up some of the trunks, +and I should say that at times the whole country's flooded and we shall +have to look out to keep from grounding right away from the river's +course." + +"You will take care of that," said Sir Humphrey, smiling. + +"I shall try, sir," said the captain grimly, "for I don't think you'd +like to wake up some morning and find the brig in the middle of a +forest, waiting till the next flood-time came." + +A week later, after being baffled again and again by adverse winds, +Brace and his brother stood upon the deck of the brig one evening just +as the wind dropped, as if simultaneously with the descent of the sun +like a huge globe of orange fire behind a bank of trees a hundred yards +to their left. The river, smooth and glassy, glowed in reflection from +the ruddy sky, the sails flapped, and, no longer answering to her helm, +the vessel was beginning slowly to yield to the sluggish current, when +there was a rattling sound as the chain cable ran through the +hawse-hole, and directly after the anchor took hold in the muddy bottom, +the way on the brig was checked, and she swung in mid-stream with her +bowsprit pointing out the direction of her future course--a long open +waterway between two rapidly-darkening banks of trees whose boughs +drooped over and dipped their muddied tips in the stream. + +"Will this do, squire?" said the captain. + +"Gloriously," said Brace; "but I thought you meant to make fast every +night to one of the trees." + +"By-and-by, my lad, by-and-by, when there's a handy tree. This would be +bad landing for a boat--all one tangle of jungle, and hard to get +through. You wanted to get where it was wild: hear that?" + +"Yes," said Brace excitedly, as he heard a long-drawn cry from out of +the forest, one which was answered from a distance, while the last cry +was replied to faintly from still farther away. "What's that--a +jaguar?" + +"Monkey," said the captain drily, "and that grunting just beginning and +rising into a regular boom isn't made by the pumas, for I don't think +there'd be any in these great forest-lands." + +"What then?" said Brace, in a low voice, as if awe-stricken by the +peculiar sounds. + +"Frogs, my lad, frogs." + +_Quaaak_! A peculiarly loud and strident hollow echoing cry, which was +startling in its suddenness and resembled nothing so much as a +badly-blown note upon a giant trombone. + +"What's that?" + +"That?" said the captain, thrusting his hat on one side so as to leave +ample room for scratching one ear. "That? Oh, that's a noise I only +remember hearing once before, and nobody could ever tell me what it was. +There's a lot of queer noises to be heard in the forest of a night, and +it always struck me that there are all kinds of wild beasts there such +as have never been heard of before and never seen." + +"I dessay," said a voice behind them which made them both start round +and stare at the speaker, who had been leaning over the bulwark +unobserved. + +"What's that?" said the captain sharply. + +"I said I dessay," replied Briscoe; "but that thing isn't one of them." + +"What is it then?" said the captain shortly. + +"One of those great long-legged crane things that begin work about this +time, fishing in the swamps for frogs." + +"You think the noise was made by a crane?" + +"Sure of it, mister," was the reply. "I've sat up before now at the +edge of a swamp to shoot them for specimens, and there's several kinds +of that sort of bird make a row like that." + +"Humph!" ejaculated the captain gruffly. "You seem to know. Perhaps, +then, you'll tell us what made that noise?" + +He held up his hand, and all listened to a peculiar whirring sound which +began at a distance, came closer and closer till it seemed to pass from +under the trees, swing round the ship, and slowly die away again. + +"Ah, that!" said Briscoe quietly. "Sounds like someone letting off a +firework with a bang at the end gone damp. No, I don't know what that +is. Yes, I do," he added hastily. "That's a big bird too." + +"Crane?" said the captain, with an incredulous snort. + +"No, sir," said the American: "different thing altogether. It's a night +bird that flies round catching beetles and moths--bird something like +our `Whip-poor-Wills' or `Chuck-Will's-widows.'" + +"Bah!" said the captain. + +"Yes, that's right," cried Brace: "a bird something like our English +night-hawk that sits in the dark parts of the woods and makes a whirring +sound; only it isn't half so loud as this." + +"Well," said the captain grudgingly, "perhaps you're right. I'm not +good at birds. I know a gull or a goose or turkey or chicken. I give +in." + +The strange whirring sound as of machinery came and went again; but the +maker was invisible, and attention was taken from it directly by a loud +splash just astern. + +"Fish!" cried Brace. + +"Yes, that's fish," said the captain. "No mistake about that, and you +may as well get your tackle to work, squire, for these rivers swarm with +'em, and some of them are good eating. Bit of fish would be a pleasant +change if you can supply the cook." + +"But it's too dark for fishing," said Brace. + +"Better chance of catching something," said the captain. "But that +isn't fish; that's something fishing." + +There was no need for the captain to draw attention to the fact, for +those near him were straining their eyes towards the shore, from which a +strange beating and splashing sound arose, but apparently from beyond +the black bank of trees formed by the edge of the forest. + +"There must be a lake on the other side of the bank," said Brace +eagerly. + +"No," replied the captain; "only one of the creeks that run inland among +the trees. Come, do you know what that is?" + +"It sounds like an alligator splashing about in shallow water," replied +Brace. + +"You've hit it first time, squire. It's a big one lashing about with +its tail to stun the fish so that they float up ready for his meal. +That's right, isn't it, Mr Briscoe?" + +"Quite," said the American. "I've seen them doing it in the Mississippi +swamps; but they were only small ones, five or six feet long. This one +sounds as if it were a thumper." + +"Yes," said Sir Humphrey, "I suppose there are monsters in these waters. +Ah!" he continued, as the splashing grew louder; "that sounds like a +warning to us not to think of bathing while we are up the river." + +"Bathing!" cried the captain. "I should think not. You can't do it +here, sir, for, besides alligators and different kinds of pike, these +waters swarm with small fish that are always savagely hungry. The big +ones are plentiful enough, but the little ones go in shoals and are as +ready to attack as the others, and they have teeth like lancets, so take +care." + +The splashing ceased, and this seemed to be the signal for fresh sounds +to arise both up and down the river and from the forest depths on either +bank, till the night seemed to be alive with a strange chorus, which, as +Brace and his companions listened, culminated in a tremendous crash, +followed by a dead silence. + +"Whatever is that?" whispered Brace. + +"Big tree tumbled," said Briscoe carelessly. + +"But there is no wind--there was no lightning." + +"No," said the American, "but it had to tumble some time. You often +hear that in the woods: they go on growing and growing for hundreds of +years, and then they stop from old age and overgrowth, and begin to rot +and rot, till all at once, night or day, the top's too heavy for the +bottom, and down they come. We'll go and have a look at that one in the +morning." + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +IN THE BLACK FOREST. + +There was a fascination about that night scene which kept Brace and his +brother on deck for hours trying to pierce the black darkness, and +whenever they made up their minds that it was time to go down to their +berths something was sure to happen in the mysterious forest depths or +near at hand in the river. + +One time it was a piercing cry as of someone in agony; at another a +sneering, chuckling laugh taken up in a chorus as if by a mocking party +of strange watchers, who, accustomed to the darkness, could see +everything going on aboard the brig; whisperings; sounds of crawling +creatures passing over sticky mud and wallowing impatiently in their +efforts to get along; peculiar angry barkings uttered by the alligators; +and a dreadful rustling in the trees, which Brace felt certain must be +caused by huge serpents winding in and out amongst the branches. + +He suggested this to the captains who uttered a grunt. + +"Very likely," he said. "They do creep about in that way after the +monkeys. 'Tis their nature to. This is the sort of country for those +gentlemen, both the dry ones and the wet ones." + +"I don't understand you," said Brace. "Oh, you mean the boas and the +anacondas." + +"That's right, squire, and I daresay we shall see some tidy big ones. +Yes, that sounds like one working about. Ah! he struck at it and +missed, I should say. Bit disappointing, for snakes like their suppers +as well as other people, and I'm going down to have mine. Are you +coming?" + +"No," said Brace decisively; "I'm going to stay up here and listen." + +Sir Humphrey and Briscoe elected to do the same, and for another hour +they listened, and watched the display made by the fireflies; while +every now and then, as the muddy water trickled and seemed to whisper +against the sides of the brig, the listeners were startled by some +strange splash close by, which sounded to them as if the river swarmed +with huge creatures which kept on swimming around and beneath the +vessel, partly attracted by curiosity as to the new visitor to their +habitat, partly resenting its presence by splashing and beating the +surface as they rose or dived. + +"It's all very interesting," said Briscoe at last, "and I could stop +here all night watching and listening; but we must have sleep, or we +shall be no good to-morrow, so I'll say good night, gentlemen. If +anything happens, my gun and rifle are both loaded, and I'll come on +deck directly." + +"That's right," said Brace sharply. "But what can happen?" + +"Who can say?" replied the American. "We know we're in a wild country, +perhaps the very first of all people who have come so far into the +forest, and we don't know what enemies may come. I'm pretty sure of +two: stinging insects and fever; but there's no telling what may come +out of the dark jungles. We're pretty safe from wild beasts, but for +aught we know we may have been watched by savages ever since the +morning. Savages generally have canoes, bows, spears, and clubs. I +don't say it's likely, but some of them might come creeping aboard in +the night, and if I was captain I should arm the watch. Ugh! what's +that?" he cried, in a horrified tone. + +"Barrel of my rifle, Mr Briscoe," said Lynton quietly, from out of the +darkness. + +"Why did you do that?" said the American sharply. + +"Only to show you that the watch is armed, sir; and if there is anything +unpleasant in the night we shan't be long in letting you know." + +Another hour passed before Sir Humphrey and his brother went below, and +then their first act was to thrust cartridges into their guns and +rifles, and to lay them with their ammunition-belts ready to hand; but +even after that precaution sleep was slow in coming to Brace's pillow, +for he lay listening to the rush, gurgle, and splash of the river till +the strange sounds grew confused and died out, all but a peculiar +rustling that seemed to be made by a huge serpent creeping among the +branches of the trees: and this puzzled the listener, for it was +impossible that trees and a huge reptile could be out in the middle of +the great muddy river. + +Then it seemed that the anchor which held them fast out in mid-stream +must have dragged and the brig have been carried by an eddy close in +shore, to run aground, so that the masts were tangled with the +overhanging boughs. + +Thoughts came fast after this, but more and more confused, till they +were so mixed that the listener could pick out nothing clear from what +had become a mental tangle in which he grew so weary that nothing seemed +to matter in the least, and he did not trouble about anything more till +a voice said: + +"Come, Brace, isn't it time you roused up?" + +The reply was a dull thump on the floor caused by the young man rolling +out of his berth, to find his brother half-dressed, and that the +troubles of the night had been merely dreams, for a glance out of the +cabin window showed that the brig's stern was in mid-stream, with the +muddy water turned to ruddy gold by the rising sun, in whose rays the +current flashed and looked glorious beyond the power of words to paint. +The banks of trees which dipped their boughs right into the stream, +instead of looking mysteriously black, were also glowing with colour, +and in several parts full of moving life, as birds of brilliant hues +flitted from bough to bough, and an excited company of active monkeys +swung themselves here and there in their eagerness to get a view of the +strange object which had invaded their forest home. + +It was settled at once over breakfast that a boat should be manned +directly after the meal, so that a landing might be effected on one or +the other shore, the forest promising endless attractions for the +naturalists. + +"All right, gentlemen," said Captain Banes; "the boat shall be ready, +for there isn't a breath of air this morning." + +"Why do you speak like that?" said Sir Humphrey, noting the captain's +manner. "What has the wind to do with it?" + +"Only that if there was a breeze I should advise you to take advantage +of it and go on up the river, for you'll do no good here except by +shooting from the boat." + +"Oh, but we must land and go up country a bit," cried Brace. + +"It isn't to be done, squire," said the captain. "Take your glass when +you go on deck, and you'll see that the forest is all one tangle, +through which you'd have to cut your way, unless you can find a creek +and pole the boat along among the trees." + +"There must be a creek in yonder," said Briscoe, "where we heard that +great alligator splashing." + +"Well, try, gentlemen," said the captain, smiling; "there's nothing done +without: only don't go and overdo it, for you'll find it terribly hot +and steamy under the trees." + +"I'll see to that," said Sir Humphrey quietly; and soon after, well +provided with arms and ammunition, the party stepped into the boat, the +men dropped their oars into the water with a splash, and in an instant +there was a tremendous eddy and a little wave arose, showing the course +made by some startled inhabitant of the river--fish or reptile, probably +the latter, disturbed from where it had lain in the shadow of the brig. + +"Might have had a shot if the water had been clear," said Brace +excitedly. "I've got ball in one barrel." + +"Good plan," said Briscoe, "for you never know what you may see next. +I'd keep an eye upward amongst the low boughs of the trees. Use yours, +too, Dan." + +Brace was already carrying out that plan, attracted as he was by the +sight of parrots and the glimpses of green and scarlet he kept seeing-- +brilliant tints that evidently formed part of the gorgeous livery worn +by the macaws which made a home high up amongst the top branches of the +huge trees. + +Brace glanced back at the brig swinging in midstream by her chain, with +her square sails hanging motionless in the hot air; and then as the men +dipped their oars gently, the boat glided close in towards the +overhanging boughs, which displayed every tint of rich tropical green. + +One was literally covered from the water's edge to its summit with a +gorgeous sheet of brilliant scarlet blossoms, over which flitted +butterfly and beetle, a very living museum of the most beautiful insects +the travellers had ever seen. + +"It does not seem as if we need go any farther, Brace," said Sir +Humphrey. + +"So I was thinking," said the former. "Look at those lovely +humming-birds. Why, they're not so big by a long way as the +butterflies." + +"I was looking," said Sir Humphrey, "and longing for a tiny gun loaded +with dry sand or water, to bring some of them down. Look at the bright +blue steely gleams of their forked tails." + +"No, no," whispered Brace, as if afraid to speak aloud lest the glorious +vision of colour should pass away; "I meant those tiny fellows all blue +and emerald-green there, with the tufts of snowy-white down above their +legs. Oh, what a pity!" + +The last words were said as the blaze of blossom and flitting colour +passed away, for as the boat glided on they passed in amongst the veil +of drooping leaves and twigs which brushed over their heads and +shoulders, and were at once in a soft twilight, looking up into a +wilderness of trunks and boughs, where for some moments after the sudden +change all looked strangely obscure and dense. + +But there was plenty to see there as the men laid in their oars and one +in the bows thrust out the hook to take hold of a branch here and there +and drag the boat along towards a more open part, which soon took the +form of a vegetable tunnel, proving to be an arched-in muddy creek, +amongst whose overhanging cover something was in motion, but what it was +did not become evident for a few minutes in the gloom. + +"Is it a great serpent?" said Brace huskily. + +"No," said Briscoe quickly. "A party of monkeys playing at +follow-my-leader. Look, there they go, close after one another. It +looks just like some great reptile, but you can see now. They're afraid +of the boat." + +He had hardly spoken when the latter quivered from the effects of a +sudden concussion. + +"Take care," said Sir Humphrey. "You've run upon a sunken trunk." + +"No, sir," said the man in the bows, as he held on to a tree with the +boat-hook; "that wasn't our doing. It was one of they alligators gave +us a slap with his tail. Look at the water. There he goes." + +The man was right enough, for the water was eddying violently from the +passage of something beneath, and proof was given directly after, by the +appearance of a dark gnarled something a few inches above the surface, +this something curving over and being in the act of disappearing, when, +carried away by the excitement of the moment, Brace raised his double +gun, took a quick aim, and fired, with the result that there was a +tremendous splash, the appearance of a flattened tail for a moment, and +amidst a discordant screaming from overhead, the occupants of the boat +had a glimpse of what seemed to be a writhing hank of enormously thick +chocolate and tawny-yellow cable, which seemed to have been thrown from +above, to fall with another splash into the water some twenty yards in +front of where the boat lay. Then there was a momentary gleam of colour +as the object writhed and twined, and then the muddy water rose and fell +and washed among the trunks which rose straight from the surface, while +for a few moments no one spoke, but every eye was directed at the spot +where the water quivered as if something was in motion beneath. + +"I fired at the alligator," said Brace, turning to his brother with a +half-startled look. + +"Yes, and scared that big snake," said Briscoe. "He was having a nap +tied up in a knot on some big branch. I've seen 'em sometimes hanging +over the side in thick folds. You tumbled him over with the startling. +Warning to him to take a turn round the branch with his tail." + +"Be ready to fire," said Brace hurriedly. "It is sure to come up again +to try and creep into a tree." + +"No," said Briscoe quietly. "He won't show himself again for hours." + +"Nonsense," said Brace impatiently; "it would be drowned." + +Briscoe smiled good-humouredly. + +"Drowned?" he said. "Just about as much as an eel would. Nice place +this for a bathe, what with the alligators and the anacondas. Not much +chance for a man if one of those brutes took hold of him. Pull him +under in a moment." + +"Do you think one of those creatures would attack in the water?" said +Sir Humphrey. + +"I've seen one drag a pig down," said Briscoe. "They're as much at home +in the water as out, and they can swim as easily as a water-snake." + +"Then there's nothing to prevent that thing from thrusting out its head +and seizing one of us," said Brace. + +"Nothing at all," replied Briscoe, and then he smiled as he saw the men +exchanging glances and Dan taking out a keen bowie-knife. "But he +won't. He'll lie down below there among the roots for hours, I daresay. +If he did come up of course we should give him a shot." + +"Ugh!" said Brace, shuddering. "But what are we going to do?" + +"Push on up the creek," said his brother. "We may come to an open part. +Go on, my lads." + +The man with the boat-hook went on catching the boughs and drawing the +boat along, and twice over a splash and the following movement of the +water amongst the mossy, muddy tree-trunks told of the presence of some +loathsome reptile; but the men sat fast, gazing stolidly to right and +left in search of danger, and more than once Brace gave a glance at his +double gun as if to see that it was cocked and ready. + +The sensation was not pleasant, and it attacked everyone in the boat. +The American might be right, they thought, and the serpent remain +startled and quiescent down in the depths of the muddy water, but still +they felt the possibility of that terrible head darting out at a victim, +and a low sigh of relief rose again and again as the distance from where +the serpent fell increased. + +It was plain enough now that they were in a winding creek whose sides +were dense with trunks and branches forming an impenetrable barrier had +there been the slightest inclination to land; but all thought of this +passed away almost from the beginning. In fact, it was perfectly clear +that the only way to penetrate the forest was to go up some waterway +such as the one they were in, and this they followed slowly for a few +hundred yards, the man with the boat-hook cleverly guiding the vessel in +and out amongst the many obstacles, till the place grew darker and +darker through the density of the foliage overhead. + +The creek was for the most part painfully still--painfully, for the +weird gloom raised up the idea that thousands of eyes were watching +their movements, and that at any moment some terrible attack might be +made. + +That they were surrounded by living creatures they had ample proof given +them by strange rustlings among the branches overhead, and sometimes by +a sudden hasty rush which, as Briscoe said, might be anything. + +"What do you mean by anything?" said Brace, in a low voice. + +"Snake, monkey, big bird, or cat; but, you see, everything is afraid of +us and scuffling away as hard as it can, even in the water. Look at +that." + +"Yes, I see," said Brace, "another alligator." + +For the American had drawn his attention to a wave raised up by +something rushing past the bows of the boat. + +"Well, I don't know about that," said Briscoe; "I rather fancy that was +one of those gar-fish--alligator gars, they call 'em in the States. +They're great pikey fish with tremendous teeth." + +"But not big like that?" + +"Oh, but they're big enough and precious fierce and strong. I shouldn't +wonder at all if that was one of the brutes." + +"What's that?" asked Sir Humphrey, a couple of hours later, for the man +with the boat-hook turned and spoke. + +"Don't see as I can get any farther, sir; the boat's about wedged in +here, and there don't seem any way of getting on without we had a saw." + +"Is there no room to right or left?" said Brace. "It seems a pity to go +back yet." + +"P'raps you'd take a look, gen'lemen," said the sailor. + +Brace was in the act of laying down his gun when his brother, who was +before him, stood up, and then uttered a sharp ejaculation, close upon a +dull twanging sound from somewhere forward among the trees. + +"What is it, Free?" cried Brace excitedly. + +"An arrow," said Sir Humphrey sharply. "Here, quick, Brace; it may be +poisoned. You, Mr Briscoe, keep a good look-out for--" + +The rest of his speech was stopped by the sharp report of the American's +gun, who fired as he half-knelt in the stern of the boat, aiming just +above the men's heads. + +The next moment he and his man fired again, and as the report died out +the occupants of the boat could hear a splashing sound as of paddles +some little distance in advance. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +GRIM DANGER. + +Brace felt an icy chill run through him, and for a few moments he was +paralysed. + +Not longer, for directly after a thrill of excitement set every nerve +throbbing. + +Laying down his gun, he snatched his knife from its sheath, thrust the +point inside the sleeve of his brother's flannel shirt, ripped it to the +shoulder, and laid bare the great white biceps muscle, in which the head +of an arrow was embedded, so nearly passing through that as Brace placed +his hand beneath the arm he could feel the point of the missile. + +"Don't hesitate," whispered Sir Humphrey. "Poisoned or not poisoned, +that arrow must be extracted. Will you cut down to it or shall I let +Briscoe?" + +"I'll do it," said Brace, through his set teeth; "but I can't help +hurting you, Free: I must do that." + +"Go on. Act," said his brother firmly. "_I'm_ not a child. Cut +boldly." + +Brace placed the point of the knife close to the shaft of the arrow, his +hand trembling so that he could not keep the point still. Then he was +as firm as a rock, for the thought came to him that he must be doing +wrong to make so terrible a cut, and he knew that he risked dividing +some important vessel. + +The knife fell into the bottom of the boat with a loud jangling sound, +for the right idea had come, and Brace played the surgeon as if he had +been trained to the profession. + +Keeping his left hand beneath his brother's arm just clear of the raised +skin where the point of the arrow pressed, he seized the shaft firmly, +gave a sudden thrust, and forced the arrow-head right through, keeping +up the pressure till both barbs were well clear, and with them four or +five inches of the thin bamboo. + +"Now, one of you," he cried to Dan, "pick up my knife and cut through +the arrow." + +The man grasped the idea, and with one cut divided the shaft, while in +less time than it takes to tell it Brace pulled with his left hand, and +the part of the shaft in the wound was drawn right through, while the +blood began to flow. + +The next moment Brace's lips were applied to the wound, first on one +side and then on the other, making it bleed more freely; and this he +supplemented by holding his brother's arm over the side and bathing and +pressing the wound. + +"It may be a false alarm, lad," said Sir Humphrey, speaking slowly and +calmly; "but it is as well to take the precaution." + +"Yes, of course," said Brace huskily, and his heart sank low and the +chill of dread increased, for as he sucked the wound where the arrow had +entered he was conscious of a strange pungent acid taste, which clung to +his lips and caused a stinging sensation at the tip of his tongue. + +He scooped up a little water in the hollow of his hand and then snatched +it away, flinging the water over his brother's face, for he was +conscious of a sharp pricking sensation as if he had scarified the skin +against a thorn. + +But he plunged his hand into the water again and raised it quickly to +his mouth to wash away the bitter taste before applying his lips once +more to the wounded arm. + +This time the water reached his mouth, but he felt a repetition of the +pricking in his fingers, and to his astonishment two tiny silvery fish +fell into the bottom of the boat, while he found that two of his fingers +were red. + +But he had no time to think of self, and he worked hard bathing and +encouraging the bleeding from both orifices of the wound and applying +his lips to them again and again. + +Sir Humphrey was sitting motionless in the bottom of the boat with his +back against the side, bearing the pain he suffered patiently, and +lighting bravely to master the mental agony which attacked him with +suggestions of all the horrors that attend a poisoned wound. + +Meanwhile Briscoe had not been idle. The keen inquisitiveness of his +nature was now shown in a very different way, for his eyes were +searching the depths of the forest as he peered through the gloom among +the dimly-seen trunks again, and he fired twice in the direction from +which the splashing of paddles had been heard. + +He never turned his head nor shifted his eyes for a moment from that +point, reloading by touch alone, while after he had fired the first shot +he took upon himself to give orders to the sailors in a stern, firm +voice. + +"Get back to the brig as fast as you can, my lads." + +It was not until he had assured himself of the fact that their enemy was +in retreat that he turned for a moment to where Brace was busy with his +amateur surgery. + +"That's right," he said; "I shouldn't bandage it up yet. Let it bleed, +in case the arrow was smeared with anything nasty. It's hardly likely +that it was, though." + +As he spoke he picked up the barbed head, glanced at it, and then +slipped it into his pocket in the most indifferent way. + +"I wouldn't fidget about that," he said to Sir Humphrey. "Most of the +things we hear are old women's tales. Here, hold my gun," he added +sharply to his man. + +He thrust an arm round Sir Humphrey, just as his eyes were closing and +he glided slowly along the side of the boat. + +The next moment he too leaned over to scoop up some water and trickle it +over the fainting man's face. + +"Bah!" he ejaculated, "how sharp they are!" For a little silvery fish, +which in company with a shoal had darted at his finger, fell with a pat +on the wounded man's breast, and lay quivering and leaping till it +disappeared through the grating at the bottom of the boat. + +"Does that fainting mean danger?" cried Brace excitedly. + +"Oh, no. Let his head go right down, and he'll soon come to." + +"But you are of opinion that the arrow was poisoned," whispered Brace, +in a whisper which was expressive of painful anxiety. + +"It had been smeared with some stuff by an ignorant savage; but it may +not be poisonous to human beings, and even if it were you've been +drawing it all away from the wound." + +"Oh, make haste, men; make haste," cried Brace excitedly. + +"Let 'em be, my lad," said Briscoe; "they're doing their best. Come, +keep cool, for your brother's sake." + +"Oh, don't talk like that," cried Brace wildly. "Look at him: he's +dying and we right away in the forest like this." + +"You keep cool," said the American sternly. "He isn't dying nor +anything like it. Only fainting from the shock, and he'll soon come to. +It won't help him for you to turn hysterical like a girl. You began +right; now keep it up." + +"What, shall I go on doing something to the wound?" + +"No, I'd let that be now. You must have cleared it from anything that +wiped off as the arrow passed in, and he's a strong, brave fellow. +There, look: he's coming to." + +Sir Humphrey's eyelids had begun to quiver, and at the end of a few +minutes he had quite recovered consciousness. + +He lay back gazing straight up at the boughs of the trees, beneath which +they were passing more quickly now, for they were gliding along with the +current; but twice over he let his eyes rest upon those of his brother, +and he lightly pressed the young man's hand. + +"It's very unlucky," he said. "So unexpected and uncalled for. I +hardly expected that we should have to encounter this." + +"They're a treacherous lot," said Briscoe quietly. "It's enough to make +a man fire upon them at sight. Wound hurt much?" + +"It feels as if a red-hot iron had been thrust through it," said Sir +Humphrey. + +"Glad of it," said the American, who was taking the affair in a very +calm manner. + +"What!" exclaimed Brace, as he turned round quickly with flashing eyes. + +"Glad of it, sir. Good sign. Fine, healthy pain. Now, if it had felt +numb and dull I shouldn't have liked it, for it would have sounded as if +something nasty was on the arrow. There, you keep a good heart, and +we'll soon have you back on board. Then you can have a few hours' +sleep, and you'll be all right by night." + +"I hope so," said Sir Humphrey calmly, and he closed his eyes once more, +while Brace turned his upon his companion with a look full of wild +anxiety, but only to receive a quiet nod and a reassuring smile in +return. + +"I don't think there are any more near," said Briscoe, "and I don't want +to have the unpleasant feeling upon my conscience that I've killed a +fellow-creature; but if any more of them send arrows in this direction, +Dan and I will shoot at sight, and we're uncommonly good shots." + +He had hardly uttered the last words when there was a sharp whirr as if +a beetle had darted by the speaker's ear, and they could see an arrow +stuck quivering in a tree the boat was just passing, while Dan +immediately sent a charge of buckshot crashing among the leaves. + +"That was a bad aim," said the American, facing sharply round, "and I +can't see who sent it. Can you make out a bit of dark skin anywhere +among the bushes, Dan?" + +The man shook his head as he quickly reloaded his weapon, and there was +a grumbling murmur in the negative. + +The rustling, washing sound of the water beneath the boat as the men +urged it along with all their might, everyone giving a thrust with his +oar whenever he could reach a tree, was now the only thing that +disturbed the silence. + +But the opening out of the creek into the river seemed as far off as +ever, and Brace's agony increased as he kept watching for the bright +sunshine flashing from the water, but only to turn his eyes back to +where his brother lay with his face looking very hard and drawn. + +"Can't get a glimpse of anyone," said Briscoe; "and I don't think it's +of any use to fire to scare 'em. Whoever fired that last shot must be +on the land, for there's no sign of a boat. Does anyone of you hear +paddling?" + +"No, no. We can't hear anything moving," came in chorus. + +Then Brace spoke out excitedly: "Surely we ought to be back in the river +by this time! Have we missed our way?" + +"Well, I don't like to say we have," replied the American; "but it does +seem a very long time before we get out of this watery swamp. Hold hard +a minute, my lads, and try and make out how the stream runs." + +The men ceased thrusting at the tree-trunks as soon as Briscoe had given +the word, and by slow degrees the boat came to a stand, and then began +to float back in the opposite direction to that in which they had been +forcing it. + +"Why, we're going wrong," cried one of the men excitedly, springing up. + +"Well, never you mind," said the American sharply. "Just you sit down +and wait for orders. We'll tell you which way to go." + +"But--" began the man. + +"Silence, sir!" cried Briscoe sharply. "All! look out!" + +An arrow stuck in the side of the boat so close to Brace that it passed +through his loose flannel shirt, pinning it to the wood; and Briscoe +swung himself round and fired sharply in the direction from which it had +come. + +The shot rattled among the leaves, and they and a few twigs came +pattering down into the water, while directly after there was another +report from right away to their left. + +"Hah! that must have come from the brig," cried Brace. + +"Right," said Briscoe. "Now then, lads, you know which way to punt her +along: the creek opens out and winds about in all sorts of ways, and I +daresay we could wander in a regular maze for hours; but we know which +direction to make for now. You listen keenly for the next answer to my +shot, Mr Brace, for I'll fire again soon: only I should like something +to fire at. See that arrow?" + +"Yes," said Brace, stretching out his hand to withdraw the arrow from +where it had pierced the side of the boat. + +"Don't do that; let it be, and draw your flannel over the feathering. +Look at the slope it takes. I fancy the man who shot that must have +been seated on the branch of a tree." + +"It may have been shot from a distance and taken a curve." + +"No," said Briscoe; "there are too many boughs for it to have come +through. It was sent from pretty close, I should say; and between +ourselves I hope we shan't have any more. Ah, that's right, my lads. +She's moving nicely now. I only wish you were able to row." + +"Same here, sir," growled the man handling the boat-hook; "and we wish +you could bring down one of they savages as keeps on trying to hit the +target, meaning we. This sort of thing aren't pleasant here in the +dark." + +The American nodded, as his eyes literally glittered in the gloomy +shades, for he kept on turning them in all directions, and then with his +face lighting up he took a quick aim and fired away to his right, +scattering leaves and sending them pattering down; but apparently with +no other effect save that there was another shot fired, and certainly +from a much nearer point. + +Just then the men gave a cheer, for as they urged the boat in the +direction of the spot whence came the last shot, they caught sight of a +bright ray of light. + +Five minutes later there was a distinct lightening of the gloom, and +before many more minutes had passed the boat was forced out suddenly +through a curtain of drooping boughs into the dazzling light of the open +river. + +The "Jason" was riding at anchor quite a quarter of a mile lower down +the stream, while close in shore was another of the brig's boats, +standing up in whose stern the unmistakeable figure of Captain Banes was +seen. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +ABOARD THE BRIG AGAIN. + +The two boats reached the anchored vessel about the same time, and Sir +Humphrey, who looked ghastly, was carefully lifted on board and borne +down into the cabin, where the captain examined the injured arm. + +Brace watched his countenance anxiously while he was doing so, feeling, +as he did, ready to cling to the first hand extended to him in his +terrible difficulty, for his brother lay back now half-insensible and as +if overcome by a terrible feeling of drowsiness. The young man stood +silently waiting for the captain to speak. + +"Now then, squire," said the captain grimly, after his long examination, +"do you want to hear what I think of this?" + +"Yes, yes, of course I do, captain," cried Brace excitedly. + +"Then look here, squire, I'm not a doctor nor a surgeon; but a skipper +who goes on long voyages all over the world gets to know something about +physic as well as about broken bones and out-o'-joints, cuts, and +scratches." + +"Yes, of course, I know that," said Brace, who was becoming very anxious +about his brother's condition, and could not understand how the captain +could remain so calm and unmoved. + +"Well, then, this is just the same as a cut, only it happens to be a +deep one that goes right through the arm." + +"Yes, yes, I know that," said Brace impatiently. "But--" + +"Wait a bit, squire. You young chaps are always in such a hurry. Now, +I was going to say that your brother here, being a fine healthy man who +don't take liberties with his constitution, all there'd be to do would +be to tie up the cut and make him a sling for his arm, keep the wound +clean, and wait patiently till it had grown together again." + +"But don't you see it's a wound from an arrow? Talk low, or he will +hear you." + +"Not he," said the captain; "he don't understand a word we're saying-- +poor chap! He's quite unconscious. I know what you mean about the +poison, and I've seen a man once who had a poisoned arrow shot into +him." + +"And did he look like my brother does now?" + +"Not a bit, my lad; and I fancy that if there was any poison on the +arrow that went through your brother's arm, you pretty well sucked it +out and washed it away." + +"Then you don't think there is any danger?" asked Brace. + +"That's right, squire. I don't think there's any danger. Mind, I say +_think_, for I'm not a proper qualified man." + +"But you can tell me your candid opinion about my brother's wound," said +Brace. + +"Well," replied the captain, "I'll go so far as to say that if I'd got +that hole through my arm I should be very savage, I should make use of +some language, and I should say I'd shoot every Indian I saw with a bow +and arrows, and of course I shouldn't do it; but I don't think I should +make myself uncomfortable about it any more, but just leave it to Nature +to cure." + +"You think that he will recover, then?" said Brace eagerly. + +"I do," said the captain. "What have you got to say about it, mister?" + +He turned to the American as he spoke, and Briscoe, who had been keenly +watching the half-insensible patient all the time Brace and the captain +had been speaking, rose up slowly. + +"I'm not a doctor, skipper," he said, "and the only experience I have +had in this way has been with rattlesnake bites." + +"Well, that's near enough for me, sir," said the captain tartly. "I +should say that the difference between the symptoms of a wound from a +poisoned arrow and one caused by a poisoned tooth wouldn't be very +great." + +"Perhaps not," said Briscoe thoughtfully. "Well, I don't quite like +this drowsiness that has come over our patient; it's 'most as if he had +been given a dose of opium to soothe the pain. It is the only bad +symptom I see." + +"Don't say you're no doctor, sir," said Captain Banes, with a low +chuckle, "because it seems to me that you are." + +"Why do you think so?" said Briscoe, looking at him wonderingly. + +"Because you've put your finger down on the exact spot directly." + +"I do not understand you." + +"Why, I mean this. What did I do, squire, when you and I were alone in +the cabin when we first brought your brother aboard?" + +"You gave him a part of a glass of water with some laudanum in it." + +"To be sure I did, to calm down the pain; and that was what I call +laudanum and Mr Briscoe here calls opium." + +"Then I agree with you, Captain Banes, that there are no bad symptoms at +present," said Briscoe quickly. "Let us leave him to sleep off the +effect of what you have given him, and see how he looks when he wakes +up." + +"Eh? What is it, Dellow?" said the captain sharply, for the first mate +appeared at the door of the cabin. + +"We want to know what's to be done," said the mate. + +"What about?" asked the captain. "What's the matter?" + +"Three arrows have come aboard since you came down." + +"Were you able to see who shot them?" said the captain. + +"No." + +"Is there any wind?" + +"Not enough to fill a sail," was the mate's response. + +"Humph! and it's no use to drop down lower, because I expect the Indians +have canoes. Keep the men all under cover of the bulwarks, and you and +Lynton can take a couple of rifles and amuse yourselves shooting any +wild beasts you see on the starboard bow. But mind you all keep well +under cover. You understand?" + +"Oh, yes, I understand," said the mate, smiling in a peculiar way; and +he went to the arms rack and took down two rifles and ammunition-belts +for the second mate and himself. + +"Hold hard a minute," said the captain. "Just understand this, Dellow: +if they leave you alone you leave them alone. If they don't they must +take the consequences." + +"I understand," said the mate coolly. "How's Sir Humphrey going on, +sir? Is there any danger?" This was to Brace. + +"The captain and Mr Briscoe think there is nothing to be alarmed +about," was the reply. "I hope they are right." + +"So does everybody, sir," said the mate warmly. "He seems to be +sleeping easy like." + +Brace nodded. + +"Well, he wouldn't be doing so if poison had got hold of him." + +"Right, Dellow," said the captain, nodding his head with satisfaction. +"Look here, squire, you try and make your mind a bit easy." + +"I am going to," replied Brace. + +"Well, then, let Sir Humphrey have a good sleep while you go on deck +with Dellow here, and take your rifle with you too. You're a good shot, +and ought to be able to bring some of those foreign archers to their +senses." + +"I came to collect natural-history specimens," said Brace warmly. "I +don't want to slaughter ignorant savages." + +"Then you don't believe in that Italian law?" said the captain, with a +chuckle. + +"Which Italian law do you mean?" said Brace, staring. + +"Well, Roman-Latin then, if you like. It's all the same, isn't it--old +Italian _Lex talionis_. That means, serve out the chap who has served +you out, don't it?" + +"Something of the kind," said Brace, smiling. "No, I don't want to take +revenge on those who are perhaps innocent." + +"Just as you like, sir," said the captain, rather gruffly; "though I +don't see where the innocence comes in. But, setting aside taking +revenge, I suppose you won't mind helping to defend the vessel if some +of these fellows should come off in their canoes to attack us?" + +"Why, of course not," said Brace warmly. "You know I would do my best." + +"To be sure I do, squire," said the captain, smiling. "Well, then, +suppose you go and help Dellow and Lynton, and I daresay Mr Briscoe +will join you as well." + +"Certainly, captain," said the American: "a few shots now may give the +Indians a lesson, and save us from having to fire hundreds later on. +Perhaps it will be the means of preventing them from molesting us +again." + +"But is anyone to remain with my brother?" said Brace. + +"He wants no watching, my lad. He's best left alone. You can come down +now and again to have a look at him." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +A SIGHT OF THE ENEMY. + +Brace hesitated for a few moments before making any move to go on deck. +Then, seeing Briscoe go to the arms rack and return with rifle and +ammunition, he followed his example and went on deck, to find the brig +swinging gently by its cable and the crew all lying about on the deck to +shelter themselves from the sun as well as from the Indians, two of +whose arrows were just as they had fallen, sticking upright in the white +boards, between the seams of which the pitch was beginning to ooze out, +looking bright and sticky in the sun. + +"Lie down, sir, lie down!" shouted Dan, and Briscoe dropped flat upon +the deck at once, his rifle clattering against the boards; but before +Brace was down, a couple of arrows came _ping, ping_, to stick in the +deck, while a third pierced and hung in one of the sails, a fourth +dropping with a hiss a little short of the brig and into the water. + +"This is nice, Mr Brace," cried Lynton, laughing. "It's as the circus +clown said, too dangerous to be safe." + +"Yes," said Dellow, who was crawling towards the starboard bulwark on +hands and knees, dragging two rifles after him. "Come and lay hold of +one, Jem. Mind you don't shoot yourself. It's the wooden end of the +rifle that you have to put up against your shoulder, and the hole in the +iron barrel which you are supposed to point at the enemy." + +"Is it now?" said the second mate sarcastically. "I'm much obliged and +thankye for telling me. You put the bullet in at that end of the gun +too, don't you, and push it through with the ramrod like a popgun, eh?" + +"Yes, that's right," said Dellow, chuckling; "but hit the poor fellows +soft the first time so as not to hurt 'em much. If they get saucy +afterwards, why then you must hit hard." + +"All right; I'll mind," said Lynton, looking at Brace and smiling; "but +this ought to be stopped, for the niggers are wonderfully clever at +hitting the brig. They shoot right up into the air and guess at their +aim, so that the arrows seem to come down out of the sky." + +"Yes," said Brace, who was now gradually beginning to take an excited +interest in the encounter with the natives; "it's the way they shoot the +floating turtles, so that their arrows pierce the shell instead of +glancing off." + +"There's another," said Dellow. "Well, I wish they'd keep to their +turtles. I don't like them practising on me. What's that one like, Mr +Brace? Is the point broken?" + +"No," said Brace, who had crept sidewise along the deck so as to reach +the last arrow that had come on board, and carefully drawn it out, to +sit examining the head. + +"Poisoned?" asked the mate. + +"I'm afraid so," replied Brace. "Look at this stuff lying in the +groove," and he pointed to what appeared to be some kind of gum, +adhering to the roughly-made head. + +"Ah! looks nasty," said Briscoe; "but it isn't obliged to be dangerous +to human beings. You see, they use their arrows principally for small +game. I don't believe, mind you, that your brother's going to be much +the worse for his trouble." + +"I sincerely hope not," said Brace, with a sigh. + +"So does everybody, sir," said the mate. "But come: it's our turn now. +Let's see if we can't stop this game before some of us are hit." + +"Yes," said Briscoe, who had taken up, examined, and then smelt the +arrow-head, ending by moistening a paper which he drew from his pocket +and rubbing the arrow-point thereon, with the result that the paper +received a brownish smear and the soft iron became clear. + +After a few moments he said: + +"There is no doubt about the arrows having been dipped in something, and +we must not run any more risks." + +Brace experienced a chilly feeling as he thought of his brother, but he +made an effort to master the nervous dread by devoting himself to the +task they had in hand. + +"The arrows seem to come from the foot of that great tree," he said, +pointing to where a giant rose high above the heads of its neighbours +and sent forth huge boughs, the lowermost of which swept the surface of +the river. + +"I fancy they come from some twenty feet up," said Briscoe thoughtfully. + +"You're right, sir," said his servant. "Look at that," and he drew his +master's attention to a shaft which just at that moment rose from out of +the densest part of the tree, described an arch, and fell upon the deck. + +"I can't see him," cried Lynton, who was crouching in the shelter of the +bulwark; "but I fancy I can make out where he is." + +"Try," said the mate, and the next minute Lynton fired, his bullet +cutting the leaves of the pyramid of verdure, and the report startling a +flock of bright green birds, which flew screaming across to the opposite +bank of the river. + +"A miss," said the mate. "Now you try, sir. It's random work though." + +Brace felt a shrinking sensation, but he knew that the time had come for +action, and rested his rifle upon the bulwark and sent the bullet +hurtling through the densest part of the tree. + +"Bravo! Well done!" cried Briscoe. + +"What is it?" said Brace eagerly. "I couldn't see for the smoke." + +"I could," said the mate. "There was somebody there, and, hit or no, +your shot startled him, for I saw something go crashing down through the +boughs. I believe you've finished him, and we shall have no more arrows +from there." + +"Think there was only one of them then?" said Lynton. + +"Oh, no, my lad; there's no knowing how many there are of the beauties, +but I fancy there's one the less." + +The mate had hardly spoken before another arrow stuck in the deck, its +inclination showing that it had come from an entirely fresh direction. +But it had hardly touched the deck with a dull rap before the American's +rifle uttered its sharp crack, and the bullet sent the leaves of a tree +some distance farther to the left pattering down. + +"That looks as though there were some more of them about," said the mate +gruffly, and he knelt in shelter, keenly watching for his opportunity of +delivering a shot. + +Just then the captain came on deck, and Brace hurried to meet him. He +did not speak, but looked at the captain with questioning eyes. + +"Sound asleep, squire," said Captain Banes, in answer to Brace's mute +enquiry. "Well, how many have you brought down?" Then, without waiting +for an answer, he continued: "I don't suppose there are above half a +dozen of them. Just a hunting party in a canoe. Look here, Dellow, we +shall have to try to scare them away before they do any more mischief." + +"Well, we are scaring them," said the mate gruffly. "I believe we've +brought down two." + +"But they keep on shooting," said the captain, as another arrow came on +board not far from the spot where they were sheltering, "and I can't say +I want to have one of those things sticking into me." + +"What shall we do then?" said the mate. + +"Here, you," cried the captain to one of the men, "go and tell the cook +to stick the poker in the galley fire." + +The man went on all fours along the deck nearly as actively as a dog, +and his fellows laughingly cheered him, even the captain smiling grimly +before turning once more to the mate. + +"Get one of those little flannel bags of powder and load the brass gun. +You can point her towards where the blackguards are, and she'll go off +with such a roar that it may startle them and send them paddling for +their lives." + +"Maybe it will," said the mate gruffly; "but I doubt it." + +"Never mind your doubts, my lad. It won't cost much to try. I don't +suppose they ever heard a cannon fired in their lives, and they'll think +we've got the thunder to help us. We'll run a double charge in: the +brass gun will stand it." + +"Suppose she bursts?" said the mate rather sourly. + +"Suppose?" said the captain sharply. "There, you do what I tell you. +If she does burst I shall have fired her, and she'll kill me, and you'll +be skipper, so you're all right." + +"No, I shan't," said the mate gruffly, "for she'll kill me. I'm going +to fire her myself." + +"Load her then," said the captain, chuckling, "and don't go on setting a +mutinous example to the men. Squire Brace looks quite startled." + +The mate smiled grimly and went below, to return with a couple of little +flannel bags and crawl with them to where the little signal cannon was +lashed to the deck. + +Brace followed, preferring to assist in the preparation of this +experiment to firing in the direction of naked savages. + +"Here, I shall be having all the skin rubbed off my knees," said the +mate, nodding at Brace. "Nature never meant me to go along like a +four-footed beast." + +"It is awkward," said Brace, smiling. + +"Awkward isn't the word for it," grumbled the mate. "Got your knife +handy?" + +Brace nodded, and drew it from his pocket, and the mate slit open one of +the bags so as to pour about half its contents into the mouth of the +little cannon. + +"It's all very fine of the skipper to talk," he said, placing the whole +cartridge now in its place, "but I'm very fond of the first mate of the +`Jason' brig, and I should be sorry to do him any mischief. I should +look well, I should, if I had to go back home as a ghost to tell my wife +all my bits had been eaten by the savage fish in this river. I know her +ideas well, and she wouldn't like it, I can tell you. There you are; +down it goes," he continued, taking the little rammer from where it was +strapped to the carriage and driving the bag home on to the top of the +loose charge. "Is the powder up, sir?" + +"Yes," said Brace; "the touch-hole's full." + +"That's right, then. Avast there; be smart with that red-hot poker." + +The man who had taken it to the galley trotted away again in his +dog-like fashion, disappeared, and then came into sight again directly, +to shout out to the mate: + +"Cook says it aren't half hot enough, sir." + +"Bring the poker," roared the mate. "Told you to fetch it, didn't I? +What do I want with what the cook says?" + +The man darted into the galley again and reappeared directly with the +poker. The other men commenced roaring with laughter when they saw him, +for he limped aft like a lame dog now, one hand being occupied with the +poker. + +"Ahoy there!" shouted the captain; "be smart with that gun. Look out." + +For just then the prow of a good-sized canoe appeared from beneath the +overhanging boughs of the trees, and was paddled out quickly by four +men, while two more stood in the stern fitting arrows to their bows. + +"Steady!" growled the mate, as he slewed the mouth of the cannon round +in the direction of the coming boat. "Now then, pass me that poker. +Here, Mr Brace, you'd better get into shelter away from the pieces. +That's right, my lad. Be off." + +The man trotted back and settled himself down under the bulwark, and +just then Brace laid hold of the poker. + +"Let me fire," he said. + +"What, aren't you skeart, sir?" said the mate, with a grin, as he +relaxed his hold. + +"Not very much," said Brace quietly; "only that the poker isn't hot +enough." + +"She'll do it, my lad. One moment; there's nothing except the wad +inside, but I may as well sight the gun at the enemy and let 'em have +the benefit of the blast." + +Brace stood back from the gun for a moment or two while the mate ran his +eye along the little barrel, and then as the canoe was within forty +yards the latter cried: + +"Now then, sir; let 'em have it." + +Brace applied the end of the poker to the loose grains lying in the +little rounded depression about the touch-hole of the cannon; but the +cook was right: the poker was far from hot, and the end failed to ignite +the powder. + +"Have you a match?" said Brace, impatiently throwing the implement down. + +"No," was the reply. "A match over here, someone." + +Men began fumbling; but at sea men chew their tobacco instead of +smoking, and no box was forthcoming. At that moment Brace tried again, +for, though wanting in the power to ignite the priming at the end, the +poker was fairly hot a few inches from the point, and he noted that it +was making the pitch bubble in the seam it lay across. + +"Sight the gun again," cried Brace hurriedly, and the mate sprang to +obey his order, exposing his head and shoulders in doing so, and very +nearly paying the penalty, for a couple of arrows whizzed by pretty +closely. + +Directly after, in response to another touch from the middle of the +poker, there was a flash, a puff of white smoke, and a roar like +thunder. The gun-carriage in its recoil leaped from the deck and fell +with a loud bang upon its side, while the crew burst into a hearty +cheer. + +The effect of the shot had been beyond the captain's expectation. In +their utter astonishment and dread the Indians had to a man sprung out +of the canoe, overturning it in the act, and were swimming and diving +their best to reach the shelter of the hanging boughs, while their frail +vessel was floating bottom upward rapidly down the stream. + +"Good aim, Dellow," cried the captain. "Well fired, squire." + +Brace glanced at the result of the shot, and then darted to the +companion-ladder, to hurry down into the cabin so as to see what the +consequences of the heavy report had been there, for in the hurry and +excitement of the preparations he had for the moment forgotten his +brother. + +To his surprise and satisfaction, however, Sir Humphrey lay back +sleeping heavily, with a soft dew beading his face, and evidently +perfectly free from suffering. + +Brace laid his hand upon his brother's forehead, to feel that it was +comparatively cool, and upon touching his wrist it was to find the pulse +beating steadily and well. + +The next minute he was stepping gently back, and ascended once more to +the deck. + +"Oh, here he is," said the captain. "Look sharp, squire, if you want a +shot at the blackguards before they get into shelter." + +"Not I," said Brace half-angrily. "Ah, look, look!" + +There was no need for him to shout, for a wild cry drew the attention of +all to one of the swimmers, who suddenly threw up his arms and then +began to beat the surface wildly, but only for a second or two, before +with a couple of sharp jerks he was dragged under water, while another +cry from the savage nearest to the shore gave warning that his was to be +a similar fate, one jerk, however, sufficing to drag him under, just as +his companions reached the shelter of the trees. + +"Horrid," growled the captain, as, evidently satisfied that there were +no others to shoot, he stood close to the bulwark. + +"What was it drew them under?" said Brace hoarsely. + +"Can't say, squire," replied the captain. "Might be alligators, snakes, +or a shoal of the savage fish that swarm along these rivers. Lesson to +us not to try bathing." + +"Could nothing be done for them? Can we launch a boat?" faltered Brace. + +The captain shook his head slowly, frowning the while. + +"Impossible, my lad; but we don't know that we're safe here. There may +be scores more in hiding under the trees by the bank yonder; so keep +down, everyone." + +The order was obeyed, but no more arrows came on board, while from +behind the deckhouse Brace stood with Briscoe watching the upturned +canoe growing smaller and smaller in the distance, Brace expecting to +see some daring swimmer appear from the shore, trying to get on board. + +He said something of the kind to Lynton, who joined them just before the +canoe disappeared round a curve of the river, but the latter smiled +before he made a reply. + +"You forget what sort of a shore it is," he said. "Those fellows could +not get along through that jungle a quarter so fast as the canoe drifted +with the stream, if they could get along at all. Well, it's been a bad +time for them: they've lost their boat and two of their crew." + +"And serve 'em right," said Dellow, who had overheard the conversation. +"They should have left us alone. It isn't their fault that Sir Humphrey +isn't lying below there dead and cold instead of getting better fast." + +"Ah! you have seen him, then?" cried Brace anxiously. + +"Been below with the skipper, sir, and there won't be much the matter by +this time to-morrow if the savages leave us alone." + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +A FALSE ALARM. + +"It's my opinion," said Captain Banes, "that when the sun goes down a +breeze will spring up; and I mean to get as far up as I can before it is +too dark to see, for the sooner we're out of this neighbourhood the +better." + +"Do you think there's a village of these people near?" asked Brace. + +"Oh, no; there may be a few huts with the wives and children close at +hand, but so far as I know there are only a few of them here and there +up the rivers leading a hunting and fishing life." + +But the captain's prophecy was not fulfilled. There was a little ripple +on the water for a few minutes after sundown, but not enough breeze to +fill out a sail, and the darkness came on with the brig swinging easily +by the creaking cable, which ground and fretted in the hawse-holes. + +"Now, squire," said the captain, turning to Brace, "how's it going to +be? Shall we be all right here at anchor, or will those chaps who got +ashore hunt up all their friends and come off in canoes when it's dark, +to kill us and sack the brig?" + +"I'm not experienced enough to say," replied Brace, smiling. "What do +you think?" + +"I think I don't know, my lad: it's as likely to be one way as the +other. What do you say to dividing the crew and passengers into two +watches, all well armed and ready for the worst? One watch on deck, the +other below, just lying down in our clothes with a rifle for a +bedfellow, ready to run up at the first call." + +"I should say it would be very wise," said Brace, "and I think we had +better do it." + +"But there's another way, my lad: suppose we up anchor and drop down +with the stream for a few miles before letting go again." + +"I don't like going backward," said Brace, "and we might be getting into +a worse place." + +"Out of the frying-pan into the fire, eh? Right: so we'll stop here and +be fried." + +The division was made, and soon after dark Brace found himself keeping a +sharp look-out on deck in company with Briscoe and part of the crew, the +captain taking the first watch, while the first and second mates were +below with half the men, ready to rush up at the first summons. + +This plan was quite in accordance with Brace's wishes, for it enabled +him to keep stealing down to his brother's berth, and after these visits +he would return on deck better satisfied, for the patient was still +sleeping heavily, and there was not a symptom visible that could cause +alarm. + +The captain was also of this opinion, he informed Brace, as the young +man took a turn or two with him up and down the deck. + +"You've nothing to fidget about, squire. That arrow was poisoned, sure +enough; but what you did, and the bleeding, washed all the bad stuff +away, and the wound will begin to heal up at once. There, you go and +use your eyes in all directions, my lad. I want to think." + +The dismissal was imperative, and after sweeping the edge of the forest +and gazing for a long time up and down the river again and again with +his glass, Brace stopped beside the American, who was seated on the +bulwark with one arm holding on by the shrouds and his rifle across his +knees, silent and watchful in the extreme. + +"Seen anything?" whispered Brace. + +"A few fireflies; and I've heard a splash or two: that's all," was the +reply. + +"Think we shall be attacked to-night?" + +"Likely enough. If we are it will be by canoes dropping down from that +projecting part of the bank yonder. The enemy will come upon us quietly +in the darkness, and we shall only know they are here when they begin +swarming over the side." + +"And then?" said Brace, as he stood with his eyes fixed upon the +dimly-seen point a hundred yards above, where a faint spark of light +glimmered out from time to time as if a party of savages were gathered +there, and were passing the time in smoking before the attack was made. + +"Well, then," said Briscoe coolly, "we shall have to shoot some, and +knock the rest back into their canoes or the river, I suppose." + +"That sounds pleasant," said Brace. + +"Yes, but we must take the rough with the smooth. One can't expect +everything to go right. But don't let's meet trouble half-way. Just as +likely as not we may go on for a month now and see no more of the enemy. +I wonder whether this river leads up to the old golden city." + +"Which old golden city are you speaking of?" asked Brace wonderingly. + +"The old one the Spaniards and the early English voyagers were always +seeking." + +"But that was only an old fable." + +"I don't know," said Briscoe thoughtfully. "They had it, I suppose, +from native reports, and they never found it." + +"Of course not. It _was_ only a travellers' tale." + +"Perhaps so, but the wealth of Mexico and of Peru did not turn out to be +a travellers' tale." + +"Well, no," said Brace slowly. + +"And there is plenty of room out here in the mountains or beyond the +forest for such a golden city." + +"Oh, yes, plenty of room," said Brace. + +"There is gold in the upper waters of the rivers, for I have found it. +We shall find some in this, I'll be bound--some day when we've sailed up +as far as we can, and then pushed on up the shallows in a boat right +away towards the mountains." + +"What mountains?" asked Brace. + +"The unexplored mountains from which these great rivers spring." + +"Unexplored?" + +"Certainly. Travellers have been pretty well everywhere in other +countries, but there are vast tracts here in Central South America that +have never been tapped as yet by explorers. Who knows what we may +find?" + +"Ah, who knows? Well, we shall see." + +"If only our health holds out and the winds favour us till we have +sailed up into the higher regions. What would help us most are floods +to give us plenty of deep water." + +"Are we likely to get floods?" + +"Plenty. Every storm in the mountains swells these rivers, and if the +wind will blow well from the sea we can get up a tremendous distance, +for we shall have plenty of deep water." + +"But you want, like us, to try and collect plenty of fresh +natural-history objects, don't you?" + +"Of course." + +"You don't dream of discovering any old golden city, as you call it?" + +"Not in the least; but if we do come upon traces of any old civilisation +during our voyage we shall not pass it by without examining it as far as +we can. What's the matter?" + +Brace had suddenly gripped his companion's arm whilst he was speaking, +and in response to Briscoe's question he thrust his right hand over the +side of the brig and pointed up the river. + +Briscoe shaded his eyes and gazed in the indicated direction for some +moments. + +"I see nothing," he whispered at last. + +"Look again, a little way out from the point." + +There was another pause in the darkness, and then the American spoke. + +"Your eyes are better than mine. Yes, I see it now. What do you make +of it?" + +"Three canoes following one another and coming slowly with the stream." + +"Full of men?" said Briscoe. + +"It is too dark to see." + +"Pst! Captain!" whispered Briscoe, and that gentleman crossed to where +they stood. + +"See anything?" + +For answer Brace pointed up stream, and after a sharp glance the captain +sent one of the men below, and the whole party were upon the _qui vive_, +with hardly a word being uttered, for every man was prepared for the +alarm. That which had been fully expected had occurred, and, rifles in +hand, officers, passengers, and crew took the places to which they had +been appointed. + +Brace's heart beat fast as he stood gazing at the long low shadowy +objects gliding slowly nearer and nearer to the brig, thinking the while +that if he were captain he would give the order at once for fire to be +opened with buckshot, so that it might scatter and wound as many of the +Indians as possible without causing death. + +But he was not in command, and he started with surprise, for the +captain's voice suddenly rang out with an order, though not the one he +anticipated. + +"Stand by, a couple of you," he said, "and be handy there, Mr Dellow, +to let go the port anchor. I expect they'll foul the cable and send us +adrift." + +There was a pattering of feet upon the deck, and the next moment Captain +Banes's hand was upon Brace's shoulder. + +"Your eyes are a little out of focus, squire," he said quietly. "They +magnify too much, and see more than there is." + +"Why--what--surely--" stammered Brace. + +"It's all right, my lad," said the captain quietly. "Better than seeing +nothing when there's real danger coming on board." + +"They deceived me, captain," said Briscoe. + +"So they did me, sir, at the first squint. I thought we were in for a +scrimmage, and that before long I should be cutting up sticking-plaster +and putting it on. Two fine old sticks of timber those, squire, and +they must have come down some fierce falls to be stripped of their +boughs like that. Now, then, are they going to foul our cable and send +us adrift or will they slip quietly by?" + +Brace felt so annoyed and disgusted that he could find no words for the +moment, and he stood there watching the two old tree-trunks coming +closer and closer, till the foremost just missed the cable, and directly +after touched the brig's bows with a slow, dull, heavy impact which made +her jar from end to end. + +"Bah!" ejaculated the lad, in his disgust, and, turning away, he left +the deck, glad of the excuse of going down into the cabin to see after +his brother. + +But the second mate was waiting for him when he came up, ready with a +bantering laugh. + +"I say, sir," he whispered, "aren't you a bit too eager for a fight?" + +Brace said nothing, but, mortified by his mistake, walked right aft, to +stand leaning over the stern, gazing down into the black waters as they +came rushing and whispering from beneath the vessel, eddying about the +rudder, and suggesting wonders of the mysterious monsters that might +even then be gazing up at him with glassy eyes, meditating a spring and +a snatch to seize and drag him down to their lair, as he had seen the +two savages snatched from life not many hours before. + +"Horrible!" he muttered, half-aloud, as he shrank away with a shudder. + +"What's horrible?" said the familiar voice of the American behind him; +"being chaffed by the skipper? Don't be so thin-skinned." + +"Oh, it wasn't that," said Brace frankly. "I was slightly annoyed for +the moment, but it was only a mistake." + +"Of course, and it's better to be too particular than not particular +enough. We should look well if we were taken by surprise. What was +horrible, then?" + +"I was thinking about those two Indians being seized and dragged down as +I looked over the side, and of the possibility of a huge snake making a +snatch at one, and then--ugh!" + +"Were you?" said Briscoe, with a faint laugh. "Why, I was leaning over +the side yonder, and I turned quite nervous with fancying something of +the same kind. A bit cowardly, I suppose, but it would be an awful +death." + +"Don't talk about it," said Brace. "If you're cowardly in that way, I +am. I never thought of these rivers being infested with such horrible +creatures." + +"The worst being the crocodiles," said Briscoe; "but they wouldn't be +out here in the swift stream. I should say that the place to beware of +the serpents would be the shallow, still creeks in sunny parts of the +forest, or in the pools of the swamps, where they lie half-torpid till +some animal comes in to bathe or drink." + +"Hadn't we better change the conversation?" said Brace, laughing. "What +about the Indians? I don't feel disposed to keep watch any more." + +"Why? The danger is as great as ever." + +"So is that of being laughed at for my false alarm." + +"Oh, you should not notice that. Let's go forward again." + +As the pair walked to the bows it was to pass the men of the watch, the +rest having gone quietly below again; and no one spoke or made allusion +to what had taken place, so that Brace resumed his vigil in peace, till +it was time for the relief to come on deck, when he descended, to find +his brother sleeping so peacefully that, in spite of all efforts to the +contrary, he could not finish the night by watching at Sir Humphrey's +side, for his head slowly sank sidewise as he sat upon the cabin locker, +and then all was blank till there was a creaking noise in the adjacent +cabin--a noise which made him start to his feet and look wonderingly +around. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +FROM SHADOW TO SUNSHINE. + +Brace Leigh was half-asleep still as he looked down at his sleeping +brother, and had hard work to collect his thoughts before making out +that it was a brilliant sunny morning, that Dan was busily preparing the +breakfast, and the brig careening over to port as the water rippled by +her bows. + +Then everything was plain: there had been no attack in the night, the +breeze had sprung up with the sun, and the brig was gliding at a fair +rate up the river. + +But best all and most welcome was the appearance of Sir Humphrey when +Brace descended after going on deck for a refreshing morning bath, the +toilet equipment consisting of a rough towel and a bucket of water +dipped out of the river by one of the men. + +For as Brace went to the side of the berth to gaze anxiously in his +brother's face, Sir Humphrey's eyes opened and he stared wonderingly up +into those bent upon him. + +"What a horrible dream!" he said slowly. "I dreamed I--Why, it was all +true: I was shot with a poisoned arrow." + +"Yes, Free, it's all true enough," said Brace, laying a hand upon the +other's forehead, to find it burning hot. + +"Yes, I remember everything now. I felt that I was going to die." + +"We were afraid so too." + +"But I'm not dead, Brace." + +"Not a bit, old fellow. Does your arm hurt much?" + +"When I move it. Then it stings. I say, that must be a good, healthy +sign!" + +"I should think so." + +"But my head aches terribly--it is burning and throbbing." + +"Aha! good morning, Sir Humphrey," cried the captain cheerily. "Come, +that's better. Why, you frightened us all last night." + +"I am very sorry." + +"And I am very glad," said the captain. "Did I hear you say just now +that your head was aching very badly?" + +"Yes, terribly." + +"Well, don't be uneasy about that. I gave you a strong dose of opium +yesterday, and you've only just slept it off. Never mind about the +head. Let your doctors see your arm." + +This was carefully unbandaged, the captain displaying no mean skill. + +"Swollen a bit," he said; "the bandages have been drawn too tight. A +nasty hurt; but you're a healthy man, and the wound looks the same. +There's no poison here." + +"Do you feel sure?" asked Sir Humphrey, while Brace looked anxiously on. + +"Certain, sir. Look for yourself. A bit hot and inflamed, and very +tender to the touch, but quite natural. A poisoned wound would look +very different from that. Here, squire, we'll give it a good bath and a +new bandage and it will be quite easy. We're not going to turn back +from our voyage because our leader has been hurt." + +"Your words do me good, captain," said Sir Humphrey, smiling. "A man +cannot help feeling just a bit nervous when he has received such a +wound, can he?" + +"Of course not, sir. He wouldn't be a man if he didn't. I don't +suppose a marble image minds much about a chip or its head being knocked +off. But I know I should." + +"Should you, captain?" said Brace drily. + +"Of course I--No, I shouldn't," cried the captain. "I suppose a fellow +wouldn't think much without his head. But let's talk sense. I'm not a +doctor, Sir Humphrey, but I've had a lot of queer jobs to tackle in my +time, and only lost one patient. He was too much for me. Fell from the +main-top cross-trees and broke his neck. I couldn't set that. But I +did set a broken arm and a broken leg. Made 'em stronger than they were +before. Then I had a chap nipped between a water-cask and the side of +the hold. Broke two of his ribs. I mended him too." + +"How did you manage to set the ribs?" said Brace, noting that the +captain's decisive way influenced his brother. + +"Made 'em set themselves, squire. I gave him as much as he could eat, +and then made him draw in as much air as he could and hold it while I +put a great broad bandage round him. I had a piece of canvas pierced +with eye-holes, and laced it up tight about his chest with a bit o' +yarn. He came right again in no time. So will you, sir. All you want +for this arm is rest, plenty of cold bathing, and clean bandages. +Nature will soon heal that up. How does the sponging feel?" + +"Delightful!" said the patient. + +"And what about your head?" + +"Very bad." + +"Cup of tea will soon set that right, sir; but I meant your thinking +apparatus--let's have some more water, squire. There, I'll hold his arm +over the basin, and you trickle it on from the spout of the can gently. +That'll make the muscles contract healthily and help the swelling to go +down." + +"Most comforting!" said Sir Humphrey, with a sigh of relief. "But what +did you mean about my thinking apparatus?" + +"Not going to fancy your wound's poisoned, are you?" + +"N-no," said the patient, hesitating. "I suppose I need not fidget +about that?" + +"Not a bit, sir," said the captain gruffly, as he went on busying +himself about the wound. "I daresay there was something on the +arrow-head, but squire here cleansed the wound beautifully, and you can +see for yourself that this side is all right, and take our word for it +that the other looks just the same. Now, squire, we'll have some of +that lint on, and a light bandage to keep it clean and cool. He'll have +the arm in a sling and hold it still, so that there's no fear of any +more bleeding, and it will heal up again in a very short time." + +Sir Humphrey unconsciously sighed again, but it was a sigh of relief and +a few minutes after Dan brought him a cup of tea, of which he partook, +and once more dropped asleep when everything had been done. + +"Bit weak," said the captain softly. "Best thing he can do. Sleep's a +fine thing, and it seems the best thing in the world when you've got the +watch and your eyelids keep on sticking together and making you feel as +if you must break up a couple of sticks to turn into props. Now come +and have some breakfast, my lad. I want mine. Eh? what do you say? +We're sailing up?" + +"Yes; we're going fast." + +"Ever since sunrise, my lad, and we're miles away from where we +anchored, and likely to get miles more ahead by night, so that we may +hope for better anchorage and better sport than we had yesterday. +Hungry?" + +"Well, yes," said Brace. "I feel more at ease about my brother." + +"That's right," said the captain, sniffing. "I say! ham smells good. +Coffee too. That skinny chap of Briscoe's makes a splendid steward. +You'll feel in better heart still when you've had your breakfast. Sun's +out again." + +"Yes," said Brace; "I saw it was a bright morning." + +"I didn't mean that: I meant your sun, squire--the one inside a man +which gets clouded over sometimes, and means dumps till it comes out +again and lights him up. Sun's in: a man can't eat. Sun's out: he can. +See?" + +"Yes," said Brace, laughing; "I think I shall have an appetite to-day." + +The next minute he was proving his words; but his efforts did not bring +him abreast of the captain and the others, though the captain said +afterwards in confidence: + +"The passengers did not play such a very bad knife and fork." + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +RAPID PROGRESS. + +A favourable breeze sent the brig higher and higher up the river all +that day, the captain taking advantage of the many broad reaches to +spread ample canvas. + +There was only one drawback to their full enjoyment, and that was the +absence of the wounded man. + +Brace had the satisfaction of seeing his brother asleep again and again, +sinking into pleasant restful slumbers, from which he awoke sensibly +refreshed and freed from fever. In fact, all cause for anxiety seemed +to have disappeared, and all on board became more cheerful. + +The banks of the river were for the most part densely wooded, but twice +over open park-like patches were passed where the trees were grand in +the extreme, having ample room to grow in the rich soil unfettered by +the parasites and vines which wove their brethren of the dense jungle +into an impassable wall of verdure. + +No landing was attempted, the experience they had gained making the +travellers disposed to wait until more open country was reached and they +could feel more secure. + +The captain asked Briscoe what more he could wish for. + +"If you take a boat it will only be to go up a small stream and look for +curiosities. You can do that as well here on board the brig without +fagging the men with rowing along under the trees, where there is not a +breath of air. Look yonder now: I don't suppose you'd see such a thing +as that if you were rowing. The noise of the oars would make it dive +and keep out of sight." + +"What is it?" said Brace: "it looks like a buffalo bathing." + +"Not it, sir. Look again." + +"A dugong," said Briscoe, cocking and raising his double rifle. + +"Dugong or manatee. Sea-cows, we call 'em. Going to shoot it, sir?" + +The American hesitated. + +"It seems tempting," he said; "but I don't know. It's too big for a +specimen." + +"And not very good to eat; at least, I don't suppose we should like it." + +"I've got it now," said Brace, who had hurriedly adjusted his glass and +was watching the huge creature, which kept on showing itself in a muddy +bend of the river a few yards from the bank. "It looks like a monstrous +seal." + +"Something like a seal, squire, but I should say it was more like a +walrus. It hasn't got the great tusks of the walrus, though. You can +see it well, eh?" + +"Capitally," replied Brace. "Not dangerous, are they?" + +"Not that I ever heard of, squire. They're great stupid innocents, as +far as I know. That one wouldn't wait for a boat to get anywhere near +it; but if it did I daresay in its fright it might upset the craft. I +fancy all they want is to be let alone. Pretty good size, eh?" + +"Yes," said Brace; "I wish my brother were here to see it." + +"Very tempting for a shot," said Briscoe, fingering his gun. + +"Very," said the captain sarcastically. "Couldn't well miss it, sir, +eh?" + +"Oh, I daresay I could," said the American; "I'm very clever that way, +skipper, sometimes. But there, I don't want to kill the poor thing. +Would you like to shoot, Brace Leigh?" + +"No," said the young man. "It seems such a stupid, inoffensive-looking +beast. I should like a shot at a jaguar or a leopard, and I could not +resist having a shot at one of those loathsome old alligators if I saw +one." + +"There you are then," said Briscoe softly, as he pointed to what seemed +to be a trunk of an old tree floating along not very far away from the +brig between the verdant bank of the river and the side of the vessel. + +Brace looked at it hard before he fully grasped what the object was, and +then cocked the left-hand barrel of his gun. + +"Don't shoot," said Briscoe. "It is only waste of powder and bullet." + +"I could hit the brute without any trouble," said Brace. + +"I don't doubt that," said the American; "but the bullet will most +likely glance off, while if it gets home the reptile will only sink." + +"So I suppose; but it will be one fewer of the savage beasts." + +"One out of millions," said Briscoe. "Besides, you'll scare away that +water-elephant, and we may as well watch it for a bit." + +"Gone--both of them," said Brace, laughing, as he lowered the hammer of +his piece, for the sea-cow suddenly gave a wallow and went down with a +loud splash as if it had been alarmed by the sight of something +approaching, while its disturbance of the water acted upon the great +alligator, which sank at once, startling another, of whose presence the +watchers were not aware till they caught a glimpse of the reptile's tail +as it disappeared. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +THE ENEMIES IN THE STREAM. + +In the days which followed Captain Banes navigated his brig so skilfully +that the adventurers progressed far up into what seemed to be perfectly +virgin country. Before a week had passed Sir Humphrey was able to be up +on deck, looking a good deal pulled down, but mending fast. + +A good-sized awning had been stretched aft for his benefit, and here he +sat back during the greater part of the day with a glass to his eye, +watching the many changes of the river as the brig tacked to and fro in +some reaches or ran blithely before the wind in others, for the river +wound about and sometimes even completely reversed its course. + +And now, as the distance between the shores gradually became narrower, +the travellers saw the value of the long tapering spars the captain ran +up, to bear each a couple of square-sails--sky-scrapers he called them. +These were spread so high above the deck that they caught the breeze +when the lower pieces of canvas were either quite becalmed or shivered +slightly and refused to urge the vessel against the steadily-flowing +stream. + +The river was still a goodly stream, and its muddy waters ran deep and +showed no sign of rock on either shore. + +Day after day the same kind of thickly-wooded forest was seen on both +shores, until it became almost monotonous. + +Now and then they saw a bare trunk, high up whose jagged, splintered +branches were marks--dried, muddy weeds and seeds--which still clung and +showed to what a marvellous height the river must rise at times, turning +the surrounding country for miles into one vast marsh. + +"Fine river this, mister," said the captain one day, as they were +gliding slowly on, the pressure of the wind being just sufficient to +make the brig master the stream. "Plenty of water; no rocks. I think +it would be a bit different if it was up yonder where you come from." + +"Yes," said Briscoe, smiling. "There'd be plenty of towns on the banks, +well-cultivated farms everywhere, and all kinds of plantations; and +instead of crawling along like this we should be travelling up in a +steamer." + +"With plenty of niggers along the banks to cut down the forests for +burning in the engine fires, eh?" the captain asked. + +"Yes; these forests would soon be put to some purpose, captain." + +"Yes," said Sir Humphrey; "it must seem strange to you to sail on for +hundreds of miles through wild land and find it quite in a state of +nature. How much farther do you think we shall be able to sail up +here?" + +The captain did not answer immediately, but smiled in a curiously grim +fashion. Then he said: + +"If you'll tell me how long these favourable winds will last, sir: how +long we shall be without a storm in the mountains: and how long it will +be before we encounter rocks and falls, perhaps I can answer you; but +this is all as new to me as it is to you, and I cannot tell you anything +about what's going to happen to-morrow. But I suppose it don't matter +for a few weeks. You don't want to do any boat work till you get +better." + +"That's true," said Sir Humphrey; "and it is very pleasant sailing up +between these wonderful banks of trees." + +"Yes, very pleasant, sir; but it makes my crew so idle that I'm afraid +they won't understand the meaning of the word work, much less be able to +spell it when I want it done." + +"Never mind, captain," said Brace. "Sail away: it's all so gloriously +new." + +So they sailed on and on through what seemed to be eternal summer. + +Now and then a shot was obtained, and some beautiful bird was collected, +or a loathsome reptile's career was brought to an end, the monster +sinking down in the muddy water. + +On one occasion a great serpent was seen hanging in folds across the +bough of a tree which dipped lower towards the river with its weight. + +It was Brace's charge of buckshot which tumbled it off with a tremendous +splash into the river, where it writhed and lashed the water up into +foam before making for the shore, swimming with ease, much to their +surprise. + +The spot where it landed was fairly open, and in the excitement caused +by the adventure the boat, which was always kept towing behind the brig, +was manned. + +Brace, the American, Dan, the second mate, and four men followed to get +a good opportunity for putting the reptile out of its misery when it had +about half-crawled out among the bushes. + +A well-placed shot in the head effected this, and the body lay heaving +gently while the party landed. The question was then eagerly discussed +what should be done. + +"We ought to have that skin," said Brace. "It is an enormous brute. +Why, judging from what we can see, it must be thirty feet long." + +"Say forty," cried Briscoe, laughing. "But who's to skin it?" + +The question was received in dead silence, everyone gazing down at the +slowly-heaving monster, about ten feet of the fore part of its body +lying where it had crawled, and it was easy enough to believe that +another twenty or thirty feet of the creature lay out of sight in the +muddy water. + +"I wouldn't do that job for a crown," whispered one of the men to +another, and a chorus of grunts followed. + +"Well," said Lynton, "who is going to volunteer? Mr Brace wants that +skin taken off. We must have a rope round the beggar's neck, throw one +end over one of the branches of a tree, and then we can haul him up +higher and higher as we peel him down from the head." + +"And suppose he begins to twissen himself up in a knot and lash out with +his tail?" growled one of the men. + +"Bah!" cried Lynton. "Here, a couple of you row back to the brig and +get a coil of rope. I'll skin the brute myself if someone will help me +to do the job." + +"I'll volunteer, Mr Lynton," cried Brace; while Dan smiled and took off +his coat before rolling up his shirt-sleeves. + +"Will you, sir?" cried the mate; "then we'll soon do the job; but it's a +bit nasty and slimy, you know, and I expect it will make us smell of +snake for some days." + +"Never mind," said Brace. "I'd do anything rather than lose that skin." + +There was a low growling among the men as they laid their heads together +before pushing off to the ship. + +"Now then," cried the mate, "what is it? Why don't you be off?" + +"It's all right, sir," said the man who had first protested; "we can't +stand by and let you and Mr Brace do the job by yourselves. We four'll +help Dan peel the beggar as soon as they've fetched the rope from the +brig." + +The boat pushed off, and the matter was discussed, the American +suggesting that the best plan would be to make an incision just below +where the skull was joined to the vertebrae, dislocate these so as to +put a stop to all writhing, get a noose round the neck, and then it +would be easy to divide the skin from throat to tail, and draw it off. + +"Oh, yes, sir," said one of the men, just as the boat reached the side +of the brig; "we'll soon manage that." + +"I say, Mr Briscoe," said Brace, "I suppose the ants won't be long in +picking the reptile's bones quite clean." + +"Oh, no; they and the flies would soon finish anything that was left in +the way of flesh, but I was thinking of dragging the body afterwards +into the river. It's a five-and-twenty footer, though, without doubt." + +"Yes," said Brace, "but I hope they're not going to be long with that +rope. I say, any fear of Indians about here?" + +"Hi! look out!" cried one of the sailors, calling to Brace and the +others from where they were dividing the thick growth and peering about +trying to see what was beyond. + +Three guns sent forth a clicking sound on the instant, as those who bore +them turned to face the expected danger. + +Brace's nerves quivered with excitement as he listened for the whizz of +the arrows he expected to hear rush by. + +"Give him another shot in the head, sir," cried one of the men; "he's +trying to wriggle himself back into the water." + +Brace raised his gun to fire a charge into the serpent's head again, for +sure enough the monster was gliding slowly back through the undergrowth +into the stream. + +But the men did not wait for him to fire. Following Dan's example and +setting aside all their horror and repugnance as they saw the reptile +gliding back slowly into the river, they acted as if moved by the same +set of muscles, and threw themselves upon the long lithe creature. + +"Now then, lads, take a good grip of him," cried Dan, "and we'll run him +up the bank as far as we can. Ugh!" + +His mates backed him up well, seizing the serpent just behind the +wounded head with powerful hands; but just as they had taken a firm hold +and were about to put their plan into action, a tremendous thrill seemed +to run from tail to head of the reptile as an eddy whirled up the water, +and they let go and sprang away. + +"Ah, catch hold again," cried Brace, dropping his gun and darting at the +serpent, but before he could reach it the movement had become quicker, +and they had the mortification of seeing their prize pass steadily +backward under the bushes, and in spite of the renewed efforts of the +men the half-crushed head reached the water, gliding down out of sight, +and staining the surface with blood. + +"Yah!" yelled the man nearest to the water, and he flung himself back +against his mates, who could not for a moment tell what had terrified +him. + +On approaching the water's edge where it flowed along dark and deep +beneath the pendent boughs they heard a wallow and a splash, and the +lookers-on had a startled glance at a great horny, muddied head and a +pair of tooth-serrated gaping jaws, which rose above the surface and +were plunged again into the bloodstained water, to disappear, but to be +followed by a great gnarled-bark back and a long tail which lashed the +water before it passed out of sight. + +Before another word could be uttered the water beneath the boughs seemed +to boil up in eddies as if it were being churned from below, and during +a brief space the horrified lookers-on had a glimpse or two of the +slowly twining and writhing body of the serpent, as it rose to the +surface from time to time, while over and under enemies were dragging at +it from all directions. + +"Well, if that isn't a rum un, I'm a Dutchman," cried the second mate, +as they watched the tremendous struggle going on. It gradually receded +farther from the bank and the combatants were carried down stream by the +current. "I never saw anything like that but once before." + +"Well, I never saw it once," said the American; while Brace was silent, +standing peering through the dipping boughs so as not to lose an atom of +what was going on. "Where was yours?" + +"At home in our river," said the mate. "I was lying on my chest with my +hand over the side of the camp-shedding, as we called the boards put to +keep up the river-bank by the weir. I was looking down through the +clear water at a shoal of little perch playing about, waiting for +anything that might be swept over the weir, when a big earth-worm came +down and the perch all went for it together, some at the head, some at +the tail, or the middle, or anywhere they could get hold, and it was +just like this till they all went out of sight as this has done. For +it's gone now, hasn't it?" + +"Yes, quite out of sight," said Brace, drawing a deep, sighing breath. +"Why, the river seems to be alive with alligators." + +"Hungry ones too," said Lynton, "and they've got a fine big +full-flavoured worm for breakfast. Fancy their laying hold of his tail +and pulling him away from us like that!" + +"Say, Jemmy," said one of the sailors, speaking to another who was +standing near him, "if at any time I'm ashore and want to come aboard, +you'll have to send the boat, for I'm blessed if I'm going to try a +swim." + +"That's a downright fine specimen gone, Mr Brace," said Briscoe drily; +"and I'm real sorry we lost him. What do you say about its length? I +think we might make it fifty feet?" + +"Do you think it was fifty feet long?" cried Brace, laughing. + +"Well, yes, and I call that a pretty modest estimate, when we might +easily have made it a hundred feet." + +Dan opened his mouth, showed his teeth, and laughed with a sound like a +watchman's rattle that had lain in the water. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +THE BRIG JIBS. + +Another fortnight's sailing brought the travellers abreast of a river +which flowed slowly and sluggishly into the stream they had ascended, +just when its waters had begun to grow clearer and more shallow. It had +become more rapid too in its course, and everything suggested that they +were gradually gaining higher ground. In addition, in spite of the +favourable breezes they enjoyed, the brig could now hardly stem the +current. + +The consequence was that at the captain's suggestion the more sluggish +waters of the confluent river were entered, and the fresh course slowly +pursued ever northward and westward for weeks, till it became plain that +much further progress could not be made in the brig itself. + +The banks had closed in so that every night the vessel could have been +moored to some large tree; but one night's experience of this proved to +be sufficient for the travellers, too many of the occupants of the +forest giant finding their way on board and interfering with their +comfort, and as the vessel swung in the stream boughs of neighbouring +trees entangled themselves with the rigging. + +"It's all right by a wharf," said the captain, "or in a dock; but it +won't do here." + +And in future they always anchored in midstream just before darkness +fell. + +And now, hour by hour, they had warning that their further progress with +the brig would soon come to an end. + +"And it's my belief, gentlemen, that it will be before night," said the +captain one morning when they were all seated together beneath the +awning chatting. "If you keep quite still, you can hear the stopper." + +"Stopper? What do you mean?" asked Sir Humphrey, in a surprised tone. +He was once more pretty well his old self. + +"Well, bar, then. There, you can hear it quite plain now." + +"Do you mean that low murmur?" said Brace, who was listening intently. +"I thought it was the wind." + +"No, sir, it's the water," said the captain. "That's either a fall or +else some rapids. I've been noticing lots of little signs of a change +lately, and if it wasn't for this steady wind we shouldn't be moving at +all. See how clear the water is?" + +"Yes, I've noticed that it has been gradually becoming clearer," said +Brace. "But do you notice that the wind is dropping?" + +"Yes, we are leaving it behind, and it strikes me that if you like to +try about here or a little higher up you'll get some sport." + +"Then we'll try," said Brace, "when we anchor for the night." + +As the morning progressed, the wind rose higher and the river widened. +It was as if the opening out gave play to the breeze, and a good ten +miles were run before sundry warnings of shallowing water made the +captain give orders for reducing the sail; but, in spite of this, as the +brig rounded a curve which disclosed to the delighted vision of the +travellers a glorious landscape of open park-like country backed by +mountains, with the sparkling waters of a furious rapid running from +side to side where the river contracted again after opening out like a +lake, there was a soft grinding sensation, and the way of the vessel was +slowly checked, while the next minute it was fully grasped that they +were fast on a sandbank, with the open forest on one side only a hundred +yards or so away, and on the other fully a mile. + +"We've done it now, squire," said the captain, turning to Brace and +mopping his face with a handkerchief he took out of the crown of his +straw hat. + +"Done it?" + +"Yes; here we are, wrecked and set fast in the bed of the river." + +"But I suppose we shall only remain here for an hour or two." + +"Or for a year or two, or altogether, my lad. Maybe we shall never be +able to get the brig off again; but we must hope for the best. It's +just as if we were set in the ice up yonder in the Arctic regions, eh?" + +"This place is not very Arctic," said Brace, laughing. + +"No, my lad, not very," said the captain, as Sir Humphrey came up. "We +seem to be in for it now, sir." + +"Yes, but I suppose we are not stuck very fast. You'll send out an +anchor and haul upon it with the capstan." + +"Wouldn't be any good, sir. We're fast in the sand upon an upright +keel, and until the water rises after a storm here we stick." + +"But you talked about throwing over some of the ballast to lighten the +vessel if a case like this occurred," said Brace. + +"Yes, squire, that would do perhaps; but what then? Go back?" + +"Go back!" cried Brace; "certainly not. We want to go forward." + +"Then you'll have to go another way," said the captain decisively, "for +the brig has done her work." + +"But you'll be able to get her off in a short time?" + +"I daresay I can, but look yonder at that cloud," said the captain, and +he pointed towards where, faintly seen, a rainbow spanned the river +above a rolling white cloud. + +"What does that mean, captain--a shower?" Brace asked. + +"Yes," said the captain, "a heavy one, squire, falling over the rocks in +hundreds of tons a minute. There's our limit. That's a cloud of spray +from some grand falls which I daresay run right across the river. I +shouldn't wonder if the country rises now in steps right away to the +mountains. If we could get up that fall, maybe we could go on sailing +for a hundred miles before we came to another; but it is not possible to +get the brig up, and, between ourselves, I think we've done wonders to +get her up here so far." + +"But suppose we content ourselves with getting so far as this, and, when +we have got the brig off, turn her round and go back to the main stream +and sail up there?" asked Sir Humphrey. + +"Which, sir?" said the captain, smiling; "the Amazons seem to be all +main streams, winding over thousands of miles of country, as far as we +can make out; but if we go back it's a chance if we get up so far as we +here." + +Sir Humphrey merely nodded in reply to the captain's remarks, and then +they all rose and walked away in different directions, each of them +evidently trying to think of a means of getting over the difficulty +which confronted them. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +DISCUSSING PLANS. + +The next time the party were assembled was over the midday meal, when +the conversation naturally turned to the question of continuing their +voyage or going back. + +Brace broke out with the exclamation: "We must not be beaten by a little +difficulty such as this!" but his brother checked him by laying a hand +upon his arm and turning to Briscoe. + +"What were you going to say?" he asked the American. + +"Firstly, gentlemen, that I don't want to interfere. Go where you like +and how you like: it's all interesting to me; but you won't mind hearing +my opinion?" + +"Certainly not," said Sir Humphrey. "What do you think?" + +"That we have arrived in a thoroughly wild country which most likely no +one has ever reached before." + +"Yes," said Sir Humphrey. + +"So how would it be to make this headquarters and ask Captain Banes to +rig out the biggest boat with sail and some canvas and a light pole to +set up from end to end of a night to cover her in, and then row and sail +up wherever we could as long as our provisions lasted? Fresh water we +shouldn't have to carry; we could bring down something with our guns, or +hook up something with fishing-lines; and I daresay we might get up +hundreds of miles, for we should be sure to come upon side streams. +That's only my idea, gentlemen. If you think differently I'm quite +contented. I'm ready to keep to the bargain I have made. To me this is +a regular naturalist's paradise." + +"I quite agree with you, Mr Briscoe," said Sir Humphrey warmly, "and +now that my weakness and the lack of spirit brought about by the effect +of my wound are passing away I am getting more contented with the cruise +every hour." + +"Yes, sir, you alter every day," said the American, smiling. + +"What do you think of the plan, captain?" said Sir Humphrey. + +"Splendid, sir," was the reply. "I like it tremendously, and I was +going to propose something of the kind myself. You see, you'll never +want for help. My lads will be just like a set of schoolboys going out +for a holiday. The only ones who will grumble will be those who have to +stop aboard the brig. I'm like Mr Briscoe: ready to go where you like, +and how you like: you two gents have only to say the word; and I don't +think you'll better that plan." + +"What do you say, Brace?" said his brother, turning to him. + +"Well, at first I didn't like the idea at all: it sounded so much like +being beaten and having to make a fresh start; but I think now that it's +just what we as good as planned to do when we set off. When shall we +start?" + +"It seems to me," said Sir Humphrey, smiling, "that Briscoe's motion is +carried unanimously. As to starting, we might take a boat and begin +exploring at once, making day excursions. The longer ones would depend +upon how soon Captain Banes could get the longboat ready." + +"By to-morrow morning would do for me, sir," said the captain bluffly. + +"But you would not be able to fix up the boat in such a short time." + +"There's really nothing to do, sir. There's a hole in the thwart fore +and aft for a short upright to carry the spar the length of the boat, +and we'd make that do for mast as well. Dellow could soon cut us up a +bit of canvas that would do for sail and extra cover to rig up o' +nights. You'd better have the stern covered in with a regular awning. +We'll be ready for you by daylight, gentlemen." + +"That will be capital. Can you let us have one of the other boats, so +that we can row up towards the falls at once?" said Brace. + +"You can sail, squire, and save the men's arms in the hot sun. Plenty +of wind for that." + +"Capital," said Brace. "You might come with us, Free." + +"No," said his brother; "I had better wait a few days longer before I +begin." + +"What will you occupy yourself with whilst we are away?" asked Brace. + +"Oh, I shall find something to do. I'll stop and help Captain Banes, +and see to the stores for tomorrow's expedition." + +"Do you feel strong enough?" said Brace anxiously. + +"I am getting stronger every day. There, take the guns with you and try +and knock over a few ducks. I've noticed several fly up the river since +we've been here." + +"All right," said Brace. "We'll try to get some for the cook." + +"And I say, squire," cried the captain, "when I was a boy, whenever I +got a chance I was off fishing, and I learned from experience that the +best place, and where the fish gathered most to feed upon what came down +a river, was just where the water fell below a weir." + +"Yes," said Brace; "I should think that would be the best place for +fishing." + +"Well, then, as the old saying goes, `A nod's as good as a wink to a +blind horse.' You don't want me to tell you that you're going to sail +to a great natural weir of rock, up to which the fish from hundreds and +hundreds of miles of big river swim in great shoals to feed." + +"You mean that we should take some tackle with us?" + +"That's right, and, by Jingo, the very thought of it makes me want to +come with you and have a try." + +"Come, then," cried Brace, "and have a good day's sport with us." + +"Nay, nay, nay, my lad: duty first, pleasure after. I've got to put out +anchors and see to the provisioning of that boat." + +"Let Mr Dellow do it. He'll be able to see to that all right." + +"No," said the captain shortly. "You go and try. Another time I should +like to go with you and be a boy again." + +"Well, you know your own business best; so we must put off the pleasure +of having you with us till another day," said Brace. + +"Yes," the captain replied; "but I warn you to take care, my lad. No +going overboard. I wouldn't give much for your chance of getting out of +the water again." + +"But there are not likely to be any alligators or crocodiles there." + +"I dunno," said the captain. "I shouldn't like to risk it. There's +likely to be plenty of all kinds of dangerous fish or reptiles up +yonder, and size don't count. A thousand of the little tiny +sticklebacks of fish in these rivers are more dangerous than one big +fellow ten foot long." + +A quarter of an hour after the meal was finished, Lynton, Dan, and four +of the sailors, with their faces full of sunshine, had taken their seats +in a boat which had been lowered, while the men left on board looked +down at them as if through clouds. + +"I hope you will be careful, my lad," said Sir Humphrey. + +"You may trust me, Free; I shall not do anything rash," said Brace, +laughing. + +"I shall look forward to a pleasant evening over your specimens, +Briscoe," said Sir Humphrey, speaking more warmly to the American than +had been his custom. + +"I hope I shan't disappoint you, sir," was the reply. + +"Got all your guns and ammunition, squire?" cried the captain. + +"Yes, quite right." + +"And fishing-tackle and bait and everything else you will need?" + +"Yes; I believe we have taken everything aboard," was the reply. + +"I'll tell the cook to have a good fire made up in the galley for +roasting the ducks you are going to shoot and the frying-pan ready for +the fish you are going to catch." + +"All right," cried Brace merrily. "Ready, Mr Lynton?" + +"Ay, ay, sir." + +"Then push off." + +The man holding on with the boat-hook gave a good thrust, and the boat +glided away from the brig's side with the swift stream, which rolled +over the sandbank, caught the boat, and whirled her away. But the +little mast was already up forward and the rudder hooked on, so that +when the lug-sail had been hoisted and had bellied out, the boat, +answering quickly to a touch of the tiller, glided through the water, +soon recovering the ground she had lost, and, careening over, swept by +the motionless brig, whose sails were now furled. + +"Hah!" cried Brace, as they began to race before the breeze, "this is +the sort of river I like. Look, Briscoe, how clear it is. You can see +the bottom now and then." + +"And the fish," said the American. "Brace Leigh, I begin to think we're +going to have plenty of sport up here." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +BRACE LEIGH'S SPORT. + +"So we're to think of the pot and pan as well as of our specimens," said +Briscoe, loading both barrels of his gun. + +"I fancy we shall have plenty of chances for doing both," said Brace, +following suit. "How well the boat sails! Why, we have got quite a +long distance from the brig already." + +"Yes, and we're stemming a pretty good current too," said Lynton, who +was steering with one hand and taking out a stout fishing-line from the +boat's locker with the other. "But wouldn't you like to have a turn +with a spoon-bait as we are going along? I don't know what fish we're +going to catch, but I expect there'll be plenty of gar pike or something +of that kind." + +"Well, you begin," said Brace. "I'll have a turn later on. I want to +try for a duck or something else eatable, and to have a look at the +country round about as well. I say, aren't we carrying too much sail?" + +"Not a bit," said Lynton. "Look, I can ease off in a moment. See?" + +"Yes," said Brace, as, with a touch at the tiller, the boat grew more +level instead of careening over as she ran; "that's right." + +The boat glided smoothly along now on an even keel, and they all enjoyed +the magnificent scenery as they passed near the bank, with the forest +running right down to the brink of the stream and occasionally opening +out into avenues of gigantic trees. + +Lynton was busying himself with the tackle as they sailed on, when Brace +turned to him and said: + +"You don't expect to catch anything with that great drag-hook, do you?" + +And he laughed at the large triangle hanging beneath a huge spoon, and +furnished with a double arrangement of swivels. + +"Indeed, but I do," was the reply. "Here, catch hold of the tiller, my +lad. Steady. A little slower now." + +"Shall we take in a reef, sir?" said Dan, who was holding the sheet. + +"Oh, no, that will do, only take care you don't capsize us." + +He then turned to Brace once more and continued the conversation about +the fishing-tackle. + +"Yes, Mr Brace," he said, "that spoon will spin splendidly, and I don't +expect the fish here have been educated so far as to know what a +fish-hook is. They've a lot to learn before they grow shy of an +artificial bait. Think that lead will be heavy enough?" + +"Yes, quite enough to scare away a shark. What nonsense! I should put +on something small and light. We're not at sea." + +"I know that, sir; but just you wait a bit and see. Ease off that sheet +a little more, Dan," cried Lynton. "That's better. I say, we're +opening up into quite a lake." + +"The scenery is glorious," said Brace. "Look, there's plenty of dense +forest too beyond that open part we are passing." + +"Yes, and there's the waterfall," cried Briscoe. "It's grand." + +Brace nodded and sat with parted lips, gazing at the grand display of +falling water which was now almost directly ahead. + +The whole river, which was very nearly half a mile wide at this spot, +tumbled over a ridge of rocks which barred its passage, and dropped in +places fully fifty feet with a dull murmuring roar which now began to be +plainly heard. + +"Are you looking at the falls, Lynton?" cried Brace. + +"Not yet. I'm too busy just now. I want to get the line out first. +There she goes, and good luck to her." + +He dropped the great spoon and its armature of hooks over the side, and +Brace glanced after it, to see it for a few moments as the line was +allowed to run, the silvered unfishlike piece of metal beginning to spin +and, as it receded farther from the boat, to assume a wonderfully +lifelike resemblance to a good-sized roach swimming pretty fast. + +It disappeared in a very few moments in the disturbed water, but soon +after it rose to the surface again and began to make leaps and darts of +a yard or two in length. + +"I thought so," said Lynton drily. "That weight isn't heavy enough for +the rate at which we're travelling." + +"Let out more line," said Brace, "and it may sink lower then." + +The mate nodded, and drew about a dozen more yards from the open winder. + +"That ought to do it," he said. "I'll give the line a twist round that +thole-pin, and then we shall hear it rattle if there's a bite and-- +here--hi! Bless my soul!" + +_Whizz_! _whoop_! _bang_! + +The thole-pin had darted overboard, the winder was snatched from +Lynton's hand and struck violently against the steersman's leg. + +Then both he and the mate made a dart at it to stop it, but came heavily +in contact as they stooped. The tiller flew wide, and the boat careened +over so dangerously that, if the man who held the sheet had not hastily +let go so that the sail went flying, the mate would have gone over the +side, and would soon have been left behind, as the boat was now going +along at a considerable speed. + +It was only a matter of a moment or two, and then the tiller was +steadied, the sheet hauled home, and the boat glided swiftly on once +more. + +"I say," cried Briscoe, as Dan sat grinning with delight, "what's it all +about?" + +"About?" cried Lynton angrily; "why, my bait was taken by either a shark +or an alligator. There's a hundred yards of new line gone. What's to +be done now?" + +"You'd better rig up another, I should say," said the American drily, +"and hold on and give out when the fish runs." + +"It's a rum un," muttered the mate. "I say, my lad, just keep your head +out of my way next time. Are you aware that it's just about as hard as +a cocoanut?" + +"Never mind, Lynton," cried Brace. "Get out another line as soon as you +can, while the fish are biting so freely." + +"I don't know about that. The old man will kick up a row about that +line being lost. It was his, and he'll want to know how it came about +that I lost it." + +"Never mind: we brought plenty with us. Look sharp." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +A RIVER MONSTER. + +The boat's way was checked, and every eye was now fixed upon the second +mate as he prepared and threw out another artificial bait. At the same +moment the sail was allowed to fill, and the boat glided on once more. + +"They don't get this line," said Lynton confidently, "for I'll hold it +all the time. Let her go, Dan: take a pull on that sheet." + +The boat answered to the drag as if she had been a spirited horse +resenting a touch at the curb rein, and away they went, with the water +surging up towards the gunwale as she careened over. + +They had sailed on for a few minutes when a loud cry came from the mate. + +"Ahoy there! Oh, murder!" he yelled. "Throw her up in the wind, or I +shall have my arms dragged out of their sockets." + +For just when least expected there was a tremendous jerk as some fish or +reptile snatched at the flying bait, and Lynton was scarcely able to +keep his hold of the line. + +"Let him run," cried Brace. "Give him plenty of line." + +For the moment the mate was too much taken by surprise to act, but, +recovering himself while one of the men snatched up and loosened more +line from the winder, he let out yard after yard of the stout cord, and, +the boat's way being checked, it became possible to do something in the +way of playing the seizer of the bait. + +"It pulls like a whale," panted the mate, as he endeavoured to control +the line. + +"Never mind," said Briscoe; "give him time, and you'll tire him out." + +"If he don't tire me out. I say, it's a monster. It must be a big +'gator." + +"Never mind what it is," cried Brace excitedly: "catch him." + +"It's all very fine to talk," growled the mate, "but he'll have the skin +off my hands if I stick to him, for it seems as if instead of me +catching him he's caught me, and I expect he'll have me in the water +soon." + +Briscoe, who was as excited as anyone, burst into a hearty laugh at +this, and, laying down his gun, took up the short-handled gaff-hook +which lay beneath the thwarts. + +"That won't be any good for this fellow," cried Lynton; "it's a great +shark, I believe. Take the boathook." + +"No, no; it's too blunt," said Brace. "Look here, Lynton: you go on +playing him." + +"Play! Do you call this play? My arms are being racked." + +"He must be getting exhausted now. He can't keep on at that very much +longer." + +"Well, if he doesn't soon give way, I shall have to do so." + +"Wait a minute or two and then get the brute to the surface, and I'll +put a charge of big shot through him." + +"No, no; he'll break away if you do that," cried the mate. "I want to +get him aboard if I can manage it. I say: the tackle isn't too big and +coarse, is it, Mr Brace?" + +"I didn't expect you were going to hook a thing like this at the first +attempt. Give him some more line." + +"There's on'y 'bout a fathom more of it left, sir," cried the man who +was casting the line off from the winder. + +"Let out half and then get a hold too, my lad," said Lynton. + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered the man. + +"This is rather too much of a good thing," said the mate. "Here, let +the boat go with him; it'll ease the strain." + +"Why, he has been towing us for the last five minutes," said Briscoe. + +"Hi! hullo!" cried Brace. "Oh, what luck! Gone!" + +The men groaned, for the line, which had up till then been quite tense +and kept on cutting through the water as the prisoner darted here and +there in its wild efforts to escape, suddenly became slack, and, with an +angry ejaculation, Lynton began to haul slowly in. + +"I knew it; I knew it," he said: "that tackle wasn't half strong +enough." + +"But what bad luck!" cried Brace. "Never mind. Stick on another hook, +Lynton. I say, that must have been an alligator. There couldn't be +fish that size out here." + +"Pulled like a sea-cow," said Briscoe. + +"Cow! Went through the water like a steam launch," said Lynton. + +"Well, whatever it was, it has gone now, and we must hope for better +luck next time," said Brace. + +They rested for a few minutes in silence; then Lynton turned to Brace +and said: + +"Just put your hand in the locker over there, Mr Brace, and get out the +largest spoon you can find. I'm afraid it won't be big enough, and I +expect this beggar has got the swivels. I say, though, this is +something like fishing. When we get back I'll rig up some tackle with +the lead-line. Let the boat go again." + +The sail was allowed to fill, the boat careened over and began to glide +away again before the wind, when suddenly the line tightened once more, +and the mate yelled to the steersman and the sailor holding the sheet. + +"Ease her!" he roared; "the beggar only turned and came towards the +boat. I've got him still, and he's as lively as ever." + +There was silence then, and for the next few minutes the battle went on, +the fish or reptile towing the boat this way and that way in some of its +fierce rushes. + +In spite of the hard work Lynton manfully refused to surrender the line, +but let it run or hauled it in according to the necessities of the +moment, till there was a cheer, started by Brace, for the captive's +strength was plainly failing, and at the end of another five minutes it +ceased its struggles, and yielded sullenly to the steady drag. + +Lynton pulled the line slowly in, whilst all the others watched with +eager expectation for the first appearance of his captive. + +"It must be a monster," said Brace hoarsely. "Be careful now, Lynton. +It would be horrible if the line were to break, and we were to lose him +after all our efforts." + +"Monster? I believe he's as long as the boat; but he's pumped out now. +I say, the water must be tremendously deep here. He must have dived +right down to the bottom. It's a 'gator: there's no doubt about that." + +"We shall soon see," replied Briscoe, who stood ready with the +gaff-hook. "I shall have to trust to this." + +"Yes. Drive it right into his throat, and haul him in over the side at +once." + +"Right. I say: he's coming now. See him?" said Briscoe eagerly. + +"Quite plainly," said Brace. "The water's beautifully clear, but it's +running so fast that everything below seems to be all of a quiver and it +is not possible to make out the shape of anything." + +"Haul slowly and steadily," said Briscoe. "I wish this thing had a +stronger handle." + +"It would only break if it had, with such a big fish," said Lynton, as +he kept on hauling and letting the heavily-strained line fall between +his legs. "Do you see him now?" + +"Yes, quite plainly." + +"'Gator, isn't it?" + +"No: a long, thin fish." + +"Not a snake?" + +"No, no: a fish. It looks five feet long at the least." + +"Must be ten," panted Lynton, with a groan, as he continued hauling on +the line. "It feels as heavy as so much lead." + +"Now then, be careful," cried Brace, cocking his double gun. + +"No, no: don't shoot," cried Lynton, as he slowly hauled. + +"Shan't fire unless he breaks away," said Brace between his teeth. + +In the exciting moments which followed, and amidst a deep silence, only +broken by the flapping of the sail and the rattle of the water against +the boat's bows, Briscoe gently passed the gaff-hook over the side, +thrust it down into the water, and waited till the fish should come +within reach. + +It only took four hand-over-hand hauls on the part of the mate, and +those who gazed excitedly on could plainly see a huge head, with gaping +jaws full of glistening teeth, upon its side as if completely spent, +offering its white throat to the sharp hook waiting to be driven in. + +Another steady draw, and the fish did not move a fin. Then one bold +firm snatch, and the hook was holding well in the flesh, and in another +moment Briscoe, as he threw himself back on to a thwart, would have had +the fish over the side and in the bottom of the boat. + +But at the first touch of the steel the monster curved itself round till +its tail touched its head, and then, with a mighty effort, went off like +a spring released by a trigger; there was a tremendous splash, deluging +everyone with water, and the fish leaped a couple of yards off the hook, +to descend with another splash. + +As it divided the water, _bang, bang_, two sharp reports rang out from +Brace's gun, one charge tearing through the back of the fish, which beat +the surface for a few moments and then dived down, discolouring the +clear water with blood. + +In another few seconds the stream was alive with fish of all sizes, +making the river boil as they gathered up every scrap, and greedily +drank in the blood, while it was evident that the wounded monster was +being savagely attacked and devoured alive by an ever-increasing shoal. + +"Look: just look!" cried Lynton. + +The words were unnecessary, for everyone's eyes seemed to be starting +with the use that was being made of them. + +Almost as Lynton spoke the whirling water was broken by the great fish +springing right out, followed by at least a score of pursuers, +apparently half its size and less, ready to dash at it as it struck the +water again and disappeared. + +"Seems to have gone this time," said the American quietly. + +"Yes, and taken another spoon-bait and hook belonging to the captain," +said the second mate ruefully, as he looked at the broken end of the +line he held in his hand. + +"Yes, and he nearly took the gaff-hook as well," said Briscoe. + +"I say, Mr Briscoe, why didn't you hold him? You had him fast." + +"Why didn't you hold him with the line?" said the American drily. + +"Can't you see? It broke." And Lynton held out the end. + +"And can't you see? What sort of hook do you call this?" + +As he spoke Briscoe held out the gaff, which was nearly straightened +out. + +"I guess," he continued, "that you people ought to make this sort of +tools of hard steel and not of soft iron." + +They examined the hook, and even though it was made of soft iron the +strength exerted to straighten it out as had been done must have been +enormous. + +"Well, anyhow, our fish has gone," said Lynton ruefully. + +"And if we're not going to have any better luck than this," said Brace, +laughing, "the cook will not have much use for his frying-pan. There, +let's run up to the falls, and perhaps we may do something with our +guns." + +"Just so," said Briscoe; "only mind how you shoot, for if anything +should happen to fall into the water, the fish'll have it before we know +where we are. This seems to me," he added drily, "rather a fishy +place." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +TOWARDS THE FALLS. + +The fishing-line was laid to dry, the sail was bellied out, and the boat +ran swiftly on again before the brisk breeze. + +Lynton, who now steered, kept the little vessel close in shore so that a +good view might be had of the beauties of the lovely surrounding +country, for here tree and shrub had room to grow and assume their +natural shape without being deformed by crowding neighbours or strangled +by the twining monsters struggling upward so as to be able to expand +their blossoms in the full sunshine. + +In a short distance, though, the forest grew thicker, and the great +trees crowded down closer to the water's edge. + +Brace and his naturalist companion had withdrawn their gaze from the +silvery sheen of the descending fall a mile ahead, to gloat over the +beautifully-coloured birds, insects, and flowers which revelled in +myriads in the light, heat, and moisture of the glorious bank of the +stream. + +Fresh beauties rose to the view at every glide of the boat, and Brace +felt that what they ought to do was to check its way and stop to drink +in the glories of the scene. + +Chance after chance offered itself, but neither of the gun-bearers felt +disposed to shoot, and their pieces rested in the hollows of their arms +till suddenly, as they passed round a point, they came upon a scene in a +nook some fifty yards away which made each seize and cock his weapon. + +There, right down by the edge of the water, squatted a curious and most +uncouth-looking form totally unclothed save by its natural hairy growth, +and apparently quite unconscious of their approach as it bent over and +lapped the water it raised in its shaggy hand. + +But the clicking of the gun-locks aroused it to its danger, and, +springing upright, it stood peering at them for some moments from +beneath a pair of great hairy overhanging brows, before giving vent to a +hoarse, long-continued yell. + +The result of this was soon perceived, for three more such figures +suddenly bounded from amongst a clump of bushes and made for the dense +forest close at hand. + +The first seen stretched itself up a little higher for the moment, until +it looked like a big savage man, and it stood still glaring at the +strangers fiercely and displaying its teeth. + +Directly afterwards it uttered another deep-toned yell, and its human +aspect was gone, for it went down on all-fours and seemed to turn itself +into a rear-guard for the other three till they disappeared amongst the +undergrowth. + +The first seen then again raised itself to gaze over the bushes at the +boat, and, after uttering a hoarse half-bark, half-human cry, it plunged +in after the rest and was gone. + +"Here, why didn't one of you have a shot?" cried Lynton. + +"What at?" said Brace quietly. + +"Those monkeys. It was an old man and his wife and two youngsters. Why +didn't you fire? You had a good chance." + +"That was why I didn't fire at them. I didn't want to hit the old man +nor his wife nor youngsters. I couldn't bring myself to do it." + +"That's just how I felt," said Briscoe. "Hang me if I could make out +whether it was a wild man or an ape." + +"It's my opinion that it was the former," said Brace, gazing back at the +little embayment they had just passed. + +The next few minutes were passed in silence which was at length broken +by Brace. + +"Look, there he is again," he said; "he's watching us from behind those +bushes. Couldn't be a wild man, though, could it?" + +"Of course not," said Lynton: "whoever saw a wild Indian go off on +all-fours? It was a great monkey." + +"But there are no great monkeys in this part of the world," said Brace. +"One has to go to West Africa and Borneo for them. What do you say, Mr +Briscoe?" + +"The naturalists all say that there are no big apes in South America; +but some travellers tell a different tale, and the Indians report that +there are great half-human creatures that they are afraid of roaming +about in the woods." + +"I suppose that must mean that there are some species of apes on this +continent, but that no specimens have been captured," said Brace. + +"I'm going to make a note of what we've seen to-day," said Briscoe, "for +that chap was as big as an orang-outang, and quite as ugly." + +"Yes," said Brace. "It looks as if we had made a discovery. I don't +see why there shouldn't be big ones in these vast forests." + +"Nor I," said Briscoe thoughtfully. "There's plenty of room, and people +are too ready to say that nothing more remains to be discovered. Why, +only the other day they wouldn't believe in the existence of the +gorilla." + +"Look here," said Brace; "don't you think we ought to go back and +endeavour to catch one of those young ones?" + +"Perhaps," said the American drily; "but it will mean a fight, and we +should have to kill the old one first." + +"Do you think he would make a fight of it?" asked Brace. + +"I am certain of it," said Briscoe. "Suppose we put it off for a day or +two and think about it. There is plenty of time, and we are certain to +get another chance." + +"Go on, then," said Brace. "Let's prospect up to the falls, cross over, +and try on the other side for the ducks and fish we have got to take +back for the cook." + +Lynton chuckled and sent the boat gliding swiftly along for the next few +minutes, opening out again and again lovely vistas of river, forest, and +verdant shore, all of which invited landing and promised endless +collecting excursions. But the present was looked upon as a tour of +inspection, and all eyes scanned the shore and every creek that was +passed in search of Indians, a lively recollection of the first boat +expedition begetting plenty of caution. + +And all the while they sailed on and on towards the grand falls, which +rapidly grew in size as they were approached, the water thundering down +and the face of the cataract being obscured by the cloud of mist which +rose slowly till it was wafted away to fade in the glorious sunshine. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +A GREAT DANGER. + +So rapt were all the party in the awe-inspiring scene and in the beauty +of the falls--which were broken up by island-like rocks peering out grey +and green right across, so that as the adventurers drew nearer it was to +gaze at the beauties of at least a dozen falls instead of one, as they +had expected--that they did not notice how the wind was dropping as they +advanced, nor yet the change that had taken place in the river current. + +It was Brace who first marked the alteration whilst he was noticing the +numbers of fish leaping and darting away in front of the boat as she +glided on. + +"We ought almost to stop and fish here," observed Briscoe. "We might +have better luck with a smaller bait." + +"Perhaps we had better try," said Brace; "but I say, Mr Lynton, look +here: what do you make of this?" + +"Make of what?" said the mate. + +"We are not sailing nearly so fast as we were a short time ago." + +"Oh, I don't know: we're making much about the same way." + +"But the boat does not rush through the water as she did." + +"That's right," said Briscoe. "A bit ago she nearly dipped gunwale +under several times." + +"I noticed that," said Brace, "and that's the reason I called attention +to the smooth way we are now progressing. There's just the same amount +of wind blowing." + +"Yes; I say, Lynton, this isn't right," said Briscoe, in a sharp tone of +voice. + +"What isn't right?" said the mate testily. "We're making splendid way. +The boat's sailing along beautifully." + +"Yes, too beautifully," said Briscoe. "Can't you see what Mr Brace +here means?" + +"No; I can't see anything wrong," answered Lynton, in a grumbling tone. + +"Look then," cried Brace, excitedly now; "you had better put her about +at once and make for the other side." + +"What for?" + +"Can't you see?" cried Brace. "We were sailing against the stream a bit +ago; but we're sailing with it now." + +"Nonsense; that can't be," said the mate contemptuously. + +"But we are," cried Brace warmly. "Look and see." + +"Yes, that's right enough, sir," cried Dan sharply. "The current's +setting dead for the falls, and we're being sucked sharply towards the +broken water underneath them." + +"Ay, true for you, mate," cried one of the sailors; "and if we get there +we shall be swamped before we know where we are." + +Lynton started up in the boat and stood in a stooping position holding +on by the gunwale with his unoccupied hand, as he peered over the side +to look at the direction of the current and then gazed up the river at +the falls. + +The others saw him change countenance, but he did not say a word. He +gave ample proof, though, that he fully realised the danger they were +incurring, for he bore hard down upon the tiller till the boat glided +round, the sail filled on the other side, and they began to sail slowly +in a direction parallel with the falls. + +"She don't make much way, sir," said Dan, in a grumbling tone hardly +above a whisper, the words being meant for Brace's ear, but the mate +evidently heard what was said. + +"I don't quite understand this," said he. "I never noticed any change, +but the current's setting now right for the falls." + +"Don't you see why that is?" Briscoe asked the question sharply. + +"No. Do you?" + +"Yes. I'm a bit used to cataracts. There's thousands of tons falling +yonder and going down ever so deep. That makes the surface water set +towards the falls, and while there's a deep current rushing down the +river there's a surface current now setting upward, and it'll take us +right up to the falling water as sure as we sit here if something isn't +done, and that quickly." + +"I don't quite see that," said Lynton obstinately, as if he did not like +being taught by the American. + +"Never mind about understanding it," said Briscoe sharply. "We'll work +it out afterwards. You must act now." + +"I am acting," said Lynton. "We're sailing right away." + +"But the current's taking us up, Lynton," said Brace quickly. + +"Well, I can't set more sail, nor make any more wind, can I? We seem to +be getting more into shelter here." + +"But you can order the men to get out the oars," cried Brace. + +"Or else drop the grapnel and try to come to an anchor," said Briscoe. + +"Ah, yes," cried Lynton; "we'd better do that. Perhaps the wind will +rise a bit more soon. Over with that grapnel, my lads," he shouted to +the men forward. + +The sailors had been listening to every word, and quick as thought the +little four-fluked boat anchor was tossed over the bows, and the line +ran out to the extreme limit. + +Brace watched anxiously for the iron to catch in the bottom and check +their way. But he looked in vain. + +"That's no good," said the American sharply. "Bound to say you'd want a +rope ten times as long as that one up here, and if you had it no +gimcrack of a grapnel like that would take hold of the smooth rock +bottom." + +"Well, what else can I do? We seem to be helpless," said Lynton. + +Briscoe replied, in a most determined voice: + +"Order out the oars, sir, if you don't want the boat to be swamped and +your bones to be picked by these fiends of fish." + +The men did not wait for orders from their officer, but seized the oars, +and the next minute they were pulling with a long, steady, vigorous +stroke in the direction the mate steered; but from where Brace sat aft +he could see that they were still gliding gradually upward. + +It was only too plain to him that this was the case, for he could mark +their position by fixing his eyes upon a rock on the farther shore and +see that they were first abreast of it and soon after leaving it behind +them. + +"We've got our work cut out here, Mr Lynton," said the American +sternly. "I should change course again, sir, and make a tack in the +other direction." Then, turning to the sailors, he said: + +"Stick to your oars, my lads, and pull a steady stroke. No flurry. Be +cool." + +"Look here, sir: are you in command of this boat or am I?" cried the +second mate, losing his temper in his excitement. + +"Neither of us, I reckon," said the American coolly. "Strikes me no +human being is in command of her now. She's going where the current +takes her." + +"Well, I don't want you interfering and giving orders to the men," +answered the mate. + +"Suppose we take our orders from Mr Brace here." Briscoe turned to +Brace. "What do you say, sir--do you think my advice is good?" + +"Yes, Lynton, it is good," said Brace firmly. "Do as Mr Briscoe says." + +"All right, sir; I'll take my orders from you as I would from your +brother; but I'm not going to be hustled about over my work by a Yankee +who came aboard as a stowaway." + +"That will do, Mr Lynton," said Brace haughtily. "I'd be willing to +take my orders from any man if I felt that they were right, as I know +these are, and you do too if you will only be a little reasonable and +think." + +"I don't want any thinking, sir," said Lynton frankly. "Yes, it's right +enough. Pull, my lads, a good steady stroke, one that you can keep up +for a month. Swing that sail over. That's right. Now we're off on the +other tack." + +He spoke out quite cheerily now, and handled the tiller so that the boat +glided off in the opposite direction to that in which she had been +sailing, and for the next half-hour they tacked and tacked about, +sailing as close as they could to the wind, which was blowing gently +right for the falls. + +Their course was a series of tacks, which, if they were represented on +paper, would be marked as a zigzag, and had the breeze been fresher the +sailing qualities of the boat would have enabled her to easily master +the current which was steadily carrying them towards the falls. + +But instead of freshening, the wind, which was making the leaves quiver +ashore, seemed to be growing fainter and fainter as they came nearer to +the thundering falls, for it was plain enough that in spite of all their +efforts the current was the stronger, and that it was only a question of +time before the pulling of the men would become weaker and the boat +would be drawn right on and on into the churned-up foaming water, and +then-- + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +STARING AT DEATH. + +It was too horrible to think of, and Brace, to keep out of his brain the +mental picture of the swamped boat, the thundering water beating them +down into the awful chaos, and the shudder-engendering ideas connected +with the fierce fish waiting to attack and literally devour them alive, +changed his position so as to kneel down in the bottom of the boat, +facing the second oarsman, lay his hands upon the oar, and help every +pull with a good push. Briscoe followed his example, and the strength +of six was thus brought to bear upon the oars. + +For a few minutes this extra effort seemed to have supplied all that was +necessary, and as the men saw that they were beginning to draw a little +away from the falling water they burst out simultaneously with a hearty +hurrah, one that seemed to give fresh energy to the rowers. But it +sounded feeble, hushed, and smothered as it were by the increasing roar +of the falling water, ever growing into an overpowering, muffled +thunder. + +Still there was the fact that wind and muscle were stronger than the +current, and the boat was steadily drawing away as they advanced in +their tack towards the farther shore. + +On the strength of this and to save losing ground in turning to go upon +the next tack, Lynton kept on, and shouted an encouraging word or two +from time to time. + +"Bravo! All together! Now you have it! Well rowed, boys! Put your +backs into it! You'll fetch it! British muscle and British pluck for +ever! Never say die, lads! That's your style! Keep it up! Well done, +Mr Brace! Well done, Mr Briscoe! Well done all! Ah-h-h!" + +This last sounded like a snarl from the mate--it was uttered fiercely, +and was long-drawn-out and savage in the extreme. + +But he felt that he had made a mistake, and he now roared: + +"Go on--go on! Don't stop to look round you. Keep on rowing for your +lives, lads, and we'll do it yet!" + +He was just in time, for the men's efforts had begun to slacken and +something of a panic was setting in amongst them. + +Everyone grasped the fact that the long reach they were now making had +been a terrible error. It had brought them closer in than ever to the +high mass of rocks over which the upper portion of the river was +precipitated. + +Somehow from the configuration of the country this high ground affected +the course of the wind, or else it had suddenly dropped, for to the +horror of the rowers the sail, which had fairly bellied out, began to +collapse, and a minute later hung flapping against the mast, doing +nothing to help the progress of the boat out of the peril in which she +lay. + +"Pull!" roared the mate. "Pull for your lives, my lads!" + +He sprang forward, and, just retaining his hold upon the tiller with one +hand, he planted his foot against the bow man's oar and kept giving a +thrust in time with each stroke. + +Brace's first idea was that they ought to tack at once, but he grasped +the fact directly after that there was not time, for in the attempt to +achieve the manoeuvre the boat would lose so much way that they would be +swept irredeemably closer towards the falls; and he went on thrusting +with all his might, knowing full well that the mate was right, and that +their only chance was to row on parallel with the falls till they could +reach the farther shore. + +"Pull for your lives!" were the last words the mate shouted, and they +were but faintly heard in the heavy roar, and the men pulled as they had +never pulled before. + +They pulled till the rough ashen oars bent and threatened to snap in +two, and as Brace kept on with his regular swing and thrust his position +was rendered more horrible by his being face to face with the men and +forced to see their starting eyes, their strained faces, and the glint +of their white set teeth, as they dragged at their oars when bidden, +each man for his dear life. + +But it was all in vain, and they knew it. They felt to a man that all +was over. Even now they could not get their full grip of the water, for +it was becoming foam charged and white with the vesicles of air rushing +to the surface. But they pulled in the true Anglo-Saxon spirit, for +life, of course, but with the desperate intent of pulling to the last, +not to escape, but to die game. + +And how soon? + +Brace did not once turn his head to the right so as to see--there was no +need to do so, for he was conscious of the ever-nearing presence of a +glassy descending sheet dimly seen through a dense cloud of mist, which +glittered and flashed, and as it rose, rolling over and over like the +smoke from a slow fire, it emitted colours of the most brilliant hues-- +glorious refulgent colours, reflections of the sunshine, while with +ever-increasing force there came that dull awful roar. + +There was an appeal too now to other senses, for a dull moist watery +odour rose to the lad's nostrils, and at times it suggested fish, and he +shuddered slightly at the thought of how soon he might be beaten down +and swept within the reach of the keen-toothed creatures. + +He thought all this and more in those brief seconds, for his brain was +working quickly, independently of his muscles, which never for a moment +flagged in the effort to help the rowers. + +How long first? + +He knew there would be no fishes close up to the falls, for nothing +could swim in such an air-charged mass of water, and nothing would risk +itself where it would be beaten down and hurled and whirled against the +rocks upon which the waters fell and eddied and played around. + +Brace knew and felt that so soon as the boat was sucked a little nearer +there would be a sudden glide right up to the falling water, and then in +an instant they would be beaten down into the darkness right to the +bottom, and then go rushing along at a terrible rate, to begin rising a +little and a little more till they reached the surface half a mile or +more away from where they went down, afterwards to float gently along +past where the brig was anchored-- + +No; he felt that they would never reach the surface again; for, as soon +as the rush of the water allowed, the great river would be teeming with +shoals of ravenous enemies, and the friends left on board the brig would +never learn the cause of the non-return of the boat's crew. + +All this and more passed through his brain in those frightful minutes as +the men tugged hard at the oars, and they kept on parallel with the +great descending sheet of water. + +Now and then, as if divided by a puff of air which did not reach them, +the rolling mist opened and displayed piled-up natural piers of rock, +towering above their heads and dividing the curtain of gleaming +descending waters; but for the most part the falls were hidden from them +by an impenetrable veil, and at last they were upon the outskirts of +this mist as they rowed on. + +At first Brace believed that his eyesight was dimming, and he shuddered, +for the faces of his fellow-sufferers appeared to him to be strangely +distorted and indistinct; but he grasped the reason, and knew now that +in a few minutes more they would pass on to their death. + +But no one else seemed to be affected by the surroundings. To a man, +with fixed staring eyes and set teeth, the sailors dragged at their +oars, waiting till their officer at the tiller should bid them cease, +while his face seemed to have become set to a stony solidity which never +changed, for Lynton was ready to meet the worst and, determined to help +till the water beat them down, he breathed hard and thrust in the +regular seaman's swing. + +Suddenly Brace felt more than saw that the yard above them swung +slightly, and no doubt creaked; but no sound save the deafening roar of +the waters could reach to his ear, and he just glanced upward, to feel +for the moment that the canvas darkened their position, and it seemed to +him that the time had come, for the sail was like one of the wings of +death beating over them, and a curious feeling of resignation made him +calm. + +He had not felt anything like fear during the last few minutes: he was +only aware in a rapt dreamy way that something was about to happen--that +something which was the end of everything on earth: and he felt sorry +for his brother, who would take it terribly to heart that he did not +return. But, directly after, his brain was intent upon the efforts he +was making to help the rower in front. + +Then the mist became very thick around them, and as the boat was gliding +faster and still faster through the water the already moistened sail +seemed to be struck a violent blow which nearly capsized the boat, as +she heeled over to port and did not recover. + +"We're going down," thought Brace, and he closed his eyes and threw back +his head till his face was towards the sky, but only to resume his old +position, for he awoke to the fact that the men seemed to be making a +last desperate attempt to get out of the rushing water. + +And now, as he unclosed his eyes, it was to find himself in the clear +sunshine with the boat dashing at headlong speed through the water, her +port gunwale only an inch or two from the surface and the wet sail +bellied out in a dangerous way, while Dan was holding on by the sheet. + +The roar of the water was stunning, but the sudden change in the state +of affairs seemed to stun him far more, till it gradually dawned upon +him that they had rowed on in their desperation till the boat had passed +into a current of air, one caused by the wind striking against and being +reflected from the rocks at one side of the falls, and by whose help +they were gliding so rapidly into safer waters that the men suddenly +ceased rowing, while Lynton uttered a yell. + +"Look, look!" he shouted. "Do you see? Do you see?" + +"See? How?" panted Briscoe. "I am nearly blind with staring at death." + +"Yes, yes, but look, look! Mr Brace--the water, the water! We have +got into an eddy, and it is setting right away from the falls." + +Brace turned round and saw that Lynton's words were true. He sat +staring at the water until he was recalled to a sense of what was +passing around him by hearing Lynton's voice. + +"Oh, catch hold, sir; catch hold of this tiller and steer. Let her go-- +fast as she will--so as to get away from this horrid place. Quick! +quick! I can't bear it! I'm going mad!" + +Brace snatched at the tiller, and only just in time, for Lynton's grasp +upon it gave out, and with a lurch forward he fell upon his face, which +was, however, saved from injury, for he had clasped his hands upon it, +and now lay in the bottom of the boat, hysterically sobbing with emotion +like a girl. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +BRISCOE'S YELLOW FEVER. + +Brace felt shocked at seeing a strong man so overcome, and carefully +refrained from glancing at the American, for fear of seeing a look of +contempt in his eyes. + +But the weakness passed away as quickly as it had come, and Lynton +sprang up, to give a sharp glance round at the surface of the broad +stretch of water, and then he turned to the others, but he did not speak +for a few moments. + +"We're all right," he said then, in a quiet voice. "That current don't +spread as far as this. Why, it was exactly like looking death right in +the face, and when I'd wound myself up to meet him like a man, it was as +if something went off inside me, and I ran down all at once when I found +we were not to die after all." + +"It was awful," said Brace, to whom the words were addressed. "I +expected it to be over every instant." + +After a while Briscoe said: + +"I am glad we have come safely through it all. It is more than I had +dared to hope for." + +"That it was," said Lynton. "I don't know how you were, but I felt like +a great girl. Well, it's all over, and very thankful I am. Mind +shaking hands with me, Mr Briscoe?" + +"Mind?" cried the American warmly, as he held out both his own to the +mate. "No; why should I mind?" + +"Because I turned round on you and cut up rough when we were in trouble. +Thank you. I beg your pardon." + +"Bah! nonsense, man. It was quite natural." + +And there was a warm exchange of pressure as the two men gazed in each +other's eyes. + +"Perhaps you wouldn't mind either, sir?" said Lynton, turning to Brace. + +"I was waiting for my turn," replied Brace heartily. + +And again there was a warm pressure of hands exchanged. + +"I say, both of you," said the second mate, in a low voice: "you don't +think I was very cowardly over it, do you?" + +"Cowardly?" cried Briscoe. "My dear fellow, I think you behaved like a +hero." + +"No," said Lynton, flushing. "You mean Mr Brace here." + +"He means we all behaved well," said Brace laughingly; "and I think you +ought to say a few words to the men." + +"That's what I feel, sir; but don't you think it would come better from +you?" + +"Certainly not. You ought to speak. You are their officer." + +"Perhaps Mr Briscoe would not object to speaking to them?" + +"No; it would come best from you: so say something at once." + +"All right," said Lynton, clearing his throat with a good cough, and +turning to the men. "Look here, my lads.--Would you mind taking the +helm for a few minutes, Mr Brace? Thankye.--Look here, my lads." + +"Ay, ay, sir!" came heartily, and it seemed to put the mate out, for he +coughed again, took off his straw hat, wiped his streaming brow, and +made a fresh start. + +"Look here, my lads," he began. + +"Ay, ay, sir." + +"Heave to a minute, will you?" cried the mate. "You put me out. Look +here, my lads: we've just now jolly well escaped from being drowned, +and--and I--we--I--here, shake hands, all of you. Brave boys!--brave +boys!--brave boys!" + +He repeated the last two words again and again in a husky voice, as he +shook hands heartily with each of the men in turn, and then uttered a +sigh of relief as he took his place at the tiller again. + +"Look here, sir," he said: "I don't see that we need go on flying +through the water like this. We're out of danger, and it seems to me +that we've only got to keep a sharp look-out to see when the current +changes and keep clear of it." + +"Yes," said Brace; "I think we might slacken sail a little now. We seem +to have got right out of the surface current leading to the falls." + +"We'd no right to go sailing up so close to where the water comes over +the rocks. That's where we were wrong in the first place," remarked the +second mate. + +"Yes," said Briscoe; "but it was a wonderfully interesting experience." + +"That's what you call it, sir," said Lynton rather gruffly, "and I +suppose you're right; but it's rather too expensive a game for me. It +was experience though, and like a lesson, for I feel now as if I could +navigate these waters without getting into trouble again. How do you +feel about going right across now and landing?" + +"I think we ought to," said Briscoe. "Why can't we go close in and then +sail up as near as it seems safe before landing? After that we might +shoulder our guns and see if we can climb up level with the top of the +falls." + +"Yes, let's try that," said Brace. "It would be most interesting." + +Lynton steered the boat close in to the shore and kept her sailing along +at only a few yards' distance until they arrived at a spot which looked +favourable for landing. + +Brace and Briscoe gave a sharp look round and then the little party +landed, and, after leaving the boat-keepers with orders to fire by way +of alarm if they saw any sign of Indians, Brace led off to climb a long +rocky slope, which proved to be perfectly practicable for a boat to be +drawn up on rollers, and soon after they were standing gazing to their +right at the top of the falls, while away to their left in a smooth +gliding reach there were the upper waters of the river winding away +through beautiful park-like woodlands as far as the eye could see. + +"Splendid!" cried Lynton. "I should just like a mile of this to rig up +my house and retire from business. I say, what's he looking for?" + +This was to draw Brace's attention to Briscoe, who had gone forward to +descend to a little sandy nook by the water-side, where he was raking +about with a stick. + +"Looking for something, I suppose--to see if he can find precious stones +among the pebbles perhaps. Maybe he's finding fresh-water shells. Any +oysters there, Mr Briscoe?" + +"Haven't found any yet," shouted Briscoe, laughing. + +But Brace noticed that he stooped down once or twice and scooped up a +handful of sand, to wash it about in the water and examine it very +carefully before tossing it away, and then, shouldering his gun, he +returned to Brace's side. + +"What a lovely place this is!" he said. "Hadn't we better get back and +report progress to your brother?" + +"Yes, I think so," said Brace; "but what did you find?" + +"Pst! Keep quiet. I don't want the men to know." + +"What was it--footprints in the sand belonging to the men of your golden +city?" + +Briscoe looked at him sharply. + +"No," he said, in a low tone so that no one else could hear, "but signs +of gold itself, and we may be on the way to the legendary city after +all." + +"What?" cried Brace, smiling. "You don't mean to say that you are still +thinking about that! I thought you had entirely forgotten it." + +"To be frank, I always do think about it, for I believe in it most +firmly: otherwise I should not be here." + +"Nonsense! It's nothing but a myth--a legend," said Brace. + +"I think not," said Briscoe gravely. "I believe it's as much a fact as +the golden cities of the Mexicans and Peruvians that the Spaniards +proved to be no myths." + +"No: that was true enough," replied Brace thoughtfully. + +"So's this. I've dreamed about it for years, and I mean to find it +yet." + +"Why, you surprise me. I thought it was the temple of natural history +which you used as your place of worship." + +"So I do, but I've got the golden city behind all that." + +"Nonsense! It is, as you said just now, merely a dream." + +"Perhaps." + +"Where is it to be found? You did not fancy it was up the Orinoco, did +you, when you planned to go up there?" + +"Yes, either there or up here," said Briscoe. "Don't you understand +that it must be on the banks of some river out of the bed of which the +Indians could wash gold?" + +"No. I should have thought it would be close to some mountain out of +which the old people could dig gold." + +"Then I shouldn't," said Briscoe. "The first gold-finders found it in +the beds of the streams down which it had been washed. That's what I +think, and I determined to come up and examine the South American rivers +till I found the right one. I meant to go up the Orinoco; but the +Amazons did just as well. It might be there, but it's just as likely to +be here, and--" + +"Let's go back and have some lunch in the boat first," said Brace, +smiling at his companion's earnestness. "We can then hoist the sail and +run back to the brig and tell my brother that you've broken out with the +gold fever, and that there is to be no more collecting of specimens." + +"No, we won't," said Briscoe drily; "for I've said what I did to you in +confidence, and you won't say a word. I'm going to collect and do as +you do; but there's nothing to hinder me from making a grand discovery +besides, is there?" + +"Oh, no," said Brace merrily; "but I don't see any reason why we should +keep it a secret from my brother and the rest." + +"Perhaps not, but I do. We don't want the brig's crew to go mad, do +we?" + +"Certainly not." + +"Then don't you say a word about there being gold in this river for them +to hear or the consequences might be serious." + +"I shall not speak about it, for I don't think there is any." + +"Perhaps not," said Briscoe drily; "but I do. For there is, and plenty +of it." + +"What?" cried Brace. + +"That's right. Don't be surprised. By-and-by I'll show you, and open +your eyes." + +No more was said, and, the order being given, the men trudged back to +the boat; the wind was fair, and soon after they ran back alongside of +the brig and reported the possibility of getting the boat up the +portage. + +"That's good," said the captain. "Then I tell you what: as soon as Sir +Humphrey is well enough I'll have the brig safely moored, and we'll man +two boats and go right up the river." + +"Then we'll go at once," said Sir Humphrey. "I shall get better much +more quickly lying back in the stern-sheets of a boat than sitting about +here on the deck of the brig." + +"I think so too," said the captain. "What do you say then to starting +to-morrow?" + +"Do you think we can manage that?" asked Sir Humphrey. + +"Yes; I have everything ready," said the captain. + +"But suppose the brig is attacked by Indians while we are away?" + +"We won't suppose anything of the kind, if you please," said the +captain, "for it seems to me that we're quite out of their reach. If +there had been Indians about here we should have seen some sign. +Anyhow, the brig's mine, and I can do as I like with her. What I would +like is to come with you on this first trip, so we'll chance leaving the +brig well moored, and to-morrow off we go. I rather like a bit of +shooting when there's a chance." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +BRACE HAS SYMPTOMS. + +Rollers were soon made by the carpenter, and the men, who were as eager +as a pack of boys, worked hard over the necessary preparations, looking +forward as they did to the trip as a kind of holiday excursion. +Consequently, when without mishap the two boats reached the side at the +foot of the falls next day, the stores were landed and carried up the +slope, the boats drawn ashore and in an incredibly short space of time +dragged on to the rollers, so many men harnessing themselves like a team +of horses to the rope attached to the boats' keels, and cheering loudly +as difficulty after difficulty was surmounted, the rollers being changed +time after time till the top was at length reached. + +The lowering down into the water was easily accomplished: stores were +re-embarked, and then, with a brisk breeze to fill their sails, the +party started upon what was to prove an adventurous voyage along the +upper waters of the great river, leaving the thunder of the falls far +behind. + +Fish and game proved to be abundant, wood for their fire plentiful, and +they bivouacked that evening under one of the forest monarchs upon the +bank, partaking of the result of their shooting, Dan revelling in his +task of playing cook, and grinning with delight at the praises bestowed +upon him by masters and men. + +To Brace's satisfaction, his brother seemed all the better for the +little exertion he had gone through, and when the boats were once more +sought and the fire extinguished to save them from drawing upon +themselves the attentions of any Indians who might be near, Sir Humphrey +was one of the first to fall asleep under the tent-like sail, the boats +swinging gently in the darkness at the end of the rope secured to a huge +overhanging bough. + +"It's a pity not to have kept the fire going, Mr Briscoe," said Brace, +as the two sat together trying to pierce the darkness as they gazed +towards the shore. + +"Pity for some things," replied Briscoe; "but there's for and against. +It would keep the wild beasts away, but would bring the insects and +reptiles to see what it means, besides rousing up the birds to come and +singe their wings. I say: everybody seems to have gone to sleep." + +"Except the two men of the watch in the boats' bows." + +"I say!" + +"Yes?" said Brace, for his companion stopped short. + +"What did Sir Humphrey say to my ideas about the golden city?" + +"Nothing whatever." + +"Nothing?" + +"Not a word, for he did not know." + +"Didn't you tell him?" + +"Of course not. Didn't you say that your words were in confidence?" + +"Yes," said Briscoe, with a grunt, "but I didn't mean to include him. +He wouldn't try to argue the case again, would he, and want to have me +set ashore here?" + +"Certainly not. He would say that you had a perfect right to indulge in +such dreams. He would not interfere." + +"Not if I was to begin prospecting?" + +"Not unless you began to do anything to hinder our trip. But I say, +look here: what's the meaning of this sudden interest in gold?" + +Briscoe smiled. + +"There's nothing sudden about it," he said. "It came on, as I told you, +years ago, and I've been thinking about the golden city ever since." + +"Golden clouds," said Brace derisively. "Give it up, man, and stick to +the birds." + +"I'll stick to them too," said Briscoe quietly. "I won't interfere with +your plans." + +Brace was silent for a few minutes, during which the darkness seemed to +grow deeper, and the strange noises in the forest increased till it was +possible for an active imagination to conjure up the approach of endless +strange creatures bent upon attacking the invaders of their solitudes. +But the time glided on with the water gently lapping at the sides of the +boat they were in, and one moment Brace was trying hard to say something +to the American, the next he was gliding up the strange river towards +the overgrown crumbling walls of a city standing high upon a rocky +eminence a little back from the river bank. Then all at once the swift, +easy, gliding motion of the boat ceased, and though the sail was well +filled out they got no nearer to the city, whose gateway stood +temptingly open, while in the glowing evening sunshine crumbling wall +and tower appeared to be made of deadened gold. + +For a few moments Brace sat gazing hard at the buildings, feeling +certain that this was the golden city of which Briscoe had spoken. Then +a strange feeling of irritation came over him, and he tried to turn and +order the crew to lay out their oars and pull for their lives so as to +reach the goal. But somehow he could not stir to rouse up the men to +row, and the boat remained strangely balanced upon the swiftly-gliding +water, just as if she were straining hard at an anchor which had been +thrown out astern. + +Then--how the young man could not have explained--the ruddy golden city +grew fainter--darker--till it died away in a dense blackness; for it was +all a building-up of the imagination, in the deep sleep which had +overcome the young adventurer as he leaned against the side of the boat. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +A SUDDEN CHECK. + +Days and days passed of sailing on and on over waters which grew more +and more shallow. Brilliantly-coloured birds were shot and skinned: and +an ample supply of fine turkey-like fellows made the men's eyes sparkle +as they thought of the rich roasts Dan would make at the evening's +camping-place to supplement the toothsome fish that were hauled in, +flashing gold, silver, blue, and scarlet from their scales, whenever a +line was thrown out astern. + +Sometimes a shot was obtained at some fierce animal or loathsome +reptile, whose pursuit and capture lent excitement to the trip and fully +repaid the men for their labour at the oars when the wind went down. + +The change from the brig to the boat seemed to give Sir Humphrey new +life, and at the end of a fortnight he was thoroughly himself again, and +ready to take his turn at an oar so as to rest the men, to fish, or to +land on one or the other bank of the river in search of game for the +cook or specimens for their boxes of skins. + +"It's glorious," cried Brace, more than once. + +"Would be," said Briscoe, "if we could catch sight of the golden city." + +"You'll only see it as I did," cried Brace--"in a dream; but you can +read about it when we get back home, in some book of imaginary travels." + +"Perhaps," said Briscoe drily; "but I have more faith than you have, my +fine fellow. Just wait and see." + +That afternoon a wide reach of the river was entered where the water +shallowed so rapidly that all of a sudden a grating sound arose from +under the foremost boat, and then came a shout from the captain to +Lynton. + +"Look out there," he roared. "Shove your helm down." + +The second mate obeyed the order instantly; but the warning came too +late, for there was a sudden check and Brace nearly went overboard, and +in fact would have taken a header if Briscoe had not made a snatch at +his arm. + +Both boats were fast aground and refused obstinately to yield to the +poling and punting toiled at by the men to get them over the sandy shoal +in which they were fixed. + +"Never mind, my lads," cried the captain at last: "it's getting late, +and there's a capital camping-place ashore. Wade, some of you, and +lighten the boats so as to run 'em in. You, Dan, and a couple more see +to your fire. There don't seem to be any of those flippers in the water +here. Stream's too swift for them." + +The men were over the sides of the boats and into the water directly, +and, thus lightened, the vessels were run close up to the bank before +they grounded side by side. + +"We'll lighten your boat more still, gentlemen, in the morning," said +the captain, "and pole her along to find a deeper channel. It's too +late now, and we're all tired. My word!" he continued, as he stood on +one of the after-thwarts and looked down through the crystal-clear water +at the sandy gravel; "why, this looks just the sort of place where you +might wash for gold." + +"Hah!" ejaculated Brace: and then to himself: "He has done it now." + +The captain's loudly-spoken words had been plainly heard by all, and +seemed to send a magnetic thrill through every man. + +Without exception, at the word "gold" all stopped in what they were +doing and stared down through the clear water at their feet with eager +dilated eyes, while to Brace it appeared as if each hearer held his +breath in the excitement which had chained him motionless there. + +Briscoe's eyes flashed a meaning look at Brace, who glanced at him, and +then he cried: "Yes; that's what I was thinking, skipper. S'pose we +have a try?" + +"All right, do," said the captain good-humouredly. "But never you mind, +my lads: get the things ashore. You, Dellow, take a rifle and have a +look-out for squalls--Injuns, I mean. Not that there's much likelihood, +for there's no cover for the enemy here. Now, then; what are you all +staring at? Are you struck comic? Never heard the word `gold' before?" + +The men all started as if they had been rudely awakened from sleep, and +began to carry the necessaries ashore, while Brace turned to the +American, who was busy at the locker, from which he was getting out a +couple of the shallow galvanised-iron wash-bowls they used. + +"Cast loose that shovel from under the thwart, Brace, my lad," he said. +"I say, sure there are none of those little flippers about?" + +"Oh, yes, I'm sure," cried Brace, laughing. "We should have known if +there were before now." + +"That's right," said Briscoe, stepping overboard, "for I don't feel as +if I wanted bleeding." + +"Are you going to try for gold?" asked Sir Humphrey. + +"That was what I thought of doing," said the American, "for the place +looks so likely. Gravelly sandy shallow in a great river which runs +down from the mountains." + +"Oh, you won't find any gold here," said Lynton, smiling. + +"I don't know," said Sir Humphrey. "Try; the place looks very likely." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +THE YELLOW METAL. + +The men had landed and made fast the boat, and were now gathering wood +for a fire, as Brace and the American stepped to the shallowest part +they could find, where the stream ran swiftly, washing the stones so +that they glittered and shone in the bright sunshine. + +"Suppose we try here," said Briscoe, rolling up his sleeves and making +use of the shovel they had brought to scrape away some of the larger +pebbles. "Now then, there, hold the bowls, or they'll be floating +away." + +Brace thrust them down under the water, and Briscoe placed a shovelful +of gravelly sand in one, balancing it so that it was level on the bottom +of the bowl. + +"I say, we did not come up here to begin gold-hunting," said Brace +reproachfully. + +"No, of course not. Ours is a naturalists' trip, and this is testing +the mineralogy of the district," said Briscoe, with a peculiar smile. + +_Plosh_! Another shovelful of gravelly sand was raised and placed in +the second bowl. Then the shovel was driven in, to stand upright. + +"Now," cried Briscoe, "wash away." + +"Like this?" said Brace, shaking the bowl, as he began to feel a +peculiar interest in the proceedings. + +"No," said the American: "like this." And, stooping down and holding +his bowl just under water, he gave it a few dexterous twists which +brought all the bigger stones and pieces to one side, so that he could +sweep them off with his hand into the river again. + +"I say, you've done this sort of thing pretty often before," cried +Brace. + +"Yes, a few times," said Briscoe, laughing. "Up in the north-west in +canon and gulch, with the Indians waiting for one. Come, go ahead; +there are no Indians here." + +"There don't seem to be," said Brace, imitating his companion's acts and +washing away till nothing was left in the bottom of the two bowls but +half a handful of fine sand. + +"Did you find much gold up yonder?" said Brace, shaking away at his +bowl. + +"Lots," said Briscoe coolly. + +"And made yourself rich?" + +"No," said the American drily; "I made myself as poor as a rat." + +"I don't understand! How was that? You found gold?" + +"Oh, yes. My partners and I spent one season up there prospecting, and +altogether we managed to get together a hundred thousand dollars' worth +of the yellow stuff." + +"That was pretty good." + +"Tidy." + +"Then how do you make out that you lost by it?" + +"Just this way. When we got back to civilisation and totted up, +allowing fairly for the time it took and the cost of travelling, and +what we might have done, say at work earning eight or ten dollars a week +each, we reckoned that we were out of pocket." + +"Indeed?" said Brace, staring. + +"Yes. Gold-hunting's gambling. One man out of five hundred--or say a +thousand--makes a pile: half of them don't make wages, and the other +half make themselves ill, if they don't lose their lives. So I call it +gambling." + +"Don't gamble then," said Sir Humphrey, who had waded to where they +stood: and he looked on smiling. "Well, what fortune?" + +"Nothing in mine," said Brace, "and--nothing in Briscoe's." + +"Wrong," said the American: "you're new to the work, anyone can tell. +There's plenty here to pay well." + +"What!" cried Brace. "Why, I can't see a bit of metal." + +"Look again," said Briscoe, and, dipping his shallow bowl, he gave it a +clever twist to get rid of the water again and leave the fine sand +spread all round and over the bottom. + +He held the bowl full in the sunshine, with the last drops of water +draining off. + +"Now," he said, turning to Brace, "what can you see?" + +"Nothing at all," said Brace. + +"Nothing?" + +"Well, there's a tiny speck, and something that looks just yellowish +right in the middle there. But you don't call that gold?" + +"Well, it isn't silver," said Briscoe, laughing, "so I do call it gold." + +"Absurd!" said Brace. + +"Oh, no, it isn't. That's good gold, and if properly treated the sand +and gravel are rich enough to pay well." + +"When I go gold-washing I shall want to be where you can find nuggets +and scales in plenty," said Brace. + +"Ah, so I suppose," replied Briscoe. "You wouldn't be content with a +quartz reef with nothing in it visible, but which when powdered up and +treated gave a couple of ounces of pure gold for every ton of rock that +was broken out and crushed, would you?" + +"Certainly not," replied Brace. + +"Plenty make fortunes out of it, though, on such terms, and don't turn +up their noses at a reef if they can get one ounce of it of a ton. This +riverbed's rich, Sir Humphrey, and ready for explorers and prospectors. +But let's try that sand-bank yonder, farther out." + +The trio had to wade through a channel knee-deep to get to the long +sand-spit, for the most part bare, but over a part of which an inch or +two of clear water trickled. + +Here the same process was gone through over and over again, with the +result that when some shovelfuls of sand had been obtained from about +two feet below the surface, the washings were rich enough to show +glittering specks in the sunshine, while out of his own pan Brace picked +a dozen thick scales of a rich dull yellow--the peculiar yellow of pure +gold. He showed them to Briscoe, who nodded and said: + +"You have struck it pretty rich." + +"But how do I know that this isn't that what-you-may-call-it that's +nearly all sulphur--that pretty yellow ore of iron?" + +"Iron pyrites?" said the American: "by trying it with the edge of your +knife." + +"How?" + +"Like this," said Briscoe, picking up a flat water-worn pebble and, +drawing his keen sheath-knife, he took the thickest scale in Brace's pan +out of the sand, to place it upon the smooth surface. "Now," he said, +handing this and the knife to the young man, "try and cut that scale in +two." + +Brace tried, and by exercising a little pressure he cut through the +yellow scale almost as easily as if it had been lead. + +"There," said the young man half-contemptuously, "what does that prove?" + +"That it is pure gold," replied Briscoe. + +"But all is not gold that glitters," said Sir Humphrey, laughing. + +"Not by a long way," said Briscoe; "but that is metal?" + +"Certainly." + +"It is yellow?" + +"Yes," said Sir Humphrey. + +"Then it is gold." + +"Why isn't it iron pyrites--the salt of iron and sulphur?" + +"Because if it had been it would have broken up into little bits: you +could have ground it into dust." + +"So you could this," said Brace. + +"Impossible. You could beat it out into a thin sheet which you could +blow away. That's gold, sir. I had two years' prospecting for metals +and precious stones up in the Rockies, with a first-class mineralogist, +and, without bragging, I think I know what I'm saying. This river's +full of rich metallic gold, I'm sure of that." + +"I daresay you are," said Sir Humphrey: "only if this sand-spit is ten +times as rich in gold I'm not going to stay here any longer. We shall +be eaten up." + +"Yes," said Brace, "the little wretches! They're almost as bad as the +tiny fish." + +"What, these sand-flies?" said Briscoe, slapping his face and arms. +"Yes, they are a pretty good nuisance. Let's get ashore towards the +fire--the smoke will soon make them drift." + +"Well, I've learned something about gold to-day," said Brace, as they +picked their way back through the shallows to the bank of the river; +"but oughtn't we to mark this place down so that it should be ready for +the next gold-seekers?" + +"It wants no marking down," replied Briscoe: "the place will tell its +own tale to anyone hunting for it." + +And he tossed the sand out of the pans, gave them a rinse, and stepped +ashore. + +In another hour the excellent meal prepared by Dan had been enjoyed, and +the regular preparations were made for passing the night on board; but +in a very short time everyone had come to the conclusion that it would +be impossible to sleep in the neighbourhood of the sand-spits, on +account of the myriads of tiny sandflies, whose poisonous bites were +raising itching bumps and threatening to close the eyes of all who were +exposed to them. + +"It's getting too late to drift down the river a little way," said +Lynton, "and, besides, it wouldn't be safe." + +"And we should only be getting out of Scylla into Charybdis," said Sir +Humphrey. + +"I should like to be buried in sand up to my nose," cried Brace, whose +face was getting terribly swelled. + +"Strikes me," said Briscoe, "that we'd better go ashore and sleep there +after making up a good smother on the fire with green stuff that will +smoke well. There's plenty about." + +This was agreed to unanimously after an announcement from the mate that, +if they were to spend the night ashore, a proper watch would have to be +set and kept. + +After the necessary preparations had been made in the dry, +slightly-raised clearing in the middle of which the fire had been +lighted, the party covered themselves with their blankets and rejoiced +in the success of the plan, for the smoke rose and in the moist night +air hung low, spreading itself out in a thin layer a few feet from the +ground; and beneath this canopy the weary party lay down to sleep. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +THE CREW DOWN WITH THE GOLDEN FIT. + +The gold had got into Brace's head so much that, though he fell off fast +asleep directly, it was only to begin dreaming of the sand and gravel +beneath the swiftly-flowing shallow water, the ruddy pebbles seeming to +change when he turned them over with his foot as he stood ankle-deep, +for they grew yellower and glistened, till upon stooping to pick one up +he saw that all he had supposed to be stones were really nuggets of +gold. + +He was about to stoop and pick up all he could gather, when he suddenly +felt a sharp pain in his right ankle, and to his horror found that a +tremendous shoal of the tiny carnivorous fish had come up the river, +dimming the clear water like a cloud of silvery mud, and with a sharp +cry he turned to escape to shore, and awoke. + +But the pain in his ankle was no dream, for it stung sharply, and, +sitting up, he drew up his foot, to find that he had been bitten by some +insect. + +His first thought was to rise and plunge the bitten place in the cool +fresh water, and, creeping cautiously away so as not to awaken the rest, +he had nearly reached the water-side when he was brought up short by a +low whispering away towards where a tree stood alone. + +His blood seemed to turn cold, for the thought came that a party of +Indians had been attracted by the fire, and that this, their first night +passed ashore, was to prove a fatal mistake. + +But his common-sense soon told him that savages bent upon a night attack +would never betray themselves by whispering loudly together in eager +discussion, while directly after his nose became as fully aware of +something being on the way as his ears. + +Brace began to sniff. + +That was smoke, certainly, but not the smoke of the fire, that he could +smell, for it was plainly enough the familiar strong plug Cavendish +tobacco which the men cut up small and rubbed finer between their horny +palms before thrusting it into their pipes. + +That explained all, no doubt. The flies had been attacking them in +spite of the wood-smoke, and they had crept away to get under the boughs +of the big tree to try what the stronger fumes of tobacco would do in +the way of keeping off the noxious stinging insects. + +"And no wonder," he said to himself; as he bent down to lay his hand +upon his tingling ankle. "Poor fellows! They--" + +Brace started upright again, and was in the act of taking a step to +reach the running water, when a voice sounded louder from among the +whisperers, and in the intense silence of the night he plainly heard the +words: + +"Not a foot furder do I go, mates, and leave that gold." + +There was silence for a few moments, and then a voice said: + +"You can do as you like, my lads: here I am, and here I stays till I've +made my pile." + +"That was Jem's voice," thought Brace; and then he listened again +intently. + +"What about the skipper?" said a voice. + +"Skipper'll have to put up with it," said another of the men. "I like +the skipper, and I haven't a word to say about the two mates. I like +Mas' Dellow as well as I like Mas' Lynton, and t'other way on; but gold +aren't silver, messmates, and what we might do over a shilling's a +diffrun thing to what a man feels boun' to do over a pound. Here we are +with the gold lying in shovelfuls among the sand o' this here river, +plenty for all on us to make our fortuns, and I says it would be a sin +and a shame to leave it behind to go shooting red and yaller and blue +cock robins and jenny wrens to get their skins. There, that's the +longest speech I ever made in my life, but it had to be done. So I says +I'm your side, messmate Jemmy, and my name's gold." + +There was a low murmur here, and Jem spoke again: + +"Anyone else got a word to say?" + +"Yes, I have," said a fresh voice. "I'm with you, Jemmy, my lad, and +there's my hand on it; but there's some'at in the way." + +"What's that?" growled Jem. + +"What about the Yankee chap as found the gold, and Sir Humphrey and +Master Brace?" + +"What about 'em?" said Jem, while Brace's ears tingled. + +"On'y this, messmates. They've took the `Jason' and paid for her for as +long as they like. S'pose they say we shan't stop gold-digging and +tells us to go on?" + +"We must tell 'em we won't leave the gold, and that they must stop and +dig and wash, and go shares with us." + +"Tchah! they won't. Chaps like they, who can hire brigs and skippers +and crews, are chock full o' money. They'd on'y laugh at us, for they'd +rather have a noo kind o' butterfly than a handful o' gold," continued +the speaker. "Suppose they says we shall go on?" + +"Then we tells 'em we won't, and there's an end on it." + +"But the skipper won't pay us for breaking our bargain." + +"Well, what's a few months' pay to men who've got their sea chesties +chock full o' gold?" + +"That's true enough, messmate, but s'pose they turns nasty and picks up +their guns. They're wunners to shoot." + +"They dursen't," said Jem scornfully. "It would be murder. Finding +gold like this upsets everything else. We don't mean them no harm: all +they've got to do is to jyne in and share, for not a yard further do we +go, messmates, till we've got to the bottom of that gold." + +"Then they'll sail without us." + +"No, they won't," said Jem meaningly; "for we shall want that there brig +to take us back with all our gold." + +"Then there'll be a fight." + +"Very well then, my lads, we must fight. Now then, it's come to this-- +are we going to stand together like men?" + +Brace held his breath as he waited for the answer, and the time seemed +long; but it was only a few moments before a murmur of assent came which +told only too plainly that the thirst for gold had swept every feeling +of duty or allegiance aside. + +"And I've been playing the mean treacherous part of an eavesdropper," +thought Brace, as he drew back softly and returned to the side of the +smouldering fire, and after carefully judging the distance he made out +where Briscoe was lying, and, proceeding cautiously to his side, knelt +down and laid a hand upon his companion's lips. + +There was a violent start, and then the American lay perfectly still, +and a husky whisper arose from his lips: + +"What is it?" + +Brace placed his lips to Briscoe's ear and said: + +"You've done it now." + +"Eh? Done what?" + +Brace acquainted him with all that had passed, and ended with a word or +two about listening and eavesdropping. + +"Listening--eavesdropping?" said Briscoe. "You did not go to listen. +It was forced upon you. Why, Brace, man, it means mutiny." + +"And all through your miserable craze for gold," said Brace angrily. + +"Come, I like that!" replied the American. "Haven't I kept it all a +secret between us two? Who was it began about the gold this evening, +and made all the men prick up their ears?" + +Brace was silent for a few moments. + +"Yes," he said, at length; "but you jumped at the chance, and began to +wash." + +"I should have been a queer sort of fellow if I had not, sir. The fruit +was popped into my mouth by the skipper, and of course, as it was so +much to my taste, I ate it. Well, it's no use to begin shouting before +we're hurt. There's one good thing over tonight's work: we've had +warning, and know what to do." + +"That's just what we don't know," said Brace sharply. + +"Oh, yes, we do. Let's see: there's Sir Humphrey, the skipper, the two +mates, and our two selves--that makes six." + +"And the men are a dozen--two to one," said Brace. + +"Unarmed, and in the wrong," said Briscoe; "we're armed, and in the +right." + +"Then you would force the men to go on--you'd fight?" + +"Of course--if necessary. I'd force the men to do their duty." + +"And their duty is to obey orders," said Brace quickly. + +"Of course." + +"Then we ought to wake and warn the others before the men come back to +camp." + +"To be sure, and hear what your brother and the skipper say. I'll take +a look round first to make sure there's no one within hearing, for it +will be another point in our favour to give the scamps a surprise by +being ready for them." + +"It's all right," whispered Briscoe five minutes later. "They're all +whispering and plotting together yonder. Now for it. You tackle the +skipper, and I'll tell your brother. Be as quiet as you can." + +Brace thought that the duty of warning his brother should be his, but he +said nothing, and, creeping to the captain's side, he bent over in the +dark, and laid a hand upon his shoulder. + +In an instant two powerful hands had him by the throat, and he had hard +work not to struggle. + +"Who is it?" said the captain hoarsely. + +"I--Brace Leigh," said the young man, in a hoarse whisper. + +"You shouldn't rouse me like that, my lad. What is it--Indians?" + +Brace told him, and the captain lay back, perfectly till, gazing up at +the smoke. + +"Bless 'em!" he said softly. "That's trouble to-morrow morning then-- +not to-night. Well, have you told Dellow and Lynton?" + +"No; but Mr Briscoe is telling my brother." + +"Mr Briscoe, eh? Think he's siding with the men?" + +"Oh, no: I'm sure he is not." + +"I don't know," said the captain thoughtfully. "He jumped at that gold +to-day like a baby at sugar. I've always been a bit suspicious about +him, and now I see I've been right." + +"What do you mean?" said Brace warmly. + +"That chap's natural history has all been a cloak to screen him while he +has been gold-hunting. I would bet that he came up this river with us +in the hopes of finding that El Dorado place the Spaniards used to swear +by." + +"Quite right," said Brace drily. + +"That's it, my lad; but he won't find it here. It's in quite another +place." + +"Indeed! Do you know?" said Brace eagerly. + +"Oh, yes, I know. It's in the moon. Well, let's hear what Sir Humphrey +thinks." + +"Hist, captain," whispered the latter, almost at the same moment. + +"Yes, sir. What do you think of it all?" asked the captain. + +"It is horrible," whispered Sir Humphrey. "These men must be brought to +reason." + +"Don't you flurry yourself about that, sir," said the skipper grimly. +"I'm going to have a few words with my two bulldogs, just to put them up +to what's going on, and then we shall just keep quiet and take no notice +of anything till the lads begin. Then I shall let Dellow and Lynton +loose at 'em, holding myself in reserve. That will settle 'em. But if +we did seem to be getting the worst of it you three gentlemen might come +and lend us a hand." + +"And all be ready armed," said Sir Humphrey, "as you three will be." + +The captain chuckled softly. + +"Armed--guns and pistols?" he said at last. "Oh, no. I daresay you +gents have had the gloves on and know how to use your fists?" + +"Well, yes," said Sir Humphrey; "I must confess to that. Brace is +particularly smart with his." + +"I'll be bound to say he is," said the captain, chuckling. "Then we are +likely to have some fun to-morrow." + +"You don't apprehend danger, then, skipper?" said Briscoe: "no +shooting?" + +"Not a bit, sir," was the reply. "We Englishmen are not so fond of +using shooting-irons as you Yankees are. As to danger? Well, yes, +there will be a bit for the lads if they really do begin to play the +tune called mu-ti-nee. For there'll be a few eyes closed up and swelled +lips. Lynton's a very hard hitter, and when I do use my fists it +generally hurts. Good three years, though, since I hit a man. He was a +bit of a mutineer too: an ugly mulatto chap, full of fine airs, and +given to telling me he wouldn't obey orders, and before the crew. I did +hit him--hard." + +"Right into the middle of next week, skipper?" said Briscoe, laughing. + +"No, but right overboard," said the captain, "and one of the men threw a +noose about his neck and pulled it tight, bringing him alongside. There +he was between drowning and hanging when I looked over the bows at him. +`Now, young fellow,' I says, `what's it to be: obey orders or no?' `Oh, +captain, captain,' he whines, `take me aboard.' `Climb up by the +bobstay,' I said. He wasn't long coming aboard, and I kept an eye on +him, half-expecting to see him come at me with his knife; but, bless +you, no: he was showing his teeth at me an hour after in a real smile, +and he seemed to feel a sort of respect for me all the rest of the +voyage." + +"Then I hope you will be as successful with these men, captain," said +Brace. + +"Oh, we'll try, Mr Brace: we'll try. Well, there's nothing to mind +to-night, gentlemen, so we may as well have our sleep out." + +"Sleep?" said Brace. "What! with the men in a state of mutiny?" + +"Pah!" ejaculated the captain. "Hallo! who's here?" + +"Me--Dellow," said the first mate, in a hoarse whisper. "Lynton's here +too. Is anything wrong?" + +"Yes," said the captain, and the two mates were made acquainted with the +trouble. + +"Oh, that'll be all right, gentlemen," said the first mate quietly. "I +was afraid it was Indians and poisoned arrows. You can't reason with +them: you can with our lads. Lynton here is a wonderful arguer if +there's any trouble there, eh?" + +Lynton laughed softly, and in obedience to the captain's request all +took their places again about the fire, to lie listening till the men +returned, when, to Brace's great surprise, next morning at sunrise he +found himself being shaken by his brother, and ready to ask whether the +events of the night had been another dream. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +FRYING-PAN TO FIRE. + +A good breakfast was eaten upon that eventful morning, Dan having plenty +of materials for producing a capital meal, and, to judge from +appearances, the men were quite ready to settle down to their tasks +again, as they made no sign. + +Brace had hard work to keep from casting uneasy glances at them, but he +did pretty well, joining in the chat over the meal, and listening to a +yarn from the captain about how he had traced out the deep channel years +before in just such a shallow river as this, and how he was going to +find one now. + +"This'll be ten times as easy," he said, "for we only want water enough +for these boats. I wanted water enough then for a big schooner, heavily +laden.--What's the matter, sir?" + +This was to Brace, who passed the question off. + +"Nothing, nothing," he said aloud. "Go on." + +"Oh, there's nothing more to tell. I found a winding channel by +sounding from the schooner's boat with an eighteen-foot bamboo," said +the captain loudly; and then, as Sir Humphrey was speaking to Briscoe, +he bent forward to pick up a biscuit, and whispered to Brace: + +"What was it, my lad?" + +"Half the guns and rifles have been taken away! and I think they're +hidden behind those bushes close to the boats." + +"Very likely," said the captain, without moving a muscle. "All right, +sir, all right. My lads have got gold dust in their eyes, and can't see +right. We'll dust it out of 'em by-and-by." + +The by-and-by was not long after, for the captain suddenly cried out: + +"Now, my lads, lighten the cutter all you can. Jem, you and three more +will man her. Like to come with me, Mr Brace?" + +"Yes, I'll come," said the young man firmly, and he gazed anxiously at +the men to see what was to happen next. + +Nothing. No one stirred till the captain sprang to his feet. + +"Did you hear me?" he roared. + +For answer the crew clustered together on the shore, and there was a +quick whispering, several of the men urging Jem to speak. + +This he did at last, desperately, his words following one another in a +hurried way. + +"We've been thinking, captain, that now we've found plenty of gold we +don't want to go no farther up this here river." + +"Oh! have you?" cried the captain sarcastically; "_we_ have? You mean +you have, my lad. Well, it was very kind of you, but you see these +gentlemen say that though we've found plenty of gold they would like to +go a bit farther, so tumble into the boat at once, and don't you ever +speak to me again like that, or maybe you'll be saying more and getting +yourself into trouble." + +"That's all very well, captain," said the man, after a desperate glance +at his messmates; "but we think, all of us, that it won't do to leave +all this gold. There's a fortune apiece for us, you and all, so we're +going to--" + +"Lighten that boat, I say!" roared the captain, making a rush at the +man, who was, however, too quick, for he darted aside and ran back +behind his fellow-mutineers. + +"Bring that fellow here," shouted the captain, to the two mates, and +Dellow and Lynton stepped forward at once, as if to seize the sailor and +drag him to the captain's feet. + +But the men stood firm, closing in round their chosen leader, backing +away the while, and suddenly making a dash for the bushes close to the +boats. The evolution was well performed and showed that it had been +carefully thought out, for the next minute six of the men disappeared, +and after stooping down came again to the front, each carrying a gun or +rifle, while the other six darted behind them to arm themselves with +boathooks and bamboos. + +"Just you keep off, Mr Dellow, and you too, Mr Lynton, and you won't +be hurt," cried Jem fiercely. "If you do come on, mind, it's your own +fault if you get a charge of shot through you." + +At this moment Brace made for his gun, but the captain shouted at him. + +"No, no!" he roared; "we don't want anything of that kind, sir. I can +bring my lads to reason without guns. Here, you sirs, throw down those +tools, or it will be the worse for you. Do you hear?" + +"Yes, and it'll be the worse for you, captain, it you don't keep back. +Stand fast, lads. It's to make us rich men for life." + +"It's to make you convicts, you dogs," roared the captain. "Now, my +lads, let 'em have it." + +"They're four to one, Brace," cried Sir Humphrey, through his clenched +teeth. "I can't stand this. Come on." + +"You might ask me to chip in," said Briscoe fiercely; "I'm coming all +the same." + +And the three lookers-on turned themselves into combatants and rushed to +the support of the captain and his two officers, who, regardless of the +weapons held by the crew, rushed at them with doubled fists. + +There were shouts and yells of defiance, and directly after _thud, thud, +thud_, the dull heavy sounds of well-delivered blows, for the captain +was a very truthful man: he said he hit hard, and he did, while his two +officers showed that they were worthy pupils; and with such an example +before them in the wild excitement of the combat, the three passengers +followed their fists again and again, science helping them, so that +their adversaries went down or fell back struggling. + +As previously intimated, the crew had six guns among them, but not a +shot was fired. In fact, they were presented merely as a menace and +under the vain belief that the sight of the weapons would be sufficient +to make the captain's party yield at once to any arrangements the men +proposed respecting the gold. Consequently, in the confusion of the +attack, first one piece and then another was thrown down and trampled +under foot, those who had held them taking to their natural weapons of +defence, and faring very badly. + +At the end of a minute, instead of the enemy being two to one, and all +picked, big muscular fellows, the numbers were even, six not wounded but +half-stunned sailors lying or sitting upon the earth. + +One was holding his jaw, literally, and not in the metaphorical fashion +of keeping silence; another was carefully rubbing his forehead as if to +get rid of a lump; another had made a compress of his left hand to hold +over his left eye; again another was upon all-fours like a dog, gazing +ruefully at the earth and shaking his head slowly, not because he was +sorry, but to rid himself of a strange dizzy sensation, while the +nearest man to him was sitting down contemplating something white which +lay glistening in his hand and looking wonderfully like a fine front +tooth. + +Just at that moment the captain shouted a warning, for the second half +of the crew suddenly gave way and made a rush for the boats. + +"Quick!" roared the captain; "cut them off!" + +Wild with excitement now, Brace bounded forward, running faster than he +had ever run before, reaching one of the men, who proved to be Jem, and +planting a blow on his ear just as the fellow was stooping to raise the +grapnel from where a couple of its flukes were driven firmly into the +earth. + +The result of this was that Jem went over side-wise just in front of +another fugitive, who tripped over him and took a flying plunge, hands +first, into the shallow water, sending it up in splashes which sparkled +in the sunshine. + +By this time Lynton was up with the rest, hitting right and left, before +facing round with Brace to defend the boats, while Briscoe and Dellow +came to their help, and, thus cut off; the six sailors turned off along +the river bank and made for the nearest clump of trees, among which they +disappeared, leaving their wounded upon the field. + +"Hah!" cried the captain breathlessly, "I've 'most lost my wind. Now, +gentlemen, I call that a neat job. Will you do the crowing, Mr Brace?" + +"I don't think there's any need, captain," said Brace, who was examining +one hand. + +"Not a bit, my lad. Hullo ... hurt?" + +"Only knocked the skin off my knuckles. Your men have such hard heads." + +"Yes, but we've softened some of 'em," said Lynton. + +"Given 'em a thoroughly good licking," cried the captain; "eh, Sir +Humphrey? Better than shooting the idiots ever so much. Be a lesson to +'em," he continued, raising his voice. "You, Lynton, collect those +pieces that the thieving dogs took. They dropped 'em all, didn't they?" + +"Yes, sir; they've left every one of 'em," said the second mate. + +"That's right. Mr Brace, just you take one of the shot guns and keep +guard over these six chaps littering the deck--ground, I mean. They're +prisoners, and I'm going to make slaves of them to row us up the river. +I'll give 'em gold. If one of 'em tries to run after those other +cowardly swabs you fire at him, sir. Pepper him well in the legs, and +if that doesn't stop him, give him the other barrel upwards." + +"All right," said Brace, laughing. + +"I'll be ready too," said Briscoe, "in case you miss. But wouldn't it +be better to put 'em in the small boat for the present, and take out the +oars and sail?" + +"Good idea, Mr Briscoe," said the captain. "See to it, Dellow, and +make her fast to the stern of the other boat with the grapnel-line." + +The first mate nodded, strode to the man who was looking at his tooth, +ordered him into the lesser boat, and the man rose and went like a lamb, +the rest following slowly and in a more sheepish way, as the big mate +walked to them in turn and pointed meaningly ahead. + +"What about the others, captain?" said Sir Humphrey. + +"T'other six, sir?" replied the gentleman addressed. "Oh! they've cut +and run. Let 'em go gold-washing and making their fortunes. They're +off on a holiday, and as they'll have no dish-washing or other dooties +to do they'll have plenty of time, and I hope they'll enjoy themselves." + +"You mean to leave them behind?" + +"That's about it, sir. They've gone. It isn't my doing. I didn't +drive them away." + +"What, skipper?" cried Briscoe, laughing. "It that wasn't driving, what +was it?" + +The captain's face puckered up into a peculiar grin in which the corners +of his eyes participated with those of his mouth. + +"Well, it wasn't a bad charge, was it?" he said. "But now then, +business. Let's have all those cooking traps and things aboard again. +Eh? Oh, there's your chap hard at work over them, Mr Briscoe. I +missed him, and thought he'd gone off with the gang." + +"What, my Dan?" cried Briscoe. "I say, skipper, did you get a crack in +the fight?" + +"Nary crack, sir, as you'd say," replied the captain. "Why?" + +"Because your head doesn't seem clear this morning." + +"I beg his pardon, then," said the captain, in a gruff voice. "Now +then, all on board as soon as we can, and let's be off before we catch +Mr Briscoe's complaint and want to stop and wash for gold." + +The American laughed at the captain's dry remark, and joined in with the +rest, working away till all that had been landed was on board the larger +boat, when Brace turned to the captain. + +"This is all very well," he said; "but we were aground last night, and +you were speaking about searching to-day for a channel along which we +could pick our way." + +"That's right, sir," said the captain grimly; "but Nature's been on our +side." + +"I don't know what you mean," said Brace, staring at him. + +"River's a foot deeper than it was last night. There's been a storm +somewhere up there in the mountains." + +"I see no sign of it," said Sir Humphrey. "Oh, yes, I do. Look, Brace: +the water is nothing like so clear." + +"That's right, sir," said the captain. "These rivers alter a deal +sometimes in twenty-four hours. Have we got everything on board?" + +"Ay, ay, sir," cried Lynton. + +"Except the rest of the crew, captain," said Sir Humphrey. + +"Oh, yes, of course, sir; but we shall ride lighter without them." + +"You never mean to leave them to starve in this wilderness, captain?" + +"Aren't this a matter of navigation, Sir Humphrey?" asked the captain +sternly, but with a twinkle in the eye. + +"Certainly not," said Sir Humphrey. "It is a question of common +humanity." + +"About six common men, sir," said the captain. "Well, we shall see. +Anyhow, I'm going on up the river to give them a lesson; and if we come +back and find them all reduced to skins and skeletons down upon their +marrow-bones asking to be took aboard, why, then, perhaps, we shall see, +and--what in the name of wonder's up now?" + +For all at once, as the boats pushed off and the sail of the foremost +was being hoisted, the six men reappeared from where they had hidden in +the woods and came running towards them, shouting and making signs. + +"They've caved in at once, skipper," said Briscoe laughingly. "Look +here, you'd better have a court-martial and sentence them to give each +other a round dozen with a rope's-end upon the bare back." + +"Look, look!" shouted Brace, springing to his feet and shading his eyes, +before snatching up a rifle, an example immediately followed by the +rest, for there in the distance appeared the whole of the six deserters +running hard in a knot, and dodging in and out among the trees as they +made for the shore, while in full pursuit there was about double their +number of savages apparently armed with bows and arrows, of which they +made use by stopping from time to time to send a shaft in pursuit of the +fugitives. + +"Shall we land and go to their help?" said Brace. + +"I don't think we need," said Sir Humphrey. "They seem to be holding +their own in running, and I suppose now, captain, you'll have no +objection to them on board?" + +"Not a doubt of it, sir," said the captain drily. + +"Here, Lynton, haul that boat alongside. We shall want them now, Mr +Brace." + +"Of course," replied the young adventurer. + +"But you haven't looked down the river, sir." + +"What at?" said Brace, staring; and then, panting with his excitement: +"I say, there are four large canoes coming up." + +"That's right, sir," said the captain gravely. "Now look the other way. +See that?" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +THE FIRE GROWS HOTTER. + +"I do," said Briscoe, staring. "I can see two canoes coming round the +bend yonder, half a mile away." + +"Two!" cried Brace excitedly; "why, there are three." + +"Yes," said the captain coolly; "we're took front, back, and flank. +Better put off the rope's-ending now, Mr Briscoe, eh?" + +"Well, it would be better," said the American coolly, as he carefully +loaded his piece. "These things are as well done privately and without +a lot of lookers on. It might give these dark gentlemen a bad opinion +of the whites." + +"What are you going to do, captain?" said Sir Humphrey impatiently. + +"There's only one course open to us, sir--and that is to fight." + +"I mean what will you do about those men who are ashore?" + +"Oh, they're settling that themselves, sir," said the captain, with a +chuckle of satisfaction. "They've broke away like so many naughty boys +who think they can manage for themselves, and as soon as they start +they've got frightened and are running home for safety." + +"But you'll take them on board, won't you?" said Brace. + +"Certainly I shall, and make 'em fight too, sir," said the captain. + +"Yes," said the American, "and they'll have to do their level best. +Shall I cover them, skipper, and let the niggers have a sprinkling of +buckshot to show them we are ready?" + +"Yes," said the captain; "and you two gentlemen had better help. That's +the first thing--to get them aboard safe." + +Pieces were cocked, and their holders sat in the boats watching the +flight and pursuit, Brace's heart beating violently. He glanced up and +down at the novel sight of canoes where all heretofore had been so +deserted, and saw at once that there was nothing to fear in their +direction for the next half-hour, while in another minute or two he +could plainly see that a serious engagement would have commenced with +the natives on shore, and the sensation this caused was both novel and +strange to him. + +"The idiots!" he said, in a low voice; "why couldn't they keep to their +duties instead of breaking away like this?" + +"Because they're just ordinary men," said Briscoe, who was by his side. +"They're going to pay pretty dear for their game, though." + +"Don't you think that they will be able to get here safely?" + +"That's just what I am afraid about. The niggers are better runners +than they are, and more at home on the ground, and they could catch up +to them at once, only they like to tackle their enemies at a distance. +Look!" + +"Yes, I see," said Brace, whose breath came and went as if he had been +running hard, and his eyes dilated when he saw that, as the men tore off +through the various obstacles of rock, bush, and tree, the Indians +suddenly began to slacken their pace and prepare their bows. + +"Ah, we must put a stop to that, gentlemen," cried the captain. "Give +them something to put an end to those games." + +A low murmur of acquiescence arose, and guns were levelled, but no shot +rang out. + +"Can't fire yet, skipper," growled Briscoe. "I could pick off a man or +two with a rifle easily, but I'm not loaded with ball, and these +buckshot scatter so. I don't want to hurt any of our own chaps if I can +help it." + +"And they're too far off from us as yet," said Brace excitedly. + +"Well, they'll soon shorten the distance," growled the captain; and then +he clapped his hand to the side of his mouth and yelled to his +mutineers: "Now, run, you lubbers! Don't go to sleep. Run as if you +meant it." + +_Taang_! + +"Bah! he's got it," cried the captain. + +There was the dull half-musical sound of a bowstring, and to Brace's +horror one of their flying men made a spasmodic jump into the air and +came down upon hands and knees, his nearest messmates passing on some +twenty yards before they could check their speed; and then, in the midst +of the thrill of excitement which ran through the occupants of the +boats, the retreating party paused, and dashed back to help their fallen +mate. + +An involuntary cheer of encouragement rang out from those in the boats. + +"Good boys--good boys!" yelled the captain. "That's true British, +Briscoe. There, I forgive 'em all for that. Oh, if they only had +something in their fists they'd drive the beggars back to the woods. +Pick him up, boys, a leg or a wing apiece, and run again. Oh, Lor' a' +mercy, gentlemen, can't one of you shoot?" + +For in those exciting moments the Indians, who had come bounding forward +with a triumphant yell on seeing the white man fall, hesitated and +stopped in fear and surprise when they saw that their flying enemies had +halted and dashed back to rescue their messmate. + +This, however, was only a momentary pause, for, recovering themselves, +they yelled again and rushed forward. + +It was the opportunity wanted, and almost together three guns flashed +out their contents, sending a little storm of buckshot amongst the +runners, who turned on the instant and began to retreat towards the +woods. + +"Missed!" cried the captain. + +"Hit!" cried Briscoe. + +"No: there's not a man gone down," cried the captain. + +"But plenty of hits," said Briscoe, setting the example of reloading. +"Look at them rubbing their coppery hides. The shots wouldn't penetrate +at this distance." + +"Never mind: it's stopped them, anyhow," growled the captain. "Bravo! +Good boys!" he cried, as he saw his mutinous lads carefully raise their +companion, while two of the party armed themselves with big pieces of +stone and formed themselves into a rearguard, backing slowly, their +faces to the hesitating enemy. + +"Bravo!" continued the captain. "My boys are the right stuff after +all." + +He sprang over the boat's side, gun in hand, as he spoke, and, +influenced by the same feeling, Brace and Briscoe followed, the former +thrusting his brother back. + +"No, no, Free," he cried. "You're not strong enough yet. Stay in the +boat and cover us with one of the rifles." + +A look of resentment rose in Sir Humphrey's eyes, but he accepted the +position, dropped back into a seat, exchanged his double fowling-piece +for one of the rifles lying ready, and sat watching the progress of the +three, who were at once supported by Dellow and Lynton, the men on board +cheering as the party of five splashed through the shallow water to meet +the mutineers, who were compelled to come slowly on account of their +load. + +The support was none too soon, for, recovering themselves, and enraged +at seeing their intended victims escaping, the savages were now +advancing once more at a run. + +"Make for the boat, boys," cried the captain, as he led his party past +the mutineers, and then, setting the example, levelled his piece. "We +three will give 'em this taste, gentlemen," he cried. "You cover us +while we reload. Now then, all together--fire!" + +There were the dull flashes, the puffs of smoke, and a yelling from the +enemy who, at fifty yards away, received the stinging volley and were +checked, Brace and Briscoe standing fast while the captain and the two +mates followed the retreating party with their load. + +"Two of the enemy down," said Briscoe coolly. "Old skipper will think +he and his men are better shots than we are." + +"Let him," said Brace. "They're up again. Look out: they're coming +on." + +"Stand fast, then," said Briscoe. "Let 'em have it this way. Can you +let 'em come on till they're five-and-twenty yards nearer?" + +"Yes," said Brace, immediately following his companion's example and +dropping on one knee to take aim. + +"Aim low, Brace," said Briscoe. "Let's try to cripple their legs. We +don't want to kill any of them. Aim right in the brown, as you English +sportsmen say." + +"Right," replied Brace, setting his teeth and kneeling firm as a rock, +while the Indians came on at a trot, grimacing and yelling to frighten +them into flight. + +But they had the wrong stuff to deal with, and their eyes dilated and +rings of white appeared round the irises in theft utter astonishment at +seeing the two white men calmly awaiting their onslaught, Briscoe with +the stump of a cigar in his teeth, mumbling out: + +"Twenty-eight--twenty-seven--twenty-six--twenty-five--fire!" + +The guns went off together, and the pair sprang up and ran after their +companions, to find fifty yards nearer the boat the captain and his +officers down on one knee waiting to cover them. + +"Well aimed!" cried the former. "You two halt to cover us just at the +water's edge. That'll give the boys time to get aboard, and then we can +laugh at the copper-skinned vermin. Look sharp and reload: they're +coming on again." + +Brace and his companion continued their retreat, overtaking the sailors +with the wounded man, whom they now saw to be Jem, and had endorsement +of the fact in the tones of his voice, for he was growling and abusing +his bearers. + +"Put me down, I says, and go and help the old man. I tell you I can get +to the boat myself without any help." + +"Hold your row," said one of the men; "if you don't we'll bump you." + +"Don't talk, my lads; hurry on," cried Brace, who was busy reloading. +"Look sharp and get aboard." + +"Ay, ay, sir," cried the party cheerily. + +The next minute they were at the water's edge, where their defenders +halted ready, just as the captain's voice was heard to shout: + +"Fire!" + +Three shots rang out, and, covered by the smoke, the captain and his +mates ran on, to begin reloading. + +"Look sharp, boys!" panted the captain; "get to the boats, each man to +his own, but put the wounded man in mine. You're ready, Mr Brace--Mr +Briscoe?" + +"Yes." + +"That's right: we won't row away and leave you. Forward, my lads, and +get under cover of the boat's side. Hoist the sail half-mast, and keep +behind it. They'll begin to shoot directly. We'll get on board first, +gentlemen, to cover you from the boats. Stand fast till we're all in if +you can, and then give 'em all four barrels and make a dash for it +before the smoke rises." + +These next were anxious moments, but Brace did not flinch, and his +companion went on talking with his eyes fixed upon the approaching +enemy, each man holding an arrow to his bowstring, but unaccountably +refraining from winging it home. He seemed to be in every case watching +the muzzles of the guns in wonder and fear as he slowly approached. + +"I want to cut and run horribly, Brace," said the American, in a husky +voice; "only I suppose we mustn't. We shall look like porcupines +directly--full of arrows, I expect; but keep up your spirits: I daresay +we shall each have a fair share." + +"I say, don't!" said Brace. "It is too serious to joke about." + +"And no mistake. Are they all aboard yet?" asked Briscoe. + +"Don't know, and can't look round. I must face them. It would be ever +so much worse to turn our backs." + +"Ten times," said Briscoe. "Look out! I say; that's a fresh party-- +twenty or thirty of them, coming out of the woods a quarter of a mile +away. They ought to be too late to reach us." + +"Our men are all on board, and the Indians are going to rush us," +whispered Brace. + +"That's so," said the American. "Be ready. I'll say `Fire!' Then wait +till the smoke lifts, when I'll give the word again, and then it's a +rush through the water to the boats. Bet you two cents I get most +arrows in my back." + +"Steady!" growled Brace hoarsely. + +"Fire!" shouted the captain from the boat, and, in spite of the order +upsetting their plans, the covering party obeyed and sent their little +shower of shot amongst the yelling enemies' legs. + +"Let 'em have it again," roared the captain from the second boat. + +The remaining two barrels rang out, and those who fired sprang up and +dashed through the water to reach the larger boat, where they were +seized and dragged in and under cover. + +None too soon, for a little shower of arrows came aboard and through the +sails, which were shivering in the brisk breeze. + +The next minute, in response to a thrust or two, and a touch at the +tillers, both sails half-filled, and the boats were gliding swiftly away +from the shore, the arrows coming more and more seldom, till the last +two failed to reach them, but fell into the water twenty yards astern. + +Then the captain, who had been tending the wounded man, rose up and +said, loud enough for those in both boats to hear: + +"There we are then, my lads, quite out of danger now, and nothing to +mind but a few canoes up stream and a few more down; but look here, I've +just got this to say to you all: if you'd had your way there'd have been +a big fire ashore to-night and a general collection of Indians to the +biggest roast they had enjoyed for years. After it was over everyone of +those copper-skinned gentlemen would have been going about with a good +big bit of my crew in his inside. That's quite true, isn't it, Mr +Briscoe?" + +"Oh, yes," said the American: "these people are cannibals still when +they get the chance." + +"That's so," cried the captain; "and now you know, my lads. There, +you've had your touch of the gold fever, and if we get back on board +I'll give every man-jack of you a dose of quinine. But now I shall say +no more about it, for I see you're all sorry for being such fools, and +are going to fall back into your work." + +There was a low murmur of assent at this, and the captain spoke again: + +"What say, Sir Humphrey?" + +"I say, we seem to be leaving the canoes down the river well behind, but +those up stream are bearing down upon us fast." + +"Then," said the captain, "they'd better look out, gentlemen, and keep +out of our way, for I mean to rush right upon them full sail. The prows +of these boats are pretty sharp, and their dug-outs don't take much to +send them to the bottom. I say, you Dan," he went on, "you'd better +serve round some biscuit and bacon to the lads, for they must be getting +peckish after what they've gone through. I say, Sir Humphrey, what do +you say to making a hand-grenade or two out of pound powder-tins and +pieces of rag?" + +"To throw on board the canoes?" said Sir Humphrey: "horrible!" + +"Quite true, sir; but it would be more horrible still if these savages +should manage to get the better of the crew of the `Jason' brig. What +do you say to that?" + +"I give up," replied Sir Humphrey. "I hate the idea of slaughtering the +poor ignorant wretches, but self-preservation is the first law of +nature." + +"Exactly so, sir. If we kill it won't be for the sake of killing." + +"How is Jem's wound going on?" said Brace anxiously. + +"You take no notice about that, sir," said the captain, with a peculiar +look. "He has got a hole in his leg made by an arrow, and I've doctored +it up just as I did your brother's, and laughed at him and told him it +served him right. You gentlemen had better take the same line. If he +sees that we look serious about it he'll take and die right off: he'll +kill himself with the belief that he's shot by a poisoned arrow." + +"Is he?" said Brace, in an eager whisper. + +"I didn't see the arrow made, sir, and I didn't see it dipped in +anything. What's more, I never saw the arrow at all, for the boys +pulled it out and chucked it away. Maybe it was poisoned; but you see +these arrows are only meant to kill birds, and what might kill a bird +won't do much harm to a man. I've done all I know for the wound, same +as we did for your brother's. He got well, and if we laugh at Jem he'll +get well too." + +"The niggers are coming right down upon us, sir," said the first mate +from the other boat, "and evidently mean to fight." + +"All right, Dellow; be ready for 'em. I shall lead. We mean to fight +too." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +THE WAY TO NOWHERE. + +The long light canoes of the approaching Indians were well manned, and +as they came nearer Brace could see that most of the occupants wore a +kind of tiara made of the tail feathers of parrots or macaws. Several +held spears or bows, but the major part were busy paddling, and they +came down with the stream, evidently full of fierce determination to +destroy or capture the strange intruders upon their solitudes, striving +hard to increase the speed of their canoes, which were in a well-kept +line. + +There was no time for the discussion of plans, for the distance between +the brig's boats and the enemy was rapidly growing less. + +"One wouldn't have time to prepare anything if one wanted to," said the +captain, after a sharp glance forward. "Will you leave it to me, +gentlemen, to do my best?" + +"Of course," said Sir Humphrey, and Briscoe nodded from where he knelt, +with his double gun held ready in his hand. + +"Then here goes," said the captain. "Ahoy there, Dellow; clap on all +you can, take the tiller yourself; and run one of the canoes down. Let +your lads knock all over who try to board you." + +"Ay, ay!" came back in answer from the second boat. + +"Now, Lynton," continued the captain, "steer for that canoe in the +centre. We're going faster than they are. You, gentlemen, don't shoot, +but use the butt-ends of your rifles if we should happen to get to close +quarters. Every man take an oar or boathook, and use 'em like as if +they were whaling-lances. Ready? Look out!" + +Their boat, with the sail straining at the sheet, was now rushing +through the water, the side not two inches above the surface, as she +raced for the centre of the line of canoes. + +"Sit fast!" roared the captain. "Down with you, Mr Brace, or you'll be +overboard." + +Brace, who had risen in his excitement so as to be able to club his gun, +dropped down on to the seat at once. + +Then from in front as their own boat seemed to be standing absolutely +still and the line of canoes dashing rapidly at them with the paddles +churning up the water on either side, there was a fierce yelling, a +gleam of opal-rimmed eyes, a crash which made the boat quiver from stem +to stern. The sail jerked and snapped as if it were going to fall over +the side, and then they were past the centre canoe, sailing on as fast +as ever. + +Lynton had done his work well, steering so that he drove the boat's +iron-protected cut-water right upon the centre canoe's bows diagonally +some six feet from the front, when for a few brief moments their +progress seemed to be stopped. Directly afterwards the occupants of the +stoutly-built boat felt her gliding right over the canoe, which rolled +like a log of wood, and then the men were cheering as they looked back +at the glistening bottom of the long vessel and six or eight black heads +bobbing about in the water. + +Crash, grind, and there was another canoe capsized, literally rolled +over by the second boat, which seemed to those in the first to rise and +glide over the crank dug-out, now beginning to float broadside on with +her crew swimming to her side. + +A hearty cheer rose now from Dellow and his men, which was echoed from +the first boat, as the distance between the party and their fierce +enemies rapidly increased. + +"You did that splendidly, captain!" cried Brace excitedly. + +"Tidy, sir, tidy," was the reply; "but these boats weren't built for +steeplechasing in South American rivers. Let's see what damage is done. +I don't suppose we're much hurt." + +The captain stepped from thwart to thwart as he spoke, and, getting +right forward, he leaned over the bows and carefully examined as far as +he could reach, before raising his face again and turning to Brace, who +had followed him, to now meet his eyes with an enquiring look. + +"Right as a trivet," he said. "Took off some of the varnish; that's all +that I can see. Ahoy! what damage, Dellow?" he roared to the mate in +the boat astern. + +There was no reply for a minute or so whilst the first mate examined his +boat. + +Then came a shout, in Dellow's familiar tones: + +"Twopenn'orth o' paint gone, and a bit of a splintery crack in the top +plank." + +"Any leakage?" + +"Not a doo-drop, sir," was the reply. + +"Well done. Keep close up abreast," shouted the captain; and, now that +the safety of the boats was assured, attention was directed to the +canoes, which were being rapidly left astern. + +"They seem to be trying to right their craft," said Sir Humphrey, who, +like Briscoe, was making observations with his pocket glass. + +"Yes," added Briscoe, "and they turned them over quite easily, but their +sides are down flush with the water." + +"The men have got in again, and they appear to be splashing out the +water with their paddles," said Sir Humphrey. + +"That's right," said Briscoe, "and the other canoes have ranged up +alongside. I can see quite plainly: there's a canoe on each side of the +injured ones to keep them up." + +"It's my belief that they may bale till all's blue before they get 'em +to float. Those dug-outs are worked till they get 'em as thin and light +as they can, and if we haven't cut a good gap in each one's side, it's a +rum one," growled the captain. "What are they doing now, sir? It's +rather far to see, but it seems to me that they're trying to get the +sunken canoes to the shore." + +"Yes: that's just what they are trying to do," cried Sir Humphrey. "Oh, +yes, I can see that plain enough." + +"Then they won't follow us up to-day, gentlemen," said the captain; "and +perhaps we may not see them again. Might like to sail back, p'r'aps, +Mr Briscoe," he continued, "and give the copperskins a friendly word +about hope they're not damaged, and then settle down in the shallows for +a good afternoon's gold-washing." + +"Not to-day, thankye, skipper," said the American drily. "It might be +teaching the savages how to catch the gold fever, as you called it, and +be bad for their health." + +"P'r'aps so," said the captain, with a peculiarly grim look and a glance +round at the crew; "and they'll be better employed gumming up those +holes in the sides of the canoes." + +"Do you think they'll pursue us, captain?" said Brace. + +"Most likely, sir," was the cheerful reply. "They'll be wanting to +bring us the bill for damages. I'm thinking it would be the safest +thing to try and drop down by 'em after dusk. This part begins to be +rather unsafe." + +He looked at Sir Humphrey as he spoke, and the latter turned to his +brother. + +"Well, I don't know, captain," he said: "the wind holds good, and we +seem to have passed the danger. I don't like to give up yet. What do +you say, Mr Briscoe?" + +"I think it would be a hundred pities," was the quick reply. "The +country is getting more and more attractive. Who knows what we may +discover, eh, Brace?" + +"I feel exactly as you do, and think we should proceed," said the latter +quickly. + +"We've got whole skins now," said the captain dubiously, "all but one of +us." + +"You think it running too much risk to go on?" said Sir Humphrey. + +"Well, I can't say that, sir," was the reply, "because we may sail on +for weeks and weeks and not see another Indian, while if we go back we +are sure to see some." + +"Exactly," said Sir Humphrey; "but I can't help thinking that we are +getting now into a more uninhabited part of the country, perhaps where +travellers have never been before." + +"Then I say let's go on," said Briscoe, "and we may find El Dorado, +after all." + +"El Dorado or no El Dorado, I say don't let's give up yet," said Brace. +"Let's keep on till we are obliged to go back to the brig for stores; +and by that time we shall know whether it is worth while to come up here +again." + +"That's good advice, sir," said the captain, smiling at Brace as he +spoke. "I don't want to give up: I like it as well as you do. There's +only one thing wherrits me." + +"What's that?" said Brace. + +"My brig. I lay awake for a good ten minutes last night thinking about +what we should all feel if we got back to where we left her and found +that the old `Jason' had dragged her anchors and navigated herself out +to sea." + +"Oh, but if she had dragged her anchors, captain," said Brace, "they'd +lay hold again somewhere lower down." + +"Yes, sir," said the captain drily; "that's what comforted me. All +right, gentlemen. On we go then. I'm thinking now that after the +lesson we gave those gentlemen to-day they mayn't care to meddle with us +again." + +"Do you think any of them were killed?" said Brace. + +"Hardly, sir. Certainly not with the buckshot. If any of them lost the +number of their mess it would be just now in the river." + +"Drowned?" + +"Oh, no. They swim like seals. It would be through some of the natives +below: old friends of theirs." + +Brace felt a shudder run through him as he glanced down over the side, +where the water glided deep and dark now from where they were sailing to +the tree-clothed shore. + +But the conversation took another turn then, the captain proposing that +a good midday meal should be eaten now, and no halt made till a suitable +well-screened resting-place was reached about an hour before dusk. + +"Why not keep right on till it is quite dusk?" said Sir Humphrey. + +"He means so that we can land and light our fire in the forest, do our +cooking, and put it out again before it's dark, when it would show our +position to any prowling natives," said Briscoe. + +"That's right," said the captain. + +These tactics were carried out, a strong wind wafting the boats along +mile after mile to a far greater distance than any amount of paddling +would bring canoes in pursuit; and fortune favoured them far more, for, +just about the time decided upon, the fine river up which they had come +suddenly opened out fan-like, offering them five different routes +onward. + +"Which shall it be, Brace?" said Sir Humphrey, as he stood up with his +brother in the bows. "If the enemy is following us he is as likely to +take one as the other." + +"I don't know," said Brace, with a laugh. "They are all beautiful. +That left one seems the deepest, and the stream flows slowly, so I think +we had better choose that." + +"Best too for the wind," said Briscoe. "There's a ripple up it as far +as we can see." + +"It's to the left and not to the right," said Brace. + +"All the better," said Briscoe, laughing. "You know what you English +folks say about driving: `If you go to the left you are sure to be +right; if you go to the right you'll be wrong.' I think we might well +stick to that rule in this case." + +The left branch was chosen, and they sailed swiftly up it, finding to +their surprise that there was scarcely any appearance of current, and +soon after a suitable spot for a landing-place presented itself in one +of the many bends of the river's sinuous course. + +Here they landed, and Dan was soon busy preparing food, while as far as +they could make out they were where human foot had never pressed the +soil before. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +THE SOUND OF MANY WATERS. + +The fire was carefully extinguished before night-fall, so that no flash +or gleam might betray the adventurers' whereabouts to any prowling foe, +and watch was set in each boat after they had been moored about twenty +feet from the shore. Everything had been made snug, arms issued round +and loaded ready, and once more sleep came to all save Brace and his +American companion, who sat together for a good hour, gazing into the +forest gloom and listening to the many strange sounds which rose among +the dense growth. + +Then sleep overtook them, just when they were vainly trying to puzzle +out the meaning of a strange booming roar, which sounded not unlike +thunder at a distance. + +"I guess that's what it is," Briscoe had said. "That's the nearest I +can get to it. Maybe there's a clump of mountains not very far away, +and they've got a storm there." + +"We shall know in the morning," said Brace. "If it's a storm the water +will have risen in the night." + +"Let it," said Briscoe drowsily. "We're in shelter, and the boats will +rise, so it will not matter to us." + +The next minute both were asleep, and the night passed tranquilly enough +till they were awakened by Lynton, who had the morning watch. + +"What is it?" said Brace confusedly: "time to get up?" + +"Yes, if you don't want to be scratched out of the boat. Look sharp, +please. We're going to get the awning down." + +It was quite time, as Brace found on getting his eyes well opened, for +the boat was tugging at her moorings, the awning rigged up overnight for +shelter was close up among the leafage beneath a bough of the tree to +which the rope was made fast; and, instead of the water upon which they +floated being like that of a placid lake as it had seemed overnight, it +was now rushing rapidly by the boat's sides. + +"What is the meaning of this?" asked Brace excitedly. + +"Storm up in the hills somewhere," replied Lynton gruffly. "Water's +rising fast." + +"Mind what you're about there, Dellow, or you'll be capsized," shouted +the captain to the first mate. "Make all snug, and keep the boat clear +of the trees." + +"Ay, ay, sir," came from the other boat, and a few minutes later the +mooring-lines were cast off, while the men in each boat lay on their +oars, and then as they began to drift swiftly with the rushing waters, a +few strokes were given to get well clear of all overhanging branches +before the grapnels were let go, but refused for some minutes to get a +sufficiently good hold of the bottom. + +Finally, however, they caught, plenty of line was let out, and they +swung head to stream, dividing the water that rushed by and sending it +off in elongated waves. + +"That's better," said the captain; "but we must be ready, for I doubt +whether these little grapnels will hold long." + +"Why not let the boats go?" said Brace. "It's all interesting to glide +along a fresh river." + +"Because we may be swept no one knows where, my lad. Steering's hard +work in such a rapid as this. Besides, we may get into bad company-- +uprooted trees, floating islands of weeds, and all sorts of things that +would make nothing of capsizing us. No; it will be best to wait here +till the flood begins to fall. I daresay you gentlemen can manage to +amuse yourselves somehow." + +"I daresay we can," said Briscoe, lighting up one of his long cigars to +have as an early breakfast; "but isn't this all wrong?" + +"What?" said the captain sharply, for he was fully upon his mettle in a +position which called for all his care. "What's all wrong?" + +"Why, the way the water runs. It's just the opposite way to which it +was going yesterday." + +"That's right," replied the captain; "but it's coming down one or other +of the rivers we came to last night with a rush and piling up faster +than the main stream will carry it off. It must go somewhere, and some +of it rushes along here. Strikes me that the whole country will be +under water soon. Look, it's rising fast up the tree-trunks. We shall +have to take great care, or we shall be drawn right in among the trees." + +"Ah, that would be awkward," said Briscoe drily, "to find the water +suddenly go down and leave the boats up in the tree-tops like a couple +of big birds' nests." + +"Ahoy! Look out, Dellow!" yelled the captain. "Stand by, my lads, to +shove her off, or she'll break us away. Hah! I thought so." + +For the second boat had suddenly been swept from her anchorage and come +rapidly down upon the first. The men tried their hardest to ease her +off, but she came into collision with so sharp a shock that the bigger +boat was jerked free from her moorings and began to glide with the swift +current, dragging her grapnel after her, till the captain gave orders +for it to be hauled in. + +"Row!" he shouted, and the men dipped their oars into the water with a +steady stroke, keeping the boat's prow head to stream as she dropped +down stern foremost between two mighty walls of verdure, while on either +side it was plain to see that the trunks of the huge forest monarchs +were being flooded many feet up. + +"There's nothing else for it, sir," said the captain to Sir Humphrey. +"You'll be seeing what the country's like, and by-and-by as the water +drains off I daresay we can ride easily back with the current quite the +other way." + +"And what about capsizing?" said Briscoe. + +"That's my look-out, sir," said the captain gruffly. "Capsizing means +feeding the fish, and I've a great objection to being used for that +purpose, without taking into consideration my duty to my passengers and +men." + +He met Brace's eyes as he spoke, his own twinkling with a drily humorous +look, and nothing more was said. + +The adventure was exciting enough, for the boats rode on rapidly through +the forest, the river, which was comparatively narrow, winding and +doubling in the way peculiar to water making its way through a flat +country. For now all appeared to be one dead level, with the trees on +either side much of a height. Every now and then it was as if they had +been swept by the heavy stream into a lake whose end was right in front, +but invariably as they were gliding straight for a huge bank of trees +the river curved round to right or left, opening out into some fresh +bend of its serpentine course, but there was no alteration in their rate +of speed. + +"It can't last very much longer, though," said Briscoe. "Why, we're +going along just like two corks in a gully." + +"Yes," said Brace, who had been watching the movements of a troop of +monkeys passing along through the trees on their left. "It's all very +well now, but if this is to go on after dark we are bound to come to +grief." + +"No," said Briscoe drily. "The skipper won't risk it. He'll pick his +place and run us in among the tree-trunks before sunset. He's a dry old +chap, but the longer I'm with him the safer I feel." + +The American was quite right, for just when the sun was disappearing +behind the trees their leader took advantage of a whirling eddy at a +bend of the stream, called upon the men to pull with all their might, +and, steering himself; he deftly ran the boat right into the gloom +amongst the enormous tree-trunks, where the water was running fast, but +it was comparative stillness after the torrent-like rush in the open +river. + +Here they moored the boats for the night, and, after partaking of a +much-needed meal, sleep once more came with the intense darkness, all +but the watch resting as calmly as if the sound of many waters lulled +them through the night. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +A QUESTION OF SUPPLIES. + +The morning came bright and clear, and the boats were pushed off once +more out of the oppressive gloom of the water-floored forest into the +sunny brightness of the river, by which they were again swept on hour +after hour. + +It was when the question of supplies was beginning to assume a serious +aspect about midday that there was a change in the monotonous windings +of the river, which suddenly forked, and, the branch to the left seeming +the more open, the boats were guided into that. + +They were carried along here as swiftly as ever for a few miles, and +then the branch divided again and again, till they seemed to be passing +through a very network of smaller rivers, their last change being into +one whose banks, though well wooded, presented a marked change, for in +place of flooded forest the banks displayed steep cliffs dotted with +verdure, and in whose cracks grand trees towered up; while, after +passing for miles through what rapidly grew into the likeness of a +mountain defile, the helpless party had the satisfaction of finding that +the current was no longer fierce, but glided along deep and dark at the +rate of about four miles an hour. + +"Hab!" cried the captain; "this is better. Now, gentlemen, you may get +your guns ready for anything worth shooting. We can easily retrieve it +here, and find a place by-and-by up among the rocks on one side or the +other to land and cook whatever you manage to bring down." + +"Why, Brace," said Sir Humphrey, as they glided gently along, gun in +hand, watching the steep slope of cliff on their left, everywhere +beautiful and in places almost perpendicular and awful in its grandeur, +"this is the most beautiful part of the country we have seen." + +"Don't talk," said Brace, in a low tone of voice. "I seem to want to +watch." + +"But don't forget about the cooking," said Briscoe, suddenly raising his +gun to his shoulder. "Look out, Brace, up yonder, and watch the bushes +on that shelf of rock." + +He fired twice the next moment, and half a dozen large birds rose to fly +across the river, one of which fell to Brace's gun; while, the boat +being run close under the rocky face of the cliff, a couple of men +climbed out and crept up among the bushes, where they found that Briscoe +had shot three large turkey-like birds, which would form a welcome +addition to their larder. + +During their steady glide on, half a dozen more good-sized birds of +similar and different kinds were brought down from where they were +feeding upon the fruits and berries, the men's spirits rising with their +success as much as from the beauty of the winding gorge, so that the +evening's camping was looked forward to with eagerness, while the +captain's declaration that they were getting beyond the influence of the +flood was received with a cheer. + +"You see, gentlemen, it's like this: the flood has been acting like the +tide in a river which has kept back the regular flow here, and it +strikes me that before we have gone many miles farther the stream will +have grown slacker and slacker till it comes almost to a standstill, and +to-morrow some time we shall have it against us once more." + +"Unless we turn into another stream and so get back a fresh way," +suggested Brace. "It is a wonderful network of water." + +"Maybe," said the captain; "but we don't want to lose our bearings." + +"We couldn't if we kept on going down stream. We must reach the sea +somewhere." + +"That's right enough," said the captain drily; "but I don't want to +reach it somewhere. I want the way that leads by my brig." + +"Yes," said Briscoe, laughing. "Why, Brace, we might be getting out +somewhere or other in the Pacific Ocean." + +"What about crossing the Andes first?" said Brace sharply. + +"Oh, that would be all right. I daresay we could keep on rising till we +found a way through-place where the watershed runs, as the learned chaps +say." + +He had hardly spoken before Brace caught him by the arm, gripping it +strongly. + +"What is it--bird?" + +"No," said Brace, in a hoarse whisper. "I caught sight of a canoe +gliding along under the rocks on the farther shore." + +"Did you?" said Briscoe coolly. "Well, I'm not surprised. The Indians +would be fools if some of them didn't come and live along here. It's +about the most beautiful place I ever saw." + +"I can see it now," said Sir Humphrey, looking through his glass. +"There are four Indians in it with feather crowns on their heads. I +don't think they have seen us till now, for they are paddling the other +way." + +"Then I tell you what: let's lie-to under the trees here," said the +captain. "There's a level bit about fifty feet up like a shelf in yon +bit of a gully. I had my eye upon that directly, and down here we can +lie up quite snugly. Let's have a quiet night somehow, and go on +to-morrow morning to see whether the Indians mean to be friends or foes. +See 'em still, Sir Humphrey?" + +"No," was the reply; "they have gone right out of sight." + +"Then now have the goodness to use your glass well, and sweep all the +shelves up the farther shore to see if you can make out any sign of an +Indian village, sir. Seems a wonderfully likely place for people to be +living." + +At that moment there was a heavy splash as a large silvery fish flung +itself completely out of the water and then fell back, while the noise +it made startled a covey of ducks, which went fluttering and paddling up +stream. + +"Must be inhabitants here, I should say," exclaimed the American, +shading his eyes with his hand. "A bit shut in and shady, but all the +better in a tropical country: why, it's lovely. Here, gentlemen, I'm +getting a bit tired of being cramped up in a boat. I vote we call this +Golden Valley and come and live here for a year or two." + +"To hunt for the Golden City?" said Brace mischievously. + +"Oh, no," said Briscoe quietly; "this place makes me feel as if I didn't +want to hunt for anything, only to knock myself up a hut, or to find a +sort of cave up on one of these shelves, and then just go on living +like. Why, it's a ready-made Paradise, and we seem to have pretty +nearly got beyond the reach of the flood." + +"Then let's lie up here," said the captain, "and set your Dan to work. +It is very beautiful, but it will be better after we've had a bit of +something to eat." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +NIGHT IN THE CANON. + +There was a murmur of approval all through the boat, and soon after the +lines were made fast ashore, and Brace was one of the first to climb up +to the level shelf the captain had marked out. From here he could +command a view of the river banks for quite a mile before the narrow +canon curved, and they loveliness of the place was so surpassing that he +stood speechless, forgetting everything in the beauty of the scene, +green and golden in the level rays of the sun, with every here and there +the shadows deepening into violet. + +Brace started as if out of a waking dream as a hand was laid upon his +shoulder, and he turned to face Briscoe. + +"What can you see?" said the latter, in a low voice. + +For answer Brace simply pointed along the canon, and the American took a +long look in silence before venturing to speak again. + +"Yes," he said slowly; "very pretty, but I'm not a very sentimental man. +One minute I feel as if I should like to live here, and the next I feel +certain it would be too dull. Can't see any more signs of the Indians, +can you?" + +"No," said Brace. + +"What sort of a place have you got here? Oh! that's all right; quite a +cavern there. Do splendidly for Dan and the boys to make the fire in, +out of sight, for we don't want it to bring down strangers upon us. +Let's have a look." + +Brace had not noticed any cavern, but now his attention was drawn to it +he saw at the back of the shelf that there was a broad rift in the +cliff, some ten or a dozen feet wide and seven or eight high, while upon +entering it was to find that they could look forward into darkness of +unknown depth, while the roof seemed to rise as it receded. + +"Looks big," said Briscoe, raising his gun as if to fire. + +"You had better not shoot," said Brace, laying his hand upon his +companion's arm. "It would raise echoes all along the canon, and +perhaps bring down the Indians." + +"Quite right; but let's see what's here. Might be a jaguar or something +of that kind. Aha, there! Rah-rah-rah-rah-rah!" + +The cry ran echoing into the chasm far enough, and was followed by the +sound as of a rushing wind approaching them. Directly after a cloud of +largish birds, somewhat like the British nightjar in appearance, came +swooping by, separating as soon as they were outside, and making for the +forest patches across the canon. + +"Do you know them?" said Briscoe, turning round to Brace. + +"No: some kind of bird that goes to roost there, I suppose." + +"Yes; they roost and breed and live there," said Briscoe. "They're +night-birds, and we've started them before their usual feeding-time. +Those are the South American oil-birds." + +"Yes, I remember," cried Brace. "They breed in the caves round +Trinidad, I've read." + +"That's right. Well, we don't want to try whether they're good to eat. +This way, my lads," he continued, as Dan and three of the men came up to +make the fire and start cooking. "Make your kitchen right in here." + +This was done, and soon after, as the night fell, the interior of the +cave glowed brightly, showing something of its dimensions, and that it +extended far into the mountain. + +The question was discussed whether it would not be wise to make it their +resting-place for the night, affording as it did a roomy shelter such as +would make a very welcome change for people who had been cramped up so +long in the narrow dimensions of the boats. + +But the captain objected, wisely enough, to leaving his boats entirely +unguarded, so a compromise was come to, and it was decided that half of +each boat's party were to remain below, while the others took possession +of the cavern. + +The settling of the boats close in shore beneath some overhanging bushes +occupied some little time, as well as the carrying up of the necessaries +required by those who were to sleep above. By that time Dan's frizzled +legs, wings, and slices of bird had been made ready for consumption, and +he and his mates worked hard to supply the hungry party. At length, all +were satisfied, and they divided to seek their resting-places for the +night, Sir Humphrey electing to keep the captain and the first mate +company in the boats, while Brace, Briscoe, and Lynton were to rest in +the cavern with half of the crew. + +As a matter of course, everyone who remained on shore was provided with +weapons, and they all sat together chatting till the fire gradually died +out and the sailors stretched their limbs with a grunt of satisfaction +upon the soft dry sand which formed the floor of the cave. + +"What do you say to a quiet smoke on the shelf outside, Lynton?" said +Briscoe. + +"I'm as willing as willing, for I don't feel at all sleepy yet," was the +answer. + +"Yes: let's have a look at the stars and the river before we lie down," +said Brace; and they strode quietly out till they were at the extreme +edge of the shelf, with the black darkness below them and the river +sparkling and spangled with the reflections of the stars which glowed +brilliantly in a long wide band overhead, the cliffs cutting off a vast +amount of the great arch. + +"I'm glad that fire's well out," said Briscoe quietly, as he looked +back. "Indians are not very likely to be about at night, but if a canoe +were coming along the river and the paddlers saw a fire up there, you +may depend upon it they would land to see what was the matter." + +"That's for certain," said Lynton. "Do you think it likely that those +chaps we ran down belong to the same tribe as those we saw in the canoe +yonder before we landed?" + +"It's hardly likely," said Briscoe. "I fancy the natives of these +regions are cut up into little bits of tribes scattered here, there, and +everywhere about the forest." + +"Pst! Be quiet a minute," said Brace, and all listened. + +"What is it?" asked Briscoe, at the end of a minute. + +"I heard a peculiar noise while you were speaking, but it is still now." + +"Birds--night-birds," said Briscoe. "Our friends of the cavern +grumbling because we've turned them out." + +"Oh, no; I don't fancy it was that," said Brace hurriedly. "It sounded +like human voices singing in chorus." + +"Our fellows below in the boat," said Lynton, "only they wouldn't be +singing." + +"Oh, no; it was not that," said Brace. + +"Might be anything," said Briscoe, yawning. "Frogs, perhaps, down by +the water-side." + +"No: I'm pretty well used to the night sounds we hear," said Brace +impatiently. "Ah, there it is: listen." + +He was silent, and as if reflected from the cliff there came a low +musical sound, very soft and sweet, and, as he said, as if many voices +were raised far away in a kind of chorus which reverberated from the +sides of the canon, reaching in a soft murmur to where they stood +listening. + +"H'm!" ejaculated Briscoe, after listening till the sound died softly +away. "Can't be any band having a concert on the next street." + +"And I should say it isn't a boating party returning down the river from +an outing, singing glees," said Lynton. + +"I've heard of singing-fish," said Brace. "There's not likely to be +anything of that kind in the river, is there?" + +"No," replied Lynton decidedly. "I've heard them out at sea sometimes, +when we've been in a calm among the islands." + +"More like to be a kind of frog," put in Briscoe. "There are some which +whistle and pipe in chorus very softly; but--" + +The sound came swelling down the canon more loudly, and the speaker +stopped short to listen, till the tones once more died away. + +"That's not frogs in chorus," said Briscoe decisively. "Anyone would +think there was an abbey somewhere near, and the nuns were singing +hymns; only it's impossible, of course." + +"Impossible, of course," said Brace softly. "There: it is gone again." + +The three men stood listening and straining their ears in the direction +from which the sounds had come, but there was a faint whispering as of +running water down below, a trickling gurgle, and then startlingly loud +came the nasal _quant_ of some night-heron at the water's side. + +This was answered twice at a distance, while again and again overhead +there was the flutter and swish of wings, probably those of the +oil-birds circling about the mouth of the cavern. + +"It's all over," said Briscoe at last, "and it's night-birds of some +kind, I believe. Here, I've been listening so intently that I've +forgotten my cigar. I'll go in and light it again with one of the bits +of smouldering wood." + +He left his two companions, and they heard his footsteps as he went +softly into the cavern to reach the fire. + +"Does it make you feel queer like, Mr Brace?" whispered Lynton. + +"Well, it sets me wondering, and makes me a little uncomfortable as to +what the sound can be," replied Brace. + +"So it does me, sir. Always makes me feel queer if I don't understand +what a noise is. I'm a bit of a coward, I'm afraid." + +"I've never seen any signs of it yet, Lynton," said Brace, laughing +softly. + +"Oh, but I am, sir. That sound made me feel hot and then cold. I say, +I've lost count about the points of the compass, but that's plain enough +yonder across and up the river. That's the east, and the moon coming +up." + +"That?" said Brace, as he gazed in the direction named. "Yes, I suppose +so. It will be very beautiful when the moon rises over the mountain +there and lights up the great canon. I feel disposed to wait till it +shines on the river." + +"Moon!" said Briscoe, who had returned unheard, smoking vigorously, and +looking in the darkness as if a firefly were gliding to their side. "We +shan't see the moon to-night. It must have set a couple of hours ago." + +"Of course," said Brace, "and that can't be the east. I should say it's +the west." + +"What, where that--I say, what light is that over there?" + +"Yes, what can it be?" said Brace, as he gazed at the soft glow. "It +can't be a forest fire." + +"No: if it were we should see clouds of smoke between us and the stars, +and they're clear right down to the top of the mountain. Why, Brace, +there must be a volcano here, and that's the reflection from the glowing +lava. I've seen something like that in the Sandwich Islands." + +"I'll go and tell my brother," said Brace. "No; perhaps he's asleep, +and it would be awkward for him to get up here in the dark." + +"And you couldn't get him up in time," said Lynton. "Look: it's dying +out fast. There: it's gone now." + +"Yes," said Brace, in a very low whisper. "How strange!" + +"Sort of afterglow," muttered Briscoe; "only it's a long time after the +sunset. Well, gentlemen, I'm for bed. The scene is over and the lights +are out. What do you say?" + +Brace said nothing, but he followed his companion into the cave and +sleep came soon after--the sound, easy sleep enjoyed in the open air, +for the night breeze played softly in at the open mouth of the cave, and +there was nothing to disturb the party till the fire began to crackle +soon after daybreak. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +THE STRANGE FIND. + +Saving the canoe that they had seen, the events of the night were pretty +well forgotten when a fresh start was made, for all were anxious to +explore the great canon and make a wider acquaintance with the beauties +that opened out as they trusted themselves once more to the gliding +waters which bore them gently on, so slowly now that the powers of the +flood-tide were evidently failing gradually. + +"We shall have the current against us before long," said the captain +decisively. + +"I've been thinking so too," said the first mate; "see how calm the +water's getting. It will be wrong then, for the wind is dead against +us, what there is of it." + +"You'd like to go right on up here, gentlemen, I suppose?" + +"Certainly," said Sir Humphrey decisively, "till we are obliged to turn +back. The scenery here is grand. Don't you think so, Mr Briscoe?" + +"Beats grand," was the reply; "but, my word, if gold wasn't a dangerous +word to name in these boats, I should like to land with a hammer and +prospect a bit up among these rocks on either side. If they're not full +of rich ore I don't know paying stuff when I see it." + +"Let it rest," said Brace, in a half-whisper. "Don't let the men hear +you talking about gold again. You remember what occurred before." + +"Right. I won't mention the word; but if the Indians who live in these +parts haven't found out and made use of the metal here, the same as the +Mexicans and Peruvians did, they must be a queer sort of people. +Shouldn't wonder if we see some more of them to-day." + +"Neither should I," said Brace, grasping his piece. "Look: that must be +the canoe we saw yesterday evening. What are they doing?" + +"Fishing," said the captain quickly. "Now then, gentlemen, let's be +ready for emergencies, but make no sign, and maybe they'll be friendly +instead of showing fight." + +All eyes were directed at a canoe in which three Indians were busy +fishing, while a fourth sat in the stern keeping the craft straight by +dipping his paddle and giving it a swoop from time to time. They were +some three hundred yards ahead, just off a pile of massive rounded rocks +which jutted out into the river, and evidently gliding with the current +in the same direction as the two boats. + +One thing was very evident: they were so intent upon their work that +they did not look back, and hence were in perfect ignorance of the +approach of the adventurers, while at the end of a couple of minutes +they glided on in their frail canoes beyond the rocky promontory, which +completely hid them from the view of those in the boats. + +"Do you think we ought to follow them up, sir?" asked the captain. + +"Yes," replied Sir Humphrey, "and keep our weapons out of sight as if we +had come upon a peaceful errand." + +"I'm afraid they won't understand us, sir," said the captain gruffly; +"but we'll try." + +The current was running very gently now, so that the approach of the +boats to the promontory took time; but at last it was rounded, revealing +to the occupants of the boats a scene as startling as it was strange. + +There, a couple of hundred yards away, was the canoe they had followed, +while at various distances farther on no less than six more small canoes +were dotted about, their feather-crowned crews all busily employed +fishing, while as the boats glided round the tree-covered rocks the +nearest Indians struck up a soft minor-keyed chant which was taken up by +the crews of the other canoes, the whole combining in a sweet low melody +which floated over the smoothly-flowing river, fully explaining the +sounds heard from the cavern-mouth overnight. + +In all probability it was a fisher's song which the people imagined had +some effect upon the fish they were trying to lure to their nets. +Strangely wild and mournful, it rose and fell, and gained at times in +force as it seemed to echo from the right side of the canon, which here +rose up like some gigantic wall hundreds of feet in height, barred with +what appeared to be terraces, and honeycombed with open doors and +windows, row above row, from the lowest, upon which in two places +smouldered the remains of fires, right up to the sky-line, which, +roughly regular, was carved into something resembling the crenellations +of a gigantic castle, extending apparently hundreds upon hundreds of +yards. + +Brace had hardly swept the face of the strangely-worked range of cliff +when the softly mournful chorus ceased, and as if moved by one impulse, +on catching sight of the approaching boats, the Indians burst forth into +a shrill piercing yell which echoed and re-echoed discordantly from the +face of the rocks. The next moment every man had seized his paddle, and +they were making the river foam and sparkle with the vigour of their +strokes. + +There was no mistaking the effect produced on the Indians by the +appearance of the boats: it was the feeling of horror and dread, every +man plunging his paddle deeply into the water and striving his utmost to +force the canoes to their greatest speed, so that they might escape from +the strange beings. In all probability they were seeing white men for +the first time in their lives. + +"What does that mean?" said Brace: "going to fetch help?" + +"No," said Lynton; "because this must be where they live." + +"Yes; there are their fires on the banks," added the captain. + +"But they are mere savages," said Sir Humphrey, who ceased to watch the +retreating Indians, to sweep the front of the towering cliffs with his +glass. "This palace must have been the work of a more highly civilised +race." + +"And is it your opinion that they are at home, waiting to shoot?" asked +Briscoe, stooping to pick up his gun. + +"At home? No," cried Sir Humphrey: "those are the ruins of some +extremely ancient rock city. Look, Brace. Use your glass. It is the +work of centuries. I should say every place has been cut and carved out +of the solid rock by some industrious race; but it is quite deserted now +save by birds." + +"Then we've made a find," said Briscoe excitedly. "I say, I wonder +whether this is the great Golden City, captain?" + +"No, sir," said the captain gruffly; "don't you see it's all stone?" + +"Yes, but--look, Brace. Those places farther on look more regular-- +there where the trees are growing out of the cracks and the creepers are +hanging down like curtains. I can't make 'em out very well with the +naked eye, but those windows seem to have carving sculpt about them, and +underneath seems to be like a stone colonnade and terrace." + +"And a great central doorway," said Brace eagerly. "Yes, you are right: +the walls are covered with curious figures and ornamentations. It must +be either a great temple or the Inca's palace." + +"Inca?" said Briscoe. "Yes--why not? Yes; I suppose it would be an +Inca, something of the same kind as the Peruvians. But, I say, look +here: these must have been something of the same sort of race as the +Peruvians." + +"No doubt," said Sir Humphrey. + +"And the Peruvians were out and outers for getting gold." + +"Look here!" cried the captain, banging his hand down upon the edge of +the boat: "if you say gold again, Mr Briscoe, you and me's going to +have a regular row." + +"Then I won't say it," said the American good-humouredly. "I promised +you that I would hold myself in; but recollect what I said to you last +night about these cliffs. I felt sure that they contained--ahem!" + +"Shall we row close up to the bank where those fires are, sir?" said the +captain, turning his back upon Briscoe. + +"If you think there is no risk of any Indians lying in ambush among +those rock-chambers," Sir Humphrey replied. + +"I think the place is quite deserted, sir," replied the captain, "and +that if there had been any Indians on shore they would have bolted when +these chaps yelled." + +"Yes; that's right enough," said Briscoe. "They're canoe-folk, and +there's no sign of a single person anywhere along the landing-place. +You may depend upon it this is a good fishing-station, and they come up +here to camp, and we've frightened them away. It's safe enough." + +The captain glanced at Sir Humphrey, who nodded, and the men took to +their oars, while Lynton steered the heavy boat right up to the remains +of a stone-encumbered wharf or pier that had been laboriously cut out of +the solid rock. Here the boats were held, and, well armed, half their +occupants sprang out to climb over the slippery stones, which had +evidently only lately bean covered by the flood-water, whose mark could +be plainly seen, reaching up some ten feet, or half-way to where there +ran for hundreds of yards a more or less regular broad terrace cut down +out of the rock, and from which the honeycombed perpendicular cliff +rose, showing now that it was cut into steps, each step being a rough +terrace just below a row of window-like openings. + +It was all plain enough now: the Indians' camp had been made right and +left of the rugged steps leading up from the water. There the fires +were still glowing, and about them and in rows where they could be dried +by the sun lay hundreds upon hundreds of good-sized fish: the harvest +the Indians had been taking from the river; while the state of some +which were piled together beneath a projecting piece of rock suggested +that the fishers must have been staying there for days. + +"They are sure to come back for this fish," said Brace. + +"Very likely," said Sir Humphrey. "Well, if they do, let them have it, +and we'll give them some present in return for what we have taken. Look +here, captain: we must camp here for a few days to explore this place." + +"Very good, sir. We can pick out one or two of these caves, or rooms, +or whatever they are, to live in. Your Dan would like one of 'em for a +kitchen, Mr Briscoe." + +"Yes; he's smelling about them now. I dessay he has chosen one +already," said the American. "Yes, I call this fine; we may come across +some curiosities next. What do you say to beginning a regular explore, +Brace?" + +"I say: the sooner the better," cried Brace. + +Sir Humphrey nodded. + +"We'll divide into two parties, captain," he said. "Let half prepare +for making a stay; and I should like the others to bring ropes and a +boat-hook or two to help our climb, for I daresay we shall need it +before we get to the top of this cliff." + +"Very good, sir, and I don't think you'll find a soul to hurt you. I'd +keep my eyes well opened though, for you may find wild beasts, and +you're sure to find snakes. Let's see," he continued, consulting a +pocket compass. "Yes: we're facing nearly due south. It will be a warm +spot, and I should say that the old inhabitants are now represented by +snakes, and poisonous ones too." + +Preparations were soon made, the captain electing to stay below and make +all ready for the party's return. + +Brace led off along the rugged terrace, which was terribly encumbered by +stones fallen from above; but the young adventurer's first idea was to +continue along to where the palace-like front reared itself up about the +middle of the cliff. + +Briscoe stepped alongside of him, and Brace noticed how busily his +companion's eyes wandered about, taking in everything on their way. Not +that there was much to see at first, save that the captain was right +about the inhabitants, for everywhere among the stones which lay heating +in the morning sun they came upon coiled-up serpents, many of which were +undoubtedly venomous; but there were other reptiles as well, for lizards +darted about by the hundred, when disturbed, to make for their holes in +crevices and cracks of the stonework, their scales glistening as if made +of burnished metal, bronze, deadened silver, mingled with velvety black +and soft silvery grey. + +At the end of a couple of hundred yards Brace stopped. + +"This won't do," he said. "We are on the lowest terrace, and the palace +is a floor higher. It ought to be somewhere over where we are." + +"That's where I reckon it is," said Briscoe, going to the low ruined +wall between them and the river, and straining outward to look up. + +"See anything?" said Brace. + +"No; I can't reach out far enough; the next terrace overhangs. But it +must be here." + +"Let's get right on towards the end," said Sir Humphrey, "and I daresay +we shall find some kind of steps leading to the next floor." + +It was some time before anything but a dark hole was found, and that +seemed to be only a receptacle for loose stones, so it was passed; but +after pushing on for another two hundred yards, with nothing to take +their attention but the retreating reptiles and the beautiful flashing +river which washed the foot of the clift, Briscoe grew uneasy. + +"Look here," he said; "we're losing time. Let's go back, for I'm sure +the way up is through that hole." + +"Impossible!" said Brace. "There must be a bold flight of steps." + +"No, there mustn't, mister," said Briscoe sharply. "This was an old +strong place when the people who lived here were alive, and you may +depend upon it that the way up was kept small for safety, so that it +could easily be defended by a man or two with spears, or shut up with a +heavy stone. I say we've passed the way up." + +"Let's go back then," said Sir Humphrey, smiling good-humouredly; and +they all made their way back to the bottom of the hole, which had +evidently been carefully cut. + +Briscoe went to it at once; he gave his double gun to the nearest man to +hold, and then, seizing one of the stones with which the horizontal +oven-like hole had been filled, he shook it loose and dragged it out to +stand in the attitude of lowering the heavy block to the ground. + +"No," said Brace; "let me." + +Brace uttered a warning cry. + +"I see my nabs," said Briscoe coolly, as a snake with menacing hiss came +creeping rapidly out, raising its head as it glided down; and then its +tail part writhed and turned about, for its power of doing mischief was +at an end, the American having dropped the heavy stone upon its +threatening crest and crushed it upon the stones below. + +"That's one," said Briscoe coolly. "I shouldn't wonder if his wife's at +home, and a small family as well. Here, you just fish out that next +stone with the boat-hook." + +The man addressed stepped forward, thrust the implement into the +opening, and drew out another stone, when, as the American had +suggested, a second serpent came gliding out, to meet its death quickly +and be tossed by one of the men over the parapet-like wall into the +river. + +More stones were dragged out with the boat-hook, but only a lizard +appeared afterwards; and as two more blocks were pulled forth light from +above came down, showing that the opening was L-shaped, going about six +feet in to where a chimney-like shaft rose at right angles, down which +the light struck, evidently from the next terrace. + +"I thought so," said Briscoe. "Here: I'll go in first." + +He crept into the hole at once, and found on looking up the shaft that +Briscoe was quite correct, for there were foot-holes chiselled out at +intervals in the chimney-like place, so that he could easily step up +from one to the other, and the next minute his head was on a level with +the floor above and his eyes gazing full in those of a venomous-looking +serpent, which raised its head from the middle of its coil ready to +strike. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +BRISCOE'S BIT OF ORE. + +Brace obeyed the natural impulse to duck down out of the reptile's +reach, and his next idea was to lower himself the ten feet or so to the +bottom; but he shrank from doing this, for it seemed ignominious to +retreat, so he raised his head sharply again till his eyes were about +level with the terrace platform, and there, a dozen feet away, was the +tail part of the snake, disappearing in a fissure of the stone. + +The next minute he was standing in front of one of the openings they had +seen from the river, and his companions were climbing to his side. + +Here, upon examination, they found room after room with doorway and +window all cut out of the soft limestone, and Sir Humphrey and Briscoe +were not long in giving it as their opinion that these single rooms, all +separate and with their doorways opening upon the terrace, were really +the modest little houses of the old dwellers in this hivelike +arrangement. There they were, side by side, all opening upon the long +terrace, and, after examining many, they found relics of the old +inhabitants in the shape of clay-baked rough pots or their broken +sherds; and in several, roughly-formed querns or mill-stones, made, not +of the rock in which the houses were cut, but of a hard grit that would +act better upon the grain they were used to grind. + +These remains, though, were very scarce, and scarcely anything else was +found, though search was made in the expectation of finding skeletons; +but not so much as a skull was discovered in either of the stone rooms +they reached: nothing to show how the ancient inhabitants came to an +end. Apparently it was by no sudden catastrophe, and probably only by +dying slowly away. + +"It might have been a couple of thousand years ago for aught we can +tell," said Sir Humphrey. + +"Yes," said Brace; "but we have done nothing yet. There are hundreds +more of these cells, floor above floor, right to the top." + +"Well, let's try another floor or terrace, if we can," said Sir +Humphrey. "Has anyone discovered a way up?" + +"Yes, sir there's a hole yonder," said one of the men, "and it isn't +stopped up." + +"Well, let's try it," said Sir Humphrey. + +"Hadn't we better get to the end here, and see what that better part is +like?" said Briscoe. "It seems to me that we shall find behind those +carved stones the best part of the place." + +"Very well," said Sir Humphrey: "let's try that first; but we have a +month's work before us to explore all this. Now then." + +Briscoe eagerly took the lead and went on along the terrace, with the +little metallic-looking lizards darting away in the sunshine amidst the +fallen stones; and cell after cell was passed till the end of their +journey was reached in the shape of a blank mass of rock, beyond which +they felt certain that the temple or palace remains must be. But there +was no means of passing farther, and nothing remained but to ascend to +the next terrace. + +This was done, with similar experiences, and another step was gained, +from which, after looking down to where the boats were moored, they +again climbed higher, entering very few of the cells, but directing +their efforts towards reaching the central portion. + +But failure attended every effort, and, hot and wearied out by what was +growing a monotonous task, Brace and the American readily acquiesced in +Sir Humphrey's proposal that they should now descend and join their +companions in the midday meal, and afterwards take the smaller boat, row +to the front of the temple, and try for away up from the river. + +The task of descending and going back took considerably longer than they +anticipated, but at last they reached the lower terrace, where the rest +were awaiting their return, and over the meal they related their +experiences. + +These were precisely similar to those of a couple of the men who had +explored a little on their own account in the other direction; but they +had been compelled to keep to the terrace where the fires had been lit. + +"The place must have been built by the same kind of people who cut their +rock houses in some of the canons in Mexico," said Briscoe; "only those +are a degenerate set, and their cells or dwellings are very rough and +primitive. These people must have been greatly in advance. There: I +want to get to work again. There must be a way into that temple place +from the front." + +"Well, let's try," said the captain. "It's a queer place if there is no +way in." + +The afternoon was getting on when the exploring party entered the +smaller boat and had it rowed out into the stream a short distance from +the centre of the rock city, just facing the spot where the terraces +were grotesquely carved; and as they minutely examined the partly +natural, partly sculptured place, they were more than ever impressed by +the excellence of the workmanship. + +It must have been the work of many, many years, perhaps of generations, +of the people who had lavished so much skilful toil on that centre, +which was about a couple of hundred feet in width, and rose up terrace +above terrace six or seven hundred feet before the plain uncarved rock +was reached, in whose clefts tree, shrub, and creeper grew abundantly +for a similar distance, while to right and left the cell-like windows +right up to the top of the canon finished off as before intimated, +something like the crenellations on the top of a Norman castle. + +"It must have been magnificent at one time," said Sir Humphrey. "I wish +I were clever with my pencil, so as to be able to reproduce all this on +paper. These ornamentations are grotesque and horrible, but wonderfully +carved, and the variety of the figures is marvellous." + +"Hadn't we better row close in?" said Briscoe, who seemed impatient, and +the men took to their oars till the strong rock wall was reached and the +boat drawn along by one of the men with a boat-hook from end to end and +back, without a sign of any way up being found. + +There they were in the deep water, which glided along at the foot of a +blank, carefully smoothed-away wall of rock, perfectly perpendicular, +and, save where it was dotted here and there with mossy growth, offering +not the slightest foot- or hand-hold. + +"Why, it must be fully fifty feet high to that carved coping-like +projection," said Brace. + +"Yes, about that," said Briscoe, with a sigh of disappointment. "Here, +I'd give a hundred dollars for the loan of a ladder that we could plant +down here in the water and would reach to the top." + +"It would take a long one," said Brace, laughing. "I wonder how deep it +is." + +"Ah, let's try," said Briscoe. "Here, hand one of those fishing-lines +and a lead out of the locker, Lynton." + +This was well within the second mate's province, and the next minute he +had the heaviest lead at the end of a line, dropped it over the side, +and let it run down as fast as he could unwind. + +"I say: it's deep," he said, as the line ran over the boat's gunwale; +and he said so again and again, till the winder was empty and the lead +not yet at the bottom. + +"How long is that line?" said Brace, in astonishment. + +"One hundred yards, gentlemen," said Lynton loudly. "Shall I have it +wound up again?" + +"Yes," said Sir Humphrey. "We must try and find bottom some other time. +The river must be of a terrific depth." + +"That's so," said Briscoe. "You see, we're in a tremendous canon, and +the bottom is filled up by this river, which seems as if it would hold +any amount of flood-water. I'll be bound to say it's full of fish, and +that accounts for the Indians coming here with their nets and lines." + +"What's to be done now?" said Brace. + +"We must try the other end of the place, and see if we can't get into +the temple from there," said Briscoe, who had taken out his knife to +begin scraping the slime and moss from the face of the rocky wall till +he had made a clean patch, which he examined with a pocket magnifier. + +"There's time to do a bit more to-day," said Lynton, who was eager to go +on exploring, and in obedience to an order the men rowed gently on past +the front of the temple, till about a quarter of a mile farther on a +similar landing to that which they had first approached was reached, and +the party eagerly ascended the rough steps to a flat wharf or terrace +like the other where the smouldering fires were found, ascended by +another L-shaped passage to the next terrace, to find more and more +rooms or cells, and then hurried on back till they came face to face +with the blank rock which formed the other end of the temple. + +"This must do for to-day," said Sir Humphrey decisively. "Turn back +now. To-morrow, if all's well, we will ascend right to the top." + +"And look along there for the way into this place," said Brace; "for way +in there must be. Lead on, Mr Lynton; we'll follow." + +The second mate started off with the men, and as soon as their backs +were turned Briscoe stooped quickly and picked up one of the pieces of +stone which had crumbled down from somewhere up the face of the cliff. + +"What have you got there?" said Brace: "a piece of ancient carving?" + +"Look," said the American, in a low tone, and he handed the piece to Sir +Humphrey, holding the side that had been downward as it lay on the +stone-encumbered terrace, upward where the fracture looked comparatively +new. + +"Gold!" exclaimed Sir Humphrey, as he saw that the stone was webbed with +glistening thready veins. + +"Ah! I didn't say the word," said Briscoe, laughing, as he glanced +forward at the backs of Lynton and the men. "But that's what it is. I +knew it. I'm not going to talk and make a fuss; but that bit you've got +hold of would crush and give as much as a couple of pounds of gold a +ton." + +"You amaze me," said Sir Humphrey. + +"It amazes P Franklyn Briscoe," said their companion. "Shall I put this +in my pocket, or throw it away?" + +"Keep it," said Sir Humphrey, "and we'll show it to the captain. I +don't see why we should not take back as much of the richest ore as the +boats will carry. Let's see what he'll say." + +"Yes; let's do so," said Briscoe; "but it seems queer, doesn't it, that +there should have been people living who could make a town like this, +and then for hundreds or thousands of years poor simple Indians going on +shooting and fishing while all this wealth was waiting in the rocks if +they had known what it was worth?" + +"They could not have been so advanced a people as the Mexicans and +Peruvians," said Brace. + +"Seems not," said Briscoe drily, as he thrust the piece of ore in his +pocket and followed the men to where they could descend to the boats. + +That evening, as the party sat together in front of one of the lower +cells, looking at the beauties of the reflections from the river on the +far side of the canon opposite, Brace waited till the attention of the +men, who were at a little distance from them, was quite averted, and +said softly: + +"Show the captain the piece of curious rock you picked up to-day, +Briscoe." + +"Eh?" said the captain: "bit of curious rock! I picked up a bit too." + +He fumbled with his hand in his pocket and drew out something before +taking that which the American held out. + +"Humph, yes," he said: "mine's just the same. Bit which has come down +from the face of the cliff somewhere. I say, there's no mistake about +it, Squire Briscoe: this is rich in gold." + +"Ah, would you!" cried the American sharply; "who said we weren't to +mention that?" + +"I said so," replied the captain drily. "Don't talk so loud. But this +sets a man thinking, eh, Sir Humphrey and Mr Brace: and, you see, gold +is gold, after all." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. + +A DOUBLE DISCOVERY. + +No more was said about the gold ore then, but the captain showed himself +deeply interested in the proceedings to further investigate the ruined +city. Briscoe, though, made one remark to Brace the next morning after +a restful night. + +"If this isn't the Spaniards' El Dorado," he said, "it's quite good +enough to be, and I'm quite satisfied with our find." + +There had been no sign of the Indians, whose dried fish were utilised a +good deal by Dan for the men's breakfast, and in good time a fresh start +was made, this time with the captain one of the party, the intention +being to try and mount to the highest terrace and see if there was any +entrance to the central portion of the rock city from there. + +Taught by the previous day's experience, the party--led by Brace and +Lynton, who both displayed in their eagerness plenty of activity-- +climbed pretty quickly from terrace to terrace, disturbing plenty of +birds, for the most part a kind of pigeon, which nested freely in the +cell-like openings. Reptiles, too, were abundant, but all ready enough +to make for their holes in the rifts of the rock, the lizards glancing +out of sight in a moment, the snakes slowly and resentfully, as if ready +to strike at the intruders at the slightest provocation, but no one +received hurt. + +Upon every terrace the relics left by the old inhabitants were the same: +broken earthenware and the much-worn little hand-mills used for some +kind of grain, all showing that every terrace had been occupied by rows +of narrow dwellings, safe havens that could easily be defended from +attack by an enemy; for, if the lowest terrace had been mastered, the +people had but to block up the chimney-like approach to the next terrace +after fleeing thereto, and defy their foes, whose only chance of gaining +the mastery was by starving out those in possession. + +Sir Humphrey pointed this out to the others as they climbed higher and +higher; but he was directly afterwards somewhat nonplussed by a question +put by the captain--one which was unanswerable. It was simply this: + +"How do you suppose the besieged people would get on for water?" + +The party were nearing the top at last, having, as far as they could +make out, only six more terraces to mount, when, as they paused, +breathless and covered with perspiration and dust, for a few minutes' +rest, they heard a peculiar sound, which came from the direction of the +end of the terrace nearest to the great central part. + +"Why, it must be water falling somewhere right in the cliff," cried +Brace; and, forgetting his breathlessness, he hurried along over the +crumbling stones and dust in the direction from which the sound seemed +to come. + +"It comes from out of here," said Lynton, who was first to arrive at the +end of the terrace, and he stopped at one of the familiar open doorways +and listened. + +There was no mistaking the sound now; it was the hollow echoing noise of +water falling into some reservoir in the interior of the cliff; and, +upon passing in, they found that, instead of this being one of the +ordinary cells, it was the entrance to a wide passage, apparently +leading right into the bowels of the mountain. + +"Mind how you go," cried Lynton, as Brace stepped boldly in. + +"Hullo! what have you found?" cried Briscoe, who came next to Lynton. +"Water? Why, they must have dug out a great cistern or reservoir in +here, and let in a spring from somewhere above." + +"I say, do mind how you go," cried Lynton excitedly. "It's getting dark +there, and you may slip down into some awful well-like hole." + +"All right," said Brace confidently. "I'm feeling my way every step +with the butt of my gun, and I can see yet." + +"Precious awful-looking place," said Briscoe. "Here, we must have +lights. Stop him, Lynton: he shan't go a step forward. I don't mean +for us all to be drowned like rats in a tank." + +"You two wouldn't need to be," said Brace coolly, "for you would stop at +once if you should hear me go down." + +"Oh, of course," said Briscoe, with a sneer: "we shouldn't try to save +your life. 'Tisn't likely, is it, Lynton?" + +"Not a bit," was the gruff reply; "but I say, Mr Brace, hold hard now. +I'll go back and send a man down below to bring up some pieces of +pine-wood to burn." + +"I have stopped," said Brace, whose voice sounded to the rest of the +party hollow and echoing, dying away in the distance like a peculiar +whisper. "There's a great pillar here, and the passage branches off to +right and left." + +"Well, let's have lights." + +"I don't think we shall want them if we take the passage to the left, +for I can see light shining in through a hole. Yes, and there's another +hole farther on. It's a passage going down at a slope. Why, it's all +steps." + +"Steps?" cried Briscoe, as he heard the tap, tap of the steel plate +covering the butt of Brace's gun as he felt his way. + +"And so it is away here to the right: steps going down into black +darkness. I know! down to the great tank, into which the water falls +from ever so high up." + +"Then you stop, young fellow," cried Briscoe hoarsely, "or you'll be +falling too from ever so high up, and I daresay that's a big stone +cistern half a mile deep, and full of water-snakes and polligoblins." + +"Listen," said Brace; "I'm going to feed them. Be quiet, everybody," he +added, for the passage behind was now being filled up, the captain and +Sir Humphrey in front. + +"What are you going to do now, sir?" asked Lynton. + +"Here's a great mass of stone that seems to have fallen down from the +roof close to my feet. Hold my gun." + +He passed his piece to the mate, who could faintly make out the +speaker's shape by the feeble light which came from beyond him to the +left. + +"Heavy," panted Brace, "Hah!" + +He raised the stone right above his head and heaved it from him, the +expiration of his breath being plainly heard by the listeners in the +painful silence which followed for a couple of seconds. Then there were +sparks emitted from somewhere below, where the stone struck with a crash +and bounded off into space. + +The crash was echoed, and seemed to reverberate round and round some +great vault, and then came directly after a dull, solemn, weird-sounding +_plosh_! evidently not many feet below where they were standing. + +After this, there were peculiar whisperings and sounds, as if numbers of +disturbed occupants of the water were beating and lapping at the walls +of the place: then silence once more. + +"Be careful, Brace!" cried Sir Humphrey. + +"It's all right," said Brace coolly. "There: I've left that place. All +of you bear off to the left and follow me down these steps. Hurrah! I +believe we've found the way to the great temple at last." + +"It's all right, sir," cried Briscoe, who had passed Lynton. "I can see +plainly now. There's a narrow flight of steps leading down close to the +face of the cliff, and it's lit every few yards by big square holes, +only they're most of them grown over and choked by creepers." + +"Hi! Look out there, everyone," shouted Brace. "Lie down." + +For all at once there arose a peculiar rushing sound, and as everyone +crouched as low as he could, he was conscious of the whistling of wings +in rapid flight and the ammoniacal odour of a great stream of birds +passing over them to reach the outlet from the passage into the open +air. + +"It's all right, lads," shouted Briscoe. "It's only a flock of +oil-birds that we have disturbed. Yes, I thought so: some of them have +helped to block up these window places with their nests. I can feel +several here." + +The birds were some minutes before they had all passed through the +opening, and then the tramp downwards was resumed, with the result that +before long the light grew stronger from below, and at last quite +bright, for a peculiar rustling was heard, which resolved itself into +the acts of Brace, who had reached a level spot and was now busy with +his large sheath-knife hacking away at a dense mass of creeper not +unlike ivy. + +A few minutes later, and he was out upon an overgrown terrace gazing +over a much-corroded carved parapet at the sparkling river below; and he +uttered a loud cheer and stood waving his hat to the men far down to his +left, two of whom were seated in the larger boat. + +The top terrace of the great temple-like place had been reached, and +after a few words of congratulation upon their success the examination +of the strange edifice began. + +They were a good deal checked at first by the growth of ages and stones +which had crumbled down; but they were not long making out that the +construction of the place was upon the same plan as that put in practice +over the openings to right and left; though the cells were much smaller, +and suggested that they had been intended for occupation by one or at +most two people. There were no traces of domestic implements to be +found, and nothing but the dust of the crumbling stones and the nests of +birds with which the openings of the cells were choked met the +searchers' eyes. + +The investigation of this portion of the cliff city was, of course, made +in the reverse way, terrace after terrace being explored by the +adventurers descending; but the L-shaped shafts were far larger and more +commodious, and, instead of holes being made for the feet, +carefully-made steps had been cut out of the solid stone. + +Feeling assured that if any interesting traces of the old dwellers were +to be found they would in all probability be here, Sir Humphrey and his +brother headed the search, and one by one every cell was entered and +each terrace explored, till, as they looked over the front, they made +out that only three more terraces remained, one of which was that below +which the great wall of rock went sheer down to the river at the spot +where they had cast the line to find bottom. + +The party paused now for a few minutes' rest and conversation before +descending to these last three terraces. + +"It is a wonderful place," said Brace thoughtfully, "and the old people +who cut out these cells and did all that carving must have been clever +enough for anything. Look at the shaping of this curious-looking +monster." + +"I admire the way they protected themselves and prepared for a siege as +much as anything," said Briscoe. "The manner in which they contrived +the water supply is to my mind grand. We must have torches one of these +days, and examine that tank, and get up to the top and find out how the +spring is led in." + +"But it seems strange that there are no more remains left about. They +did not possess anything apparently but a few earthen pots and the stone +mills," said Brace. + +"People didn't furnish much in early times," said Briscoe, laughing. "A +man provided himself with a knife, a bow and arrow, or a spear, and a +place to lay his head in, and no doubt thought he was rich. He didn't +want a van when he was going to move to a fresh residence." + +"But these people must have been highly civilised to ornament this +temple, or palace, or whatever it was, so grandly." + +"Well, let's make our way to the bottom," said Briscoe; "we may find +something more interesting yet. Ready, Sir Humphrey?" + +"Yes: forward," was the reply. + +"He means downward," said Briscoe, laughing, and, the regular shaft +being found, they descended to the next terrace and began to explore. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. + +THE TEMPLE OF IDOLS. + +Working now upon a regular plan, the party began at one end of the +terrace and examined each cell in turn. + +They had proceeded about a third of the way towards the other end, when, +to the surprise of all, although the openings like windows continued in +a regular row, the doorways ceased altogether, and when an attempt to +peer in at window after window was made, nothing whatever could be seen, +for within all was deep silent gloom. + +They soon found that about a third part in the centre of the +two-hundred-feet-long terrace was like this: then the doorways began +again and continued right away to the end. + +"Here, I want to see what's inside that middle part," said Briscoe. "I +propose that I have a rope round my waist, and that I climb in, and you +lower me down till I holloa out." + +"And I propose," said Sir Humphrey, "that we leave that till another +day. Let's go down to the next terrace." + +"At your orders, sir," said the American quietly. "I can wait." + +The opening leading to the next terrace was sought for after the last +cells had been examined, and when discovered it was found to contain +nothing whatever but the crumbling dust of ages and the traces left by +birds; while, upon descending to this last terrace but one, they saw +that the construction was precisely the same as that of the terrace they +had just left--the central part being pierced only with windows, doored +cells being on either side. + +"I feel more and more that I want to see what's inside there," said +Briscoe. + +"Well, we'll have plenty of time to do so some other day, for we are not +going to move away from this place just yet," said Brace merrily. "Wait +till tomorrow, and we'll go in together. I fancy that we shall find it +is a temple, and full of mummies." + +"Like as not," said Briscoe; "and if it is we shall find no end of +interesting things wrapped up with them, I should say. I daresay these +people did like the Egyptians used to do." + +"Now," said Sir Humphrey, as the last cell was examined, "one more +terrace, and we shall have done all but this centre, and I propose to +leave that till to-morrow." + +"No," cried Brace and Briscoe, in a breath. + +"I want to sleep to-night," said the latter, "and I can't with this +mystery on my brain." + +"Very well, then; we'll eat a bit of lunch, and then examine that." + +As soon as the party had disposed of their meal, they left the entrance +to the shaft, walked along to the end of the terrace, and began to +examine the first cell. + +Here a surprise awaited them, for the cell was double, had two windows +and a door at either end, there being no dividing wall, only a curious +construction in the middle, but so crumbled away that for some minutes +it was examined in vain, the loose stones about turned over and over, +and the dust raked here and there. + +"I know," cried Brace at last: "it has been a kitchen." + +"Right," said Briscoe: "must have been something of that sort. Let's +get on." + +The next place was entered, and proved to be also double, but with only +one entrance, and that narrow. + +Brace was the first to enter, and after a glance round and upward to see +if the roof had fallen in, he stood looking down at a heap of stones +which were thickly covered with the dust that had crumbled down and +accumulated. + +"There's nothing to see here," he cried; "and the windows are nearly +choked up with growth." + +"Yes, come back; these places are all the same," said Briscoe, gripping +him tightly by the arm; but, as he made way for Brace to pass him, and +the rest went on, he stooped down quickly and picked up a piece from the +heap of dust-covered stones and placed it in his pocket. + +"Why did you do that?" said Brace, in a low voice. + +"Don't ask questions now," whispered Briscoe. "I'll tell you soon. +Wait till we're out of hearing of the men." + +Several more of the large double cells were inspected, and they all +seemed to have been used for other purposes than habitation, for various +stone objects lay about, and in two cases their aspect suggested that +they had been used for grain stores; but it was impossible to decide. + +Then Brace's heart began to beat quickly with excitement, for he felt +that they were on the brink of a great discovery. Several windows were +passed which were heavily loaded with grotesque ornamentation; but there +was no door visible. The centre of the terrace was marked by a perfect +curtain of liana-like creepers and vines, which hung in festoons from on +high and almost completely hid the elaborately-carved front. + +"There must be an entrance here," said the captain. "Out with your +jack-knives, my lads, and cut a way through." + +It was no easy task, for the various creepers were interlaced and had +grown together so that saws and strong bill-hooks would have been more +suitable implements than knives; but the men worked away with a will, +being as eager as their superiors to get a glance into the strange place +which had kept them at bay so long. + +A good half-hour's cutting and hacking was, however, necessary, two men +working at a time while the others dragged away the greenery, which they +tossed over the elaborately-carved colonnade into the river, where it +was slowly borne away along the canon. + +At last the foremost man was nearly through, and, reaching up as high as +he could to divide a pale green strand which had grown almost in +darkness, and now hindered his way, he put all his strength out to sever +it with one cut, not anticipating that wood which had grown under such +conditions would be tender and soft, and, consequently, his knife went +through it as easily as if it had been a thick stick of rhubarb, and he +fell forward into the darkness upon a pile of dead wood and leafy +rubbish. + +"Hurt yourself?" cried Brace, stepping forward, half in dread lest the +man should have been plunged into some deep pit. + +"Not a bit, sir; only rolled down about a dozen steps, and--Oh, yah! +yah!" he yelled, uttering a horror-stricken cry; and then, as guns were +cocked in anticipation of seeing some savage beast of prey dash out, the +man came blundering up, stumbling over the heap of rubbish, and finally +dashed out on to the terrace, covered with dust and with his eyes +starting in a scared and terrified manner, as he sank down shuddering, +and uttered a groan. + +"What's the matter? What is it, old matey?" cried one of the men; but +Brace, his brother, and the American stood fast with levelled guns and +fingers on the triggers. + +"What is it, my lad?" cried the captain: "a jaguar?" + +"Oh, no, sir; worse than that," faltered the man, wiping the sweat from +his face: "worser than that." + +"What did you see then? Was it a great serpent? Speak up, lad." + +"No, sir; I shouldn't have been skeared o' any serpent. It was a great +big Injun who had a lot o' greasy white snakes swinging about all round +his head, and he'd got his club ready to hit me. Ever so big, he was." + +"That chap's telling a big lie," said Briscoe coolly, "only he thinks +he's telling the truth. There couldn't be any big Indian in there, and +if there were he wouldn't have a lot of greasy white snakes hanging +about his head. I'm going in to see for myself. Coming with me, +Brace?" + +"Yes," was the reply, and, holding their pieces ready while their +companions crowded round the narrow entrance, the pair stepped boldly +but cautiously into the opening. + +They found themselves descending rugged stair after stair, encumbered +with dead branches of creeper which cracked and snapped under their feet +at every moment, till they were about five feet below the level of the +terrace, with some dozens of greeny-white darkness-grown creeper strands +swinging to and fro from above, and just in front of them they could +dimly see, standing with uplifted menacing arm, what seemed to be a +hideously grotesque half-human half-animal figure, apparently blocking +the way. + +"How are you, old chap?" said Briscoe quietly, staring at the figure. +"Long time since you've had any visitors, eh?" + +"Why, it is a temple," cried Brace, in tones of suppressed excitement, +"and I suppose this is the idol the old people used to worship." + +"And very bad taste too. Come in, everybody," cried Briscoe, and his +voice sounded weirdly strange as it echoed all round. + +"No: stop at the entrance," cried Brace. "Did you hear what I said, +Free?" + +"Yes: that it was a temple with an idol," his brother answered. + +"Yes; but we must have more light before we proceed any farther, in case +of there being any terrible holes or pitfalls." + +"Yes: be as well," said Briscoe; "but I'm beginning to see fairly now. +Why, Brace, lad," he continued, as the captain set the men to work at +once hacking away the growth of many generations from entrance door and +window, "it's as I expected: the temple runs up as high as three or four +of the terraces, and look: you can see the light from the upper windows, +showing the walls. It's a hugely big place, but I wish it wasn't so +dark down here." + +"I'm getting used to it too," said Brace, in a voice full of excitement; +"but I'm afraid to move, in case of losing my footing." + +"That's right; so am I. Look: can you see over yonder?" + +"Yes; quite plainly now. There's what looks like an altar, and I can +see several more figures standing about." + +"So can I. I wish we had a good strong light. Hah! that's right; +they're letting in the sunshine. Oh, we shall soon see." + +"Look here," said Brace: "the place is very lofty, and there are windows +upward to take off the smoke. Let's make a fire of the dead wood lying +about here." + +"That's a good thought," said Sir Humphrey; and five minutes afterwards +a match was applied to the heap of perfectly dry wood underfoot. It +caught fire at once and began blazing up, sending forth such a glow of +light that the men set up a cheer, drawn from them by the excitement and +wonder of the weird scene which confronted them. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY. + +THE FLOOD SUBSIDES. + +As all stepped back from the crackling and blazing pile, the smoke rose, +rolling up in wreaths, and the fire illumined the whole place, +displaying a perfect crowd of grotesquely horrible figures in all manner +of menacing attitudes. + +To add to the weird horror of the scene, high above and mingling with +the smoke clouds were scores of great bats, fully three feet across in +the stretch of their leathern wings, with which they silently flapped +through the gloom till they succeeded in reaching one or other of the +windows through which the smoke poured, and thence the outer air. + +"Horrible!" cried the captain. + +"It is weird in the extreme," said Sir Humphrey; "but it is +interesting." + +The men who had been hacking away the vines stood in a group, silent and +awe-stricken, gazing at the grotesque figures and the flickering shadows +they cast as the fire rose and fell and lit up the strange interior to +the farthest corner. + +"Well, Brace," said Briscoe, "I don't call this pretty; but I'd have +taken twice as much trouble to get here so as to see it. Throw on some +more of this dead stuff, lads. There's a good draught comes in and +carries the heat upwards, and it will make a clearance of all these +birds' nests and rubbish." + +"It is horrible," said Brace, as the men hurried to obey the order +given, and the flames leaped up and up, revealing the many figures from +fresh points of view in the golden ruddy glare. "But I feel like you, +Briscoe; I shouldn't have liked to miss this." + +"These are the old bogies with which the priests who lived in the cells +upstairs used to scare the people and keep them under. I wonder whether +they ever thought to light up the place." + +"No doubt they did," said Sir Humphrey, who had now joined them. "That +square erection at the back there, surrounded by small figures, must +have been the altar, and no doubt they burned a fire upon that." + +"Think so, sir," said the captain. "Well, I didn't think we were coming +up to see a sight like this. Old Dellow will be a bit mad at missing +it, eh, Lynton?" + +"But he shan't miss it," said Briscoe. "We must light it up again. +Say, Brace, I can't see any sign of holes. The floor's covered with +rubbish and stony dust, but it seems to me that we can walk right back +among those two rows of images to the altar. I want to see what those +things are round about it." + +"Well, let's take hold of hands and try," replied Brace. "We can try +every step before us with the butts of our guns." + +"Be careful," cried Sir Humphrey. + +"Yes; we'll mind," said Brace. "Let the men throw on more dead dry +stuff; Lynton; and only a little at a time so as to keep up a good +light." + +"All right, sir," was the response, and more flame and light and less +smoke was the result, while more light came in from the windows above, +for as the hot acrid smoke poured out the leafage writhed and crinkled +up, taking up half the space it had occupied before. + +There was nothing to hinder the advance, as Brace and Briscoe carefully +felt their way between the two rows of menacing figures, till they +reached the square elevation, a good ten feet high, and then found that +they could ascend a flight of steps thick with powdered stone. + +At the broad landing at the top the altar was about waist-high, and now +for the first time they made out that at the back there was a big +sitting figure, whose breast seemed to be covered with a kind of rayed +shield; but everything was indistinct in the flickering light, and the +figure was absolutely clothed in dust. + +Just then Briscoe stretched out his left hand and laid it upon one of +the objects which stood in a row on either side of the altar. + +The next moment he began to breathe hard as if he were about to have a +fit. + +"What's the matter?" said Brace anxiously; "overcome by the heat and +smoke?" + +"No, no," whispered Briscoe hoarsely. "Touch that thing nearest to +you." + +Brace did as was suggested, and found that it was heavy, but that he +could move it. + +"Why, it isn't stone," he said, "but metal. It must be some kind of +ornament." + +"Yes," said Briscoe, in a hoarse whisper, "and that kitchen place we +went in first was a foundry; that next place where you spoke of a +rubbish heap was all ore. I picked up a bit, as you know, and it's +rich. Brace, my lad, we've found the Spaniards' El Dorado, and these +ornaments we have just touched are solid gold." + +"Impossible!" said Brace, in an awe-stricken whisper. + +"'Tisn't, lad. Look now the light's stronger. That squatting figure +with the thing like a rayed shield over his breast isn't only stone, for +I'd bet my last dollar that the shield's a golden sun." + +"Well?" cried the captain; "found anything?" + +"Oh, yes," said Brace, trying to speak calmly; "this is an altar, sure +enough." + +"Well, I'd give it up for to-day. Come out, Brace," cried Sir Humphrey, +"and we'll examine the place carefully to-morrow when the fire has +burned out and the air is breathable. I think we shall be able to take +back something curious for our pains." + +"Not a doubt about it," said Briscoe cheerily. "Yes; we've had enough +of it for to-day, and I want something to take the smoke and dust out of +my throat. Come along, Brace. Hist," he whispered: "not a word till we +get them away from the men." + +"I understand," said Brace. + +A few minutes afterwards the whole party were out on the terrace, +shouting down explanations to Dellow and the men, who on seeing the +smoke rising had taken to the small boat and rowed to the foot of the +great wall. + +"Found anything worth getting?" shouted the mate. + +"Well, yes: I suppose so," cried the captain. "It's a big temple full +of stone idols. We shall have to take a boat-load back for the British +Museum." + +"Bah!" said Dellow. "Are you coming back now? Dan's got a splendid +dinner of fish and bird roasted and I don't know how you are; we're +starving here." + +"We shall be with you in no time now," said the captain. "Forward, my +lads, and let's get back." + +The men started, Sir Humphrey and the captain followed, and Brace and +Briscoe came last. + +"Yes, that's gold, sure enough," said Brace, looking furtively at the +piece of ore thrust into his hand. "But, Briscoe?" + +"Well?" + +"Suppose the Indians know of all these golden ornaments and things being +here?" + +"I don't suppose they do; but if they do, what then?" + +"Suppose they came now in force and beat us off?" + +"Ah, it would be awkward if they came now; but if they did there'd be a +very ugly fight before we gave up our hold on what we've found." + +"Yes; we couldn't give it up now." + +"I say, what about the men?" said Briscoe. + +"They must know, of course, and take their share of what we carry away." + +"Oh!" groaned Briscoe, "and after finding what has been the dream of my +life." + +"What do you mean!" said Brace wonderingly. + +"Why, we've only got those two boats and can't take much. Brace, my +lad, do you think it would be possible to bring the brig up here?" + +"Yes, perhaps we might if you could knock down those falls, and do away +with all the shallow parts between here and there." + +"Of course," said Briscoe, with another groan full of misery. "I forgot +all that." + +"I say," said Dellow, as they came within sight from the lower terrace +once more, "something's happened while you've been away." + +"What is it?" said the captain. + +"Tide's turned, and the water's flowing steadily the other way." + +"That means the flood's gone down then," said the captain. "Well, then, +gentlemen, when you've got your images on board I suppose you'd like to +be going back, for the stores are running very low." + + + +CHAPTER FORTY ONE. + +THE SLIPPERY TREASURE. + +"Don't know that I am pleased," said Sir Humphrey, when his brother and +Briscoe told him of the discovery; "but it is very wonderful, and I +suppose we may claim the right to all we have found." + +"Certainly," said Briscoe. + +"Well, the first thing to be done is to acquaint the captain, Dellow, +and Lynton." + +"Of course," said Briscoe, "and the men must know." + +"Does it not mean trouble?" said Brace. "I mean with the crew." + +"No," replied Briscoe; "the skipper has them all well in hand now, and +they must be given to understand that every man will take a share of the +gold, according to his position. I vote we tell the skipper and mates +at once." + +Ten minutes later they were fully acquainted with the facts, and the +captain screwed his face up tightly. + +"Hah!" he said; "I never aimed at being rich, but I'm not going to +quarrel with my luck." + +"No," said Briscoe, "and I think we ought to take as much of it as we +can carry with us." + +"Well, gentlemen, it's a big find, and I suppose it means half a dozen +journeys here to fetch it all to the brig." + +"We cannot say yet," said Sir Humphrey; "but we ought to get all we can +down to the brig at once." + +"Yes," said Briscoe, "and leave Mr Brace and me here with a couple of +men to guard the rest." + +"No," said Sir Humphrey firmly; "we must keep together. I say: let's +load the boats as far as is wise and get as much of the treasure as +possible safely to the brig." + +"And lose all there is left," said Briscoe. + +"No," replied Brace. "This gold must have kept here in safety for at +least a thousand years, so I daresay it will rest till we get back +again." + +"Look here, gentlemen," said the captain; "both these plans sound well, +but we can settle which we'll try afterwards. I don't feel that we've +got the treasure till the two boats have their loads packed in the +bottoms like ballast, well covered with leaves. Let's get as much as we +can, and then perhaps it might be well for part of us to stop while the +others take down the first part." + +"The captain is right," said Sir Humphrey: "we'll settle that +afterwards: perhaps there is no more than we can take in one journey." + +This was put to the proof the next morning, when the men, having cheered +till they were hoarse at the wondrous news, the party divided: one +portion to make their way to the temple, the other to moor the two boats +conveniently under the wall below, the captain and Dellow taking the +latter duty, with a couple of men to stow, while as soon as Brace, +Briscoe, Lynton, and the rest of the men appeared on the lower terrace +communication was made with a block pulley and ropes ready for lowering +the treasure, a couple of stout biscuit bags being taken from the stores +for sending up and down. + +Brace led the way into the temple, his heart throbbing with eagerness; +and, lights having been set up in convenient spots, the threatening +aspect of the inanimate guardians of the treasure was soon forgotten, +and all set to work to sweep the dust from the ornaments upon the altar, +and then to carry them out into the broad sunshine ready for lowering +down. + +A feeling of astonishment attacked Brace as he worked hard, and hardly a +word was spoken, everyone busying himself and toiling as if there was +not a moment to spare, and a whisper might bring someone to stop them +from carrying the treasure away. + +It was wonderful indeed, for after the thick coating of dust had been +shaken off they found that they were handling roughly-formed lamps, +figures of gods with benevolent features, those of savage and +malignant-looking demons--in fact, what seemed to be the whole pantheon +of the idols who might be supposed to preside over the good qualities +and evil thoughts of mankind. + +Most of them had been roughly cast in moulds and left untouched; but +others had been hammered and chiselled with an archaic idea of art that +was surprising. + +Then there were ornaments which obviously suggested leaves and twining +vines, with rayed flowers sufficiently well executed to show that they +had been copied from such as the finders had seen growing on the ledges +of the canon. + +But unmistakeably all were of rich solid pale gold, bronzed and ruddy in +places with the action of fire, and, setting aside their value as +antique works of art, representing a cash value as gold that was almost +startling. + +Every now and then a figure was attacked and left standing on account of +its weight and the party of toilers busy in the weird gloom of the +temple paused at last as if half-stunned by the feeling that had come +upon them after two men had tried to lift the seated figure of some +deity. + +"Yes, we can't take that," said Briscoe dismally. "We could carry it +out, I daresay, but it would go through the bottom of the boat. We +shall have to start that old furnace and melt these big things down." + +Just then two of the men who been carrying a load out on to the terrace +came back, bearing a message from the captain. + +"He says, gentlemen," said one of the men, "that it will be as much as +he dare take aboard when we've let down all we've got waiting outside." + +"Nonsense!" cried Brace; "why, we have ever so much more to send out +yet. We can't leave all these small things." + +"How much weight do you think you have taken out, my lads?" said Sir +Humphrey, who was working hard with the rest. + +"'Bout half a ton, sir, I should say," replied one of the men. + +"Let's go out and have a talk to the skipper," said Briscoe. "I say, +chaps," he added jocosely, "fair play and fair sharing; no pocketing +either of those big images while we're gone." + +"All right, sir," said one of the men: "we won't; but to speak square +and honest, I was longing to collar that biggest one at the back there, +him with the sign of the sun on his front." + +"We must fetch them another time," said Briscoe; and he followed the +brothers out on to the terrace, where, dully gleaming in the sunshine, +quite a couple of hundredweight of the strange objects connected with +the ancient worship lay waiting to be lowered down. + +"Well, captain," said Sir Humphrey, "what does this mean--you can't take +any more?" + +"I'm going to risk what you've got out already, sir," was the reply. +"According to the men there's about three hundredweight to lower yet." + +"At a rough guess, yes," said Brace. + +"That's the very outside then, and we shall have to beat and hammer a +lot of these together with the axeheads to make them take up less room. +Look for yourselves." + +A long and earnest look was directed below, where the boats were packed +beneath the thwarts and fore and aft with the treasure, and presented a +strange aspect. + +"Yes, he's quite right," said Briscoe, with a sigh. "Oh, if we only had +one of those coal-barges that I've seen lying at anchor in your Thames." + +"Let's be content, Briscoe, and get these figures aboard. We must not +run risks and lose all." + +"That's wisdom, Sir Humphrey, and I've no more to say. Keep on lowering +down, my lads, while we go back. Oh, dear, I wish we hadn't burned all +that green stuff that hid the door." + +"It will soon shoot out and grow again," said Brace; "but we must come +back for another load." + +They went back into the temple to take a look round, lanthorn in hand, +and then had literally to drag themselves away from the sight of the +vast treasure they were compelled to leave behind. + +"It's of no use," said Brace. "Come along. The more we look the more +unwilling we shall be to leave." + +"I feel as if I can't leave it. I must stop and take care of the rest, +even if I stay alone," said Briscoe. + +"No," said Brace; "that would be folly. It will be safe enough till we +return." + +"But look here: suppose we build a raft, and load that? We could tow it +down with the boats." + +"Yes," said Brace, "and end by upsetting it and sending all to the +bottom." + +"Look here," said Sir Humphrey: "I am going to set you both a good +example." + +He hurried out into the light, while after another glance round Briscoe +said slowly: + +"Yes, a raft would end by shooting it all off into the river. Let's +make sure of what we've got." + +And, rushing out, he set steadily to work helping to get the objects +still waiting down to the boat, and then he was the first to lead the +way and mount from terrace to terrace to the slope and by the way to the +great tank, where the water was making a strange reverberating sound. + +"That noise is enough to keep the Indians away," he said to Brace, as he +paused with him till all the men had passed. "It's as good as a safe." + +When all were down, the L-shaped entrance was carefully blocked with +stones and covered with rubbish, earth, and growing plants, so that +there was no sign of the place having been disturbed, and by that time +the boats were back at their moorings, with the captain shaking his head +at them. + +"More than we ought to take," he said; "but we'll risk it, and hope for +fine weather. Now, gentlemen, as we've made our fortunes, let's have +the good dinner Dan has got ready for us, and then I say: all traps +aboard and down stream for the brig." + +"Ready to come up again for another load," said Briscoe. + +"Well," said the captain slowly, "if we can." + +The dinner was eaten, and various cooking-articles were replaced in the +boat. + +"Now then," said the captain; "all aboard!" + +"Three cheers first, lads," cried one of the men; "for we shall have our +gold now without washing for it." + +They gave three hearty cheers, and as the last was echoing from the +opposite side of the canon every man stood as if petrified, for it was +answered by a savage yell which seemed to come from a couple of thousand +throats; and as there was a rush to where, from the water steps, they +could gaze up stream it was to see quite a fleet of small canoes, each +of which held four or five Indians, bearing steadily down for where the +boats were moored. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY TWO. + +FOUND AND LOST. + +"Now, gentlemen," said the captain firmly, "what is it to be: turn this +into a fort and fight, or into the boats, hoist sail, and go down +stream? You see it runs our way now." + +"Take to the boats," said Sir Humphrey decisively, and the captain gave +the order. + +"Slow and steady, my lads," he said; "they can't reach us for some time +yet, and by then we shall be sailing steadily down." + +The canoes seemed to be coming on very fast, but the captain was +correct. + +The sails were hoisted as soon as every man was in his place, and, to +the satisfaction of all, the heavily-ballasted boats began to glide down +stream before a pleasant breeze with a steadiness that was all that +could be desired. + +But by the time they were well moving the first of the canoes was very +near, and their occupants started their savage yelling again and began +to paddle with all their might, till, seeing that the boats were leaving +them behind, they dropped their paddles and seized their bows, to let +fly a shower of arrows. + +At this the captain gave the word, and a little volley was fired, +followed by another. + +The walls of the great canon took up the reports and echoed them to and +fro till, startled by this novel thunder, the enemy paused in confusion, +many of the canoes being paddled back. + +"Anyone hit?" cried Brace. + +"No, sir," came loudly from both boats, and the next minute they glided +round the promontory they had passed in coming up, and the rock city +disappeared. + +A few minutes later and the last of the canoes was seen. + +The wind being favourable and the night following lit up by a full moon, +the retreat was kept up so as to get well beyond danger. + +It was far on into the next day before a halt was made to light a fire +and prepare a meal. + +The flood had passed away, and with wind and stream in their favour, and +a total absence of danger, the two boats glided down and down from river +to river till after many days the adventurers came within hearing of the +falls. + +They ran the boats safely aground just above where the river made its +plunge, and then came a long and toilsome task. + +But the boats were safely unladen--for the men worked with a will--run +ashore, and up and down the two slopes, to be re-launched and all the +stores and treasure replaced by dark one night. + +The next morning at daybreak a start was made for the brig, which was +found a mile lower down, where it had been swept by the flood, but was +safely re-anchored. + +In due time the men were cheering loudly again, for the treasure was +safe on board. + +"Now," said Briscoe, "one day's rest, and then we'll start with three +boats, skipper, and stouter tackle so as to handle some of those big +images better. We ought to take three or four planks." + +"Then you want to get some more?" said the captain, smiling. + +"More?" said Briscoe, staring; "why, man, it would be a sin to leave +that treasure wasting there. What do you say, gentlemen?" + +"Well," said Sir Humphrey, "I can't help feeling as you do, Briscoe. +What do you say, Brace?" + +"I don't want any more gold," was the reply; "but I should like to get +those curiosities to England. It would be such a shame to leave them up +there." + +"And so say we," said Dellow and Lynton eagerly. + +"But what about the men?" said Brace; "would they go?" + +"Would a dozen ducks swim, sir?" said the captain scornfully. "Ask +'em." + +The men were asked, and their answer was a tremendous cheer. + +"Of course, sir," one of them cried. "We must clear out the lot." + +"Very well," said the captain. "I shall stay on board here with two men +as guards, and you shall start with three boats to-morrow morning." + +There was another tremendous cheer at this, and then Dellow threw a wet +blanket over all. + +"I dunno," he said slowly: "I don't think it will be to-morrow, for +there's some weather about. Look at that lightning playing away to the +west'ard." + +The first mate was right, for that night there was a frightful storm to +announce the breaking-up of the season. + +The next day the river was in flood, and in spite of all the captain's +skill the brig was torn from her moorings and borne rapidly down stream. + +The days passed, and the weather grew worse and worse. Efforts were +made to moor or anchor over and over again, but the river rapidly became +like one vast lake with the water extending for miles on either side. + +After terrible vicissitudes the captain at last breathed freely when at +the end of some weeks the "Jason" was rising and falling in half a gale +well out to sea. + +"Hah!" he said; "this is something like. I can turn in now for a rest +without expecting to be capsized by being swept over a clump of trees. +There's nothing like the sea, after all." + +"But what about going up the river again?" asked Briscoe. + +"It will be in flood for months to come, sir, I should say, and my +advice would be for us to get safe home with what we've got, and make +another trip next year." + +The captain's advice was taken, and to a man the men volunteered to go +again the next season. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +That trip was made, and proved to be quite a blank, for the brig was +never got up to the falls. + +The next year, though, the party started with high hopes, for the +weather was magnificent, and they reached the falls; but not without +finding that the course of the river had been a good deal altered by two +seasons of tremendous floods. + +But there were the stupendous falls and one morning, leaving the brig +snugly anchored in a bay of the river to wait for her golden freight, +three boats, with the men well armed, started for their journey up +stream. + +The course of the river below the falls had been greatly altered, but +that was as nothing to the complete change in the network of rivers +higher up. + +Let it suffice to say that they rowed and sailed for days which grew +into weeks, and then to months, from river into river, and then in and +out of what was a great watery puzzle; but the canon with its golden +city might have sunk right out of sight, for in spite of every effort +the party were driven back at last when the torrential rains set in. + +The next year the captain said he had had enough of it, and Brace and +his brother declined to go, the latter saying that the proverb was +right: "You can buy gold too dearly." + +Briscoe then declared that he would freight another brig and go by +himself. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +He went, and, at the end of six months, returned, visited London, and +called upon his old companion. + +"Haven't found it yet," he said; "but there's a lot of gold there, and I +mean to try till I do." + +Brace met him again and again as the years rolled on, but he had not +found the gold. + +"No," he said; "there's something about that puzzle place of rivers that +I don't quite understand. I can't find it, and the longer I live the +more I feel, Brace Leigh, that we ought to have eaten our bread when it +was ready buttered, and brought the stuff away upon a raft." + +"Why don't you be content with what you had for your share?" + +"Oh, I am," said Briscoe: "just as contented as you are, but I want to +find the rest of that treasure all the same. You see, old fellow, I'm +this sort: I'm Amurrican, and I don't like being beat." + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Old Gold, by George Manville Fenn + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD GOLD *** + +***** This file should be named 21360.txt or 21360.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/3/6/21360/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |