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} + + div.clearpage, div.cleardoublepage + { margin: 10% 0; border: none; border-top: 1px solid gray; } + + .vfill { margin: 5% 10% } +} + +@media print { + div.clearpage { page-break-before: always; padding-top: 10% } + div.cleardoublepage { page-break-before: right; padding-top: 10% } + + .vfill { margin-top: 20% } + h2.title { margin-top: 20% } +} + +/* DIV */ +pre { font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.9em; white-space: pre-wrap } + +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 45974 ***</div> + +<p class="noindent pfirst"><span></span></p> + +<div class="align-None container coverpage"> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> +</div> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 67%" id="figure-46"> +<span id="cover-art"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="Cover art" src="images/img-cover.jpg"> +<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> +<span class="italics">Cover art</span></div> +</div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +</div> +<div class="align-None container frontispiece"> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 64%" id="figure-47"> +<span id="the-jaguar-opened-his-jaws-threateningly-see-page-182"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="THE JAGUAR OPENED HIS JAWS THREATENINGLY (see page 182)" src="images/img-front.jpg"> +<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> +<span class="italics">THE JAGUAR OPENED HIS JAWS THREATENINGLY (see page </span><a class="italics reference internal" href="#id1">182</a><span class="italics">)</span></div> +</div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +</div> +<div class="align-None container titlepage"> +<h1 class="center">KEN WARD +<br>IN THE JUNGLE</h1> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">BY</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="large">ZANE GREY</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="small">AUTHOR OF +<br>THE YOUNG FORESTER, +<br>THE YOUNG PITCHER, +<br>THE YOUNG LION HUNTER, +<br>THE U. P. TRAIL, ETC.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">ILLUSTRATED</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">NEW YORK +<br>GROSSET & DUNLAP +<br>PUBLISHERS</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="small">Published by Arrangement with Harper & Brothers +<br>Made in the United States of America</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +</div> +<div class="align-None container verso"> +<p class="center pfirst"><span class="small">COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY HARPER & BROTHERS</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="small">PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">CONTENTS</span></p> +<p class="noindent pnext"><span class="small">CHAP.</span></p> +<ol class="upperroman simple"> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-prize">The Prize</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-home-of-the-tarpon">The Home of the Tarpon</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#an-indian-boatman">An Indian Boatman</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#at-the-jungle-river">At the Jungle River</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-first-camp">The First Camp</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#wilderness-life">Wilderness Life</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#running-the-rapids">Running the Rapids</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-first-tiger-cat">The First Tiger-cat</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#in-the-white-water">In the White Water</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#lost">Lost!</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#an-army-of-snakes">An Army of Snakes</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#catching-strange-fish">Catching Strange Fish</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#a-turkey-hunt">A Turkey-Hunt</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#a-fight-with-a-jaguar">A Fight with a Jaguar</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-vicious-garrapatoes">The Vicious Garrapatoes</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#field-work-of-a-naturalist">Field Work of a Naturalist</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#a-mixed-up-tiger-hunt">A Mixed-up Tiger-hunt</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#watching-a-runway">Watching a Runway</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#adventures-with-crocodiles">Adventures with Crocodiles</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#treed-by-wild-pigs">Treed by Wild Pigs</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-leaping-tarpon">The Leaping Tarpon</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#stricken-down">Stricken Down</a></p> +</li> +<li><p class="first noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#out-of-the-jungle">Out of the Jungle</a></p> +</li> +</ol> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="the-prize"><span class="bold x-large">KEN WARD IN THE JUNGLE</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">I</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE PRIZE</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>"What a change from the Arizona +desert!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The words broke from the lips of Ken +Ward as he leaned from the window of +the train which was bearing his brother +and himself over the plateau to Tampico +in Tamaulipas, the southeastern state of +Mexico. He had caught sight of a river +leaping out between heavily wooded slopes +and plunging down in the most beautiful +waterfall he had ever seen.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Look, Hal," he cried.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The first fall was a long white streak, +ending in a dark pool; below came cascade +after cascade, fall after fall, some wide, +others narrow, and all white and green against +the yellow rock. Then the train curved +round a spur of the mountain, descended to +a level, to be lost in a luxuriance of jungle +growth.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was indeed a change for Ken Ward, +young forester, pitcher of the varsity nine at +school, and hunter of lions in the Arizona +cañons. Here he was entering the jungle +of the tropics. The rifles and the camp +outfit on the seat beside his brother Hal and +himself spoke of coming adventures. Before +them lay an unknown wilderness--the +semi-tropical jungle. And the future was to show +that the mystery of the jungle was stranger +even than their imaginings.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was not love of adventure alone or +interest in the strange new forest growths that +had drawn Ken to the jungle. His uncle, +the one who had gotten Ken letters from the +Forestry Department at Washington, had +been proud of Ken's Arizona achievements. +This uncle was a member of the American +Geographical Society and a fellow of the New +York Museum of Natural History. He wanted +Ken to try his hand at field work in the jungle +of Mexico, and if that was successful, then to +explore the ruined cities of wild Yucatan. +If Ken made good as an explorer his reward +was to be a trip to Equatorial Africa after big +game. And of course that trip meant +opportunity to see England and France, and, what +meant more to Ken, a chance to see the great +forests of Germany, where forestry had been +carried on for three hundred years.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In spite of the fact that the inducement +was irresistible, and that Ken's father was as +proud and eager as Ken's uncle to have him +make a name for himself, and that Hal +would be allowed to go with him, Ken had +hesitated. There was the responsibility for +Hal and the absolute certainty that Hal +could not keep out of mischief. Still Ken +simply could not have gone to Mexico +leaving his brother at home broken-hearted.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>At last the thing had been decided. It was +Hal's ambition to be a naturalist and to +collect specimens, and the uncle had held out +possible recognition from the Smithsonian +Institution at Washington. Perhaps he might +find a new variety of some animal to which +the scientists would attach his name. Then +the lad was passionately eager to see Ken +win that trip to Africa. There had been +much study of maps and books of travel, +science, and natural history. There had +been the most careful instruction and +equipment for semi-tropical camp life. The uncle +had given Ken valuable lessons in +map-drawing, in estimating distance and +topography, and he had indicated any one of +several rivers in the jungle belt of Mexico. +Traversing one hundred miles of unknown +jungle river, with intelligent observation and +accurate reports, would win the prize for Ken +Ward. Now the race was on. Would Ken win?</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Presently the train crossed a bridge. Ken +Ward had a brief glance at clear green water, +at great cypress-trees, gray and graceful +with long, silvery, waving moss, and at the +tangled, colorful banks. A water-fowl black +as coal, with white-crested wings, skimmed the +water in swift wild flight, to disappear up the +shady river-lane. Then the train clattered +on, and, a mile or more beyond the bridge, +stopped at a station called Valles. In the +distance could be seen the thatched +palm-leaf huts and red-tiled roofs of a hamlet.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boys got out to stretch their legs. The +warm, sweet, balmy air was a new and novel +thing to them. They strolled up and down +the gravel walk, watching the natives. Hal +said he rather liked the looks of their brown +bare feet and the thin cotton trousers and +shirts, but he fancied the enormous sombreros +were too heavy and unwieldy. Ken spoke +to several pleasant-faced Mexicans, each of +whom replied: "No sabe, Señor."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The ticket agent at the station was an +American, and from the way he smiled and +spoke Ken knew he was more than glad to +see one of his own kind. So, after Ken had +replied to many questions about the States, +he began to ask some of his own.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What's the name of the waterfall we passed?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Micas Falls," replied the agent.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"And the river?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It's called the Santa Rosa."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Where does it go?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The agent did not know, except that it +disappeared in the jungle. Southward the +country was wild. The villages were few and +all along the railroad; and at Valles the river +swung away to the southwest.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"But it must flow into the Panuco River," +said Ken. He had studied maps of Mexico +and had learned all that it was possible to +learn before he undertook the journey.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, yes, it must find the Panuco +somewhere down over the mountain," answered +the agent.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Then there are rapids in this little river?" +asked Ken, in growing interest.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I guess. It's all rapids."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"How far to Tampico by rail?" went on Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Something over a hundred miles."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Any game in the jungle hereabouts--or +along the Santa Rosa?" continued Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The man laughed, and laughed in such a +way that Ken did not need his assertion +that it was not safe to go into the jungle.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Whereupon Ken Ward became so thoughtful +that he did not hear the talk that followed +between the agent and Hal. The engine +bell roused him into action, and with Hal +he hurried back to their seats. And then +the train sped on. But the beauty of Micas +Falls and the wildness of the Santa Rosa +remained with Ken. Where did that river +go? How many waterfalls and rapids did +it have? What teeming life must be along +its rich banks! It haunted Ken. He wanted +to learn the mystery of the jungle. There +was the same longing which had gotten him +into the wild adventures in Penetier Forest and +the Grand Cañon country of Arizona. And +all at once flashed over him the thought that +here was the jungle river for him to explore.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, that's the very thing," he said, +thinking aloud.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What's wrong with you," asked Hal, +"talking to yourself that way?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken did not explain. The train clattered +between green walls of jungle, and occasionally +stopped at a station. But the thought of the +jungle haunted him until the train arrived at +Tampico.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken had the name of an American hotel, +and that was all he knew about Tampico. +The station was crowded with natives. Man +after man accosted the boys, jabbering +excitedly in Mexican. Some of these showed +brass badges bearing a number and the +word </span><em class="italics">Cargodore</em><span>.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hal, I believe these fellows are porters +or baggage-men," said Ken. And he showed +his trunk check to one of them. The fellow +jerked it out of Ken's hand and ran off. +The boys ran after him. They were relieved +to see him enter a shed full of baggage. And +they were amazed to see him kneel down and +take their trunk on his back. It was a big +trunk and heavy. The man was small and light.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It 'll smash him!" cried Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But the little </span><em class="italics">cargodore</em><span> walked off with the +trunk on his back. Then Ken and Hal saw +other </span><em class="italics">cargodores</em><span> packing trunks. The boys +kept close to their man and used their eyes +with exceeding interest. The sun was +setting, and the square, colored buildings looked +as if they were in a picture of Spain.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Look at the boats--canoes!" cried Hal, +as they crossed a canal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken saw long narrow canoes that had been +hollowed out from straight tree-trunks. They +were of every size, and some of the paddles +were enormous. Crowds of natives were +jabbering and jostling each other at a rude +wharf.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Look back," called Hal, who seemed to +have a hundred eyes.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken saw a wide, beautiful river, shining +red in the sunset. Palm-trees on the distant +shore showed black against the horizon.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hal, that's the Panuco. What a river!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Makes the Susquehanna look like a creek," +was Hal's comment.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The </span><em class="italics">cargodore</em><span> led the boys through a plaza, +down a narrow street to the hotel. Here +they were made to feel at home. The +proprietor was a kindly American. The hotel +was crowded, and many of the guests were +Englishmen there for the tarpon-fishing, with +sportsmen from the States, and settlers +coming in to take up new lands. It was pleasant +for Ken and Hal to hear their own language +once more. After dinner they sallied forth +to see the town. But the narrow dark streets +and the blanketed natives stealing silently +along were not particularly inviting. The +boys got no farther than the plaza, where +they sat down on a bench. It was wholly +different from any American town. Ken +suspected that Hal was getting homesick, +for the boy was quiet and inactive.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't like this place," said Hal. "What +'d you ever want to drag me way down here for?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Humph! drag you? Say, you pestered +the life out of me, and bothered Dad till he +was mad, and worried mother sick to let +you come on this trip."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal hung his head.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, you're not going to show a streak of +yellow?" asked Ken. He knew how to stir +his brother.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal rose to the attack and scornfully +repudiated the insinuation. Ken replied that +they were in a new country and must not +reach conclusions too hastily.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I liked it back up there at the little village +where we saw the green river and the big +trees with the gray streamers on them," +said Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I liked that myself," rejoined Ken. +"I'd like to go back there and put a +boat in the river and come all the way here."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken had almost unconsciously expressed +the thought that had been forming in his +mind. Hal turned slowly and looked at his +brother.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, that 'd be great--that's what we +came for!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I should say so," replied Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well?" asked Hal, simply.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>That question annoyed Ken. Had he not +come south to go into the jungle? Had he +come with any intention of shirking the +danger of a wild trip? There was a subtle +flattery in Hal's question.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"That Santa Rosa River runs through the +jungle," went on Hal. "It flows into the +Panuco somewhere. You know we figured +out on the map that the Panuco's the only +big river in this jungle. That's all we want +to know. And, Ken, you know you're a +born boatman. Why, look at the rapids we've +shot on the Susquehanna. Remember that +trip we came down the Juniata? The water +was high, too. Ken, you can take a boat +down that Santa Rosa!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"By George! I believe I can," exclaimed +Ken, and he thrilled at the thought.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, let's go. You'll win the prize, and +I'll get specimens. Think what we'd have +to tell Jim Williams and Dick Leslie when we +go West next summer!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Hal, I know--but this idea of a trip +seems too wild."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Maybe it wouldn't be so wild."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In all fairness Ken could not deny this, so +he kept silent.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, listen," went on Hal, and now he +was quite cool. "If we'd promised the +Governor not to take a wild trip I wouldn't +say another word. But we're absolutely free."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"That's why we ought to be more careful. +Dad trusts me."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"He trusts you because he knows you can +take care of yourself, and me, too. You're +a wonder, Ken. Why, if you once made up +your mind, you'd make that Santa Rosa River +look like a canal."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken began to fear that he would not be +proof against the haunting call of that jungle +river and the flattering persuasion of his +brother and the ever-present ambition to show +his uncle what he could do.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hal, if I didn't have you with me I'd +already have made up my mind to tackle +this river."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>That appeared to insult Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"All I've got to say is I'd be a help to +you--not a drag," he said, with some warmth.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You're always a help, Hal. I can't say +anything against your willingness. But you +know your weakness. By George! you made +trouble enough for me in Arizona. On a trip +such as this you'd drive me crazy."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, I won't make any rash promises. +I don't want to queer myself with you. +But I'm all right."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Look here, Hal; let's wait. We've only +got to Tampico. Maybe such a trip is +impracticable--impossible. Let's find out more +about the country."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal appeared to take this in good spirit. +The boys returned to the hotel and went to +bed. Hal promptly fell asleep. But Ken +Ward lay awake a long time thinking of the +green Santa Rosa, with its magnificent +moss-festooned cypresses. And when he did go to +sleep it was to dream of the beautiful +waterfowl with the white-crested wings, and he +was following it on its wild flight down the +dark, mysterious river-trail into the jungle.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="the-home-of-the-tarpon"><span class="bold large">II</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE HOME OF THE TARPON</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>Hal's homesickness might never have +been in evidence at all, to judge from +the way the boy, awakening at dawn, began +to talk about the Santa Rosa trip.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," said Ken, as he rolled out of bed, +"I guess we're in for it."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, will we go?" asked Hal, eagerly.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm on the fence."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"But you're leaning on the jungle side?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, kid--I'm slipping."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal opened his lips to let out a regular +Hiram Bent yell, when Ken clapped a hand +over his mouth.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hold on--we're in the hotel yet."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It took the brothers long to dress, because +they could not keep away from the window. +The sun was rising in rosy glory over misty +lagoons. Clouds of creamy mist rolled above +the broad Panuco. Wild ducks were flying +low. The tiled roofs of the stone houses +gleamed brightly, and the palm-trees glistened +with dew. The soft breeze that blew in was +warm, sweet, and fragrant.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>After breakfast the boys went out to the +front and found the hotel lobby full of +fishermen and their native boatmen. It was an +interesting sight, as well as a surprise, for +Ken and Hal did not know that Tampico +was as famous for fishing as it was for +hunting. The huge rods and reels amazed them.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What kind of fish do these fellows fish +for?" asked Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken was well enough acquainted with +sport to know something about tarpon, but +he had never seen one of the great silver fish. +And he was speechless when Hal led him +into a room upon the walls of which were +mounted specimens of tarpon from six to +seven feet in length and half as wide as a +door.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, Ken! We've come to the right +place. Those fishermen are all going out to +fish for such whales as these here."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hal, we never saw a big fish before," said +Ken. "And before we leave Tampico we'll +know what it means to hook tarpon."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm with you," replied Hal, gazing doubtfully +and wonderingly at a fish almost twice +as big as himself.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then Ken, being a practical student of +fishing, as of other kinds of sport, began to +stroll round the lobby with an intent to learn. +He closely scrutinized the tackle. And he +found that the bait used was a white mullet +six to ten inches long, a little fish which +resembled the chub. Ken did not like the long, +cruel gaff which seemed a necessary adjunct +to each outfit of tackle, and he vowed that +in his fishing for tarpon he would dispense +with it.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken was not backward about asking +questions, and he learned that Tampico, during +the winter months, was a rendezvous for +sportsmen from all over the world. For the +most part, they came to catch the leaping +tarpon; the shooting along the Panuco, +however, was as well worth while as the fishing. +But Ken could not learn anything about the +Santa Rosa River. The </span><em class="italics">tierra caliente</em><span>, or hot +belt, along the curve of the Gulf was +intersected by small streams, many of them +unknown and unnamed. The Panuco swung +round to the west and had its source +somewhere up in the mountains. Ken decided +that the Santa Rosa was one of its +headwaters. Valles lay up on the first swell of +higher ground, and was distant from Tampico +some six hours by train. So, reckoning with +the meandering course of jungle streams, +Ken calculated he would have something +like one hundred and seventy-five miles to +travel by water from Valles to Tampico. +There were Indian huts strung along the +Panuco River, and fifty miles inland a village +named Panuco. What lay between Panuco +and Valles, up over the wild steppes of that +jungle, Ken Ward could only conjecture.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Presently he came upon Hal in conversation +with an American boy, who at once +volunteered to show them around. So they +set out, and were soon becoming well +acquainted. Their guide said he was from +Kansas; had been working in the railroad +offices for two years; and was now taking a +vacation. His name was George Alling. +Under his guidance the boys spent several +interesting hours going about the city. +During this walk Hal showed his first tendency +to revert to his natural bent of mind. Not for +long could Hal Ward exist without making +trouble for something. In this case it was +buzzards, of which the streets of Tampico +were full. In fact, George explained, the +buzzards were the only street-cleaning +department in the town. They were as tame +as tame turkeys, and Hal could not resist +the desire to chase them. And he could be +made to stop only after a white-helmeted +officer had threatened him. George +explained further that although Tampico had +no game-laws it protected these +buzzard-scavengers of the streets.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The market-house at the canal wharf was +one place where Ken thought Hal would +forget himself in the bustle and din and color. +All was so strange and new. Indeed, for a +time Hal appeared to be absorbed in his +surroundings, but when he came to a stall where +a man had parrots and racoons and small +deer, and three little yellow, black-spotted +tiger-cats, as George called them, then once +more Ken had to take Hal in tow. Outside +along the wharf were moored a hundred or +more canoes of manifold variety. All had +been hewn from solid tree-trunks. Some +were long, slender, graceful, pretty to look +at, and easy to handle in shallow lagoons, +but Ken thought them too heavy and +cumbersome for fast water. Happening just +then to remember Micas Falls, Ken had a +momentary chill and a check to his +enthusiasm for the jungle trip. What if he +encountered, in coming down the Santa Rosa, +some such series of cascades as those which +made Micas Falls!</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was about noon when George led the +boys out to the banks of the broad Panuco. +Both Hal and Ken were suffering from the +heat. They had removed their coats, and +were now very glad to rest in the shade.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"This is a nice cool day," said George, and +he looked cool.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"We've got on our heavy clothes, and this +tropic sun is new to us," replied Ken. "Say, +Hal--"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>A crash in the water near the shore +interrupted Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Was that a rhinoceros?" inquired Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Savalo," said George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What's that?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Silver king. A tarpon. Look around +and you'll see one break water. There are +some fishermen trolling down-stream. Watch. +Maybe one will hook a fish presently. Then +you'll see some jumping."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was cool in the shade, as the brothers +soon discovered, and they spent a delightful +hour watching the river and the wild fowl +and the tarpon. Ken and Hal were always +lucky. Things happened for their benefit +and pleasure. Not only did they see many +tarpon swirl like bars of silver on the water, +but a fisherman hooked one of the great fish +not fifty yards from where the boys sat. +And they held their breath, and with starting +eyes watched the marvelous leaps and dashes +of the tarpon till, as he shot up in a last +mighty effort, wagging his head, slapping his +huge gills, and flinging the hook like a bullet, +he plunged back free.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Nine out of ten get away," remarked George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Did you ever catch one?" asked Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Sure."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hal, I've got to have some of this fishing," +said Ken. "But if we start at it now--would +we ever get that jungle trip?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Ken, you've made up your mind to +go!" exclaimed Hal, in glee.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"No, I haven't," protested Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, you have," declared Hal. "I know +you." And the whoop that he had suppressed +in the hotel he now let out with good measure.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Naturally George was interested, and at +his inquiry Ken told him the idea for the +Santa Rosa trip.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Take me along," said George. There was +a note of American spirit in his voice, a laugh +on his lips, and a flash in his eyes that made +Ken look at him attentively. He was a slim +youth, not much Hal's senior, and Ken +thought if ever a boy had been fashioned to +be a boon comrade of Hal Ward this George +Alling was the boy.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you think of the trip?" inquired +Ken, curiously.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Fine. We'll have some fun. We'll get +a boat and a mozo--"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What's a mozo?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"A native boatman."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"That's a good idea. I hadn't thought of a +boatman to help row. But the boat is the +particular thing. I wouldn't risk a trip in +one of those canoes."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Come on, I'll find a boat," said George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>And before he knew it George and Hal +were leading him back from the river. George +led him down narrow lanes, between painted +stone houses and iron-barred windows, till +they reached the canal. They entered a yard +where buzzards, goats, and razor-back pigs +were contesting over the scavenger rights. +George went into a boat-house and pointed +out a long, light, wide skiff with a flat bottom. +Ken did not need George's praise, or the +shining light in Hal's eyes, or the +boat-keeper's importunities to make him eager to +try this particular boat. Ken Ward knew a +boat when he saw one. He jumped in, +shoved it out, rowed up the canal, pulled and +turned, backed water, and tried every stroke +he knew. Then he rested on the oars and +whistled. Hal's shout of delight made him +stop whistling. Those two boys would have +him started on the trip if he did not look sharp.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It's a dandy boat," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Only a peso a day, Ken," went on Hal. +"One dollar Mex--fifty cents in our money. +Quick, Ken, hire it before somebody else gets it."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Sure I'll hire the boat," replied Ken; "but +Hal, it's not for that Santa Rosa trip. We'll +have to forget that."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Forget your grandmother!" cried Hal. +And then it was plain that he tried valiantly +to control himself, to hide his joy, to pretend +to agree with Ken's ultimatum.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken had a feeling that his brother knew +him perfectly, and he was divided between +anger and amusement. They returned to +the hotel and lounged in the lobby. The +proprietor was talking with some Americans, +and as he now appeared to be at leisure he +introduced the brothers and made himself +agreeable. Moreover, he knew George Alling +well. They began to chat, and Ken was +considerably annoyed to hear George calmly +state that he and his new-found friends +intended to send a boat up to Valles and come +down an unknown jungle river.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The proprietor laughed, and, though the +laugh was not unpleasant, somehow it nettled +Ken Ward.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Why not go?" he asked, quietly, and he +looked at the hotel man.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"My boy, you can't undertake any trip +like that."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Why not?" persisted Ken. "Is there any +law here to prevent our going into the jungle?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"There's no law. No one could stop you. +But, my lad, what's the sense of taking such +a fool trip? The river here is full of tarpon +right now. There are millions of ducks and +geese on the lagoons. You can shoot deer +and wild turkey right on the edge of town. +If you want tiger and javelin, go out to one of +the ranches where they have dogs to hunt +with, where you'll have a chance for your +life. These tigers and boars will kill a man. +There's all the sport any one wants right +close to Tampico."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't see how all that makes a reason +why we shouldn't come down the Santa +Rosa," replied Ken. "We want to explore--map +the river."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The hotel man seemed nettled in return.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You're only kids. It 'd be crazy to start +out on that wild trip."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was on Ken's lips to mention a few of +the adventures which he believed justly gave +him a right to have pride and confidence in +his ability. But he forbore.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It's a fool trip," continued the proprietor. +"You don't know this river. You don't +know where you'll come out. It's wild up +in that jungle. I've hunted up at Valles, +and no native I ever met would go a mile +from the village. If you take a mozo he'll +get soaked with canya. He'll stick a knife +in you or run off and leave you when you +most need help. Nobody ever explored that +river. It 'll likely be full of swamps, +sandbars, bogs. You'd get fever. Then the +crocodiles, the boars, the bats, the snakes, the +tigers! Why, if you could face these you'd +still have the ticks--the worst of all. The +ticks would drive men crazy, let alone boys. +It's no undertaking for a boy."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The mention of all these dangers would +have tipped the balance for Ken in favor of +the Santa Rosa trip, even if the hint of his +callowness had not roused his spirit.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you. I'm sure you mean kindly," +said Ken. "But I'm going to Valles and I'll +come down that jungle river."</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="an-indian-boatman"><span class="bold large">III</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">AN INDIAN BOATMAN</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>The moment the decision was made Ken +felt both sorry and glad. He got the +excited boys outside away from the critical +and anxious proprietor. And Ken decided +it was incumbent upon him to adopt a serious +and responsible manner, which he was far +from feeling. So he tried to be as cool as +Hiram Bent, with a fatherly interest in the +two wild boys who were to accompany him +down the Santa Rosa.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, George, steer us around till we find +a mozo," said Ken. "Then we'll buy an +outfit and get started on this trip before you +can say Jack Robinson."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>All the mozos the boys interviewed were +eager to get work; however, when made +acquainted with the nature of the trip they +refused point blank.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Tigre!" exclaimed one.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Javelin!" exclaimed another.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The big spotted jaguar of the jungle and +the wild boar, or peccary, were held in much +dread by the natives.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"These natives will climb a tree at sight +of a tiger or pig," said George. "For my +part I'm afraid of the garrapatoes and the +pinilius."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What 're they?" asked Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ticks--jungle ticks. Just wait till you +make their acquaintance."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Finally the boys met a </span><em class="italics">mozo</em><span> named Pepe, +who had often rowed a boat for George. +Pepe looked sadly in need of a job; still he +did not ask for it. George said that Pepe +had been one of the best boatmen on the +river until </span><em class="italics">canya</em><span>, the fiery white liquor to +which the natives were addicted, had ruined +his reputation. Pepe wore an old sombrero, +a cotton, shirt and sash, and ragged trousers. +He was barefooted. Ken noted the set of +his muscular neck, his brawny shoulders and +arms, and appreciated the years of rowing +that had developed them. But Pepe's haggard +face, deadened eyes, and listless manner +gave Ken pause. Still, Ken reflected, there +was never any telling what a man might do, +if approached right. Pepe's dejection excited +Ken's sympathy. So Ken clapped him on +the shoulder, and, with George acting as +interpreter, offered Pepe work for several weeks +at three pesos a day. That was more than +treble the </span><em class="italics">mozo's</em><span> wage. Pepe nearly fell off +the canal bridge, where he was sitting, and a +light as warm and bright as sunshine flashed +into his face.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Si, Señor--Si, Señor," he began to jabber, +and waved his brown hands.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken suspected that Pepe needed a job +and a little kind treatment. He was sure of +it when George said Pepe's wife and children +were in want. Somehow Ken conceived a +liking for Pepe, and believed he could trust +him. He thought he knew how to deal with +poor Pepe. So he gave him money, told +him to get a change of clothes and a pair of +shoes, and come to the hotel next day.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"He'll spend the money for canya, and not +show up to-morrow," said George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know anything about your natives, +but that fellow will come," declared Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It appeared that the whole American colony +in Tampico had been acquainted with Ken +Ward's project, and made a business to +waylay the boys at each corner. They called +the trip a wild-goose chase. They declared +it was a dime-novel idea, and could hardly +take Ken seriously. They mingled +astonishment with amusement and concern. They +advised Ken not to go, and declared they +would not let him go. Over and over again +the boys were assured of the peril from +ticks, bats, boars, crocodiles, snakes, tigers, +and fevers.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"That's what I'm taking the trip for," +snapped Ken, driven to desperation by all +this nagging.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, young man, I admire your nerve," +concluded the hotel man. "If you're +determined to go, we can't stop you. And +there's some things we would like you to find +out for us. How far do tarpon run up the +Panuco River? Do they spawn up there? +How big are the new-born fish? I'll furnish +you with tackle and preserved mullet, for +bait. We've always wondered about how +far tarpon go up into fresh water. Keep your +eye open for signs of oil. Also look at the +timber. And be sure to make a map of the river."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When it came to getting the boat shipped +the boys met with more obstacles. But +for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee +of the railroad, they would never have been +able to convince the native shipping agent +that a boat was merchandise. The Texan +arranged the matter and got Ken a freight +bill. He took an entirely different view of +Ken's enterprise, compared with that of other +Americans, and in a cool, drawling voice, +which somehow reminded Ken of Jim +Williams, he said:</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Shore you-all will have the time of +your lives. I worked at Valles for a year. +That jungle is full of game. I killed three +big tigers. You-all want to look out for +those big yellow devils. One in every three +will jump for a man. There's nothing but +shoot, then. And the wild pigs are bad. +They put me up a tree more than once. +I don't know much about the Santa Rosa. +Its source is above Micas Falls. Never +heard where it goes. I know it's full of +crocodiles and rapids. Never saw a boat or a +canoe at Valles. And say--there are big black +snakes in the jungle. Look out for them, too. +Shore you-all have sport a-comin'."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken thanked the Texan, and as he went +on up-street, for all his sober thoughtfulness, +he was as eager as Hal or George. However, +his position as their guardian would not +permit any show of extravagant enthusiasm.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken bought blankets, cooking utensils, +and supplies for three weeks. There was not +such a thing as a tent in Tampico. The +best the boys could get for a shelter was a +long strip of canvas nine feet wide.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"That 'll keep off the wet," said Ken, "but +it won't keep out the mosquitoes and things."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Couldn't keep 'em out if we had six +tents," replied George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The remainder of that day the boys were +busy packing the outfit.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe presented himself at the hotel next +morning an entirely different person. He was +clean-shaven, and no longer disheveled. He +wore a new sombrero, a white cotton shirt, +a red sash, and blue trousers. He earned +a small bundle, a pair of shoes, and a long +</span><em class="italics">machete</em><span>. The dignity with which he +approached before all the other </span><em class="italics">mozos</em><span> was not +lost upon Ken Ward. A sharp scrutiny +satisfied him that Pepe had not been +drinking. Ken gave him several errands to do. +Then he ordered the outfit taken to the +station in Pepe's charge.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boys went down early in the afternoon. +It was the time when the </span><em class="italics">mozos</em><span> were returning +from the day's tarpon-fishing on the +river, and they, with the </span><em class="italics">cargodores</em><span>, streamed +to and fro on the platform. Pepe was there +standing guard over Ken's outfit. He had +lost his fame among his old associates, and +for long had been an outsider. Here he was +in charge of a pile of fine guns, fishing-tackle, +baggage, and supplies--a collection +representing a fortune to him and his simple class. +He had been trusted with it. It was under +his eye. All his old associates passed by to +see him there. That was a great time for +Pepe. He looked bright, alert, and +supremely happy. It would have fared ill with +thieves or loafers who would have made +themselves free with any of the articles under +his watchful eye.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The train pulled out of Tampico at five +o'clock, and Hal's "We're off!" was expressive.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The railroad lay along the river-bank, +and the broad Panuco was rippling with the +incoming tide. If Ken and Hal had not +already found George to be invaluable as a +companion in this strange country they would +have discovered it then. For George could +translate Pepe's talk, and explain much that +otherwise would have been dark to the +brothers. Wild ducks dotted the green surface, +and spurts showed where playful </span><em class="italics">ravalo</em><span> were +breaking water. Great green-backed tarpon +rolled their silver sides against the little +waves. White cranes and blue herons stood +like statues upon the reedy bars. Low down +over the opposite bank of the river a long +line of wild geese winged its way toward a +shimmering lagoon. And against the gold +and crimson of the sunset sky a flight of +wild fowl stood out in bold black relief. The +train crossed the Tamesi River and began to +draw away from the Panuco. On the right, +wide marshes, gleaming purple in the darkening +light, led the eye far beyond to endless +pale lagoons. Birds of many kinds skimmed +the weedy flats. George pointed out a flock +of aigrets, the beautiful wild fowl with the +priceless plumes. Then there was a string +of pink flamingoes, tall, grotesque, wading +along with waddling stride, feeding with +heads under water.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Great!" exclaimed Ken Ward.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It's all so different from Arizona," said Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>At Tamos, twelve miles out of Tampico, +the train entered the jungle. Thereafter +the boys could see nothing but the impenetrable +green walls that lined the track. At +dusk the train reached a station called Las +Palmas, and then began to ascend the first +step of the mountain. The ascent was steep, +and, when it was accomplished, Ken looked +down and decided that step of the mountain +was between two and three thousand feet +high. The moon was in its first quarter, +and Ken, studying this tropical moon, found +it large, radiant, and a wonderful green-gold. +It shed a soft luminous glow down upon the +sleeping, tangled web of jungle. It was new +and strange to Ken, so vastly different from +barren desert or iron-ribbed cañon, and it +thrilled him with nameless charm.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The train once more entered jungle walls, +and as the boys could not see anything out +of the windows they lay back in their seats +and waited for the ride to end. They were +due at Valles at ten o'clock, and the impatient +Hal complained that they would never get +there. At length a sharp whistle from the +engine caused Pepe to turn to the boys with a +smile.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Valles," he said.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>With rattle and clank the train came to a +halt. Ken sent George and Pepe out, and he +and Hal hurriedly handed the luggage through +the open window. When the last piece had +been passed into Pepe's big hands the boys +made a rush for the door, and jumped off +as the train started.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, but it's dark," said Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>As the train with its lights passed out of +sight Ken found himself in what seemed a +pitchy blackness. He could not see the boys. +And he felt a little cold sinking of his heart +at the thought of such black nights on an +unknown jungle river.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="at-the-jungle-river"><span class="bold large">IV</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">AT THE JUNGLE RIVER</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>Presently, as Ken's eyes became +accustomed to the change, the darkness +gave place to pale moonlight. A crowd of +chattering natives, with wide sombreros on +their heads and blankets over their shoulders, +moved round the little stone station. Visitors +were rare in Valles, as was manifested by the +curiosity aroused by the boys and the pile +of luggage.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ask Pepe to find some kind of lodging for +the night," said Ken to George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe began to question the natives, and soon +was lost in the crowd. Awhile after, as Ken +was making up his mind they might have to +camp on the station platform, a queer low +'bus drawn by six little mules creaked up. +Pepe jumped off the seat beside the driver, and +began to stow the luggage away in the 'bus. +Then the boys piled in behind, and were soon +bowling along a white moonlit road. The +soft voices of natives greeted their passing.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Valles appeared to be about a mile from +the station, and as they entered the village +Ken made out rows of thatched huts, and here +and there a more pretentious habitation of +stone. At length the driver halted before +a rambling house, partly stone and partly +thatch. There were no lights; in fact, Ken +did not see a light in the village. George +told the boys to take what luggage each +could carry and follow the guide. Inside +the house it was as dark as a dungeon. The +boys bumped into things and fell over each +other trying to keep close to the barefooted +and mysterious guide. Finally they climbed +to a kind of loft, where the moonlight streamed +in at the open sides.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you think of this?" panted Hal, +who had struggled with a heavy load of +luggage. Pepe and the guide went down to +fetch up the remainder of the outfit. Ken +thought it best to stand still until he knew +just where he was. But Hal and George +began moving about in the loft. It was very +large and gloomy, and seemed open, yet full +of objects. Hal jostled into something which +creaked and fell with a crash. Then followed +a yell, a jabbering of a frightened native, and +a scuffling about.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hal, what 'd you do?" called Ken, severely.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You can search me," replied Hal Ward. +"One thing--I busted my shin."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"He knocked over a bed with some one +sleeping in it," said George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe arrived in the loft then and soon +soothed the injured feelings of the native +who had been so rudely disturbed. He then +led the boys to their cots, which were no more +than heavy strips of canvas stretched over +tall frameworks. They appeared to be +enormously high for beds. Ken's was as high +as his head, and Ken was tall for his age.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, I'll never get up into this thing," +burst out Hal. "These people must be +afraid to sleep near the floor. George, why +are these cots so high?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I reckon to keep the pigs and dogs and +all that from sleeping with the natives," +answered George. "Besides, the higher you +sleep in Mexico the farther you get from +creeping, crawling things."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken had been of half a mind to sleep on +the floor, but George's remark had persuaded +him to risk the lofty cot. It was most +awkward to climb into. Ken tried several +times without success, and once he just +escaped a fall. By dint of muscle and a good +vault he finally landed in the center of his +canvas. From there he listened to his more +unfortunate comrades. Pepe got into his +without much difficulty. George, however, +in climbing up, on about the fifth attempt +swung over too hard and rolled off on the +other side. The thump he made when he +dropped jarred the whole loft. From the +various growls out of the darkness it developed +that the loft was full of sleepers, who were not +pleased at this invasion. Then Hal's cot +collapsed, and went down with a crash. +And Hal sat on the flattened thing and laughed.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Mucho malo," Pepe said, and he laughed, +too. Then he had to get out and put up +Hal's trestle bed. Hal once again went to +climbing up the framework, and this time, +with Pepe's aid, managed to surmount it.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George, what does Pepe mean by </span><em class="italics">mucho +malo</em><span>?" asked Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Bad--very much bad," replied George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Nix--tell him nix. This is fine," said Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys, if you don't want to sleep yourselves, +shut up so the rest of us can," ordered Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He liked the sense of humor and the good +fighting spirit of the boys, and fancied they +were the best attributes in comrades on a +wild trip. For a long time he heard a kind +of shuddering sound, which he imagined was +Hal's cot quivering as the boy laughed. Then +absolute quiet prevailed, the boys slept, +and Ken felt himself drifting.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When he awakened the sun was shining +through the holes in the thatched roof. +Pepe was up, and the other native sleepers +were gone. Ken and the boys descended from +their perches without any tumbles, had a +breakfast that was palatable--although even +George could not name what they ate--and +then were ready for the day.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Valles consisted of a few stone houses and +many thatched huts of bamboo and palm. +There was only one street, and it was full of +pigs, dogs, and buzzards. The inhabitants +manifested a kindly interest and curiosity, +which changed to consternation when they +learned of the boys' project. Pepe +questioned many natives, and all he could learn +about the Santa Rosa was that there was an +impassable waterfall some few kilometers +below Valles. Ken gritted his teeth and said +they would have to get past it. Pepe did not +encounter a man who had ever heard of the +headwaters of the Panuco River. There were +only a few fields under cultivation around +Valles, and they were inclosed by +impenetrable jungle. It seemed useless to try to +find out anything about the river. But +Pepe's advisers in the village told enough +about </span><em class="italics">tigre</em><span> and </span><em class="italics">javelin</em><span> to make Hal's hair +stand on end, and George turn pale, and +Ken himself wish they had not come. It all +gave Ken both a thrill and a shock.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>There was not much conversation among the +boys on the drive back to the station. +However, sight of the boat, which had come by +freight, stirred Ken with renewed spirit, and +through him that was communicated to the +others.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The hardest task, so far, developed in the +matter of transporting boat and supplies out +to the river. Ken had hoped to get a +handcar and haul the outfit on the track down to +where the bridge crossed the Santa Rosa. +But there was no hand-car. Then came the +staggering information that there was no +wagon which would carry the boat, and then +worse still in the fact that there was no road. +This discouraged Ken; nevertheless he had +not the least idea of giving up. He sent +Pepe out to tell the natives there must be +some way to get the outfit to the river.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Finally Pepe found a fellow who had a cart. +This fellow claimed he knew a trail that went +to a point from which it would be easy to +carry the boat to the river. Ken had Pepe +hire the man at once.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Bring on your old cart," said the +irrepressible Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>That cart turned out to be a remarkable +vehicle. It consisted of a narrow body +between enormously high wheels. A trio of +little mules was hitched to it. The driver +willingly agreed to haul the boat and outfit +for one </span><em class="italics">peso</em><span>, but when he drove up to the +platform to be surrounded by neighbors, he +suddenly discovered that he could not possibly +accommodate the boys. Patiently Pepe tried +to persuade him. No, the thing was +impossible. He made no excuses, but he looked +mysterious.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George, tell Pepe to offer him five pesos," +said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe came out bluntly with the inducement, +and the driver began to sweat. From +the look of his eyes Ken fancied he had not +earned so much money in a year. Still he +was cunning, and his whispering neighbors +lent him support. He had the only cart in +the village, and evidently it seemed that +fortune had come to knock at least once at his +door. He shook his head.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken held up both hands with fingers spread. +"Ten pesos," he said.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The driver, like a crazy man, began to +jabber his consent.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boys lifted the boat upon the cart, and +tied it fast in front so that the stern would not +sag. Then they packed the rest of the +outfit inside.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken was surprised to see how easily the +little mules trotted off with such a big load. +At the edge of the jungle he looked back +toward the station. The motley crowd of +natives were watching, making excited +gestures, and all talking at once. The driver +drove into a narrow trail, which closed +behind him. Pepe led on foot, brushing aside +the thick foliage. Ken drew a breath of +relief as he passed into the cool shade. The +sun was very hot. Hal and George brought +up the rear, talking fast.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The trail was lined and overgrown with +slender trees, standing very close, making +dense shade. Many birds, some of beautiful +coloring, flitted in the branches. In about +an hour the driver entered a little clearing +where there were several thatched huts. +Ken heard the puffing of an engine, and, +looking through the trees, he saw the +railroad and knew they had arrived at the +pumping-station and the bridge over the +Santa Rosa.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe lost no time in rounding up six +natives to carry the boat. They did not seem +anxious to oblige Pepe, although they plainly +wanted the money he offered. The trouble +was the boat, at which they looked askance. +As in the case with the driver, however, the +weight and clinking of added silver overcame +their reluctance. They easily lifted the boat +upon their shoulders. And as they entered +the trail, making a strange procession in the +close-bordering foliage, they encountered two +natives, who jumped and ran, yelling: "La +diable! La diable!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What ails those gazabos?" asked Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"They're scared," replied George. "They +thought the boat was the devil."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>If Ken needed any more than had already +come to him about the wildness of the Santa +Rosa, he had it in the frightened cries and +bewilderment of these natives. They had +never seen a boat. The Santa Rosa was a +beautiful wild river upon which boats were +unknown. Ken had not hoped for so much. +And now that the die was cast he faced the +trip with tingling gladness.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George and Hal, you stay behind to watch +the outfit. Pepe and I will carry what we +can and follow the boat. I'll send back after +you," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then as he followed Pepe and the natives +down the trail there was a deep satisfaction +within him. He heard the soft rush of water +over stones and the mourning of turtledoves. +He rounded a little hill to come +abruptly upon the dense green mass of river +foliage. Giant cypress-trees, bearded with +gray moss, fringed the banks. Through the +dark green of leaves Ken caught sight of +light-green water. Birds rose all about him. +There were rustlings in the thick +underbrush and the whir of ducks. The natives +penetrated the dark shade and came out to +an open, grassy point.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The Santa Rosa, glistening, green, swift, +murmured at Ken's feet. The natives dropped +the boat into the water, and with Pepe +went back for the rest of the outfit. Ken +looked up the shady lane of the river and +thought of the moment when he had crossed +the bridge in the train. Then, as much as he +had longed to be there, he had not dared to +hope it. And here he was! How strange +it was, just then, to see a large black duck +with white-crested wings sweep by as swift +as the wind! Ken had seen that wild fowl, +or one of his kind, and it had haunted him.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="the-first-camp"><span class="bold large">V</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE FIRST CAMP</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>In less than an hour all the outfit had been +carried down to the river, and the boys +sat in the shade, cooling off, happily conscious +that they had made an auspicious start.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It took Ken only a moment to decide to +make camp there and the next day try to +reach Micas Falls. The mountains appeared +close at hand, and were so lofty that, early +in the afternoon as it was, the westering sun +hung over the blue summits. The notch +where the Santa Rosa cut through the range +stood out clear, and at most it was not +more than eighteen miles distant. So Ken +planned to spend a day pulling up the river, +and then to turn for the down-stream trip.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Come, boys, let's make camp," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He sent Pepe with his long </span><em class="italics">machete</em><span> into the +brush to cut fire-wood. Hal he set to making +a stone fireplace, which work the boy rather +prided himself upon doing well. Ken got +George to help him to put up the strip of +canvas. They stretched a rope between two +trees, threw the canvas over it, and pegged +down the ends.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, how 're we going to sleep?" inquired +Hal, suddenly.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Sleep? Why, on our backs, of course," +retorted Ken, who could read Hal's mind.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"If we don't have some hot old times +keeping things out of this tent, I'm a lobster," +said George, dubiously. "I'm going to sleep +in the middle."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You're a brave boy, George," replied Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Me for between Ken and Pepe," added Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"And you're twice as brave," said Ken. +"I dare say Pepe and I will be able to keep +things from getting at you."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Just as Pepe came into camp staggering +under a load of wood, a flock of russet-colored +ducks swung round the bend. They alighted +near the shore at a point opposite the camp. +The way George and Hal made headers into +the pile of luggage for their guns gave Ken +an inkling of what he might expect from these +lads. He groaned, and then he laughed. +George came up out of the luggage first, and +he had a .22-caliber rifle, which he quickly +loaded and fired into the flock. He crippled +one; the others flew up-stream. Then George +began to waste shells trying to kill the +crippled duck. Hal got into action with his .22. +They bounced bullets off the water all around +the duck, but they could not hit it.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe grew as excited as the boys, and he +jumped into the boat and with a long stick +began to pole out into the stream. Ken +had to caution George and Hal to lower their +guns and not shoot Pepe. Below camp and +just under the bridge the water ran into a +shallow rift. The duck got onto the current +and went round the bend, with Pepe poling +in pursuit and George and Hal yelling along +the shore. When they returned a little +later, they had the duck, which was of an +unknown species to Ken. Pepe had fallen +overboard; George was wet to his knees; and, +though Hal did not show any marks of undue +exertion, his eyes would have enlightened any +beholder. The fact was that they were +glowing with the excitement of the chase. +It amused Ken. He felt that he had to try +to stifle his own enthusiasm. There had to +be one old head in the party. But if he did +have qualms over the possibilities of the boys +to worry him with their probable escapades, +he still felt happy at their boundless life and +spirit.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was about the middle of the afternoon, +and the heat had become intense. Ken +realized it doubly when he saw Pepe favoring +the shade. George and Hal were hot, but they +appeared to be too supremely satisfied with +their surroundings to care about that.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>During this hot spell, which lasted from +three o'clock until five, there was a quiet +and a lack of life around camp that +surprised Ken. It was slumberland; even the +insects seemed drowsy. Not a duck and +scarcely a bird passed by. Ken heard the +mourning of turtle-doves, and was at once +struck with the singular deep, full tone. +Several trains crossed the bridge, and at +intervals the engine at the pumping-tank +puffed and chugged. From time to time a +native walked out upon the bridge to stare +long and curiously at the camp.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When the sun set behind the mountain +a hard breeze swept down the river. Ken +did not know what to make of it, and at first +thought there was going to be a storm. Pepe +explained that the wind blew that way every +day after sunset. For a while it tossed the +willows, and waved the Spaniard's-beard upon +the cypresses. Then as suddenly as it had +come it died away, taking the heat with it.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Whereupon the boys began to get supper.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George, do you know anything about +this water?" asked Ken. "Is it safe?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George supposed it was all right, but he +did not know. The matter of water had +bothered Ken more than any other thing in +consideration of the trip. This river-water +was cool and clear; it apparently was safe. +But Ken decided not to take any chances, +and to boil all the water used. All at once +George yelled, "Canvasbacks!" and made a +dive for his gun. Ken saw a flock of ducks +swiftly winging flight up-stream.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hold on, George; don't shoot," called +Ken. "Let's go a little slow at the start."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George appeared to be disappointed, though +he promptly obeyed.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then the boys had supper, finding the +russet duck much to their taste. Ken made +a note of Pepe's capacity, and was glad there +were prospects of plenty of meat. While +they were eating, a group of natives gathered +on the bridge. Ken would not have liked to +interpret their opinion of his party from their +actions.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Night came on almost before the boys +were ready for it. They replenished the +camp-fire, and sat around it, looking into the +red blaze and then out into the flickering +shadows. Ken thought the time propitious +for a little lecture he had to give the boys, +and he remembered how old Hiram Bent +had talked to him and Hal that first night +down under the great black rim-wall of the +Grand Cañon.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, fellows," began Ken, "we're started, +we're here, and the trip looks great to me. +Now, as I am responsible, I intend to be boss. +I want you boys to do what I tell you. I may +make mistakes, but if I do I'll take them on +my shoulders. Let's try to make the trip +a great success. Let's be careful. We're +not game-hogs. We'll not kill any more than +we can eat. I want you boys to be careful +with your guns. Think all the time where +you're pointing them. And as to thinking, +we'd do well to use our heads all the time. +We've no idea what we're going up against +in this jungle."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Both boys listened to Ken with attention +and respect, but they did not bind themselves +by any promises.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken had got out the mosquito-netting, +expecting any moment to find it very +serviceable; however, to his surprise it was not +needed. When it came time to go to bed, +Hal and George did not forget to slip in +between Pepe and Ken. The open-sided tent +might keep off rain or dew, but for all the +other protection it afforded, the boys might as +well have slept outside. Nevertheless they +were soon fast asleep. Ken awoke a couple +of times during the night and rolled over to +find a softer spot in the hard bed. These +times he heard only the incessant hum of insects.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When he opened his eyes in the gray +morning light, he did hear something that +made him sit up with a start. It was a deep +booming sound, different from anything that +he had ever heard. Ken called Pepe, and +that roused the boys.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Listen," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In a little while the sound was repeated, a +heavy "boo-oom! ... boo-oom!" There was +a resemblance to the first strong beats of a +drumming grouse, only infinitely wilder.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe called it something like "</span><em class="italics">faisan real</em><span>."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What's that?" asked Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The name was as new to Ken as the noise +itself. Pepe explained through George that +it was made by a huge black bird not unlike a +turkey. It had a golden plume, and could +run as fast as a deer. The boys rolled out, +all having conceived a desire to see such a +strange bird. The sound was not repeated. +Almost immediately, however, the thicket +across the river awoke to another sound, as +much a contrast to the boom as could be +imagined. It was a bird medley. At first Ken +thought of magpies, but Pepe dispelled this +illusion with another name hard to pronounce.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Chicalocki," he said.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>And that seemed just like what they were +singing. It was a sharp, clear +song--"Chic-a-lock-i ... chic-a-lock-i," and to judge from +the full chorus there must have been many birds.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"They're a land of pheasant," added +George, "and make fine pot-stews."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The </span><em class="italics">chicalocki</em><span> ceased their salute to the +morning, and then, as the river mist melted +away under the rising sun, other birds took +it up. Notes new to Ken burst upon the air. +And familiar old songs thrilled him, made him +think of summer days on the Susquehanna--the +sweet carol of the meadow-lark, the whistle +of the quail, the mellow, sad call of the +swamp-blackbird. The songs blended in an exquisite +harmony.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, some of them are our own birds +come south for the winter," declared Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It's music," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Just wait," laughed George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It dawned upon Ken then that George was +a fellow who had the mysterious airs of a +prophet hinting dire things.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken did not know what to wait for, but +he enjoyed the suggestion and anticipated +much. Ducks began to whir by; flocks of +blackbirds alighted in the trees across the +river. Suddenly Hal jumped up, and Ken +was astounded at a great discordant screeching +and a sweeping rush of myriads of wings. +Ken looked up to see the largest flock of birds +he had ever seen.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Parrots," he yelled.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Indeed they were, and they let the boys +know it. They flew across the river, wheeled +to come back, all the time screeching, and then +they swooped down into the tops of the +cypress-trees.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Red-heads," said George. "Just wait till +you see the yellow-heads!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>At the moment the red-heads were quite +sufficient for Ken. They broke out into a +chattering, screaming, cackling discordance. +It was plainly directed at the boys. These +intelligent birds were curious and resentful. +As Pepe put it, they were scolding. Ken +enjoyed it for a full half-hour and reveled +in the din. That morning serenade was +worth the trip. Presently the parrots flew +away, and Ken was surprised to find that most +of the other birds had ceased singing. They +had set about the business of the +day--something it was nigh time for Ken to consider.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Breakfast over, the boys broke camp, +eager for the adventures that they felt to be +before them.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="wilderness-life"><span class="bold large">VI</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">WILDERNESS LIFE</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>"Now for the big job, boys," called Ken. +"Any ideas will be welcome, but don't +all talk at once."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>And this job was the packing of the +outfit in the boat. It was a study for Ken, and +he found himself thanking his lucky stars +that he had packed boats for trips on rapid +rivers. George and Hal came to the fore +with remarkable advice which Ken was at +the pains of rejecting. And as fast as one +wonderful idea emanated from the fertile +minds another one came in. At last Ken lost +patience.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Kids, it's going to take brains to pack +this boat," he said, with some scorn.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>And when Hal remarked that in that case +he did not see how they ever were going to +pack the boat, Ken drove both boys away +and engaged Pepe to help.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boat had to be packed for a long trip, +with many things taken into consideration. +The very best way to pack it must be decided +upon and thereafter held to strictly. Balance +was all-important; comfort and elbow-room +were not to be overlooked; a flat surface +easy to crawl and jump over was absolutely +necessary. Fortunately, the boat was large +and roomy, although not heavy. The first +thing Ken did was to cut out the narrow +bow-seat. Here he packed a small bucket +of preserved mullet, some bottles of kerosene +and </span><em class="italics">canya</em><span>, and a lantern. The small, flat +trunk, full of supplies, went in next. Two +boxes with the rest of the supplies filled up +the space between the trunk and the +rowing-seat. By slipping an extra pair of oars, +coils of rope, the ax, and a few other articles +between the gunwales and the trunk and boxes +Ken made them fit snugly. He cut off a +piece of the canvas, and, folding it, he laid it +with the blankets lengthwise over the top. +This made a level surface, one that could be +gotten over quickly, or a place to sleep, for +that matter, and effectually disposed of the +bow half of the boat. Of course the boat sank +deep at the bow, but Ken calculated when they +were all aboard their weight would effect an +even balance.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The bags with clothing Ken put under the +second seat. Then he arranged the other +piece of canvas so that it projected up back +of the stern of the boat. He was thinking +of the waves to be buffeted in going stern +first down-stream through the rapids. The +fishing-tackle and guns he laid flat from seat +to seat. Last of all he placed the ammunition +on one side next the gunwale, and the +suit-case carrying camera, films, medicines, +on the other.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Come now, fellows," called Ken. "Hal, +you and George take the second seat. Pepe +will take the oars. I'll sit in the stern."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe pushed off, jumped to his place, and +grasped the oars. Ken was delighted to +find the boat trim, and more buoyant than he +had dared to hope.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"We're off," cried Hal, and he whooped. +And George exercised his already +well-developed faculty of imitating Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe bent to the oars, and under his powerful +strokes the boat glided up-stream. Soon +the bridge disappeared. Ken had expected +a long, shady ride, but it did not turn out so. +Shallow water and gravelly rapids made +rowing impossible.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pile out, boys, and pull," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boys had dressed for wading and rough +work, and went overboard with a will. Pulling, +at first, was not hard work. They were +fresh and eager, and hauled the boat up +swift, shallow channels, making nearly as +good time as when rowing in smooth water. +Then, as the sun began to get hot, splashing +in the cool river was pleasant. They passed +little islands green with willows and came to +high clay-banks gradually wearing away, +and then met with rocky restrictions in the +stream-bed. From round a bend came a +hollow roar of a deeper rapid. Ken found it +a swift-rushing incline, very narrow, and hard +to pull along. The margin of the river was +hidden and obstructed by willows so that the +boys could see very little ahead.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When they got above this fall the water +was deep and still. Entering the boat again, +they turned a curve into a long, beautiful +stretch of river.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! this 's something like," said Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The green, shady lane was alive with birds +and water-fowl. Ducks of various kinds rose +before the boat. White, blue, gray, and +speckled herons, some six feet tall, lined the +low bars, and flew only at near approach. +There were many varieties of bitterns, one +kind with a purple back and white breast. +They were very tame and sat on the +overhanging branches, uttering dismal croaks. +Everywhere was the flash and glitter and +gleam of birds in flight, up and down and +across the river.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal took his camera and tried to get pictures.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The strangeness, beauty, and life of this +jungle stream absorbed Ken. He did not +take his guns from their cases. The water +was bright green and very deep; here and +there were the swirls of playing fish. The +banks were high and densely covered with a +luxuriant foliage. Huge cypress-trees, +moss-covered, leaned half-way across the river. +Giant gray-barked ceibas spread long branches +thickly tufted with aloes, orchids, and other +jungle parasites. Palm-trees lifted slender +stems and graceful broad-leaved heads. +Clumps of bamboo spread an enormous green +arch out over the banks. These bamboo-trees +were particularly beautiful to Ken. +A hundred yellow, black-circled stems grew +out of the ground close together, and as they +rose high they gracefully leaned their bodies +and drooped their tips. The leaves were +arrowy, exquisite in their fineness.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He looked up the long river-lane, bright +in the sun, dark and still under the +moss-veiled cypresses, at the turning vines and +blossoming creepers, at the changeful web +of moving birds, and indulged to the fullest +that haunting sense for wild places.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Chicalocki," said Pepe, suddenly.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>A flock of long-tailed birds, resembling +the pheasant in body, was sailing across the +river. Again George made a dive for a gun. +This one was a sixteen-gage and worn out. +He shot twice at the birds on the wing. +Then Pepe rowed under the overhanging +branches, and George killed three </span><em class="italics">chicalocki</em><span> +with his rifle. They were olive green in +color, and the long tail had a brownish cast. +Heavy and plump, they promised fine eating.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pato real!" yelled Pepe, pointing excitedly +up the river.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Several black fowl, as large as geese, hove +in sight, flying pretty low. Ken caught a +glimpse of wide, white-crested wings, and +knew then that these were the birds he had seen.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Load up and get ready," he said to +George. "They're coming fast--shoot ahead +of them."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>How swift and powerful they were on the +wing! They swooped up when they saw the +boat, and offered a splendid target. The +little sixteen-gage rang out. Ken heard the +shot strike. The leader stopped in midair, +dipped, and plunged with a sounding splash. +Ken picked him up and found him to be most +beautiful, and as large and heavy as a goose. +His black feathers shone with the latent green +luster of an opal, and the pure white of the +shoulder of the wings made a remarkable +contrast.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George, we've got enough meat for to-day, +more than we can use. Don't shoot any +more," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe resumed rowing, and Ken told him +to keep under the overhanging branches and +to row without splashing. He was skilled +in the use of the oars, so the boat glided along +silently. Ken felt he was rewarded for this +stealth. Birds of rare and brilliant plumage +flitted among the branches. There was one, +a long, slender bird, gold and black with a +white ring round its neck. There were little +yellow-breasted kingfishers no larger than +a wren, and great red-breasted kingfishers +with blue backs and tufted heads. The boat +passed under a leaning ceiba-tree that was +covered with orchids. Ken saw the slim, +sharp head of a snake dart from among the +leaves. His neck was as thick as Ken's wrist.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What kind of a snake, Pepe?" whispered +Ken, as he fingered the trigger of George's +gun. But Pepe did not see the snake, and +then Ken thought better of disturbing the +silence with a gunshot. He was reminded, +however, that the Texan had told him of +snakes in this jungle, some of which measured +more than fifteen feet and were as large as a +man's leg.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Most of the way the bank was too high +and steep and overgrown for any animal to +get down to the water. Still there were dry +gullies, or arroyos, every few hundred yards, +and these showed the tracks of animals, but +Pepe could not tell what species from the +boat. Often Ken heard the pattering of +hard feet, and then he would see a little +cloud of dust in one of these drinking-places. +So he cautioned Pepe to row slower and closer +in to the bank.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Look there! lemme out!" whispered Hal, +and he seemed to be on the point of jumping +overboard.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Coons," said George. "Oh, a lot of +them. There--some young ones."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken saw that they had come abruptly +upon a band of racoons, not less than thirty +in number, some big, some little, and a few +like tiny balls of fur, and all had long +white-ringed tails. What a scampering the big +ones set up! The little ones were frightened, +and the smallest so tame they scarcely made +any effort to escape. Pepe swung the boat +in to the bank, and reaching out he caught a +baby racoon and handed it to Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Whoop! We'll catch things and tame +them," exclaimed Hal, much delighted, and +he proceeded to tie the little racoon under +the seat.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Sure, we'll get a whole menagerie," said George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>So they went on up-stream. Often Ken +motioned Pepe to stop in dark, cool places +under the golden-green canopy of bamboos. +He was as much fascinated by the beautiful +foliage and tree growths as by the wild life. +Hal appeared more taken up with the fluttering +of birds in the thick jungle, rustlings, +and soft, stealthy steps. Then as they moved +on Ken whispered and pointed out a black +animal vanishing in the thicket. Three times +he caught sight of a spotted form slipping +away in the shade. George saw it the last +time, and whispered: "Tiger-cat! Let's get him."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What's that, Ken, a kind of a wildcat?" +asked Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes." Ken took George's .32-caliber and +tried to find a way up the bank. There was +no place to climb up unless he dragged +himself up branches of trees or drooping +bamboos, and this he did not care to attempt +encumbered with a rifle. Only here and there +could he see over the matted roots and creepers. +Then the sound of rapids put hunting out of +his mind.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys, we've got Micas Falls to reach," +he said, and told Pepe to row on.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The long stretch of deep river ended in a +wide, shallow, noisy rapid. Fir-trees lined +the banks. The palms, cypresses, bamboos, +and the flowery, mossy growths were not here +in evidence. Thickly wooded hills rose on +each side. The jungle looked sear and yellow.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boys began to wade up the rapid, +and before they had reached the head of it +Pepe yelled and jumped back from where he +was wading at the bow. He took an oar and +began to punch at something in the water, +at the same time calling out.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Crocodile!" cried George, and he climbed +in the boat. Hal was not slow in following +suit. Then Ken saw Pepe hitting a small +crocodile, which lashed out with its tail and +disappeared.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Come out of there," called Ken to the boys. +"We can't pull you up-stream."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, I don't want to step on one of those +ugly brutes," protested Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Look sharp, then. Come out."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Above the rapid extended a quarter-mile +stretch where Pepe could row, and beyond +that another long rapid. When the boys +had waded up that it was only to come to +another. It began to be hard work. But +Ken kept the boys buckled down, and they +made fair progress. They pulled up through +eighteen rapids, and covered distance that +Ken estimated to be about ten miles. The +blue mountain loomed closer and higher, yet +Ken began to have doubts of reaching Micas +Falls that day.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Moreover, as they ascended the stream, +the rapids grew rougher.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It 'll be great coming down," panted Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Finally they reached a rapid which had long +dinned in Ken's ears. All the water in the +river rushed down on the right-hand side +through a channel scarcely twenty feet wide. +It was deep and swift. With the aid of ropes, +and by dint of much hard wading and pulling, +the boys got the boat up. A little farther +on was another bothersome rapid. At last +they came to a succession of falls, steps in the +river, that barred farther advance up-stream.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Here Ken climbed up on the bank, to find +the country hilly and open, with patches of +jungle and palm groves leading up to the +mountains. Then he caught a glint of Micas +Falls, and decided that it would be impossible +to get there. He made what observations +he could, and returned to camp.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys, here's where we stop," said Ken. +"It 'll be all down-stream now, and I'm glad."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>There was no doubt that the boys were +equally glad. They made camp on a +grassy bench above a foam-flecked pool. +Ken left the others to get things in shape for +supper, and, taking his camera, he hurried off +to try to get a picture of Micas Falls. He +found open places and by-paths through the +brushy forest. He saw evidences of forest +fire, and then knew what had ruined that part +of the jungle. There were no birds. It was +farther than he had estimated to the foothill +he had marked, but, loath to give up, he kept +on and finally reached a steep, thorny ascent. +Going up he nearly suffocated with heat. +He felt rewarded for his exertions when he +saw Micas Falls glistening in the distance. +It was like a string of green fans connected +by silver ribbons. He remained there watching +it while the sun set in the golden notch +between the mountains.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>On the way back to camp he waded through +a flat overgrown with coarse grass and bushes. +Here he jumped a herd of deer, eight in +number. These small, sleek, gray deer appeared +tame, and if there had been sufficient light, +Ken would have photographed them. It +cost him an effort to decide not to fetch his +rifle, but as he had meat enough in camp +there was nothing to do except let the deer go.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When he got back to the river Pepe grinned +at him, and, pointing to little red specks on +his shirt, he said:</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pinilius."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Aha! the ticks!" exclaimed Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They were exceedingly small, not to be +seen without close scrutiny. They could not +be brushed off, so Ken began laboriously to +pick them off. Pepe and George laughed, +and Hal appeared to derive some sort of +enjoyment from the incident.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, these ticks don't bother me any," +declared Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe grunted; and George called out, "Just +wait till you get the big fellows--the +garrapatoes."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It developed presently that the grass and +bushes on the camp-site contained millions +of the ticks. Ken found several of the larger +ticks--almost the size of his little finger-nail--but +he did not get bitten. Pepe and George, +however, had no such good luck, as was +manifested at different times. By the time they +had cut down the bushes and carried in +a stock of fire-wood, both were covered with +the little pests. Hal found a spot where +there appeared to be none, and here he stayed.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe and George had the bad habit of smoking, +and Ken saw them burning the ticks off +shirt-sleeves and trousers-legs, using the fiery +end of their cigarettes. This feat did not +puzzle Ken anything like the one where they +held the red point of the cigarettes close to +their naked flesh. Ken, and Hal, too, had +to see that performance at close range.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Why do you do that?" asked Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Popping ticks," replied George. He and +Pepe were as sober as judges.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The fact of the matter was soon clear to +Ken. The ticks stuck on as if glued. When +the hot end of the burning cigarette was held +within a quarter of an inch of them they +simply blew up, exploded with a pop. Ken +could easily distinguish between the tiny pop +of an exploding </span><em class="italics">pinilius</em><span> and the heavier pop +of a </span><em class="italics">garrapato</em><span>.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"But, boy, while you're taking time to do +that, half a dozen other ticks can bite you!" +exclaimed Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Sure they can," replied George. "But +if they get on me I'll kill 'em. I don't mind +the little ones--it's the big boys I hate."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>On the other hand, Pepe seemed to mind +most the </span><em class="italics">pinilius</em><span>.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, from now on you fellows will be +Garrapato George and Pinilius Pepe."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pretty soon you'll laugh on the other +side of your face," said George. "In three +days you'll be popping ticks yourself."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Just then Hal let out a yell and began to +hunt for a tick that had bit him. If there +was anything that could bother Hal Ward +it was a crawling bug of some kind.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll have to christen you too, brother," +said Ken, gurgling with mirth. "A very +felicitous name--Hollering Hal!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Despite the humor of the thing, Ken really +saw its serious side. When he found the +grass under his feet alive with ticks he cast +about in his mind for some way to get rid +of them. And he hit upon a remedy. On the +ridge above the bench was a palm-tree, and +under it were many dead palm leaves. These +were large in size, had long stems, and were +as dry as tinder. Ken lighted one, and it +made a flaming hot torch. It did not take +him long to scorch all the ticks near that camp.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boys had supper and enjoyed it hugely. +The scene went well with the camp-fire and +game-dinner. They gazed out over the +foaming pool, the brawling rapids, to the +tufted palm-trees, and above them the +dark-blue mountain. At dusk Hal and George +were so tired they went to bed and at once +dropped into slumber. Pepe sat smoking +before the slumbering fire.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>And Ken chose that quiet hour to begin +the map of the river, and to set down in his +note-book his observations on the mountains +and in the valley, and what he had seen that +day of bird, animal, and plant life in the +jungle.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="running-the-rapids"><span class="bold large">VII</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">RUNNING THE RAPIDS</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>Some time in the night a yell awakened +Ken. He sat up, clutching his revolver. +The white moonlight made all as clear as +day. Hal lay deep in slumber. George was +raising himself, half aroused. But Pepe was gone.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken heard a thrashing about outside. +Leaping up he ran out, and was frightened to +see Pepe beating and clawing and tearing +at himself like a man possessed of demons.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pepe, what's wrong?" shouted Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It seemed that Pepe only grew more violent +in his wrestling about. Then Ken was sure +Pepe had been stung by a scorpion or bitten by +a snake.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But he was dumfounded to see George +bound like an apparition out of the tent and +begin evolutions that made Pepe's look slow.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hey, what's wrong with you jumping-jacks?" +yelled Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George was as grimly silent as an Indian +running the gantlet, but Ken thought it +doubtful if any Indian ever slapped and tore +at his body in George's frantic manner. To +add to the mystery Hal suddenly popped out +of the tent. He was yelling in a way to do +justice to the name Ken had lately given him, +and, as for wild and whirling antics, his were +simply marvelous.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Good land!" ejaculated Ken. Had the +boys all gone mad? Despite his alarm, Ken +had to roar with laughter at those three +dancing figures in the moonlight. A rush of +ideas went through Ken's confused mind. +And the last prompted him to look in the tent.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He saw a wide bar of black crossing the +moonlit ground, the grass, and the blankets. +This bar moved. It was alive. Bending +low Ken descried that it was made by ants. +An army of jungle ants on a march! They +had come in a straight line along the base of +the little hill and their passageway led under +the canvas. Pepe happened to be the first +in line, and they had surged over him. As +he had awakened, and jumped up of course, +the ants had begun to bite. The same in +turn happened to George and then Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken was immensely relieved, and had his +laugh out. The stream of ants moved steadily +and quite rapidly, and soon passed from +sight. By this time Pepe and the boys had +threshed themselves free of ants and into +some degree of composure.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, you nightmare fellows! Come back +to bed," said Ken. "Any one would think +something had really happened to you."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe snorted, which made Ken think the +native understood something of English. And +the boys grumbled loudly.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ants! Ants as big as wasps! They bit +worse than helgramites," declared Hal. "Oh, +they missed you. You always are lucky. +I'm not afraid of all the old jaguars in this +jungle. But I can't stand biting, crawling +bugs. I wish you hadn't made me come on +this darn trip."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ha! Ha!" laughed Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Just wait, Hal," put in George, grimly. +"Just wait. It's coming to him!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boys slept well the remainder of the +night and, owing to the break in their rest, +did not awaken early. The sun shone hot +when Ken rolled out; a creamy mist was +dissolving over the curve of the mountain-range; +parrots were screeching in the near-by trees.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>After breakfast Ken set about packing the +boat as it had been done the day before.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I think we'll do well to leave the trunk +in the boat after this, unless we find a place +where we want to make a permanent camp +for a while," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Before departing he carefully looked over +the ground to see that nothing was left, and +espied a heavy fish-line which George had +baited, set, and forgotten.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hey, George, pull up your trot-line. +It looks pretty much stretched to me. Maybe +you've got a fish."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken happened to be busy at the boat when +George started to take in the line. An +exclamation from Pepe, George's yell, and a loud +splash made Ken jump up in double-quick +time. Hal also came running.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George was staggering on the bank, leaning +back hard on the heavy line. A long, angry +swirl in the pool told of a powerful fish. +It was likely to pull George in.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Let go the line!" yelled Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But George was not letting go of any +fish-lines. He yelled for Pepe, and went down +on his knees before Pepe got to him. Both +then pulled on the line. The fish, or +whatever it was at the other end, gave a mighty +jerk that almost dragged the two off the bank.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Play him, play him!" shouted Ken. +"You've got plenty of line. Give him some."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal now added his weight and strength, +and the three of them, unmindful of Ken's +advice, hauled back with might and main. +The line parted and they sprawled on the +grass.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What a sockdologer!" exclaimed Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I had that hook baited with a big piece +of duck meat," said George. "We must have +been hooked to a crocodile. Things are +happening to us."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, so I've noticed," replied Ken, dryly. +"But if you fellows hadn't pulled so hard you +might have landed that thing, whatever it +was. All aboard now. We must be on the +move--we don't know what we have before us."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When they got into the boat Ken took the +oars, much to Pepe's surprise. It was +necessary to explain to him that Ken would handle +the boat in swift water. They shoved off, +and Ken sent one regretful glance up the river, +at the shady aisle between the green banks, at +the white rapids, and the great colored dome +of the mountain. He almost hesitated, for +he desired to see more of that jungle-covered +mountain. But something already warned +Ken to lose no time in the trip down the Santa +Rosa. There did not seem to be any reason +for hurry, yet he felt it necessary. But he +asked Pepe many questions and kept George +busy interpreting names of trees and flowers +and wild creatures.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Going down-stream on any river, mostly, +would have been pleasure, but drifting on the +swift current of the Santa Rosa and rowing +under the wonderful moss-bearded cypresses +was almost like a dream. It was too beautiful +to seem real. The smooth stretch before +the first rapid was short, however, and then +all Ken's attention had to be given to the +handling of the boat. He saw that George +and Pepe both expected to get out and wade +down the rapids as they had waded up. +He had a surprise in store for them. The +rapids that he could not shoot would have to +be pretty bad.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You're getting close," shouted George, +warningly.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>With two sweeps of the oars Ken turned +the boat stern first down-stream, then dipped +on the low green incline, and sailed down +toward the waves. They struck the first wave +with a shock, and the water flew all over the +boys. Pepe was tremendously excited; he +yelled and made wild motions with his hands; +George looked a little frightened. Hal +enjoyed it. Whatever the rapid appeared to +them, it was magnificent to Ken; and it was +play to manage the boat in such water. A +little pull on one oar and then on the other +kept the stern straight down-stream. The +channel he could make out a long way ahead. +He amused himself by watching George and +Pepe. There were stones in the channel, +and the water rose angrily about them. A +glance was enough to tell that he could float +over these without striking. But the boys +thought they were going to hit every stone, +and were uneasy all the time. Twice he had +to work to pass ledges and sunken trees upon +which the current bore down hard. When +Ken neared one of these he dipped the oars +and pulled back to stop or lessen the +momentum; then a stroke turned the boat half +broadside to the current. That would force +it to one side, and another stroke would turn +the boat straight. At the bottom of this +rapid they encountered a long triangle of +choppy waves that they bumped and splashed +over. They came through with nothing wet +but the raised flap of canvas in the stern.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe regarded Ken with admiring eyes, +and called him </span><em class="italics">grande mozo</em><span>.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Shooting rapids is great sport," proclaimed +George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They drifted through several little rifts, +and then stopped at the head of the narrow +chute that had been such a stumbling-block +on the way up. Looked at from above, this +long, narrow channel, with several S curves, +was a fascinating bit of water for a canoeist. +It tempted Ken to shoot it even with the boat. +But he remembered the four-foot waves at +the bottom, and besides he resented the +importunity of the spirit of daring so early in +the game. Risk, and perhaps peril, would +come soon enough. So he decided to walk +along the shore and float the boat through +with a rope.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The thing looked a good deal easier than it +turned out to be. Half-way through, at the +narrowest point and most abrupt curve, +Pepe misunderstood directions and pulled +hard on the bow-rope, when he should have +let it slack.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boat swung in, nearly smashing Ken +against the bank, and the sweeping current +began to swell dangerously near the gunwale.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Let go! Let go!" yelled Ken. "George, +make him let go!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But George, who was trying to get the rope +out of Pepe's muscular hands, suddenly made +a dive for his rifle.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Deer! deer!" he cried, hurriedly throwing +a shell into the chamber. He shot downstream, +and Ken, looking that way, saw several +deer under the firs on a rocky flat. George +shot three more times, and the bullets went +"spinging" into the trees. The deer bounded +out of sight.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When Ken turned again, water was roaring +into the boat. He was being pressed harder +into the bank, and he saw disaster ahead.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Loosen the rope--tell him, George," yelled Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe only pulled the harder.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Quick, or we're ruined," cried Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George shouted in Spanish, and Pepe +promptly dropped the rope in the water. +That was the worst thing he could have done.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Grab the rope!" ordered Ken, wildly. +"Grab the bow! Don't let it swing out! Hal!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Before either boy could reach it the bow +swung out into the current. Ken was not +only helpless, but in a dangerous position. +He struggled to get out from where the +swinging stern was wedging him into the bank, +but could not budge. Fearing that all the +outfit would be lost in the river, he held +on to the boat and called for some one to +catch the rope.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George pushed Pepe head first into the swift +current. Pepe came up, caught the rope, +and then went under again. The boat swung +round and, now half full of water, got away +from Ken. It gathered headway. Ken leaped +out on the ledge and ran along with the boat. +It careened round the bad curve and shot +down-stream. Pepe was still under water.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"He's drowned! He's drowned!" cried George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal took a header right off the ledge, came +up, and swam with a few sharp strokes to the +drifting boat. He gained the bow, grasped it, +and then pulled on the rope.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken had a sickening feeling that Pepe might +be drowned. Suddenly Pepe appeared like +a brown porpoise. He was touching bottom +in places and holding back on the rope. +Then the current rolled him over and over. +The boat drifted back of a rocky point into +shallow water. Hal gave a haul that helped +to swing it out of the dangerous current. +Then Pepe came up, and he, too, pulled hard. +Just as Ken plunged in the boat sank in two +feet of water. Ken's grip, containing camera, +films, and other perishable goods, was on top, +and he got it just in time. He threw it out +on the rocks. Then together the boys lifted +the boat and hauled the bow well up on the +shore.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pretty lucky!" exclaimed Ken, as he +flopped down.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Doggone it!" yelled Hal, suddenly. And +he dove for the boat, and splashed round +in the water under his seat, to bring forth a +very limp and drenched little racoon.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Good! he's all right," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe said "Mucho malo," and pointed +to his shins, which bore several large bumps +from contact with the rocks in the channel.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I should say mucha malo," growled George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He jerked open his grip, and, throwing out +articles of wet clothing--for which he had no +concern--he gazed in dismay at his whole +store of cigarettes wet by the water.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"So that's all you care for," said Ken, +severely. "Young man, I'll have something +to say to you presently. All hands now to +unpack the boat."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Fortunately nothing had been carried away. +That part of the supplies which would have +been affected by water was packed in tin cases, +and so suffered no damage. The ammunition +was waterproof. Ken's Parker hammerless +and his 351 automatic rifle were full of water, +and so were George's guns and Hal's. While +they took their weapons apart, wiped them, +and laid them in the sun, Pepe spread out the +rest of the things and then baled out the boat. +The sun was so hot that everything dried +quickly and was not any the worse for the +wetting. The boys lost scarcely an hour by +the accident. Before the start Ken took +George and Pepe to task, and when he finished +they were both very sober and quiet.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken observed, however, that by the time +they had run the next rapid they were +enjoying themselves again. Then came a long +succession of rapids which Ken shot without +anything approaching a mishap. When they +drifted into the level stretch Pepe relieved +him at the oars. They glided down-stream +under the drooping bamboo, under the silken +streamers of silvery moss, under the dark, cool +bowers of matted vine and blossoming creepers. +And as they passed this time the jungle +silence awoke to the crack of George's .22 +and the discordant cry of river fowl. Ken's +guns were both at hand, and the rifle was +loaded, but he did not use either. He +contented himself with snapping a picture here +and there and watching the bamboo thickets +and the mouths of the little dry ravines.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>That ride was again so interesting, so full +of sound and action and color, that it seemed +a very short one. The murmur of the water +on the rocks told Ken that it was time to +change seats with Pepe. They drifted down +two short rapids, and then came to the gravelly +channels between the islands noted on the +way up. The water was shallow down these +rippling channels; and, fearing they might +strike a stone, Ken tumbled out over the bow +and, wading slowly, let the boat down to +still water again. He was about to get in +when he espied what he thought was an +alligator lying along a log near the river. +He pointed it out to Pepe.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>That worthy yelled gleefully in Mexican, +and reached for his </span><em class="italics">machete</em><span>.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Iguana!" exclaimed George. "I've heard +it's good to eat."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The reptile had a body about four feet long +and a very long tail. Its color was a steely +blue-black on top, and it had a blunt, rounded +head.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe slipped out of the boat and began +to wade ashore. When the iguana raised +itself on short, stumpy legs George shot at +it, and missed, as usual. But he effectually +frightened the reptile, which started to climb +the bank with much nimbleness. Pepe began +to run, brandishing his long </span><em class="italics">machete</em><span>. George +plunged into the water in hot pursuit, and then +Hal yielded to the call of the chase. Pepe +reached the iguana before it got up the bank, +aimed a mighty blow with his </span><em class="italics">machete</em><span>, and +would surely have cut the reptile in two +pieces if the blade had not caught on an +overhanging branch. Then Pepe fell up the bank +and barely grasped the tail of the iguana. Pepe +hauled back, and Pepe was powerful. The +frantic creature dug its feet in the clay-bank +and held on for dear life. But Pepe was too +strong. He jerked the iguana down and +flung it square upon George, who had begun +to climb the bank.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George uttered an awful yell, as if he +expected to be torn asunder, and rolled down, +with the reptile on top of him. Ken saw +that it was as badly frightened as George. +But Hal did not see this. And he happened +to have gained a little sand-bar below the +bank, in which direction the iguana started +with wonderful celerity. Then Hal made a +jump that Ken believed was a record.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Remarkably awkward as that iguana was, +he could surely cover ground with his stumpy +legs. Again he dashed up the bank. Pepe got +close enough once more, and again he swung +the </span><em class="italics">machete</em><span>. The blow cut off a piece of the +long tail, but the only effect this produced +was to make the iguana run all the faster. +It disappeared over the bank, with Pepe +scrambling close behind. Then followed a +tremendous crashing in the dry thickets, +after which the iguana could be heard +rattling and tearing away through the jungle. +Pepe returned to the boat with the +crestfallen boys, and he was much concerned over +the failure to catch the big lizard, which he +said made fine eating.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What next?" asked George, ruefully, and +at that the boys all laughed.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"The fun is we don't have any idea what's +coming off," said Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys, if you brave hunters had thought +to throw a little salt on that lizard's tail you +might have caught him," added Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Presently Pepe espied another iguana in +the forks of a tree, and he rowed ashore. +This lizard was only a small one, not over two +feet in length, but he created some +excitement among the boys. George wanted him +to eat, and Hal wanted the skin for a +specimen, and Ken wanted to see what the +lizard looked like close at hand. So they all +clamored for Pepe to use caution and to be +quick.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When Pepe started up the tree the iguana +came down on the other side, quick as a +squirrel. Then they had a race round the +trunk until Pepe ended it with a well-directed +blow from his </span><em class="italics">machete</em><span>.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal began to skin the iguana.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, I'm going to have trouble preserving +specimens in this hot place," he said.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Salt and alum will do the trick. Remember +what old Hiram used to say," replied Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Shortly after that the boat passed the scene +of the first camp, and then drifted under the +railroad bridge.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal and George, and Pepe too, looked as if +they were occupied with the same thought +troubling Ken--that once beyond the bridge +they would plunge into the jungle wilderness +from which there could be no turning back.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="the-first-tiger-cat"><span class="bold large">VIII</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE FIRST TIGER-CAT</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>The Santa Rosa opened out wide, and ran +swiftly over smooth rock. Deep cracks, a +foot or so wide, crossed the river diagonally, +and fish darted in and out.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boys had about half a mile of this, +when, after turning a hilly bend, they entered +a long rapid. It was a wonderful stretch +of river to look down.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"By George!" said Ken, as he stood up to +survey it. "This is great!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It's all right </span><em class="italics">now</em><span>," added George, with +his peculiar implication as to the future.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What gets me is the feeling of what +might be round the next bend," said Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>This indeed, Ken thought, made the +fascination of such travel. The water was +swift and smooth and shallow. There was +scarcely a wave or ripple. At times the boat +stuck fast on the flat rock, and the boys would +have to get out to shove off. As far ahead as +Ken could see extended this wide slant of +water. On the left rose a thick line of huge +cypresses all festooned with gray moss that +drooped to the water; on the right rose a bare +bluff of crumbling rock. It looked like blue +clay baked and cracked by the sun. A few +palms fringed the top.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, we can beat this," said Ken, as for +the twentieth time the boys had to step out +and shove off a flat, shallow place. "Two of +you in the bow and Pepe with me in the stern, +feet overboard."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The little channels ran every way, making +it necessary often to turn the boat. Ken's +idea was to drift along and keep the boat +from grounding by an occasional kick.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken manages to think of something once +in a while," observed Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then the boat drifted down-stream, whirling +round and round. Here Pepe would drop +his brown foot in and kick his end clear of a +shallow ledge; there George would make a +great splash when his turn came to ward off +from a rock; and again Hal would give a +greater kick than was necessary to the +righting of the boat. Probably Hal was much +influenced by the fact that when he kicked +hard he destroyed the lazy equilibrium of +his companions.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It dawned upon Ken that here was a new +and unique way to travel down a river. It +was different from anything he had ever tried +before. The water was swift and seldom +more than a foot deep, except in diagonal +cracks that ribbed the river-bed. This long, +shut-in stretch appeared to be endless. But +for the quick, gliding movement of the boat, +which made a little breeze, the heat would +have been intolerable. When one of Hal's +kicks made Ken lurch overboard to sit down +ludicrously, the cool water sent thrills over +him. Instead of retaliating on Hal, he was +glad to be wet. And the others, soon +discovering the reason for Ken's remarkable +good-nature, went overboard and lay flat in +the cool ripples. Then little clouds of steam +began to rise from their soaked clothes.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken began to have an idea that he had been +wise in boiling the water which they drank. +They all suffered from a parching thirst. +Pepe scooped up water in his hand; George +did likewise, and then Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You've all got to stop that," ordered Ken, +sharply. "No drinking this water unless it's +boiled."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boys obeyed, for the hour, but they +soon forgot, or deliberately allayed their +thirst despite Ken's command. Ken himself +found his thirst unbearable. He squeezed +the juice of a wild lime into a cup of water +and drank that. Then he insisted on giving +the boys doses of quinine and anti-malaria +pills, which treatment he meant to continue +daily.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Toward the lower part of that rapid, where +the water grew deeper, fish began to be so +numerous that the boys kicked at many as +they darted under the boat. There were +thousands of small fish and some large ones. +Occasionally, as a big fellow lunged for a +crack in the rock, he would make the water +roar. There was a fish that resembled a mullet, +and another that Hal said was some kind of +bass with a blue tail. Pepe chopped at them +with his </span><em class="italics">machete</em><span>; George whacked with an +oar; Hal stood up in the boat and shot at +them with his .22 rifle.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, I've got to see what that blue-tailed +bass looks like," said Ken. "You fellows +will never get one."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Whereupon Ken jointed up a small rod +and, putting on a spinner, began to cast it +about. He felt two light fish hit it. Then +came a heavy shock that momentarily checked +the boat. The water foamed as the line cut +through, and Ken was just about to jump off +the boat to wade and follow the fish, when +it broke the leader.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"That was a fine exhibition," remarked the +critical Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What's the matter with you?" retorted +Ken, who was sensitive as to his fishing +abilities. "It was a big fish. He broke +things."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Haven't you got a reel on that rod and +fifty yards of line?" queried Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken did not have another spinner, and he +tried an artificial minnow, but could not get +a strike on it. He took Hal's gun and shot +at several of the blue-tailed fish, but though +he made them jump out of the water like +a real northern black-bass, it was all of no +avail.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then Hal caught one with a swoop of the +landing net. It was a beautiful fish, and it +did have a blue tail. Pepe could not name +it, nor could Ken classify it, so Hal was sure +he had secured a rare specimen.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When the boat drifted round a bend to +enter another long, wide, shallow rapid, the +boys demurred a little at the sameness of +things. The bare blue bluffs persisted, and +the line of gray-veiled cypresses and the +strange formation of stream-bed. Five more +miles of drifting under the glaring sun made +George and Hal lie back in the boat, under +an improvised sun-shade. The ride was novel +and strange to Ken Ward, and did not pall +upon him, though he suffered from the heat +and glare. He sat on the bow, occasionally +kicking the boat off a rock.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>All at once a tense whisper from Pepe +brought Ken round with a jerk. Pepe was +pointing down along the right-hand shore. +George heard, and, raising himself, called +excitedly: "Buck! buck!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken saw a fine deer leap back from the water +and start to climb the side of a gully that +indented the bluff. Snatching up the .351 +rifle, he shoved in the safety catch. The +distance was far--perhaps two hundred yards--but +without elevating the sights he let +drive. A cloud of dust puffed up under the +nose of the climbing deer.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Wow!" yelled George, and Pepe began to +jabber. Hal sprang up, nearly falling +overboard, and he shouted: "Give it to him, Ken!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The deer bounded up a steep, winding trail, +his white flag standing, his reddish coat +glistening. Ken fired again. The bullet sent +up a white puff of dust, this time nearer still. +That shot gave Ken the range, and he pulled +the automatic again--and again. Each bullet +hit closer. The boys were now holding their +breath, watching, waiting. Ken aimed a little +firmer and finer at the space ahead of the +deer--for in that instant he remembered +what the old hunter on Penetier had told +him--and he pulled the trigger twice.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The buck plunged down, slipped off the +trail, and, raising a cloud of dust, rolled over +and over. Then it fell sheer into space, +and whirled down to strike the rock with a +sodden crash.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was Ken's first shooting on this trip, +and he could not help adding a cry of exultation +to the yells of his admiring comrades.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Guess you didn't plug him!" exclaimed +Hal Ward, with flashing eyes.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Wading, the boys pulled the boat ashore. +Pepe pronounced the buck to be very large, +but to Ken, remembering the deer in Coconino +Forest, it appeared small. If there was an +unbroken bone left in that deer, Ken greatly +missed his guess. He and Pepe cut out the +haunch least crushed by the fail.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"There's no need to carry along more +meat than we can use," said George. "It +spoils overnight. That's the worst of this +jungle, I've heard hunters say."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal screwed up his face in the manner he +affected when he tried to imitate old Hiram +Bent. "Wal, youngster, I reckon I'm right +an' down proud of thet shootin'. You air +comin' along."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken was as pleased as Hal, but he replied, +soberly: "Well, kid, I hope I can hold as +straight as that when we run up against a jaguar."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you think we'll see one?" asked Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Just you wait!" exclaimed George, replying +for Ken. "Pepe says we'll have to sleep +in the boat, and anchor the boat in the +middle of the river."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What for?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"To keep those big yellow tigers from +eating us up."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"How nice!" replied Hal, with a rather +forced laugh.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>So, talking and laughing, the boys resumed +their down-stream journey. Ken, who was +always watching with sharp eyes, saw buzzards +appear, as if by magic. Before the boat was +half a mile down the river buzzards were +circling over the remains of the deer. These +birds of prey did not fly from the jungle on +either side of the stream. They sailed, +dropped down from the clear blue sky where +they had been invisible. How wonderful +that was to Ken! Nature had endowed these +vulture-like birds with wonderful scent or +instinct or sight, or all combined. But Ken +believed that it was power of sight which +brought the buzzards so quickly to the scene +of the killing. He watched them circling, +sweeping down till a curve in the river hid +them from view.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>And with this bend came a welcome change. +The bluff played out in a rocky slope below +which the green jungle was relief to aching +eyes. As the boys made this point, the +evening breeze began to blow. They beached +the boat and unloaded to make camp.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"We haven't had any work to-day, but +we're all tired just the same," observed Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"The heat makes a fellow tired," said George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They were fortunate in finding a grassy +plot where there appeared to be but few +ticks and other creeping things. That evening +it was a little surprise to Ken to realize +how sensitive he had begun to feel about +these jungle vermin.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe went up the bank for fire-wood. Ken +heard him slashing away with his </span><em class="italics">machete</em><span>. +Then this sound ceased, and Pepe yelled in +fright. Ken and George caught up guns as +they bounded into the thicket; Hal started +to follow, likewise armed. Ken led the way +through a thorny brake to come suddenly +upon Pepe. At the same instant Ken +caught a glimpse of gray, black-striped forms +slipping away in the jungle. Pepe shouted +out something.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Tiger-cats!" exclaimed George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken held up his finger to enjoin silence. +With that he stole cautiously forward, the +others noiselessly at his heels. The thicket +was lined with well-beaten trails, and by +following these and stooping low it was +possible to go ahead without rustling the +brush. Owing to the gathering twilight Ken +could not see very far. When he stopped to +listen he heard the faint crackling of dead +brush and soft, quick steps. He had not +proceeded far when pattering footsteps halted +him. Ken dropped to his knee. The boys +knelt behind him, and Pepe whispered. +Peering along the trail Ken saw what he took for +a wildcat. Its boldness amazed him. Surely +it had heard him, but instead of bounding +into the thicket it crouched not more than +twenty-five feet away. Ken took a quick +shot at the gray huddled form. It jerked, +stretched out, and lay still. Then a crashing +in the brush, and gray streaks down the trail +told Ken of more game.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"There they go. Peg away at them," called Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George and Hal burned a good deal of +powder and sent much lead whistling through +the dry branches, but the gray forms vanished +in the jungle.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"We got one, anyway," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He advanced to find his quarry quite dead. +It was bigger than any wildcat Ken had +ever seen. The color was a grayish yellow, +almost white, lined and spotted with black. +Ken lifted it and found it heavy enough to +make a good load.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"He's a beauty," said Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pepe says it's a tiger-cat," remarked +George. "There are two or three kinds +besides the big tiger. We may run into a +lot of them and get some skins."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was almost dark when they reached +camp. While Pepe and Hal skinned the +tiger-cat and stretched the pelt over a framework +of sticks the other boys got supper. They +were all very hungry and tired, and pleased +with the events of the day. As they sat +round the camp-fire there was a constant +whirring of water-fowl over their heads and +an incessant hum of insects from the jungle.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, does it feel as wild to you here as on +Buckskin Mountain?" asked Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh yes, much wilder, Hal," replied his +brother. "And it's different, somehow. Out +in Arizona there was always the glorious +expectancy of to-morrow's fun or sport. Here +I have a kind of worry--a feeling--"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But he concluded it wiser to keep to himself +that strange feeling of dread which came +over him at odd moments.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It suits me," said Hal. "I want to get +a lot of things and keep them alive. Of course, +I want specimens. I'd like some skins for +my den, too. But I don't care so much +about killing things."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Just wait!" retorted George, who evidently +took Hal's remark as a reflection upon his +weakness. "Just wait! You'll be shooting +pretty soon for your life."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, George, what do you mean by +that?" questioned Ken, determined to pin +George down to facts. "You said you didn't +really know anything about this jungle. +Why are you always predicting disaster for us?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Why? Because I've heard things about +the jungle," retorted George. "And Pepe +says wait till we get down off the mountain. +He doesn't </span><em class="italics">know</em><span> anything, either. But it's +his instinct--Pepe's half Indian. So I say, +too, wait till we get down in the jungle!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Confound you! Where are we now?" queried Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"The real jungle is the lowland. There +we'll find the tigers and the crocodiles and the +wild cattle and wild pigs."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Bring on your old pigs and things," replied Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But Ken looked into the glowing embers +of the camp-fire and was silent. When he +got out his note-book and began his drawing, +he forgot the worry and dread in the interest +of his task. He was astonished at his memory, +to see how he could remember every turn in +the river and yet not lose his sense of +direction. He could tell almost perfectly the +distance traveled, because he knew so well just +how much a boat would cover in swift or +slow waters in a given time. He thought he +could give a fairly correct estimate of the +drop of the river. And, as for descriptions +of the jungle life along the shores, that was a +delight, all except trying to understand and +remember and spell the names given to him +by Pepe. Ken imagined Pepe spoke a mixture +of Toltec, Aztec, Indian, Spanish, and English.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="in-the-white-water"><span class="bold large">IX</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">IN THE WHITE WATER</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>Upon awakening next morning Ken found +the sun an hour high. He was stiff and +sore and thirsty. Pepe and the boys slept +so soundly it seemed selfish to wake them.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>All around camp there was a melodious +concourse of birds. But the parrots did not +make a visit that morning. While Ken was +washing in the river a troop of deer came down +to the bar on the opposite side. Ken ran for +his rifle, and by mistake took up George's +.32. He had a splendid shot at less than one +hundred yards. But the bullet dropped +fifteen feet in front of the leading buck. The +deer ran into the deep, bushy willows.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"That gun's leaded," muttered Ken. "It +didn't shoot where I aimed."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe jumped up; George rolled out of his +blanket with one eye still glued shut; and +Hal stretched and yawned and groaned.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Do I have to get up?" he asked.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Shore, lad," said Ken, mimicking Jim Williams, +"or I'll hev to be reconsiderin' that idee +of mine about you bein' pards with me."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Such mention of Hal's ranger friend brought +the boy out of his lazy bed with amusing +alacrity.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Rustle breakfast, now, you fellows," said +Ken, and, taking his rifle, he started off to +climb the high river bluff.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was his idea to establish firmly in mind +the trend of the mountain-range, and the +relation of the river to it. The difficulty +in mapping the river would come after it +left the mountains to wind away into the +wide lowlands. The matter of climbing the +bluff would have been easy but for the fact +that he wished to avoid contact with grass, +brush, trees, even dead branches, as all were +covered with ticks. The upper half of the +bluff was bare, and when he reached that part +he soon surmounted it. Ken faced south +with something of eagerness. Fortunately +the mist had dissolved under the warm rays +of the sun, affording an unobstructed view. +That scene was wild and haunting, yet +different from what his fancy had pictured. The +great expanse of jungle was gray, the green +line of cypress, palm, and bamboo following +the southward course of the river. The +mountain-range some ten miles distant sloped +to the south and faded away in the haze. +The river disappeared in rich dark verdure, +and but for it, which afforded a water-road +back to civilization, Ken would have been +lost in a dense gray-green overgrowth of +tropical wilderness. Once or twice he thought +he caught the faint roar of a waterfall on the +morning breeze, yet could not be sure, and he +returned toward camp with a sober appreciation +of the difficulty of his enterprise +and a more thrilling sense of its hazard and +charm.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Didn't see anything to peg at, eh?" +greeted Hal. "Well, get your teeth in some +of this venison before it's all gone."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Soon they were under way again, Pepe +strong and willing at the oars. This time +Ken had his rifle and shotgun close at hand, +ready for use. Half a mile below, the river, +running still and deep, entered a shaded +waterway so narrow that in places the branches +of wide-spreading and leaning cypresses met +and intertwined their moss-fringed foliage. +This lane was a paradise for birds, that ranged +from huge speckled cranes, six feet high, to +little yellow birds almost too small to see.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Black squirrels were numerous and very +tame. In fact, all the creatures along this +shaded stream were so fearless that it was +easy to see they had never heard a shot. +Ken awoke sleepy cranes with his fishing-rod +and once pushed a blue heron off a log. +He heard animals of some species running +back from the bank, out could not see them. +All at once a soft breeze coming up-stream +bore a deep roar of tumbling rapids. The +sensation of dread which had bothered Ken +occasionally now returned and fixed itself in +his mind. He was in the jungle of Mexico, +and knew not what lay ahead of him. But if +he had been in the wilds of unexplored +Brazil and had heard that roar, it would have +been familiar to him. In his canoe experience +on the swift streams of Pennsylvania Ken Ward +had learned, long before he came to rapids, +to judge what they were from the sound. +His attention wandered from the beautiful +birds, the moss-shaded bowers, and the +overhanging jungle. He listened to the heavy, +sullen roar of the rapids.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"That water sounds different," remarked George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Grande," said Pepe, with a smile.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pretty heavy, Ken, eh?" asked Hal, +looking quickly at his brother.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But Ken Ward made his face a mask, and +betrayed nothing of the grim nature of his +thought. Pepe and the boys had little idea +of danger, and they had now a blind faith in Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I dare say we'll get used to that roar," +replied Ken, easily, and he began to pack his +guns away in their cases.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal forgot his momentary anxiety; Pepe +rowed on, leisurely; and George lounged in his +seat. There was no menace for them in that +dull, continuous roar.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But Ken knew they would soon be in fast +water and before long would drop down into +the real wilderness. It was not now too late +to go back up the river, but soon that would +be impossible. Keeping a sharp lookout +ahead, Ken revolved in mind the necessity +for caution and skilful handling of the boat. +But he realized, too, that overzealousness on +the side of caution was a worse thing for such +a trip than sheer recklessness. Good +judgment in looking over rapids, a quick eye to +pick the best channel, then a daring spirit--that +was the ideal to be striven for in going +down swift rivers.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Presently Ken saw a break in the level +surface of the water. He took Pepe's place +at the oars, and, as usual, turned the boat +stern first down-stream. The banks were low +and shelved out in rocky points. This +relieved Ken, for he saw that he could land just +above the falls. What he feared was a +narrow gorge impossible to portage round or go +through. As the boat approached the break +the roar seemed to divide itself, hollow and +shallow near at hand, rushing and heavy +farther on.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken rowed close to the bank and landed on +the first strip of rock. He got out and, +walking along this ledge, soon reached the fall. +It was a straight drop of some twelve or fifteen +feet. The water was shallow all the way across.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys, this is easy," said Ken. "We'll +pack the outfit round the fall, and slide the +boat over."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But Ken did not say anything about the +white water extending below the fall as far +as he could see. From here came the sullen +roar that had worried him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Portaging the supplies around that place +turned out to be far from easy. The portage +was not long nor rugged, but the cracked, +water-worn, rock made going very difficult. +The boys often stumbled. Pepe fell and +broke open a box, and almost broke his leg. +Ken had a hard knock. Then, when it came +to carrying the trunk, one at each corner, +progress was laborious and annoying. Full +two hours were lost in transporting the +outfit around the fall.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Below there was a wide, shelving apron, +over which the water ran a foot or so in depth. +Ken stationed Pepe and the boys there, and +went up to get the boat. He waded out with +it. Ken saw that his end of this business was +going to be simple enough, but he had doubts +as to what would happen to the boys.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Brace yourselves, now," he yelled. "When +I drop her over she'll come a-humming. +Hang on if she drags you a mile!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Wading out deeper Ken let the boat swing +down with the current till the stern projected +over the fall. He had trouble in keeping +his footing, for the rock was slippery. Then +with a yell he ran the stern far out over the +drop, bore down hard on the bow, and +shoved off.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boat shot out and down, to alight with +a heavy souse. Then it leaped into the swift +current. George got his hands on it first, +and went down like a ninepin. The boat +floated over him. The bow struck Hal, and +would have dragged him away had not Pepe +laid powerful hands on the stern. They waded +to the lower ledge.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Didn't ship a bucketful," said Hal. +"Fine work, Ken."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I got all the water," added the drenched +and dripping George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Bail out, boys, and repack, while I look +below," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He went down-stream a little way to take +a survey of the rapids. If those rapids had +been back in Pennsylvania, Ken felt that he +could have gone at them in delight. If the +jungle country had been such that damage to +boat or supplies could have been remedied or +replaced, these rapids would not have appeared +so bad. Ken walked up and down looking +over the long white inclines more than was +wise, and he hesitated about going into them. +But it had to be done. So he went back to +the boys. Then he took the oars with +gripping fingers.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George, can you swim?" he asked.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm a second cousin to a fish," replied +George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"All right. We're off. Now, if we upset, +hang to the boat, if you can, and hold up +your legs. George, tell Pepe."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken backed the boat out from the shore. +To his right in the middle of the narrow river +was a racy current that he kept out of as long +as possible. But presently he was drawn +into it, and the boat shot forward, headed +into the first incline, and went racing smoothly +down toward the white waves of the rapids.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>This was a trying moment for Ken. Grip +as hard as he might, the oar-handles slipped +in his sweaty hands.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boys were yelling, but Ken could not +hear for the din of roaring waters. The boat +sailed down with swift, gliding motion. When +it thumped into the back-lash of the first +big waves the water threshed around and over +the boys. Then they were in the thick of +rush and roar. Ken knew he was not +handling the boat well. It grazed stones that +should have been easy to avoid, and bumped +on hidden ones, and got half broadside to +the current. Pepe, by quick action with an +oar, pushed the stern aside from collision with +more than one rock. Several times Ken +missed a stroke when a powerful one was +needed. He passed between stones so close +together that he had to ship the oars. It was +all rapid water, this stretch, but the bad +places, with sunken rocks, falls, and big waves, +were strung out at such distances apart that +Ken had time to get the boat going right +before entering them.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken saw scarcely anything of the banks +of the river. They blurred in his sight. +Sometimes they were near, sometimes far. +The boat turned corners where rocky ledges +pointed out, constricting the stream and +making a curved channel. What lay around the +curve was always a question and a cause for +suspense. Often the boat raced down a +chute and straight toward a rocky wall. +Ken would pull back with all his might, and +Pepe would break the shock by striking the +wall with his oar.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>More than once Pepe had a narrow escape +from being knocked overboard. George tried +to keep him from standing up. Finally at +the end of a long rapid, Pepe, who had the +stern-seat, jumped up and yelled. Ken saw +a stone directly in the path of the boat, and +he pulled back on the oars with a quick, +strong jerk. Pepe shot out of the stern as +if he had been flung from a catapult. He +swam with the current while the boat drifted. +He reached smooth water and the shore +before Ken could pick him up.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was fun for everybody but Ken. There +were three inches of water in the boat. The +canvas, however, had been arranged to +protect guns, grips, and supplies. George had +been wet before he entered the rapids, so a +little additional water did not matter to him. +Hal was almost as wet as Pepe.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm glad that's past," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>With that long rapid behind him he felt +different. It was what he had needed. His +nervousness disappeared and he had no dread +of the next fall. While the boys bailed out +the boat Ken rested and thought. He had +made mistakes in that rapid just passed. +Luck had favored him. He went over the +mistakes and saw where he had been wrong, +and how he could have avoided them if he +had felt right. Ken realized now that this +was a daredevil trip. And the daredevil +in him had been shut up in dread. It took +just that nervous dread, and the hard work, +blunders and accidents, the danger and luck, +to liberate the spirit that would make the +trip a success. Pepe and George were loud +in their praises of Ken. But they did not +appreciate the real hazard of the undertaking, +and if Hal did he was too much of a wild +boy to care.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"All aboard," called George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then they were on their way again. Ken +found himself listening for rapids. It was no +surprise to hear a dull roar round the next +bend. His hair rose stiffly under his hat. +But this time he did not feel the chill, the +uncertainty, the lack of confidence that had +before weakened him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>At the head of a long, shallow incline the +boys tumbled overboard, Ken and Hal at +the bow, Pepe and George at the stern. +They waded with the bow up-stream. The +water tore around their legs, rising higher +and higher. Soon Pepe and George had to +climb in the boat, for the water became so +deep and swift they could not wade.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Jump in, Hal," called Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then he held to the bow an instant longer, +wading a little farther down. This was +ticklish business, and all depended upon +Ken. He got the stern of the boat straight +in line with the channel he wanted to run, +then he leaped aboard and made for the oars. +The boat sped down. At the bottom of this +incline was a mass of leaping green and white +waves. The blunt stern of the boat made a +great splash and the water flew over the boys. +They came through the roar and hiss and spray +to glide into a mill-race current.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Never saw such swift water!" exclaimed Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>This incline ended in a sullen plunge +between two huge rocks. Ken saw the danger +long before it became evident to his +companions. There was no other way to shoot the +rapid. He could not reach the shore. He +must pass between the rocks. Ken pushed +on one oar, then on the other, till he got the +boat in line, and then he pushed with both +oars. The boat flew down that incline. It +went so swiftly that if it had hit one of the +rocks it would have been smashed to kindling +wood. Hal crouched low. George's face was +white. And Pepe leaned forward with his big +arms outstretched, ready to try to prevent a +collision.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Down! down with the speed of the wind! +The boat flashed between the black stones. +Then it was raised aloft, light as a feather, to +crash into the back-lashers. The din deafened +Ken; the spray blinded him. The boat seemed +to split a white pall of water, then, with many +a bounce, drifted out of that rapid into little +choppy waves, and from them into another +long, smooth runway.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken rested, and had nothing to say. Pepe +shook his black head. Hal looked at his +brother. George had forgotten his rifle. No +one spoke.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Soon Ken had more work on hand. For +round another corner lay more fast water. +The boat dipped on a low fall, and went down +into the midst of green waves with here and +there ugly rocks splitting the current. The +stream-bed was continually new and strange +to Ken, and he had never seen such queer +formation of rocks. This rapid, however, was +easy to navigate. A slanting channel of swift +water connected it with another rapid. Ken +backed into that one, passed through, only +to face another. And so it went for a long +succession of shallow rapids.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>A turn in the winding lane of cypresses +revealed walls of gray, between which the +river disappeared.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Aha!" muttered Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, I'll bet this is the place you've been +looking for," said Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The absence of any roar of water +emboldened Ken. Nearing the head of the +ravine, he stood upon the seat and looked +ahead. But Ken could not see many rods +ahead. The ravine turned, and it was the +deceiving turns in the river that he had +feared. What a strange sensation Ken had +when he backed the boat into the mouth of +that gorge! He was forced against his will. +Yet there seemed to be a kind of blood-tingling +pleasure in the prospect.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The current caught the boat and drew +it between the gray-green walls of rock.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It's coming to us," said the doubtful George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The current ran all of six miles an hour. +This was not half as fast as the boys had +traveled in rapids, but it appeared swift +enough because of the nearness of the +overshadowing walls. In the shade the water +took on a different coloring. It was brown +and oily. It slid along silently. It was +deep, and the swirling current suggested +power. Here and there long, creeping ferns +covered the steep stone sides, and above ran +a stream of blue sky fringed by leaning palms. +Once Hal put his hands to his lips and yelled: +"Hel-lo!" The yell seemed to rip the silence +and began to clap from wall to wall. It +gathered quickness until it clapped in one +fiendish rattle. Then it wound away from +the passage, growing fainter and fainter, and +at last died in a hollow echo.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't do that again," ordered Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He began to wish he could see the end of +that gorge. But it grew narrower, and the +shade changed to twilight, and there were +no long, straight stretches. The river kept +turning corners. Quick to note the slightest +change in conditions, Ken felt a breeze, +merely a zephyr, fan his hot face. The +current had almost imperceptibly quickened. +Yet it was still silent. Then on the gentle +wind came a low murmur. Ken's pulse +beat fast. Turning his ear down-stream, he +strained his hearing. The low murmur ceased. +Perhaps he had imagined it. Still he kept +listening. There! Again it came, low, far +away, strange. It might have been the wind +in the palms. But no, he could not possibly +persuade himself it was wind. And as that +faint breeze stopped he lost the sound once +more. The river was silent, and the boat, +and the boys--it was a silent ride. Ken +divined that his companions were enraptured. +But this ride had no beauty, no charm for him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>There! Another faint puff of wind, and +again the low murmur! He fancied it was +louder. He was beginning to feel an icy +dread when all was still once more. So the +boat drifted swiftly on with never a gurgle +of water about her gunwales. The river +gleamed in brown shadows. Ken saw bubbles +rise and break on the surface, and there +was a slight rise or swell of the water toward +the center of the channel. This bothered him. +He could not understand it. But then there +had been many other queer formations of +rock and freaks of current along this river.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boat glided on and turned another +corner, the sharpest one yet. A long, shadowy +water-lane, walled in to the very sides, opened +up to Ken's keen gaze. The water here +began to race onward, still wonderfully silent. +And now the breeze carried a low roar. It +was changeable yet persistent. It deepened.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Once more Ken felt his hair rise under +his hat. Cold sweat wet his skin. Despite +the pounding of his heart and the throb of +his veins, his blood seemed to clog, to freeze, +to stand still.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>That roar was the roar of rapids. Impossible +to go back! If there had been four +sets of oars, Ken and his comrades could not +row the heavy boat back up that swift, +sliding river.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They must go on.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="lost"><span class="bold large">X</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">LOST!</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>"Ken, old man, do you hear that?" +questioned Hal, waking from his trance.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George likewise rose out of his lazy +contentment. "Must be rapids," he muttered. +"If we strike rapids in this gorge it's all day +with us. What did I tell you!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe's dark, searching eyes rested on Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But Ken had no word for any of them. +He was fighting an icy numbness, and the +weakness of muscle and the whirl of his +mind. It was thought of responsibility that +saved him from collapse.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It's up to you, old man," said Hal, quietly.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In a moment like this the boy could not +wholly be deceived.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken got a grip upon himself. He looked +down the long, narrow lane of glancing water. +Some hundred yards on, it made another turn +round a corner, and from this dim curve came +the roar. The current was hurrying the boat +toward it, but not fast enough to suit Ken. +He wanted to see the worst, to get into the +thick of it, to overcome it. So he helped the +boat along. A few moments sufficed to cover +that gliding stretch of river, yet to Ken it +seemed never to have an end. The roar +steadily increased. The current became still +stronger. Ken saw eruptions of water rising +as from an explosion beneath the surface. +Whirlpools raced along with the boat. The +dim, high walls re-echoed the roaring of the +water.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The first thing Ken saw when he sailed +round that corner was a widening of the chasm +and bright sunlight ahead. Perhaps an eighth +of a mile below the steep walls ended abruptly. +Next in quick glance he saw a narrow channel +of leaping, tossing, curling white-crested waves +under sunlighted mist and spray.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pulling powerfully back and to the left +Ken brought the boat alongside the cliff. +Then he shipped his oars.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hold hard," he yelled, and he grasped the +stone. The boys complied, and thus stopped +the boat. Ken stood up on the seat. It was +a bad place he looked down into, but he could +not see any rocks. And rocks were what he +feared most.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hold tight, boys," he said. Then he +got Pepe to come to him and sit on the seat. +Ken stepped up on Pepe's shoulders and, by +holding to the rock, was able to get a good +view of the rapid. It was not a rapid at all, +but a constriction of the channel, and also a +steep slant. The water rushed down so swiftly +to get through that it swelled in the center +in a long frothy ridge of waves. The water +was deep. Ken could not see any bumps or +splits or white-wreathed rocks, such as were +conspicuous in a rapid. The peril here for +Ken was to let the boat hit the wall or turn +broadside or get out of that long swelling +ridge.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He stepped down and turned to the white-faced +boys. He had to yell close to them to +make them hear him in the roar.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I--can--run--this--place. But--you've +got--to help. Pull--the canvas--up higher +in the stern--and hold it."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then he directed Pepe to kneel in the +bow of the boat with an oar and be ready to +push off from the walls.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>If Ken had looked again or hesitated a +moment he would have lost his nerve. He +recognized that fact. And he shoved off +instantly. Once the boat had begun to +glide down, gathering momentum, he felt +his teeth grind hard and his muscles grow +tense. He had to bend his head from side to +side to see beyond the canvas George and Hal +were holding round their shoulders. He +believed with that acting as a buffer in the stern +he could go pounding through those waves. +Then he was in the middle of the channel, +and the boat fairly sailed along. Ken kept +his oars poised, ready to drop either one for +a stroke. All he wanted was to enter those +foaming, tumultuous waves with his boat +pointed right. He knew he could not hope +to see anything low down after he entered +the race. He calculated that the last instant +would give him an opportunity to get his +direction in line with some object.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then, even as he planned it, the boat dipped +on a beautiful glassy incline, and glided down +toward the engulfing, roaring waves. Above +them, just in the center, Ken caught sight of +the tufted top of a palm-tree. That was his +landmark!</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boat shot into a great, curling, +back-lashing wave. There was a heavy shock, a +pause, and then Ken felt himself lifted high, +while a huge sheet of water rose fan-shape +behind the buffer in the stern. Walls and +sky and tree faded under a watery curtain. +Then the boat shot on again; the light came, +the sky shone, and Ken saw his palm-tree. +He pulled hard on the right oar to get the +stern back in line. Another heavy shock, +a pause, a blinding shower of water, and then +the downward rush! Ken got a fleeting +glimpse of his guiding mark, and sunk the left +oar deep for a strong stroke. The beating +of the waves upon the upraised oars almost +threw him out of the boat. The wrestling +waters hissed and bellowed. Down the boat +shot and up, to pound and pound, and then +again shoot down. Through the pall of mist +and spray Ken always got a glimpse, quick as +lightning, of the palm-tree, and like a demon +he plunged in his oars to keep the boat in +line. He was only dimly conscious of the +awfulness of the place. But he was not +afraid. He felt his action as being inspirited +by something grim and determined. He was +fighting the river.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>All at once a grating jar behind told him +the bow had hit a stone or a wall. He did +not dare look back. The most fleeting +instant of time might be the one for him to +see his guiding mark. Then the boat lurched +under him, lifted high with bow up, and +lightened. He knew Pepe had been pitched +overboard.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In spite of the horror of the moment, Ken +realized that the lightening of the boat made +it more buoyant, easier to handle. That +weight in the bow had given him an +unbalanced craft. But now one stroke here and +one there kept the stern straight. The +palm-tree loomed higher and closer through the +brightening mist. Ken no longer felt the +presence of the walls. The thunderous roar +had begun to lose some of its volume. +Then with a crash through a lashing wave +the boat raced out into the open light. Ken +saw a beautiful foam-covered pool, down +toward which the boat kept bumping over a +succession of diminishing waves.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He gave a start of joy to see Pepe's black +head bobbing in the choppy channel. Pepe +had beat the boat to the outlet. He was +swimming easily, and evidently he had not +been injured.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken turned the bow toward him. But +Pepe did not need any help, and a few more +strokes put him in shallow water. Ken +discovered that the boat, once out of the current, +was exceedingly loggy and hard to row. It +was half full of water. Ken's remaining +strength went to pull ashore, and there he +staggered out and dropped on the rocky bank.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The blue sky was very beautiful and sweet +to look at just then. But Ken had to close +his eyes. He did not have strength left to +keep them open. For a while all seemed dim +and obscure to him. Then he felt a dizziness, +which in turn succeeded to a racing riot of +his nerves and veins. His heart gradually +resumed a normal beat, and his bursting +lungs seemed to heal. A sickening languor +lay upon him. He could not hold little stones +which he felt under his fingers. He could +not raise his hands. The life appeared to +have gone from his legs.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>All this passed, at length, and, hearing Hal's +voice, Ken sat up. The outfit was drying +in the sun; Pepe was bailing out the boat; +George was wiping his guns; and Hal was +nursing a very disheveled little racoon.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You can bring on any old thing now, for +all I care," said Hal. "I'd shoot Lachine +Rapids with Ken at the oars."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"He's a fine boatman," replied George. +"Weren't you scared when we were in the +middle of that darned place?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Me? Naw!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I was scared, and don't you forget +it," said Ken to them.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You were all in, Ken," replied Hal. +"Never saw you so tuckered out. The day +you and Prince went after the cougar along +that cañon precipice--you were all in that +time. George, it took Ken six hours to +climb out of that hole."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Tell me about it," said George, all eyes.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"No stories now," put in Ken. "The +sun is still high. We've got to be on our +way. Let's look over the lay of the land."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Below the pool was a bold, rocky bluff, +round which the river split. What branch +to take was a matter of doubt and anxiety +to Ken. Evidently this bluff was an island. +It had a yellow front and long bare ledges +leading into the river.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken climbed the bluff, accompanied by the +boys, and found it covered with palm-trees. +Up there everything was so dry and hot +that it did not seem to be jungle at all. Even +the palms were yellow and parched. Pepe +stood the heat, but the others could not +endure it. Ken took one long look at the +surrounding country, so wild and dry and still, +and then led the way down the loose, dusty +shelves.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Thereupon he surveyed the right branch +of the river and followed it a little distance. +The stream here foamed and swirled among +jagged rocks. At the foot of this rapid +stretched the first dead water Ken had +encountered for miles. A flock of wild geese +rose from under his feet and flew down-stream.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Geese!" exclaimed Ken. "I wonder if +that means we are getting down near lagoons +or big waters. George, wild geese don't +frequent little streams, do they?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"There's no telling where you'll find them +in this country," answered George. "I've +chased them right in our orange groves."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They returned to look at the left branch +of the river. It was open and one continuous +succession of low steps. That would have +decided Ken even if the greater volume of +water had not gone down on this left side. +As far as he could see was a wide, open river +running over little ledges. It looked to be +the easiest and swiftest navigation he had +come upon, and so indeed it proved. The +water was swift, and always dropped over +some ledge in a rounded fall that was safe +for him to shoot. It was great fun going +over these places. The boys hung their +feet over the gunwales most of the time, +sliding them along the slippery ledge or giving +a kick to help the momentum. When they +came to a fall, Ken would drop off the bow, +hold the boat back and swing it straight, +then jump in, and over it would go--souse!</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>There were so many of these ledges, and +they were so close together, that going over +them grew to be a habit. It induced +carelessness. The boat drifted to a brow of a fall +full four feet high. Ken, who was at the bow. +leaped off just in time to save the boat. He +held on while the swift water surged about +his knees. He yelled for the boys to jump. +As the stern where they sat was already over +the fall it was somewhat difficult to make the +boys vacate quickly enough.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Tumble out! Quick!" bawled Ken. "Do +you think I'm Samson?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Over they went, up to their necks in the +boiling foam, and not a second too soon, for +Ken could hold the boat no longer. It went +over smoothly, just dipping the stern under +water. If the boys had remained aboard, +the boat would have swamped. As it was, +Pepe managed to catch the rope, which Ken +had wisely thrown out, and he drifted down +to the next ledge. Ken found this nearly as +high as the last one. So he sent the boys +below to catch the boat. This worked all +right. The shelves slanted slightly, with the +shallow part of the water just at the break of +the ledge. They passed half a dozen of these, +making good time, and before they knew it were +again in a deep, smooth jungle lane with +bamboo and streamers of moss waving over them.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The shade was cool, and Ken settled down +in the stern-seat, grateful for a rest. To his +surprise, he did not see a bird. The jungle +was asleep. Once or twice Ken fancied he +heard the tinkle and gurgle of water running +over rocks. The boat glided along silently, +with Pepe rowing leisurely, George asleep, +Hal dreaming.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken watched the beautiful green banks. +They were high, a mass of big-leafed vines, +flowering and fragrant, above which towered +the jungle giants. Ken wanted to get out +and study those forest trees. But he made +no effort to act upon his good intentions, and +felt that he must take the most of his forestry +study at long range. He was reveling in the +cool recesses under the leaning cypresses, in +the soft swish of bearded moss, and the +strange rustle of palms, in the dreamy hum +of the resting jungle, when his pleasure was +brought to an abrupt end.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Santa Maria!" yelled Pepe.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George woke up with a start. Hal had +been jarred out of his day-dream, and looked +resentful. Ken gazed about him with the +feeling of a man going into a trance, instead +of coming out of one.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boat was fast on a mud-bank. That +branch of the river ended right there. The +boys had come all those miles to run into a +blind pocket.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken's glance at the high yellow bank, +here crumbling and bare, told him there was +no outlet. He had a sensation of blank dismay.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Gee!" exclaimed Hal, softly.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George rubbed his eyes; and, searching for +a cigarette, he muttered: "We're lost! I said +it was coming to us. We've got to go back!"</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="an-army-of-snakes"><span class="bold large">XI</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">AN ARMY OF SNAKES</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>For a moment Ken Ward was utterly +crushed under the weight of this sudden +blow. It was so sudden that he had no time +to think; or his mind was clamped on the +idea of attempting to haul the boat up that +long, insurmountable series of falls.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It 'll be an awful job," burst out Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>No doubt in the mind of each boy was the +same idea--the long haul, wading over +slippery rocks; the weariness of pushing legs +against the swift current; the packing of +supplies uphill; and then the toil of lifting the +heavy boat up over a fall.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Mucho malo," said Pepe, and he groaned. +That was significant, coming from a </span><em class="italics">mozo</em><span>, +who thought nothing of rowing forty miles +in a day.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, but it's tough luck," cried Ken. +"Why didn't I choose the right branch of this +pesky river?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I think you used your head at that," +said Hal. "Most of the water came down +on this side. Where did it go?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal had hit the vital question, and it +cleared Ken's brain.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hal, you're talking sense. Where did +that water go? It couldn't all have sunk into +the earth. We'll find out. We won't try +to go back. We </span><em class="italics">can't</em><span> go back."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe shoved off the oozy mud, and, reluctantly, +as if he appreciated the dilemma, he +turned the boat and rowed along the shore. +As soon as Ken had recovered somewhat he +decided there must be an outlet which he had +missed. This reminded him that at a point +not far back he had heard the tinkle and gurgle +of unseen water flowing over rocks.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He directed Pepe to row slowly along the +bank that he thought was the island side. +As they glided under the drooping bamboos +and silky curtains of moss George began to +call out: "Low bridge! Low bridge!" For a +boy who was forever voicing ill-omened +suggestions as to what might soon happen he +was extraordinarily cheerful.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>There were places where all had to lie +flat and others where Pepe had to use his +</span><em class="italics">machete</em><span>. This disturbed the </span><em class="italics">siesta</em><span> of many +aquatic birds, most of which flew swiftly +away. But there were many of the +gray-breasted, blue-backed bitterns that did not +take to flight. These croaked dismally, and +looked down upon the boys with strange, +protruding eyes.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Those darn birds 'll give me the willies," +declared Hal. "George, you just look like +them when you croak about what's coming +to us."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Just wait!" retorted George. "It 'll come, +all right. Then I'll have the fun of seeing +you scared silly."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What! You'll not do anything of the +kind!" cried Hal, hotly. "I've been in places +where such--such a skinny little sap-head as +you--"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Here, you kids stop wrangling," ordered +Ken, who sensed hostilities in the air. "We've +got trouble enough."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly Ken signaled Pepe to stop rowing.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys, I hear running water. Aha! Here's +a current. See--it's making right under this +bank."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Before them was a high wall of broad-leaved +vines, so thick that nothing could be +seen through them. Apparently this +luxuriant canopy concealed the bank. Pepe poked +an oar into it, but found nothing solid.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pepe, cut a way through. We've got +to see where this water runs."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was then that Ken came to a full appreciation +of a </span><em class="italics">machete</em><span>. He had often fancied +it a much less serviceable tool than an ax. +Pepe flashed the long, bright blade up, down, +and around, and presently the boat was its +own length in a green tunnel. Pepe kept on +slashing while Ken poled the boat in and the +other boys dumped the cut foliage overboard. +Soon they got through this mass of hanging +vine and creeper. Much to Ken's surprise +and delight, he found no high bank, but low, +flat ground, densely wooded, through which +ran a narrow, deep outlet of the river.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"By all that's lucky!" ejaculated Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George and Hal whooped their pleasure, +and Pepe rubbed his muscular hands. Then +all fell silent. The deep, penetrating silence +of that jungle was not provocative of speech. +The shade was so black that when a ray of +sunlight did manage to pierce the dense +canopy overhead it resembled a brilliant +golden spear. A few lofty palms and a few +clumps of bamboo rather emphasized the +lack of these particular species in this forest. +Nor was there any of the familiar streaming +moss hanging from the trees. This glen was +green, cool, dark. It did not smell exactly +swampy, but rank, like a place where many +water plants were growing.</span></p> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 64%" id="figure-48"> +<span id="ken-shot-twice-at-the-head-of-the-snake"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="KEN SHOT TWICE AT THE HEAD OF THE SNAKE" src="images/img-130.jpg"> +<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> +<span class="italics">KEN SHOT TWICE AT THE HEAD OF THE SNAKE</span></div> +</div> +<p class="pnext"><span>The outlet was so narrow that Ken was not +able to use the oars. Still, as the current +was swift, the boat went along rapidly. He +saw a light ahead and heard the babble of +water. The current quickened, and the boat +drifted suddenly upon the edge of an oval +glade, where the hot sun beat down. A +series of abrupt mossy benches, over which +the stream slid almost noiselessly, blocked +further progress.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The first thing about this glade that Ken +noted particularly, after the difficulties +presented by the steep steps, was the multitude +of snakes sunning themselves along the line +of further progress.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys, it 'll be great wading down there, +hey?" he queried.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe grumbled for the first time on the +trip. Ken gathered from the native's looks +and speech that he did not like snakes.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Watch me peg 'em!" yelled Hal, and he +began to throw stones with remarkable +accuracy. "Hike, you brown sons-of-guns!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George, not to be outdone, made a dive +for his .22 and began to pop as if he had no +love for snakes. Ken had doubts about this +species. The snakes were short, thick, dull +brown in color, and the way they slipped +into the stream proved they were +water-snakes. Ken had never read of a brown +water-moccasin, so he doubted that these belonged +to that poisonous family. Anyway, snakes +were the least of his troubles.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys, you're doing fine," he said. "There +are about a thousand snakes there, and you've +hit about six."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He walked down through the glade into the +forest, and was overjoyed to hear once more +the heavy roar of rapids. He went on. The +timber grew thinner, and light penetrated the +jungle. Presently he saw the gleam of water +through the trees. Then he hurried back.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, boys," he shouted. "Here's +the river."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boys were so immensely relieved that +packing the outfit round the waterfalls was +work they set about with alacrity. Ken, +who had on his boots, broke a trail through +the ferns and deep moss. Pepe, being barefoot, +wasted time looking for snakes. George +teased him. But Pepe was deadly serious. +And the way he stepped and looked made +Ken thoughtful. He had made his last trip +with supplies, and was about to start back +to solve the problem of getting the boat +down, when a hoarse yell resounded through +the sleeping jungle. Parrots screeched, and +other birds set up a cackling.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken bounded up the slope.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Santa Maria!" cried Pepe.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken followed the direction indicated by +Pepe's staring eyes and trembling finger. +Hanging from a limb of a tree was a huge +black-snake. It was as thick as Ken's leg. +The branch upon which it poised its neck +so gracefully was ten feet high, and the tail +curled into the ferns on the ground.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys, it's one of the big fellows," cried Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Didn't I tell you!" yelled George, running +down for his gun.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal seemed rooted to the spot. Pepe +began to jabber. Ken watched the snake, +and felt instinctively from its sinister looks +that it was dangerous. George came running +back with his .32 and waved it in the air as +he shot. He was so frightened that he +forgot to aim. Ken took the rifle from him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You can't hit him with this. Run after +your shotgun. Quick!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But the sixteen-gage was clogged with a +shell that would not eject. Ken's guns were +in their cases.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Holy smoke!" cried George. "He's coming down."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The black-snake moved his body and began +to slide toward the tree-trunk.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken shot twice at the head of the snake. +It was a slow-swaying mark hard to hit. +The reptile stopped and poised wonderfully +on the limb. He was not coiled about it, +but lay over it with about four feet of neck +waving, swaying to and fro. He watched +the boys, and his tongue, like a thin, black +streak, darted out viciously.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken could not hit the head, so he sent a +bullet through the thick part of the body. +Swift as a gleam the snake darted from the limb.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Santa Maria!" yelled Pepe, and he ran off.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Look out, boys," shouted Ken. He +picked up Pepe's </span><em class="italics">machete</em><span> and took to his +heels. George and Hal scrambled before him. +They ran a hundred yards or more, and Ken +halted in an open rocky spot. He was angry, +and a little ashamed that he had run. The +snake did not pursue, and probably was as +badly frightened as the boys had been. Pepe +stopped some distance away, and Hal and +George came cautiously back.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't see anything of him," said Ken. +"I'm going back."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He walked slowly, keeping a sharp outlook, +and, returning to the glade, found blood-stains +under the tree. The snake had disappeared +without leaving a trail.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"If I'd had my shotgun ready!" exclaimed +Ken, in disgust. And he made a note that in +the future he would be prepared to shoot.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Wasn't he a whopper, Ken?" said Hal. +"We ought to have got his hide. What a +fine specimen!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys, you drive away those few little +snakes while I figure on a way to get the boat +down."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Not on your life!" replied Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George ably sustained Hal's objection.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Mucho malo," said Pepe, and then added +a loud "No" in English.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, my brave comrades," rejoined +Ken, scornfully. "As I've not done any work +yet or taken any risks, I'll drive the snakes +away."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>With Pepe's </span><em class="italics">machete</em><span> he cut a long forked +pole, trimmed it, and, armed with this weapon, +he assaulted the rolls and bands and balls +of brown snakes. He stalked boldly down +upon them, pushed and poled, and even +kicked them off the mossy banks. Hal +could not stand that, and presently he got +a pole and went to Ken's assistance.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Who's hollering now?" he yelled to George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Whereupon George cut a long branch and +joined the battle. They whacked and threshed +and pounded, keeping time with yells. +Everywhere along the wet benches slipped and +splashed the snakes. But after they were +driven into the water they did not swim away. +They dove under the banks and then stretched +out their pointed heads from the dripping +edge of moss.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, fellows, we're making it worse for +us," declared Ken. "See, the brown devils +won't swim off. We'd better have left them +on the bank. Let's catch one and see if he'll +bite."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He tried to pick up one on his pole, but +it slipped off. George fished after another. +Hal put the end of his stick down inside the +coil of still another and pitched it. The +brown, wriggling, wet snake shot straight at +the unsuspecting George, and struck him and +momentarily wound about him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Augrrh!" bawled George, flinging off the +reptile and leaping back. "What 'd you do +that for? I'll punch you!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George, he didn't mean it," said Ken. +"It was an accident. Come on, let's tease +that fellow and see if he'll bite."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The snake coiled and raised his flat head +and darted a wicked tongue out and watched +with bright, beady eyes, but he did not +strike. Ken went as close as he thought +safe and studied the snake.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys, his head isn't a triangle, and there +are no little pits under his eyes. Those are +two signs of a poisonous snake. I don't +believe this fellow's one."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"He'll be a dead snake, b' gosh," replied +George, and he fell to pounding it with his +pole.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't smash him. I want the skin," +yelled Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken pondered on the situation before him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Come, the sooner we get at this the better," +he said.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>There was a succession of benches through +which the stream zigzagged and tumbled. +These benches were rock ledges over which +moss had grown fully a foot thick, and they +were so oozy and slippery that it was no easy +task to walk upon them. Then they were +steep, so steep that it was remarkable how +the water ran over them so smoothly, with +very little noise or break. It was altogether +a new kind of waterfall to Ken. But if the +snakes had not been hidden there, navigation +would have presented an easier problem.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Come on boys, alongside now, and hold +back," he ordered, gripping the bow.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Exactly what happened the next few seconds +was not clear in his mind. There was a rush, +and all were being dragged by the boat. +The glade seemed to whizz past. There were +some sodden thumps, a great splashing, a check--and +lo! they were over several benches. It +was the quickest and easiest descent he had +ever made down a steep waterfall.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Fine!" ejaculated George, wiping the ooze +from his face.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, it was fine," Ken replied. "But +unless this boat has wings something 'll +happen soon."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Below was a long, swift curve of water, +very narrow and steep, with a moss-covered +rock dividing the lower end. Ken imagined +if there was a repetition of the first descent +the boat would be smashed on that rock. +He ordered Pepe, who was of course the strongest, +to go below and jump to the rock. There +he might prevent a collision.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe obeyed, but as he went he yelled and +doubled up in contortions as he leaped over +snakes in the moss.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then gently, gingerly the boys started the +boat off the bench, where it had lodged. +George was at the stern, Ken and Hal at the +bow. Suddenly Hal shrieked and jumped +straight up, to land in the boat.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Snakes!" he howled.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Give us a rest!" cried Ken, in disgust.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boat moved as if instinct with life. +It dipped, then--</span><em class="italics">wheeze!</em><span> it dove over the +bench. Hal was thrown off his feet, fell +back on the gunwale, and thence into the +snaky moss. George went sprawling face +downward into the slimy ooze, and Ken was +jerked clear off the bench into the stream. +He got his footing and stood firm in water to +his waist, and he had the bow-rope coiled +round his hands.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Help! Help!" he yelled, as he felt the +dragging weight too much for him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>If Ken retarded the progress of the boat at +all, it was not much. George saw his distress +and the danger menacing the boat, and he +leaped valiantly forward. As he dashed down +a slippery slant his feet flew up higher than +where his head had been; he actually turned +over in the air, and fell with a great sop.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal had been trying to reach Ken, but +here he stopped and roared with laughter.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Despite Ken's anger and fear of snakes, +and his greater fear for the boat, he likewise +had to let out a peal of laughter. That +tumble of George's was great. Then Ken's +footing gave way and he went down. His +mouth filled with nasty water, nearly +strangling him. He was almost blinded, too. His +arms seemed to be wrenched out of their +sockets, and he felt himself bumping over +moss-covered rocks as soft as cushions. Slimy +ropes or roots of vegetation, that felt like +snakes, brushed his face and made him cold +and sick. It was impossible to hold the boat +any longer. He lodged against a stone, and +the swift water forced him upon it. Blinking +and coughing, he stuck fast.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken saw the boat headed like a dart for +the rock where Pepe stood.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Let 'er go!" yelled Ken. "Don't try to +stop her. Pepe, you'll be smashed!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe acted like a man determined to make +up for past cowardice. He made a great show +of brave intentions. He was not afraid of a +boat. He braced himself and reached out +with his brawny arms. Ken feared for the +obstinate native's life, for the boat moved +with remarkable velocity.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>At the last second Pepe's courage vanished. +He turned tail to get out of the way. But +he slipped. The boat shot toward him and +the blunt stern struck him with a dull thud. +Pepe sailed into the air, over the rock, and +went down cleaving the water.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boat slipped over the stone as easily +as if it had been a wave and, gliding into still +water below, lodged on the bank.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken crawled out of the stream, and when +he ascertained that no one was injured he +stretched himself on the ground and gave up +to mirth. Pepe resembled a drowned rat; +Hal was an object to wonder at; and George, +in his coating of slime and with strings of +moss in his hair, was the funniest thing Ken +had ever seen. It was somewhat of a +surprise to him to discover, presently, that the +boys were convulsed with fiendish glee over +the way he himself looked.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>By and by they recovered, and, with many +a merry jest and chuckle of satisfaction, they +repacked the boat and proceeded on their +way. No further obstacle hindered them. +They drifted out of the shady jungle into the +sunlit river.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In half a mile of drifting the heat of the +sun dried the boys' clothes. The water was +so hot that it fairly steamed. Once more the +boat entered a placid aisle over which the +magnificent gray-wreathed cypresses bowed, +and the west wind waved long ribbons of +moss, and wild fowl winged reluctant flight.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken took advantage of this tranquil stretch +of river to work on his map. He realized that +he must use every spare moment and put +down his drawings and notes as often as time +and travel permitted. It had dawned on +Ken that rapids and snakes, and all the +dangers along the river, made his task of +observation and study one apt to be put into +eclipse at times. Once or twice he landed +on shore to climb a bluff, and was pleased +each time to see that he had lined a +comparatively true course on his map. He had +doubts of its absolute accuracy, yet he could +not help having pride in his work. So far +so good, he thought, and hoped for +good-fortune farther down the river.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="catching-strange-fish"><span class="bold large">XII</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">CATCHING STRANGE FISH</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>Beyond a bend in the river the boys +came upon an island with a narrow, +shaded channel on one side, a wide shoal on +the other, and a group of huge cypresses at +the up-stream end.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Looks good to me," said Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The instant Ken saw the island he knew it +was the place he had long been seeking to +make a permanent camp for a few days. +They landed, to find an ideal camping site. +The ground under the cypresses was flat, +dry, and covered with short grass. Not a ray +of sunlight penetrated the foliage. A pile +of driftwood had lodged against one of the +trees, and this made easy the question of +fire-wood.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Great!" exclaimed Ken. "Come on, let's +look over the ground."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The island was about two hundred yards +long, and the lower end was hidden by a +growth of willows. Bursting through this, +the boys saw a weedy flat leading into a wide, +shallow back-eddy. Great numbers of ducks +were sporting and feeding. The stones of +the rocky shore were lined with sleeping ducks. +Herons of all colors and sizes waded about, +or slept on one leg. Snipe ran everywhere. +There was a great squawking and flapping of +wings. But at least half the number of +waterfowl were too tame or too lazy to fly.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken returned to camp with his comrades, +all highly elated over the prospects. The +best feature about this beautiful island was +the absence of ticks and snakes.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys, this is the place," said Ken. "We'll +hang up here for a while. Maybe we won't +strike another such nice place to stay."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>So they unloaded the boat, taking everything +out, and proceeded to pitch a camp +that was a delight. They were all loud in +expressions of satisfaction. Then Pepe set +about leisurely peeling potatoes; George took +his gun and slipped off toward the lower end +of the island; Hal made a pen for his racoon, +and then more pens, as if he meant to capture +a menagerie; and Ken made a comfortable +lounging-bed under a cypress. He wanted +to forget that nagging worry as to farther +descent of the river, and to enjoy this place.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Bang!" went George's sixteen-gage. A +loud whirring of wings followed, and the air +was full of ducks.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Never touched one!" yelled Hal, in taunting voice.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>A flock of teal skimmed the water and +disappeared up-stream. The shot awakened +parrots in the trees, where for a while there +was clamor. Ken saw George wade out +into the shoal and pick up three ducks.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pot-shot!" exclaimed Hal, disgustedly. +"Why couldn't he be a sport and shoot them +on the fly?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George crossed to the opposite shore and, +climbing a bare place, stood looking before him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hey, George, don't go far," called Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Fine place over here," replied George, +and, waving his hand, he passed into the +bushes out of sight.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken lay back upon his blanket with a +blissful sense of rest and contentment. Many +a time he had lain so, looking up through the +broad leaves of a sycamore or the lacy foliage +of a birch or the delicate crisscross of +millions of pine needles. This overhead canopy, +however, was different. Only here and there +could he catch little slivers of blue sky. The +graceful streamers of exquisite moss hung +like tassels of silver. In the dead stillness +of noonday they seemed to float curved in the +shape in which the last soft breeze had left +them. High upon a branch he saw a +red-headed parrot hanging back downward, after +the fashion of a monkey. Then there were +two parrots asleep in the fork of a branch. +It was the middle of the day, and all things +seemed tired and sleepy. The deep channel +murmured drowsily, and the wide expanse +of river on the other side lapped lazily at the +shore. The only other sound was the +mourning of turtle-doves, one near and another far +away. Again the full richness, the mellow +sweetness of this song struck Ken forcibly. +He remembered that all the way down the +river he had heard that mournful note. It +was beautiful but melancholy. Somehow it +made him think that it had broken the dreamy +stillness of the jungle noonday long, long ago. +It was sweet but sad and old. He did not +like to hear it.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken yielded to the soothing influence of +the hour and fell asleep. When he awoke +there was George, standing partially undressed +and very soberly popping ticks. He had +enlisted the services of Pepe, and, to judge from +the remarks of both, they needed still more +assistance.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, Garrapato George, many ticks over there?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ticks!" shouted George, wildly, waving +his cigarette. "Millions of 'em! And +there's--ouch! Kill that one, Pepe. Wow! he's +as big as a penny. There's game over there. +It's a flat with some kind of berry bush. +There's lots of trails. I saw cat-tracks, and I +scared up wild turkeys--"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Turkeys!" Ken exclaimed, eagerly.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You bet. I saw a dozen. How they can +run! I didn't flush them. Then I saw a +flock of those black and white ducks, like the +big fellow I shot. They were feeding. I +believe they're Muscovy ducks."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm sure I don't know, but we can call +them that."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I'd got a shot, too, but I saw some +gray things sneaking in the bushes. I thought +they were pigs, so I got out of there quick."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You mean javelin?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Yep, I mean wild pigs. Oh! We've struck +the place for game. I'll bet it's coming to us."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When George anticipated pleasurable events +he was the most happy of companions. It +was good to look forward. He was +continually expecting things to happen; he was +always looking ahead with great eagerness. +But unfortunately he had a twist of mind +toward the unfavorable side of events, and +so always had the boys fearful.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, pigs or no pigs, ticks or no ticks, +we'll hunt and fish, and see all there is to +see," declared Ken, and he went back to his +lounging.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When he came out of that lazy spell, +George and Hal were fishing. George had +Ken's rod, and it happened to be the one +Ken thought most of.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you know how to fish?" he asked.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I've caught tarpon bigger'n you," retorted George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>That fact was indeed too much for Ken, +and he had nothing to do but risk his +beloved rod in George's hands. And the way +George swung it about, slashed branches with +it, dropped the tip in the water, was exceedingly +alarming to Ken. The boy would break +the tip in a minute. Yet Ken could not +take his rod away from a boy who had caught +tarpon.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>There were fish breaking water. Where a +little while before the river had been smooth, +now it was ruffled by </span><em class="italics">ravalo</em><span>, gar, and other +fish Pepe could not name. But George and +Hal did not get a bite. They tried all their +artificial flies and spoons and minnows, then +the preserved mullet, and finally several +kinds of meat.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Bah! they want pie," said Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>For Ken Ward to see little and big fish +capering around under his very nose and not +be able to hook one was exasperating. He +shot a small fish, not unlike a pickerel, and +had the boys bait with that. Still no strike +was forthcoming.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>This put Ken on his mettle. He rigged +up a minnow tackle, and, going to the lower +end of the island, he tried to catch some +minnows. There were plenty of them in the +shallow water, but they would not bite. +Finally Ken waded in the shoal and turned +over stones. He found some snails almost +as large as mussels, and with these he hurried +back to the boys.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Here, if you don't get a bite on one of +these I'm no fisherman," said Ken. "Try one."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George got his hands on the new bait in +advance of Hal and so threw his hook into +the water first. No sooner had the bait +sunk than he got a strong pull.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"There! Careful now," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George jerked up, hooking a fish that made +the rod look like a buggy-whip.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Give me the rod," yelled Ken, trying to +take it.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It's my fish," yelled back George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He held on and hauled with all his might. +A long, finely built fish, green as emerald, +split the water and churned it into foam. +Then, sweeping out in strong dash, it broke +Ken's rod square in the middle. Ken eyed +the wreck with sorrow, and George with no +little disapproval.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You said you knew how to fish," protested Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Those split-bamboo rods are no good," +replied George. "They won't hold a fish."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George, you're a grand fisherman!" +observed Hal, with a chuckle. "Why, you +only dreamed you've caught tarpon."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Just then Hal had a tremendous strike. +He was nearly hauled off the bank. But he +recovered his balance and clung to his nodding +rod. Hal's rod was heavy cane, and his line +was thick enough to suit. So nothing broke. +The little brass reel buzzed and rattled.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I've got a whale!" yelled Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It's a big gar--alligator-gar," said George. +"You haven't got him. He's got you."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The fish broke water, showing long, open +jaws with teeth like saw-teeth. It threshed +about and broke away. Hal reeled in to +find the hook straightened out. Then George +kindly commented upon the very skilful +manner in which Hal had handled the gar. +For a wonder Hal did not reply.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>By four o'clock, when Ken sat down to +supper, he was so thirsty that his mouth +puckered as dry as if he had been eating green +persimmons. This matter of thirst had +become serious. Twice each day Ken had +boiled a pot of water, into which he mixed +cocoa, sugar, and condensed milk, and begged +the boys to drink that and nothing else. +Nevertheless Pepe and George, and occasionally +Hal, would drink unboiled water. For +this meal the boys had venison and duck, +and canned vegetables and fruit, so they +fared sumptuously.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe pointed to a string of Muscovy ducks +sailing up the river. George had a good shot +at the tail end of the flock, and did not even +loosen a feather. Then a line of cranes and +herons passed over the island. When a +small bunch of teal flew by, to be followed +by several canvasbacks, Ken ran for his +shotgun. It was a fine hammerless, a +hard-shooting gun, and one Ken used for +grouse-hunting. In his hurry he grasped a handful +of the first shells he came to and, when he +ran to the river-bank, found they were loads +of small shot. He decided to try them +anyhow.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>While Pepe leisurely finished the supper +Ken and George and Hal sat on the bank +watching for ducks. Just before the sun went +down a hard wind blew, making difficult +shooting. Every few moments ducks would +whir by. George's gun missed fire often, +and when it did work all right, he missed the +ducks. To Ken's surprise he found the +load of small shot very deadly. He could +sometimes reach a duck at eighty yards. +The little brown ducks and teal he stopped as +if they had hit a stone wall. He dropped a +canvasback with the sheer dead plunge +that he liked. Ken thought a crippled duck +enough to make a hunter quit shooting. +With six ducks killed, he decided to lay aside +his gun for that time, when Pepe pointed +down the river.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pato real," he said.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken looked eagerly and saw three of the +big black ducks flying as high as the +treetops and coming fast. Snapping a couple +of shells in the gun, Ken stood ready. At +the end of the island two of the ducks wheeled +to the left, but the big leader came on like +a thunderbolt. To Ken he made a canvasback +seem slow. Ken caught him over the +sights of the gun, followed him up till he was +abreast and beyond; then, sweeping a little +ahead of him, Ken pulled both triggers. The +Muscovy swooped up and almost stopped +in his flight while a cloud of black feathers +puffed away on the wind. He sagged a +little, recovered, and flew on as strong as ever. +The small shot were not heavy enough to +stop him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll need big loads for the Muscovies +and the turkeys," said George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"We've all sizes up to BB's," replied Ken. +"George, let's take a walk over there where +you saw the turkeys. It's early yet."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then Pepe told George if they wanted to +see game at that hour the thing to do was to +sit still in camp and watch the game come +down to the river to drink. And he pointed +down-stream to a herd of small deer quietly +walking out on the bar.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"After all the noise we made!" exclaimed +Ken. "Well, this beats me. George, we'll stay +right here and not shoot again to-night. I've +an idea we'll see something worth while."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was Pepe's idea, but Ken instantly saw +its possibilities. There were no tributaries to +the river or springs in that dry jungle, and, +as manifestly the whole country abounded +in game, it must troop down to the river in +the cool of the evening to allay the hot day's +thirst. The boys were perfectly situated for +watching the dark bank on the channel side +of the island as well as the open bars on the +other. The huge cypresses cast shadows that +even in daylight effectually concealed them. +They put out the camp-fire and, taking +comfortable seats in the folds of the great gnarled +roots, began to watch and listen.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The vanguard of thirsty deer had prepared +Ken for something remarkable, and he was in +no wise disappointed. The trooping of deer +down to the water's edge and the flight of +wild fowl up-stream increased in proportion +to the gathering shadows of twilight. The +deer must have got a scent, for they raised +their long ears and stood still as statues, +gazing across toward the upper end of the +island. But they showed no fear. It was +only when they had drunk their fill and +wheeled about to go up the narrow trails +over the bank that they showed uneasiness +and haste. This made Ken wonder if they +were fearful of being ambushed by jaguars. +Soon the dark line of deer along the shore +shaded into the darkness of night. Then +Ken heard soft splashes and an occasional +patter of hard hoofs. The whir of wings +had ceased.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>A low exclamation from Pepe brought +attention to interesting developments closer +at hand.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Javelin!" he whispered.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>On the channel side of the island was +impenetrable pitchy blackness. Ken tried to +pierce it with straining eyes, but he could +not even make out the shore-line that he knew +was only ten yards distant. Still he could +hear, and that was thrilling enough. Everywhere +on this side, along the edge of the water +and up the steep bank, were faint tickings of +twigs and soft rustlings of leaves. Then +there was a continuous sound, so low as to +be almost inaudible, that resembled nothing +Ken could think of so much as a long line of +softly dripping water. It swelled in volume +to a tiny roll, and ended in a sharp clicking +on rocks and a gentle splashing in the water. +A drove of </span><em class="italics">javelin</em><span> had come down to drink. +Occasionally the glint of green eyes made +the darkness all the more weird. Suddenly a +long, piercing wail, a keen cry almost human, +quivered into the silence.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Panther!" Ken whispered, instantly, to +the boys. It was a different cry from that of +the lion of the cañon, but there was a strange +wild note that betrayed the species. A +stillness fell, dead as that of a subterranean +cavern. Strain his ears as he might, Ken +could not detect the slightest sound. It +was as if no </span><em class="italics">javelin</em><span> or any other animals +had come down to drink. That listening, +palpitating moment seemed endless. What +mystery of wild life it meant, that silence +following the cry of the panther! Then the +jungle sounds recommenced--the swishing of +water, the brushing in the thicket, stealthy +padded footsteps, the faint snapping of twigs. +Some kind of a cat uttered an unearthly squall. +Close upon this the clattering of deer up the +bank on the other side rang out sharply. +The deer were running, and the striking of +the little hoofs ceased in short order. Ken +listened intently. From far over the bank came +a sound not unlike a cough--deep, hoarse, +inexpressibly wild and menacing.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Tigre!" cried Pepe, gripping Ken hard +with both hands. He could feel him +trembling. It showed how the native of the +jungle-belt feared the jaguar.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Again the cough rasped out, nearer and +louder this time. It was not a +courage-provoking sound, and seemed on second +thought more of a growl than a cough. Ken +felt safe on the island; nevertheless, he took +up his rifle.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"That's a tiger," whispered George. "I +heard one once from the porch of the Alamitas +hacienda."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>A third time the jaguar told of his arrival +upon the night scene. Ken was excited, and +had a thrill of fear. He made up his mind +to listen with clearer ears, but the cough or +growl was not repeated.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then a silence set in, so unbroken that it +seemed haunted by the echoes of those wild +jungle cries. Perhaps Ken had the haunting +echoes in mind. He knew what had sent +the deer away and stilled the splashings and +creepings. It was the hoarse voice of the lord +of the jungle.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe and the boys, too, fell under the spell +of the hour. They did not break the charm +by talking. Giant fireflies accentuated the +ebony blackness and a low hum of insects +riveted the attention on the stillness. Ken +could not understand why he was more +thoughtful on this trip than he had ever been +before. Somehow he felt immeasurably older. +Probably that was because it had seemed +necessary for him to act like a man, even if he +was only a boy.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The black mantle of night lifted from under +the cypresses, leaving a gloom that slowly +paled. Through the dark foliage, low down +over the bank, appeared the white tropical +moon. Shimmering gleams chased the shadows +across the ripples, and slowly the river +brightened to a silver sheen.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>A great peace fell upon the jungle world. +How white, how wild, how wonderful! It +only made the island more beautiful and +lonely. The thought of leaving it gave Ken +Ward a pang. Almost he wished he were a +savage.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>And he lay there thinking of the wild places +that he could never see, where the sun shone, +the wind blew, the twilight shadowed, the +rain fell; where the colors and beauties changed +with the passing hours; where a myriad of +wild creatures preyed upon each other and +night never darkened but upon strife and death.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="a-turkey-hunt"><span class="bold large">XIII</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">A TURKEY-HUNT</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>Upon awakening in the early morning +Ken found his state one of huge +enjoyment. He was still lazily tired, but the +dead drag and ache had gone from his bones. +A cool breeze wafted the mist from the river, +breaking it up into clouds, between which +streamed rosy shafts of sunlight. Wood-smoke +from the fire Pepe was starting blew +fragrantly over him. A hundred thousand +birds seemed to be trying to burst their +throats. The air was full of music. He lay +still, listening to this melodious herald of the +day till it ceased.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then a flock of parrots approached and +circled over the island, screeching like a band +of flying imps. Presently they alighted in +the cypresses, bending the branches to a +breaking-point and giving the trees a spotted +appearance of green and red. Pepe waved +his hand toward another flock sweeping over.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Parrakeets," he said.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>These birds were a solid green, much smaller +than the red-heads, with longer tails. They +appeared wilder than the red-heads, and flew +higher, circling the same way and screeching, +but they did not alight. Other flocks sailed +presently from all directions. The last one +was a cloud of parrots, a shining green and +yellow mass several acres in extent. They +flew still higher than the parrakeets.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Yellow-heads!" shouted George. "They're +the big fellows, the talkers. If there ain't a +million of 'em!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boys ate breakfast in a din that made +conversation useless. The red-heads swooped +down upon the island, and the two unfriendly +species flew back and forth, manifestly trying +to drive the boys off. The mist had blown +away, the sun was shining bright, when the +myriad of parrots, in large and small flocks, +departed to other jungle haunts.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe rowed across the wide shoal to the +sand-bars. There in the soft ooze, among +the hundreds of deer-tracks, Ken found a +jaguar-track larger than his spread hand. +It was different from a lion-track, yet he could +not distinguish just what the difference was. +Pepe, who had accompanied the boys to +carry the rifles and game, pointed to the track +and said, vehemently:</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Tigre!" He pronounced it "tee-gray." And +he added, "Grande!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Big he certainly is," Ken replied. "Boys, +we'll kill this jaguar. We'll bait this +drinking-trail with a deer carcass and watch to-night."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Once upon the bank, Ken was surprised +to see a wide stretch of comparatively flat +land. It was covered with a low vegetation, +with here and there palm-trees on the little +ridges and bamboo clumps down in the swales. +Beyond the flat rose the dark line of dense +jungle. It was not clear to Ken why that low +piece of ground was not overgrown with the +matted thickets and vines and big trees +characteristic of other parts of the jungle. +They struck into one of the trails, and had +not gone a hundred paces when they espied +a herd of deer. The grass and low bushes +almost covered them. George handed his +shotgun to Pepe and took his rifle.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Shoot low," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George pulled the trigger, and with the +report a deer went down, but it was not the one +Ken was looking at, nor the one at which he +believed George had aimed. The rest of the +herd bounded away, to disappear in a swale. +Wading through bushes and grass, they found +George's quarry, a small deer weighing +perhaps sixty pounds. Pepe carried it over to +the trail. Ken noted that he was exceedingly +happy to carry the rifles. They went on at +random, somehow feeling that, no matter in +what direction, they would run into something +to shoot at.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The first bamboo swale was alive with +</span><em class="italics">chicalocki</em><span>. Up to this time Ken had not +seen this beautiful pheasant fly in the open, +and he was astonished at its speed. It +would burst out of the thick bamboo, whir its +wings swiftly, then sail. That sail was a most +graceful thing to see. George pulled his +16-gage twice, and missed both times. He +had the beginner's fault--shooting too soon. +Presently Pepe beat a big cock </span><em class="italics">chicalocki</em><span> +out of the bush. He made such a fine target, +he sailed so evenly, that Ken simply looked +at him over the gun-sights and followed him +till he was out of sight. The next one he +dropped like a plummet. Shooting </span><em class="italics">chicalocki</em><span> +was too easy, he decided; they presented so +fair a mark that it was unfair to pull on them.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George was an impetuous hunter. Ken +could not keep near him, nor coax or command +him to stay near. He would wander off by +himself. That was one mark in his favor: +at least he had no fear. Pepe hung close to +Ken and Hal, with his dark eyes roving +everywhere. Ken climbed out on one side of the +swale, George on the other. Catching his +whistle, Ken turned to look after him. He +waved, and, pointing ahead, began to stoop +and slip along from bush to bush. Presently +a flock of Muscovy ducks rose before him, +sailed a few rods, and alighted. Then from +right under his feet labored up great gray +birds. Wild geese! Ken recognized them +as George's gun went </span><em class="italics">bang</em><span>! One tumbled +over, the others wheeled toward the river. +Ken started down into the swale to cross to +where George was, when Pepe touched his arm.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Turkeys!" he whispered.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>That changed Ken's mind. Pepe pointed +into the low bushes ahead and slowly led +Ken forward. He heard a peculiar low +thumping. Trails led everywhere, and here and +there were open patches covered with a scant +growth of grass. Across one of these flashed +a bronze streak, then another and another.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Shoot! Shoot!" said Pepe, tensely.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Those bronze streaks were running turkeys! +The thumpings were made by their rapidly +moving feet!</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't they flush--fly?" Ken queried of Pepe.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"No--no--shoot!" exclaimed he, as another +streak of brown crossed an open spot. Ken +hurriedly unbreached his gun and changed +the light shells for others loaded with heavy +shot. He reached the edge of a bare spot +across which a turkey ran with incredible +swiftness. He did not get the gun in line +with it at all. Then two more broke out +of the bushes. Run! They were as swift as +flying quail. Ken took two snap-shots, and +missed both times. If any one had told him +that he would miss a running turkey at fifty +feet, he would have been insulted. But he +did not loosen a feather. Loading again, he +yelled for George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hey, George--turkeys!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He whooped, and started across on the run.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Gee!" said Hal. "Ken, I couldn't do +any worse shooting than you. Let me take +a few pegs."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken handed over the heavy gun and fell +back a little, giving Hal the lead. They +walked on, peering closely into the bushes. +Suddenly a beautiful big gobbler ran out of a +thicket, and then stopped to stretch out his +long neck and look.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Shoot--hurry!" whispered Ken. "What a chance!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"That's a tame turkey," said Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Tame! Why, you tenderfoot! He's as +wild as wild. Can't you see that?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken's excitement and Pepe's intense +eagerness all at once seemed communicated to Hal. +He hauled up the gun, fingered the triggers +awkwardly, then shot both barrels. He tore +a tremendous hole in the brush some few feet +to one side of the turkey. Then the great +bird ran swiftly out of sight.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Didn't want to kill him sitting, anyhow," +said Hal, handing the gun back to Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"We want to eat some wild turkey, don't +we? Well, we'd better take any chance. +These birds are game, Hal, and don't you +forget that!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What's all the shooting?" panted George, +as he joined the march.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Just then there was a roar in the bushes, +and a brown blur rose and whizzed ahead like +a huge bullet. That turkey had flushed. +Ken watched him fly till he went down out +of sight into a distant swale.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pretty nifty flier, eh?" said George. +"He was too quick for me."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Great!" replied Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>There was another roar, and a huge bronze +cannon-ball sped straight ahead. Ken shot +both barrels, then George shot one, all clean +misses. Ken watched this turkey fly, and saw +him clearer. He had to admit that the wild +turkey of the Tamaulipas jungle had a +swifter and more beautiful flight than his +favorite bird, the ruffled grouse.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Walk faster," said George. "They'll flush +better. I don't see how I'm to hit one. This +goose I'm carrying weighs about a ton."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The hunters hurried along, crashing through +the bushes. They saw turkey after turkey. +</span><em class="italics">Bang!</em><span> went George's gun.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then a beautiful sight made Ken cry out +and forget to shoot. Six turkeys darted across +an open patch--how swiftly they ran!--then +rose in a bunch. The roar they made, the +wonderfully rapid action of their powerful +wings, and then the size of them, their +wildness and noble gameness made them the royal +game for Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>At the next threshing in the bushes his gun +was leveled; he covered the whistling bronze +thing that shot up. The turkey went down +with a crash. Pepe yelled, and as he ran +forward the air all about him was full of fine +bronze feathers. Ken hurried forward to +see his bird. Its strength and symmetry, +and especially the beautiful shades of bronze, +captivated his eye.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Come on, boys--this is the greatest game +I ever hunted," he called.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Again Pepe yelled, and this time he pointed. +From where Ken stood he could not see +anything except low, green bushes. In great +excitement George threw up his gun and shot. +Ken heard a squealing.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Javelin! Javelin!" yelled Pepe, in piercing +alarm.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George jerked a rifle from him and began to +shoot. Hal pumped his .22 into the bushes. +The trampling of hard little hoofs and a +cloud of dust warned Ken where the javelin +were. Suddenly Pepe broke and fled for the +river.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hyar, Pepe, fetch back my rifle," shouted +Ken, angrily.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe ran all the faster.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George turned and dashed away yelling: +"Wild pigs! Wild pigs!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Look out, Ken! Run! Run!" added Hal; +and he likewise took to his heels.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It looked as if there was nothing else for Ken +to do but to make tracks from that vicinity. +Never before had he run from a danger which +he had not seen; but the flight of the boys was +irresistibly contagious, and this, coupled with +the many stories he had heard of the </span><em class="italics">javelin</em><span>, +made Ken execute a sprint that would have +been a record but for the hampering weight +of gun and turkey. He vowed he would hold +on to both, pigs or no pigs; nevertheless he +listened as he ran and nervously looked back +often. It may have been excited imagination +that the dust-cloud appeared to be traveling +in his wake. Fortunately, the distance to the +river did not exceed a short quarter of a mile. +Hot, winded, and thoroughly disgusted with +himself, Ken halted on the bank. Pepe was +already in the boat, and George was +scrambling aboard.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"A fine--chase--you've given--me," Ken +panted. "There's nothing--after us."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't you fool yourself," returned George, +quickly. "I saw those pigs, and, like the ass +I am, I blazed away at one with my shotgun."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Did he run at you? That's what I want +to know?" demanded Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George said he was not certain about that, +but declared there always was danger if a +wounded </span><em class="italics">javelin</em><span> squealed. Pepe had little +to say; he refused to go back after the deer +left in the trail. So they rowed across the +shoal, and on the way passed within a rod of a +big crocodile.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Look at that fellow," cried George. "Wish +I had my rifle loaded. He's fifteen feet long."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh no, George, he's not more than ten +feet," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You don't see his tail. He's a whopper. +Pepe told me there was one in this pool. +We'll get him, all right."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They reached camp tired out, and all a +little ruffled in temper, which certainly was +not eased by the discovery that they were +covered with ticks. Following the cue of his +companions, Ken hurriedly stripped off his +clothes and hung them where they could +singe over the camp-fire. There were broad +red bands of </span><em class="italics">pinilius</em><span> round both ankles, and +reddish patches on the skin of his arms. Here +and there were black spots about the size +of his little finger-nail, and these were +</span><em class="italics">garrapatoes</em><span>. He picked these off one by one, rather +surprised to find them come off so easily. +Suddenly he jumped straight up with a pain +as fierce as if it had been a puncture from a +red-hot wire.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe grinned; and George cried:</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Aha! that was a garrapato bite, that was! +You just wait!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George had a hundred or more of the big +black ticks upon him, and he was remorselessly +popping them with his cigarette. Some +of them were biting him, too, judging from the +way he flinched. Pepe had attracted to +himself a million or more of the </span><em class="italics">pinilius</em><span>, but very +few of the larger pests. He generously came +to Ken's assistance. Ken was trying to pull +off the </span><em class="italics">garrapato</em><span> that had bitten a hole in +him. Pepe said it had embedded its head, +and if pulled would come apart, leaving the +head buried in the flesh, which would cause +inflammation. Pepe held the glowing end +of his cigarette close over the tick, and it +began to squirm and pull out its head. When +it was free of the flesh Pepe suddenly touched +it with the cigarette, and it exploded with a +pop. A difficult question was: Which hurt +Ken the most, the burn from the cigarette or +the bite of the tick? Pepe scraped off as many +</span><em class="italics">pinilius</em><span> as would come, and then rubbed +Ken with </span><em class="italics">canya</em><span>, the native alcohol. If this +was not some kind of vitriol, Ken missed his +guess. It smarted so keenly he thought his +skin was peeling off. Presently, however, +the smarting subsided, and so did the ticks.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal, who by far was the most sensitive one +in regard to the crawling and biting of the +jungle pests, had been remarkably fortunate +in escaping them. So he made good use of +his opportunity to poke fun at the others, +particularly Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George snapped out: "Just wait, Hollering Hal!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't you call me that!" said Hal, +belligerently.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken eyed his brother in silence, but with +a dark, meaning glance. It had occurred to +Ken that here in this jungle was the only place +in the world where he could hope to pay off +old scores on Hal. And plots began to form +in his mind.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They lounged about camp, resting in the +shade during the hot midday hours. For +supper they had a superfluity of meat, the +waste of which Ken deplored, and he +assuaged his conscience by deciding to have +a taste of each kind. The wild turkey he +found the most toothsome, delicious meat it +had ever been his pleasure to eat. What +struck him at once was the flavor, and he +could not understand it until Pepe explained +that the jungle turkey lived upon a red pepper. +So the Tamaulipas wild turkey turned out +to be doubly the finest game he had ever shot.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>All afternoon the big crocodile sunned +himself on the surface of the shoal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken wanted a crocodile-skin, and this was +a chance to get one; but he thought it as well +to wait, and kept the boys from wasting +ammunition.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Before sundown Pepe went across the river +and fetched the deer carcass down to the +sandbar, where the jaguar-trail led to the water.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>At twilight Ken stationed the boys at the +lower end of the island, ambushed behind +stones. He placed George and Pepe some +rods below his own position. They had +George's .32 rifle, and the 16-gage loaded with +a solid ball. Ken put Hal, with the +double-barreled shotgun, also loaded with ball, some +little distance above. And Ken, armed with +his automatic, hid just opposite the deer-trails.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Be careful where you shoot," Ken warned +repeatedly. "Be cool--think quick--and aim."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken settled down for a long wait, some +fifty yards from the deer carcass. A +wonderful procession of wild fowl winged swift +flight over his head. They flew very low. +It was strange to note the difference in the +sound of their flying. The cranes and herons +softly swished the air, the teal and canvasbacks +whirred by, and the great Muscovies +whizzed like bullets.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When the first deer came down to drink it +was almost dark, and when they left the moon +was up, though obscured by clouds. Faint +sounds rose from the other side of the island. +Ken listened until his ears ached, but he could +hear nothing. Heavier clouds drifted over +the moon. The deer carcass became +indistinct, and then faded entirely, and the bar +itself grew vague. He was about to give up +watching for that night when he heard a faint +rustling below. Following it came a grating +or crunching of gravel.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Bright flares split the darkness--</span><em class="italics">crack! crack!</em><span> +rang out George's rifle, then the heavy +</span><em class="italics">boom! boom!</em><span> of the shotgun.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"There he is!" yelled George. "He's down--we +got him--there's two! Look out!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">Boom! Boom!</em><span> roared the heavy shotgun +from Hal's covert.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George missed him! I got him!" yelled +Hal. "No, there he goes--Ken! Ken!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken caught the flash of a long gray body +in the hazy gloom of the bar and took a +quick shot at it. The steel-jacketed bullet +scattered the gravel and then hummed over +the bank. The gray body moved fast up the +bank. Ken could just see it. He turned +loose the little automatic and made the +welkin ring.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="a-fight-with-a-jaguar"><span class="bold large">XIV</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">A FIGHT WITH A JAGUAR</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>When the echoes of the shots died away +the stillness seemed all the deeper. No +rustle in the brush or scuffle on the sand +gave evidence of a wounded or dying jaguar. +George and Hal and Pepe declared there +were two tigers, and that they had hit one. +Ken walked out upon the stones till he could +see the opposite bar, but was not rewarded +by a sight of dead game. Thereupon they +returned to camp, somewhat discouraged at +their ill luck, but planning another night-watch.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In the morning George complained that he +did not feel well. Ken told him he had been +eating too much fresh meat, and that he had +better be careful. Then Ken set off alone, +crossed the river, and found that the deer +carcass was gone. In the sand near where +it had lain were plenty of cat-tracks, but none +of the big jaguar. Upon closer scrutiny he +found the cat-tracks to be those of a panther. +He had half dragged, half carried the carcass +up one of the steep trails, but from that point +there was no further trace.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken struck out across the flat, intending +to go as far as the jungle. Turtle-doves +fluttered before him in numberless flocks. +Far to one side he saw Muscovy ducks rising, +sailing a few rods, then alighting. This +occurred several times before he understood +what it meant. There was probably a large +flock feeding on the flat, and the ones in the +rear were continually flying to get ahead of +those to the fore.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Several turkeys ran through the bushes +before Ken, but as he was carrying a rifle +he paid little heed to them. He kept a keen +lookout for </span><em class="italics">javelin</em><span>. Two or three times he +was tempted to turn off the trail into little +bamboo hollows; this, however, owing to a +repugnance to ticks, he did not do. Finally, +as he neared the high moss-decked wall of +the jungle, he came upon a runway leading +through the bottom of a deep swale, and here +he found tiger-tracks.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Farther down the swale, under a great +cluster of bamboo, he saw the scattered bones +of several deer. Ken was sure that in this +spot the lord of the jungle had feasted more +than once. It was an open hollow, with the +ground bare under the bamboos. The runway +led on into dense, leafy jungle. Ken planned +to bait that lair with a deer carcass and watch +it during the late afternoon.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>First, it was necessary to get the deer. +This might prove bothersome, for Ken's hands +and wrists were already sprinkled with </span><em class="italics">pinilius</em><span>, +and he certainly did not want to stay very +long in the brush. Ken imagined he felt an +itching all the time, and writhed inside his +clothes.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, blame you! bite!" he exclaimed, +resignedly, and stepped into the low bushes. +He went up and out of the swale. Scarcely +had he reached a level when he saw a troop +of deer within easy range. Before they +winded danger Ken shot, and the one he had +singled out took a few bounds, then fell over +sideways. The others ran off into the brush. +Ken remembered that the old hunter on +Penetier had told him how seldom a deer +dropped at once. When he saw the work of +the soft-nose .351 bullet, he no longer +wondered at this deer falling almost in his +tracks.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"If I ever hit a jaguar like that it will be all +day with him," was Ken's comment.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>There were two things about hunting the +jaguar that Ken had been bidden to keep in +mind--fierce aggressiveness and remarkable +tenacity of life.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken dragged the deer down into the +bamboo swale and skinned out a haunch. Next +to wild-turkey meat, he liked venison best. +He was glad to have that as an excuse, for +killing these tame tropical deer seemed like +murder to Ken. He left the carcass in a +favorable place and then hurried back to camp.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>To Ken's relief, he managed to escape +bringing any </span><em class="italics">garrapatoes</em><span> with him, but it +took a half-hour to rid himself of the +collection of </span><em class="italics">pinilius</em><span>.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George, ask Pepe what's the difference +between a garrapato and a pinilius," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"The big tick is the little one's mother," +replied Pepe.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Gee! you fellows fuss a lot about ticks," +said Hal, looking up from his task. He was +building more pens to accommodate the +turtles, snakes, snails, mice, and young birds +that he had captured during the morning.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe said there were few ticks there in the +uplands compared to the number down along +the Panuco River. In the lowlands where +the cattle roamed there were millions in every +square rod. The under side of every leaf and +blade of grass was red with ticks. The size +of these pests depended on whether or not they +got a chance to stick to a steer or any beast. +They appeared to live indefinitely, but if they +could not suck blood they could not grow. +The </span><em class="italics">pinilius</em><span> grew into a </span><em class="italics">garrapato</em><span>, and a +</span><em class="italics">garrapato</em><span> bred a hundred thousand </span><em class="italics">pinilius</em><span> +in her body. Two singular things concerning +these ticks were that they always crawled +upward, and they vanished from the earth +during the wet season.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken soaked his Duxbax hunting-suit in +kerosene in the hope that this method would +enable him to spend a reasonable time +hunting. Then, while the other boys fished and +played around, he waited for the long, hot +hours to pass. It was cool in the shade, but +the sunlight resembled the heat of fire. At +last five o'clock came, and Ken put on the +damp suit. Soaked with the oil, it was +heavier and hotter than sealskin, and before +he got across the river he was nearly roasted. +The evening wind sprang up, and the gusts +were like blasts from a furnace. Ken's body +was bathed in perspiration; it ran down his +wrists, over his hands, and wet the gun. +This cure for ticks--if it were one--was +worse than their bites. When he reached the +shade of the bamboo swale it was none too +soon for him. He threw off the coat, noticing +there were more ticks upon it than at +anytime before. The bottom of his trousers, +too, had gathered an exceeding quantity. He +brushed them off, muttering the while that +he believed they liked kerosene, and looked +as if they were drinking it. Ken found it +easy, however, to brush them off the wet +Duxbax, and soon composed himself to rest +and watch.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The position chosen afforded Ken a clear +view of the bare space under the bamboos +and of the hollow where the runway +disappeared in the jungle. The deer carcass, +which lay as he had left it, was about a +hundred feet from him. This seemed rather +close, but he had to accept it, for if he had +moved farther away he could not have +commanded both points.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken sat with his back against a clump of +bamboos, the little rifle across his knees and +an extra clip of cartridges on the ground +at his left. After taking that position he +determined not to move a yard when the tiger +came, and to kill him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken went over in mind the lessons he had +learned hunting bear in Penetier Forest with +old Hiram Bent and lassoing lions on the +wild north-rim of the Grand Cañon. Ken +knew that the thing for a hunter to do, when +his quarry was dangerous, was to make up +his mind beforehand. Ken had twelve powerful +shells that he could shoot in the half of +twelve seconds. He would have been willing +to face two jaguars.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The sun set and the wind died down. +What a relief was the cooling shade! The +little breeze that was left fortunately blew at +right angles to the swale, so that there did +not seem much danger of the tiger winding +Ken down the jungle runway.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>For long moments he was tense and alert. +He listened till he thought he had almost +lost the sense of hearing. The jungle leaves +were whispering; the insects were humming. +He had expected to hear myriad birds and +see processions of deer, and perhaps a drove +of </span><em class="italics">javelin</em><span>. But if any living creatures +ventured near him it was without his knowledge. +The hour between sunset and twilight passed--a +long wait; still he did not lose the feeling +that something would happen. Ken's faculties +of alertness tired, however, and needed +distraction. So he took stock of the big +clump of bamboos under which lay the deer +carcass.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was a remarkable growth, that gracefully +drooping cluster of slender bamboo poles. He +remembered how, as a youngster, not many +years back, he had wondered where the +fishing-poles came from. Here Ken counted +one hundred and sixty-nine in a clump no +larger than a barrel. They were yellow in +color with black bands, and they rose straight +for a few yards, then began to lean out, to +bend slightly, at last to droop with their +abundance of spiked leaves. Ken was getting +down to a real, interested study of this +species of jungle growth when a noise startled +him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He straightened out of his lounging position +and looked around. The sound puzzled him. +He could not place its direction or name what +it was. The jungle seemed strangely quiet. +He listened. After a moment of waiting he +again heard the sound. Instantly Ken was +as tense and vibrating as a violin string. The +thing he had heard was from the lungs of +some jungle beast. He was almost ready to +pronounce it a cough. Warily he glanced +around, craning his neck. Then a deep, +hoarse growl made him whirl.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>There stood a jaguar with head up and paw +on the deer carcass. Ken imagined he felt +perfectly cool, but he knew he was astounded. +And even as he cautiously edged the rifle +over his knee he took in the beautiful points +of the jaguar. He was yellow, almost white, +with black spots. He was short and stocky, +with powerful stumpy bow-legs. But his +head most amazed Ken. It was enormous. +And the expression of his face was so +singularly savage and wild that Ken seemed to +realize instantly the difference between a +mountain-lion and this fierce tropical brute.</span></p> +<p class="pnext" id="id1"><span>The jaguar opened his jaws threateningly. +He had an enormous stretch of jaw. His long, +yellow fangs gleamed. He growled again.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Not hurriedly, nor yet slowly, Ken fired.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He heard the bullet strike him as plainly +as if he had hit him with a board. He saw +dust fly from his hide. Ken expected to see +the jaguar roll over. Instead of that he leaped +straight up with a terrible roar. Something +within Ken shook. He felt cold and sick.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When the jaguar came down, sprawled on +all fours, Ken pulled the automatic again, +and he saw the fur fly. Then the jaguar +leaped forward with a strange, hoarse cry. +Ken shot again, and knocked the beast flat. +He tumbled and wrestled about, scattering the +dust and brush. Three times more Ken fired, +too hastily, and inflicted only slight wounds.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In reloading Ken tried to be deliberate in +snapping in the second clip and pushing down +the rod that threw the shell into the barrel. +But his hands shook. His fingers were all +thumbs, and he fumbled at the breech of the +rifle.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In that interval, if the jaguar could have +kept his sense of direction, he would have +reached Ken. But the beast zigzagged; he +had lost his equilibrium; he was hard hit.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then he leaped magnificently. He landed +within twenty-five feet of Ken, and when +he plunged down he rolled clear over. Ken +shot him through and through. Yet he got +up, wheezing blood, uttering a hoarse bellow, +and made again at Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken had been cold, sick. Now panic +almost overpowered him. The rifle wabbled. +The bamboo glade blurred in his sight. A +terrible dizziness and numbness almost +paralyzed him. He was weakening, sinking, when +thought of life at stake lent him a momentary +grim and desperate spirit.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Once while the jaguar was in the air Ken +pulled, twice while he was down. Then the +jaguar stood up pawing the air with great +spread claws, coughing, bleeding, roaring. +He was horrible.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken shot him straight between the +wide-spread paws.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>With twisted body, staggering, and blowing +bloody froth all over Ken, the big tiger blindly +lunged forward and crashed to earth.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then began a furious wrestling. Ken +imagined it was the death-throes of the jaguar. +Ken could not see him down among the leaves +and vines; nevertheless, he shot into the +commotion. The struggles ceased. Then a +movement of the weeds showed Ken that the +jaguar was creeping toward the jungle.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken fell rather than sat down. He found +he was wringing wet with cold sweat. He was +panting hard.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, but--that--was--awful!" he gasped. +"What--was--wrong--with me?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He began to reload the clips. They were +difficult to load for even a calm person, and +now, in the reaction, Ken was the farthest +removed from calm. The jaguar crept steadily +away, as Ken could tell by the swaying +weeds and shaking vines.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What--a hard-lived beast!" muttered Ken. +"I--must have shot--him all to pieces. Yet +he's getting away from me."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>At last Ken's trembling fingers pushed +some shells in the two clips, and once more +he reloaded the rifle. Then he stood up, +drew a deep, full breath, and made a strong +effort at composure.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I've shot at bear--and deer--and lions +out West," said Ken. "But this was different. +I'll never get over it."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>How close that jaguar came to reaching +Ken was proved by the blood coughed into +his face. He recalled that he had felt the +wind of one great sweeping paw.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken regained his courage and determination. +He meant to have that beautiful +spotted skin for his den. So he hurried along +the runway and entered the jungle. Beyond +the edge, where the bushes made a dense +thicket, it was dry forest, with little green +low down. The hollow gave place to a dry +wash. He could not see the jaguar, but he +could hear him dragging himself through the +brush, cracking sticks, shaking saplings.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Presently Ken ran across a bloody trail +and followed it. Every little while he would +stop to listen. When the wounded jaguar +was still, he waited until he started to move +again. It was hard going. The brush was +thick, and had to be broken and crawled +under or through. As Ken had left his coat +behind, his shirt was soon torn to rags. He +peered ahead with sharp eyes, expecting every +minute to come in sight of the poor, crippled +beast. He wanted to put him out of agony. +So he kept on doggedly for what must have +been a long time.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The first premonition he had of carelessness +was to note that the shadows were +gathering in the jungle. It would soon be +night. He must turn back while there was +light enough to follow his back track out +to the open. The second came in shape of +a hot pain in his arm, as keen as if he had +jagged it with a thorn. Holding it out, he +discovered to his dismay that it was spotted +with </span><em class="italics">garrapatoes</em><span>.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="the-vicious-garrapatoes"><span class="bold large">XV</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE VICIOUS GARRAPATOES</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>At once Ken turned back, and if he thought +again of the jaguar it was that he could +come after him the next day or send Pepe. +Another vicious bite, this time on his leg, +confirmed his suspicions that many of the +ticks had been on him long enough to get +their heads in. Then he was bitten in several +places.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Those bites were as hot as the touch of a +live coal, yet they made Ken break out in +dripping cold sweat. It was imperative that +he get back to camp without losing a moment +which could be saved. From a rapid walk +he fell into a trot. He got off his back trail +and had to hunt for it. Every time a tick +bit he jumped as if stung. The worst of it +was that he knew he was collecting more +</span><em class="italics">garrapatoes</em><span> with almost every step. When +he grasped a dead branch to push it out of +the way he could feel the ticks cling to his +hand. Then he would whip his arm in the +air, flinging some of them off to patter on the +dry ground. Impossible as it was to run +through that matted jungle, Ken almost +accomplished it. When he got out into the +open he did run, not even stopping for his +coat, and he crossed the flat at top speed.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was almost dark when Ken reached the +river-bank and dashed down to frighten a +herd of drinking deer. He waded the narrowest +part of the shoal. Running up the island +he burst into the bright circle of camp-fire. +Pepe dropped a stew-pan and began to jabber. +George dove for a gun.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What's after you?" shouted Hal, in alarm.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken was so choked up and breathless that +at first he could not speak. His fierce aspect +and actions, as he tore off his sleeveless and +ragged shirt and threw it into the fire, added +to the boys' fright.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Good Lord! are you bug-house, Ken?" +shrieked Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Bug-house! Yes!</em><span>" roared Ken, swiftly +undressing. "Look at me!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In the bright glare he showed his arms +black with </span><em class="italics">garrapatoes</em><span> and a sprinkling of +black dots over the rest of his body.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Is that all?" demanded Hal, in real or +simulated scorn. "Gee! but you're a brave +hunter. I thought not less than six tigers +were after you."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I'd rather have six tigers after me," +yelled Ken. "You little freckle-faced redhead!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was seldom indeed that Ken called his +brother that name. Hal was proof against +any epithets except that one relating to his +freckles and his hair. But just now Ken +felt that he was being eaten alive. He was +in an agony, and he lost his temper. And +therefore he laid himself open to Hal's +scathing humor.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Never mind the kid," said Ken to Pepe +and George. "Hurry now, and get busy with +these devils on me."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was well for Ken that he had a native +like Pepe with him. For Pepe knew just +what to do. First he dashed a bucket of cold +water over Ken. How welcome that was!</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pepe says for you to point out the ticks +that 're biting the hardest," said George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In spite of his pain Ken stared in mute +surprise.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pepe wants you to point out the ticks +that are digging in the deepest," explained +George. "Get a move on, now."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What!" roared Ken, glaring at Pepe and +George. He thought even the native might +be having fun with him. And for Ken this +was not a funny time.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But Pepe was in dead earnest.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, it's impossible to tell </span><em class="italics">where</em><span> I'm being +bitten most! It's all over!" protested Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Still he discovered that by absolute +concentration on the pain he was enduring he +was able to locate the severest points. And +that showed him the soundness of Pepe's +advice.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Here--this one--here--there.... Oh! here," +began Ken, indicating certain ticks.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Not so fast, now," interrupted the +imperturbable George, as he and Pepe set to +work upon Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then the red-hot cigarette-tips scorched +Ken's skin. Ken kept pointing and +accompanying his directions with wild gestures +and exclamations.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Here.... Oo-oo! Here.... Wow! Here.... +Ouch!--that one stung! Here.... </span><em class="italics">Augh</em><span>! +Say, can't you hurry? Here! ... Oh! that +one was in a mile! Here.... </span><em class="italics">Hold on</em><span>! +You're burning a hole in me! ... George, +you're having fun out of this. Pepe gets two +to your one."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"He's been popping ticks all his life," was +George's reasonable protest.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hurry!" cried Ken, in desperation. +"George, if you monkey round--fool over +this job--I'll--I'll punch you good."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>All this trying time Hal Ward sat on a +log and watched the proceedings with great +interest and humor. Sometimes he smiled, +at others he laughed, and yet again he burst +out into uproarious mirth.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George, he wouldn't punch anybody," +said Hal. "I tell you he's all in. He hasn't +any nerve left. It's a chance of your life. +You'll never get another. He's been bossing +you around. Pay him up. Make him holler. +Why, what's a few little ticks? Wouldn't +phase me! But Ken Ward's such a delicate, +fine-skinned, sensitive, girly kind of a boy! +He's too nice to be bitten by bugs. Oh +dear, yes, yes! ... Ken, why don't you show +courage?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken shook his fist at Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"All right," said Ken, grimly. "Have all +the fun you can. Because I'll get even with you."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal relapsed into silence, and Ken began to +believe he had intimidated his brother. But +he soon realized how foolish it was to suppose +such a thing. Hal had only been working +his fertile brain.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George, here's a little verse for the +occasion," said Hal.</span></p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line"><span>"There was a brave hunter named Ken,</span></div> +<div class="line"><span>And he loved to get skins for his den,</span></div> +<div class="line"><span>Not afraid was he of tigers or pigs,</span></div> +<div class="line"><span>Or snakes or cats or any such things,</span></div> +<div class="line"><span>But one day in the jungle he left his clothes,</span></div> +<div class="line"><span>And came hollering back with </span><em class="italics">garrapatoes</em><span>."</span></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst"><span>"Gre-at-t-t!" sputtered Ken. "Oh, brother +mine, we're a long way from home, I'll +make you crawl."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe smoked, and wore out three cigarettes, +and George two, before they had popped all +the biting ticks. Then Ken was still covered +with them. Pepe bathed him in </span><em class="italics">canya</em><span>, +which was like a bath of fire, and soon removed +them all. Ken felt flayed alive, peeled of his +skin, and sprinkled with fiery sparks. When +he lay down he was as weak as a sick cat. +Pepe said the </span><em class="italics">canya</em><span> would very soon take the +sting away, but it was some time before Ken +was resting easily.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It would not have been fair to ask Ken just +then whether the prize for which he worked +was worth his present gain. </span><em class="italics">Garrapatoes</em><span> may +not seem important to one who simply reads +about them, but such pests are a formidable +feature of tropical life.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>However, Ken presently felt that he was +himself again.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then he put his mind to the serious problem +of his note-book and the plotting of the +island. As far as his trip was concerned, +Cypress Island was an important point. +When he had completed his map down to +the island, he went on to his notes. He +believed that what he had found out from his +knowledge of forestry was really worth +something. He had seen a gradual increase in the +size and number of trees as he had proceeded +down the river, a difference in the density and +color of the jungle, a flattening-out of the +mountain range, and a gradual change from +rocky to clayey soil. And on the whole his +note-book began to assume such a character +that he was beginning to feel willing to submit +it to his uncle.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="field-work-of-a-naturalist"><span class="bold large">XVI</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">FIELD WORK OF A NATURALIST</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>That night Ken talked natural history to +the boys and read extracts from a small +copy of Sclater he had brought with him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They were all particularly interested in the +cat tribe.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The fore feet of all cats have five toes, the +hind feet only four. Their claws are curved +and sharp, and, except in case of one species +of leopard, can be retracted in their sheaths. +The claws of the great cat species are kept +sharp by pulling them down through bark +of trees. All cats walk on their toes. And +the stealthy walk is due to hairy pads or +cushions. The claws of a cat do not show in +its track as do those of a dog. The tongues +of all cats are furnished with large papillæ. +They are like files, and the use is to lick bones +and clean their fur. Their long whiskers are +delicate organs of perception to aid them in +finding their way on their night quests. The +eyes of all cats are large and full, and can be +altered by contraction or expansion of iris, +according to the amount of light they receive. +The usual color is gray or tawny with dark +spots or stripes. The uniform tawny color +of the lion and the panther is perhaps an +acquired color, probably from the habit of +these animals of living in desert countries. It +is likely that in primitive times cats were all +spotted or striped.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Naturally the boys were most interested +in the jaguar, which is the largest of the cat +tribe in the New World. The jaguar ranges +from northern Mexico to northern Patagonia. +Its spots are larger than those of the leopard. +Their ground color is a rich tan or yellow, +sometimes almost gold. Large specimens +have been known nearly seven feet from nose +to end of tail.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The jaguar is an expert climber and +swimmer. Humboldt says that where the South +American forests are subject to floods the +jaguar sometimes takes to tree life, living on +monkeys. All naturalists agree on the +ferocious nature of jaguars, and on the loudness +and frequency of their cries. There is no +record of their attacking human beings +without provocation. Their favorite haunts are +the banks of jungle rivers, and they often prey +upon fish and turtles.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The attack of a jaguar is terrible. It +leaps on the back of its prey and breaks its +neck. In some places there are well-known +scratching trees where jaguars sharpen their +claws. The bark is worn smooth in front +from contact with the breasts of the animals +as they stand up, and there is a deep groove +on each side. When new scars appear on +these trees it is known that jaguars are in the +vicinity. The cry of the jaguar is loud, deep, +hoarse, something like </span><em class="italics">pu, pu, pu</em><span>. There is +much enmity between the panther, or mountain-lion, +and the jaguar, and it is very strange +that generally the jaguar fears the lion, +although he is larger and more powerful.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe had interesting things to say about +jaguars, or </span><em class="italics">tigres</em><span>, as he called them. But +Ken, of course, could not tell how much +Pepe said was truth and how much just native +talk. At any rate, Pepe told of one Mexican +who had a blind and deaf jaguar that he had +tamed. Ken knew that naturalists claimed +the jaguar could not be tamed, but in this +instance Ken was inclined to believe Pepe. +This blind jaguar was enormous in size, +terrible of aspect, and had been trained to +trail anything his master set him to. And +Tigre, as he was called, never slept or stopped +till he had killed the thing he was trailing. +As he was blind and deaf, his power of scent +had been abnormally developed.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe told of a fight between a huge crocodile +and a jaguar in which both were killed. He +said jaguars stalked natives and had absolutely +no fear. He knew natives who said that +jaguars had made off with children and eaten +them. Lastly, Pepe told of an incident that +had happened in Tampico the year before. +There was a ship at dock below Tampico, +just on the outskirts where the jungle began, +and one day at noon two big jaguars leaped +on the deck. They frightened the crew out +of their wits. George verified this story, and +added that the jaguars had been chased by +dogs, had boarded the ship, where they +climbed into the rigging, and stayed there +till they were shot.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," said Ken, thoughtfully, "from my +experience I believe a jaguar would do anything."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The following day promised to be a busy +one for Hal, without any time for tricks. +George went hunting before breakfast--in +fact, before the others were up--and just as +the boys were sitting down to eat he appeared +on the nearer bank and yelled for Pepe. +It developed that for once George had bagged game.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He had a black squirrel, a small striped +wildcat, a peccary, a three-foot crocodile, and a +duck of rare plumage.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>After breakfast Hal straightway got busy, +and his skill and knowledge earned praise +from George and Pepe. They volunteered +to help, which offer Hal gratefully accepted. +He had brought along a folding canvas tank, +forceps, knives, scissors, several packages of +preservatives, and tin boxes in which to pack +small skins.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>His first task was to mix a salt solution +in the canvas tank. This was for immersing +skins. Then he made a paste of salt and +alum, and after that a mixture of two-thirds +glycerin and one-third water and carbolic +acid, which was for preserving small skins +and to keep them soft.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>And as he worked he gave George directions +on how to proceed with the wildcat +and squirrel skins.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Skin carefully and tack up the pelts fur +side down. Scrape off all the fat and oil, +but don't scrape through. To-morrow when +the skins are dry soak them in cold water +till soft. Then take them out and squeeze +dry. I'll make a solution of three quarts +water, one-half pint salt, and one ounce oil +of vitriol. Put the skins in that for half an +hour. Squeeze dry again, and hang in shade. +That 'll tan the skin, and the moths will never +hurt them."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When Hal came to take up the duck he +was sorry that some of the beautiful plumage +had been stained.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I want only a few water-fowl," he said. +"And particularly one of the big Muscovies. +And you must keep the feathers from getting +soiled."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was interesting to watch Hal handle +that specimen. First he took full measurements. +Then, separating the feathers along +the breast, he made an incision with a sharp +knife, beginning high up on breast-bone and +ending at tail. He exercised care so as not +to cut through the abdomen. Raising the skin +carefully along the cut as far as the muscles of +the leg, he pushed out the knee joint and cut it +off. Then he loosened the skin from the legs +and the back, and bent the tail down to cut +through the tail joint. Next he removed the +skin from the body and cut off the wings at +the shoulder joint. Then he proceeded down +the neck, being careful not to pull or stretch the +skin. Extreme care was necessary in cutting +round the eyes. Then, when he had loosened +the skin from the skull, he severed the head +and cleaned out the skull. He coated all +with the paste, filled the skull with cotton, +and then immersed them in the glycerin bath.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The skinning of the crocodile was an easy +matter compared with that of the duck. Hal +made an incision at the throat, cut along the +middle of the abdomen all the way to the tip +of the tail, and then cut the skin away all +around the carcass. Then he set George and +Pepe to scraping the skin, after which he +immersed it in the tank.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>About that time Ken, who was lazily fishing +in the shade of the cypresses, caught one of +the blue-tailed fish. Hal was delighted. He +had made a failure of the other specimen of +this unknown fish. This one was larger and +exquisitely marked, being dark gold on the +back, white along the belly, and its tail had +a faint bluish tinge. Hal promptly killed +the fish, and then made a dive for his +suitcase. He produced several sheets of stiff +cardboard and a small box of water-colors +and brushes. He laid the fish down on a +piece of paper and outlined its exact size. +Then, placing it carefully in an upright +position on a box, he began to paint it in the +actual colors of the moment. Ken laughed +and teased him. George also was inclined to +be amused. But Pepe was amazed and +delighted. Hal worked on unmindful of his +audience, and, though he did not paint a very +artistic picture, he produced the vivid colors +of the fish before they faded.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>His next move was to cover the fish with +strips of thin cloth, which adhered to the scales +and kept them from being damaged. Then he +cut along the middle line of the belly, divided +the pelvic arch where the ventral fins joined, +cut through the spines, and severed the fins +from the bones. Then he skinned down to the +tail, up to the back, and cut through caudal +processes. The vertebral column he severed +at the base of the skull. He cleaned and +scraped the entire inside of the skin, and then +put it to soak.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hal, you're much more likely to make good +with Uncle Jim than I am," said Ken. +"You've really got skill, and you know what +to do. Now, my job is different. So far +I've done fairly well with my map of the river. +But as soon as we get on level ground I'll +be stumped."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll cover a hundred miles before we get +to low land," replied Hal, cheerily. "That's +enough, even if we do get lost for the rest +of the way. You'll win that trip abroad, +Ken, never fear, and little Willie is going +to be with you."</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="a-mixed-up-tiger-hunt"><span class="bold large">XVII</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">A MIXED-UP TIGER-HUNT</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>Next morning Hal arose bright as a lark, +but silent, mysterious, and with far-seeing +eyes. It made Ken groan in spirit to +look at the boy. Yes, indeed, they were far +from home, and the person did not live on the +earth who could play a trick on Hal Ward +and escape vengeance.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>After breakfast Hal went off with a +long-handled landing-net, obviously to capture +birds or fish or mice or something.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George said he did not feel very well, and +he looked grouchy. He growled around camp +in a way that might have nettled Ken, but +Ken, having had ten hours of undisturbed sleep, +could not have found fault with anybody.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Garrapato George, come out of it. Cheer +up," said Ken. "Why don't you take Pinilius +Pepe as gun-bearer and go out to shoot +something? You haven't used up much +ammunition yet."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken's sarcasm was not lost upon George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, if I do go, I'll not come running +back to camp without some game."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"My son," replied Ken, genially, "if you +should happen to meet a jaguar you'd--you'd +just let out one squawk and then never touch +even the high places of the jungle. You'd +take that crazy .32 rifle for a golf-stick."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Would I?" returned George. "All right."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken watched George awhile that morning. +The lad performed a lot of weird things around +camp. Then he bounced bullets off the water +in vain effort to locate the basking crocodile. +Then he tried his hand at fishing once more. +He could get more bites than any fisherman +Ken ever saw, but he could not catch anything.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>By and by the heat made Ken drowsy, +and, stretching himself in the shade, he +thought of a scheme to rid the camp of the +noisy George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, George, take my hammerless and get +Pepe to row you up along the shady bank of +the river," suggested Ken. "Go sneaking +along and you'll have some sport."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George was delighted with that idea. He +had often cast longing eyes at the hammerless +gun. Pepe, too, looked exceedingly pleased. +They got in the boat and were in the act of +starting when George jumped ashore. He +reached for his .32 and threw the lever down +to see if there was a shell in the chamber. +Then he proceeded to fill his pockets with +ammunition.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Might need a rifle," he said. "You can't +tell what you're going to see in this unholy +jungle."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Whereupon he went aboard again and Pepe +rowed leisurely up-stream.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Be careful, boys," Ken called, and +composed himself for a nap. He promptly fell +asleep. How long he slept he had no idea, +and when he awoke he lay with languor, not +knowing at the moment what had awakened +him. Presently he heard a shout, then a +rifle-shot. Sitting up, he saw the boat some +two hundred yards above, drifting along +about the edge of the shade. Pepe was in it +alone. He appeared to be excited, for Ken +observed him lay down an oar and pick up a +gun, and then reverse the performance. Also +he was jabbering to George, who evidently +was out on the bank, but invisible to Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hey, Pepe!" Ken yelled. "What 're you doing?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Strange to note, Pepe did not reply or even +turn.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Now where in the deuce is George?" Ken +said, impatiently.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The hollow crack of George's .32 was a +reply to the question. Ken heard the singing +of a bullet. Suddenly, </span><em class="italics">spou!</em><span> it twanged +on a branch not twenty feet over his head, +and then went whining away. He heard it +tick a few leaves or twigs. There was not +any languor in the alacrity with which Ken +put the big cypress-tree between him and +up-stream. Then he ventured to peep forth.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Look out where you're slinging lead!" +he yelled. He doubted not that George had +treed a black squirrel or was pegging away at +parrots. Yet Pepe's motions appeared to +carry a good deal of feeling, too much, he +thought presently, for small game. So Ken +began to wake up thoroughly. He lost sight +of Pepe behind a low branch of a tree that +leaned some fifty yards above the island. +Then he caught sight of him again. He was +poling with an oar, evidently trying to go up +or down--Ken could not tell which.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">Spang</em><span>! </span><em class="italics">Spang</em><span>! George's .32 spoke twice +more, and the bullets both struck in the middle +of the stream and ricochetted into the far +bank with little thuds.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Something prompted Ken to reach for his +automatic, snap the clip in tight, and push +in the safety. At the same time he muttered +George's words: "You can never tell what's +coming off in this unholy jungle."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then, peeping out from behind the cypress, +Ken watched the boat drift down-stream. +Pepe had stopped poling and was looking +closely into the thick grass and vines of the +bank. Ken heard his voice, but could not +tell what he said. He watched keenly for +some sight of George. The moments passed, +the boat drifted, and Ken began to think +there was nothing unusual afoot. In this +interval Pepe drifted within seventy-five yards +of camp. Again Ken called to ask him what +George was stalking, and this time Pepe yelled; +but Ken did not know what he said. Hard +upon this came George's sharp voice:</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Look out, there, on the island. Get +behind something. I've got him between the +river and the flat. He's in this strip of shore +brush. There!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">Spang</em><span>! </span><em class="italics">Spang</em><span>! </span><em class="italics">Spang</em><span>! Bullets hummed +and whistled all about the island. Ken was +afraid to peep out with even one eye. He +began to fancy that George was playing +Indian.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Fine, Georgie! You're doing great!" he +shouted. "You couldn't come any closer to +me if you were aiming at me. What is it?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then a crashing of brush and a flash of +yellow low down along the bank changed the +aspect of the situation.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Panther! or jaguar!" Ken ejaculated, in +amaze. In a second he was tight-muscled, +cold, and clear-witted. At that instant he +saw George's white shirt about the top of the +brush.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Go back! Get out in the open!" Ken +ordered. "Do you hear me?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Where is he?" shouted George, paying not +the slightest attention to Ken. Ken jumped +from behind the tree, and, running to the +head of the island, he knelt low near the water +with rifle ready.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Tigre! Tigre! Tigre!" screamed Pepe, +waving his arms, then pointing.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George crashed into the brush. Ken saw +the leaves move, then a long yellow shape. +With the quickness of thought and the aim +of the wing-shot, Ken fired. From the brush +rose a strange wild scream. George aimed +at a shaking mass of grass and vines, but, +before he could fire, a long, lean, ugly beast +leaped straight out from the bank to drop +into the water with a heavy splash.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Like a man half scared to death Pepe waved +Ken's double-barreled gun. Then a yellow +head emerged from the water. It was in line +with the boat. Ken dared not shoot.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Kill him, George," yelled Ken. "Tell +Pepe to kill him."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George seemed unaccountably silent. But +Ken had no time to look for him, for his +eyes were riveted on Pepe. The native did +not know how to hold a gun properly, let +alone aim it. He had, however, sense enough +to try. He got the stock under his chin, +and, pointing the gun, he evidently tried to +fire. But the hammerless did not go off. +Then Pepe fumbled at the safety-catch, which +he evidently remembered seeing Ken use.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The jaguar, swimming with difficulty, +perhaps badly wounded, made right for the boat. +Pepe was standing on the seat. Awkwardly +he aimed.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">Boom</em><span>! He had pulled both triggers. The +recoil knocked him backward. The hammerless +fell in the boat, and Pepe's broad back hit +the water; his bare, muscular legs clung to +the gunwale, and slipped loose.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He had missed the jaguar, for it kept on +toward the boat. Still Ken dared not shoot.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George, what on earth is the matter with +you?" shouted Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then Ken saw him standing in the brush +on the bank, fussing over the crazy .32. Of +course at the critical moment something had +gone wrong with the old rifle.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe's head bobbed up just on the other +side of the boat. The jaguar was scarcely +twenty feet distant and now in line with both +boat and man. At that instant a heavy swirl +in the water toward the middle of the river +drew Ken's attention. He saw the big +crocodile, and the great creature did not seem at +all lazy at that moment.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George began to scream in Spanish. Ken +felt his hair stiffen and his face blanch. Pepe, +who had been solely occupied with the +jaguar, caught George's meaning and turned +to see the peril in his rear.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He bawled his familiar appeal to the saints. +Then he grasped the gunwale of the boat +just as it swung against the branches of the +low-leaning tree. He vaulted rather than +climbed aboard.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken forgot that Pepe could understand +little English, and he yelled: "Grab an oar, +Pepe. Keep the jaguar in the water. Don't +let him in the boat."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But Pepe, even if he had understood, had +a better idea. Nimble, he ran over the boat +and grasped the branches of the tree just as +the jaguar flopped paws and head over the +stern gunwale.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken had only a fleeting instant to get a +bead on that yellow body, and before he could +be sure of an aim the branch weighted with +Pepe sank down to hide both boat and +jaguar. The chill of fear for Pepe changed to +hot rage at this new difficulty.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then George began to shoot.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">Spang</em><span>!</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken heard the bullet hit the boat.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George--wait!" shouted Ken. "Don't +shoot holes in the boat. You'll sink it."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">Spang</em><span>! </span><em class="italics">Spang</em><span>! </span><em class="italics">Spang</em><span>! </span><em class="italics">Spang</em><span>!</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>That was as much as George cared about +such a possibility. He stood on the bank and +worked the lever of his .32 with wild haste. +Ken plainly heard the spat of the bullets, and +the sound was that of lead in contact with +wood. So he knew George was not hitting +the jaguar.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You'll ruin the boat!" roared Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe had worked up from the lower end +of the branch, and as soon as he straddled +it and hunched himself nearer shore the +foliage rose out of the water, exposing the boat. +George kept on shooting till his magazine was +empty. Ken's position was too low for him +to see the jaguar.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then the boat swung loose from the branch +and, drifting down, gradually approached the +shore.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pull yourself together, George," called +Ken. "Keep cool. Make sure of your aim. +We've got him now."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"He's mine! He's mine! He's mine! +Don't you dare shoot!" howled George. "I +got him!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"All right. But steady up, can't you? +Hit him once, anyway."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Apparently without aim George fired. Then, +jerking the lever, he fired again. The boat +drifted into overhanging vines. Once more +Ken saw a yellow and black object, then a +trembling trail of leaves.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"He's coming out below you. Look out," +yelled Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George disappeared. Ken saw no sign of +the jaguar and heard no shot or shout from +George. Pepe dropped from his branch to +the bank and caught the boat. Ken called, +and while Pepe rowed over to the island, he +got into some clothes fit to hunt in. Then +they hurried back across the channel to the +bank.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken found the trail of the jaguar, followed +it up to the edge of the brush, and lost it in +the weedy flat. George came out of a patch +of bamboos. He looked white and shaky +and wild with disappointment.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I had a dandy shot as he came out, +but the blamed gun jammed again. Come +on, we'll get him. He's all shot up. I bet +I hit him ten times. He won't get away."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken finally got George back to camp. The +boat was half full of water, making it necessary +to pull it out on the bank and turn it over. +There were ten bullet-holes in it.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George, you hit the boat, anyway," Ken +said; "now we've a job on our hands."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal came puffing into camp. He was red +of face, and the sweat stood out on his +forehead. He had a small animal of some kind +in a sack, and his legs were wet to his knees.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What was--all the--pegging about?" he +asked, breathlessly. "I expected to find camp +surrounded by Indians."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Kid, it's been pretty hot round here for a +little. George and Pepe rounded up a tiger. +Tell us about it, George," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>So while Ken began to whittle pegs to +pound into the bullet-holes, George wiped his +flushed, sweaty face and talked.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"We were up there a piece, round the bend. +I saw a black squirrel and went ashore to get +him. But I couldn't find him, and in +kicking round in the brush I came into a kind of +trail or runway. Then I ran plumb into that +darned jaguar. I was so scared I couldn't +remember my gun. But the cat turned and +ran. It was lucky he didn't make at me. +When I saw him run I got back my courage. +I called for Pepe to row down-stream and keep +a lookout. Then I got into the flat. I must +have come down a good ways before I saw +him. I shot, and he dodged back into the +brush again. I fired into the moving bushes +where he was. And pretty soon I ventured +to get in on the bank, where I had a better +chance. I guess it was about that time that +I heard you yell. Then it all happened. +You hit him! Didn't you hear him scream? +What a jump he made! If it hadn't been +so terrible when your hammerless kicked +Pepe overboard, I would have died laughing. +Then I was paralyzed when the jaguar swam +for the boat. He was hurt, for the water was +bloody. Things came off quick, I tell you. +Like a monkey Pepe scrambled into the tree. +When I got my gun loaded the jaguar was +crouched down in the bottom of the boat +watching Pepe. Then I began to shoot. I +can't realize he got away from us. What +was the reason you didn't knock him?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, you see, George, there were two +good reasons," Ken replied. "The first was +that at that time I was busy dodging bullets +from your rifle. And the second was that you +threatened my life if I killed your jaguar."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Did I get as nutty as that? But it was +pretty warm there for a little.... Say, was +he a big one? My eyes were so hazy I didn't +see him clear."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"He wasn't big, not half as big as the one +I lost yesterday. Yours was a long, wiry +beast, like a panther, and mean-looking."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe sat on the bank, and while he nursed +his bruises he smoked. Once he made a +speech that was untranslatable, but Hal gave +it an interpretation which was probably near +correct.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"That's right, Pepe. Pretty punk +tiger-hunters--mucho punk!"</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="watching-a-runway"><span class="bold large">XVIII</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">WATCHING A RUNWAY</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>"I'll tell you what, fellows," said Hal. "I +know where we </span><em class="italics">can</em><span> get a tiger."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll get one in the neck if we don't +watch out," replied George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken thought that Hal looked very frank +and earnest, and honest and eager, but there +was never any telling about him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Where?" he asked, skeptically.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Down along the river. You know I've +been setting traps all along. There's a flat +sand-bar for a good piece down. I came to +a little gully full of big tracks, big as my +two hands. And fresh!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Honest Injun, kid?" queried Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hope to die if I'm lyin'," replied Hal. +"I want to see somebody kill a tiger. Now +let's go down there in the boat and wait for +one to come to drink. There's a big log with +driftwood lodged on it. We can hide +behind that."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Great idea, Hal," said Ken. "We'd be +pretty safe in the boat. I want to say that +tigers have sort of got on my nerves. I ought +to go over in the jungle to look for the one I +crippled. He's dead by now. But the longer +I put it off the harder it is to go. I'll back +out yet.... Come, we'll have an early dinner. +Then to watch for Hal's tiger."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The sun had just set, and the hot breeze +began to swirl up the river when Ken slid the +boat into the water. He was pleased to +find that it did not leak.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll take only two guns," said Ken, +"my .351 and the hammerless, with some +ball-cartridges. We want to be quiet to-night, and +if you fellows take your guns you'll be pegging +at ducks and things. That won't do."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe sat at the oars with instructions to +row easily. George and Hal occupied the +stern-seats, and Ken took his place in the bow, +with both guns at hand.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The hot wind roared in the cypresses, and +the river whipped up little waves with white +crests. Long streamers of gray moss waved +out over the water and branches tossed and +swayed. The blow did not last for many +minutes. Trees and river once more grew +quiet. And suddenly the heat was gone.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>As Pepe rowed on down the river, Cypress +Island began to disappear round a bend, and +presently was out of sight. Ducks were +already in flight. They flew low over the boat, +so low that Ken could almost have reached +them with the barrel of his gun. The river here +widened. It was full of huge snags. A high, +wooded bluff shadowed the western shore. On +the left, towering cypresses, all laced together +in dense vine and moss webs, leaned out.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Under Hal's direction Pepe rowed to a pile +of driftwood, and here the boat was moored. +The gully mentioned by Hal was some sixty +yards distant. It opened like the mouth of +a cave. Beyond the cypresses thick, +intertwining bamboos covered it.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I wish we'd gone in to see the tracks," +said Ken. "But I'll take your word, Hal."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, they're there, all right."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't doubt it. Looks great to me! +That's a runway, Hal.... Now, boys, get a +comfortable seat, and settle down to wait. +Don't talk. Just listen and watch. +Remember, soon we'll be out of the jungle, +back home. So make hay while the sun +shines. Watch and listen! Whoever sees +or hears anything first is the best man."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>For once the boys were as obedient as +lambs. But then, Ken thought, the surroundings +were so beautiful and wild and silent that +any boys would have been watchful.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>There was absolutely no sound but the +intermittent whir of wings. The water-fowl +flew by in companies--ducks, cranes, herons, +snipe, and the great Muscovies. Ken never +would have tired of that procession. It +passed all too soon, and then only an +occasional water-fowl swept swiftly by, as if +belated.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Slowly the wide river-lane shaded. But it +was still daylight, and the bank and the +runway were clearly distinguishable. There was +a moment--Ken could not tell just how he +knew--when the jungle awakened. It was not +only the faint hum of insects; it was a sense +as if life stirred with the coming of twilight.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe was the first to earn honors at the +listening game. He held up a warning +forefinger. Then he pointed under the bluff. +Ken saw a doe stepping out of a fringe of +willows.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't move--don't make a noise," whispered Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The doe shot up long ears and watched the +boat. Then a little fawn trotted out and +splashed in the water. Both deer drank, +then seemed in no hurry to leave the river.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Next moment Hal heard something downstream +and George saw something up-stream. +Pepe again whispered. As for Ken, he saw +little dark shapes moving out of the shadow +of the runway. He heard a faint trampling +of hard little hoofs. But if these animals +were </span><em class="italics">javelin</em><span>--of which he was sure--they did +not come out into the open runway. Ken +tried to catch Pepe's attention without +making a noise; however, Pepe was absorbed in +his side of the river. Ken then forgot he +had companions. All along the shores were +faint splashings and rustlings and crackings.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>A loud, trampling roar rose in the runway +and seemed to move backward toward the +jungle, diminishing in violence.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pigs running--something scared 'em," +said George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"S-s-s-sh!" whispered Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>All the sounds ceased. The jungle seemed +to sleep in deep silence.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken's eyes were glued to the light patch of +sand-bank where it merged in the dark of the +runway. Then Ken heard a sound--what, he +could not have told. But it made his heart +beat fast.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>There came a few pattering thuds, soft as +velvet; and a shadow, paler than the dark +background, moved out of the runway.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>With that a huge jaguar loped into the open. +He did not look around. He took a long, easy +bound down to the water and began to lap.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Either Pepe or George jerked so violently +as to make the boat lurch. They seemed to +be stifling.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Ken, don't miss!" whispered Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken had the automatic over the log and in +line. His teeth were shut tight, and he was +cold and steady. He meant not to hurry.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The jaguar was a heavy, squat, muscular +figure, not graceful and beautiful like the one +Ken had crippled. Suddenly he raised his +head and looked about. He had caught a scent.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was then that Ken lowered the rifle till +the sight covered the beast--lower yet to +his huge paws, then still lower to the edge of +the water. Ken meant to shoot low enough +this time. Holding the rifle there, and +holding it with all his strength, he pressed the +trigger once--twice. The two shots rang out +almost simultaneously. Ken expected to see +this jaguar leap, but the beast crumpled up +and sank in his tracks.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then the boys yelled, and Ken echoed +them. Pepe was wildly excited, and began +to fumble with the oars.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Wait! Wait, I tell you!" ordered Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, Ken, you pegged him!" cried Hal. +"He doesn't move. Let's go ashore. What +did I tell you? It took me to find the tiger."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken watched with sharp eyes and held his +rifle ready, but the huddled form on the sand +never so much as twitched.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I guess I plugged him," said Ken, with +unconscious pride.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe rowed the boat ashore, and when near +the sand-bar he reached out with an oar to +touch the jaguar. There was no doubt about +his being dead. The boys leaped ashore and +straightened out the beast. He was huge, +dirty, spotted, bloody, and fiercely savage even +in death. Ken's bullets had torn through the +chest, making fearful wounds. Pepe jabbered, +and the boys all talked at once. When it +came to lifting the jaguar into the boat they +had no slight task. The short, thick-set body +was very heavy. But at last they loaded +it in the bow, and Pepe rowed back to the +island. It was still a harder task to get the +jaguar up the high bank. Pepe kindled a fire +so they would have plenty of light, and then +they set to work at the skinning.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>What with enthusiasm over the stalk, and +talk of the success of the trip, and compliments +to Ken's shooting, and care of the skinning, +the boys were three hours at the job. Ken, +remembering Hiram Bent's teachings, skinned +out the great claws himself. They salted the +pelt and nailed it up on the big cypress.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You'd never have got one but for me," +said Hal. "That's how I pay you for the +tricks you've played me!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"By George, Hal, it's a noble revenge!" +cried Ken, who, in the warmth and glow of +happiness of the time, quite believed his +brother.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe went to bed first. George turned in +next. Ken took a last look at the great pelt +stretched on the cypress, and then he sought his +blankets. Hal, however, remained up. Ken +heard him pounding stakes in the ground.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hal, what 're you doing?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm settin' my trot-lines," replied Hal, +cheerfully.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, come to bed."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Keep your shirt on, Ken, old boy. I'll +be along presently."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken fell asleep. He did not have peaceful +slumbers. He had been too excited to rest +well. He would wake up out of a nightmare, +then go to sleep again. He seemed to +wake suddenly out of one of these black spells, +and he was conscious of pain. Something +tugged at his leg.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What the dickens!" he said, and raised +on his elbow. Hal was asleep between George +and Pepe, who were snoring.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Just then Ken felt a violent jerk. The +blankets flew up at his feet, and his left leg +went out across his brother's body. There was +a string--a rope--something fast round his +ankle, and it was pulling hard. It hurt.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Jiminy!" shouted Ken, reaching for his +foot. But before he could reach it another +tug, more violent, pulled his leg straight out. +Ken began to slide.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What on earth?" yelled Ken. "Say! +Something's got me!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The yells and Ken's rude exertions aroused +the boys. And they were frightened. Ken +got an arm around Hal and the other around +George and held on for dear life. He was +more frightened than they. Pepe leaped up, +jabbering, and, tripping, he fell all in a heap.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh! my leg!" howled Ken. "It's being +pulled off. Say, I can't be dreaming!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Most assuredly Ken was wide awake. The +moonlight showed his bare leg sticking out +and round his ankle a heavy trot-line. It was +stretched tight. It ran down over the bank. +And out there in the river a tremendous fish +or a crocodile was surging about, making the +water roar.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe was trying to loosen the line or break +it. George, who was always stupid when first +aroused, probably imagined he was being +mauled by a jaguar, for he loudly bellowed. +Ken had a strangle-hold on Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh! </span><em class="italics">Oh</em><span>! </span><em class="italics">Oh-h-h</em><span>!" bawled Ken. Not +only was he scared out of a year's growth; +he was in terrible pain. Then his cries grew +unintelligible. He was being dragged out of +the tent. Still he clung desperately to the +howling George and the fighting Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>All at once something snapped. The +tension relaxed. Ken fell back upon Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Git off me, will you?" shouted Hal. +"Are you c-c-cr-azy?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But Hal's voice had not the usual note +when he was angry or impatient. He +was laughing so he could not speak naturally.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Uh-huh!" said Ken, and sat up. "I guess +here was where I got it. Is my leg broken? +What came off?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe was staggering about on the bank, +going through strange motions. He had the +line in his hands, and at the other end was +a monster of some land threshing about in +the water. It was moonlight and Ken could +see plainly. Around the ankle that felt +broken was a twisted loop of trot-line. Hal +had baited a hook and slipped the end of +the trot-line over Ken's foot. During the +night the crocodile or an enormous fish had +taken the bait. Then Ken had nearly been +hauled off the island.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe was doing battle with the hooked +thing, whatever it was, and Ken was about +to go to his assistance when again the line +broke.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Great! Hal, you have a nice disposition," +exclaimed Ken. "You have a wonderful +affection for your brother. You care a lot +about his legs or his life. Idiot! Can't you +play a safe trick? If I hadn't grabbed you +and George, I'd been pulled into the river. +Eaten up, maybe! And my ankle is sprained. +It won't be any good for a week. You are a +bright boy!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>And in spite of his laughter Hal began to +look ashamed.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="adventures-with-crocodiles"><span class="bold large">XIX</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">ADVENTURES WITH CROCODILES</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>The rest of that night Ken had more dreams; +and they were not pleasant. He awoke +from one in a cold fright.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It must have been late, for the moon was +low. His ankle pained and throbbed, and to +that he attributed his nightmare. He was +falling asleep again when the clink of tin +pans made him sit up with a start. Some +animal was prowling about camp. He peered +into the moonlit shadows, but could make +out no unfamiliar object. Still he was not +satisfied; so he awoke Pepe.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Certainly it was not Ken's intention to let +Pepe get out ahead; nevertheless he was lame +and slow, and before he started Pepe rolled +out of the tent.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Santa Maria!" shrieked Pepe.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken fumbled under his pillow for a gun. +Hal raised up so quickly that he bumped Ken's +head, making him see a million stars. George +rolled over, nearly knocking down the tent.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>From outside came a sliddery, rustling +noise, then another yell that was deadened +by a sounding splash. Ken leaped out with +his gun, George at his elbow. Pepe stood +just back of the tent, his arms upraised, and +he appeared stunned. The water near the +bank was boiling and bubbling; waves were +dashing on the shore and ripples spreading +in a circle.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George shouted in Spanish.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Crocodile!" cried Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Si, si, Señor," replied Pepe. Then he said +that when he stepped out of the tent the +crocodile was right in camp, not ten feet from +where the boys lay. Pepe also said that +these brutes were man-eaters, and that he had +better watch for the rest of the night. Ken +thought him, like all the natives, inclined +to exaggerate; however, he made no objection +to Pepe's holding watch over the crocodile.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What'd I tell you?" growled George. +"Why didn't you let me shoot him? Let's +go back to bed."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In the morning when Ken got up he viewed +his body with great curiosity. The ticks +and the cigarette burns had left him a +beautifully tattoed specimen of aborigine. His +body, especially his arms, bore hundreds of +little reddish scars--bites and burns +together. There was not, however, any itching +or irritation, for which he made sure he had +to thank Pepe's skill and the </span><em class="italics">canya</em><span>.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George did not get up when Ken called +him. Thinking his sleep might have been +broken, Ken let him alone a while longer, but +when breakfast was smoking he gave him a +prod. George rolled over, looking haggard +and glum.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm sick," he said.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken's cheerfulness left him, for he knew +what sickness or injury did to a camping trip. +George complained of aching bones, headache +and cramps, and showed a tongue with a +yellow coating. Ken said he had eaten too +much fresh meat, but Pepe, after looking +George over, called it a name that sounded +like </span><em class="italics">calentura</em><span>.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What's that?" Ken inquired.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Tropic fever," replied George. "I've had +it before."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>For a while he was a very sick boy. Ken +had a little medicine-case, and from it he +administered what he thought was best, and +George grew easier presently. Then Ken sat +down to deliberate on the situation.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Whatever way he viewed it, he always came +back to the same thing--they must get out +of the jungle; and as they could not go back, +they must go on down the river. That was a +bad enough proposition without being +hampered by a sick boy. It was then Ken had a +subtle change of feeling; a shade of gloom +seemed to pervade his spirit.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>By nine o'clock they were packed, and, +turning into the shady channel, soon were out +in the sunlight saying good-by to Cypress +Island. At the moment Ken did not feel +sorry to go, yet he knew that feeling would +come by and by, and that Cypress Island +would take its place in his memory as one +more haunting, calling wild place.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They turned a curve to run under a rocky +bluff from which came a muffled roar of rapids. +A long, projecting point of rock extended across +the river, allowing the water to rush through +only at a narrow mill-race channel close to +the shore. It was an obstacle to get around. +There was no possibility of lifting the boat +over the bridge of rock, and the alternative +was shooting the channel. Ken got out +upon the rocks, only to find that drifting the +boat round the sharp point was out of the +question, owing to a dangerously swift +current. Ken tried the depth of the +water--about four feet. Then he dragged the boat +back a little distance and stepped into the river.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Look! Look!" cried Pepe, pointing to the bank.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>About ten yards away was a bare shelf of +mud glistening with water and showing the +deep tracks of a crocodile. It was a slide, +and manifestly had just been vacated. The +crocodile-tracks resembled the imprints of a +giant's hand.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Come out!" yelled George, and Pepe +jabbered to his saints.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"We've got to go down this river," Ken +replied, and he kept on wading till he got the +boat in the current. He was frightened, of +course, but he kept on despite that. The +boat lurched into the channel, stern first, and +he leaped up on the bow. It shot down with +the speed of a toboggan, and the boat whirled +before he could scramble to the oars. What +was worse, an overhanging tree with dead +snags left scarce room to pass beneath. Ken +ducked to prevent being swept overboard, +and one of the snags that brushed and scraped +him ran under his belt and lifted him into the +air. He grasped at the first thing he could +lay hands on, which happened to be a box, +but he could not hold to it because the boat +threatened to go on, leaving him kicking in +midair and holding up a box of potatoes. Ken +clutched a gunwale, only to see the water +swell dangerously over the edge. In angry +helplessness he loosened his hold. Then the +snag broke, just in the nick of time, for in +a second more the boat would have been +swept away. Ken fell across the bow, held +on, and soon drifted from under the threshing +branches, and seized the oars.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe and George and Hal walked round the +ledge and, even when they reached Ken, +had not stopped laughing.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys, it wasn't funny," declared Ken, soberly.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I said it was coming to us," replied George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>There were rapids below, and Ken went at +them with stern eyes and set lips. It was the +look of men who face obstacles in getting out +of the wilderness. More than one high wave +circled spitefully round Pepe's broad shoulders.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They came to a fall where the river dropped +a few feet straight down. Ken sent the boys +below. Hal and George made a detour. But +Pepe jumped off the ledge into shallow water.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Ah-h!</em><span>" yelled Pepe.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken was becoming accustomed to Pepe's +wild yell, but there was a note in this which +sent a shiver over him. Before looking, Ken +snatched his rifle from the boat.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe appeared to be sailing out into the +pool. But his feet were not moving.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken had only an instant, but in that he saw +under Pepe a long, yellow, swimming shape, +leaving a wake in the water. Pepe had +jumped upon the back of a crocodile. He +seemed paralyzed, or else he was wisely +trusting himself there rather than in the water. +Ken was too shocked to offer advice. Indeed, +he would not have known how to meet this +situation.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly Pepe leaped for a dry stone, and +the energy of his leap carried him into the +river beyond. Like a flash he was out again, +spouting water.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken turned loose the automatic on the +crocodile and shot a magazine of shells. The +crocodile made a tremendous surge, churning +up a slimy foam, then vanished in a pool.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Guess this 'll be crocodile day," said +Ken, changing the clip in his rifle. "I'll bet +I made a hole in that one. Boys, look out +below."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken shoved the boat over the ledge in line +with Pepe, and it floated to him, while Ken +picked his way round the rocky shore. The +boys piled aboard again. The day began to +get hot. Ken cautioned the boys to avoid +wading, if possible, and to be extremely +careful where they stepped. Pepe pointed now +and then to huge bubbles breaking on the +surface of the water and said they were made +by crocodiles.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>From then on Ken's hands were full. He +struck swift water, where rapid after rapid, +fall on fall, took the boat downhill at a rate to +afford him satisfaction. The current had a +five or six mile speed, and, as Ken had no +portages to make and the corrugated rapids of big +waves gave him speed, he made by far the best +time of the voyage.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The hot hours passed--cool for the boys +because they were always wet. The sun sank +behind a hill. The wind ceased to whip the +streamers of moss. At last, in a gathering +twilight, Ken halted at a wide, flat rock to +make camp.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Forty miles to-day if we made an inch!" +exclaimed Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boys said more.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They built a fire, cooked supper, and then, +weary and silent, Hal and George and Pepe +rolled into their blankets. But Ken doggedly +worked an hour at his map and notes. That +hard forty miles meant a long way toward +the success of his trip.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Next morning the mists had not lifted from +the river when they shoved off, determined to +beat the record of yesterday. Difficulties beset +them from the start--the highest waterfall of +the trip, a leak in the boat, deep, short rapids, +narrows with choppy waves, and a whirlpool +where they turned round and round, unable +to row out. Nor did they get free till Pepe +lassoed a snag and pulled them out.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>About noon they came to another narrow +chute brawling down into a deep, foamy pool. +Again Ken sent the boys around, and he backed +the boat into the chute; and just as the +current caught it he leaped aboard. He was +either tired or careless, for he drifted too close +to a half-submerged rock, and, try as he +might, at the last moment he could not avoid +a collision.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>As the stern went hard on the rock Ken +expected to break something, but was +surprised at the soft thud with which he struck. +It flashed into his mind that the rock was +moss-covered.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Quick as the thought there came a rumble +under the boat, the stern heaved up, there +was a great sheet-like splash, and then a blow +that splintered the gunwale. Then the boat +shunted off, affording the astounded Ken a +good view of a very angry crocodile. He had +been sleeping on the rock.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boys were yelling and crowding down +to the shore where Ken was drifting in. +Pepe waded in to catch the boat.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What was it hit you, Ken?" asked Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Mucho malo," cried Pepe.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"The boat's half full of water--the +gunwale's all split!" ejaculated George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Only an accident of river travel," replied +Ken, with mock nonchalance. "Say, Garrapato, +</span><em class="italics">when</em><span>, about </span><em class="italics">when</em><span> is it coming to me?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, if he didn't get slammed by a +crocodile!" continued George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They unloaded, turned out the water, +broke up a box to use for repairs, and mended +the damaged gunwale--work that lost more +than a good hour. Once again under way, +Ken made some interesting observations. The +river ceased to stand on end in places; +crocodiles slipped off every muddy promontory, +and wide trails ridged the steep clay-banks.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Cattle-trails, Pepe says," said George. +"Wild cattle roam all through the jungle along +the Panuco."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was a well-known fact that the +rancheros of Tamaulipas State had no idea how +many cattle they owned. Ken was so eager +to see if Pepe had been correct that he went +ashore, to find the trails were, indeed, those of +cattle.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Then, Pepe, we must be somewhere near +the Panuco River," he said.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Quien sabe?" rejoined he, quietly.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When they rounded the curve they came +upon a herd of cattle that clattered up the +bank, raising a cloud of dust.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Wilder than deer!" Ken exclaimed.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>From that point conditions along the river +changed. The banks were no longer green; the +beautiful cypresses gave place to other trees, +as huge, as moss-wound, but more rugged +and of gaunt outline; the flowers and vines +and shady nooks disappeared. Everywhere +wide-horned steers and cows plunged up the +banks. Everywhere buzzards rose from +gruesome feasts. The shore was lined with dead +cattle, and the stench of putrefying flesh was +almost unbearable. They passed cattle mired +in the mud, being slowly tortured to death +by flies and hunger; they passed cattle that +had slipped off steep banks and could not get +back and were bellowing dismally; and also +strangely acting cattle that Pepe said had +gone crazy from ticks in their ears. Ken +would have put these miserable beasts out of +their misery had not George restrained him +with a few words about Mexican law.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>A sense of sickness came to Ken, and though +he drove the feeling from him, it continually +returned. George and Hal lay flat on the +canvas, shaded with a couple of palm leaves; +Pepe rowed on and on, growing more and more +serious and quiet. His quick, responsive smile +was wanting now.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>By way of diversion, and also in the hope +of securing a specimen, Ken began to shoot +at the crocodiles. George came out of his +lethargy and took up his rifle. He would +have had to be ill indeed, to forswear any +possible shooting; and, now that Ken had +removed the bar, he forgot he had fever. +Every hundred yards or so they would come +upon a crocodile measuring somewhere from +about six feet upward, and occasionally they +would see a great yellow one, as large as a +log. Seldom did they get within good range +of these huge fellows, and shooting from a +moving boat was not easy. The smaller +ones, however, allowed the boat to approach +quite close. George bounced many a .32 +bullet off the bank, but he never hit a +crocodile. Ken allowed him to have the shots for +the fun of it, and, besides, he was watching +for a big one.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George, that rifle of yours is leaded. It +doesn't shoot where you aim."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When they got unusually close to a small +crocodile George verified Ken's statement by +missing his game some yards. He promptly +threw the worn-out rifle overboard, an act +that caused Pepe much concern.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Whereupon Ken proceeded to try his luck. +Instructing Pepe to row about in the middle +of the stream, he kept eye on one shore while +George watched the other. He shot half a +dozen small crocodiles, but they slipped off +the bank before Pepe could get ashore. This +did not appear to be the fault of the rifle, for +some of the reptiles were shot almost in two +pieces. But Ken had yet to learn more about +the tenacity of life of these water-brutes. +Several held still long enough for Ken to shoot +them through, then with a plunge they went +into the water, sinking at once in a bloody +foam. He knew he had shot them through, +for he saw large holes in the mud-banks +lined with bits of bloody skin and bone.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"There's one," said George, pointing. "Let's +get closer, so we can grab him. He's got +a good piece to go before he reaches the +water."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe rowed slowly along, guiding the boat +a little nearer the shore. At forty feet the +crocodile raised up, standing on short legs, +so that all but his tail was free of the ground. +He opened his huge jaws either in astonishment +or to intimidate them, and then Ken +shot him straight down the throat. He +flopped convulsively and started to slide and +roll. When he reached the water he turned +over on his back, with his feet sticking up, +resembling a huge frog. Pepe rowed hard to +the shore, just as the crocodile with one last +convulsion rolled off into deeper water. Ken +reached over, grasped his foot, and was +drawing it up when a sight of cold, glassy eyes +and open-fanged jaws made him let go. +Then the crocodile sank in water where Pepe +could not touch bottom with an oar.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Let's get one if it takes a week," declared +George. The lad might be sick, but there was +nothing wrong with his spirit. "Look there!" +he exclaimed. "Oh, I guess it's a log. Too big!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They had been unable to tell the difference +between a crocodile and a log of driftwood +until it was too late. In this instance a +long, dirty-gray object lay upon a low bank. +Despite its immense size, which certainly +made the chances in favor of its being a log, +Ken determined this time to be fooled on the +right side. He had seen a dozen logs--as he +thought--suddenly become animated and slip +into the river.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hold steady, Pepe. I'll take a crack at +that just for luck."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The distance was about a hundred yards, +a fine range for the little rifle. Resting on +his knee, he sighted low, under the gray +object, and pulled the trigger twice. There were +two spats so close together as to be barely +distinguishable. The log of driftwood leaped +into life.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Whoop!" shouted Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It's a crocodile!" yelled George. "You +hit--you hit! Will you listen to that?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Row hard, Pepe--pull!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He bent to the oars, and the boat flew shoreward.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The huge crocodile, opening yard-long jaws, +snapped them shut with loud cracks. Then +he beat the bank with his tail. It was as +limber as a willow, but he seemed unable to +move his central parts, his thick bulk, where +Ken had sent the two mushroom bullets. +</span><em class="italics">Whack</em><span>! </span><em class="italics">Whack</em><span>! </span><em class="italics">Whack</em><span>! The sodden blows +jarred pieces from the clay-bank above him. +Each blow was powerful enough to have staved +in the planking of a ship. All at once he +lunged upward and, falling over backward, +slid down his runway into a few inches of +water, where he stuck.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Go in above him, Pepe," Ken shouted. +"Here-- Heavens! What a monster!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Deliberately, at scarce twenty feet, Ken +shot the remaining four shells into the +crocodile. The bullets tore through his horny +hide, and blood and muddy water spouted up. +George and Pepe and Hal yelled, and Ken +kept time with them. The terrible lashing +tail swung back and forth almost too swiftly +for the eye to catch. A deluge of mud and +water descended upon the boys, bespattering, +blinding them and weighing down the boat. +They jumped out upon the bank to escape it. +They ran to and fro in aimless excitement. +Ken still clutched the rifle, but he had no +shells for it. George was absurd enough to +fling a stone into the blood-tinged cloud of +muddy froth and spray that hid the threshing +leviathan. Presently the commotion subsided +enough for them to see the great crocodile +lying half on his back, with belly all torn +and bloody and huge claw-like hands pawing +the air. He was edging, slipping off into +deeper water.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"He'll get away--he'll get away!" cried +Hal. "What 'll we do?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken racked his brains.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pepe, get your lasso--rope him--rope +him! Hurry! he's slipping!" yelled George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe snatched up his lariat, and, without +waiting to coil it, cast the loop. He caught +one of the flippers and hauled tight on it just as +the crocodile slipped out of sight off the muddy +ledge. The others ran to the boat, and, +grasping hold of the lasso with Pepe, squared +away and began to pull. Plain it was that +the crocodile was not coming up so easily. +They could not budge him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hang on, boys!" Ken shouted. "It's a +tug-of-war."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The lasso was suddenly jerked out with a +kind of twang. Crash! went Pepe and Hal +into the bottom of the boat. Ken went +sprawling into the mud, and George, who had +the last hold, went to his knees, but valiantly +clung to the slipping rope. Bounding up, +Ken grasped it from him and wound it round +the sharp nose of the bowsprit.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Get in--hustle!" he called, falling aboard. +"You're always saying it's coming to us. +Here's where!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George had hardly got into the boat when +the crocodile pulled it off shore, and away it +went, sailing down-stream.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Whoop! All aboard for Panuco!" yelled Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, Pepe, you don't need to row any +more--we've a water-horse," Ken added.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But Pepe did not enter into the spirit of +the occasion. He kept calling on the saints +and crying, "Mucho malo." George and Ken +and Hal, however, were hilarious. They had +not yet had experience enough to know crocodiles.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Faster and faster they went. The water +began to surge away from the bow and leave +a gurgling wake behind the stern. Soon the +boat reached the middle of the river where the +water was deepest, and the lasso went almost +straight down.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken felt the stern of the boat gradually +lifted, and then, in alarm, he saw the front +end sinking in the water. The crocodile was +hauling the bow under.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pepe--your machete--cut the lasso!" he +ordered, sharply. George had to repeat the +order.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Wildly Pepe searched under the seat and +along the gunwales. He could not find the +</span><em class="italics">machete</em><span>.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Cut the rope!" Ken thundered. "Use +a knife, the ax--anything--only cut +it--and cut it quick!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe could find nothing. Knife in hand, +Ken leaped over his head, sprawled headlong +over the trunk, and slashed the taut lasso +just as the water began to roar into the +boat. The bow bobbed up as a cork that had +been under. But the boat had shipped six +inches of water.</span></p> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 64%" id="figure-49"> +<span id="knife-in-hand-ken-leaped-over-his-head-and-slashed-the-taut-lasso"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="KNIFE IN HAND, KEN LEAPED OVER HIS HEAD AND SLASHED THE TAUT LASSO" src="images/img-242.jpg"> +<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> +<span class="italics">KNIFE IN HAND, KEN LEAPED OVER HIS HEAD AND SLASHED THE TAUT LASSO</span></div> +</div> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Row ashore, Pepe. Steady, there. Trim +the boat, George."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They beached at a hard clay-bank and +rested a little before unloading to turn out the +water.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Grande!" observed Pepe.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes; he was big," assented George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder what's going to happen to us +next," added Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken Ward looked at these companions of +his and he laughed outright. "Well, if you +all don't take the cake for nerve!"</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="treed-by-wild-pigs"><span class="bold large">XX</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">TREED BY WILD PIGS</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>Pepe's long years of </span><em class="italics">mozo</em><span> work, rowing +for tarpon fishermen, now stood the boys +in good stead. All the hot hours of the day +he bent steadily to the oars. Occasionally +they came to rifts, but these were not difficult +to pass, being mere swift, shallow channels +over sandy bottom. The rocks and the rapids +were things of the past.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George lay in a kind of stupor, and Hal +lolled in his seat. Ken, however, kept alert, +and as the afternoon wore on began to be +annoyed at the scarcity of camp-sites.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The muddy margins of the river, the steep +banks, and the tick-infested forests offered few +places where it was possible to rest, to say +nothing of sleep. Every turn in the widening +river gave Ken hope, which resulted in +disappointment. He found consolation, +however, in the fact that every turn and every +hour put him so much farther on the way.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>About five o'clock Ken had unexpected +good luck in shape of a small sand-bar cut +off from the mainland, and therefore free of +cattle-tracks. It was clean and dry, with a +pile of driftwood at one end.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Tumble out, boys," called Ken, as Pepe +beached the boat. "We'll pitch camp here."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Neither Hal nor George showed any alacrity. +Ken watched his brother; he feared to see +some of the symptoms of George's sickness. +Both lads, however, seemed cheerful, though +too tired to be of much use in the pitching of +camp.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken could not recover his former good +spirits. There was a sense of foreboding in +his mind that all was not well, that he must +hurry, hurry. And although George appeared +to be holding his own, Hal healthy enough, +and Pepe's brooding quiet at least no worse, +Ken could not rid himself of gloom. If he +had answered the question that knocked at +his mind he would have admitted a certainty +of disaster. So he kept active, and when +there were no more tasks for that day he +worked on his note-book, and then watched +the flight of wild fowl.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The farther down the river the boys +traveled the more numerous were the herons +and cranes and ducks. But they saw no more +of the beautiful </span><em class="italics">pato real</em><span>, as Pepe called them, +or the little russet-colored ducks, or the +dismal-voiced bitterns. On the other hand, wild +geese were common, and there were flocks +and flocks of teal and canvasbacks.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe, as usual, cooked duck. And he had +to eat it. George had lost his appetite +altogether. Hal had lost his taste for meat, +at least. And Ken made a frugal meal of rice.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys," he said, "the less you eat from now +on the better for you."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It took resolution to drink the cocoa, for +Ken could not shut out remembrance of the +green water and the shore-line of dead and +decaying cattle. Still, he was parched with +thirst; he had to drink. That night he slept +ten hours without turning over. Next +morning he had to shake Pepe to rouse him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken took turns at the oars with Pepe. +It was not only that he fancied Pepe was +weakening and in need of an occasional rest, +but the fact that he wanted to be occupied, +and especially to keep in good condition. +They made thirty miles by four o'clock, and +most of it against a breeze. Not in the whole +distance did they pass half a dozen places +fit for a camp. Toward evening the river +narrowed again, resembling somewhat the +Santa Rosa of earlier acquaintance. The +magnificent dark forests crowded high on +the banks, always screened and curtained by +gray moss, as if to keep their secrets.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The sun was just tipping with gold the +mossy crests of a grove of giant ceibas, when +the boys rounded a bend to come upon the +first ledge of rocks for two days. A low, +grassy promontory invited the eyes searching +for camping-ground. This spot appeared +ideal; it certainly was beautiful. The ledge +jutted into the river almost to the opposite +shore, forcing the water to rush through a +rocky trough into a great foam-spotted pool +below.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They could not pitch the tent, since the +stony ground would not admit stakes, so +they laid the canvas flat. Pepe went up +the bank with his </span><em class="italics">machete</em><span> in search of +firewood. To Ken's utmost delight he found a +little spring of sweet water trickling from the +ledge, and by digging a hole was enabled to +get a drink, the first one in more than a week.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>A little later, as he was spreading the +blankets, George called his attention to shouts +up in the woods.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pepe's treed something," Ken said. "Take +your gun and hunt him up."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken went on making a bed and busying +himself about camp, with little heed to +George's departure. Presently, however, he +was startled by unmistakable sounds of alarm. +George and Pepe were yelling in unison, and, +from the sound, appeared to be quite a +distance away.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What the deuce!" Ken ejaculated, snatching +up his rifle. He snapped a clip in the +magazine and dropped several loaded clips +and a box of extra shells into his coat pocket. +After his adventure with the jaguar he decided +never again to find himself short of ammunition. +Running up the sloping bank, he entered +the forest, shouting for his companions. +Answering cries came from in front and a little +to the left. He could not make out what was +said.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Save for drooping moss the forest was +comparatively open, and at a hundred paces +from the river-bank were glades covered with +thickets and long grass and short palm-trees. +The ground sloped upward quite perceptibly.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hey, boys, where are you?" called Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe's shrill yells mingled with George's +shouts. At first their meaning was +unintelligible, but after calling twice Ken +understood.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Javelin! Go back! Javelin! We're treed! +Wild pigs! Santa Maria! Run for your life!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>This was certainly enlightening and rather +embarrassing. Ken remembered the other +time the boys had made him run, and he grew +hot with anger.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll be blessed if I'll run!" he said, in the +pride of conceit and wounded vanity. Whereupon +he began to climb the slope, stopping +every few steps to listen and look. Ken +wondered what had made Pepe go so far for +fire-wood; still, there was nothing but green +wood all about. Walking round a clump of +seared and yellow palms that rustled in the +breeze, Ken suddenly espied George's white +shirt. He was in a scrubby sapling not +fifteen feet from the ground. Then Ken +espied Pepe, perched in the forks of a ceiba, +high above the thickets and low shrubbery. +Ken was scarcely more than a dozen rods from +them down the gradual slope. Both saw him +at once.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Run, you Indian! Run!" bawled George, +waving his hands.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George implored Ken to fly to save his +precious life.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What for? you fools! I don't see anything +to run from," Ken shouted back. His temper +had soured a little during the last few days.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You'd better run, or you'll have to climb," +replied George. "Wild pigs--a thousand of 'em!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Where?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Right under us. There! Oh, if they +see you! Listen to this." He broke off a +branch, trimmed it of leaves, and flung it +down. Ken heard a low, trampling roar of +many hard little feet, brushings in the thicket, +and cracking of twigs. As close as he was, +however, he could not see a moving object. +The dead grass and brush were several feet +high, up to his waist in spots, and, though he +changed position several times, no </span><em class="italics">javelin</em><span> +did he see.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You want to look out. Say, man, these +are wild pigs--boars, I tell you! They'll +kill you!" bellowed George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Are you going to stay up there all night?" +Ken asked, sarcastically.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll stay till they go away."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, I'll scare them away," Ken +replied, and, suiting action to word, he worked +the automatic as fast as it would shoot, +aiming into the thicket under George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Of all the foolish things a nettled hunter +ever did that was the worst. A roar answered +the echoes of the rifle, and the roar rose from +every side of the trees the victims were in. +Nervously Ken clamped a fresh clip of shells +into the rifle. Clouds of dust arose, and +strange little squeals and grunts seemed to +come from every quarter. Then the grass +and bushes were suddenly torn apart by swift +gray forms with glittering eyes. They were +everywhere.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Run</em><span>! </span><em class="italics">Run</em><span>!" shrieked George, high above +the tumult.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>For a thrilling instant Ken stood his ground +and fired at the bobbing gray backs. But +every break made in the ranks by the powerful +shells filled in a flash. Before that vicious +charge he wavered, then ran as if pursued by +demons.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The way was downhill. Ken tripped, fell, +rolled over and over, then, still clutching +the rifle, rose with a bound and fled. The +javelin had gained. They were at his heels. +He ran like a deer. Then, seeing a low branch, +he leaped for it, grasped it with one hand, and, +crooking an elbow round it, swung with the +old giant swing.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Before Ken knew how it had happened he +was astride a dangerously swaying branch +directly over a troop of brownish-gray, +sharp-snouted, fiendish-eyed little peccaries.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Some were young and sleek, others were +old and rough; some had little yellow teeth or +tusks, and all pointed their sharp noses +upward, as if expecting him to fall into their +very mouths. Feeling safe, once more Ken +loaded the rifle and began to kill the biggest, +most vicious </span><em class="italics">javelin</em><span>. When he had killed +twelve in twelve shots, he saw that shooting a +few would be of no avail. There were +hundreds, it seemed, and he had scarcely fifty +shells left. Moreover, the rifle-barrel grew so +hot that it burnt his hands. Hearing George's +yell, he replied, somewhat to his disgust:</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm all right, George--only treed. How 're you?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pigs all gone--they chased you--Pepe +thinks we can risk running."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't take any chances," Ken yelled, in answer.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hi! Hi! What's wrong with you gazabos?" +came Hal's yell from down the slope.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Go back to the boat," shouted Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What for?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"We're all treed by javelin--wild pigs."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I've got to see that," was Hal's reply.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken called a sharp, angry order for Hal +to keep away. But Hal did not obey. Ken +heard him coming, and presently saw him +enter one of the little glades. He had Ken's +shotgun, and was peering cautiously about.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, where are you?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Here! Didn't I tell you to keep away? +The pigs heard you--some of them are edging +out there. Look out! Run, kid, run!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>A troop of </span><em class="italics">javelin</em><span> flashed into the glade. +Hal saw them and raised the shotgun.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">Boom</em><span>! He shot both barrels.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The shot tore through the brush all around +Ken, but fortunately beneath him. Neither +the noise nor the lead stopped the pugnacious +little peccaries.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal dropped Ken's hammerless and fled.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Run faster!" yelled George, who evidently +enjoyed Hal's plight. "They'll get you! +Run hard!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The lad was running close to the record +when he disappeared.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In trying to find a more comfortable posture, +so he could apply himself to an interesting +study of his captors, Ken made the startling +discovery that the branch which upheld him +was splitting from the tree-trunk. His heart +began to pound in his breast; then it went +up into his throat. Every move he made--for +he had started to edge toward the +tree--widened the little white split.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys, my branch is breaking!" he called, +piercingly.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Can't you get another?" returned George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"No; I daren't move! Hurry, boys! If +you don't scare these brutes off I'm a goner!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken's eyes were riveted upon the gap +where the branch was slowly separating from +the tree-trunk. He glanced about to see if +he could not leap to another branch. There +was nothing near that would hold him. In +desperation he resolved to drop the rifle, +cautiously get to his feet upon the branch, and +with one spring try to reach the tree. When +about to act upon this last chance he heard +Pepe's shrill yell and a crashing in the brush. +Then followed the unmistakable roar and +crackling of fire. Pepe had fired the +brush--no, he was making his way toward Ken, armed +with a huge torch.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pepe, you'll fire the jungle!" cried Ken, +forgetting what was at stake and that Pepe +could not understand much English. But +Ken had been in one forest-fire and +remembered it with horror.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The </span><em class="italics">javelin</em><span> stirred uneasily, and ran around +under Ken, tumbling over one another.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When Pepe burst through the brush, +holding before him long-stemmed palm leaves +flaring in hissing flames, the whole pack of +pigs bowled away into the forest at breakneck +speed.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken leaped down, and the branch came with +him. George came running up, his face white, +his eyes big. Behind him rose a roar that Ken +thought might be another drove of pigs till +he saw smoke and flame.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys, the jungle's on fire. Run for the river!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In their hurry they miscalculated the +location of camp and dashed out of the jungle +over a steep bank, and they all had a tumble. +It was necessary to wade to reach the rocky +ledge.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken shook hands with Pepe.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"George, tell him that was a nervy thing +to do. He saved my life, I do believe."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You fellows did a lot of hollering," said +Hal, from his perch in the boat.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, young man, you've got to go back +after my gun. Why didn't you do what +I told you? Foolish, to run into danger that +way!" declared Ken, severely.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You don't suppose I was going to overlook +a chance to see Ken Ward treed, do you?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, you saw him, and that was no joke. +But I wish Pepe could have scared those pigs +off without firing the jungle."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pepe says it 'll give the ticks a good +roasting," said George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll have roast pig, anyway," added Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He kept watching the jungle back of the +camp as if he expected it to blow up like +a powder-mine. But this Tamaulipas jungle +was not Penetier Forest. A cloud of smoke +rolled up; there was a frequent roaring of dry +palms; but the green growths did not burn. +It was not much of a forest-fire, and Ken +concluded that it would soon burn out.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>So he took advantage of the waning +daylight to spread out his map and plot in the +day's travel. This time Hal watched him +with a quiet attention that was both +flattering and stimulating; and at the conclusion +of the task he said:</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, Ken, we're having sport, but we're +doing something more--something worth while."</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="the-leaping-tarpon"><span class="bold large">XXI</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">THE LEAPING TARPON</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>Just before dark, when the boys were at +supper, a swarm of black mosquitoes +swooped down upon camp.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe could not have shown more fear at +angry snakes, and he began to pile green +wood and leaves on the fire to make a heavy +smoke.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>These mosquitoes were very large, black-bodied, +with white-barred wings. Their bite +was as painful as the sting of a bee. After +threshing about until tired out the boys went +to bed. But it was only to get up again, for +the mosquitoes could bite through two +thicknesses of blanket.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>For a wonder every one was quiet. Even +George did not grumble. The only thing to +do was to sit or stand in the smoke of the +campfire. The boys wore their gloves and wrapped +blankets round heads and shoulders. They +crouched over the fire until tired of that +position, then stood up till they could stand +no longer. It was a wretched, sleepless night +with the bloodthirsty mosquitoes humming +about like a swarm of bees. They did not +go away until dawn.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"That's what I get for losing the mosquito-netting," +said Ken, wearily.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Breakfast was not a cheerful meal, despite +the fact that the boys all tried to brace up.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George's condition showed Ken the necessity +for renewed efforts to get out of the jungle. +Pepe appeared heavy and slow, and, what was +more alarming, he had lost his appetite. Hal +was cross, but seemed to keep well. It was +hard enough for Ken to persuade George and +Pepe to take the bitter doses of quinine, and +Hal positively refused.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It makes me sick, I tell you," said Hal, +impatiently.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"But Hal, you ought to be guided by my +judgment now," replied Ken, gently.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't care. I've had enough of bitter pills."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I ask you--as a favor?" persisted Ken, quietly.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"No!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, then, I'll have to make you take them."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Wha-at?" roared Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"If necessary, I'll throw you down and pry +open your mouth and get Pepe to stuff these +pills down your throat. There!" went on +Ken, and now he did not recognize his own +voice.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal looked quickly at his brother, and was +amazed and all at once shaken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, Ken--" he faltered.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I ought to have made you take them +before," interrupted Ken. "But I've been +too easy. Now, Hal, listen--and you, too, +George. I've made a bad mess of this trip. +I got you into this jungle, and I ought to have +taken better care of you, whether you would +or not. George has fever. Pepe is getting +it. I'm afraid you won't escape. You all +</span><em class="italics">would</em><span> drink unboiled water."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, that's all right, but you can get +fever from the bites of the ticks," said George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I dare say. But just the same you could +have been careful about the water. Not only +that--look how careless we have been. Think +of the things that have happened! We've +gotten almost wild on this trip. We don't +realize. But wait till we get home. Then +we'll hardly be able to believe we ever had +these adventures. But our foolishness, our +carelessness, must stop right here. If we can't +profit by our lucky escapes yesterday--from +that lassoed crocodile and the wild pigs--we +are simply no good. I love fun and sport. +But there's a limit. Hal, remember what old +Hiram told you about being foolhardily brave. +I think we have been wonderfully lucky. +Now let's deserve our good luck. Let's not +prove what that Tampico hotel-man said. +Let's show we are not just wild-goose-chasing +boys. I put it to you straight. I think the +real test is yet to come, and I want you to +help me. No more tricks. No more drinking +unboiled water. No more shooting except +in self-defense. We must not eat any more +meat. No more careless wandering up the +banks. No chances. See? And fight the +fever. Don't give up. Then when we get +out of this awful jungle we can look back at +our adventures--and, better, we can be sure +we've learned a lot. We shall have accomplished +something, and that's learning. Now, +how about it? Will you help me?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You can just bet your life," replied George, +and he held out his hand.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, I'm with you," was Hal's quiet +promise; and Ken knew from the way the lad +spoke that he was in dead earnest. When it +came to the last ditch Hal Ward was as true +as steel. He took the raw, bitter quinine Ken +offered and swallowed it without a grimace.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Good!" exclaimed Ken. "Now, boys, let's +pack. Hal, you let your menagerie go. +There's no use keeping your pets any longer. +George, you make yourself a bed on the trunk, +and fix a palm-leaf sun-shelter. Then lie +down."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When the boat had been packed and all was +in readiness for the start, George was sound +asleep. They shoved off into the current. +Pepe and Ken took turns at the oars, making +five miles an hour.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>As on the day before, they glided under the +shadows of the great moss-twined cypresses, +along the muddy banks where crocodiles +basked in the sun and gaunt cattle came down +to drink. Once the boat turned a bushy point +to startle a large flock of wild turkeys, +perhaps thirty-five in number. They had been +resting in the cool sand along the river. Some +ran up the bank, some half-dozen flew right +over the boat, and most of them squatted down +as if to evade detection. Thereafter turkeys +and ducks and geese became so common as to +be monotonous.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>About one o'clock Ken sighted a thatched +bamboo and palm-leaf hut on the bank.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, boys, look! look!" cried Ken, joyfully.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal was as pleased as Ken, and George +roused out of his slumber. Pepe grinned and +nodded his head.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Some naked little children ran like quail. +A disheveled black head peeped out of a +door, then swiftly vanished.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Indians," said George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't care," replied Ken, "they're human +beings--people. We're getting somewhere."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>From there on the little bamboo huts were +frequently sighted. And soon Ken saw a large +one situated upon a high bluff. Ken was +wondering if these natives would be hospitable.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Upon rounding the next bend the boys +came unexpectedly upon a connecting river. +It was twice as wide as the Santa Rosa, and +quite swift.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Tamaulipas," said Pepe.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hooray! boys, this is the source of the +Panuco, sure as you're born," cried Ken. "I +told you we were getting somewhere."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He was overcome with the discovery. This +meant success.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Savalo! Savalo!" exclaimed Pepe, pointing.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Tarpon! Tarpon! What do you think +of that? 'Way up here! We must be a long +distance from tide-water," said George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken looked around over the broad pool +below the junction of the two rivers. And +here and there he saw swirls, and big splashes, +and then the silver sides of rolling tarpon.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Boys, seeing we've packed that can of +preserved mullet all the way, and those +thundering heavy tackles, let's try for +tarpon," suggested Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was wonderful to see how the boys +responded. Pepe was no longer slow and +heavy. George forgot he was sick. Hal, +who loved to fish better than to hunt, was as +enthusiastic as on the first day.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, let me boss this job," said George, +as he began to rig the tackles. "Pepe will +row; you and Hal sit back here and troll. +I'll make myself useful. Open the can. +See, I hook the mullet just back of the head, +letting the bar come out free. There! Now +run out about forty feet of line. Steady the +butt of the rod under your leg. Put your left +hand above the reel. Hold the handle of the +reel in your right, and hold it hard. The +drag is in the handle. Now when a tarpon +takes the bait, jerk with all your might. +Their mouths are like iron, and it's hard to get +a hook to stick."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe rowed at a smooth, even stroke and +made for the great curve of the pool where +tarpon were breaking water.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"If they're on the feed, we'll have more +sport than we've had yet," said George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken was fascinated, and saw that Hal was +going to have the best time of the trip. Also +Ken was very curious to have a tarpon strike. +He had no idea what it would be like. Presently, +when the boat glided among the rolling +fish and there was prospect of one striking +at any moment, Ken could not subdue a +mounting excitement.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Steady now--be ready," warned George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly Hal's line straightened. The lad +yelled and jerked at the same instant. There +came a roar of splitting waters, and a beautiful +silver fish, longer than Hal himself, shot +up into the air. The tarpon shook himself +and dropped back into the water with a crash.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal was speechless. He wound in his line +to find the bait gone.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Threw the hook," said George, as he +reached into the can for another bait. "He +wasn't so big. You'll get used to losing 'em. +There! try again."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken had felt several gentle tugs at his line, +as if tarpon were rolling across it. And +indeed he saw several fish swim right over where +his line disappeared in the water. There were +splashes all around the boat, some gentle +swishes and others hard, cutting rushes. +Then his line straightened with a heavy +jerk. He forgot to try to hook the fish; +indeed, he had no time. The tarpon came half +out of the water, wagged his head, and plumped +back. Ken had not hooked the fish, nor had +the fish got the bait. So Ken again let out his +line.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The next thing which happened was that +the boys both had strikes at the same instant. +Hal stood up, and as his tarpon leaped it +pulled him forward, and he fell into the +stern-seat. His reel-handle rattled on the gunwale. +The line hissed. Ken leaned back and jerked. +His fish did not break water, but he was +wonderfully active under the surface. Pepe was +jabbering. George was yelling. Hal's fish +was tearing the water to shreds. He crossed +Ken's fish; the lines fouled, and then slacked. +Ken began to wind in. Hal rose to do likewise.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Gee!" he whispered, with round eyes.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Both lines had been broken. George made +light of this incident, and tied on two more +leaders and hooks and baited afresh.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"The fish are on the feed, boys. It's a +cinch you'll each catch one. Better troll one +at a time, unless you can stand for crossed +lines."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But Ken and Hal were too eager to catch a +tarpon to troll one at a time, so once more +they let their lines out. A tarpon took Hal's +bait right under the stern of the boat. Hal +struck with all his might. This fish came up +with a tremendous splash, drenching the boys. +His great, gleaming silver sides glistened in +the sun. He curved his body and straightened +out with a snap like the breaking of a board, +and he threw the hook whistling into the air.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Before Hal had baited up, Ken got another +strike. This fish made five leaps, one after +the other, and upon the last threw the hook +like a bullet. As he plunged down, a +beautiful rainbow appeared in the misty spray.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hal, do you see that rainbow?" cried Ken, +quickly. "There's a sight for a fisherman!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>This time in turn, before Ken started to +troll, Hal hooked another tarpon. This one +was not so large, but he was active. His +first rush was a long surge on the surface. +He sent the spray in two streaks like a +motor-boat. Then he sounded.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hang on, Hal!" yelled George and Ken +in unison.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal was bent almost double and his head +was bobbing under the strain. He could +not hold the drag. The line was whizzing out.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"You got that one hooked," shouted +George. "Let go the reel--drop the handle. +Let him run."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He complied, and then his fish began a +marvelous exhibition of lofty tumbling. He +seemed never to stay down at all. Now he +shot up, mouth wide, gills spread, eyes wild, +and he shook himself like a wet dog. Then +he dropped back, and before the boys had +time to think where he might be he came +up several rods to the right and cracked his +gills like pistol-shots. He skittered on his +tail and stood on his head and dropped flat +with a heavy smack. Then he stayed under +and began to tug.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hang on, now," cried George. "Wind +in. Hold him tight. Don't give him an +inch unless he jumps."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>This was heartbreaking work for Hal. He +toiled to keep the line in. He grew red in the +face. He dripped with sweat. He panted for +breath. But he hung on.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken saw how skilfully Pepe managed the +boat. The </span><em class="italics">mozo</em><span> seemed to know just which +way the fish headed, and always kept the boat +straight. Sometimes he rowed back and lent +his help to Hal. But this appeared to anger +the tarpon, for the line told he was coming +to the surface. Then, as Pepe ceased to let +him feel the weight of the boat, the tarpon +sank again. So the battle went on round and +round the great pool. After an hour of it +Hal looked ready to drop.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Land him alone if you can," said Ken. +"He's tiring, Hal."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll--land him--or--or bust!" panted Hal.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Look out, now!" warned George again. +"He's coming up. See the line. Be ready +to trim the boat if he drops aboard. </span><em class="italics">Wow!</em><span>"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The tarpon slipped smoothly out of the +water and shot right over the bow of the boat. +Quick-witted George flung out his hand and +threw Hal's rod round in time to save the line +from catching. The fish went down, came +up wagging his head, and then fell with +sullen splash.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"He's done," yelled George. "Now, Hal, +hold him for all you're worth. Not an inch +of line!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe headed the boat for a sandy beach; +and Hal, looking as if about to have a stroke +of apoplexy, clung desperately to the bending +rod. The tarpon rolled and lashed his tail, +but his power was mostly gone. Gradually he +ceased to roll, until by the time Pepe reached +shore he was sliding wearily through the water, +his silvery side glittering in the light.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The boat grated on the sand. Pepe leaped +out. Then he grasped Hal's line, slipped his +hands down to the long wire leader, and +with a quick, powerful pull slid the tarpon +out upon the beach.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh-h!" gasped Hal, with glistening eyes. +"Oh-h! Ken, just look!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm looking, son, and don't you forget it."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The tarpon lay inert, a beautiful silver-scaled +creature that looked as if he had just +come from a bath of melted opals. The great +dark eyes were fixed and staring, the tail +moved feebly, the long dorsal fin quivered.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He measured five feet six inches in length, +which was one inch more than Hal's height.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, the boys back home will never believe +I caught him," said Hal, in distress.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Take his picture to prove it," replied Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal photographed his catch. Pepe took +out the hook, showing, as he did so, the great +iron-like plates in the mouth of the fish.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"No wonder it's hard to hook them," said Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal certainly wanted his beautiful fish to +go back, free and little hurt, to the river. +But also he wanted him for a specimen. Hal +deliberated. Evidently he was considering the +labor of skinning such a huge fish and the +difficulty of preserving and packing the hide.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, Hal, wouldn't you like to see me hook +one?" queried Ken, patiently.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>That brought Hal to his senses.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Sure, Ken, old man, I want you to catch +one--a big one--bigger than mine," replied +Hal, and restored the fish to the water.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They all watched the liberated tarpon swim +wearily off and slip down under the water.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"He'll have something to tell the rest, +won't he?" said George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In a few minutes the boat was again in the +center of the great pool among the rolling +tarpon. Ken had a strike immediately. +He missed. Then he tried again. And in a +short space of time he saw five tarpon in the +air, one after the other, and not one did he +hook securely. He got six leaps out of one, +however, and that was almost as good as +landing him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"There 're some whales here," said George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Grande savalo," added Pepe, and he rowed +over to where a huge fish was rolling.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I don't want to hook the biggest one +first," protested Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe rowed to and fro. The boys were busy +trying to see the rolling tarpon. There would +be a souse on one side, then a splash on the +other, then a thump behind. What with +trying to locate all these fish and still keep an +eye on Ken's line the boys almost dislocated +their necks.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then, quick as a flash, Ken had a strike +that pulled him out of his seat to his knees. +He could not jerk. His line was like a wire. +It began to rise. With all his strength he +held on. The water broke in a hollow, slow +roar, and a huge humpbacked tarpon seemed +to be climbing into the air. But he did not +get all the way out, and he plunged back +with a thunderous crash. He made as much +noise as if a horse had fallen off a bridge.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The handle of the reel slipped out of Ken's +grasp, and it was well. The tarpon made a +long, wonderful run and showed on the surface +a hundred yards from the boat. He was +irresistibly powerful. Ken was astounded and +thrilled at his strength and speed. There, +far away from the boat, the tarpon leaped +magnificently, clearing the water, and then +went down. He did not come up again.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, he's a whale," said George. "I +believe he's well hooked. He won't jump any +more. And you've got a job on your hands."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I want him to jump."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"The big ones seldom break water after +the first rush or so."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, it's coming to you with that +fellow," said Hal. "My left arm is paralyzed. +Honestly, I can pinch it and not feel the pain."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe worked the boat closer and Ken +reeled in yard after yard of line. The tarpon +was headed down-stream, and he kept up a +steady, strong strain.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Let him tow the boat," said George. +"Hold the drag, Ken. Let him tow the boat."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What!" exclaimed Ken, in amaze.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, he'll do it, all right."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>And so it proved. Ken's tarpon, once +headed with the current, did not turn, and +he towed the boat.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"This is a new way for me to tire out a +fish," said Ken. "What do you think of it, Hal?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal's eyes glistened.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"This is fishing. Ken, did you see him +when he came up?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Not very clearly. I had buck-fever. You +know how a grouse looks when he flushes +right under your feet--a kind of brown blur. +Well, this was the same, only silver."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>At the end of what Ken judged to be a +mile the tarpon was still going. At the end +of the second mile he was tired. And three +miles down the river from where the fish was +hooked Pepe beached the boat on a sandbar +and hauled ashore a tarpon six feet ten +inches long.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Here Ken echoed Hal's panting gasp +of wonder and exultation. As he sat down +on the boat to rest he had no feeling in +his left arm, and little in his right. His +knuckles were skinned and bloody. No +game of baseball he had ever pitched had +taken his strength like the conquest of this +magnificent fish.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Hal, we'll have some more of this fishing +when we get to Tampico," said Ken. "Why, +this beats hunting. You have the sport, and +you needn't kill anything. This tarpon isn't +hurt."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>So Ken photographed his prize and measured +him, and, taking a last lingering glance at the +great green back, the silver-bronze sides, the +foot-wide flukes of the tail, at the whole +quivering fire-tinted length, he slid the tarpon +back into the river.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="stricken-down"><span class="bold large">XXII</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">STRICKEN DOWN</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>Much as Ken would have liked to go back +to that pool, he did not think of it twice. +And as soon as the excitement had subsided +and the journey was resumed, George and Hal, +and Pepe, too, settled down into a silent +weariness that made Ken anxious.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>During the afternoon Ken saw Pepe slowly +droop lower and lower at the oars till the time +came when he could scarcely lift them to +make a stroke. And when Ken relieved him +of them, Pepe fell like a log in the boat.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George slept. Hal seemed to be fighting +stupor. Pepe lay motionless on his seat. They +were all going down with the fever, that +Ken knew, and it took all his courage to face +the situation. It warmed his heart to see how +Hal was trying to bear up under a languor +that must have been well-nigh impossible to +resist. At last Hal said:</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, let me row." He would not admit +that he was sick.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken thought it would do Hal no harm to +work. But Ken did not want to lose time. +So he hit upon a plan that pleased him. +There was an extra pair of oars in the boat. +Ken fashioned rude pegs from a stick and +drove these down into the cleat inside the +gunwales. With stout rope he tied the oars +to the pegs, which answered fairly well as +oarlocks. Then they had a double set of +oars going, and made much better time.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George woke and declared that he must take +a turn at the oars. So Ken let him row, too, +and rested himself. He had a grim foreboding +that he would need all his strength.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The succeeding few hours before sunset +George and Hal more than made up for all +their delinquencies of the past. At first it was +not very hard for them to row; but soon they +began to weary, then weaken. Neither one, +however, would give up. Ken let them +row, knowing that it was good for them. +Slower and slower grew George's strokes, +there were times when he jerked up +spasmodically and made an effort, only to weaken +again. At last, with a groan he dropped the +oars. Ken had to lift him back into the bow.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal was not so sick as George, and therefore +not so weak. He lasted longer. Ken +had seen the lad stick to many a hard job, +but never as he did to this one. Hal was +making good his promise. There were times when +his breath came in whistles. He would stop +and pant awhile, then row on. Ken pretended +he did not notice. But he had never been +so proud of his brother nor loved him so well.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Ken, old man," said Hal, presently. "I +was--wrong--about the water. I ought to +have obeyed you. I--I'm pretty sick."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>What a confession for Hal Ward!</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken turned in time to see Hal vomit over +the gunwale.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"It's pretty tough, Hal," said Ken, as he +reached out to hold his brother's head; "but +you're game. I'm so glad to see that."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Whereupon Hal went back to his oars and +stayed till he dropped. Ken lifted him and +laid him beside George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken rowed on with his eyes ever in search +of a camping-site. But there was no place to +camp. The muddy banks were too narrow +at the bottom, too marshy and filthy. And +they were too steep to climb to the top.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The sun set. Twilight fell. Darkness came +on, and still Ken rowed down the river. At +last he decided to make a night of it at the +oars. He preferred to risk the dangers of the +river at night rather than spend miserable +hours in the mud. Rousing the boys, he +forced them to swallow a little cold rice and +some more quinine. Then he covered them +with blankets, and had scarce completed the +task when they were deep in slumber.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then the strange, dense tropical night +settled down upon Ken. The oars were +almost noiseless, and the water gurgled softly +from the bow. Overhead the expanse was +dark blue, with a few palpitating stars. The +river was shrouded in gray gloom, and the +banks were lost in black obscurity. Great +fireflies emphasized the darkness. He trusted +a good deal to luck in the matter of going +right; yet he kept his ear keen for the sound +of quickening current, and turned every few +strokes to peer sharply into the gloom. He +seemed to have little sense of peril, for, though +he hit submerged logs and stranded on bars, +he kept on unmindful, and by and by lost what +anxiety he had felt. The strange wildness +of the river at night, the gray, veiled space into +which he rowed unheeding began to work +upon his mind.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>That was a night to remember--a night +of sounds and smells, of the feeling of the cool +mist, the sight of long, dark forest-line and +a golden moon half hidden by clouds. Prominent +among these was the trill of river frogs. +The trill of a northern frog was music, but +that of these great, silver-throated jungle +frogs was more than music. Close at hand one +would thrill Ken with mellow, rich notes; +and then from far would come the answer, +a sweet, high tenor, wilder than any other +wilderness sound, long sustained, dying away +till he held his breath to listen.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>So the hours passed; and the moon went +down into the weird shadows, and the Southern +Cross rose pale and wonderful.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Gradually the stars vanished in a kind of +brightening gray, and dawn was at hand. +Ken felt weary for sleep, and his arms and back +ached. Morning came, with its steely light +on the river, the rolling and melting of vapors, +the flight of ducks and call of birds. The +rosy sun brought no cheer.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken beached the boat on a sand-bar. +While he was building a fire George raised +his head and groaned. But neither Pepe nor +Hal moved. Ken cooked rice and boiled +cocoa, which he choked down. He opened +a can of fruit and found that most welcome. +Then he lifted George's head, shook him, +roused him, and held him, and made him eat +and drink. Nor did he neglect to put a +liberal dose of quinine in the food. Pepe was +easily managed, but poor Hal was almost +unable to swallow. Something terribly grim +mingled with a strong, passionate thrill as +Ken looked at Hal's haggard face. Then +Ken Ward knew how much he could stand, +what work he could do to get his brother out +of the jungle.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He covered the boys again and pushed out +the boat. At the moment he felt a strength +that he had never felt before. There was a +good, swift current in the river, and Ken was +at great pains to keep in it. The channel +ran from one side of the river to the other. +Many times Ken stranded on sandy shoals +and had to stand up and pole the boat into +deeper water. This was work that required +all his attention. It required more than +patience. But as he rowed and poled and +drifted he studied the shallow ripples and +learned to avoid the places where the boat +would not float.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>There were stretches of river where the +water was comparatively deep, and along +these he rested and watched the shores as he +drifted by. He saw no Indian huts that +morning. The jungle loomed high and dark, +a matted gray wall. The heat made the +river glare and smoke. Then where the +current quickened he rowed steadily and easily, +husbanding his strength.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>More than all else, even the ravings of Hal +in fever, the thing that wore on Ken and made +him gloomy was the mourning of turtle-doves. +As there had been thousands of these +beautiful birds along the Santa Rosa River, so +there were millions along the Panuco. Trees +were blue with doves. There was an +incessant soft, sad moaning. He fought his +nervous, sensitive imaginings. And for a +time he would conquer the sense of some sad +omen sung by the doves. Then the monotony, +the endless sweet "coo-ooo-ooo," seemed +to drown him in melancholy sound. There were +three distinct tones--a moan, swelling to full +ring, and dying away: "Coo-</span><em class="italics">ooo</em><span>-ooo--coo-</span><em class="italics">ooo</em><span>-ooo."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>All the afternoon the mourning, haunting +song filled Ken Ward's ears. And when the +sun set and night came, with relief to his +tortured ear but not to mind, Ken kept on +without a stop.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The day had slipped behind Ken with the +miles, and now it was again dark. It seemed +that he had little sense of time. But his +faculties of sight and hearing were singularly +acute. Otherwise his mind was like the weird +gloom into which he was drifting.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Before the stars came out the blackness was +as thick as pitch. He could not see a yard +ahead. He backed the boat stern first +down-stream and listened for the soft murmur +of ripples on shoals. He avoided these by +hearing alone. Occasionally a huge, dark +pile of driftwood barred his passage, and he +would have to go round it. Snags loomed up +specter-like in his path, seemingly to reach for +him with long, gaunt arms. Sometimes he +drifted upon sand-bars, from which he would +patiently pole the boat.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When the heavy dew began to fall he put +on his waterproof coat. The night grew +chill. Then the stars shone out. This +lightened the river. Yet everywhere were shadows. +Besides, clouds of mist hung low, in places +obscuring the stars.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken turned the boat bow first downstream +and rowed with slow, even stroke. +He no longer felt tired. He seemed to have +the strength of a giant. He fancied that with +one great heave he could lift the boat out of +the water or break the oars. From time to +time he ceased to row, and, turning his head, +he looked and listened. The river had numerous +bends, and it was difficult for Ken to keep +in the middle channel. He managed pretty +well to keep right by watching the dark +shore-line where it met the deep-blue sky. +In the bends the deepest water ran close to +the shore of the outside curve. And under +these high banks and the leaning cypresses +shadows were thicker and blacker than in the +earlier night. There was mystery in them +that Ken felt.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The sounds he heard when he stopped +during these cautious resting intervals were +the splashes of fish breaking water, the low +hum of insects, and the trill of frogs. The +mourning of the doves during daylight had +haunted him, and now he felt the same +sensation at this long-sustained, exquisitely sweet +trill. It pierced him, racked him, and at last, +from sheer exhaustion of his sensibilities, he +seemed not to hear it any more, but to have +it in his brain.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The moon rose behind the left-hand jungle +wall, silvered half of the river and the +opposite line of cypresses, then hid under clouds.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly, near or far away, down the river +Ken saw a wavering light. It was too large +for a firefly, and too steady. He took it +for a Jack-o'-lantern. And for a while it +enhanced the unreality, the ghostliness of the +river. But it was the means of bringing +Ken out of his dreamy gloom. It made him +think. The light was moving. It was too +wavering for a Jack-o'-lantern. It was +coming up-stream. It grew larger.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, it +vanished. Ken lost sight of it under a deep +shadow of overhanging shore. As he reached +a point opposite to where it disappeared he +thought he heard a voice. But he could not +be sure. He did not trust his ears. The +incident, however, gave him a chill. What +a lonesome ride! He was alone on that +unknown river with three sick boys in the boat. +Their lives depended upon his care, his +strength, his skill, his sight and hearing. +And the realization, striking him afresh, +steeled his arms again and his spirit.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The night wore on. The moon disappeared +entirely. The mists hung low like dim sheets +along the water. Ken was wringing-wet with +dew. Long periods of rowing he broke with +short intervals of drifting, when he rested at +the oars.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then drowsiness attacked him. For hours +it seemed he fought it off. But at length it +grew overpowering. Only hard rowing would +keep him awake. And, as he wanted to +reserve his strength, he did not dare exert +himself violently. He could not keep his eyes +open. Time after time he found himself +rowing when he was half asleep. The boat +drifted against a log and stopped. Ken +drooped over his oars and slept, and yet he +seemed not altogether to lose consciousness. +He roused again to row on.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It occurred to him presently that he might +let the boat drift and take naps between +whiles. When he drifted against a log or a +sand-bar the jar would awaken him. The +current was sluggish. There seemed to be +no danger whatever. He must try to keep +his strength. A little sleep would refresh +him. So he reasoned, and fell asleep over +the oars.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Sooner or later--he never knew how long +after he had fallen asleep--a little jar awakened +him. Then the gurgle and murmur of water +near him and the rush and roar of a swift +current farther off made him look up with a +violent start. All about him was wide, gray +gloom. Yet he could see the dark, glancing +gleam of the water. Movement of the oars +told him the boat was fast on a sand-bar. +That relieved him, for he was not drifting at +the moment into the swift current he heard. +Ken peered keenly into the gloom. Gradually +he made out a long, dark line running +diagonally ahead of him and toward the +right-hand shore. It could not be an island or a +sand-bar or a shore-line. It could not be +piles of driftwood. There was a strange +regularity in the dark upheavals of this +looming object. Ken studied it. He studied the +black, glancing water. Whatever the line +was, it appeared to shunt the current over to +the right, whence came the low rush and roar.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Altogether it was a wild, strange place. +Ken felt a fear of something he could not name. +It was the river--the night--the loneliness--the +unknown about him and before him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly he saw a dull, red light far down +the river. He stiffened in his seat. Then +he saw another red light. They were like +two red eyes. Ken shook himself to see if +he had nightmare. No; the boat was there; +the current was there; the boys were there, +dark and silent under their blankets. This +was no dream. Ken's fancy conjured up +some red-eyed river demon come to destroy +him and his charges. He scorned the fancy, +laughed at it. But, all the same, in that dark, +weird place, with the murmuring of notes +in his ears and with those strange red eyes +glowing in the distance, he could not help +what his emotions made the truth. He was +freezing to the marrow, writhing in a clammy +sweat when a low "chug-chug-chug" enlightened +him. The red eyes were those of a steamboat.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>A steamboat on the wild Panuco! Ken +scarcely believed his own judgment. Then +he remembered that George said there were +a couple of boats plying up and down the +lower Panuco, mostly transporting timber and +cattle. Besides, he had proof of his judgment +in the long, dark line that had so puzzled +him--it was a breakwater. It turned the +current to the left, where there evidently was +a channel.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The great, red eyes gleamed closer, the +"chug-chug-chug" sounded louder. Then +another sound amazed Ken--a man's voice +crying out steadily and monotonously.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken wanted to rouse the boys and Pepe, +but he refrained. It was best for them to +sleep. How surprised they would be when he +told them about the boat that passed in the +night! Ken now clearly heard the splashing +of paddles, the chug of machinery, and the +man's voice. He was singsonging: "Dos y +media, dos y media, dos y media."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken understood a little Mexican, and +this strange cry became clear to him. The +man was taking soundings with a lead and +crying out to the pilot. </span><em class="italics">Dos y media</em><span> meant two +and a half feet of water. Then the steam-boat +loomed black in the gray gloom. It was +pushing a low, flat barge. Ken could not +see the man taking soundings, but he heard +him and knew he was on the front end of the +barge. The boat passed at fair speed, and it +cheered Ken. For he certainly ought to be +able to take a rowboat where a steamboat +had passed. And, besides, he must be getting +somewhere near the little village of Panuco.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He poled off the bar and along the breakwater +to the channel. It was narrow and swift. +He wondered how the pilot of the steamboat +had navigated in the gloom. He slipped +down-stream, presently to find himself once +more in a wide river. Refreshed by his sleep +and encouraged by the meeting with the +steamboat, Ken settled down to steady rowing.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The stars paled, the mist thickened, fog +obscured the water and shore; then all turned +gray, lightened, and dawn broke. The sun +burst out. Ken saw thatched huts high on +the banks and occasionally natives. This +encouraged him all the more.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>He was not hungry, but he was sick for a +drink. He had to fight himself to keep from +drinking the dirty river-water. How different +it was here from the clear green of the upper +Santa Rosa! Ken would have given his best +gun for one juicy orange. George was +restless and rolling about, calling for water; +Hal lay in slumber or stupor; and Pepe sat +up. He was a sick-looking fellow, but he +was better; and that cheered Ken as nothing +yet had.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken beached the boat on a sandy shore, +and once again forced down a little rice and +cocoa. Pepe would not eat, yet he drank a +little. George was burning up with fever, +and drank a full cup. Hal did not stir, and +Ken thought it best to let him lie.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>As Ken resumed the journey the next thing +to attract his attention was a long canoe +moored below one of the thatched huts. +This afforded him great satisfaction. At +least he had passed the jungle wilderness, +where there was nothing that even suggested +civilization. In the next few miles he noticed +several canoes and as many natives. Then +he passed a canoe that was paddled by two +half-naked bronze Indians. Pepe hailed them, +but either they were too unfriendly to reply +or they did not understand him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Some distance below Pepe espied a banana +grove, and he motioned Ken to row ashore. +Ken did so with pleasure at the thought of +getting some fresh fruit. There was a canoe +moored to the roots of a tree and a path +leading up the steep bank. Pepe got out and +laboriously toiled up the bare path. He was +gone a good while.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Presently Ken heard shouts, then the bang +of a lightly loaded gun, then yells from Pepe.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"What on earth!" cried Ken, looking up in +affright.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe appeared with his arms full of red +bananas. He jumped and staggered down +the path and almost fell into the boat. But +he hung on to the bananas.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Santa Maria!" gasped Pepe, pointing to +little bloody spots on the calf of his leg.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Pepe, you've been shot!" ejaculated Ken. +"You stole the fruit--somebody shot you!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe howled his affirmative. Ken was +angry at himself, angrier at Pepe, and angriest +at the native who had done the shooting. +With a strong shove Ken put the boat out +and then rowed hard down-stream. As he +rounded a bend a hundred yards below he saw +three natives come tumbling down the path. +They had a gun. They leaped into the canoe. +They meant pursuit.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Say, but this is a pretty kettle of fish!" +muttered Ken, and he bent to the oars.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Of course Pepe had been in the wrong. +He should have paid for the bananas or asked +for them. All the same, Ken was not in any +humor to be fooled with by excitable natives. +He had a sick brother in the boat and meant +to get that lad out of the jungle as quickly +as will and strength could do it. He +certainly did not intend to be stopped by a few +miserable Indians angry over the loss of a few +bananas. If it had not been for the gun, +Ken would have stopped long enough to pay +for the fruit. But he could not risk it now. +So he pulled a strong stroke down-stream.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The worst of the matter developed when +Pepe peeled one of the bananas. It was too +green to eat.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Presently the native canoe hove in sight +round the bend. All three men were paddling. +They made the long craft fly through +the water. Ken saw instantly that they would +overhaul him in a long race, and this added +to his resentment. Pepe looked back and +jabbered and shook his brawny fists at the +natives. Ken was glad to see that the long +stretch of river below did not show a canoe +or hut along the banks. He preferred to be +overhauled, if he had to be, in a rather lonely spot.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was wonderful how those natives propelled +that log canoe. And when one of the +three dropped his paddle to pick up the gun, +the speed of the canoe seemed not to diminish. +They knew the channels, and so gained on +Ken. He had to pick the best he could +choose at short notice, and sometimes he +chose poorly.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Two miles or more below the bend the +natives with the gun deliberately fired, +presumably at Pepe. The shot scattered and +skipped along the water and did not come +near the boat. Nevertheless, as the canoe +was gaining and the crazy native was reloading, +Ken saw he would soon be within range. +Something had to be done.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken wondered if he could not frighten +those natives. They had probably never +heard the quick reports of a repeating rifle, +let alone the stinging cracks of an automatic. +Ken decided it would be worth trying. But +he must have a chance to get the gun out of +its case and load it.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>That chance came presently. The natives, +in paddling diagonally across a narrow +channel, ran aground in the sand. They were +fast for only a few moments, but in that time +Ken had got out the little rifle and loaded it.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe's dark face turned a dirty white, and +his eyes dilated. He imagined Ken was +going to kill some of his countrymen. But +Pepe never murmured. He rubbed the place +in his leg where he had been shot, and looked +back.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken rowed on, now leisurely. There was +a hot anger within him, but he had it in +control. He knew what he was about. Again +the native fired, and again his range was short. +The distance was perhaps two hundred yards.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken waited until the canoe, in crossing +one of the many narrow places, was broadside +toward him. Then he raised the automatic. +There were at least ten feet in the +middle of the canoe where it was safe for him +to hit without harm to the natives. And +there he aimed. The motion of his boat made +it rather hard to keep the sights right. He was +cool, careful; he aimed low, between gunwale +and the water, and steadily he pulled the +trigger--once, twice, three times, four, five.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The steel-jacketed bullets "spoued" on +the water and "cracked" into the canoe. +They evidently split both gunwales low down +at the water-line. The yelling, terror-stricken +natives plunged about, and what with +their actions and the great split in the middle +the canoe filled and sank. The natives were +not over their depth; that was plainly evident. +Moreover, it was equally evident that they +dared not wade in the quicksand. So they +swam to the shallower water, and there, like +huge turtles, floundered toward the shore.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst" id="out-of-the-jungle"><span class="bold large">XXIII</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">OUT OF THE JUNGLE</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>Before the natives had reached the +shore they were hidden from Ken's +sight by leaning cypress-trees. Ken, +however, had no fear for their safety. He was +sorry to cause the Indians' loss of a gun and +a canoe; nevertheless, he was not far from +echoing Pepe's repeated: "Bueno! Bueno! +Bueno!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Upon examination Ken found two little +bloody holes in the muscles of Pepe's leg. +A single shot had passed through. Ken +bathed the wounds with an antiseptic lotion +and bound them with clean bandages.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe appeared to be pretty weak, so Ken +did not ask him to take the oars. Then, +pulling with long, steady stroke, Ken set out +to put a long stretch between him and the +angry natives. The current was swift, and +Ken made five miles or more an hour. He +kept that pace for three hours without a rest. +And then he gave out. It seemed that all at +once he weakened. His back bore an +immense burden. His arms were lead, and his +hands were useless. There was an occasional +mist or veil before his sight. He was wet, +hot, breathless, numb. But he knew he was +safe from pursuit. So he rested and let the +boat drift.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>George sat up, green in the face, a most +miserable-looking boy. But that he could +sit up at all was hopeful.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, my head!" he moaned. "Is there +anything I can drink? My mouth is +dry--pasted shut."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken had two lemons he had been saving. +He cut one in halves and divided it between +Pepe and George. The relief the sour lemon +afforded both showed Ken how wise he had +been to save the lemons. Then he roused +Hal, and, lifting the lad's head, made him +drink a little of the juice. Hal was a sick +boy, too weak to sit up without help.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't--you worry--Ken," he said. "I'm +going--to be--all right."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal was still fighting.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken readjusted the palm-leaf shelter over +the boys so as to shade them effectually from +the hot sun, and then he went back to the +oars.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>As he tried once more to row, Ken was +reminded of the terrible lassitude that had +overtaken him the day he had made the six-hour +climb out of the Grand Cañon. The +sensation now was worse, but Ken had others +depending upon his exertions, and that spurred +him to the effort which otherwise would have +been impossible.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was really not rowing that Ken accomplished. +It was a weary puttering with oars +he could not lift, handles he could not hold. +At best he managed to guide the boat into +the swiftest channels. Whenever he felt that +he was just about to collapse, then he would +look at Hal's pale face. That would revive +him. So the hot hours dragged by.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They came, after several miles, upon more +huts and natives. And farther down they +met canoes on the river. Pepe interrogated +the natives. According to George, who +listened, Panuco was far, far away, many +kilometers. This was most disheartening. Another +native said the village was just round the +next bend. This was most nappy information. +But it turned out to be a lie. There +was no village around any particular +bend--nothing save bare banks for miles. The +stretches of the river were long, and bends +far apart.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken fell asleep. When he awoke he found +Pepe at the oars. Watching him, Ken fancied +he was recovering, and was overjoyed.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>About four o'clock in the afternoon Pepe +rowed ashore and beached the boat at the +foot of a trail leading up to a large bamboo +and thatch hut. This time Ken thought it +well to accompany Pepe. And as he climbed +the path he found his legs stiffer and shakier +than ever before.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken saw a cleared space in which were +several commodious huts, gardens, and flowers. +There was a grassy yard in which little naked +children were playing with tame deer and +tiger-cats. Parrots were screeching, and other +tame birds fluttered about. It appeared a real +paradise to Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Two very kindly disposed and wondering +native women made them welcome. Then +Ken and Pepe went down to the boat and +carried Hal up, and went back for George.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It developed that the native women knew +just what to do for the fever-stricken boys. +They made some kind of a native drink for +them, and after that gave them hot milk and +chicken and rice soup. George improved +rapidly, and Hal brightened a little and showed +signs of gathering strength.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken could not eat until he had something +to quench his thirst. Upon inquiring, Pepe +found that the natives used the river-water. +Ken could not drink that. Then Pepe pointed +out an orange-tree, and Ken made a dive +for it. The ground was littered with oranges. +Collecting an armful, Ken sat under the tree +and with wild haste began to squeeze the juice +into his mouth. Never had anything before +tasted so cool, so sweet, so life-giving! He +felt a cool, wet sensation steal all through his +body. He never knew till that moment how +really wonderful and precious an orange could +be. He thought that as he would hate +mourning turtle-doves all the rest of his life, +so he would love the sight and smell and taste +of oranges. And he demolished twenty-two +before he satisfied his almost insatiable thirst. +After that the chicken and rice made him feel +like a new boy.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then Ken made beds under a kind of porch, +and he lay down in one, stretched out +languidly and gratefully, as if he never intended +to move again, and his eyes seemed to be +glued shut.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When he awoke the sun was shining in his +face. When he had gone to bed it had been +shining at his back. He consulted his watch. +He had slept seventeen hours.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When he got up and found Pepe as well as +before he had been taken with the fever and +George on his feet and Hal awake and +actually smiling, Ken experienced a sensation +of unutterable thankfulness. A terrible +burden slipped from his shoulders. For a +moment he felt a dimming of his eyes and a lump +in his throat.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"How about you, Ken, old man?" inquired +Hal, with a hint of his usual spirit.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Wal, youngster, I reckon fer a man who's +been through some right pert happenin's, +I'm in tol'able shape," drawled Ken.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll bet two dollars you've been up +against it," declared Hal, solemnly.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then, as they sat to an appetizing breakfast, +Ken gave them a brief account of the +incidents of the two days and two nights +when they were too ill to know anything.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was a question whether George's voluble +eulogy of Ken's feat or Hal's silent, +bright-eyed pride in his brother was the greater +compliment.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Finally Hal said: "Won't that tickle Jim +Williams when we tell him how you split +up the Indians' canoe and spilled them into +the river?"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Then Ken conceived the idea of climbing +into the giant ceiba that stood high on the +edge of the bluff. It was hard work, but he +accomplished it, and from a fork in the +top-most branches he looked out. That was a +warm, rich, wonderful scene. Ken felt that +he would never forget it. His interest now, +however, was not so much in its beauty and +wildness. His keen eye followed the river +as it wound away into the jungle, and when +he could no longer see the bright ribbon of +water he followed its course by the line of +magnificent trees. It was possible to trace +the meandering course of the river clear to +the rise of the mountains, dim and blue in +the distance. And from here Ken made more +observations and notes.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>As he went over in his mind the map and +notes and report he had prepared he felt that +he had made good. He had explored and +mapped more than a hundred miles of wild +jungle river. He felt confident that he had +earned the trip to England and the German +forests. He might win a hunting trip on the +vast uplands of British East Africa. But he +felt also that the reward of his uncle's and +his father's pride would be more to him. That +was a great moment for Ken Ward. And +there was yet much more that he could do to +make this exploring trip a success.</span></p> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 92%" id="figure-50"> +<span id="ken-ward-s-map"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="Ken Ward's Map" src="images/img-301.jpg"> +<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> +<span class="italics">Ken Ward's Map</span></div> +</div> +<p class="pnext"><span>When he joined the others he found that +Pepe had learned that the village of Panuco +was distant a day or a night by canoe. How +many miles or kilometers Pepe could not learn. +Ken decided it would be best to go on at once. +It was not easy to leave that pleasant place, +with its music of parrots and other birds, and +the tiger-cats that played like kittens, and the +deer that ate from the hand. The women +would accept no pay, so Ken made them +presents.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Once more embarked, Ken found his mood +reverting to that of the last forty-eight hours. +He could not keep cheerful. The river was +dirty and the smell sickening. The sun was +like the open door of a furnace. And Ken +soon discovered he was tired, utterly tired.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>That day was a repetition of the one before, +hotter, wearier, and the stretches of river were +longer, and the natives met in canoes were +stolidly ignorant of distance. The mourning +of turtle-doves almost drove Ken wild. There +were miles and miles of willows, and every tree +was full of melancholy doves. At dusk the +boys halted on a sand-bar, too tired to cook a +dinner, and sprawled in the warm sand to sleep +like logs.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In the morning they brightened up a little, +for surely just around the bend they would +come to Panuco. Pepe rowed faithfully on, +and bend after bend lured Ken with deceit. +He was filled with weariness and disgust, so +tired he could hardly lift his hand, so sleepy +he could scarcely keep his eyes open. He +hated the wide, glassy stretches of river and +the muddy banks and dusty cattle.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>At noon they came unexpectedly upon a +cluster of thatched huts, to find that they made +up the village of Panuco. Ken was sick, for he +had expected a little town where they could +get some drinking-water and hire a launch +to speed them down to Tampico. This +appeared little more than the other places he +had passed, and he climbed up the bank +wearily, thinking of the long fifty miles still +to go.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>But Panuco was bigger and better than it +looked from the river. The boys found a +clean, comfortable inn, where they dined well, +and learned to their joy that a coach left in +an hour for Tamos to meet the five-o'clock +train to Tampico.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>They hired a </span><em class="italics">mozo</em><span> to row the boat to +Tampico and, carrying the lighter things, +boarded the coach, and, behind six mules, +were soon bowling over a good level road.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was here that the spirit of Ken's mood +again changed, and somehow seemed subtly +conveyed to the others. The gloom faded +away as Ken had seen the mist-clouds +dissolve in the morning sunlight. It was the +end of another wild trip. Hal was ill, but +a rest and proper care would soon bring him +around. Ken had some trophies and pictures, +but he also had memories. And he believed +he had acquired an accurate knowledge of +the jungle and its wild nature, and he had +mapped the river from Micas Falls to Panuco.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, it certainly </span><em class="italics">did come</em><span> to us, didn't +it?" asked George, naïvely, for the hundredth +time. "Didn't I tell you? By gosh, I can't +remember what did come off. But we had +a dandy time."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Great!" replied Ken. "I had more than +I wanted. I'll never spring another stunt like +this one!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal gazed smilingly at his brother.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Bah! Ken Ward, bring on your next old trip!"</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Which proved decidedly that Hal was getting +better and that he alone understood his +brother.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Pepe listened and rubbed his big hands, +and there was a light in his dark eyes.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken laughed. It was good to feel happy +just then; it was enough to feel safe and glad +in the present, with responsibility removed, +without a thought of the future.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Yet, when some miles across country he saw +the little town of Tamos shining red-roofed +against the sky, he came into his own again. +The old calling, haunting love of wild places +and wild nature returned, and with dreamy +eyes he looked out. He saw the same beauty +and life and wildness. Beyond the glimmering +lagoons stretched the dim, dark jungle. +A flock of flamingoes showed pink across the +water. Ducks dotted the weedy marshes. +And low down on the rosy horizon a long +curved line of wild geese sailed into the sunset.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>When the boys arrived at Tampico and +George had secured comfortable lodgings for +them, the first thing Ken did was to put Hal +to bed. It required main strength to do this. +Ken was not taking any chances with tropical +fever, and he sent for a doctor.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It was not clear whether the faces Hal +made were at the little dried-up doctor or at +the medicine he administered. However, it +was very clear that Hal made fun of him +and grew bolder the more he believed the man +could not understand English.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken liked the silent, kindly physician, and +remonstrated with Hal, and often, just to +keep Hal's mind occupied, he would talk of +the university and baseball, topics that were +absorbing to the boy.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>And one day, as the doctor was leaving, +he turned to Ken with a twinkle in his eyes +and said in perfect English: "I won't need to +come any more."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal's jaw began to drop.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Your brother is all right," went on the +doctor. "But he's a fresh kid, and he'll +never make the Wayne Varsity--or a good +explorer, either--till he gets over that +freshness. I'm a Wayne man myself. Class of '82. +Good day, boys."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken Ward was astounded. "By George! +What do you think of that? He's a Wayne +med. I'll have to look him up. And, Hal, he +was just right about you."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Hal looked extremely crestfallen and remorseful.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm always getting jars."</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It took a whole day for him to recover his +usual spirits.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken had promptly sent the specimens and +his notes to his uncle, and as the days passed +the boys began to look anxiously for some +news. In ten days Hal was as well as ever, +and then the boys had such sport with the +tarpon and big sharks and alligator-gars that +they almost forgot about the rewards they had +striven so hard for and hoped to win. But +finally, when the mail arrived from home, +they were at once happy and fearful. George +was with them that evening, and shared their +excitement and suspense. Hal's letters were +from his mother and his sister, and they were +read first. Judge Ward's letter to Ken was +fatherly and solicitous, but brief. He gave +the boys six more weeks, cautioned them to be +sensible and to profit by their opportunity, +and he inclosed a bank-draft. Not a word +about rewards!</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Ken's fingers trembled a little as he tore +open the uncle's letter. He read it aloud:</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>DEAR KEN,--Congratulations! You've done well. +You win the trip to Africa. Hal's work also was +good--several specimens accepted by the Smithsonian. +I'll back you for the Yucatan trip. Will send letters +to the American consul at Progreso, and arrange for +you to meet the Austrian archæologist Maler, who I +hope will take you in hand.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>I want you to make a study of some of the ruins +of Yucatan, which I believe are as wonderful as any +in Egypt. I advise you to make this trip short and to +the point, for there are indications of coming +revolution throughout Mexico.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +<dl class="docutils"> +<dt class="noindent"><span>With best wishes,</span></dt> +<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><span>UNCLE G.</span></p> +</dd> +</dl> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>The old varsity cheer rang out from Ken, +and Hal began a war-dance. Then both boys +pounced upon George, and for a few moments +made life miserable for him.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"And I can't go with you!" he exclaimed, +sorrowfully.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>Both Ken and Hal shared his disappointment. +But presently. George brightened up. +The smile came back which he always wore +when prophesying the uncertain adventures of +the future.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, anyway, I'll be safe home. And you +fellows! You'll be getting yours when you're +lost in the wilderness of Yucatan!"</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst"><span>THE END</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst"><span>* * * * * * * *</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst"><em class="bold italics large">There's More to Follow!</em></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> +</div> +<p class="pfirst"><span>More stories of the sort you like; +more, probably, by the author of this +one; more than 500 titles all told by +writers of world-wide reputation, in +the Authors' Alphabetical List which +you will find on the </span><em class="italics">reverse side</em><span> of the +wrapper of this book. Look it over +before you lay it aside. There are +books here you are sure to want--some, +possibly, that you have </span><em class="italics">always</em><span> wanted.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>It is a </span><em class="italics">selected</em><span> list; every book in it +has achieved a certain measure of +success.</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The Grosset & Dunlap list is not only +the greatest Index of Good Fiction +available, it represents in addition a +generally accepted Standard of Value. +It will pay you to</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">Look on the Other Side of the Wrapper!</em></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>In case the wrapper is lost write to +the publishers for a complete catalog.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst"><span>* * * * * * * *</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">ZANE GREY'S NOVELS</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="small">May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset and Dunlap's list.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>THE CALL OF THE CANYON +<br>WANDERER OF THE WASTELAND +<br>TO THE LAST MAN +<br>THE MYSTERIOUS RIDER +<br>THE MAN OF THE FOREST +<br>THE DESERT OF WHEAT +<br>THE U. P. TRAIL +<br>WILDFIRE +<br>THE BORDER LEGION +<br>THE RAINBOW TRAIL +<br>THE HERITAGE OF THE DESERT +<br>RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE +<br>THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS +<br>THE LAST OF THE PLAINSMEN +<br>THE LONE STAR RANGER +<br>DESERT GOLD +<br>BETTY ZANE +<br>THE DAY OF THE BEAST</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>* * * * *</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>LAST OF THE GREAT SCOUTS</span></p> +<p class="pnext"><span>The life story of "Buffalo Bill" by his sister Helen Cody +Wetmore, with Foreword and conclusion by Zane Grey.</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold medium">ZANE GREY'S BOOKS FOR BOYS</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>KEN WARD IN THE JUNGLE +<br>THE YOUNG LION HUNTER +<br>THE YOUNG FORESTER +<br>THE YOUNG PITCHER +<br>THE SHORT STOP +<br>THE RED-HEADED OUTFIELD AND OTHER BASEBALL STORIES</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst"><span>* * * * *</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold medium">NOVELS OF FRONTIER LIFE</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold large">WILLIAM MACLEOD RAINE</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="small">May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>BIG-TOWN ROUND-UP, THE +<br>BRAND BLOTTERS +<br>BUCKY O'CONNOR +<br>CROOKED TRAILS AND STRAIGHT +<br>DAUGHTER OF THE DONS, A +<br>DESERT'S PRICE, THE +<br>FIGHTING EDGE, THE +<br>GUNSIGHT PASS +<br>HIGHGRADER, THE +<br>IRONHEART +<br>MAN FOUR-SQUARE, A +<br>MAN-SIZE +<br>MAVERICKS +<br>OH, YOU TEX! +<br>PIRATE OF PANAMA, THE +<br>RIDGWAY OF MONTANA +<br>SHERIFF'S SON, THE +<br>STEVE YEAGER +<br>TANGLED TRAILS +<br>TEXAS RANGER, A +<br>VISION SPLENDID, THE +<br>WYOMING +<br>YUKON TRAIL, THE</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst"><span>* * * * *</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold large">JAMES OLIVER CURWOOD'S</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="bold medium">STORIES OF ADVENTURE</span></p> +<p class="center pnext"><span class="small">May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>THE COUNTRY BEYOND +<br>THE FLAMING FOREST +<br>THE VALLEY OF SILENT MEN +<br>THE RIVER'S END +<br>THE GOLDEN SNARE +<br>NOMADS OF THE NORTH +<br>KAZAN +<br>BAREE, SON OF KAZAN +<br>THE COURAGE OF CAPTAIN PLUM +<br>THE DANGER TRAIL +<br>THE HUNTED WOMAN +<br>THE FLOWER OF THE NORTH +<br>THE GRIZZLY KING +<br>ISOBEL +<br>THE WOLF HUNTERS +<br>THE GOLD HUNTERS +<br>THE COURAGE OF MARGE O'DOONE +<br>BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +<p class="noindent pfirst"><em class="italics small">Ask for Complete free list of G. & D. 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Ask for Grosset and Dunlap's list</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>BANDIT OF HELL'S BEND, THE +<br>CAVE GIRL, THE +<br>LAND THAT TIME FORGOT, THE +<br>TARZAN AND THE ANT MEN +<br>TARZAN AND THE GOLDEN LION +<br>TARZAN THE TERRIBLE +<br>TARZAN THE UNTAMED +<br>JUNGLE TALES OF TARZAN +<br>AT THE EARTH'S CORE +<br>THE MUCKER +<br>A PRINCESS OF MARS +<br>THE GODS OF MARS +<br>THE WARLORD OF MARS +<br>THUVIA, MAID OF MARS +<br>THE CHESSMEN OF MARS</span></p> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> +</div> +<p class="center pfirst"><span class="bold medium">GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK</span></p> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 45974 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |