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diff --git a/45974.txt b/45974.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6a2ac83..0000000 --- a/45974.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7863 +0,0 @@ - KEN WARD IN THE JUNGLE - - - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost -no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - - -Title: Ken Ward in the Jungle -Author: Zane Grey -Release Date: June 14, 2014 [EBook #45974] -Language: English -Character set encoding: US-ASCII - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KEN WARD IN THE JUNGLE *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - -[Illustration: Cover art] - - - - -[Illustration: THE JAGUAR OPENED HIS JAWS THREATENINGLY (see page 182)] - - - - - KEN WARD - IN THE JUNGLE - - - BY - - ZANE GREY - - AUTHOR OF - THE YOUNG FORESTER, - THE YOUNG PITCHER, - THE YOUNG LION HUNTER, - THE U. P. TRAIL, ETC. - - - - ILLUSTRATED - - - - NEW YORK - GROSSET & DUNLAP - PUBLISHERS - - Published by Arrangement with Harper & Brothers - Made in the United States of America - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY HARPER & BROTHERS - - PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - - - - - *CONTENTS* - -CHAP. - - I. The Prize - II. The Home of the Tarpon - III. An Indian Boatman - IV. At the Jungle River - V. The First Camp - VI. Wilderness Life - VII. Running the Rapids - VIII. The First Tiger-cat - IX. In the White Water - X. Lost! - XI. An Army of Snakes - XII. Catching Strange Fish - XIII. A Turkey-Hunt - XIV. A Fight with a Jaguar - XV. The Vicious Garrapatoes - XVI. Field Work of a Naturalist - XVII. A Mixed-up Tiger-hunt - XVIII. Watching a Runway - XIX. Adventures with Crocodiles - XX. Treed by Wild Pigs - XXI. The Leaping Tarpon - XXII. Stricken Down - XXIII. Out of the Jungle - - - - - *KEN WARD IN THE JUNGLE* - - - - *I* - - *THE PRIZE* - - -"What a change from the Arizona desert!" - -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. - -"Look, Hal," he cried. - -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. - -It was indeed a change for Ken Ward, young forester, pitcher of the -varsity nine at school, and hunter of lions in the Arizona canons. 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. - -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. - -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. - -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? - -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. - -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, Senor." - -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. - -"What's the name of the waterfall we passed?" - -"Micas Falls," replied the agent. - -"And the river?" - -"It's called the Santa Rosa." - -"Where does it go?" - -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. - -"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. - -"Why, yes, it must find the Panuco somewhere down over the mountain," -answered the agent. - -"Then there are rapids in this little river?" asked Ken, in growing -interest. - -"Well, I guess. It's all rapids." - -"How far to Tampico by rail?" went on Ken. - -"Something over a hundred miles." - -"Any game in the jungle hereabouts--or along the Santa Rosa?" continued -Ken. - -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. - -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 Canon country of Arizona. -And all at once flashed over him the thought that here was the jungle -river for him to explore. - -"Why, that's the very thing," he said, thinking aloud. - -"What's wrong with you," asked Hal, "talking to yourself that way?" - -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. - -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 _Cargodore_. - -"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. - -"It 'll smash him!" cried Hal. - -But the little _cargodore_ walked off with the trunk on his back. Then -Ken and Hal saw other _cargodores_ 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. - -"Look at the boats--canoes!" cried Hal, as they crossed a canal. - -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. - -"Look back," called Hal, who seemed to have a hundred eyes. - -Ken saw a wide, beautiful river, shining red in the sunset. Palm-trees -on the distant shore showed black against the horizon. - -"Hal, that's the Panuco. What a river!" - -"Makes the Susquehanna look like a creek," was Hal's comment. - -The _cargodore_ 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. - -"I don't like this place," said Hal. "What 'd you ever want to drag me -way down here for?" - -"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." - -Hal hung his head. - -"Now, you're not going to show a streak of yellow?" asked Ken. He knew -how to stir his brother. - -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. - -"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. - -"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." - -Ken had almost unconsciously expressed the thought that had been forming -in his mind. Hal turned slowly and looked at his brother. - -"Ken, that 'd be great--that's what we came for!" - -"I should say so," replied Ken. - -"Well?" asked Hal, simply. - -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. - -"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!" - -"By George! I believe I can," exclaimed Ken, and he thrilled at the -thought. - -"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!" - -"Oh, Hal, I know--but this idea of a trip seems too wild." - -"Maybe it wouldn't be so wild." - -In all fairness Ken could not deny this, so he kept silent. - -"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." - -"That's why we ought to be more careful. Dad trusts me." - -"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." - -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. - -"Hal, if I didn't have you with me I'd already have made up my mind to -tackle this river." - -That appeared to insult Hal. - -"All I've got to say is I'd be a help to you--not a drag," he said, with -some warmth. - -"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." - -"Ken, I won't make any rash promises. I don't want to queer myself with -you. But I'm all right." - -"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." - -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. - - - - - *II* - - *THE HOME OF THE TARPON* - - -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. - -"Well," said Ken, as he rolled out of bed, "I guess we're in for it." - -"Ken, will we go?" asked Hal, eagerly. - -"I'm on the fence." - -"But you're leaning on the jungle side?" - -"Yes, kid--I'm slipping." - -Hal opened his lips to let out a regular Hiram Bent yell, when Ken -clapped a hand over his mouth. - -"Hold on--we're in the hotel yet." - -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. - -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. - -"What kind of fish do these fellows fish for?" asked Hal. - -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. - -"Say, Ken! We've come to the right place. Those fishermen are all -going out to fish for such whales as these here." - -"Hal, we never saw a big fish before," said Ken. "And before we leave -Tampico we'll know what it means to hook tarpon." - -"I'm with you," replied Hal, gazing doubtfully and wonderingly at a fish -almost twice as big as himself. - -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. - -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 _tierra caliente_, 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. - -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. - -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! - -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. - -"This is a nice cool day," said George, and he looked cool. - -"We've got on our heavy clothes, and this tropic sun is new to us," -replied Ken. "Say, Hal--" - -A crash in the water near the shore interrupted Ken. - -"Was that a rhinoceros?" inquired Hal. - -"Savalo," said George. - -"What's that?" - -"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." - -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. - -"Nine out of ten get away," remarked George. - -"Did you ever catch one?" asked Hal. - -"Sure." - -"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?" - -"Oh, Ken, you've made up your mind to go!" exclaimed Hal, in glee. - -"No, I haven't," protested Ken. - -"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. - -Naturally George was interested, and at his inquiry Ken told him the -idea for the Santa Rosa trip. - -"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. - -"What do you think of the trip?" inquired Ken, curiously. - -"Fine. We'll have some fun. We'll get a boat and a mozo--" - -"What's a mozo?" - -"A native boatman." - -"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." - -"Come on, I'll find a boat," said George. - -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. - -"It's a dandy boat," said Ken. - -"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." - -"Sure I'll hire the boat," replied Ken; "but Hal, it's not for that -Santa Rosa trip. We'll have to forget that." - -"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. - -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. - -The proprietor laughed, and, though the laugh was not unpleasant, -somehow it nettled Ken Ward. - -"Why not go?" he asked, quietly, and he looked at the hotel man. - -"My boy, you can't undertake any trip like that." - -"Why not?" persisted Ken. "Is there any law here to prevent our going -into the jungle?" - -"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." - -"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." - -The hotel man seemed nettled in return. - -"You're only kids. It 'd be crazy to start out on that wild trip." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"Thank you. I'm sure you mean kindly," said Ken. "But I'm going to -Valles and I'll come down that jungle river." - - - - - *III* - - *AN INDIAN BOATMAN* - - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"Tigre!" exclaimed one. - -"Javelin!" exclaimed another. - -The big spotted jaguar of the jungle and the wild boar, or peccary, were -held in much dread by the natives. - -"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." - -"What 're they?" asked Hal. - -"Ticks--jungle ticks. Just wait till you make their acquaintance." - -Finally the boys met a _mozo_ 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 _canya_, 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 _mozo's_ 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. - -"Si, Senor--Si, Senor," he began to jabber, and waved his brown hands. - -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. - -"He'll spend the money for canya, and not show up to-morrow," said -George. - -"I don't know anything about your natives, but that fellow will come," -declared Ken. - -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. - -"That's what I'm taking the trip for," snapped Ken, driven to -desperation by all this nagging. - -"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." - -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: - -"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'." - -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. - -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. - -"That 'll keep off the wet," said Ken, "but it won't keep out the -mosquitoes and things." - -"Couldn't keep 'em out if we had six tents," replied George. - -The remainder of that day the boys were busy packing the outfit. - -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 _machete_. The -dignity with which he approached before all the other _mozos_ 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. - -The boys went down early in the afternoon. It was the time when the -_mozos_ were returning from the day's tarpon-fishing on the river, and -they, with the _cargodores_, 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. - -The train pulled out of Tampico at five o'clock, and Hal's "We're off!" -was expressive. - -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 _ravalo_ 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. - -"Great!" exclaimed Ken Ward. - -"It's all so different from Arizona," said Hal. - -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 canon, and it thrilled him with nameless charm. - -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. - -"Valles," he said. - -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. - -"Say, but it's dark," said Hal. - -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. - -IV - -AT THE JUNGLE RIVER - -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. - -"Ask Pepe to find some kind of lodging for the night," said Ken to -George. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -"Hal, what 'd you do?" called Ken, severely. - -"You can search me," replied Hal Ward. "One thing--I busted my shin." - -"He knocked over a bed with some one sleeping in it," said George. - -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. - -"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?" - -"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." - -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 - - - - - *IV* - - *AT THE JUNGLE RIVER* - - -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. - -"Ask Pepe to find some kind of lodging for the night," said Ken to -George. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -"Hal, what 'd you do?" called Ken, severely. - -"You can search me," replied Hal Ward. "One thing--I busted my shin." - -"He knocked over a bed with some one sleeping in it," said George. - -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. - -"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?" - -"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." - -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. - -"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. - -"George, what does Pepe mean by _mucho malo_?" asked Hal. - -"Bad--very much bad," replied George. - -"Nix--tell him nix. This is fine," said Hal. - -"Boys, if you don't want to sleep yourselves, shut up so the rest of us -can," ordered Ken. - -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. - -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. - -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 _tigre_ and -_javelin_ 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Bring on your old cart," said the irrepressible Hal. - -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 _peso_, 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. - -"George, tell Pepe to offer him five pesos," said Ken. - -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. - -Ken held up both hands with fingers spread. "Ten pesos," he said. - -The driver, like a crazy man, began to jabber his consent. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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!" - -"What ails those gazabos?" asked Hal. - -"They're scared," replied George. "They thought the boat was the -devil." - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *V* - - *THE FIRST CAMP* - - -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. - -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. - -"Come, boys, let's make camp," said Ken. - -He sent Pepe with his long _machete_ 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. - -"Say, how 're we going to sleep?" inquired Hal, suddenly. - -"Sleep? Why, on our backs, of course," retorted Ken, who could read -Hal's mind. - -"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." - -"You're a brave boy, George," replied Ken. - -"Me for between Ken and Pepe," added Hal. - -"And you're twice as brave," said Ken. "I dare say Pepe and I will be -able to keep things from getting at you." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Whereupon the boys began to get supper. - -"George, do you know anything about this water?" asked Ken. "Is it -safe?" - -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. - -"Hold on, George; don't shoot," called Ken. "Let's go a little slow at -the start." - -George appeared to be disappointed, though he promptly obeyed. - -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. - -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 Canon. - -"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." - -Both boys listened to Ken with attention and respect, but they did not -bind themselves by any promises. - -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. - -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. - -"Listen," said Ken. - -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. - -Pepe called it something like "_faisan real_." - -"What's that?" asked Hal. - -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. - -"Chicalocki," he said. - -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. - -"They're a land of pheasant," added George, "and make fine pot-stews." - -The _chicalocki_ 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. - -"Why, some of them are our own birds come south for the winter," -declared Hal. - -"It's music," said Ken. - -"Just wait," laughed George. - -It dawned upon Ken then that George was a fellow who had the mysterious -airs of a prophet hinting dire things. - -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. - -"Parrots," he yelled. - -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. - -"Red-heads," said George. "Just wait till you see the yellow-heads!" - -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. - -Breakfast over, the boys broke camp, eager for the adventures that they -felt to be before them. - - - - - *VI* - - *WILDERNESS LIFE* - - -"Now for the big job, boys," called Ken. "Any ideas will be welcome, but -don't all talk at once." - -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. - -"Kids, it's going to take brains to pack this boat," he said, with some -scorn. - -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. - -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 _canya_, 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. - -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. - -"Come now, fellows," called Ken. "Hal, you and George take the second -seat. Pepe will take the oars. I'll sit in the stern." - -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. - -"We're off," cried Hal, and he whooped. And George exercised his already -well-developed faculty of imitating Hal. - -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. - -"Pile out, boys, and pull," said Ken. - -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. - -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. - -"Ah! this 's something like," said Hal. - -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. - -Hal took his camera and tried to get pictures. - -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. - -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. - -"Chicalocki," said Pepe, suddenly. - -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 -_chicalocki_ with his rifle. They were olive green in color, and the -long tail had a brownish cast. Heavy and plump, they promised fine -eating. - -"Pato real!" yelled Pepe, pointing excitedly up the river. - -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. - -"Load up and get ready," he said to George. "They're coming fast--shoot -ahead of them." - -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. - -"George, we've got enough meat for to-day, more than we can use. Don't -shoot any more," said Ken. - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -"Look there! lemme out!" whispered Hal, and he seemed to be on the point -of jumping overboard. - -"Coons," said George. "Oh, a lot of them. There--some young ones." - -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. - -"Whoop! We'll catch things and tame them," exclaimed Hal, much -delighted, and he proceeded to tie the little racoon under the seat. - -"Sure, we'll get a whole menagerie," said George. - -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." - -"What's that, Ken, a kind of a wildcat?" asked Hal. - -"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. - -"Boys, we've got Micas Falls to reach," he said, and told Pepe to row -on. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -"Come out of there," called Ken to the boys. "We can't pull you -up-stream." - -"Say, I don't want to step on one of those ugly brutes," protested Hal. - -"Look sharp, then. Come out." - -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. - -Moreover, as they ascended the stream, the rapids grew rougher. - -"It 'll be great coming down," panted Hal. - -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. - -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. - -"Boys, here's where we stop," said Ken. "It 'll be all down-stream now, -and I'm glad." - -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. - -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. - -When he got back to the river Pepe grinned at him, and, pointing to -little red specks on his shirt, he said: - -"Pinilius." - -"Aha! the ticks!" exclaimed Ken. - -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. - -"Say, these ticks don't bother me any," declared Ken. - -Pepe grunted; and George called out, "Just wait till you get the big -fellows--the garrapatoes." - -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. - -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. - -"Why do you do that?" asked Ken. - -"Popping ticks," replied George. He and Pepe were as sober as judges. - -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 -_pinilius_ and the heavier pop of a _garrapato_. - -"But, boy, while you're taking time to do that, half a dozen other ticks -can bite you!" exclaimed Ken. - -"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." - -On the other hand, Pepe seemed to mind most the _pinilius_. - -"Say, from now on you fellows will be Garrapato George and Pinilius -Pepe." - -"Pretty soon you'll laugh on the other side of your face," said George. -"In three days you'll be popping ticks yourself." - -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. - -"I'll have to christen you too, brother," said Ken, gurgling with mirth. -"A very felicitous name--Hollering Hal!" - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *VII* - - *RUNNING THE RAPIDS* - - -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. - -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. - -"Pepe, what's wrong?" shouted Ken. - -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. - -But he was dumfounded to see George bound like an apparition out of the -tent and begin evolutions that made Pepe's look slow. - -"Hey, what's wrong with you jumping-jacks?" yelled Ken. - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -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. - -"Say, you nightmare fellows! Come back to bed," said Ken. "Any one -would think something had really happened to you." - -Pepe snorted, which made Ken think the native understood something of -English. And the boys grumbled loudly. - -"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." - -"Ha! Ha!" laughed Ken. - -"Just wait, Hal," put in George, grimly. "Just wait. It's coming to -him!" - -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. - -After breakfast Ken set about packing the boat as it had been done the -day before. - -"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. - -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. - -"Hey, George, pull up your trot-line. It looks pretty much stretched to -me. Maybe you've got a fish." - -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. - -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. - -"Let go the line!" yelled Ken. - -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. - -"Play him, play him!" shouted Ken. "You've got plenty of line. Give him -some." - -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. - -"What a sockdologer!" exclaimed Hal. - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"You're getting close," shouted George, warningly. - -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. - -Pepe regarded Ken with admiring eyes, and called him _grande mozo_. - -"Shooting rapids is great sport," proclaimed George. - -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. - -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. - -The boat swung in, nearly smashing Ken against the bank, and the -sweeping current began to swell dangerously near the gunwale. - -"Let go! Let go!" yelled Ken. "George, make him let go!" - -But George, who was trying to get the rope out of Pepe's muscular hands, -suddenly made a dive for his rifle. - -"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. - -When Ken turned again, water was roaring into the boat. He was being -pressed harder into the bank, and he saw disaster ahead. - -"Loosen the rope--tell him, George," yelled Ken. - -Pepe only pulled the harder. - -"Quick, or we're ruined," cried Ken. - -George shouted in Spanish, and Pepe promptly dropped the rope in the -water. That was the worst thing he could have done. - -"Grab the rope!" ordered Ken, wildly. "Grab the bow! Don't let it swing -out! Hal!" - -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. - -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. - -"He's drowned! He's drowned!" cried George. - -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. - -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. - -"Pretty lucky!" exclaimed Ken, as he flopped down. - -"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. - -"Good! he's all right," said Ken. - -Pepe said "Mucho malo," and pointed to his shins, which bore several -large bumps from contact with the rocks in the channel. - -"I should say mucha malo," growled George. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -That worthy yelled gleefully in Mexican, and reached for his _machete_. - -"Iguana!" exclaimed George. "I've heard it's good to eat." - -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. - -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 _machete_. 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 _machete_, 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. - -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. - -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 _machete_. 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. - -"What next?" asked George, ruefully, and at that the boys all laughed. - -"The fun is we don't have any idea what's coming off," said Hal. - -"Boys, if you brave hunters had thought to throw a little salt on that -lizard's tail you might have caught him," added Ken. - -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. - -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 _machete_. - -Hal began to skin the iguana. - -"Ken, I'm going to have trouble preserving specimens in this hot place," -he said. - -"Salt and alum will do the trick. Remember what old Hiram used to say," -replied Ken. - -Shortly after that the boat passed the scene of the first camp, and then -drifted under the railroad bridge. - -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. - - - - - *VIII* - - *THE FIRST TIGER-CAT* - - -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. - -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. - -"By George!" said Ken, as he stood up to survey it. "This is great!" - -"It's all right _now_," added George, with his peculiar implication as -to the future. - -"What gets me is the feeling of what might be round the next bend," said -Hal. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"Ken manages to think of something once in a while," observed Hal. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"You've all got to stop that," ordered Ken, sharply. "No drinking this -water unless it's boiled." - -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. - -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 _machete_; George whacked with an oar; Hal -stood up in the boat and shot at them with his .22 rifle. - -"Say, I've got to see what that blue-tailed bass looks like," said Ken. -"You fellows will never get one." - -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. - -"That was a fine exhibition," remarked the critical Hal. - -"What's the matter with you?" retorted Ken, who was sensitive as to his -fishing abilities. "It was a big fish. He broke things." - -"Haven't you got a reel on that rod and fifty yards of line?" queried -Hal. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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!" - -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. - -"Wow!" yelled George, and Pepe began to jabber. Hal sprang up, nearly -falling overboard, and he shouted: "Give it to him, Ken!" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Guess you didn't plug him!" exclaimed Hal Ward, with flashing eyes. - -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. - -"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." - -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." - -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." - -"Do you think we'll see one?" asked Hal. - -"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." - -"What for?" - -"To keep those big yellow tigers from eating us up." - -"How nice!" replied Hal, with a rather forced laugh. - -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. - -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. - -"We haven't had any work to-day, but we're all tired just the same," -observed Ken. - -"The heat makes a fellow tired," said George. - -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. - -Pepe went up the bank for fire-wood. Ken heard him slashing away with -his _machete_. 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. - -"Tiger-cats!" exclaimed George. - -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. - -"There they go. Peg away at them," called Ken. - -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. - -"We got one, anyway," said Ken. - -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. - -"He's a beauty," said Hal. - -"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." - -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. - -"Ken, does it feel as wild to you here as on Buckskin Mountain?" asked -Hal. - -"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--" - -But he concluded it wiser to keep to himself that strange feeling of -dread which came over him at odd moments. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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?" - -"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 _know_ -anything, either. But it's his instinct--Pepe's half Indian. So I say, -too, wait till we get down in the jungle!" - -"Confound you! Where are we now?" queried Ken. - -"The real jungle is the lowland. There we'll find the tigers and the -crocodiles and the wild cattle and wild pigs." - -"Bring on your old pigs and things," replied Hal. - -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. - - - - - *IX* - - *IN THE WHITE WATER* - - -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. - -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. - -"That gun's leaded," muttered Ken. "It didn't shoot where I aimed." - -Pepe jumped up; George rolled out of his blanket with one eye still -glued shut; and Hal stretched and yawned and groaned. - -"Do I have to get up?" he asked. - -"Shore, lad," said Ken, mimicking Jim Williams, "or I'll hev to be -reconsiderin' that idee of mine about you bein' pards with me." - -Such mention of Hal's ranger friend brought the boy out of his lazy bed -with amusing alacrity. - -"Rustle breakfast, now, you fellows," said Ken, and, taking his rifle, -he started off to climb the high river bluff. - -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. - -"Didn't see anything to peg at, eh?" greeted Hal. "Well, get your teeth -in some of this venison before it's all gone." - -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. - -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. - -"That water sounds different," remarked George. - -"Grande," said Pepe, with a smile. - -"Pretty heavy, Ken, eh?" asked Hal, looking quickly at his brother. - -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. - -"I dare say we'll get used to that roar," replied Ken, easily, and he -began to pack his guns away in their cases. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Boys, this is easy," said Ken. "We'll pack the outfit round the fall, -and slide the boat over." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Brace yourselves, now," he yelled. "When I drop her over she'll come -a-humming. Hang on if she drags you a mile!" - -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. - -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. - -"Didn't ship a bucketful," said Hal. "Fine work, Ken." - -"I got all the water," added the drenched and dripping George. - -"Bail out, boys, and repack, while I look below," said Ken. - -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. - -"George, can you swim?" he asked. - -"I'm a second cousin to a fish," replied George. - -"All right. We're off. Now, if we upset, hang to the boat, if you can, -and hold up your legs. George, tell Pepe." - -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. - -This was a trying moment for Ken. Grip as hard as he might, the -oar-handles slipped in his sweaty hands. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"I'm glad that's past," said Ken. - -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. - -"All aboard," called George. - -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. - -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. - -"Jump in, Hal," called Ken. - -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. - -"Never saw such swift water!" exclaimed Ken. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -A turn in the winding lane of cypresses revealed walls of gray, between -which the river disappeared. - -"Aha!" muttered Ken. - -"Ken, I'll bet this is the place you've been looking for," said Hal. - -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. - -The current caught the boat and drew it between the gray-green walls of -rock. - -"It's coming to us," said the doubtful George. - -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. - -"Don't do that again," ordered Ken. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -They must go on. - - - - - *X* - - *LOST!* - - -"Ken, old man, do you hear that?" questioned Hal, waking from his -trance. - -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!" - -Pepe's dark, searching eyes rested on Ken. - -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. - -"It's up to you, old man," said Hal, quietly. - -In a moment like this the boy could not wholly be deceived. - -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. - -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. - -Pulling powerfully back and to the left Ken brought the boat alongside -the cliff. Then he shipped his oars. - -"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. - -"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. - -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. - -"I--can--run--this--place. But--you've got--to help. Pull--the -canvas--up higher in the stern--and hold it." - -Then he directed Pepe to kneel in the bow of the boat with an oar and be -ready to push off from the walls. - -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. - -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! - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"You can bring on any old thing now, for all I care," said Hal. "I'd -shoot Lachine Rapids with Ken at the oars." - -"He's a fine boatman," replied George. "Weren't you scared when we were -in the middle of that darned place?" - -"Me? Naw!" - -"Well, I was scared, and don't you forget it," said Ken to them. - -"You were all in, Ken," replied Hal. "Never saw you so tuckered out. -The day you and Prince went after the cougar along that canon -precipice--you were all in that time. George, it took Ken six hours to -climb out of that hole." - -"Tell me about it," said George, all eyes. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -"There's no telling where you'll find them in this country," answered -George. "I've chased them right in our orange groves." - -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! - -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. - -"Tumble out! Quick!" bawled Ken. "Do you think I'm Samson?" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Santa Maria!" yelled Pepe. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Gee!" exclaimed Hal, softly. - -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!" - - - - - *XI* - - *AN ARMY OF SNAKES* - - -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. - -"It 'll be an awful job," burst out Hal. - -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. - -"Mucho malo," said Pepe, and he groaned. That was significant, coming -from a _mozo_, who thought nothing of rowing forty miles in a day. - -"Oh, but it's tough luck," cried Ken. "Why didn't I choose the right -branch of this pesky river?" - -"I think you used your head at that," said Hal. "Most of the water came -down on this side. Where did it go?" - -Hal had hit the vital question, and it cleared Ken's brain. - -"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 -_can't_ go back." - -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. - -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. - -There were places where all had to lie flat and others where Pepe had to -use his _machete_. This disturbed the _siesta_ 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. - -"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." - -"Just wait!" retorted George. "It 'll come, all right. Then I'll have -the fun of seeing you scared silly." - -"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--" - -"Here, you kids stop wrangling," ordered Ken, who sensed hostilities in -the air. "We've got trouble enough." - -Suddenly Ken signaled Pepe to stop rowing. - -"Boys, I hear running water. Aha! Here's a current. See--it's making -right under this bank." - -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. - -"Pepe, cut a way through. We've got to see where this water runs." - -It was then that Ken came to a full appreciation of a _machete_. 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. - -"By all that's lucky!" ejaculated Ken. - -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. - -[Illustration: KEN SHOT TWICE AT THE HEAD OF THE SNAKE] - -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. - -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. - -"Boys, it 'll be great wading down there, hey?" he queried. - -Pepe grumbled for the first time on the trip. Ken gathered from the -native's looks and speech that he did not like snakes. - -"Watch me peg 'em!" yelled Hal, and he began to throw stones with -remarkable accuracy. "Hike, you brown sons-of-guns!" - -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. - -"Boys, you're doing fine," he said. "There are about a thousand snakes -there, and you've hit about six." - -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. - -"All right, boys," he shouted. "Here's the river." - -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. - -Ken bounded up the slope. - -"Santa Maria!" cried Pepe. - -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. - -"Boys, it's one of the big fellows," cried Ken. - -"Didn't I tell you!" yelled George, running down for his gun. - -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. - -"You can't hit him with this. Run after your shotgun. Quick!" - -But the sixteen-gage was clogged with a shell that would not eject. -Ken's guns were in their cases. - -"Holy smoke!" cried George. "He's coming down." - -The black-snake moved his body and began to slide toward the tree-trunk. - -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. - -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. - -"Santa Maria!" yelled Pepe, and he ran off. - -"Look out, boys," shouted Ken. He picked up Pepe's _machete_ 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. - -"I don't see anything of him," said Ken. "I'm going back." - -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. - -"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. - -"Wasn't he a whopper, Ken?" said Hal. "We ought to have got his hide. -What a fine specimen!" - -"Boys, you drive away those few little snakes while I figure on a way to -get the boat down." - -"Not on your life!" replied Hal. - -George ably sustained Hal's objection. - -"Mucho malo," said Pepe, and then added a loud "No" in English. - -"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." - -With Pepe's _machete_ 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. - -"Who's hollering now?" he yelled to George. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"Augrrh!" bawled George, flinging off the reptile and leaping back. -"What 'd you do that for? I'll punch you!" - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -"He'll be a dead snake, b' gosh," replied George, and he fell to -pounding it with his pole. - -"Don't smash him. I want the skin," yelled Hal. - -Ken pondered on the situation before him. - -"Come, the sooner we get at this the better," he said. - -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. - -"Come on boys, alongside now, and hold back," he ordered, gripping the -bow. - -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. - -"Fine!" ejaculated George, wiping the ooze from his face. - -"Yes, it was fine," Ken replied. "But unless this boat has wings -something 'll happen soon." - -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. - -Pepe obeyed, but as he went he yelled and doubled up in contortions as -he leaped over snakes in the moss. - -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. - -"Snakes!" he howled. - -"Give us a rest!" cried Ken, in disgust. - -The boat moved as if instinct with life. It dipped, then--_wheeze!_ 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. - -"Help! Help!" he yelled, as he felt the dragging weight too much for -him. - -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. - -Hal had been trying to reach Ken, but here he stopped and roared with -laughter. - -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. - -Ken saw the boat headed like a dart for the rock where Pepe stood. - -"Let 'er go!" yelled Ken. "Don't try to stop her. Pepe, you'll be -smashed!" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *XII* - - *CATCHING STRANGE FISH* - - -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. - -"Looks good to me," said Hal. - -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. - -"Great!" exclaimed Ken. "Come on, let's look over the ground." - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"Bang!" went George's sixteen-gage. A loud whirring of wings followed, -and the air was full of ducks. - -"Never touched one!" yelled Hal, in taunting voice. - -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. - -"Pot-shot!" exclaimed Hal, disgustedly. "Why couldn't he be a sport and -shoot them on the fly?" - -George crossed to the opposite shore and, climbing a bare place, stood -looking before him. - -"Hey, George, don't go far," called Ken. - -"Fine place over here," replied George, and, waving his hand, he passed -into the bushes out of sight. - -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. - -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. - -"Say, Garrapato George, many ticks over there?" - -"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--" - -"Turkeys!" Ken exclaimed, eagerly. - -"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." - -"I'm sure I don't know, but we can call them that." - -"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." - -"You mean javelin?" - -"Yep, I mean wild pigs. Oh! We've struck the place for game. I'll bet -it's coming to us." - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -"Do you know how to fish?" he asked. - -"I've caught tarpon bigger'n you," retorted George. - -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. - -There were fish breaking water. Where a little while before the river -had been smooth, now it was ruffled by _ravalo_, 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. - -"Bah! they want pie," said Hal. - -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. - -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. - -"Here, if you don't get a bite on one of these I'm no fisherman," said -Ken. "Try one." - -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. - -"There! Careful now," said Ken. - -George jerked up, hooking a fish that made the rod look like a -buggy-whip. - -"Give me the rod," yelled Ken, trying to take it. - -"It's my fish," yelled back George. - -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. - -"You said you knew how to fish," protested Ken. - -"Those split-bamboo rods are no good," replied George. "They won't hold -a fish." - -"George, you're a grand fisherman!" observed Hal, with a chuckle. "Why, -you only dreamed you've caught tarpon." - -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. - -"I've got a whale!" yelled Hal. - -"It's a big gar--alligator-gar," said George. "You haven't got him. -He's got you." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Pato real," he said. - -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. - -"We'll need big loads for the Muscovies and the turkeys," said George. - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -A low exclamation from Pepe brought attention to interesting -developments closer at hand. - -"Javelin!" he whispered. - -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 _javelin_ 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. - -"Panther!" Ken whispered, instantly, to the boys. It was a different -cry from that of the lion of the canon, 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 _javelin_ 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. - -"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. - -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. - -"That's a tiger," whispered George. "I heard one once from the porch of -the Alamitas hacienda." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *XIII* - - *A TURKEY-HUNT* - - -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. - -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. - -"Parrakeets," he said. - -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. - -"Yellow-heads!" shouted George. "They're the big fellows, the talkers. -If there ain't a million of 'em!" - -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. - -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: - -"Tigre!" He pronounced it "tee-gray." And he added, "Grande!" - -"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." - -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. - -"Shoot low," said Ken. - -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. - -The first bamboo swale was alive with _chicalocki_. 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 -_chicalocki_ 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 _chicalocki_ was too easy, he decided; they presented so fair a -mark that it was unfair to pull on them. - -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 _bang_! 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. - -"Turkeys!" he whispered. - -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. - -"Shoot! Shoot!" said Pepe, tensely. - -Those bronze streaks were running turkeys! The thumpings were made by -their rapidly moving feet! - -"Don't they flush--fly?" Ken queried of Pepe. - -"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. - -"Hey, George--turkeys!" - -He whooped, and started across on the run. - -"Gee!" said Hal. "Ken, I couldn't do any worse shooting than you. Let -me take a few pegs." - -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. - -"Shoot--hurry!" whispered Ken. "What a chance!" - -"That's a tame turkey," said Hal. - -"Tame! Why, you tenderfoot! He's as wild as wild. Can't you see -that?" - -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. - -"Didn't want to kill him sitting, anyhow," said Hal, handing the gun -back to Ken. - -"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!" - -"What's all the shooting?" panted George, as he joined the march. - -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. - -"Pretty nifty flier, eh?" said George. "He was too quick for me." - -"Great!" replied Ken. - -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. - -"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." - -The hunters hurried along, crashing through the bushes. They saw turkey -after turkey. _Bang!_ went George's gun. - -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. - -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. - -"Come on, boys--this is the greatest game I ever hunted," he called. - -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. - -"Javelin! Javelin!" yelled Pepe, in piercing alarm. - -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. - -"Hyar, Pepe, fetch back my rifle," shouted Ken, angrily. - -Pepe ran all the faster. - -George turned and dashed away yelling: "Wild pigs! Wild pigs!" - -"Look out, Ken! Run! Run!" added Hal; and he likewise took to his -heels. - -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 _javelin_, 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. - -"A fine--chase--you've given--me," Ken panted. "There's nothing--after -us." - -"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." - -"Did he run at you? That's what I want to know?" demanded Ken. - -George said he was not certain about that, but declared there always was -danger if a wounded _javelin_ 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. - -"Look at that fellow," cried George. "Wish I had my rifle loaded. He's -fifteen feet long." - -"Oh no, George, he's not more than ten feet," said Ken. - -"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." - -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 _pinilius_ 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 _garrapatoes_. 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. - -Pepe grinned; and George cried: - -"Aha! that was a garrapato bite, that was! You just wait!" - -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 _pinilius_, but very few of the larger -pests. He generously came to Ken's assistance. Ken was trying to pull -off the _garrapato_ 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 _pinilius_ as would -come, and then rubbed Ken with _canya_, 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. - -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. - -George snapped out: "Just wait, Hollering Hal!" - -"Don't you call me that!" said Hal, belligerently. - -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. - -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. - -All afternoon the big crocodile sunned himself on the surface of the -shoal. - -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. - -Before sundown Pepe went across the river and fetched the deer carcass -down to the sandbar, where the jaguar-trail led to the water. - -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. - -"Be careful where you shoot," Ken warned repeatedly. "Be cool--think -quick--and aim." - -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. - -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. - -Bright flares split the darkness--_crack! crack!_ rang out George's -rifle, then the heavy _boom! boom!_ of the shotgun. - -"There he is!" yelled George. "He's down--we got him--there's two! -Look out!" - -_Boom! Boom!_ roared the heavy shotgun from Hal's covert. - -"George missed him! I got him!" yelled Hal. "No, there he goes--Ken! -Ken!" - -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. - - - - - *XIV* - - *A FIGHT WITH A JAGUAR* - - -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. - -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. - -Ken struck out across the fiat, 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. - -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 _javelin_. 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. - -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. - -First, it was necessary to get the deer. This might prove bothersome, -for Ken's hands and wrists were already sprinkled with _pinilius_, 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. - -"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. - -"If I ever hit a jaguar like that it will be all day with him," was -Ken's comment. - -There were two things about hunting the jaguar that Ken had been bidden -to keep in mind--fierce aggressiveness and remarkable tenacity of life. - -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. - -To Ken's relief, he managed to escape bringing any _garrapatoes_ with -him, but it took a half-hour to rid himself of the collection of -_pinilius_. - -"George, ask Pepe what's the difference between a garrapato and a -pinilius," said Ken. - -"The big tick is the little one's mother," replied Pepe. - -"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. - -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 _pinilius_ grew into a _garrapato_, and a -_garrapato_ bred a hundred thousand _pinilius_ 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 Canon. 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. - -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. - -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 _javelin_. -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -The jaguar opened his jaws threateningly. He had an enormous stretch of -jaw. His long, yellow fangs gleamed. He growled again. - -Not hurriedly, nor yet slowly, Ken fired. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Ken shot him straight between the wide-spread paws. - -With twisted body, staggering, and blowing bloody froth all over Ken, -the big tiger blindly lunged forward and crashed to earth. - -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. - -Ken fell rather than sat down. He found he was wringing wet with cold -sweat. He was panting hard. - -"Say, but--that--was--awful!" he gasped. "What--was--wrong--with me?" - -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. - -"What--a hard-lived beast!" muttered Ken. "I--must have shot--him all to -pieces. Yet he's getting away from me." - -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. - -"I've shot at bear--and deer--and lions out West," said Ken. "But this -was different. I'll never get over it." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 _garrapatoes_. - - - - - *XV* - - *THE VICIOUS GARRAPATOES* - - -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. - -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 _garrapatoes_ 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. - -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. - -"What's after you?" shouted Hal, in alarm. - -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. - -"Good Lord! are you bug-house, Ken?" shrieked Hal. - -"_Bug-house! Yes!_" roared Ken, swiftly undressing. "Look at me!" - -In the bright glare he showed his arms black with _garrapatoes_ and a -sprinkling of black dots over the rest of his body. - -"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." - -"I'd rather have six tigers after me," yelled Ken. "You little -freckle-faced redhead!" - -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. - -"Never mind the kid," said Ken to Pepe and George. "Hurry now, and get -busy with these devils on me." - -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! - -"Pepe says for you to point out the ticks that 're biting the hardest," -said George. - -In spite of his pain Ken stared in mute surprise. - -"Pepe wants you to point out the ticks that are digging in the deepest," -explained George. "Get a move on, now." - -"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. - -But Pepe was in dead earnest. - -"Say, it's impossible to tell _where_ I'm being bitten most! It's all -over!" protested Ken. - -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. - -"Here--this one--here--there.... Oh! here," began Ken, indicating -certain ticks. - -"Not so fast, now," interrupted the imperturbable George, as he and Pepe -set to work upon Ken. - -Then the red-hot cigarette-tips scorched Ken's skin. Ken kept pointing -and accompanying his directions with wild gestures and exclamations. - -"Here.... Oo-oo! Here.... Wow! Here.... Ouch!--that one stung! -Here.... _Augh_! Say, can't you hurry? Here! ... Oh! that one was in a -mile! Here.... _Hold on_! You're burning a hole in me! ... George, -you're having fun out of this. Pepe gets two to your one." - -"He's been popping ticks all his life," was George's reasonable protest. - -"Hurry!" cried Ken, in desperation. "George, if you monkey round--fool -over this job--I'll--I'll punch you good." - -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. - -"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?" - -Ken shook his fist at Hal. - -"All right," said Ken, grimly. "Have all the fun you can. Because I'll -get even with you." - -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. - -"George, here's a little verse for the occasion," said Hal. - - "There was a brave hunter named Ken, - And he loved to get skins for his den, - Not afraid was he of tigers or pigs, - Or snakes or cats or any such things, - But one day in the jungle he left his clothes, - And came hollering back with _garrapatoes_." - - -"Gre-at-t-t!" sputtered Ken. "Oh, brother mine, we're a long way from -home, I'll make you crawl." - -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 _canya_, 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 _canya_ would very soon take the sting away, but it -was some time before Ken was resting easily. - -It would not have been fair to ask Ken just then whether the prize for -which he worked was worth his present gain. _Garrapatoes_ may not seem -important to one who simply reads about them, but such pests are a -formidable feature of tropical life. - -However, Ken presently felt that he was himself again. - -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. - - - - - *XVI* - - *FIELD WORK OF A NATURALIST* - - -That night Ken talked natural history to the boys and read extracts from -a small copy of Sclater he had brought with him. - -They were all particularly interested in the cat tribe. - -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 papillae. 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. - -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. - -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. - -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 _pu, pu, pu_. 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. - -Pepe had interesting things to say about jaguars, or _tigres_, 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. - -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. - -"Well," said Ken, thoughtfully, "from my experience I believe a jaguar -would do anything." - -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. - -He had a black squirrel, a small striped wildcat, a peccary, a -three-foot crocodile, and a duck of rare plumage. - -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. - -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. - -And as he worked he gave George directions on how to proceed with the -wildcat and squirrel skins. - -"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." - -When Hal came to take up the duck he was sorry that some of the -beautiful plumage had been stained. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"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." - - - - - *XVII* - - *A MIXED-UP TIGER-HUNT* - - -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. - -After breakfast Hal went off with a long-handled landing-net, obviously -to capture birds or fish or mice or something. - -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. - -"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." - -Ken's sarcasm was not lost upon George. - -"Well, if I do go, I'll not come running back to camp without some -game." - -"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." - -"Would I?" returned George. "All right." - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"Might need a rifle," he said. "You can't tell what you're going to see -in this unholy jungle." - -Whereupon he went aboard again and Pepe rowed leisurely up-stream. - -"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. - -"Hey, Pepe!" Ken yelled. "What 're you doing?" - -Strange to note, Pepe did not reply or even turn. - -"Now where in the deuce is George?" Ken said, impatiently. - -The hollow crack of George's .32 was a reply to the question. Ken heard -the singing of a bullet. Suddenly, _spou!_ 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. - -"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. - -_Spang_! _Spang_! 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. - -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." - -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: - -"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!" - -_Spang_! _Spang_! _Spang_! 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. - -"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?" - -Then a crashing of brush and a flash of yellow low down along the bank -changed the aspect of the situation. - -"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. - -"Go back! Get out in the open!" Ken ordered. "Do you hear me?" - -"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. - -"Tigre! Tigre! Tigre!" screamed Pepe, waving his arms, then pointing. - -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. - -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. - -"Kill him, George," yelled Ken. "Tell Pepe to kill him." - -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. - -The jaguar, swimming with difficulty, perhaps badly wounded, made right -for the boat. Pepe was standing on the seat. Awkwardly he aimed. - -_Boom_! 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. - -He had missed the jaguar, for it kept on toward the boat. Still Ken -dared not shoot. - -"George, what on earth is the matter with you?" shouted Ken. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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. - -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. - -Then George began to shoot. - -_Spang_! - -Ken heard the bullet hit the boat. - -"George--wait!" shouted Ken. "Don't shoot holes in the boat. You'll -sink it." - -_Spang_! _Spang_! _Spang_! _Spang_! - -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. - -"You'll ruin the boat!" roared Ken. - -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. - -Then the boat swung loose from the branch and, drifting down, gradually -approached the shore. - -"Pull yourself together, George," called Ken. "Keep cool. Make sure of -your aim. We've got him now." - -"He's mine! He's mine! He's mine! Don't you dare shoot!" howled -George. "I got him!" - -"All right. But steady up, can't you? Hit him once, anyway." - -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. - -"He's coming out below you. Look out," yelled Ken. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"George, you hit the boat, anyway," Ken said; "now we've a job on our -hands." - -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. - -"What was--all the--pegging about?" he asked, breathlessly. "I expected -to find camp surrounded by Indians." - -"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. - -So while Ken began to whittle pegs to pound into the bullet-holes, -George wiped his flushed, sweaty face and talked. - -"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?" - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -"That's right, Pepe. Pretty punk tiger-hunters--mucho punk!" - - - - - *XVIII* - - *WATCHING A RUNWAY* - - -"I'll tell you what, fellows," said Hal. "I know where we _can_ get a -tiger." - -"We'll get one in the neck if we don't watch out," replied George. - -Ken thought that Hal looked very frank and earnest, and honest and -eager, but there was never any telling about him. - -"Where?" he asked, skeptically. - -"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!" - -"Honest Injun, kid?" queried Ken. - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"I wish we'd gone in to see the tracks," said Ken. "But I'll take your -word, Hal." - -"Oh, they're there, all right." - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Don't move--don't make a noise," whispered Ken. - -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. - -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 _javelin_--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. - -A loud, trampling roar rose in the runway and seemed to move backward -toward the jungle, diminishing in violence. - -"Pigs running--something scared 'em," said George. - -"S-s-s-sh!" whispered Ken. - -All the sounds ceased. The jungle seemed to sleep in deep silence. - -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. - -There came a few pattering thuds, soft as velvet; and a shadow, paler -than the dark background, moved out of the runway. - -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. - -Either Pepe or George jerked so violently as to make the boat lurch. -They seemed to be stifling. - -"Oh, Ken, don't miss!" whispered Hal. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Then the boys yelled, and Ken echoed them. Pepe was wildly excited, and -began to fumble with the oars. - -"Wait! Wait, I tell you!" ordered Ken. - -"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." - -Ken watched with sharp eyes and held his rifle ready, but the huddled -form on the sand never so much as twitched. - -"I guess I plugged him," said Ken, with unconscious pride. - -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. - -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. - -"You'd never have got one but for me," said Hal. "That's how I pay you -for the tricks you've played me!" - -"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. - -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. - -"Hal, what 're you doing?" - -"I'm settin' my trot-lines," replied Hal, cheerfully. - -"Well, come to bed." - -"Keep your shirt on, Ken, old boy. I'll be along presently." - -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. - -"What the dickens!" he said, and raised on his elbow. Hal was asleep -between George and Pepe, who were snoring. - -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. - -"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. - -"What on earth?" yelled Ken. "Say! Something's got me!" - -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. - -"Oh! my leg!" howled Ken. "It's being pulled off. Say, I can't be -dreaming!" - -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. - -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. - -"Oh! _Oh_! _Oh-h-h_!" 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. - -All at once something snapped. The tension relaxed. Ken fell back upon -Hal. - -"Git off me, will you?" shouted Hal. "Are you c-c-cr-azy?" - -But Hal's voice had not the usual note when he was angry or impatient. -He was laughing so he could not speak naturally. - -"Uh-huh!" said Ken, and sat up. "I guess here was where I got it. Is -my leg broken? What came off?" - -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. - -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. - -"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!" - -And in spite of his laughter Hal began to look ashamed. - - - - - *XIX* - - *ADVENTURES WITH CROCODILES* - - -The rest of that night Ken had more dreams; and they were not pleasant. -He awoke from one in a cold fright. - -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. - -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. - -"Santa Maria!" shrieked Pepe. - -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. - -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. - -George shouted in Spanish. - -"Crocodile!" cried Ken. - -"Si, si, Senor," 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. - -"What'd I tell you?" growled George. "Why didn't you let me shoot him? -Let's go back to bed." - -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 _canya_. - -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. - -"I'm sick," he said. - -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 _calentura_. - -"What's that?" Ken inquired. - -"Tropic fever," replied George. "I've had it before." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Look! Look!" cried Pepe, pointing to the bank. - -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. - -"Come out!" yelled George, and Pepe jabbered to his saints. - -"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. - -Pepe and George and Hal walked round the ledge and, even when they -reached Ken, had not stopped laughing. - -"Boys, it wasn't funny," declared Ken, soberly. - -"I said it was coming to us," replied George. - -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. - -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. - -"_Ah-h!_" yelled Pepe. - -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. - -Pepe appeared to be sailing out into the pool. But his feet were not -moving. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Forty miles to-day if we made an inch!" exclaimed Ken. - -The boys said more. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -The boys were yelling and crowding down to the shore where Ken was -drifting in. Pepe waded in to catch the boat. - -"What was it hit you, Ken?" asked Hal. - -"Mucho malo," cried Pepe. - -"The boat's half full of water--the gunwale's all split!" ejaculated -George. - -"Only an accident of river travel," replied Ken, with mock nonchalance. -"Say, Garrapato, _when_, about _when_ is it coming to me?" - -"Well, if he didn't get slammed by a crocodile!" continued George. - -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. - -"Cattle-trails, Pepe says," said George. "Wild cattle roam all through -the jungle along the Panuco." - -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. - -"Then, Pepe, we must be somewhere near the Panuco River," he said. - -"Quien sabe?" rejoined he, quietly. - -When they rounded the curve they came upon a herd of cattle that -clattered up the bank, raising a cloud of dust. - -"Wilder than deer!" Ken exclaimed. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"George, that rifle of yours is leaded. It doesn't shoot where you -aim." - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"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!" - -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. - -"Hold steady, Pepe. I'll take a crack at that just for luck." - -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. - -"Whoop!" shouted Hal. - -"It's a crocodile!" yelled George. "You hit--you hit! Will you listen -to that?" - -"Row hard, Pepe--pull!" - -He bent to the oars, and the boat flew shoreward. - -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. _Whack_! _Whack_! -_Whack_! 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. - -"Go in above him, Pepe," Ken shouted. "Here-- Heavens! What a -monster!" - -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. - -"He'll get away--he'll get away!" cried Hal. "What 'll we do?" - -Ken racked his brains. - -"Pepe, get your lasso--rope him--rope him! Hurry! he's slipping!" -yelled George. - -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. - -"Hang on, boys!" Ken shouted. "It's a tug-of-war." - -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. - -"Get in--hustle!" he called, falling aboard. "You're always saying it's -coming to us. Here's where!" - -George had hardly got into the boat when the crocodile pulled it off -shore, and away it went, sailing down-stream. - -"Whoop! All aboard for Panuco!" yelled Hal. - -"Now, Pepe, you don't need to row any more--we've a water-horse," Ken -added. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Pepe--your machete--cut the lasso!" he ordered, sharply. George had to -repeat the order. - -Wildly Pepe searched under the seat and along the gunwales. He could -not find the _machete_. - -"Cut the rope!" Ken thundered. "Use a knife, the ax--anything--only cut -it--and cut it quick!" - -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. - -[Illustration: KNIFE IN HAND, KEN LEAPED OVER HIS HEAD AND SLASHED THE -TAUT LASSO] - -"Row ashore, Pepe. Steady, there. Trim the boat, George." - -They beached at a hard clay-bank and rested a little before unloading to -turn out the water. - -"Grande!" observed Pepe. - -"Yes; he was big," assented George. - -"I wonder what's going to happen to us next," added Hal. - -Ken Ward looked at these companions of his and he laughed outright. -"Well, if you all don't take the cake for nerve!" - - - - - *XX* - - *TREED BY WILD PIGS* - - -Pepe's long years of _mozo_ 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Tumble out, boys," called Ken, as Pepe beached the boat. "We'll pitch -camp here." - -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. - -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. - -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 -_pato real_, 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. - -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. - -"Boys," he said, "the less you eat from now on the better for you." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 -_machete_ 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. - -A little later, as he was spreading the blankets, George called his -attention to shouts up in the woods. - -"Pepe's treed something," Ken said. "Take your gun and hunt him up." - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -"Hey, boys, where are you?" called Ken. - -Pepe's shrill yells mingled with George's shouts. At first their -meaning was unintelligible, but after calling twice Ken understood. - -"Javelin! Go back! Javelin! We're treed! Wild pigs! Santa Maria! -Run for your life!" - -This was certainly enlightening and rather embarrassing. Ken remembered -the other time the boys had made him run, and he grew hot with anger. - -"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. - -"Run, you Indian! Run!" bawled George, waving his hands. - -George implored Ken to fly to save his precious life. - -"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. - -"You'd better run, or you'll have to climb," replied George. "Wild -pigs--a thousand of 'em!" - -"Where?" - -"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 _javelin_ did he see. - -"You want to look out. Say, man, these are wild pigs--boars, I tell -you! They'll kill you!" bellowed George. - -"Are you going to stay up there all night?" Ken asked, sarcastically. - -"We'll stay till they go away." - -"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. - -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. - -"_Run_! _Run_!" shrieked George, high above the tumult. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 -_javelin_. 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: - -"I'm all right, George--only treed. How 're you?" - -"Pigs all gone--they chased you--Pepe thinks we can risk running." - -"Don't take any chances," Ken yelled, in answer. - -"Hi! Hi! What's wrong with you gazabos?" came Hal's yell from down the -slope. - -"Go back to the boat," shouted Ken. - -"What for?" - -"We're all treed by javelin--wild pigs." - -"I've got to see that," was Hal's reply. - -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. - -"Ken, where are you?" - -"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!" - -A troop of _javelin_ flashed into the glade. Hal saw them and raised the -shotgun. - -_Boom_! He shot both barrels. - -The shot tore through the brush all around Ken, but fortunately beneath -him. Neither the noise nor the lead stopped the pugnacious little -peccaries. - -Hal dropped Ken's hammerless and fled. - -"Run faster!" yelled George, who evidently enjoyed Hal's plight. -"They'll get you! Run hard!" - -The lad was running close to the record when he disappeared. - -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. - -"Boys, my branch is breaking!" he called, piercingly. - -"Can't you get another?" returned George. - -"No; I daren't move! Hurry, boys! If you don't scare these brutes off -I'm a goner!" - -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. - -"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. - -The _javelin_ stirred uneasily, and ran around under Ken, tumbling over -one another. - -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. - -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. - -"Boys, the jungle's on fire. Run for the river!" - -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. - -Ken shook hands with Pepe. - -"George, tell him that was a nervy thing to do. He saved my life, I do -believe." - -"You fellows did a lot of hollering," said Hal, from his perch in the -boat. - -"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. - -"You don't suppose I was going to overlook a chance to see Ken Ward -treed, do you?" - -"Well, you saw him, and that was no joke. But I wish Pepe could have -scared those pigs off without firing the jungle." - -"Pepe says it 'll give the ticks a good roasting," said George. - -"We'll have roast pig, anyway," added Ken. - -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. - -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: - -"Well, Ken, we're having sport, but we're doing something -more--something worth while." - - - - - *XXI* - - *THE LEAPING TARPON* - - -Just before dark, when the boys were at supper, a swarm of black -mosquitoes swooped down upon camp. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"That's what I get for losing the mosquito-netting," said Ken, wearily. - -Breakfast was not a cheerful meal, despite the fact that the boys all -tried to brace up. - -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. - -"It makes me sick, I tell you," said Hal, impatiently. - -"But Hal, you ought to be guided by my judgment now," replied Ken, -gently. - -"I don't care. I've had enough of bitter pills." - -"I ask you--as a favor?" persisted Ken, quietly. - -"No!" - -"Well, then, I'll have to make you take them." - -"Wha-at?" roared Hal. - -"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. - -Hal looked quickly at his brother, and was amazed and all at once -shaken. - -"Why, Ken--" he faltered. - -"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 _would_ drink -unboiled water." - -"Ken, that's all right, but you can get fever from the bites of the -ticks," said George. - -"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?" - -"You can just bet your life," replied George, and he held out his hand. - -"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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -About one o'clock Ken sighted a thatched bamboo and palm-leaf hut on the -bank. - -"Oh, boys, look! look!" cried Ken, joyfully. - -Hal was as pleased as Ken, and George roused out of his slumber. Pepe -grinned and nodded his head. - -Some naked little children ran like quail. A disheveled black head -peeped out of a door, then swiftly vanished. - -"Indians," said George. - -"I don't care," replied Ken, "they're human beings--people. We're -getting somewhere." - -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. - -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. - -"Tamaulipas," said Pepe. - -"Hooray! boys, this is the source of the Panuco, sure as you're born," -cried Ken. "I told you we were getting somewhere." - -He was overcome with the discovery. This meant success. - -"Savalo! Savalo!" exclaimed Pepe, pointing. - -"Tarpon! Tarpon! What do you think of that? 'Way up here! We must be -a long distance from tide-water," said George. - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -"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." - -Pepe rowed at a smooth, even stroke and made for the great curve of the -pool where tarpon were breaking water. - -"If they're on the feed, we'll have more sport than we've had yet," said -George. - -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. - -"Steady now--be ready," warned George. - -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. - -Hal was speechless. He wound in his line to find the bait gone. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"Gee!" he whispered, with round eyes. - -Both lines had been broken. George made light of this incident, and -tied on two more leaders and hooks and baited afresh. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"Hal, do you see that rainbow?" cried Ken, quickly. "There's a sight -for a fisherman!" - -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. - -"Hang on, Hal!" yelled George and Ken in unison. - -Hal was bent almost double and his head was bobbing under the strain. -He could not hold the drag. The line was whizzing out. - -"You got that one hooked," shouted George. "Let go the reel--drop the -handle. Let him run." - -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. - -"Hang on, now," cried George. "Wind in. Hold him tight. Don't give -him an inch unless he jumps." - -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. - -Ken saw how skilfully Pepe managed the boat. The _mozo_ 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. - -"Land him alone if you can," said Ken. "He's tiring, Hal." - -"I'll--land him--or--or bust!" panted Hal. - -"Look out, now!" warned George again. "He's coming up. See the line. -Be ready to trim the boat if he drops aboard. _Wow!_" - -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. - -"He's done," yelled George. "Now, Hal, hold him for all you're worth. -Not an inch of line!" - -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. - -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. - -"Oh-h!" gasped Hal, with glistening eyes. "Oh-h! Ken, just look!" - -"I'm looking, son, and don't you forget it." - -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. - -He measured five feet six inches in length, which was one inch more than -Hal's height. - -"Ken, the boys back home will never believe I caught him," said Hal, in -distress. - -"Take his picture to prove it," replied Ken. - -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. - -"No wonder it's hard to hook them," said Ken. - -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. - -"Say, Hal, wouldn't you like to see me hook one?" queried Ken, -patiently. - -That brought Hal to his senses. - -"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. - -They all watched the liberated tarpon swim wearily off and slip down -under the water. - -"He'll have something to tell the rest, won't he?" said George. - -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. - -"There 're some whales here," said George. - -"Grande savalo," added Pepe, and he rowed over to where a huge fish was -rolling. - -"Oh, I don't want to hook the biggest one first," protested Ken. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"I want him to jump." - -"The big ones seldom break water after the first rush or so." - -"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." - -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. - -"Let him tow the boat," said George. "Hold the drag, Ken. Let him tow -the boat." - -"What!" exclaimed Ken, in amaze. - -"Oh, he'll do it, all right." - -And so it proved. Ken's tarpon, once headed with the current, did not -turn, and he towed the boat. - -"This is a new way for me to tire out a fish," said Ken. "What do you -think of it, Hal?" - -Hal's eyes glistened. - -"This is fishing. Ken, did you see him when he came up?" - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - - - - - *XXII* - - *STRICKEN DOWN* - - -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. - -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. - -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: - -"Ken, let me row." He would not admit that he was sick. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Ken, old man," said Hal, presently. "I was--wrong--about the water. I -ought to have obeyed you. I--I'm pretty sick." - -What a confession for Hal Ward! - -Ken turned in time to see Hal vomit over the gunwale. - -"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." - -Whereupon Hal went back to his oars and stayed till he dropped. Ken -lifted him and laid him beside George. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -So the hours passed; and the moon went down into the weird shadows, and -the Southern Cross rose pale and wonderful. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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-_ooo_-ooo--coo-_ooo_-ooo." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -The moon rose behind the left-hand jungle wall, silvered half of the -river and the opposite line of cypresses, then hid under clouds. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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. _Dos y media_ 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Presently Ken heard shouts, then the bang of a lightly loaded gun, then -yells from Pepe. - -"What on earth!" cried Ken, looking up in affright. - -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. - -"Santa Maria!" gasped Pepe, pointing to little bloody spots on the calf -of his leg. - -"Pepe, you've been shot!" ejaculated Ken. "You stole the fruit--somebody -shot you!" - -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. - -"Say, but this is a pretty kettle of fish!" muttered Ken, and he bent to -the oars. - -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. - -The worst of the matter developed when Pepe peeled one of the bananas. -It was too green to eat. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - *XXIII* - - *OUT OF THE JUNGLE* - - -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!" - -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. - -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. - -George sat up, green in the face, a most miserable-looking boy. But -that he could sit up at all was hopeful. - -"Oh, my head!" he moaned. "Is there anything I can drink? My mouth is -dry--pasted shut." - -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. - -"Don't--you worry--Ken," he said. "I'm going--to be--all right." - -Hal was still fighting. - -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. - -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 Canon. 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. - -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. - -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. - -Ken fell asleep. When he awoke he found Pepe at the oars. Watching -him, Ken fancied he was recovering, and was overjoyed. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"How about you, Ken, old man?" inquired Hal, with a hint of his usual -spirit. - -"Wal, youngster, I reckon fer a man who's been through some right pert -happenin's, I'm in tol'able shape," drawled Ken. - -"I'll bet two dollars you've been up against it," declared Hal, -solemnly. - -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. - -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. - -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?" - -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. - -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. - -[Illustration: Ken Ward's Map] - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -They hired a _mozo_ 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. - -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. - -"Well, it certainly _did come_ to us, didn't it?" asked George, naively, -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." - -"Great!" replied Ken. "I had more than I wanted. I'll never spring -another stunt like this one!" - -Hal gazed smilingly at his brother. - -"Bah! Ken Ward, bring on your next old trip!" - -Which proved decidedly that Hal was getting better and that he alone -understood his brother. - -Pepe listened and rubbed his big hands, and there was a light in his -dark eyes. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -Hal's jaw began to drop. - -"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." - -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." - -Hal looked extremely crestfallen and remorseful. - -"I'm always getting jars." - -It took a whole day for him to recover his usual spirits. - -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! - -Ken's fingers trembled a little as he tore open the uncle's letter. He -read it aloud: - - -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 archaeologist Maler, who I hope will take you in hand. - -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. - -With best wishes, - UNCLE G. - - -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. - -"And I can't go with you!" he exclaimed, sorrowfully. - -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. - -"Well, anyway, I'll be safe home. And you fellows! You'll be getting -yours when you're lost in the wilderness of Yucatan!" - - - - THE END - - - - - * * * * * * * * - - - - - _*There's More to Follow!*_ - - -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 _reverse -side_ 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 _always_ wanted. - -It is a _selected_ list; every book in it has achieved a certain measure -of success. - -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 - -_Look on the Other Side of the Wrapper!_ - -In case the wrapper is lost write to the publishers for a complete -catalog. - - - - * * * * * * * * - - - - *ZANE GREY'S NOVELS* - -May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset and Dunlap's list. - -THE CALL OF THE CANYON -WANDERER OF THE WASTELAND -TO THE LAST MAN -THE MYSTERIOUS RIDER -THE MAN OF THE FOREST -THE DESERT OF WHEAT -THE U. P. TRAIL -WILDFIRE -THE BORDER LEGION -THE RAINBOW TRAIL -THE HERITAGE OF THE DESERT -RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE -THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS -THE LAST OF THE PLAINSMEN -THE LONE STAR RANGER -DESERT GOLD -BETTY ZANE -THE DAY OF THE BEAST - -* * * * * - -LAST OF THE GREAT SCOUTS - -The life story of "Buffalo Bill" by his sister Helen Cody Wetmore, with -Foreword and conclusion by Zane Grey. - - - - *ZANE GREY'S BOOKS FOR BOYS* - -KEN WARD IN THE JUNGLE -THE YOUNG LION HUNTER -THE YOUNG FORESTER -THE YOUNG PITCHER -THE SHORT STOP -THE RED-HEADED OUTFIELD AND OTHER BASEBALL STORIES - - - - * * * * * - - - - *NOVELS OF FRONTIER LIFE* - - *WILLIAM MACLEOD RAINE* - - May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list - -BIG-TOWN ROUND-UP, THE -BRAND BLOTTERS -BUCKY O'CONNOR -CROOKED TRAILS AND STRAIGHT -DAUGHTER OF THE DONS, A -DESERT'S PRICE, THE -FIGHTING EDGE, THE -GUNSIGHT PASS -HIGHGRADER, THE -IRONHEART -MAN FOUR-SQUARE, A -MAN-SIZE -MAVERICKS -OH, YOU TEX! -PIRATE OF PANAMA, THE -RIDGWAY OF MONTANA -SHERIFF'S SON, THE -STEVE YEAGER -TANGLED TRAILS -TEXAS RANGER, A -VISION SPLENDID, THE -WYOMING -YUKON TRAIL, THE - - - - * * * * * - - - - *JAMES OLIVER CURWOOD'S* - - *STORIES OF ADVENTURE* - - May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list - -THE COUNTRY BEYOND -THE FLAMING FOREST -THE VALLEY OF SILENT MEN -THE RIVER'S END -THE GOLDEN SNARE -NOMADS OF THE NORTH -KAZAN -BAREE, SON OF KAZAN -THE COURAGE OF CAPTAIN PLUM -THE DANGER TRAIL -THE HUNTED WOMAN -THE FLOWER OF THE NORTH -THE GRIZZLY KING -ISOBEL -THE WOLF HUNTERS -THE GOLD HUNTERS -THE COURAGE OF MARGE O'DOONE -BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY - -_Ask for Complete free list of G. & D. Popular Copyrighted Fiction_ - - - - * * * * * - - - - *EDGAR RICE BURROUGH'S NOVELS* - - May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset and Dunlap's list - -BANDIT OF HELL'S BEND, THE -CAVE GIRL, THE -LAND THAT TIME FORGOT, THE -TARZAN AND THE ANT MEN -TARZAN AND THE GOLDEN LION -TARZAN THE TERRIBLE -TARZAN THE UNTAMED -JUNGLE TALES OF TARZAN -AT THE EARTH'S CORE -THE MUCKER -A PRINCESS OF MARS -THE GODS OF MARS -THE WARLORD OF MARS -THUVIA, MAID OF MARS -THE CHESSMEN OF MARS - - - - *GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK* - - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KEN WARD IN THE JUNGLE *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45974 - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one -owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and -you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission -and without paying copyright royalties. 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