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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1f7ae6a --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #60860 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60860) diff --git a/old/60860-0.txt b/old/60860-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e85d6aa..0000000 --- a/old/60860-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8659 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Crystal Sceptre, by Philip Verrill Mighels - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: The Crystal Sceptre - A Story of Adventure - -Author: Philip Verrill Mighels - -Release Date: December 6, 2019 [EBook #60860] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRYSTAL SCEPTRE *** - - - - -Produced by Tim Lindell, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from images made available by the -HathiTrust Digital Library.) - - - - - - - - - - _The_ CRYSTAL SCEPTRE - _A Story of Adventure_ - - - By PHILIP VERRILL MIGHELS - _Author of “Nella, the Heart of the Army,” etc._ - - [Illustration: Decorative glyph] - - R. F. FENNO & COMPANY - 9 and 11 East Sixteenth Street, New York - 1901 - - - Copyright 1901 - by - Philip Verrill Mighels - - - - - Contents - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. The end of the voyage 9 - II. A strange alliance 14 - III. The home of the Links 25 - IV. A reconnoitre 36 - V. Hostile neighbours 44 - VI. Language and weapons 50 - VII. Important discoveries 60 - VIII. Attacked and besieged 67 - IX. The cauldron of gold 76 - X. Daylight at last 86 - XI. A camp on the hill 91 - XII. A deadly foe 97 - XIII. The night in the jungle 108 - XIV. An old roué 115 - XV. A gleam of hope 120 - XVI. Treachery and a battle 127 - XVII. Saurians as foes 141 - XVIII. The enemy near 151 - XIX. Adoration scorned 155 - XX. The chief is pleased 159 - XXI. War with the Blacks 165 - XXII. Home joys and troubles 172 - XXIII. Needed munitions gathered 183 - XXIV. Experimental gunpowder 188 - XXV. The tribe frightened 197 - XXVI. Sport at the lake 203 - XXVII. An exploration 211 - XXVIII. Amazing discoveries 218 - XXIX. A sacred disguise 229 - XXX. Again besieged 240 - XXXI. Lost in the jungle 247 - XXXII. The bamboo bombs 261 - XXXIII. King at last 271 - XXXIV. A moment of rest 276 - XXXV. A fellow human 282 - XXXVI. Surprise and suspense 293 - XXXVII. The goddess 306 - XXXVIII. A prospect of wealth 313 - XXXIX. Stealing the enemy’s fire 324 - XL. Coveted gold 334 - XLI. Farewell to the camp 344 - XLII. Golden gleams 358 - XLIII. Surrounded by the Blacks 365 - XLIV. Vale faithful Fatty 380 - XLV. No longer a king 387 - - - - - The Crystal Sceptre - - - - - CHAPTER I - THE END OF THE VOYAGE - - -We had lost all control of the wild balloon. It was driven ahead of the -wind like a shred of rags, the car trailing behind at a fearful angle, -for many of the ropes were broken and all the others were twisted in a -hopeless tangle. Nearly all our ballast had fallen into the angry sea -beneath us an hour after the storm first caught us in its whirl. - -I could hear the ocean roaring and swashing, where its gigantic waves -toppled over each other below. The sound must have been tremendous, for -the wind blew such a howling gale that neither Ford nor I could make -each other hear what we shouted two feet away. - -Our hats were gone; Ford’s face was haggard, whenever the lightning -revealed him in the gloom. So intense was the darkness that I could not -even see the vast bag above us. When a great flash illuminated the -heavens, directly ahead, I noted the monster globe full of gas, -silhouetted blackly against the glare, and knew it was slightly leaking. -A small three-cornered dent was in its side already. I also observed -that the sea was hardly more than fifty feet below, churning milk-white -foam in its fury out of liquid ebon waves of mountainous size. The sky -seemed like a solid bank of black. The darkness that followed the flash -absorbed even Ford. Yet I knew that while he clung to the basket with -his right hand, as I had done for above an hour, he was nevertheless -attempting with his left to heave out the bag of provisions and the -blankets. I helped him at this and we rose perceptibly. - -Where we were it was absolutely impossible even to guess. That the -balloon was driving ahead at more than sixty miles an hour we had long -been convinced. This had been the state of affairs throughout the night. -I had lost all confidence in Ford’s calculations at the end of the -seventeenth hour out from Burma, for the twist which the storm had given -us then threw out or broke every reliable instrument we had, leaving not -so much as a compass. I was not an aeronaut like Ford, yet I knew we -were doomed, unless some change should occur, and that quickly. - -Ford, by the light of a flash, had seen a rope which was sawing open a -seam in the silk, as it slashed and writhed in the tornado. When another -blinding illumination came, I saw him climbing up in the ring to cut -this rope away. The car tilted more than before; I fully expected to go -hurtling out at every jerk. Suddenly two ropes, worn to a thread, on the -ring, parted without the slightest warning. The car gave a lurch and all -but turned bottom-side up. I heard a cry, as I swung out full length, -suspended by my arms, and was even slightly struck on the foot, as Ford -went plunging down. The balloon shot upward, relieved of his weight, and -I was alone. - -How long I clung there, swinging far out behind the wounded machine, is -more than I would dare to say. My arms finally ached so intensely I -could scarcely endure the pain. Dangling ropes beat me like knouts, for -a time, and then wrapped and twisted about me like coils of a snake. -Obviously these must have supported my weight at the last, for in a -spell of dizziness and weakness I lost my grip and then was conscious -only a second, when I thought, with the utmost unconcern, my end had -come. Like a dummy on the tail of a kite, I dragged below the wreck of -the car and was whirled thus unconsciously on, above the hungry sea. - -It might have been hours, it might have been days after this last moment -of despair, when my brain began again to work. I can only describe the -sensations which followed as a species of dream. I thought I was dead; -it seemed as if my soul, or something, was at perfect rest in a region -of loveliness. Whereas I had been chilled through and through by the -storm, I was warm now and filled with comfort. Music, which might have -been the rustling of leaves or the songs of birds, made itself heard. I -could not see for my eyes remained closed; but a sense of delicious -odours pervaded my being; I seemed also to float, as if on the air. - -At length I opened my eyes. The dream continuing on me still, I lay -perfectly quiet, gazing aloft into a sky of matchless beauty. Doubtless -I remained in this position for more than half an hour. Then a bright -bird flitted across my range of vision, and brought me back to things of -earth. I was still bound about by a piece of rope. Everything came back -to me sharply,—Ford, my friend, the scientist and daring balloonist, our -start, the storm, his hurtling down to death, my own desperation, and -then oblivion. - -I was whole and sound, apparently. Removing the rope and attempting to -sit erect, I found myself floundering for a second, in the top of a -tree. The branch I was on let me drop. I fell toward the earth, made a -grab for a limb, which somewhat broke my fall, and landed plump on the -ground, in the midst of a circle of extraordinary beings. - - - - - CHAPTER II - A STRANGE ALLIANCE - - -Neither men nor apes, yet clearly creatures which were nearly the one -and on the verge of being the other, these inhabitants of the place had -evidently been observing my form, in a spirit of cautious curiosity, for -a number now came swinging down from trees adjacent to the one I had -occupied, and the ones upon the ground set up a series of singular -cries. - -Having landed on my feet, hatless, but otherwise stoutly clad, I threw -my hand to my belt, instinctively, desiring to arm myself against -possible aggression. I found only my knife remaining. This weapon I -merely hauled around by sliding the belt, to bring the dagger directly -beneath my hand. The creatures about me were a score or so in number, -standing erect, apparently much excited, yet threatening no attack. -Their movements were restless; their roundish, near-together eyes were -constantly moving, like those of a monkey; they circled about me, -uttering guttural monosyllables, with many inflections. Every one of -them gripped in a powerful hand the haft of a rude sort of club, -fashioned out of a rock, lashed firmly to the end of a stout piece of -wood. - -The mutual inspection between us lasted several minutes. I could detect -but little difference between any two of the beings. They were nearly as -tall as I, averaging about five feet six inches; they were thin, wiry, -entirely naked, long-armed, flat-nosed, big-jawed and covered, on their -legs and arms, with a thin and somewhat straggling growth of hair. Their -skin was a reddish light-brown in colour; their feet were large, but -much like hands, having the great toe set back like a thumb; their legs -were slender and poorly shaped, but exceedingly muscular; their -shoulders and backs were round. - -One of the first to drop from a tree was a giant among them, a creature -more than six feet tall, active as a panther, commanding in aspect, and -possessing arms that reached fully to his knees. He carried a remarkable -club which was made of a great chunk of rock-crystal, secured at the end -of a polished bone, large and straight. This crystal still had its -gleaming points and facets preserved; it therefore inspired me with a -dread of the jagged hole it could smash in the skull of the largest -animal. - -Amazed as I was by what I saw, my astonishment was instantly increased -when I observed the only female creature I had yet beheld. She issued -from a copse and took her place beside the giant, who stood leaning on -his club, eyeing myself nervously. She was a pure albino. Her hair, -which was long and coarse, was as white as foam, her eyes were as pink -as a rabbit’s; her complexion was florid red on white. With a -rudimentary modesty, she stood partially concealed behind the giant, -although she was “clothed” in a patch of skin from a pure white gull, in -addition to a sort of rude necklace of claws. - -What were they? Where was I? What would they do? These questions I asked -myself rapidly a hundred times, as the creatures continued to edge about -me and to chatter obvious comments. I could only answer what they were, -and my premature conclusion may have been wide of the truth, yet I -dubbed them Missing Links without the slightest hesitation. - -For a space of at least ten minutes I was subjected to the closest -scrutiny, during which time I kept the keenest possible watch on every -movement, behind as well as before me. Resistance, however, would have -been madness, had they closed in for a battle. There was evident -indecision among these Links as to what they should do, and I was -equally at a loss to determine what I most desired with regard to -themselves. I now underwent another sensation. Pushing his way through -the circle came a fat, waddling “fellow,” who afforded as great a -contrast to the ordinary Links as did the female albino. He was entirely -black. As if to render him quite grotesque, his legs were thick and -bowed, his stomach was large and glistening, and his head was crowned -with a skull, securely tied in place with thongs which passed beneath -his chin. But his face was so irresistibly comical, with its broad, -good-natured grin, that I smiled in actual forgetfulness of where I was. - -At this he approached, holding forth in his hand a luscious fruit, the -like of which I had never seen. A murmur—plainly of dissent, or -warning—went up from his companions. Two or three made as if to drag him -roughly back by the leg. I fancied I understood him to be an emissary of -peace, and therefore deciding instantly that I preferred to be friendly, -I took a step forward and held out my hand. With a look of gratitude, -mingled with one of suspicious uncertainty, the fat chap gave me the -fruit and capered clumsily away, out of possible reach. - -Grunts of wonder and perhaps also of relief, greeted my acceptance of -this overture of hospitality. The Links settled in their tracks, to see -what would happen next, many of them standing with arms akimbo and -glancing from me to the giant, rapidly, by which I concluded that he was -a chieftain to whom they looked for a final decision of the case. -Trusting that the action might create a salutary impression on the -audience, I drew my knife from its scabbard and proceeded to cut away -the thick, hard rind of the fruit, paying not the slightest attention to -the exclamations which followed this exhibition of the sharpness and use -of the gleaming blade. When the fruit was peeled, I put the knife away -and ate as delicious and juicy a thing as ever a man has known, -provoking thereby a feeling of undisguised pleasure in the Links and of -apparent ecstasy in the breast of the fat one who had provided the -breakfast. - -“Now,” said I, when the thing was gone, “who are you fellows, and what -do you want?” - -I was surprised at myself for thus addressing this half-ape gathering, -but they were smitten temporarily dumb at the sound of my voice. I made -a gesture of cordiality and turned completely around in the circle, -finally holding both my hands extended to the giant. - -The chatter was instantly resumed. One of their “words,” in a language -which seemed to me to be exceedingly limited and primitive, was, as -nearly as pen can write it. - -“Tzheck.” - -Having caught this I attempted to repeat it, pointing to myself meantime -with my thumb, for it occurred to my mind that they called not only -myself but also their species by the name, and I desired to assure them -I was “one of themselves,” for at least they were better than no -companions in this unknown land. - -My action evidently met with approval. They advanced, retreated, pushed -each other near and otherwise exhibited a desire to know what I was. But -still they had a fear of my presence, although they were now in a mood -of timid friendliness. Up to this the chief of the Links had not -“spoken” a word. He now gave a command, or something of the sort, when -each of the others raised his club to rest it on his shoulder, as if in -readiness to beat me to death in case a necessity should arise. The -giant then came boldly up and extending a finger, touched my clothing. -The feeling of the cloth caused him to tell something to his followers, -all of whom were breathless with attention. - -Thinking I understood his perplexity, I quickly unfastened my coat and -shirt, exhibiting the whiter portion of my neck, for the part exposed -was tanned very much the colour of his own. This action begot a great -enthusiasm, responding to which I pulled my coat off entirely, when the -amazement of all was complete. I repeated their word “Tzheck” again, -whereupon they set up a clamorous conversation in monosyllables, among -themselves, and came yet closer, the better to place their hands upon -me. The impression was borne in upon me that they knew somewhat of what -I was, but were puzzled by the clothing I wore. - -All this preface to a mutual friendship and understanding, which I much -desired as a guarantee of my personal safety, was progressing well when -a sudden scream threw all into a state of violent alarm. No sooner did I -turn than I beheld the appalling sight of thirty or forty huge, genuine -ourang-outangs, descending upon us from the near-by jungle. Two of these -had swooped upon the albino female and were struggling to carry her off. -I saw the giant nearly smash the head from the shoulders of one, with -his iridescent club, and rescue his mate in a second. Then a fierce -engagement commenced about me on every side. - -It was a horrible conflict. The monster ourangs, half erect, appeared -like so many fiends, as they launched themselves in overwhelming numbers -on the Links, their mouths drooling, and bristling with fangs, their -hatred of the more human creatures expressed by the fury with which they -attempted to mangle and murder all the band. The Links, screaming out a -word which thrilled me as a battle cry of a courageous few whose fight -was all but hopeless, smote lustily with their clubs, sinking the -rock-end in many a skull, breaking arms, legs and ribs, yet wasting -superlative effort from lack of skill and discipline. Although they -fought their foe with more acumen than as many undrilled men could have -done, I thought they must fly or all be killed, for the odds were too -heavy by far. - -In the midst of the uproar and turmoil, of which I had been the centre -for a time, a singular snarl, as of triumph, issued from one of the -attacking brutes. He had discovered myself. Immediately half a dozen -would have rushed upon me, had I not been still somewhat surrounded by -the Links. As it was, two ourangs rushed in, headlong, to do me -violence. - -I had been about to fight for my “friends,” and therefore held my dagger -in my hand. I plunged it quickly in the throat of the beast that gripped -my shoulder, nearly severing the creature’s head from its body. As he -fell I stabbed the other to the heart, but felt so great a rib that I -knew I had reached his life by the merest good fortune. - -That I then grew hot and eager for blood, I admit. I received the next -that came with a lunge which ripped him open entirely across the -abdomen. My knowledge of boxing and fencing stood me well. I attacked a -monster who was all but killing my fat, good-natured Link, and crashed -the steel fairly through the spinal column at the base of his brain. The -smell of blood and the flash of that gory knife seemed to affect the -attacking brutes with horror. Yet the next ones that came would have -killed me outright had not the fat Link beaten out the brains of one and -broken the arm of the other, which then was readily despatched. - -Seeing the advantage of a club, I clutched up one which an overmastered -Link had dropped, and swung it madly. With this and the knife, I not -only defended myself but became a champion of the Links as well. The -fight, with its din of thuds and animal shrieks and screams of agony, -began to concentrate about three Links and myself. A long, hairy arm, -with an iron-like hand, was thrust across my shoulder and my throat was -in a deadly grip. I dropped the club and slashed my blade across the -wrist, severing the stiff, white cords. Then I swung in a blow that -buried the steel to the hilt. The brute fell heavily, dragging the knife -from my hand. Instantly two more great animals were upon me and over I -went, already scratched and slightly bitten. For a moment I struggled in -desperation; then a horrible black face came down toward my own, the -jaws awide for a fastening on my neck. - -Down swept a gleaming streak. The rock-crystal club knocked the face, -head and all, away, as if it had been a potato on a stick. Another blow -killed my second assailant like a fly might be killed on a window. I -bounded up with a club in my hand. The giant Link was beating his way -through the foe like a doomsman. With a cry of hatred and fear, the -remaining ourang-outangs, and many of the wounded, suddenly turned and -fled. The battle had been brief and bloody; it had demonstrated a -fierceness and power incredible in the Links, a power which, if -concentrated and properly employed, would excel that of twice the number -of human savages. - -I found my knife and pulled it forth from its sheath of flesh. -Collecting his following about him with a word, the giant leader touched -me on the arm and pointed toward the jungle. The wounded of “our” force -limped from the scene; our dead, who were three in number, were carried -by those who were still unhurt. With the albino mate of the chief I -walked away, surrounded by the chattering Links, whose conduct toward -me, I was sure, was that of a friendly “people.” The fat fellow was next -to idiotic in his gratitude for the stroke which had saved his life. - -I had fought with them, bled with them, eaten of their food and -endeavoured to show them my good intentions and wishes toward -themselves. They were manifestly aware of all. I felt strongly drawn to -the singular beings, alone with them and dependent upon them; I felt -that for weal or woe I was at least a temporary companion to, if not an -integral part of, a band of Missing Links. - - - - - CHAPTER III - THE HOME OF THE LINKS - - -Filled with strange sensations, thus to find myself in the midst of a -company so extraordinary, I kept my appointed place in the march, -looking about me in an effort to discover what manner of country it was -into which I had dropped. I wondered what I should do to get back to -civilisation, and how this could be accomplished, and when. - -About us the jungle closed in thickly. Huge trees, gigantic flowers and -creepers, hanging like intertwisted serpents, and with others like the -cables of incompleted suspension-bridges, convinced me at once of the -tropical nature of the land. We were walking in a rude sort of trail, -which I concluded had been formed by some ponderous animal, for the -growth had been smashed down or beaten and trampled aside. - -This trail became uncertain, in the gloom, for soon the light was almost -entirely obscured by the super-abundant verdure. Had any of the Links -meditated treachery, or to take advantage of me while unprepared, this -jungle darkness would have afforded an exceptional opportunity; but on -the contrary my fat friend waddled actively before me, clearing the way -of branches, and the “person” next behind me was the albino female -herself. Nevertheless I was grateful for a glimpse of light, now and -again, which gave a promise that beyond we should find something less -forbidding. During this march I noted how silently the Links glided -onward, how lightly they stepped and how alert they were at every sound, -in that silent region of growing and prowling things. - -Thus we finally emerged from the forest, into an opening of limited -extent. Here I noted fruit-trees and evidence of former occupation on -the part, I thought, of the Links, but they left the place behind, to -plunge again through the jungle. A shorter trudge brought us out of the -trees once more, at the foot of a hill of no considerable height. This -hill we commenced to ascend. - -At last I could see for a distance about me. The prospect was -disappointing, almost bewildering. Instead of a glimpse of the ocean, -which I had thoroughly expected to get, I saw nothing but hills and -valleys, clothed endlessly with the dense, luxuriant growth peculiar to -the equatorial zone, all of it seeming to breathe of heavy blossoms, -heat and the moisture from the universal green. The solitary exception -to this condition of verdure was a bare hill, not half a mile away, -green in spots, but evidently volcanic in origin. - -At the edge of the forest we had quitted, a thousand monkeys appeared to -swing from the branches, into existence and then to sway back again and -disappear. A snake glided off in the rank grass; a flock of birds, -decked in brilliant raiment, arose with a great confusion of flapping -wings and inharmonious cries. I believed myself to be on an island, -perhaps of the greater Sunda group, but there was nothing in the visible -world, either to confirm or to deny my theory. I felt that the sea, -which had swallowed Ford and which had so nearly been a grave for -myself, was in reality my best friend, but lost completely, and in which -direction—who should say? - -Soon I observed that the hill we were climbing was a sort of terraced -mountain, low and broad. As we neared its summit it widened out, -revealing endless features of beauty and natural provision. It was -wooded with trees in great variety, many of them over-laden with fruits -and nuts; springs of water bubbled forth from bowers of vines and ferns; -birds and game abounded on every side; and its surface “rolled” -sufficiently to comprise not only hummocks and swales but also ravines -and walls of rock as well. - -As we reached the edge of the largest clearing I had seen, a chorus of -cries arose from the further side. Immediately the woods disgorged a -great collection of Links, young, old, male, female, and babies. All -were similar to those about me, save that the children were more like -little chimpanzees, running about frequently on “all fours,” swinging -upward to the branches of the trees and otherwise exhibiting animal -spirits. - -More than a hundred of these “inhabitants” came running and walking -toward us. Many of the males bore clubs, of the usual pattern, while the -youths were to be distinguished not only by their looks of immaturity, -but also by the undersized weapons in their hands, not a few of which -were like toys. Of the whole population, none wore the slightest -suggestion of clothing, excepting the female albino, mentioned before. -What a lot of terra-cotta gorilla men and women they were, as they -dashed out to meet us! - -I found it difficult to be calm as they bore down upon us, yet I was -forced to note what magnificent action was shown in their movements. A -tremendous excitement arose among them when they had me surrounded. -Evidently emboldened by what they were told of my nature, by my -“captors,” yet timid and suspicious of what I might do if aroused, they -presented a singular study of primitive curiosity and caution. The -“women” were bolder than the “men,” a condition of fearlessness which I -attribute to the fact that, like the animals, the males never fought -with the females nor struck them for what they did. These females, -however, although to be classified with animals because of this immunity -from punishment by the “men,” presently exhibited the rudimentary -modesty noted before in the conduct of the chief’s mate, which was -distinctly a human thing. But this diffidence was not so great as their -natural desire to investigate, and they plucked at my coat and trousers -before many of the newly met males among the number dared to come so -near. - -The chief having continued to stalk ahead, we all made more or less -progress toward the place whence the Links had come. In all the chatter -I could occasionally distinguish the word “Tzheck,” and this I again -repeated, smiling and nodding as I walked. The creatures amused me, for -I now began to note certain characteristics that made a distinction -between one and another. Thus, one of the females carried a large baby. -She was a sharp-featured “person,” who employed one of her hands to -brush a straggling wisp of hair from her eye, and the baby as constantly -dragged this wisp again from behind her ear. Another was an “old woman,” -obviously deaf, for she placed her hand behind her ear to listen, and -she nodded and grinned in the way of people who catch but fragments of a -conversation. - -With this chattering, scampering escort I came to what was evidently the -camp of the tribe. This was marked principally by the trampled condition -of the earth and the number of lively babies about, on the ground and in -the lower branches of the trees. There was a large cave in a wall or -terrace of rock. This was apparently used for purposes of sleeping under -cover, or of other protection when needed. Into this place, the dead of -the band were carried. There was no exhibition of grief, however, and -indeed no one seemed to take any special interest in the corpses. There -were no constructed shelters about, no signs of permanency nor of -provision for the morrow. Except for one thing I might now have -hesitated to place the creatures above the highest order of animals, but -this one thing was conclusive. - -They made fire. - -Animals may live together in a colony, and even inhabit caves or burrows -of their own digging, but the animal will always be animal until he -starts a blaze and cooks his food. - -Their fire at that moment was merely a smouldering heap of ashes and -charred ends of wood; there were no utensils about, no suggestions of a -meal in process of cooking. Presently, however, an old female who -muttered to herself and who paid no attention to me nor to any of the -excitement, threw fuel on the embers and blew up a flame, after which -several Links borrowed a burning brand with which to start other fires -in various places. Soon thereafter a desultory cooking-bee commenced, -each cook providing for himself. - -Their process was crude; it consisted merely in spitting a raw piece of -meat on a stick and thrusting it into the blaze, or the coals, according -to the fancy of the chef in question. When this meat began to burn, the -hungry Link blew it, to cool it a trifle, bit out the smoked and barely -heated spot, and ate it greedily, the while he or she thrust the -remaining piece in the heat for another bit of roasting. - -The interest in myself had in no wise abated. The majority of the Links -who had not been of the discovering party, having thrown aside their -clubs, surrounded me still and placed their inquisitive hands on my -shoes and clothing. My knife was a source of awe and wonder. Its bloody -handle only was visible, yet scores of those who had not been present at -the fight listened with manifest amazement to what I knew to be -primitive tales of my prowess, and to explanations of the uses to which -I put the weapon. Even the children, the greater part of whom were as -shy as little foxes, gave over their play to stand behind the trees and -behind their elders, from which places of safety they peered at me with -shifty, bright eyes. One little monkey-like chap gave no heed to -anything but a noise he was making by clattering several small empty -sea-shells together with all his power and possible speed. - -I missed my comical Link, whom I had mentally nicknamed “Fatty.” He now -appeared with an armful of fruits, and laid them down at my feet. There -were cocoa-nuts, a melon (papaw), mangoes and other things of which I -never learned the names. Being exceedingly hungry I assailed these -refreshments with vigour, to the intense delight of all. Fatty -disappeared again, returning soon with a bird, half plucked, ungutted -and warm. He stabbed it on a stick, borrowed some fire and gave me the -morsel to cook to my liking. - -Without thinking, I glanced about for a pot or a skillet. In a second I -realized the hopelessness of the situation. The incident served to set -me thinking. I was lost in a land of which I knew nothing; I was safe, -apparently, in the company of a tribe of Missing Links; I might not be -able to escape from the place very soon and therefore I must rely upon -myself, if I were to have anything like comforts, either of food or -shelter. It was a situation to be pondered, carefully. It would -certainly be folly to attempt to leave these creatures, with whom -perhaps I might be able to exist for a time, without first acquiring a -knowledge as to where lay the sea-coast. I should not only be lost in -the jungle at once, if I started away, but I should doubtless be an -immediate prey to prowling brutes. Yet already I began to feel as if I -had stayed there too long and as if I ought to be starting for “home,” -or back to a land peopled by human beings. I could not imagine myself -accepting the company of these creatures seriously, nor of remaining -long where they were. - -The present moment, however, was the most immediately important. I was -too hungry to be appeased by fruits alone, but I felt no desire to eat -scorched bird. As I looked about, a novel idea was suggested to my -brain. Striding forward I picked up a fine large shell—which had -doubtless once been occupied by something like a giant escallop—near the -small ones with which the baby Link was playing. This I washed out at a -near-by spring, and filled with water. Then I placed it on the ground -and propping it up with stones, conveyed some fire beneath it, to heat -the water. The bird was speedily prepared, and cut into bits, after -which I held out my hand for more. - -The Links had all abandoned their several pursuits to crowd about. They -were eager to see what would happen. Fatty was inordinately tickled. He -ran clumsily off, with others, and brought me three more birds and the -meat of some small animal, already in the larder. I was not at all sure -that my shell would do for a kettle, as I feared the heat would make it -crack or scale off in pieces. It did crackle, as if about to split, but -the water soon began to sizzle at the edges and was nicely boiling by -the time I was ready. All my meat went in, and then I longed for a few -potatoes and a bit of salt. However, I was gratified exceedingly by the -whiffs of steam which floated away, and I thought of numerous things -which I must soon devise. - -Before my dinner was sufficiently done, I speared out pieces and found -them good, especially the birds. Then to Fatty and also to the chief—who -with his albino mate had watched proceedings with flattering attention—I -gave pieces of the meat to try. The exclamations had been numerous when -the water boiled; the Links were silent now until the leader had tasted -and uttered a doubtful verdict, when grunts, eager questions and sounds -of peculiar laughter ensued. Bits of boiled dinner were sought by many -of the bolder fellows, after which I was obliged to laugh myself, for a -dozen new fires were started and over each a Link or two prepared a -piece of meat—in their usual manner. Evidently stew was not to their -taste. - - - - - CHAPTER IV - A RECONNOITRE - - -Whether the fruit I had eaten produced a soporific effect, or whether I -was physically exhausted by my recent experience in the balloon and the -subsequent events, is more than I know, but in the heat of that day, in -the camp of the Links, I grew so drowsy that sleep was not to be -resisted. For at least forty-eight hours and perhaps for sixty, or more, -I had not so much as taken off my shoes. Feeling confident of the -friendly attitude of the tribe of creatures, I finally removed nearly -all of my clothing, made a bed in the shade of a tree and sank at once -into dreamless slumber. The last thing I remembered was that Fatty had -taken up a position near by, much as a faithful dog might do, to watch -against intrusion. Necessarily my every movement had been observed by a -large and appreciative audience of Links. - -In the late afternoon I awoke, amazingly refreshed. Such a chattering -and game of chase was in progress that I sat up abruptly. Every stitch -of the clothing with which I had covered myself, had disappeared. In a -moment I beheld it, then, in fragments. The male Links—all but Fatty—had -gone off on some expedition, but the females were there in force and -these had appropriated coat, vest, trousers and shoes. My trousers were -occupied by two different “ladies,” one of whom had a half, pulled wrong -side out. She wore it jauntily on her arm, while the other had both her -feet inside the other portion, and was consequently falling down at -every movement, thereby furnishing no end of enthusiasm in her efforts -at marching on dress-parade. My vest had become a breech-clout, ripped -up the back. Evidently instinct suggests robing the legs, for my coat -was employed in this manner by a female of peculiarly thin proportions. -Her inordinate vanity, begotten of the attention she attracted, was -quite human, as also was the savage jealousy of other females who made -ineffectual efforts to rip the article off for themselves. - -The fate of my shoes concerned me more than anything else, for my feet -were too tender for tramping about without protection, not to speak of -the risk incurred from the presence of poisonous snakes. - -“Here,” I shouted, “bring me those things, you critters!” - -They started in alarm at my voice, but none made a move to restore my -property. I then discovered one of my shoes suspended on the breast of -the tall albino “woman,” hung about her neck by the laces. The other had -fallen to the lot of perfidious Fatty, who, having put it on his foot, -heel foremost, was hopping about on one leg only, while he held the -other, more precious, booted leg as high as possible, and pounded on his -great glistening stomach as if executing an eccentric dance to his own -music. - -I strode over the ground gingerly, clad in a shirt, and the belt with -the knife about my waist, going first to the dancer, whom I bowled on -his back and divested of the shoe, literally before he could say Jack -Robinson. After that I jerked the other shoe from the neck of the female -so quickly that she ran away in alarm to the cave. This latter action -incited a show of incipient resentment on the part of the old female who -muttered to herself. But inasmuch as she beheld some of the other guilty -creatures divest themselves of sundry pieces of my wardrobe and flee, -leaving them on the ground, she conceived an idea of the respect my -knife had engendered in the tribe. She therefore stood sullenly watching -me as I made shift to put on my shoes, a pair of leggings and a loin -cloth, which I hastily constructed of the pieces left of my pantaloons. - -The “lady” with my coat had quickly climbed a tree to avoid being -obliged to deliver the garment. Fatty, bearing no resentment and being -obviously devoted to my interests, gave chase. Although the female -proved the more agile of the two, she fell into the clutches of another -of her sex and between them they tore the coat all in shreds many of -which Fatty finally brought to my feet with excessive demonstrations of -pride. - -By the time my toilet was complete, nearly all the females were up in -the trees, looking down upon me with nervous, questioning eyes. I -reflected how fortunate it was that they were at least partially human, -for their strength was enormous and had they been unreasoning animals, -and therefore ferocious, they might easily have rended me to pieces for -less exasperation than I had already given. - -I felt ill at ease as it was; I began to be restless, worried, eager to -be gone. Where had the wind-driven balloon landed me, I wondered? What -course had I best pursue? What would these Links do, or attempt to do if -I sought to leave? I could not remain here, under any circumstances, I -said to myself. Think how absurd it would be to live with a lot of -Missing Links! - -From where I stood I could see the peak of the volcanic mountain, less -than half an hour’s journey away. Instantly I made up my mind to visit -this eminence and get my bearings. I might be able to see the ocean -itself; if I could, then the sooner I made a bee-line for the coast the -better for me. - -There was considerable excitement among the “women” when I started away. -They had doubtless been instructed to keep me there in safety till the -return of the males. Fatty made an eloquent verbal protest, singularly -plain to comprehend, although the words were the merest gibberish, but -seeing that I intended to be master of my actions, he followed anxiously -at my heels. - -Fortunately there was open country between the camp and the volcanic -pile. Nevertheless the way was not all of grass and flowers, for we were -obliged to fight our way through narrow belts of trees and vines and to -scale the sides of several chasms, all but one of which had been formed, -apparently, by earthquakes of the greatest violence. In the one -exception, which was the bed of an ancient river, I saw much evidence of -mineral deposits, chiefly iron. Strewn along here, in the sand, were -bright, crystalline formations which I recognised presently as being -pyrites of iron. Afterward I thought of these, having remembered that -with this stuff and flint, a spark of fire may be procured quite -readily. None of the mineral features held my attention above a moment, -however, the peak being the objective point of my march. - -It is difficult for me to express the feverish anxiety I felt to mount -the summit of that hill. It seemed as if everything depended on what I -should see from the elevation. Half way up the slope, which was not at -all steep, my weight broke away the top of a ledge of crumbling stuff, -which proved to be sulphur of great purity. I had never seen a deposit -of natural sulphur before, although I had read of mines of the mineral -on volcanoes of Mexico, notably Popocatapetl. I merely placed a bit in -the pocket of my shirt and went on. Further up, my attention was -attracted by innumerable fragments of glass-like substance, with dark, -smoky lines woven through, in the form of a rude feather. Such stuff had -often come to my notice on the mountains of Nevada, where, as boys, we -called it flint, erroneously, I was afterward informed. A few pieces of -this I likewise placed in my pocket, but my main desire was to hurry -upward. - -We reached the summit, from which all traces of the crater had -disappeared, through lapse of time since the last eruption, and there my -heart sank within me. There was no sight nor sign of the sea on all the -wide horizon. Far and away below me lay the dark, undulating -cloth-of-green, jungle after jungle and range after range of densely -wooded hills. In one direction, about forty miles away, were mountains -of greater height than the one I was on. These tempted me to hurry -onward toward their peaks, but I knew how vain was such a desire. To the -eastward I caught a glimpse of a shimmering lake, hedged about with -forest which I knew to be practically impenetrable. - -All this panorama was marvellously beautiful, but for me beauty was -mockery. I stood as good a chance to fly over the hills and trees to the -sea as I did of reaching the coast by tramping across the country. I -realized that without a guide and a force of resolute, hard-working men, -loyal, and afraid of nothing, escape was a dream—a hope as fatal as a -will-o’-the-wisp. - -Nevertheless I determined that I would regain the world I had left in -such an amazing manner. Wild dreams of enslaving the tribe of Missing -Links, whom I should make my warriors, and who would then escort me to -the coast, danced through my brain. Prodigious schemes for accomplishing -some superhuman feat—which was wholly vague and constructed of air—made -me twitch with nervous energy. It seemed as if I ought to be able to -grasp something big—to force the marvellous to come to my aid. Then the -reaction of despair succeeded; all my intangible ideas mocked me with -their silliness. I felt inconceivably helpless. The enormity of the -tropical hedge by which I was completely surrounded—a hedge alive with -venomous snakes, doubtless with tigers, with droves of savage beasts, -and with perhaps more savage men,—this arose in my brain as a picture -which made me ill with dread. - -“Great Scott!” I finally said aloud, to myself, “are you such a -miserable coward, then? By gracious—no! There must be some way—there has -to be a way! Hang it, at the worst a man can merely die!” - -This speech, which startled Fatty not a little, gave me a new sort of -courage. I began to think of things I must do to live, and of plans I -must formulate to explore the country. I nearly forgot that my lot had -been cast with the singular man-gorillas, but this was presently thrust -upon my notice by Fatty, who made a noise very like to whining, to -indicate his uneasiness and desire to return to the camp. The sun was -nearly set. I fancied I saw something move, in a tangle far below, but -concluded this something was merely a shadow. - -“All right, Fatty,” said I, and we started down the hill. - - - - - CHAPTER V - HOSTILE NEIGHBOURS - - -Doubtless I grew absorbed in thinking, as we made our way to the base of -the hill, for I was startled by a singular cry from the Link. - -What I saw confused me for a moment. Three Links, taller than any except -the chief of the tribe I had joined, were darting toward us with the -wildest of gestures,—three Links as black as tar. Inasmuch as Fatty was -nearly as dark as they, and considering the treatment I had already -received, I felt no alarm and failed to comprehend what the situation -meant. - -Like a leopard for quickness, Fatty darted away, uttering sounds of -fright. Instantly one of the Links approaching started on his trail in -hot pursuit, a club in his hand which was glinting with colour in the -rays of the setting sun. I was surprised and somewhat amused as I saw -the clever Fatty elude the larger creature and gain the trees. Once in -the cover he swung himself upward and out of sight with all the agility -of a monkey. - -Suddenly the two I had failed to watch were upon me. I was thrown down, -pinioned to the ground a second and then dragged up, hastily. Then the -pair began to hustle me off with astonishing force and with method in -their frenzy, for they attempted to get me away as nearly unharmed as -possible. - -“Here!” I cried in a moment, endeavouring to check my progress, “let go -of me—you devil!” - -I had hardly noted their faces, but now, as I struggled, I saw that the -two were tremendously like a pair of burly Negroes. That they were -Links, as much as the others were, that indeed they belonged to the very -same species and genus, there could be no doubt, but they were as widely -differentiated from “my” Links as a black ant is from one that is red. - -I jerked myself loose from the grip of one, by losing a part of my -shirt, and struck him a blow on the point of his jaw that laid him flat -on his back, stunned and helpless. I was annoyed by the liberties they -were taking, more than angered or rendered desperate. I therefore kicked -the other in the stomach and beheld him double like a hinge. A chorus of -cries arose at this and I looked about to discover ten or a dozen more -of the fellows, all black, swarming up the slope to assist their -friends. - -At that moment the third one, who had ceased pursuing Fatty and -returned, launched himself upon me from the rear and bore me down. Fight -as I would, he was the equal in strength of three of my build and easily -kept me on the ground till four of the others, quickly followed by their -companions, rushed to the scene and secured my arms and legs. - -There was no resentment, as far as I could determine, for the blows I -had given the two. The pair, in fact, soon regained their senses and -breath, respectively, and joined their kind, in a dazed and half-hearted -manner. I was aware that I was being considerately handled, though -roughly, to be sure, and was quite unable to think of a reason, until -the fellows began again to convey me away. I realised then that they -were actually abducting me and proceeding straight away from the camp I -had left. Had I been a thing of rare value and highly prized by the -creatures, they could not have acted with more care to avoid inflicting -an injury on my body, nor with more resolution in their obvious plan to -carry me away to their own retreat. - -In the midst of the Babel of tongues and confusion of getting me across -a chasm, to which we came with surprising promptness, a cry resounded -through the cleft, and instantly a force of the red Links leaped down on -top of the Blacks and commenced a furious attack. I was dropped as if I -had been a cumbersome rock, but landing on my feet and clearing myself -of the scrambling fellows, who shot forward to meet the onslaught of the -Reds, I whipped out my knife, prepared to defend myself at any cost and -to fight for my friends, if I mingled at all in the fray. - -The battle with the huge ourangs had been hot enough, but this present -combat exceeded all bounds, in the rage of the creatures pitted against -each other. I could see at once that Reds and Blacks were old-time foes, -as sure to fight on contact as are the different coloured ants. They -smote at one another with the wildest ferocity. Club crashed on stone, -and rock thudded fearfully on skull and ribs, till blood splashed widely -about the place and heads were pulp. - -It had all occurred with surprising abruptness. The contending bands -were inextricably mixed; they surged together and swayed from wall to -wall of the chasm, yelling defiance, snarling in wrath, groaning with -agony. The crunch of bones and the thuds of those terrible clubs against -naked flesh were awful to hear, yet the fight was such a whirlwind of -action that no one thing could hold the attention a second, where deaths -and mighty actions, and the crude but deadly club-play made a picture of -such close-knit battle. - -One second I noted the great chief of the Reds mow down two of the -Blacks at a single swing of his blood-painted, light-flashing club of -crystal; the next I noted how like the writhing of a snake was the death -contraction of one of my friendly Links. Then the flash of a club -swinging quickly to its living cushion of ribs and flesh made a -brilliant streak against the background of dusky forms. I saw that the -head of this weapon was a massive nugget of gold. In that second I also -detected a movement from the corner of my eye where a black creature, -wounded and desperate, was rising up, club in hand, to strike me down. -It flashed upon me instantly that the Blacks, if they could not possess -me themselves, would rather I were dead than allied with their enemies. - -I was standing with my back to the wall, willing to see fair play, but -too wise to become entangled in that medley of physical giants. The -treachery now revealed made me angry in a second. The smell of fight in -my nostrils had been working on my animal nature; a pin-prick would have -been sufficient to arouse all my human frenzy for slaying. I turned -about, burning with wrath, and had no more than struck down the wounded -monster than three others leaped to perform the office in which he had -failed. A reeking club was swinging in toward my head like a shot from a -cannon. I dived below its line of motion and drove home my knife with -all the lust of vengeance. My falling antagonist tripped and overtoppled -the second, destroyed the blow he was about to aim and made him an easy -mark for the dripping rock-crystal that crushed his shoulder and part of -his neck to a boneless mass. The third met another of my friends and -beat him down, only to be killed himself a second later. - -Shrieks of agony had rent the air and screams of rage and yells of -triumph made discord as a number of the black Links now fled abruptly -down the chasm to escape. And the fellow with the nugget club turned to -hurl his defiance and to shake his reddened fist at me, as I stood on a -rock in a circle of my friends. The cause of the Reds I had made my -cause; I had slain a Black. The feud between these warring tribes -included myself. I had created deadly enemies in the land of Missing -Links. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - LANGUAGE AND WEAPONS - - -The darkness had begun to descend before we reached the camp, plainly -causing anxiety to the Links, who were hindered on the march by the -burden of several dead members of the tribe. Various sounds issued from -the jungle, where brutes that eat flesh in the night were beginning to -prowl. Doubtless no few of these smelled the blood that laded the wind -which was sweeping down through the chasm. - -I thought of all this and meditated much also on my peculiar situation. -Why these two opposing bands of Missing Links should so desire myself as -a prize as to fight with such fatal results, was a puzzle too deep for -solution, considering that I had been treated by both parties in a -manner far from being inimical to my safety. Were they cannibals, I -asked myself, did they desire me for a dinner? Manifestly such was not -the case, inasmuch as no man-eating creatures should be expected to be -so moderate as to permit me to live in freedom as long as I had lived -already in their settlement. No, their purpose involved something more -permanent. - -There was no end to the chatter as we hastened “home.” Though I failed -to understand this, yet the gestures were easy to interpret. Reason also -made it plain that Fatty, when he fled from my side and escaped the -Blacks, had darted toward the camp to give the alarm, meeting on the way -the Links who had come to the rescue, they having started beforehand on -information furnished by the females, who had watched us start toward -the peak. - -I recapitulated the results of my exploration. I was hopelessly lost, as -far as any human beings were concerned. I was in the hands of friendly -creatures, more primitive than the lowest mortal. My only chance of -escape lay in cultivating the friendly feelings and in endeavouring to -understand my companions, with a view to inducing a force, later on, to -accompany myself on a march across the country to the sea. Incidentally -I had much to do to keep myself partially civilised. I must fashion -tools, in the use of which the Links must be instructed. We were -surrounded by dangerous animals, and we had a powerful enemy, the force -of whose numbers might be greater than our own. This would mean that I -must make our tribe superior, and arm them with a better class of -weapons. Fortunately the country promised to be one of great resources. -Yet the only tool I had with which to start was my knife. - -I thought of the endless array of implements of war and peace to be had -in the poorest modern community. Such meditation being idle, I reflected -how glad I would be to hammer out my own requisites from the crude iron, -but this was equally vain. In short my thoughts came tumbling down the -age of iron and the age of bronze, as if I had fallen back through time -and history, to land at the very age of stone itself. Here I must work -with stone for hammers, axes, drills and even for an anvil, supposing I -had my white-hot metal ready to forge into shape, for there was nothing -else to be had. - -All this made me excited, eager to be at work. I was forgetful of all -that it meant, as my brain pictured stage after stage of this new -development, but when a cool night wind blew across my half-clothed -body, I was aroused from my reverie and confronted by a pitiless array -of facts. I then foresaw personal suffering, mayhap a miserable death, -and toil and disappointment, before I could wrest even something small -from the fist of Nature, while I should have about me a tribe of -semi-animal beings, fighting constantly for a bare existence. My hope -and fate were rapidly being entangled with the lives and fates of these -extraordinary creatures. - -Before we reached the camp, the glow of fires shone brightly through the -trees. The Links had learned the use of a lively blaze in keeping off -the beasts of prey. I wondered how they had first started their fire, -admitting that I should doubtless find no end of trouble if I were -obliged to kindle one myself, without a match. - -We were met by a large and enthusiastic band of the males, with Fatty in -their midst. His capers, at seeing me whole and hearty, were enough to -shake an ordinary individual to pieces. He made me ponder on another -peculiar thing. How did it happen that he, being black, was not only -living among the Reds, but was also at feud with the fellows of his -colour? I made up my mind that he was either a freak, like the albino, -born in the tribe, or else that he had been captured when a baby, and -reared away from his kind. It was certain the black Links recognised a -foe in the fellow, whatever his pedigree and blood. - -Having conceived an idea, I was glancing about at the trees revealed by -the glow of the fires, when I discovered a growth of stuff wherein there -was a large portion dead and dry. Going to this, amid evident protest -and questionings on the part of many Links, I took out my knife and cut -away some likely looking branches. The wood I found to be exceedingly -tough. It was hard work to get what I wanted. On bending it over, in an -effort to break it off, where my cut had been made, I found it to be -exceptionally elastic and stubborn, although I could see it had been -dead and seasoned for many months. Getting out a long straight shaft, -half as large as my wrist, and several other straight pieces a trifle -larger than a pencil, I brought it all to the circle about the fire. - -The Links, who were much excited over recent events, watched my every -movement with the gravest concern. I faced them and attempted to convey, -by signs and pantomime that I intended to make a bow and several arrows -with which I could kill six of the number in the briefest time. They -understood enough to be highly amused and delighted. There were an -incredible number of things they did and said of which the meaning was -clear, and with comparative ease I made Fatty understand that I wished -him to boil me a dinner in the way he had seen me do already. - -Fatty, I believe, was one of the most intelligent of all the Links. He -made blunders enough in doing what I wished, while I tried to keep at -work on my bow, yet he was insanely anxious to do me any favour and -crazy with delight at being considered worthy of employment. Dinner -cooking went forward again in the same desultory manner I had noted -before, but a large majority of the Links sat or stood about me in the -semidarkness, seeming more than ever like apes as they glanced about -with their nervous, round eyes, chattered their monkey-like language, -and released the muscles of their long, uncanny arms. The glow that was -tossed from the fire, making silhouettes of many an astounding red -statue, painted a weird picture that night beneath the trees. - -As I looked in their faces, many of them drawn with the first vague -efforts of thinking, I beheld strange, fleeting promise of things to be, -dim lights, as it were, of ambitions—desire to grasp a something just -beyond their mental capacity. Many seemed awed by the simple sight of -that knife, cutting away the stubborn wood in thin, smooth shavings, as -it flashed in the light. - -I put my finger on the blade. “Knife,” I said, “knife.” - -A few, including Fatty, attempted to repeat the word. A chorus of -peculiar laughter followed and the spell of awe was gone. As I worked, -then, I pointed to various things and gave the name in English. There -was not even one of the Links who failed to comprehend that I was making -an effort to establish a means of communication between us, but a very -few only tried my easy lessons. Fatty, however, was quite willing to -“make a fool of himself,” for he essayed everything, manfully. But -better than this, the fellow attempted to reciprocate the favour. Thus -when I had given a name to the blazing pieces of wood he waited a moment -and then pointing to it earnestly said, distinctly: - -“Ouch.” - -Then he pantomimed burning his finger, and jerked it back, saying “Ouch” -again. He made it plain that the fire would hurt if touched, that a Link -would cry “ouch” at the smart, and that therefore a fire was named for -this cry. When I proved that this much Link language was mine beyond a -doubt, the ecstasy of my fat friend was most extravagant. Gratified with -his effort, he soon made me acquainted with the names of a number of -articles. These names were invariably chosen in a manner analogous to -the one by which they had arrived at “ouch” for fire. For instance, a -gurgle, impossible to set down in letters, was the name for water; a -sound like a thud meant a club; an audible breath through the lips, -(wind), signified a tree. Manifestly such “words” as these defy all -efforts at spelling. I found them difficult to imitate, for the throat -was largely employed to make the noises and my tongue seemed to be very -much in the way. I tried my best, as I worked out my first crude bow, -and when I had finished my dinner I felt that no little progress had -been made toward a better understanding all around. - -Inasmuch as there was more need for haste than there was for finish on -my weapon, I made short work of tapering off the ends of my bow and -cutting the notches. I then prepared several arrows, somewhat clumsy, -but still fairly straight, after which I feathered them all, roughly, -and attempted to break some of the glass-like “flints,” I had found that -day, into shapes that would pass for arrow-heads. This was a most -unsuccessful business. An accident formed the only piece which by any -stretch of the imagination could be conceived as what I desired. This I -bound at the tip of a shaft, with cord similar to that which the Links -employed on their clubs, but it was hopelessly awkward. Being then -provided with more of their string, I bent my bow and had the -satisfaction of seeing that it was fairly symmetrical in form and -amazingly stout. Indeed, it broke the string, and I feared it had split -at the sudden release, but this was not the case. In excitement and -admiration, the Links now furnished me with a stouter cord, a cleverly -twisted deer-gut, or tendon, which was nearly perfection for the -purpose. - -Fitting my pointed arrow on the string and bidding the Links stand -aside, I drew it as far as I could and let it drive at the nearest tree. -The twang that followed gave me a thrill of delight, as always it had -done in the days of my youth, and I felt a gush of pride in my veins -when the shaft stood quivering in the bark, its head so deeply buried -that the greatest effort to drag it out merely broke it short off in the -hands of the giant chief. - -The Links knew not whether to be alarmed or delighted. Again I placed a -shaft on the string. This time I signed for silence and turned the arrow -straight up toward the star-dappled sky, to give my friends a rough idea -of the height to which the wooden messenger would climb. In the absolute -silence I drew even further than before. With a swish the arrow sprang -from the humming string and disappeared like a bullet as it cleaved the -upper darkness, near the trees. - -I threw up my hand for continued silence. In eager expectation we -waited. Beat, beat, beat, went my heart as the seconds were multiplied, -the long stillness proclaiming the distance to which the arrow had sped. -Longer became the time; I was thrilled with pleasure and surprise -myself; it seemed as if the shaft never would return. How still was the -night for that minute; not a breath was stirring. - -Suddenly there was a swish—a plunk! as the leaf of a palm was punctured, -and then a quick, incisive plith! as the shaft was driven forcibly home -in the earth. It had come down about ten good strides away! - -We hastened in a body to find it. There it was, standing straight as a -line, stabbed six inches deep in the sod and roots of grasses, -and—marvel of accidental things!—impaled upon it, half way up its -length, was a bat, transfixed in action, still holding in its mouth an -unswallowed moth. - -Circumstance had completely eclipsed my humble skill, for this miracle -of chance made me at once a species of god and devil, in the eyes of my -wonder-smitten companions. - - - - - CHAPTER VII - IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES - - -In the morning I witnessed a primitive ceremony, the burial of the dead, -killed in our latest battle. - -The ones who had been despatched by the savage ourang-outangs had been -buried the day before, while I lay asleep beneath the trees. - -The males proceeded, this morning, to a rocky gulch, not far from the -camp, where the soil was largely of gravel and bits of stuff which I -thought indicated a chalk formation below. Here they began to dig as if -their lives depended on their speed, all of them scratching out the dirt -with powerful, claw-like hands and sending it flying behind them, -between their legs. In fact, they dug like so many dogs. - -It was surprising how soon they had excavated a great hole, but they -kept at it, hard and fast, taking turns, as if they had learned that -depth was the only virtue of any vault for the dead. Chunks of rock flew -out, with lesser debris, and some of the pebbles being smooth and round, -I gathered half a dozen as large as a mango and pushed off the dampish -soil adhering about them. This revealed their colour, which was chalkish -white. I could not rely upon my limited knowledge of geological -formations, yet I thought the pebbles looked very like chalcedony. - -On a large rock, with another for a hammer, I struck one of my pebbles, -when it split most neatly in twain. The inside had a moist appearance -the like of which I had never noted before, but it was decidedly like -flint, and I was therefore confirmed in my classification. Well -satisfied with myself, I struck a half again, when I succeeded in -splitting off a thin, flat section. Astonished at the manner in which -this substance broke, I selected a neater “hammer” from among the rocks -and began to knock off chips from my fragment, and almost before I could -believe it myself, I had a crude arrow-head of which I felt I need not -be ashamed. I was thoroughly amazed. Had I discovered a stone which lent -itself peculiarly to chipping, or had I stumbled upon some flint in a -natural condition for being worked? I remembered to have heard of rock -which certain savages—notably those of Alaska—take from the earth while -moist, in which condition they carve it with ease, and which -subsequently grows as hard as glass. I wondered if this were not a -similar material. Also I reasoned that savages must always have had some -flint which was capable of being worked with the poorest of tools and by -persons of no intellectual attainments, for all had made arrow-heads -from the year of one. - -In my zeal, I split the original pebble into six thin slabs, nearly all -of them as regular as if I had cut them with a knife. These I wrought at -with feverish eagerness. Too much haste soon ruined one for any purpose, -but out of the others I got several heads, which should have been -better, but which made me ready to dance with joy, for they suggested -such wonderful possibilities, when care and patience and better tools -should be employed. - -I had quite forgotten the burial, but looked up from my hammer-hunting -in time to see the stiffened bodies of the Links, who had given their -lives in the fray, go rolling down to the bottom of the grave where they -lay, looking terribly human. Then without even a moment’s pause, for -regret or touch of reverent feeling, the Links above turned their backs -upon the bodies and began to scratch the dirt once more into place. A -pang of sympathy welled up in my breast, for the brave fellows so -lightly considered. I breathed a little hope that their rest might be -that of peace. - -Before the hole was full I had gathered together a lot of the pebbles. -Later we all piled rocks on the grave till no animal of the jungle could -have dug out the bodies in a week. I signified then that I wished my -geological collection carried to camp, and this was accordingly done. - -On arriving at the cave, I selected a rock for an anvil and others for -tools, for a fit of work was on me. Fruits gave me breakfast enough. I -chipped away rapidly, with never-ending astonishment at the rapid -results achieved. It was easy even to indicate to Fatty and to one or -two others what they could do to promote the manufacture of needed -things. They were able to cleave the pebbles with reasonable accuracy -and skill. I then made them understand that I wished the smaller pebbles -split into thin slices and the larger ones into sections that were -thicker. - -I make no pretence that my arrow-heads were as fine as many a primitive -man has fashioned in ages past, but at least they were sharp and -provided with shanks for binding them to arrows and, what is more to the -purpose, they accumulated fast. Of the longer pieces of flint I formed a -number of spear-heads and knives. Some of these latter would doubtless -have been as well named had I called them saws. With some pieces I made -what I mentally dubbed experimental hatchets. All these things, as fast -as made, were placed in the large sea-shell, which answered well as a -receptacle. - -Without interrupting my labours I managed to convey to the marvelling -Links that I needed more of the wood for bows, arrows and handles. How -they would manage to cut this material was more than I knew, yet I -reasoned that inasmuch as they must have cut the handles of their clubs, -they could do the work by some means or other. Their method surprised -me. They built a fire near the place where I had cut the branch for the -bow, and getting a peculiar hard wood into a glowing state, pressed the -incandescent surface against the limbs desired, and then by blowing, -burned them off, not rapidly, but with great neatness. The fiery brand -passed through the wood much as a red-hot iron might in the hands of a -smith. - -We were an enthusiastic lot that morning, I directing and working at my -flints, some preparing cords, many scraping handles with bits of the -glass-like material I had found, and with which they were already -familiar, while others bound my hatchets to hafts, rudely finished, and -knife blades to smaller odds and ends of wood. It was remarkable how -readily they grasped the meaning of various things. Their exclamations -of surprise and acknowledgment of the virtue of our growing “arsenal” -frequently suggested to me a something as if the fellows were surprised -at the real simplicity of all and were wondering why they had never done -the like before. - -After three or four hours the heat of the sun became so great, on my -unprotected head, that I abandoned the pebbles long enough to construct -a makeshift for a hat. For this I employed some palm leaves, excellently -suited to the purpose. The chief eyed all our business with something of -a look of sullen disdain. Perhaps it was jealousy beginning to work. He -held to his precious club of rock-crystal—which certainly gleamed with -great beauty in the rays of sunlight piercing through the leaves—as if -it were the all in all that a warrior should require. At his side was a -fawning fellow whom I had marked before as lazy, small-headed and much -too fond of grinning, in a manner which conveyed no idea of mirth nor -good-nature, but which, on the contrary, threw his teeth into disgusting -prominence. - -At about noon, when I was cramped and tired, from my close application -to the work, I was glad to see a small detachment of our number -returning from an excursion in quest of meat. It was not until a -subsequent time that I learned how they drove their game into pits, to -replenish the larder, but this day I inaugurated a new system of -cooking. It was too great a waste of time for each to cook for himself, -or herself, and the women being employed at nothing more arduous than -gathering fruits and suckling babes, I saw no reason why they should not -become the chefs for the tribe. - -Accordingly I soon had two uprights driven in the ground and a lot of -meat spitted on the green branch of a sapling. With glowing embers from -two fires, collected between my uprights, and the wooden spit resting -upon them, I showed a female how to keep the roast turning. Again the -Links approved of the plan, for they were quick to see that one person -working in this manner, could cook for all as readily as for one. They -were restless to be at the meat as soon as the first bit of brown -appeared, but I kept them off, made them replenish the embers from fires -burned down, and then I cut off the places where the meat was done with -my knife, for general distribution. - -Again at this meal I was mad for salt. What did these fellows do for -this requisite seasoning? I asked myself, for I had always understood -that even savages grow unhealthy, if they lack this mineral, and become -willing to barter off their souls for a small pinch. There was no -explanation of the riddle that day. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - ATTACKED AND BESIEGED - - -We set to work again in the afternoon, getting out a lot of material to -be finished later. The following morning I won the regard of all—unless -I except the fawning creature mentioned before—by giving lessons in -archery, another bow and several arrows having been hastily completed. -The Links proved themselves not only practicable, but most excellent -pupils. They were magnificently muscled, to begin with, and therefore -shot with force from the start, while all seemed to possess a natural -knack, as if the weapon had once been theirs and then for long had been -mysteriously lost. - -In the midst of our “tournament” and while I was walking cautiously -about, to get a shot at a brilliant bird which had flown into a near-by -tree, a peculiar sound was uttered by many of the Links. The cause of -their exclamation was revealed a second later, for moving through a -clearing, not forty yards away, was a large black bear. - -My heart leaped with excitement. I moved quickly to gain a point of -vantage, raising the bow for a shot, when a dozen of the Links leaped in -alarm between myself and the bear, raising their arms as if in affright -and plainly imploring me not to shoot at the creature. This I thought -absurd. I believed them to be a pack of cowards who feared the arrow -might only serve to irritate the brute and so bring down its wrath upon -us all. But in this I was mistaken. As I tried to wave them away—for the -bear would be gone in a minute—they became frantic in their appeals. -They indicated clearly that if I wished I might try the shaft on any one -of themselves, if only I would spare the beast which had walked thus -deliberately into camp. - -There was nothing else for it; the creature disappeared before I could -argue the question. Thereupon a score of males, foremost of whom was the -chief, hurried to the place where the bear had paused a moment and there -each placed his head on the ground with such a show of reverence and -primitive superstition, that even I could comprehend they attached some -great significance to this peculiar visit. When I reasoned how easily -two or three with their terrible clubs could have despatched the animal, -I concluded that they all regarded bruin’s visit as an omen of -particular good fortune. - -I was speculating upon this occurrence when suddenly another cry—this -time of alarm—startled us all. The males came dashing back from their -adoration of the bear tracks, making a shrill sound of warning and -waving their arms wildly. The females and scores of others ran pell-mell -for the cave. Children came swinging down from trees as if the sky were -raining little Links. Mothers fled with babes in their arms. There was -sudden arming of the fighters. - -Somewhat amazed I stood where I was, bow still in hand. Then the reason -for the visit of the bear was speedily furnished. I was clutched and -hustled off with the others, while with screams of savage -vengeance—which mingled with a war-note, easy to understand,—innumerable -black monsters swarmed from the woods and charged upon us. - -The whole fighting tribe of black Missing Links, it appeared, had -surrounded the camp. They were armed and ferocious, thirsting for -revenge for the defeat of two days before, and seemed equal to the task -of annihilating all our force. They had frightened the bear there before -them. - -In a time incredibly short, the Reds were in the cave. I was dragged and -pushed in among the last. Then I saw my precious new weapons, twenty -feet away—arrow-heads, spear-heads, knives, hatchets, handles, bows and -all. Tearing away I dashed out to these and brought the sea-shell, with -its contents back to safety. Fatty darted out in my tracks, saving a -number of unfinished bows, but the foremost Blacks were almost upon him. -The chief himself—who thereby testified his high appreciation of the -collection—leaped from the cave, to get all he could of what we had -missed. I turned about in time to see him fill his arms and hands. A -great black Link bounded swiftly up with brandished club, to smash his -rival’s skull. My whole being thrilled, thus to behold the bravery of -our great red fellow who, leaping like a panther, refused to drop -anything, in such a moment of peril. Cries of warning and of terror went -up from the cave. I jerked up my bow, with a pointed arrow, strung. -Lustily I drew against that powerful deer-gut. There was only a foot in -which to miss the chief and hit the pursuing Black. The arrow sped like -a streak. It struck the murderous creature fairly at the base of the -throat, crashed clean through his neck and protruded on both sides at -once. - -He plunged forward, striking such a blow on his face that the arrow was -driven to the feathers in the hole it had made. A chorus of howls -resulted. The Links immediately on the heels of their fallen companion, -halted abruptly, in dread and horror, yet on came a hundred behind them, -mad for blood. - -A blunt arrow, shot too high, but which nevertheless struck another -black Link in the forehead, smashed its way through his skull before it -shattered and split into pieces. Then the crystal club caved in the -chest of the only assailant who had reached the cave, for the chief had -recovered his fighting position like an elastic spring, and was ready to -deal a fearful death to any who should dare attempt to enter the -frowning mouth of the cave. Reinforced by another fighter, the chief -could almost have stayed the rush of an army, coming in singles and -pairs through the open door. - -This fact the attacking creatures realised quickly. Another of the -arrows, which missed the mark for which it had been intended, broke the -arm of a powerful Black and compelled him to drop his club. His cry was -a signal for all to halt and draw back, to consider what had best be -done. They had us trapped, but how should they now proceed to beat out -our brains? - -The last of my arrows was gone too soon, but the visible effect of these -silent messengers of death was that of terror on the part of the -mystified Blacks. Had we possessed a score of bows, with a quiver full -of arrows for each, in the hands of skillful archers, we should have won -a bloody battle and driven the foe away, hopelessly routed, but they had -surprised us completely, in our unprepared condition, and the situation -was decidedly theirs in point of advantage. - -Behind me, in the cave, the females and young ones were being sent to -the rear. There was much excited chatter and much uneasiness of movement -among all the huddled creatures. What the Blacks would do was evidently -a matter of great concern. - -Our besiegers decided soon on aggressive measures. They gathered all the -loose rocks, which were practical as missiles, and rushing forward, -hurled them into the cave with tremendous violence. Not a few of our -party received bruises from the first volley, but many stones missed the -cave entirely and many merely struck the rock walls and so fell -harmlessly down. All that came to hand were immediately gathered, so -that when the second company advanced to supplement the first fusilade, -they were met by a fierce return shower of rocks, which stretched two -Blacks on the ground. - -This business proving unprofitable was not long continued. The Blacks -retired again for consultation the result of which was that more than a -dozen soon lighted brands at our smouldering fires and threw these in -upon us as they darted by the opening of the cavern. No serious injury -came from this. Our fellows would have flung these fiery spears back -again, had I not restrained the action. The branches, it occurred to me, -made torches too good to sacrifice for nothing. I therefore extinguished -a number and kept several lighted. These latter we passed to the rear, -in order that our positions might not be revealed to the foe. - -This throwing in of fire was concluded abruptly when the giant chief, -watching his opportunity, sprang out, as one of the Blacks was running -by, and battered in his head with the gleaming club. The rage of the -assailants increased momentarily. They saw themselves baffled by a force -inferior to their own, although they had us cornered. - -With no little anxiety, we watched them detach a company of powerful -fighters and send them off out of sight. This could not indicate -retreat, I knew, for the ones who were left were too expectant. Perhaps, -I thought, this was a blind to make us believe the force was now so -reduced that we could charge them from the cave in safety and drive the -invaders from the camp. There were, indeed, a few in our party, as I -could see, who desired to attempt such a sortie, but fortunately the -chief and other wise fellows over-ruled the suggestion. - -While we were waiting, restless and worried, the plan of the Blacks was -suddenly revealed. Amid yells of triumph and hatred, there came a -thundering shower of rocks and boulders from directly above the cave, -falling down across its mouth, heaping rapidly up, filling the place -with a stifling dust and obliterating much of the light of day. The -party detached had gone around and climbed on top of the terrace in -which the cave was hollowed out. It would simply have been to court a -sudden death had any of us attempted to dash from the place. Startled, -undecided as to what we ought to do, we stood there paralysed, while the -bewildering Niagara of sand and stone kept rumbling and crashing down. -Before we realised what was occurring, the barrier had grown to a heap -that was midway up across the opening of the hole. - -There were strange cries, roars and howlings, from those behind us. -Above the din rose the piercing screams of delight from the horde -without. All of them now rushed to the spot in a body and began to heap -up all the stones they could gather. Blinded, confused and frightened, -my friendly Links began to jostle about, in the dread and anguish of the -doomed. - -In less than five minutes the last rays of light were being blotted out. -The sounds of the army still building the barrier higher and thicker -came dully in. The cave was sealed; we were buried alive in an unknown -tomb! - - - - - CHAPTER IX - THE CAULDRON OF GOLD - - -Throughout the mass of Links in the cavern, the news of the unforeseen -calamity spread with great rapidity. Some of the females set up a -wailing; the “men” all chattered at once; baby Links caught the -infection of fear and began to cry. A more demoralised collection of -beings it would be hard to conceive. - -The tremendous advantage gained by the Blacks was readily comprehended -by all the older males. They knew, as well as I, that did they attempt -to dig out, the Links in waiting on top of the heap could kill them as -fast as a head appeared; they also seemed to know that their enemies -would wait outside, long enough to be sure that all of us had starved to -death, before they finally decamped. - -So desperate seemed the prospect that I got in a fever myself. We should -all have been in absolute darkness had not the torches been lifted up, -and these cast so feeble an illumination that the crowded-in mass of -Links appeared like a great serpent, along the body of which weird -muscular contractions were flitting. The place was stifling, for the day -was hot, and here we appeared to get no air. I began to think we should -never live long enough to starve. - -To all my attempted questions, by signs and otherwise, concerning the -further end of the cave, the chief and others gave answers which were -decidedly in the negative. They seemed even fearful of the chamber, now -that we were trapped and unable longer to go out into the light and air. -Nevertheless I did not propose to remain there motionless till death -should bring me to a finish. I therefore made my way through the moving -crowd, toward the torches. Fatty followed closely. His face was -positively ludicrous in its solemnity, which was oddly mocked by the -skull he wore on his head, for this ghastly thing had slipped rakishly -down on one side. - -So helpless and dependent had the Links become, in the face of our -danger, that it seemed as if they could not bear to let me out of their -sight. In consequence of this all tried to follow where I went, but so -densely were we packed very soon that this became impossible. The chief, -however, thrust himself along in our wake, apparently bidding the others -be still and remain where they were. Taking one of the torches I worked -my way past the last of the females and youngsters—the latter like -frightened little monkeys, unable to escape me and dreading to be -touched—when I soon came to what seemed to be the wall at the end of the -cavern. - -The light was so poor that for a moment I failed to discover a small -hole to the right. Into this I thrust the lighted brand. To my great -delight it cast a glow on the walls of a cavern beyond, quite as wide as -the one we were in and the end of which was not in view. Believing that -anything was better than stagnation in such a tomb as ours, I attempted -to kick off the edges of the hole, to render it large enough for a man -to pass. I succeeded in breaking away one small fragment only. My knife -came out and I should have sacrificed its point and edge to widen the -aperture, had not the chief pushed me gently aside. With his magnificent -club he smote the rock a score of giant blows, knocking chunk after -chunk into the gloom beyond. - -“That’s good—that’s enough!” I cried finally, and climbing through with -Fatty almost on my back, I beckoned to the chief to follow with all his -people. I reasoned that nothing could be worse than to remain where we -were, no matter where this passage might lead—or end. - -Misgivings were rife, but the chief was evidently in undisputed command. -Some of the Links followed eagerly, others with moans of doubt and fear. -Nothing so much resembles the sound they made as the uneasy whining of a -dog that is driven or dragged to a place of which it has a terror, but -this sound was magnified till it filled the place. - -“Ouch,” I said to them, pointing to the torch, “ouch.” - -They understood and lighted more of the brands from the one just behind. -The added light gave them added courage. The tunnel we were now in was -spacious, and cooler. The floor was rough with rocks, yet I think we -made excellent time. The passage wound and its grade was uneven, up for -a space, then down, then level. - -In half an hour I came to a halt, for the rock hall-way divided; a -branch led off to the right and another went off to the left. In order -to save time, should the wrong one be selected first—if there was a -wrong one,—I determined to go up the left-hand passage alone. If I came -to an exit I could hurry back and bid the Links to follow. If, on the -contrary, I discovered any barrier which compelled retreat, it would -certainly be better for one only to be obliged to return, instead of -all, and then we could make a trial of the second tunnel. Enough of this -I was able to convey to the chief to make him content to wait. He -instructed the Links to sit down on the floor, setting the good example -of patience himself. - -Fatty felt privileged to dog my heels. As a matter of fact I was glad -enough to have him go along, for the place was none too cheerful at the -best. We came upon difficult walking presently, and also the corridor -narrowed down. I believed it would end in a mere fissure, yet I could -not afford to condemn it, nor to decide where it went, without a -thorough trial. - -After plodding a mile in this stuffy place, we climbed a jagged heap of -fragments and paused abruptly, for the sound of a roaring and rumbling -came from the darkness in a manner most disagreeably impressive. It -continued a brief time only and then the ringing silence of a sepulchre -ensued. We resumed the onward march. Passing down an incline, where the -rocks slid under foot, I fell heavily and rolled toward the bottom. -Unable to stop, I dropped the torch and underwent an instantaneous -sensation of fear, as I continued downward toward the abyss of night. -Then Fatty clutched me by the ankle; we slid together a second longer, -and stopped. He lifted the torch. I was on the brink of a yawning -precipice. - -A chill flashed down my spine. Most cautiously I arose and took the -light. There appeared to be no bottom to the pit. - -“Gee whizz!” I muttered. - -“Gee wizz!” said Fatty, with remarkable distinctness. - -I looked at the creature in a sort of wonder. Animal or man, my heart -sent a great gush of feeling all through my being toward him, as I saw -him smiling fondly in my face. He should always have my friendship after -this. I could almost fancy the old fellow was wagging a tail all to -pieces, such a light was in his restless eyes; and yet his face was -almost that of a fat, good-natured Negro. - -Being careful where I stepped, I moved along the edge of a great well, -came to a place where the shelf widened, and found myself facing a short -hall, at the end of which there was light, dim and diffused. We were -soon at the limit of our journey in this direction, for here also the -precipice terminated the passage. - -As I looked below I saw that vapour was rising, as if from heated rocks. -Then I made out fissures in the floor, fifty feet below us; and this -floor was covered with peculiar excrescences, half-hidden by the steam. -When revealed, these resembled stalagmites, melted and slumped down like -great nodules, “double-chinned,” I am tempted to write, but “double” -would not express the multiplicity of “chins.” These nodules appeared to -be of the brightest yellow colour, but so often were they veiled in the -mist that I could not be sure of anything concerning their appearance -and formation. - -Presently, while I was trying to study the odd features of the place, as -well as to determine the source of the light, the rumbling and roaring -we had heard before recommenced. It was louder, more awe-compelling, for -it came from the fissures directly beneath us. It seemed to go booming -upward and through the cavern as if the god of the under world were -grumbling out a huge complaint. This noise increased, in wave-like -volumes; the rock gave a tremor, and then with a seething and hissing, -with a tumble of sound which issued from the depths of the -earth-creature, as if it were growling at having to work, a great geyser -of boiling water and steam shot upward and toppled back to its bed. I -reeled away, with an involuntary movement. Below, the water swashed -about and foamed in mighty agitation. The cauldron heaved up swirling -tides and the drowned murmur burst forth through bubbles. The giant -below gathered anew a mighty strength and blew up a fountain as high as -where I was standing. - -I saw a falling blob of the water strike on a small projection near my -foot. Then the demonstration ceased, the roar became subdued, as if the -grumbler withdrew to his realm of molten substance, and only great -clouds of the vapour arose as before. The projection where the water had -struck caught my glance, for assuredly it possessed a remarkable gleam. -Stooping I looked at it closely. It was a nodule of something metallic, -shaped somewhat like a small pear. I touched it, finding it barely warm; -then I grasped it firmly and gave it a wrench. It came away from the -rock in my hand. - -By its remarkable weight, its colour and its lustre, I knew it instantly -for gold. It was solid gold, Nature’s own deposit—a nugget most -peculiarly constructed. I knew in that moment that all those massive -nodules below had a right to gleam with yellow colour, for all were -gold—the purest gold, from the great inscrutable laboratory of earth -itself! - -I recalled what I had read and learned of the waters and acids mingled -with the molten interior of the planet; how they dissolve the precious -metals, hold them in solution and come with them bubbling to the -surface, spouting through the fissures in the crust; how through the -centuries they deposit atom by atom of their rich freightage on the -rocks, permeating the very tissue of stones and porous substances, to -leave them at last all streaked and flaked with gleaming yellow; and -then how the fluids retire, the earth cools down, and man—ages -after—comes wandering by and delves day and night to rob the fissures of -their hoardings. - -I knew that below us a monster treasure-house was being filled by this -wonderful process, slowly, surely, regularly, hour after hour, while -generation after generation of men came and strove and went to their -graves, willing to bargain off souls to know where to get but a little -of this cold, glinting metal of the earth. We had come upon the hoary -alchemist and caught him at his work. - -But the pit might as well have been a mile in depth, as far as reaching -the wealth, or the outside world with which I believe it connected, was -concerned, for we had no means of getting down in the place and its heat -would have made this impossible, even if we had possessed the best of -ladders or ropes. All the gold in the world, moreover, was worth no more -than so much dross to me; the dream of emerging again to the light was -vastly more to be coveted. Reluctantly acknowledging that the diffused -light which was here probably came from the outside world through a cave -which I could not by any possibility reach, I placed the small nugget in -my pocket, and making sure that the passage through which we had come -was of no value to me or to the party of Links, I retraced my steps, -with Fatty following noiselessly behind. - - - - - CHAPTER X - DAYLIGHT AT LAST - - -There were many expressions of relief on the part of our waiting friends -when again the forward movement was commenced, in the right-hand tunnel. -Those at the rear had become particularly anxious; the darkness was -evidently a source of much vague alarm. - -The passage we were now in was inclined downward. It wound in a general -direction at right angles to the one which led to the cauldron of gold. -In places it became so low that we were obliged to creep on hands and -knees. This condition finally prevailed, so that I began to believe we -were wedging ourselves into a crack. If this were true, then the case -would be worse than hopeless—it would be most horrible. The death, one -by one, of all the Links, in such a place as this, would be appalling to -the last degree. - -I went steadily on, my knees growing tender from contact with the rocks. -Presently Fatty and the chief, directly behind me, gave a low -exclamation of affright. I halted, but heard nothing. Perhaps they were -able to smell some enemy, for certainly their monosyllables gave a -warning, easy to interpret. - -“What is it?” I said, as if they could understand and let me know. -“What’s the matter?” - -Those behind made low sounds of worry. It made me desperate. If anything -confronted us now, it was too late to pause; there was no such thing as -turning back. I drew my knife and advanced, feeling cold creepers go -down my back. It might be the den of a tiger I thought, but surely such -a beast would prefer to run out rather than to face so weird a foe as we -would have seemed to be, proceeding through the cave, for we made a -strange sound, moving, breathing and expressing our various emotions. - -Fatty was halting, whining, coming on and halting again in a most -disquieting manner. The chief seemed to realise that we might as well -die in one way as another, yet I noted a look of dread on his face, such -as one often sees in the eyes of a startled horse, when approaching -dangers which he feels by instinct. It occurred to me now that if -anything were in the cave, then the end must be near—an opening to the -outside world! - -“Come on, you fellows,” I said at this, and holding my torch before me, -rounded a corner. Immediately a glimmer of light, through down-hanging -foliage and vines, revealed the exit we were seeking. Made careless for -the second, I was suddenly startled most loathsomely. I had placed my -hand on a cold, moving body—a snake which was crawling toward the light. - -Electrified into galvanic action, I plunged my knife into the body of -the serpent half a dozen times, as fast as I could strike, feeling my -hair “crawling” as I did it. The head of the reptile came backward—a -great flat head with bulges of poison-glands making it hideous. I knew -he was deadly. The knife stabbed clean through his neck and ground on -the rocks beneath; his jaws stretched open fearfully; his lip receded -from the two great fangs, but he was killed, though the body writhed and -twisted belly upward in powerful muscular contractions. - -“Ugh!” I had said, as I struck. - -“Ugh!” repeated Fatty and the chief. - -“Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!” went echoing back through the cave, as the Links -repeated the utterance, in dread. I had stumbled on their word for -snake, or any reptile. - -I thought we should encounter more of the snakes, but not until I had -come, most cautiously, to the growth which formed a door to the cavern, -did I see anything move. In the vines a few inches of tail were -intertwined, but before I could deliver a good stab, this serpent -escaped. I now slashed away tendrils and creepers in a sort of frenzy, -for the darkness and closeness of the cave had oppressed me with a -feeling which developed into horror. We in the lead were soon out, on a -small bluff, overlooking a dense wood; indeed there was jungle all -about. I heard not a few sounds of crashing branches, where heavy-weight -animals made away from the neighbourhood and sound of our voices. - -What a strange sight it was to see the cave pouring forth that -collection of ape-like Links. Nearly all were chattering—not -talking—like so many monkeys, frightened to the point of being crazy. On -getting out into the light, not a few ran about as if they would leave -us altogether and hide in the trees. The fighters, however, huddled the -females and young ones together, and glanced about and at me, with their -round, restless eyes, as if to know what to do next. Left to themselves -they would doubtless have soon been self-reliant and capable of thinking -and acting for themselves, but having followed me blindly, through an -ordeal totally foreign to any previous experience, they were hopelessly -dependent upon me now. This I knew, for even the fawning creature was -humbled. - -I knew also that our old “home” would have to be abandoned and a new one -made. I was likewise aware of the necessity of selecting a place which -could be more easily defended—a point of vantage. This base we must -secure as speedily as possible, for already the sun was nearly down. -Studying the faces of the calmer Links, as they looked about, I was not -encouraged to believe they knew where we were, with regard to the -abandoned camp. To get my bearings I went up the hill we were on, to the -edge of the jungle. From there I was able to see a portion of the lake -which I had seen from the volcanic peak. Above this water, on the summit -of a hill, was a clear space, discernible, with rock formations and -indications of springs. If it had fruit-bearing trees it would be nearly -right for our needs and purposes. - -Fatty and several others, including the chief and his albino mate, -having followed me up the hill, I indicated the spot to which I desired -them to lead the way. They comprehended and conveyed the whole plan to -the tribe in about three separate monosyllables, whereupon we made a -start. - - - - - CHAPTER XI - A CAMP ON THE HILL - - -We found signs of wild animals in great number and variety, as we forced -our trail through the jungle, but so considerable a concourse of -creatures as ours was sure to frighten anything and everything from the -line of march. It seemed to me to be a place in which company was -exceedingly desirable. - -A feeling of relief came over me when at length we reached the clearing -we had selected from afar, and made our way to the rounded summit of the -hill. No sooner had I signed for a halt than half a dozen of the -fighters advanced and laid at my feet the sea-shell receptacle, filled -with our flints, and everything else which had been saved when we fled -into the cave, all of which had been carried at great pains through the -tunnel. These things I had quite forgotten in our stress of cares. - -The place we had reached proved to be ideal for a settlement. Not only -were fruit and nut-trees abundant, but the forest contained countless -woods of value, while huge bamboos were flourishing not far away, at a -marshy spot, and the hills and ravines about us were teeming with birds -and game. We held a commanding position, the rock-formations of which -made a natural fortification nearly complete. Through the trees, in one -direction, I could see the lake, a thing which gave me the greatest -delight, for I thought it might mean almost anything to me, later on. - -Although we got the benefit of a cooling breeze, the end of the day was -intensely hot. While we had been out of the tunnels probably no longer -than about an hour and a half, yet the whole adventure made the day seem -very long. Thirsting for water, I hastened down the side of our hill to -where I saw signs of a spring. Clear water, sure enough, was gushing out -of a fissure, and I hastened to drink. The first mouthful fetched me up -standing, bitterly disappointed. The water was salt. For a second I was -ready to curse the living fountain, and then I fairly danced with -delight. - -Salt! The only thing I really needed, and the rocks and banks of this -little stream were white with the precious incrustation! I lost no time -in scraping some off the pebbles at the edge, after which I got some -pure, cold water for drinking at another spring a hundred yards away. I -had known of hot springs and cold springs, almost side by side, in -Nevada, and of sulphur springs and iron springs and countless other -varieties, but it had never before been my fortune to drink from a -spring of brine. This elated me beyond anything yet discovered. - -Before I could rejoin the main body of my fellows, a few were striking -off hap-hazard, for rations. Some vigorous sign-language, which I found -I could make more forcible if I also talked out what I wanted to convey, -in Anglo-Saxon, begot a show of order. Twenty fellows went after fruit -and nuts for all; as many crept into the woods to dig some pits and -attempt to drive in some game; others fetched wood for the fires, as -well as for more of the bows and arrows. I had a lot of the females -gather a species of tough reed, much resembling osiers, and although I -knew little of weaving, I succeeded in making a small, clumsy basket, -which at least served to initiate the scheme, but it took some time -before we achieved any results worth mentioning in this needed line of -utensils. - -At the head of a gang I began to supplement our natural ridges of rock -with a wall made of piled-up stones. It would never do to be defenceless -again. During all our work and hustling about, the chief stood leaning -on his rock-crystal club, his albino mate at his side, and the -fawning-fellow—whom I named Grin—smiling maliciously at all I did. The -chief saw a certain amount of usurpation in my ordering the work. The -new mode of things amazed him, for the Links not only had a keen -comprehension of what I wanted, but they actually vied with one another -in the zeal with which they laboured to perform my bidding. - -Darkness came on before we had accomplished much in any direction. The -old female who muttered had preserved a glowing coal from the torches, a -trick made the easier by the wood she employed, for it possessed the -property of retaining fire for a time incredibly long. - -“Here, Granny,” I said to her, as if by habit, “make ouch here, ouch -over there, and ouch against the rock.” - -By the light of the flames, I constructed a rude shelter for myself. The -Links had a way of massing up in bunches on the ground, to sleep, a -system which hardly appealed to my fancy. Already two or three dozen of -the youngsters were curled on the ground and were doubtless deep in -dreams. - -We ate no meat that evening, for the hunters came back empty-handed, as -soon as the light began to fail in the woods. An hour after night had -settled down, they were all at rest, save Fatty and myself. I sat before -a glowing fire, thinking, wondering what would come, out of this strange -caper of my frolicsome fate. I planned out work, with escape for my -motive, and builded strange structures in the air, as I looked vacantly -into the embers. Fatty watched me eagerly, his nervous eyes as lively as -quicksilver. The light shone on half of his face and illuminated the -skull tied on top of his head, with a changeful glow. He tried his best -to remain awake and help me to think it all out, but his head would nod, -and his eye-lids insisted on drooping, till at length he slumped, rather -than curled down, fast asleep. - -How long I sat there, getting drowsy myself and intending all the while -to go to my shelter, is more than I know. A scream woke me suddenly at -last. The moon had nearly set, but still was casting a mellow light on -the world. A mass of the Links made a singular picture, as they -scrambled about in a great confusion. Then out of their midst leaped a -monster beast—a long, thin tiger, with a female Link, now flung upward, -now dragged, now half across his shoulder, held in his mouth, and she -fairly splitting the air with her cries, as he ran away with her bodily. - -I saw the brute clear the ridge of rock and bound down the slope to the -region of shadows, like a thing of evil; I heard a Babel of affrighted -chattering; I heard roars and howls and death-songs, out in the jungle -where the creatures held carnival of blood. I saw the fear of my -men-children, huddling about me; and I felt a longing to hover them all -from harm. - -They were badly demoralised, but we built up the fires anew, and made -more, to enclose all the tribe. Then for hour after hour I walked about -the camp, keeping the fires from dying away, while out in the savage -world beyond, the prowlers ate, and growled at the “kill.” - - - - - CHAPTER XII - A DEADLY FOE - - -At sunrise, when all the Links were actively awake, there appeared to be -a strong inclination, on the part of many; to leave this new settlement -and flee to the woods. The visit of the tiger had terrified the females -and not a few of the fighters. The fawning creature, Grin, was the -moving spirit in this scheme of flight, but the chief could not be -readily persuaded to leave when he saw that I was strongly opposed to -any such measure of retreat. - -I knew the tribe to be more or less nomadic, and I believed them capable -of finding a clearing wherein we could live, by constantly fighting the -jungle brutes, yet I was convinced that the welfare, not only of myself, -but of all concerned, would be better served by remaining where we were. -Attempting to show them how we could guard ourselves against future -enemies by adopting various measures, I set them the example of working -on the wall and of building sheltered dug-outs, succeeding at last in -quieting many fears and convincing the chief that we were the safest on -the hill. - -All day long we toiled at sundry occupations, but the work to accomplish -was great and the efforts of my workmen, though the fellows were strong -and willing, were so crude that progress was slow. We needed weapons, -more than anything else, unless I except the shelters. I worked -continuously at making bows and arrows. In this labour I was -considerably assisted by three Links whom I finally selected as the most -ingenious and teachable fellows of the tribe. To my great delight I -found that my flints had already become exceedingly hard from being -exposed to the air. This rendered the hatchets and knives remarkably -efficient as tools. - -The fighters dug seven or eight large, shallow holes in the earth, -during the day, and a few were covered with branches of trees and -thatched with enormous leaves before evening. What with helping to carry -stones for the wall and wood for various purposes, the females -accomplished but little on the baskets which I had hoped they would -make. They were not as practical as the males, having never been obliged -to construct so much as a blanket or a string of beads. - -As a relaxation from my other employment, I busied myself with weaving a -basket, that night by the fire. The material was none of the best, and I -could only guess how the work should be done, nevertheless I succeeded -in finishing an awkward affair which would hold above a bushel of fruits -and which required two men to carry it home when filled. - -For two more days we swarmed that hill-top like a colony of ants. At the -end of that time we had three good fire-places, builded of stone, -thirty-odd bows, more than eighty arrows, four baskets, nine tolerably -decent dug-outs, and a wall nearly completed about our city. Also we had -plenty of meat, for the hunters had driven some goat-like deer into -their pits, after their primitive fashion, not to mention a number of -birds cleverly captured. In this latter business they utilised a sticky -substance procured from a weed-like tree, the stuff being plastered on -the branches of trees much frequented by the birds, which, alighting, -got their feet, feathers and wings quickly gummed, so completely that -escape was impossible. I was anxious to have the fighters begin practise -with the bows, but as yet we had been too busily engaged with work for -any such diversion. - -Just before evening that day I strolled to the edge of the jungle, with -the faithful Fatty at my heels, to try for a shot with some of our -latest arrows. The chief being away, at the head of a hunting company, I -waved back all others who would have followed. We found nothing to shoot -at but a squirrel, and this lively little animal evaded me time after -time, as I stepped quietly about. - -I was just on the point of raising the bow at last when from almost -under my feet a fine turtle started to run toward a heap of rocks. He -was almost round and his back was unusually high, so much like half a -sphere was his shell. Immediately I thought what an excellent bowl or -basin this would make, and thereupon abandoned the squirrel and started -after the tortoise. - -He moved much faster than one might have supposed possible. Nevertheless -I lifted him plump on his back with a movement of my foot, and then I -jumped violently away. I had almost trodden on a hooded snake, which -struck at my foot most viciously and then attempted to escape. - -Fatty lost no time in getting too far away to be of any help. I tried a -shot at the reptile with the bow, but missed. The creature would have -escaped in a moment. I dropped everything to gather up some rocks, and a -large one of these I succeeded in smashing upon the creature so hard -that it broke his back and pinned him down, close behind the head. -Despatching my turtle then I hastened back to camp. - -In the great sea-shell I boiled the turtle, not without the greatest -trouble. The Links ate the meat, for I felt no hankering after this -species after one trial. The shell was all I had expected, when at last -it was clean, for I had felt the need of a basin in which to wash. - -Well satisfied with the work of the day, and having impressed a trio of -Links into service as guard for the night, I turned in early and soon -dropped off into the heaviest sort of slumber. Sometime in the night a -hideous noise and a violent jerking at my foot brought me suddenly to my -senses. I rushed out, bowling over Fatty in my haste, to find the Links -again verging on insanity from fright. - -The man-eating tiger had crept upon us again and borne off one of the -very guards themselves, who had gone to sleep promptly, upon my -retiring. - -I believe I cursed the wretches who had slept at the post of duty, for I -had much to do to restore the slightest resemblance to calm among the -excited creatures. Then in the morning, as I thoroughly expected, the -tribe was unanimous for deserting the works at once, to go -anywhere—whither they cared nothing at all,—so long as they put the -deepest jungle between themselves and this dreaded foe. A tiger such as -this, I could see, created a terror as great as the Links could contain. -There was no suggestion of a courage sufficient to battle with the -brute; there was one adequate scheme only, in their minds and this was -flight. - -Situated as we were with that lake below us, on which I had builded a -vague sort of hope, I was determined to go the utmost bounds before I -would consent to move a yard. I pantomimed in desperation and jabbered -fairly good English and added my few words of bad Linkish (or Lingo), to -make them understand that I would undertake to kill the man-eater -myself, that coming night. Even this “announcement” appeared to be in -vain, for a time, especially as I had to work against the wretched -influence of Grin, the fawning coward, who had an unmistakable power in -“getting around” the chief. At length, however, my counsel prevailed. -But I could see that failure to execute my boasted vengeance on the -brute of the jungle would mean the total overthrow of “my city” and my -hold upon the primitive imaginations of the Links. - -Feeling that if they did leave all behind and plunge anywhere through -the forest I should be obliged to go along, regardless of the fact that -this would make my escape even more than ever hopeless, and realising -also that I had assumed a large contract under any circumstances, I was -decidedly anxious, the moment after they finally consented to my rash -suggestion. Indeed, though I kept at the work, as I strove to devise a -plan of attack on the tiger, throughout the morning, I became nervous -and doubtful of my ability to perform the vital deed. My brain seemed -capable of only the wildest schemes, all of which were as utterly -impracticable as flying to London for a gun. - -Having never killed a tiger I knew nothing of his habits, beyond the -fact that he was almost always sure to return to his “kill,” if -undisturbed, on the second night, and even on the third, if there still -remained undevoured portions of his victim sufficient for a meal. I -could fancy this brute treading silently up to the ghastly remains; I -could picture him, bloody of muzzle, fierce-eyed, alert and terrible, as -he dined in his dread loneliness. How I wished that a snake, more silent -than himself, might glide upon him and strike him deep with its venomous -fangs! - -A snake!—Why a snake to be sure! It suggested just the plan! I had no -weapon reliably stout enough to give him a mortal wound, but I could, -perhaps, bury a poisoned arrow in his blood—a shaft that need but -scratch to do its deadly work. The snake I had killed the day before -might still be fresh enough to furnish the fatal juice, and then—if I -could find the mangled body in the jungle, perhaps—perhaps— - -I was more excited and nervous now than before. Three times I was on the -point of crying quits. Once I was nerved anew by the contemplation of -the lake and our settlement, which meant that I was working out a plan -of escape, already nicely started. Again, I was hardened to the task by -the thought that, surrounded as I was in this unknown region, with death -so easy on every hand, I was childish to wish to avoid this one -particular danger, perhaps only to plunge into others far more awful. -The third time I was steeled by observing the sneering smile on the face -of Grin, which seemed to mock my show of manhood. This was the thing -which made me put all doubt and hesitation away. - -In the late afternoon, having selected five of the straightest and -truest of the arrows tipped with flint, and having seen that the -bow-string was stout and reliable, I walked off boldly, alone, and went -to where the hooded snake lay crushed beneath the rock. Until I was out -of sight the Links watched me, narrowly, all of them standing together -on the hill. The body of the snake was where I had left it, the tail -partially eaten by something, which must have been desperately hungry. -Cutting off the head I pried open the jaws with a stick and my knife, -finding the poison-glands of great size. - -The venom flowed thickly out when I tore the sacks open with the point -of an arrow, and although the whole revolting operation made me nearly -ill, I fairly bathed the flints in the viscid substance. Holding the -arrows carefully from me, to let them dry, I concealed the serpent’s -head beneath a rock, for I did not wish the Links to know what I had -done, and so to learn the use of so deadly a creature. - -Skirting the edge of the woods, I came opposite our settlement, at about -the point where I judged I had seen the tiger disappear, in the jungle, -the night when he carried away the female from our midst. Here I had not -far to search before I found trampled grass, vines ripped aside and even -the tracks of the brute’s massive paws. With a fast-beating heart and -also with a tremendous desire to turn and run, I stepped noiselessly -along in this suggestive trail. - -The stillness, save for the note of a far-away bird, or the quick start -of some porcupine or sloth, frightened from its haunt, was terribly -oppressive. I confess to have had a constant feeling as if my hair were -standing upright on my head, as I slowly made my way into that tangle of -greenery. The day seemed suddenly to have grown old and dark. I felt -horribly near to the lair of the man-eater, knowing that he had actually -been in the place such a short time before. - -Presently I came upon a clearing which was hardly thirty feet across in -either direction. Approaching the centre of this I started violently, -for I nearly stumbled across the mangled body of my sentinel Link of the -night before. I had not believed it could be so near the edge of our own -clearing. The tiger, I thought, had grown thus insufferably impudent, -not to say indifferent to our nearness to his feast, because he had -never been hunted, nor even threatened with retaliation. - -The body was a ghastly sight, so human-looking, so fearfully fresh! I -turned away my head and somewhat retreated. How much I desired to dash -madly away—out to the sunlight—I can never convey to another mind. I had -no feeling of bravery left; it seemed to me as if the jungle were filled -with deadly creatures, prowling about me as I stood in the place. - -What should I do, now that I had found the spot I had dreaded to find? -Would the tiger come back that night? I felt only too sure that he -would. Looking about me I saw that a great tree held out a branch which -was easy to climb. It was such a relief to think of getting off the -ground, up out of reach of the creatures which might come creeping or -prowling along, that I waited only long enough to tie the end of a long, -cord-like creeper about my bow and arrows, when I scrambled up in the -tree as if all the fiends of Hades had been upon my track. I make no -excuse for the lack of courage I felt, for absolutely I could not help -it, strive as I might. - -Once up on the branch, however, I felt better. Moving along to a bend, -where a lot of creepers were thickly interlaced, I found a sort of -natural seat, not quite directly above the terrible “kill,” below in the -trodden and red-painted grass. In this seat I could rest my weight, my -position then being one of half erectness, my feet on the great branch, -my body leaning against the supporting vines. Drawing up my weapons, I -so disposed four of the arrows that I could easily and safely find them -in the dark—which I tried by closing my eyes. Then I fitted the fifth -one to the bow-string and prepared myself for a lengthy wait. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE - - -It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age when the sun finally -sank behind the hill. For long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, -and creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque forms, wrapped -about and hung as if with serpents, like a weird conception by Doré. -There was rarely a sound. It seemed like the hour when the day-creatures -crept stealthily home to caves and covers, afraid they were already too -late and sure to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness. - -Once I had a fearful up-welling of excitement suddenly flood my being -and make my heart to thump heavily. An armadillo came trotting quietly -into the open space below me. The movement was what caught my glance, -and for the second I thought only of the tiger. Then the little animal -sniffed that gory object and darted instantly away. - -The darkness increased. Some early complainer howled out a dismal note. -Now and then there came a rustling sound from the trees or vines. An -hour after the darkness became complete, I heard a pounce, a struggle, -the quiet moan-cry of something which gave up its life, and it made a -chill go down my back and spread through my nerves. Sounds of birds in -the air and forest—inhabitants hiding in the trees, came occasionally, -now, with surprising distinctness. All of this kept me in a high state -of tension. I wished myself anywhere on earth other than where I was. I -confess the woods at night, where merely bears and owls were at large, -had awed me earlier in life, and this jungle, alive with poisonous -reptiles and blood-hungry animals, terrified me beyond expression. If I -had only had a companion, if there had even been another man awaiting my -return—somebody to talk to, somebody to think about rejoining, or even a -soul who would dare to hunt for my body if I never returned,—it would -have been a little comforting at least. - -I managed, with an effort, to pull myself together a trifle, by thinking -that it was now too late to meditate retreat. I would not have climbed -down from my tree and attempted to find my way out of the darksome -forest—taking the chances of starting wrong and getting lost—for the -price of a mine of diamonds. Thus the hours went by and a score of -things kept me startled constantly. I feared the tiger would fail to -come; then I feared he would arrive at any second. - -It seemed to me that midnight must have come and gone ages since. -Suddenly my breath came fast, my whole body was rigid with attention as -I noted a dim form, apparently standing in the tangle, directly across -the clearing. I knew I had become pale; I knew I trembled with -agitation. I was cold and my teeth did their best to chatter, as I -watched to see if the form moved. - -There were ample sounds about me, some slight, some heavy, but I think I -paid little heed to anything except that dim, uncertain form. Then I was -sure it moved. While I was still at the height of my excitement I noted -a leaf, which became clearly defined. I knew immediately that the form -was merely a patch of half light, cast through the foliage by the moon. - -The excitement subsided as if I had pulled out a plug and let it run -away. And while it was going, I heard a wet lapping and chewing, beneath -me, which told me instantly that the man-eater was below and dining at -his cold and ghastly feast. He had come—unseen and unheard,—while I was -being frightened at a patch of light! - -I looked, but so dark was the place that until the monster moved around -I thought his body was exactly on the opposite side of his victim, to -which it really was. The excitement had flushed upward in my veins -again, but not so strongly as before. I was angered, as I have often -been to hear a cat lapping at the meat in a cupboard. - -Moving cautiously on the branch, I half stood, half leaned against my -seat and slowly brought my bow into position. I was stiff in my hands -and joints, from sitting so long in one position. Having made a slight -slip and noise, the flood of nervousness leapt upward in me at once; I -perspired coldly; my heart beat a violent measure; in my mouth the -saliva became like gluey cotton. But the beast below kept on chewing, -with a horrible noise of drooling chops. I dared not try at him yet, -both because my hands were too unsteady and because the brute was too -undefined an object to be seen. - -I underwent a trying ordeal for half an hour. While I was watching -below, straining my eyes to pierce the gloom, slightly bending the bow -and holding the poisoned arrow in readiness, the tiger shifted about in -his feeding. Abruptly I saw a patch of his hide, a small irregular -target, full in the light of the moon, where a ray shone down through -some open shaft between leaves and branches. I could see a dark stripe -across the dusty-looking hide. Even the play of a muscle was visible. - -Doubtless the thrill and ardour of the hunter came to my rescue in that -vital second. I only know that I was eager, steadied, released from all -that had made me nerveless and cold. I even forgot what a deadly brute -he was and what he might be capable of doing, if only slightly wounded. - -The bow became vertical in my fist, at the end of my arm, now as rigid -as oak. I drew the arrow backward to my ear with a strong, confident -pull. Then the point came down, toward the lighted patch. I aimed as one -aims at the head of a nail with a hammer—with no need to see my shaft. -Then it sprang away like a flash, the twang resounded in my ear, and I -saw a streak stab straight in the middle of the target. - -Instantly a furious lunge and a roar that all but shook me down made the -place terrible. I clutched another of the arrows, and fumbled it, so -that it fell. Another then I got upon the string. All the while a most -awful uproar was continued below. The arrow that had dropped betrayed my -presence. The tiger leaped toward the branch, fell short, leaped again, -thrashed in the grass with frantic force and bellowed a doom-song that -made my flesh creep on my bones. - -In his madness the brute was in the patch of light and out again, -constantly. Once, as he oscillated there for a whole second, making -ready to jump toward me, I fired another arrow with all the power of -fear and hatred. It struck him, I could not determine where, and a -moment later he reached my branch with his two great paws, and hung -there by his claws, bending the limb so low and shaking all so -tremendously that I clung on for very life. I felt his paw against my -foot and stamped upon it viciously. He lifted that one; the bark gave -way from beneath the other and down he thudded. - -Again and again he leaped in his wrath. It sounded as if all the beasts -of the jungle were there in mortal combat. I tried with another poisoned -arrow, though I was sick, from my dread that he was proof against the -venom. This shot I missed. It served to make the brute more furious, -however, but finally I thought his ravings began to lose in force. - -Once more he crouched in the light. This time my last arrow met him just -as he rose in his spring. I failed to notice where it was planted in his -body, for so tremendous was his leap that his whole head, chest and paws -were up on the tree. The shock knocked me off; I fell, grasping a -creeper, that stopped me with a jerk and a painful wrench. - -The tiger dropped, striking me down the leg with one of his out-thrown -paws; I thought my time had come. With a superhuman effort I chinned -myself on the creeper, clutched the limb again, got an arm about it, -reached a twig higher up and threw my leg fairly over. I was quickly in -my old position again, blown, dizzy and wholly unable to believe the -tiger had been evaded by such a clumsy scrambling. He was beating about -in the trampled grass below, but his roar had grown hoarse and guttural; -it seemed no longer so savage. Then I heard his breath blowing froth and -bubbles-of-blood through his nostrils. My heart leaped exultantly—I knew -an arrow had reached his lungs! - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - AN OLD ROUÉ - - -In a time incredibly short I heard sounds growing fainter where the -great brute stiffened out in the grass. The poison, I knew, had gotten -in its work at last. When the final convulsion had shivered itself out, -what a death-silence settled on the jungle! It seemed as if for miles -about, the lesser beasts had held their breath and fled from that -theatre of throes and roars of the master-murderer. - -The hush affected me deeply. I felt so alone with the dead, and yet not -confident of my safety. My imagination pictured a ring of leopards, cats -and other creatures stealing silently up, like the curious women who -enjoy to look upon a corpse, these all half afraid that the king was not -really lifeless after all. Probably no creature was then within half a -mile of the spot, for the noise had been sufficient to frighten away -even the snakes, it seemed to me, yet I never for a moment entertained a -thought of climbing down from where I was. - -The wait, through the midnight and the long chilly hours of morning was -the harder to bear because of the weakness I felt, after all the -over-wrought emotions I had undergone. It was difficult, moreover, to -cast off the dread of the still brute below me, not to mention the -sounds which recommenced in the animal-haunted jungle. I was exhausted, -for the strain had been as hard to bear as severe physical labour. In -addition to this, I had performed a good day’s work, before I came to my -tryst with the tiger. How long seemed the time since I left the friendly -Links, on my quest of vengeance and retribution! - -I may have dozed, as I half lay against the woven creepers, and although -it could not have been for long, dawn had come when I started awake. In -the forest the shadows were still too deep to be fathomed, yet at last I -made out the rigid form on the ground. My enemy was almost directly -under the place where I was sitting. I could see no arrows at all; and -my mind had pictured him bristling with the shafts. - -Slowly the light increased. What a gaunt, unhandsome form it was in the -grass! Then the sunlight struck on the tree-tops and bird-notes, not -particularly musical, began to make more cheerful that dark abode. With -a new impulse of courage, I dropped myself down, laid hold of my bow and -a leg of the tiger, and dragged with all my strength to get him out of -the place. - -Then I got a good look at the carcass. He was old, wretchedly thin, -scarred about his bleary, dead eyes, nearly toothless and as -worn-looking as an old hearth-rug. I saw where my first shot had struck -him above the shoulder. The arrow, which was broken off in the wound, -had jabbed in and plowed along under the skin for six or eight inches. -The second had ripped through the flesh of his right fore leg, leaving a -gash which the brute had widened when he broke the shaft out, sidewise, -in his thrashing. The last shot had sent the envenomed flint tearing -into his breast, an inch below the throat, where it had penetrated to a -considerable depth. It also was broken, but a tough shred of the wood -still held the feathered portion dangling from the wound. - -As I looked on the thin, old reprobate I was silly enough to feel a -little pity, so tragic seemed the “poverty” which he had known, as -testified by his miserable condition. My fears too had been wholly -dissipated by the sun; I wondered why I had been in such a plight of -dread throughout the night. - -A final tug brought the roué of the jungle clear of the undergrowth. The -second I emerged to the edge of the hill clearing, a chorus of cries -came down from the camp. I turned to see the whole drove of Links coming -madly down the slope from which they had been watching for more than an -hour. - -Such a commotion the simple creatures made, as, crazy with joy and awe, -and still dreading the foe they knew so well, they pressed about me and -chattered and made me a hero and struck at the ground all about the -tiger with their clubs! Fatty went through a sort of blubbering welcome -and got down and licked at my shoes until I felt obliged to give him a -trifle of a kick. The chief made no effort to conceal his admiration for -my feat, but he was dignified, after the manner of a great Newfoundland -dog among the lesser canines. His albino mate, however, gazed upon me -from her round, pink eyes with a look of worshipping to which I very -much objected. At her side the carping Grin was doing his best to -belittle the tiger and to sneer through his expression of amazement. On -the whole, one would have thought the tiger a monster and a prince among -his kind. I began to feel my glory to be somewhat tawdry. - -After half an hour of tribute, both to the brute and myself, on the part -of the tribe, I rolled the beast over to look for a decent bit of hide. -He was not worth the skinning, and that is the truth. However, I had my -plan and therefore I whipped out my knife and skinned a part of the -shoulders and back. After this I took off the head, for I meant to have -the skull for a trophy. Then I directed the Links to dig a grave. - -They were loth to consign even this partially stripped carcass to -oblivion, yet they complied with my wish. Eventually all withdrew to the -camp above. I immediately set Fatty to work at skinning the head for -boiling,—to rid it of flesh—while I placed my piece of the pelt in the -stream of brine, in order to prepare it for tanning. - - - - - CHAPTER XV - A GLEAM OF HOPE - - -When I finally fastened the tiger’s skull above my shelter, and girded -my loins about with the skin, I was conscious of having attained a great -respect among my primitive friends. Not a few, I soon became aware, -would have followed me readily in any measure, not requiring too vast a -courage, even to the point of seceding from the semi-command of the -chief. They attested this feeling, which resembled that evinced from the -first by Fatty, in all the work and in various smaller matters, from -daylight till dark. - -I might have been more flattered than I was at my exaltation among these -half-human creatures, had I not easily detected the jealousy of the -chief, which feeling Grin continued constantly to feed. Indeed in spite -of all I could do, a division of parties was growing every day. -Unfortunately the females were more fierce in their partisanship than -were the males. Moreover a majority of these “ladies” evinced a strong -desire to ally themselves to the side of which I was becoming the -unwilling leader. Prominent among them was the chief’s albino mate, who -was far too persistent to give me any peace of mind. I foresaw trouble -to come from this unhappy complication. - -Had all the Links united in considering myself a leader and governor of -the tribe, I should have enjoyed very much the “recognition of my -talents,” especially as such an outcome would have furthered the scheme -I had, to make them fit as warriors and then persuade them to march as -my escort to the coast. Indeed I was planning and working deliberately -to become commander-in-chief. But this division was not at all assuring, -for although all had a wholesome fear of the Tartar they had caught, yet -any one of the creatures, turning treacherous, could have killed me -outright with a single blow. - -I made no end of attempts to procure the confidence of the chief, and -frequently thought I was winning him over, but always Grin got in a -stroke which set my endeavours at naught. I could have killed the beast -with great satisfaction to myself and with profit all around. The albino -female I ignored pointedly at every opportunity afforded. This gave some -degree of satisfaction to the chief, but like Othello, he grew -insufferably suspicious. - -Our work of providing weapons and utensils, and also of securing a -better state of existence and defence, proceeded daily. I worked like an -engine, myself, to employ all my thoughts, which began to be -disquieting. Although I strove to avert what was slowly coming, the -conviction was borne in upon me more and more that if things continued -as they were going, I should either be obliged to fight a pitched -battle, backed by my voluntary adherents, against the chief and his -party, or else abandon my scheme of escape altogether. - -But if I brought about the internecine strife and even won the battle, -my force would be utterly inadequate for an escort, (provided I could -get them to leave the wilds to which they were all accustomed), for the -whole tribe did not muster half the number of fighters which the black -Links had assembled against us that day at the cave. If we started -through the jungle, who should say we might not walk straightway into -the settlement of our hostile neighbours? Besides this natural enemy, -the woods were sure to be filled with ourang-outangs, snakes, tigers and -no end of other animals that would snip off man after man, if they did -not annihilate the party entirely. - -The situation was trying. If I discontinued the archery practice and the -teaching of “civilized arts,” my Links would never be fit for my “army;” -if, on the contrary, I proceeded to place the fellows on a fighting -equality with myself, they would all be the worse as enemies, if ever a -genuine rebellion should occur. Having thought and thought till my brain -was weary, I decided to take my chances on having them understand the -bow, trusting that something might happen which would make us all -united. I reasoned that if our foe, the Blacks, should swoop upon us -again, we might all be killed, if they found us unprepared, and then all -schemes of escape would be equally vain. - -Our programme of armament therefore proceeded with all reasonable haste. -We had frequent practice with the weapons, many of the Links soon giving -promise of great proficiency with this natural weapon of early man. -During this time the strained relations were in no wise improved, thanks -to the ceaseless efforts of Grin and to the idiocy of Madame Albino, who -became the more zealous as I treated her with greater contempt. I grew -desperate, for matters were tending toward disruption too plainly for -any concealment. - -One morning I was drilling the Links in sham fighting, and making them -form in hollow square about me. In the midst of our manœuvres I had an -inspiration, totally foreign to the work. The lake! Why had I not -figured out before that the lake must have inlets and an outlet, and -that the latter must eventually reach the sea itself? True the thought -came quickly that out in that ever-anomalous Nevada there are lakes (or -“sinks”), which have no outlet at all, but I doubted strongly if this -lake belonged to that same peculiar species. By all means I would -explore it, come what might. I would know what it promised, and no -matter what manner of outlet I might discover, I would attempt my escape -on its bosom, and snap my fingers at Links and all of their ilk. - -For this business I should require a boat. Perhaps this would be no -better than a raft, in the end, if nothing better could be constructed, -but something floatable would be necessary before I could move a mile -down or about the sheet of water, for the jungle grew to the very edge -of this shimmering gem, rendering its circum-exploration on the shore as -good as a physical impossibility. - -It was easy enough to induce the Links to help me force a path to the -water’s edge, but I soon discovered that without exception they held the -place in awe and superstitious dread. It did prove to be generously -inhabited, but this was quite to be expected. For the matter of that, -the whole country was crawling with deadly reptiles and brutes, so that -choosing the lesser evil was not too decidedly easy. - -One would have said that material was plentiful, even had I contemplated -building a fleet, but the growth was so dense that I knew it would be a -gigantic task to cut down any timber. The Links were anxious to leave -the shore for the safer hill, but I kept them with me and communicated -to several the fact that I was searching for a log. This was an -excellent move, for Fatty soon underwent a paroxysm of delight at his -cleverness, and at my open satisfaction, when he jerked away a snarl of -vines, already concealing the trunk of a tree which apparently had -succumbed to a violent gale. - -We soon had the log laid bare for more than twenty feet of its length. -It was twined about by creepers, but it had no low branches to give us -trouble, while its size was entirely satisfactory. With our tools of -flint we started to cut the thing off in two places, the root end being -in no wise fit to form the prow or the stern of a boat, but our efforts -seemed so feeble and childish that apparently it was next to an -insurmountable difficulty to perform even this primary office. I felt so -discouraged that I nearly gave it up then and there. - -However, one of my admirers was willing to run to camp for a brand of -fire, for I had resolved to burn the log in two. This was a task which -opened up large possibilities for the expenditure of time and patience, -although we constantly removed the fire, as soon as its flames had eaten -inward, charring the wood, when we chopped away this softened portion -and began again. At the end of the first day we had accomplished so -little that the task, merely of getting the log cut off, seemed -hopeless. I determined that if we did get the log free at last I would -have it rolled into the water and content myself with its plain, -unvarnished bulk for a craft, for digging it out to form a boat I feared -would be more of a job than my patience could endure. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - TREACHERY AND A BATTLE - - -The labour at the lake-shore, day after day, somewhat reduced the -party-feeling brewing between the chief and our respective followers. He -was with us often, but quite as frequently went hunting in the jungle at -the head of a dozen fighters. - -Our practice with the bows had proceeded so well that we bagged a good -deal of our game with the weapons, squirrels, various birds and hogs -proving to be the most abundant and easy victims. Of the skin of one of -the hogs so secured, I made myself a clumsy sort of quiver, which held -my arrows to perfection. Of another I fashioned some thick but -serviceable leggings, which afforded me a much-needed protection. - -What with sundry interruptions, for needed labours about the camp, it -was more than a week before we finally completed the burning and hacking -off of the log by the lake. Then we began to roll it and push it toward -the water, a task requiring more patience than ingenuity, for we had an -abundance of muscle although I found it not always easy to direct this -crude force to the best advantage. I set my fellows to work getting out -rollers, so that if necessary, later on, I could use a lever and get the -log in the water alone. - -Having brought it near the edge, I was tempted to proceed with my -original plan of digging it out to form a canoe, trusting that the -trouble which threatened between our divided forces would merely -smoulder, at the worst, for a time and that before it broke out -dangerously I might be better prepared to make my explorations and my -attempt to escape. Deciding to try this plan, I had the log lifted up on -two rocks, one under each end, after which I had my Links dig me a -quantity of stiff red clay, which we worked up with water and plastered -thickly over the sides and ends of the log, leaving a wide place -uncovered on the under side. We then made fire all along underneath, and -by constantly digging away the portions that were charred, and then by -burning and digging again, we made considerable progress with the work. -The clay, of course, protected the parts of the boat so covered from -being consumed. By plastering more of the clay inside of the sides and -ends, as soon as the boat began to be hollowed out, we protected them -also, and thereby directed the flames in such a manner that they burned -deeper into the wood all the time, without endangering the portions -which I desired to leave stout and thick. - -It was hot work and hard, to get in under that boat and dig out ash and -charcoal, but several of my loyal workers conceived a tireless -enthusiasm for the task, although none could have guessed what I was -fashioning, to save his life. Their industry and tractability reminded -me always of the faithful work which dogs will perform for a master. -While the burning-out was being done, I hacked and worked away to make -the bow and stern of the craft a bit more shapely than they were after -our crude log-cutting process. Also I formed a clumsy keel, of straight, -slender saplings, which we fastened firmly in place by boring several -holes straight through them and then hammering plugs into these and into -corresponding holes made, at the cost of infinite pains, along what -would be the bottom of the boat when we turned her over for launching. - -This keel was finally finished, and by that time all along underneath we -had burned and dug away a foot in depth of the wood, which meant that -after the log—which was about three feet in diameter—was squared off to -form the open top of the hull, the inside hollowing-out was only three -or four inches deep, and we had still to dig it out fully eighteen -inches more. Altogether I began to feel no little amount of pride in the -general appearance and promise of the craft, hence I worked at it with -feverish impetuosity. - -My affairs were still at this stage when, one afternoon, I headed a -large party of the Links on a hunt in the jungle to the east of the -camp. It was a sultry day, peculiarly still, for we nearly always had a -cooling breeze. Doubtless our usual quarry had crawled away to various -places of concealment. Certainly we found nothing stirring, and after we -had tramped unavailingly for more than an hour, I fancied I detected -signs of uneasiness among our fellows. - -The chief was along, closely followed by Grin, whose malicious face -seemed particularly wicked in the shadows of the forest. When a cloud -rolled sullenly across the face of the sun, the Links came to a halt, as -if undecided what to do. The chief gave a sign and uttered a word -conveying his intention of returning to the camp. At that moment we -started a hog from his wallow near a small marsh, and calling out -eagerly to all to follow and surround the animal, I darted ahead, bow in -hand, excited by the prospect of a shot. My enthusiasm carried the main -body of the Links, who joined me readily enough. - -I noted as I went that the chief brought up the rear, in a sulky mood, -while the fawning Grin pointed a finger at myself and laughed in a -manner fit to make a fiend of a saint, such ridicule did he heap upon -all who would suffer themselves to be led by this power-usurping -stranger. - -The hog eluded our vigilance completely. We arrived at the base of a -mass of rock which towered up like a heap of ruined masonry. Thinking I -could command a wider view from its top, while my fellows thrashed the -undergrowth about its neighbourhood, to drive the hog from cover, I -climbed laboriously up, intent on having a shot if possible. - -No sooner was I fairly on the peak and moving about to get in sight of -all the Links below, than I noted Grin come dashing out of a jungle, -making a noise for all the world like the trumpeting of an elephant. -Undoubtedly this sound must have been their name for the huge pachyderm, -and it was equally certain that the cry was a warning which inspired the -greatest terror, for without delaying a second for anything, the whole -force ran madly away from the place, back along the way we had come. - -I bawled out lustily, to halt them, and then to try to make them wait, -but again Grin sounded the startling trumpet and not a Link—not even -Fatty—turned or paused for all my shouting. I scrambled along the rocks -to descend as rapidly as possible. It was not an easy task to regain the -lower level; I was occupied several minutes by the task. I fell the last -five feet and the vines wherein I landed held me back a time which -became exasperatingly long. - -At length I started away in pursuit of my friends, but not a sign of one -could I see, not a sound of one could I hear. Soon I began to doubt if I -were on their trail. However, I felt that I knew my way as well without -as with them, and therefore made what speed I could to overtake the -band. - -Presently I paused to see if they had gone through the vines in the path -I was attempting to follow. A low sound came from the distance; with -amazing suddenness the forest began to grow dark and oppressive. I -fancied for a second the sound was made by the elephant. This theory was -abandoned a moment later, for an echo of the rumble proclaimed the noise -as thunder. Like a flash, the thought came in my brain that there was no -elephant—that Grin had purposely given his cry, knowing well what a -terror and consequent flight would ensue, with the deliberate purpose of -leaving me abandoned in the jungle. I remembered the uneasy feeling -which had been manifested by all the Links; they had doubtless been -aware that a storm was approaching. - -Intent upon defeating this scheme of treachery, and reviling the whole -Link nation for cowards of the most consummate type, I stumbled on, -through the gathering gloom and through the vines that tripped my feet, -growing a trifle anxious about the approaching shower. - -Almost before I had gone a hundred yards, the sky was a sea of tempest -and driving clouds of the blackest hue. Gusts of heavy, hot wind shook -the tops of the trees and crashed through the creepers, swaying them -roughly where they hung. The darkness of night descended like a mist of -ink. I floundered forward and fell. A flash of lightning and a crash of -thunder seemed to rip the very firmament in twain. I was blinded and -utterly confused. I ran ahead, only to find myself confronted by an -impenetrable fabric of vines and creepers. This I strove to go around, -but it seemed to hedge me nearly all about. In desperation I hastened -through the only opening I could find. This appeared to lead me into a -trail, along which I ran. - -Again a brain-scorching glare of lightning threw everything into weird -relief, the trees like living creatures which struggled in the mesh of -creepers, writhing like snakes, in the bluster of wind. Then a lesser -illumination, when I had torn my way along for some distance, cut out of -the ebon depths the great mass of rock I had climbed such a short time -before. I reeled backward—it seemed preposterous—some enormity of -fate—it could not mean that I was lost—no, no—I would turn about—I knew -the way—I should reach the camp in an hour. What a child I was to be so -confused and alarmed by a storm! - -Again I started. The flashes and the deafening peals of thunder -increased. In five more minutes I stood still, confused, for the -fearsome play of lightning illuminated the jungle clearly and it looked -all wrong—all unfamiliar about me—and all deadly thick. I must hasten -back to the pile of rocks, I thought, in a sort of despair. I could wait -there—wait till the storm had passed, and then, when the sky became -clear again of clouds, I could easily find my way to the camp. - -For fifteen minutes I fought my way through the vines and plants. The -flashes were more intense, and nearer than before, but of rocks or of -anything familiar I saw not so much as a shadow. - -“I’m lost!” I cried at last, “I’m lost!” - -The confession burst from my lips as if to mock me. The stupendous -meaning of the truth burst in upon me ruthlessly. I was lost—alone in -this terrible jungle and night coming on apace! Every horror of my night -in the tree, above that ghastly banquet of the tiger, came vividly back. -Every thought of the snakes and the prowling beasts, in search of blood -and meat, seemed to burn deeper into my brain with the blinding shimmer -of lightning. I fled in one direction, then in another—then anywhere, at -random. - -It was foolish and weak to race hither and yon as I did in my -semi-madness, but the dark jungle created an unspeakable dread in my -brain; its terrors were magnified by my contemplation of one danger -after another. I foresaw nothing but a dreadful death, which might come -soon or late. To find the camp of my Links I felt would be quite -impossible, for I knew absolutely nothing, by this, of one direction -from another. - -Wildly and thoughtlessly I kept on going. A crash of thunder now split -open the clouds and let down a deluge of rain. It made no difference to -me, any more than did the darkness. But while I was pushing senselessly -ahead, I slipped on a patch of wetted clay and slid to an unseen edge, -over which I shot, going down below like a sack of bolts. I struck on my -feet, landing on something half soft. Instantly a furious growl of pain -and rage made me leap away forward. A brilliant dance of lightning made -the spot as bright as day—and I beheld two hideous ourang-outangs, which -had just been in the act of crawling into a cave, and on the legs of one -of which I had landed. They came quickly toward me, in a frenzy of -anger. - -I dashed away, along a well-beaten path that was made through the -growth, the two brutes hotly pursuing. The darkness that followed the -glare of light was of only a second’s duration, so continuous had the -electric display in the heavens become. The beasts were gaining upon me. -Across a leaf-hidden log I pitched headlong. The ourangs were nearly -upon me when I sprang again to my feet and raced away. Still they -gained; and the noises they made chilled the blood in my veins, so -diabolical was the sound. My breath grew short, my bow, which I had -continued to hold in my hand, got caught for a second, yet I dared not -let it drop, though it caused me the greatest of trouble. - -Behind me now I could almost feel my infuriated foes. I dared to dart a -glance across my shoulder. What a snap-shot picture it was, of awful -forms—half erect and fearfully active,—a picture of monsters, suggestive -of most inhuman humans, with fiery eyes, with hideous muzzles, massive, -prognathous jaws,—with terrible open mouths which were filled with -drooling fangs, and with black, leather-and-iron hands, now on the -ground, now up and reaching, as if to clutch and drag me down! - -I knew they would certainly overtake me unless I could do something -desperate at once. I jerked out my knife—recently whetted on a stone. By -the continuously fluttering lightning-shimmer, I chose a spot, ahead, -which was comparatively clear. Then while my flesh fairly crept for my -dread of being reached, I slacked off my speed a trifle and let the -nearest ourang gain a yard. - -Suddenly leaping aside, when I bounded to the selected clearing, I swung -around with my arm extended, the knife gripped hard, and quickly aiming -at the monster’s throat, stabbed him with all my might. So great was the -impact of the blow, increased by the brute’s momentum, that his head was -nearly slashed from his body. I saw it lop limberly over on his -shoulder. Then the larger brute behind struck the falling body and both -were toppled together in a heap. - -Again like a madman I darted away. In a few seconds on came the now -doubly raging creature, behind. My breathing had become so painful that -it seemed as if I could taste my own blood in my mouth. I dared not stop -and I dared not attempt my trick a second time. A fearful note of wrath -was in the sound which the gaining monster now began to utter. I knew he -was sure he should catch me soon. Before me, abruptly, the growth was as -thick as a hedge. I saw that I must change my course. Baffled, not -knowing what else I could do, I pulled an arrow from my quiver and -notched it on my bow-string as I ran. Then stopping I turned, drew it -quickly and let it drive point blank at my on-rushing foe. It flew too -low, for the string was wet and in no fit condition, and struck the -beast in the fleshy part of the thigh. - -Emitting a scream of agony, the brute snapped the shaft short off in the -wound, with his hand. I took advantage of the opportunity, nearly winded -as I was, and plunged desperately through a maze of vines. It caught me, -but I tore away a long wire-like creeper that dragged behind for twenty -feet. And the gnashing ourang, limping on an almost useless leg, came -after me, relentlessly. It seemed like a nightmare—endless, although, -like a terrible dream, it had not been of more than a few minutes -duration from the start. - -My bow-string had apparently stretched, and this effect I had increased -when I shot; the weapon was therefore temporarily useless. Had I now -been fresh, I believe I could have beaten the wounded brute in the race, -but I was ready to sink from exhaustion. He got nearer and nearer. What -to do next was more than I could tell. - -Panting and fetching my breath by the most painful of efforts, I -blundered heavily through a net-work of branches—and got my second -sudden fall over a bank. This time I struck sitting down—in a stream of -water which, swollen by the rain, was a roaring torrent. It swept me -downward, gasping and battling to keep my head above the surface. - -Then with a splash the ourang-outang landed headlong in the flood. He -also came rolling and tumbling along with the turbulent volume of water. -But he clutched an overhanging limb and hauled himself out and up on the -bank, as if he found the plunge exceedingly hateful. Whether he lost the -scent, or whether he was convinced that I also had scrambled out of the -stream, would be hard to determine. Busy as I was to keep from being -drowned, or dashed to death on the rocks, I yet had a flash of relief -and thankfulness to find myself freed of the terrible pursuer. - -My bow, to which I had clung with such a desperation, was lost from my -hand when I fell into the torrent. As I righted myself, a trifle, on my -downward sweep, and tried to mark out a branch or a creeper to clutch, a -terrific bolt of lightning struck a tree not a hundred feet below. As if -a thousand cannon had burst, the din and crash of thunder fairly stunned -me for a second where I was. I got a mental photograph of the tree -flying apart in monster splinters, as if a charge of dynamite had rended -it asunder; and then followed a total annihilation of all light and a -downpour of rain which was simply overwhelming. - -I was bowled downward helplessly, tossed through a drag of vines that -were growing over the bed of the stream, and then, before I had half -collected my senses—scattered as they were by the stroke of lightning,—I -was shot through an agitated run-way and plunged below my depth in what -I thought to be a large pool of water. - -Almost immediately, as I began to swim, on arising to the surface, I -pushed against a great piece of timber on the top of which I climbed -without a moment’s hesitation. Then came a flicker of lightning a mile -away, illuminating all the scene, when I discovered that I was crouching -on a large section of the very tree which the fearful lightning blast -had shattered, and which was floating on the surface of the sheet of -water which I had previously dubbed “My Lake.” - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - SAURIANS AS FOES - - -As if the culmination of the electric discharge in that particular -quarter had come with the bolt which struck so near myself, there was -almost a complete cessation of pyrotechnics which would have been -visible from the rain-pelted lake. Distant thunder grumbled incessantly, -but the gloom which descended over water and jungle was only rendered -more intense by the fitful glow of light which trembled upward so far -away. - -Inasmuch as my log was steady, I sat down as comfortably as possible. -Soaked through as I was, I paid no attention to the drenching shower -which continued. It was warm enough, and while it could hardly be -pleasant, when thus continued such a time, I felt as if it were less -than trifling, after all I had recently undergone. Naturally enough the -shore had no immediate attractions which would tend to make me wish to -paddle in. From the sound of my stream, tumbling noisily into the lake, -I concluded the log could not be drifting to any considerable extent. I -would wait for the light to come before I moved. - -One usually feels entitled to suppose that a thunder-shower is fleeting, -here one minute and gone the next, but I was in for a disappointment. -Though the wind had ceased to blow, the lowering clouds continued rank -with rain and apparently as dense as lead. The darkness of the storm -continued till the margin between day and night was passed. I realised -at last that there would be no light till dawn. - -“What shall I do?” I muttered aloud, but I knew as I spoke that I would -sit all night on that floating log, wet, somewhat chilled and ravenously -hungry, to say no word of being alone and lost. - -The prospect was not exactly bright, but I felt so grateful for my -miraculous escape, and so much more content to be on the water than -alone again for a night in the jungle, that I entertained no fears for -present or future. I tried to think of any duties I owed to myself, -which I ought in reason to perform, and then the obvious impossibility -of doing anything at all made me smile. - -It was still early evening when the rain ceased to fall. I laid out full -length on the log, to see if I thought it safe as a position in which to -sleep. It served to ease my joints directly, though I found it as a bed -rather hard and lumpy. Sleep being about the last thing possible, I -remained on my side, gazing absently at nothing, engaged in reviewing my -own mental panorama of events. From time to time I dabbled my hand in -the water, as I always had done when in a boat as a child. I was not so -peaceful as this apparent mood of dalliance might imply, for my brain -was painfully alert, both on the things already done since my memorable -ballooning trip with Ford, and concerning what would happen on the -morrow and the days, weeks and months to come. - -In the midst of this business something gently “nosed” my fingers in the -water. I jerked them away quickly enough to have startled anything alive -out of all its wits, but nothing dived or swam away in alarm, so that -after a minute I put my hand downward again and felt it come in contact -with something which was touching against the log. Exultantly then I -grasped this something and pulled it aboard. - -It was simply my bow, which had floated down the stream, when I lost it -by striking in the water, and which had drifted in the only current -there was. In this current, of course, the log was also drifting, hence -the coming together. - -A feeling as if an old comrade had rejoined me made me joyous, as I held -the weapon up to let it drip. Its return to my hand made me think of and -feel for the arrows. Five were still in my quiver, and having been -protected as they hung on my back, they were as good as ever, except for -the wetness of the feathers. The string of the bow was flabby and -useless. I held this friend in my hand for more than an hour, rubbing -the wood with my palm till it felt as dry as an idol in a temple. - -The night advanced. I sat down, lay down and then got up on my feet a -dozen times. Once I fancied the log was drifting in toward the shore. -With my hands I paddled it slowly away. The stars shone brilliantly at -last, for the final cloud had disappeared from the sky. From the jungle -issued sounds in plenty, repetitions of what I had heard before, but I -thought myself secure and tried to catch a bit of sleep. - -A night more long than that one on the lake I have never passed. It was -made more interminable by the five-minute slumbers which came to my -senses after midnight. I grew uncomfortably chilly. Two things happened -before the morning finally dawned. The first was that weary nature -asserted herself and I became lost in dreams of that horrible pair of -ourang-outangs; the second was that a breeze sprang up and drifted my -log where it listed. - -I awoke with a start, for something struck the log such a blow that it -lurched heavily and all but pitched me end-ways in the water. I sprang -up, on my tossing craft, beholding myself less than quarter of a mile -from the nearest shore and surrounded by the rings of a great ripple -which something had evidently caused on the lake’s surface. - -It was morning and already warm. My bow string was not only dry, but it -had shrunk to nearly its old condition. The stream of water down which I -had tumbled was neither in sight nor hearing. I began slowly to realise -the truth; I had drifted almost entirely across the lake. I scanned the -scenery on every side. There were jungle-covered hills in front, the -same, but more distant, behind me, and again the same toward the North, -where the shore was two miles away. To the South I saw familiar slopes -and features of the mountains. This meant that I was looking on the lake -as I had when at work on the boat. Plainly my boat and “home” then, were -northward a goodly distance. - -Suddenly, while I was looking about, the maker of all the recent -disturbance appeared—an alligator. He was not very large, but black, -hideous and actively concerned about the log. He must have overlooked me -entirely to have struck such a blow, and then doubtless he had dived for -safety. Now as he jutted up darkly, dividing the waters which rolled off -his revolting head, his two little eyes gleamed with a look which made -me think of my weapons in a hurry. - -He came toward me cautiously, circling slowly about. There was nothing -to do but to get an arrow in readiness, and then to wait, but I -shuddered to think of a fight with such a powerful monster. The -creature, I am convinced, thought me a larger one of the monkeys on -which his kind were fond of dining. He presently headed straight for the -log. Knowing he would dive in a moment I shot at him quickly. The arrow -struck him just beneath the eye. It broke and glanced from the tough wet -skin, but a splinter actually struck in his eye-ball and ruined his -sight on that side of his head. He sank like a thing of iron. A second -later the end of the log went heaving up and I was thrown violently off -into the lake. - -The log came down with a force that beat up a fountain of spray. I was -struck on the foot by the half-blinded reptile as I struggled to get -back to my place and out of his way. He began furiously to lash the -water as he rammed about in a circle. Rising to the surface like a small -living island, he turned upon me again and came ahead with all his -speed, making me think of a deadly torpedo. - -There was no time for arrow or bow, and the latter was gone again in the -bargain, but it took me only half a second to rip out that ever-needed -knife. Over we went, more abruptly than before, the water churning and -boiling up in foam about my ears. He had calculated poorly and now he -closed his awful jaws upon the jagged end of the log, not a foot from my -shoulder. I jabbed at him frantically—stabbing at his other eye which -suddenly popped fairly out of its socket as I pried and gouged with the -end of the blade. - -The beast raised a snorting noise at this, which made me ill with fear. -With the power of a whale and the ferocity of a shark he whipped the -water into froth and snapped his jaws in every direction. He was head -on, side on and tail on, alternately, feeling for me and grinding pieces -out of the log whenever he found it. He clawed me once and knocked me -clean over the log with his tail a moment later. I stabbed at him -wildly, but with no effect, a dozen times. I was nearly drowned and the -creature seemed to be everywhere at once. - -Had he been able to see me, my life could not have been saved by any -chance, in such a whirlpool of wrathful attacking. I was nearly blinded -by the spray which flew from the waves. The log, which was pitching -madly, with a force only second to the creature’s own, arose abruptly -from a plunge and, like a lever, pried the alligator fairly over on his -back and threw me almost upon him. - -I stabbed him twice in the belly, the last blow tearing a deep, wide -hole, as he rolled to right himself, and then to my great astonishment -he dived like a porpoise. I lost not a second in getting on top of the -log. But the water grew calm and a deep red dye came floating up, to -weave a strange device in the ripples. - -Breathlessly I waited, for a time that seemed endless. Cautiously I drew -in my bow, which was floating near. At last there came a small commotion -fifteen feet away. The alligator rose, fought a second with the foe -which is Death, and sank again from sight. I believed then that my knife -had reached his heart. - -Up to this moment I had taken not so much as a glance toward the shore. -I did so now and discovered myself to be something like fifty yards off. -The breeze had drifted me rapidly while the fight was being waged. -Looking hurriedly about, I saw a rude sort of path, leading into the -jungle from the shore, made through the growth, which all along was so -thick that I could see no beach in either direction. At the same moment -I beheld another huge alligator some distance away, up toward a jutting -point of land. - -It took me about an instant to decide that I had experienced all the -alligator tactics I needed. Quietly pushing my bow downward, to sound -the water’s depth, I was surprised and glad to have it strike bottom at -three feet only. Using it then to pole myself and the log forward, I -headed for the trail on shore. - -The alligator saw me before I had gone ten feet. He started, full steam -ahead, to overhaul my craft. I worked like a maniac; the monster was -closing up the gap between us with alarming rapidity. My raft was heavy -and deep in the water. Nearer, nearer I drew to the shore, and terribly -nearer came the fierce and hungry saurian. - -I had twenty yards, fifteen, ten to make; the creature was hardly more -than five away. In a second he would strike the log. Leaping madly into -the water I dashed to the bank and bounded up a slippery way, less than -six good feet from the creature’s snout. - -Knowing I could beat him on the land, I dashed along full speed. Forty -feet up—Lord save me!—it seemed as if the woods were full of the -monsters, several of which moved sluggishly as they heard me coming. -These got no chance to be dangerous, for I ran the gauntlet between them -almost before they were awake. In five minutes more I was clear of the -marshy border of the lake and up on higher ground. Here a large tree, -twined in a thousand folds of the creepers, offered an easy retreat. I -climbed up among its branches and finding a natural seat, where my back -was supported by the extra growth, sat down, weak and winded. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - THE ENEMY NEAR - - -In fifteen minutes after I settled myself in the tree, in a position of -comparative ease, I fell into a deep and dreamless slumber. I had not -intended to give up in any such manner, but the warmth, the relief to my -mind and my weariness, combined to send me off before I realised what I -was doing. - -It might have been a noise and it could have been pangs of hunger that -awakened me finally. The hour was certainly that of noon, if not later. -I felt hazy in my notions; it required no little blinking to get the -webs from my eyes and brain. Then I heard voices. What was being said -sounded to me like Link language. - -I nearly cried out, thinking some of the tribe were near at hand, but -fortunately I was still too lazy and exhausted to make such an effort. -Then a movement attracted my gaze and I saw several Links, sure enough. - -But they were black! - -I was wide enough awake in a second. I crouched low and got a mass of -leaves between these vengeful creatures and myself, for I knew it would -be death, or worse, if once they clapped eyes upon my form. Peering -furtively down, I saw that all of them were standing perfectly still, -just as if they might have halted abruptly and remained in various poses -of action. There were eight in all, every one of whom was looking -intently at something across the little clearing. - -Without moving my body I turned my head and discovered a small black -bear, which was sleepily smelling about and moving through the grass and -giant ferns. Wondering if presently the Links would dart upon the -inoffensive animal and beat it to death with their clubs, I looked them -over carefully. Except that they stood erect, they did certainly look -like close relations of the savage ourangs. Their ears were large, -foreheads low and receding, and jaws tremendously heavy and protuberant. -Their noses were flat and broad, while their eyes, like those of my -friendly Reds, were small, round, near together and nervously watchful. -I was not at all gratified to see them here; I wondered if, being so -near, they had discovered our settlement on the hill. Our settlement! -Would I ever get back to my barbarous company and that “city” again, I -wondered. - -The bear shuffled off, with the utmost indifference to anything which -might be near. Then I beheld those black Links, one of whom possessed -the club with the nugget of gold on the end, do precisely what I had -seen my Reds do, the day we were driven into the cave. They crept up to -the tracks which bruin had left in the moist earth and kneeling, as if -in adoration, each placed his forehead down where the bear had trod. -Plainly the creature was held in great reverence and awe by all the -family of Links, whatever their colour. This seemed to me a remarkable -and wholly inexplicable thing. - -Two of the fellows, I noted, had fruits and cocoa-nuts in their hands, -having probably gathered them recently for the dinner of the party. They -now parleyed a moment in monosyllables, with the others, the result -being that all of the food was deposited on the ground, doubtless with -the thought that the bear might return and be pleased to find something -to eat. It was doubtless a primitive “sacred” offering. As silently as -so many snakes, the fellows then withdrew, on the side just opposite to -that in which their adored one had disappeared. I heard their voices die -away in the jungle. - -In order to be sure that I incurred no risk, I waited for fully fifteen -minutes. The forest was particularly still. Slipping quietly down from -my perch, at last, I possessed myself of those fruits in the twinkling -of an eye, and devouring a part then and there, I ascended to my throne -with all I could carry, and finished a meal, the relish of which -surpasses all human imagination. - -When I had done at last and that craving, inward system was fully -gratified, I heaved a big sigh of content and gazed off listlessly into -the ocean of endless verdure. A soft wind fanned lazily by; there was -nothing to threaten my life; the tropics were at their loveliest. As -naturally as it comes to a tired animal, sleep again came creeping -across my senses. Without even moving into an easier position, I slept -away the whole balmy afternoon. - -I waked at last and found it was night. How drowsy it was, how blissful -to sleep and sleep. My brain was too dull to receive an impression of -alarm at my being alone in the jungle; I felt that I did not care what -occurred. If anything wished to come and eat me up, it was all right, -but I did wish they might not make me awake while the job was being -done. Howls, death-screams, roars of the prowlers—all made a lullaby -that soothed me more. I turned the other way about, heavily, and sank -again into slumber. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - ADORATION SCORNED - - -Nothing was fresher nor keener than I when again the sun touched the -tips of the trees. Asleep one second as soundly as a hibernating -squirrel, I was as sharply awake the next as a ferret in a coop. I shook -myself and stretched. - -“Great Scott!” I exclaimed, “that was a nap!” - -Swinging down from my berth I ate of the food which was still on the -ground, where the bear had neglected it quite, and then taking my -bearings as best I could, from memory of my imaginary map of the lake, I -struck off through the jungle for “home.” - -Of the hours which it took me to force my way between tangles and around -a marsh and over hills and down dales, to accomplish what I thought to -be something like two miles on an air line, I have anything but pleasant -recollections. That I met with many creatures, flocks of parrots and a -troop of apes and monkeys; that I recoiled from a path in which a huge -boa-constrictor was gliding, and that I cursed my luck repeatedly for -ever having landed in such a place, is all a matter of small account, -compared to the fact that I stood at last on a hill and saw our very -camp. I came to it then in less than one more hour of hottest work and -travel. - -An excited yell announced my approach before I had walked ten feet on -the slope of our hill. If the Links had been enthusiastic on the morning -after my night with the tiger, they were crazy and flabbergasted all at -once on this occasion. The whole population came tumbling and running -down the slope. They were worse than a pack of great, rough dogs that -nearly knock one endways with delight. They made me fairly wild, the -idiotic things, for my patience was gone to the winds, after my struggle -to win through the jungle, and besides, it was they who had plunged me -into all the trouble. I batted them off with rare satisfaction and -punched a couple of heads in the bargain, but the fools were more -tickled than ever, though I would wager that some of them smarted. - -They fell all over one another as they crowded me up the hill, but my -temper rather rose than lowered, for I began to pile my accumulated -grievances up against them. I wanted the whole outfit to understand that -I thought them cowards, for running from a noise, that day in the woods, -and that I now owed nothing to any one in the tribe for my whole skin -and presence once more in “My village.” - -When I arrived inside the walls I was made decidedly more angry to find -that Grin had stolen the tiger-skull off my shelter to fasten it up on -the one in which he slept at night, and also by the fact that every -blessed arrow we owned had been shot away by the fellows, as a lot of -inconsequent boys might have done, merely to see them fly and to meddle -with the bows. These bows, by the way, were strewn about on the ground -where everyone kicked them carelessly and walked on them with utter -unconcern. - -It took me about one minute to exhibit a bit of temper that scared the -creatures so thoroughly that all but Fatty jumped smartly away and stood -at a distance, eyeing me painfully, ready to fall dead, if such act -could calm me down. Fatty had hastily and exultantly jerked the tiger -relic off from Grin’s abode and fetched it over to mine, after which the -old idiot clung to me patiently through rain of blows and kicks, content -to receive any amount of punishment, but wholly unwilling to leave the -region of my feet. I believe he would have smiled affectionately up in -my face and refused to run away if I had raised my knife to kill him on -the spot. - -“You Grin, there,” I snorted in my wrath, “if ever I catch you in -another of your beastly, treacherous tricks, I’ll rip you in two and -beat the pieces on a rock!” - -The females, seeing in a moment that the fawner was the chief object of -my anger, and cordially hating the fellow in the bargain, pinched him -and struck him and bit him on the shoulders till he was constrained to -run away to preserve his miserable hide. Had they killed him at once I -confess I should have been delighted to witness the deed. - -I moved about, with Fatty, in the fine large circle which the troubled -but respectful Links maintained, while I drank some water and ate up a -mango which was left in one of the baskets. This was evidently taken as -a favourable sign, for immediately old and young, male and female made a -great demonstration of procuring me anything and everything that Link or -Link-governor could possibly desire to eat, in hopes of propitiating the -demon of temper which they readily comprehended was raging within me. - - - - - CHAPTER XX - THE CHIEF IS PLEASED - - -My indignation having produced a wholesome effect, I decided not to be -placated readily by anything, and determined thereafter to maintain a -certain strictness which should compel a greater respect. It is not -entirely a human characteristic for a creature to grow too familiar when -treated with easy-going indulgence, for I have often seen dogs and other -animals impose on good nature with manners almost insolent. - -For several days I treated the Links somewhat harshly, requiring much -work on the boat and on more of the arrows. I encouraged also a species -of fear which I found my conduct had created. It was high time, I knew, -to dominate the creatures, unless I was willing that they should -dominate me. - -They were quick to see that I rarely even threatened physical violence, -however, and this soon tended to give them a confidence about -approaching my “sacred” person. I had been in hopes that my gruffness -and show of impatience had so discouraged the albino female that she -would keep her distance, for she did exhibit a becoming timidity for a -time, but this gradually wore away. I was exceedingly annoyed to -observe, not only that her disquieting symptoms were returning, but also -that she manifested greater ardour than ever before. My efforts to -appear disagreeable were producing an effect exactly the opposite of -what I desired. - -That trouble would be brewed again I felt was inevitable. The chief had -somewhat manifested a spirit of doubt and alarm, in common with the -others, when he found me aroused, but this he was daily attempting to -overcome. I could see that the fire of jealousy, especially in regard to -the manœuvres of his fickle and silly mate was getting more assertive. -It could only be a matter of time till his animal-rage would burst all -bounds, and then—one or the other of us would get hurt, for I had early -decided that my life was quite as important as his, and I therefore -watched him narrowly, always. - -The work on the boat and weapons was progressing, but I was all -impatience to make things ready for my contemplated flight. In the midst -of this state of affairs, the albino increased her advances, by bolder -demonstrations. Exasperated beyond endurance, I seemed powerless to -perform anything which should end the matter decisively. Upon coming -from my shelter, one morning, after having been to the spring, I saw her -down the hill, adoring my tracks. - -She was on “all fours,” worshipping, by placing her forehead on the -ground where I had stepped, just as Reds and Blacks had done to the -tracks of the bear. She was obviously in a state of ecstasy which was -most insane. She had never before proceeded so far as this, to my -knowledge. It made me boil with wrath. I should have liked to box her -ears smartly. How alert and “secret” she was in her unseemly behaviour -was demonstrated by the activity with which she made off when her chief -appeared around the slope. - -Two days later I was exceptionally provoked to find this female within a -rod of my dug-out, indulging in more of this madness. Moreover she was -being observed by the angry chief, although I was not aware of this at -the moment. So disgusted and desperate did I feel that I stepped quickly -to a rock, whereon my tortoise basin was standing, filled with water in -which I had washed, and grabbing it up I jumped toward her and dashed -the contents all over her head and body, while she was still upon the -ground, adoring. - -She was simply wild. A wet cat could not begin to be half so surprised, -indignant and outraged as her ladyship became, instantly. She leaped to -her feet, gasping, dripping, shuddering at the contact of all that -water, her mouth wide open, her eyes afire with the light of sudden -hatred and fury. Not even a “woman scorned” could have been so ready to -shred my flesh from my bones. I thought for a second she would fly at my -throat, in her passion, and gouge out my eyes, but the fiendish laughter -of the chief and of ten or a dozen other females—who, of course, had -seen the whole performance—turned her attention. This derision, however, -made her face the more diabolical in its expressions of wrath. - -Fortunately what the lady said to myself was wholly unintelligible, for -I had mastered hardly as much as twenty of their “words” at the time. -But I was left no room for doubt that the language was as “burning” as -it was impetuous. I laughed with the others; indeed the whole thing -struck me as being so comical that I was fairly doubled over with -unrestrained merriment. This acted like oil on a blazing fire, and being -no longer able to control herself at all, the drenched female dashed -madly off to the edge of the woods, to vent her rage as best she could. -The chief was immensely pleased. - -In the immunity from the female’s attentions and the consequent jealousy -of her mate which I now enjoyed, I drove the work with hearty zest. The -boat was all but finished, yet it needed digging out at least two inches -more, and this I felt to be important, knowing how heavy was the log of -which it was made. I had even fashioned a pair of oars, the blades of -which were firmly lashed to the handles, but by then our tools of flint -were almost entirely useless. Many had been lost and all had been more -or less broken. The work actually ceased for lack of these necessary -implements. - -I set my fellows to digging up the ground, in the hope of unearthing -more of the pebbles which furnished the flint. In the forest, where the -soil was damp, we found a white, efflorescent substance in great -abundance, near the surface. This, from its peculiar taste and general -appearance, I knew to be common saltpetre, doubtless of value to the -commercial world, but of no account to me when I wanted flint. We tried -the hillsides and various localities, but not one of the precious -chalcedony pebbles could we find. - -The suggestion occurred to me at once that we could go to the old camp -and dig all we needed, but this presented difficulties which aroused my -impatience. I desired to get away before additional complications could -arise. As a matter of fact, I was watching Grin very closely for -evidence of further duplicity, which I thoroughly expected to detect, -soon or late. If once I could find the outlet of the lake, I thought, I -would say good-bye to these half-animal beings without the slightest -pang of regret, for they grated on me daily, more and more. - -I determined to launch the boat as it was and begin my explorations. -This work we undertook one sultry morning. The clay which I had -plastered over the surface of the wood, where I had wished to protect it -from the fire, was baked hard. We broke it away in pieces, and when it -was off and the boat turned bottom downwards, I felt exceedingly proud -of the work and gratified to find the craft in much better shape than I -had thought to be possible. - -It was placed on the rollers, after no little amount of pulling and -hauling, and we were all engrossed with the preparations to shove her -across the intervening beach to the water, when without the slightest -warning there was a sudden rush and yelling about us, and we were almost -instantly surrounded by a force of the savage black Links from the -jungle. - - - - - CHAPTER XXI - WAR WITH THE BLACKS - - -Wholly unprepared as we were for this attack, and with the only clubs we -had lying about in the grass, it seemed as if we should be overwhelmed -in a moment and killed where we stood. My fellows, however, were not -only marvellously quick to regain their weapons, but they also set up a -series of cries which alarmed the camp on the moment. - -A score of fighters had been left in the settlement that morning, to -prepare the skins of animals recently taken, and to point some arrows -with what flints we had remaining. These now came running down the hill, -not with the bows and arrows, as I had hoped they might, but with their -usual weapons. - -Before our reinforcements could arrive, the Blacks rushed in and killed -two of my workers as if they had been a pair of helpless worms. We were -in the midst of a mass of the black devils, about three to our one, -making terrible sounds of triumphant yelling and snarling. Fortunately -the chief was with us, and now his great crystal club retaliated on one -of the foremost enemies and cleared a space for a moment, while I -hurriedly pushed my fellows back to back in hollow-square order, and -tried to let them know we must move all we could toward our hill, as we -fought. - -The Blacks were fiercely impetuous—mad to wipe us out. They dashed upon -us with total lack of order, and therefore we beat down many before they -killed one more of our number. Had my fellows not been used to obeying -what I ordered, I could not have kept them formed together for a moment. -It was only this condition of semi-order which saved us from total -annihilation, for our mad antagonists rushed the fray with most -inconsequent violence and force. - -There was singular din of blows—clubs on flesh and clubs on clubs,—cries -of rage and agony and shouted words—both of Linkish and English. It was -a spectacle of wildest action, the quick, muscular Blacks, inconceivably -savage, dancing, leaping about and hurling themselves upon us, their -clubs fairly flaying the air, their faces fiendish with animal ferocity, -teeth revealed and eyes darting fire of hatred, while we were equally -wrought up, vicious and thirsty for blood, smashing them down, waging -war of defense and war of vindictive aggression. - -They were winning, crowding us too near together, beating our outside -fighters to death and dragging them feet first into a melee of -descending clubs, when our mates descended on the rear of the ones -between ourselves and camp, and broke the cordon completely. They -screamed with hideous delight as they bowled over a dozen of the foe, -but over-confidence would have cost us every life—and the Lord only -knows what after results—had my comrades not understood and obeyed my -commands to fly, for we were still outnumbered by heavy odds. Pushing my -Red fellows, guiding and endeavouring to retire them in order, I -suddenly saw a club coming straight for my neck. I dodged, but got a -scrape along the scalp and a thud on the shoulder, when I drove home my -knife for the first time during the fight, and ripped it out from a -three-cornered wound. Then we darted through the battered-down opening -in the ring and ran as hard as we could drive for the camp. - -Up the hill we surged with the Blacks swarming up behind us. We had -gained fifty yards, owing doubtless to our perfect familiarity with the -ground; nevertheless a pair of our wounded fell behind and were -overtaken and beaten to a pulp at once. Through the gate in our wall we -scrambled, and then I got my bow in hand at last and flew about -frantically, shouting and urging my fellows to arm themselves with the -others. - -While only about twenty of us rushed back to the wall as archers, the -foremost Blacks, outstripping their comrades, bounded through the -opening, or over the wall, insane with the hoarded rage of former -defeats, and ignorant of what they should find. The chief had halted -just inside, with two of his mightiest fighters. They smashed down Link -after Link that attempted to rush the gate. Then we with the bows -arrived on the scene. The black demons in solid phalanx stormed the wall -and came climbing up over its top. - -“Now! Now!” I cried, “Shoot the pigs!” - -It made me thrill to see those powerful fellows making crescents of the -bows. My heart leaped exultantly to hear the twangs and to see the small -but deadly shower of arrows suddenly pierce the air and sink in the -scabbards of flesh. The very first flight toppled five of the creatures -endways. - -“Shoot! Pigs!” I shouted again, for these two words my Links -comprehended. - -More came running to join us with the bows. We spread out in something -of a line. The air became thick with the hurtling arrows. Some struck -the wall and some flew high, but we mowed down many a Black, dead or -wounded, till the fierce attacking devils were appalled to see us and to -see this mysterious work of slaughter. - -They halted; the back-bone of their mad impulse was broken; they could -not endure to advance in the face of fatalities about them, much less to -carry the place, over the bodies of their fellows. Yet they were still -more than we in numbers, and had they known of and adopted the bloody -tactics which sacrifice many, in those heroic, irresistible charges by -which men win a fearful battle, they would still have swept us off the -hill to the forest beyond, for our meagre supply of arrows was nearly -exhausted already. - -Below the wall they rallied. The fellow who was armed with the -gold-nugget club—which was dripping with gore—seemed to be in command. -He flourished his terrible weapon and fired the Blacks with courage -anew. They came for us, hot and eager to even up the score. - -I saw the great ebon creature head their charge, and notching my last -remaining arrow on my bowstring, I waited for him, in great excitement. -They paid no attention to the gate, but crying out madly, swarmed up -over the wall again as if nothing on earth could check their career. -Those of my fighters who still had arrows shot with vengeance in every -vibrating muscle. The Black who led, presented a splendid target, -presently, though he was moving quickly. I let the shaft drive straight -for his breast, but he was leaping downward at the second it arrived, -and it struck him squarely in the top of the left shoulder, near the -neck and just inside the collar-bone. It seemed for a second as if it -had gone in half its length, but beyond stumbling forward a trifle when -he landed, the fellow appeared to have received no harm. - -I heard a cry of despair go up from the Blacks when they saw their -leader struck, but I gave no heed to anything, so intent had I become on -watching this active creature. I was so absorbed, indeed, that before I -realised what was occurring, the fellow had bounded near enough to swing -his club to slay me where I stood. Half falling backward to escape, I -lost my footing. The club came swiftly through the air, my arm was -knocked aside and the nugget thumped ponderously on my ribs and bowled -me end over end. - -It had all happened in a second. I was down and knew I was badly hurt -before I could have winked. I thought the furious Black would rush upon -me and batter in my head, for I could not have risen to save myself from -anything. But the savage creature fell dead in his tracks for my arrow -had found his heart and he had died even as he struck that powerful -blow. Had he not been fatally hit, his blow would have slain me -outright. - -In the meantime, my fellows, having brought down three of the foe with -arrows, had grabbed up their clubs again to beat in the heads of the -Blacks who dared jump down in the field of death. Seeing their chief as -he sank, without so much as the flicker of a movement, the remaining -besiegers gave a yell of dismay and fled in a panic. - -Our forces—savage and aggressive the moment the tables were -turned—became the hunters instead of the hunted. They descended upon the -flying Blacks, slaying all the wounded who hobbled in the rear of the -wild retreat and all whom they overtook before the jungle received its -defeated children back. - - - - - CHAPTER XXII - HOME JOYS AND TROUBLES - - -I must have swooned, for I knew no more of anything until I awoke, in a -dazed condition, and found old Fatty bending down above me, while near -at hand nearly all the beings of the tribe stood gazing on my prostrate -form with expressions of grave concern. - -Upon trying to arise I was so shot through with pain in my side and -chest, that I felt things go dizzy directly. Then after a little I -attempted to move to a more comfortable position. This was accomplished -only at the cost of great agony. I found that my left arm was badly -injured while all the upper portion of my body seemed quivering with -pain. Never had I been so wounded in my life. - -I asked for water, for the Links were but little better than so many -faithful dogs, who could whine over my helpless carcass, but who had not -the slightest idea of what to do to relieve my suffering. Never had -muscular action caused me such pangs as I underwent upon trying to -swallow. The thump I had received, slightly back of the region of the -heart, had come so near to being my pass to the world beyond that I -believe another volt of power in the blow would have done the work. As -it was, I refrained from crying out only by exerting my utmost will, -when the chief and Fatty carried me bodily and laid me down on the skins -in my shelter. - -My consciousness went again as soon as my body touched the couch; yet I -rallied soon and attempted to nod my recognition as the chief came back -again, bearing the great gold-nugget club, which he leaned against the -wall. - -It became manifest early that if I survived the shock to my system and -the fracture of at least one rib, which I felt sure had resulted from -the blow, it must be through sheer good luck, backed by a hardy -constitution, for of lotions, or bandages or skillful attendance there -could be absolutely none. - -That night I experienced the most excruciating torture it has ever been -my lot to endure. Every beat of my heart was like the stab of a dagger, -in feeling. Concussion, even that inflicted by a fist, has proved too -much for the great throbbing organ of man full many a time. I thought of -this afterward, but during that first twenty-four hours, I was utterly -incapable of doing anything except living through the ordeal of pain. - -All through the day that followed I lay there, feverish, yet too badly -hurt to move on my bed. I ate nothing and drank water only, in single -swallows. Fatty remained at my side as a mother might have done. Fifty -times that day he ran to the spring for the fresh, cool water, as that -which stood about in a shell for half an hour became too warm to be fit -to drink. After a time he licked one of my burning hands, timidly, as if -uncertain of how this ministration would be received. It felt cool and -not at all disagreeable; I therefore made no motion to draw the member -away. Presently the worried creature repeated the favour; and after he -had done this humble office for both hands and wrists, I felt so soothed -and refreshed that I fell asleep at last, and got a natural rest. - -Day after day went by and I was still on my back, though I could see -that improvement continued steadily. It was fully a week before I was -able to move without suffering agonies, and for some time after that the -pain in my ribs was exceedingly sharp. During all this time I was amply -supplied by Fatty with fruits and with abominably cooked meats, for the -females were neglecting all my former instructions, concerning the fire -and the roasting and boiling of game. - -As soon as I was able to sit up, propped against a rock, I worked a -little every day at making arrows, and urged my most skillful assistants -to do the same. These shafts could not be pointed, owing to our lack of -flints, but we finished several hundred, as to all but the requisite -heads. I was visited daily by all the tribe, except two individuals, -Grin and the unforgiving Lady Albino. The little Links who had fled in -uncertainty before, even up to the last, now began to make me more of a -regular companion. They were near me, more or less, from dawn till dusk, -capering about, sitting in groups in the sunlight, to watch me with -ever-nervous eyes, and rolling over one another in rough, good-natured -play. - -The very smallest of these “children” were hairy little scamps most -astoundingly like baby chimpanzees, except for their lighter colour. By -the hour I watched them at their play and listened to their funny little -words of talk. It was not an ordinary baby prattle, to be sure, but it -made me think that all babies are very much alike. Their chief amusement -consisted in making a noise, by striking any two objects together. The -rarest things they did were crying and laughing. - -There was one little chap who never rolled on his back with the others, -never made a noise and rarely spoke. He was the only one that looked in -my face with eyes that were human-like and steady. I fancied his quaint -little face was wistful; it was certainly serious and therein widely -different from those of all his companions. This little creature -approached me most timidly and yet with a certain persistency that -finally made me look about, in the morning, to see if he had come. - -For several days he sat near my feet, over which, finally, he laid his -little arm. Gradually then he worked nearer and nearer to my head, as I -sat against the rock until at last he cuddled unobtrusively up against -me and permitted my arm to close loosely about his little form. -Thereafter this was his one particular place. Hour after hour he would -nestle close in this, his nook, turning his questioning eyes to mine, -now and again, and blinking as if he tried to think out the great -inscrutable problem of what we are and why we came to partake of the -mystery of life. How foolishly fond of this little creature I became, I -shall not attempt to say. - -This was a time of laziness for all the tribe. The Links were sun-lovers -of the most ardent description. Secure on our hill, undriven by any -task-master, provided with food in plenty, they basked for hours, lying -flat on the back, and played exaggerated pranks, sometimes in a languid -spirit of ease and sometimes with the greatest activity of movement. -They appeared to know nothing of family ties, nor of sorrow for those -whom they had been obliged to bury. They had no remorse, nor “pricks of -conscience” for any acts ever performed, nor did they seem to have -conceived of anything superior to themselves, except in a purely -physical manner. Thus they realised nothing of an occult, spiritual -power of control and nothing of mystery, either in life or death. They -therefore had not the slightest fundamental suggestion of a religion, -and worshipped nothing and feared nothing, save that which they could -see and which they had discovered, in their animal capacity, to be -dangerous to life or limb. They could be made to feel a certain sort of -awe, but this was one slight degree only above that emotion which in an -animal would excite the expression “the creature is cowed.” - -I had ample opportunity to become acquainted with the various traits of -my friends, for I was something of an invalid for more than two weeks. I -came to the conclusion that the Links were keener than I in every -natural sense; that is, they could see things more quickly; they could -hear that which escaped my duller ears; they could smell odours which -failed to convey themselves to me; and they could “feel” dangers by a -sort of unknown sense, or instinct, of which I would always remain in -complete ignorance. They were highly organised in the natural -attributes; they were powerful and active above any animal of their size -I have ever seen; but when thought of as humans, they ranked with -children who just fail to clutch the ideas of older people and whose -efforts in manufacturing are crude and worthless. - -When at last I began to walk about again, performing small labours, I -still had an occasional dart of pain through my side, which made a -feeling of illness spread all through my system. However, the weather -was beautiful, the food simple and wholesome and the work soon began to -limber me up. - -Before I was quite myself again, I commenced to be exceedingly annoyed -by the actions of Grin. Although I had been the recognised superior, if -not the governor, of the tribe at the moment when I laid low the chief -of the Blacks and completed our victory, yet my wound and subsequent -weakness had rendered nearly everything nugatory. Inasmuch as my -nearness to death had robbed me of the power by which I kept the Links -in awe, many had assumed an irreverent air which became positive -insolence on the part of the fawner. - -Having allied himself with the resentful female albino, this creature -was never neglectful of an opportunity to perform some sneaking bit of -meanness. For a time I was too weak to resent these impositions, and -therefore the creature grew bolder in the liberties which he dared to -take. Thus my tiger skull had again disappeared, and I knew he had -stolen it, although I had no means of proving the theft. One morning, -however, I caught the scoundrel in the act of smashing my turtle-shell -basin with a rock. His reason for doing this was two-fold. First, it had -contained the water with which I had dampened the ardour of Madame -Albino, and second, it was regarded by all as something uncanny out of -which I drew a certain power as I washed my face and hands—an operation -of which none of the tribe was ever guilty. Grin may have thought to -deprive me of my source of strength. - -This wanton destruction of my property made me exceedingly angry. Before -he could leave the scene of his labour I rushed up and gave him a kick -which was decidedly swift. It assisted him to rise with great alacrity. -He turned with a snarl and threw himself upon me. A fight was on in less -than a second. I had feared this collision for several weeks. It had -come at a bad time for me, inasmuch as the creature was twice as strong -as I, even when in my normal state, and now I was far from being -restored to my former condition. - -We wrestled for a moment, the beast attempting to bite, scratch and -choke me and to bear me down to the ground. I threw him off for a moment -and Fatty would have jumped him instantly—and killed him, no doubt, with -his club—had I not waved him off abruptly. I was gratified to know that -a friend was near, but I desired to show the Links, who assembled at -once, that I was master when it came to a battle. This decision nearly -cost me my life, for the brute gave me a wrench that brought back -agonies which were well nigh insupportable, while I was knocking his -hideous head aside from an attempted bite at my cheek. - -For a second I regretted that Fatty had not batted off his head, for I -felt as if I should drop from weakness. But when he dug his nails in my -arm the smart aroused such a rage that my strength came flooding upward, -like a gush of something hot in my blood. I had warded off many of his -lunges and was waiting for an opening as if I had been engaged in -boxing. The chance presented itself now. He was leaping toward me -viciously when I “slugged” him with all my might, fairly in the pit of -the stomach. My fist actually seemed to sink into the fellow’s body. He -was lifted off his feet, but before he could fall I fetched him a -right-hander under the chin that jolted his head backward abruptly. - -He fell like an effigy, arms outstretched, so that the back of his skull -was the first thing to strike the ground. There he lay, limp as a snake -and motionless as a stone, while a referee could have “counted him out” -for the next twenty minutes. A great howl of satisfaction greeted this -performance, which placed me again on my pedestal of incomprehensible -power. The truth of the matter was, however, that I was ready to fall -over, myself, so severe had been the strain and the injury done to my -weakened frame. By the greatest of efforts I walked away and washed -myself at the spring. - -Grin, when at last he again assumed a perpendicular, was dizzy on his -legs, ill and altogether a sorrowful object. I knew his head was aching -and that his stomach would be morbidly sensitive for several days. He -was hooted and picked upon also, having been utterly defeated, so that -he was glad to retire from active service, muttering no end of what I -supposed were threats and maledictions. - -I was of precious little account to myself, or to any of the tribe, that -day, but on the morrow I was mending rapidly again, and beginning to -pick up various threads of the plans I had fashioned before our fateful -day of battle with the Blacks. - -It was long since anyone from the camp had visited the boat, but my -thoughts had been there much of the time. I had feared, daily, another -invasion by the enemy, whom I knew to be revengeful and who now -understood the nature of our fortifications and means of defense. This -feeling of alarm increased. Should they come, with a force still greater -than the last, and find us armed with blunt arrows only, our resistance -would be short indeed. I dared not contemplate undertaking my -exploration of the lake, much less my escape, while we were possibly -threatened with another attack and while I was weaponless myself, -excepting for my trusty knife. - -Being almost wholly fit again I determined to make an immediate -excursion to our old cave-camp for the purpose of securing a supply of -chalcedony pebbles. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII - NEEDED MUNITIONS GATHERED - - -My preparations consisted merely of acquainting a score of the Links -with my desire and of selecting six of the most suitable of our baskets -for use in bringing the flints to our village. More of the fighters than -I wanted were eager to be of the party, but I deemed it advisable to -leave a number at home with the females and children. - -We got an early start and headed in what I had calculated to be the -right direction. In this calculation I had been guided solely by my -memory of our camp and its position, relatively to the lake, as seen -that day from the top of the old volcanic peak. Pushing ahead as rapidly -as possible, and spending no time on the game which we naturally -encountered in the jungle, we traversed several miles without coming -upon anything with which my friends were familiar, so that I soon gave -up hoping that they would be of much assistance in finding the former -dwelling place. From what I knew of them now, I was convinced that none -ever proceeded far from camp in any direction. Their longest marches -were accomplished when they felt obliged to abandon a settlement, and I -believe that even then they rarely travelled more than five or six miles -at the furthest. - -After another hour of pushing along we emerged from the forest into a -small, low valley which was nearly all a swamp and at the head of which -was a mountain of considerable height. This place discouraged me deeply -for I had believed I should really discover some guiding landmark, on -clearing the woods. That we had gone somewhat in the wrong direction -there could be no doubt, for I was sure we had travelled far enough, by -this, to have passed the old cave, had it been on our line of march. - -The day was excessively hot and I was weary and sleepy, being still a -bit soft after my troubles, but I was annoyed at the thought of being -baffled. I determined to climb the mountain, for the sake of the -enlarged prospect to be had from its summit, and therefore we toiled up, -slowly, through a dense growth that covered the lower part of the slope. - -Upon reaching the summit, I gave a cry of delight. I had recognised the -elevation as being the very same volcanic peak which Fatty and I had -ascended together, and which the party of us now had approached from the -opposite side. This gave me my bearings at once. I could all but see the -old camp below, when we had crossed the ancient, filled-in crater. I -pointed out the lake, and I made out the true direction of our fortified -settlement far away on its miniature hill. We started down in a hurry, -for even the Links knew the way after this. I might have thought of -nothing but the flints we were after had I not fairly stumbled against -the out-jutting ledge of sulphur which I had discovered on the previous -visit. - -“Why here,” I said aloud, unthinkingly, “I believe I’ll take a load of -this to camp. By jingo, boys, I’ll make a lot of gunpowder!” - -Sulphur here, saltpetre at home, charcoal to be had for the burning, my -thoughts ran like lightning over the possibilities thrust into my -unwitting hand. Powder? To be sure I could make powder! I would make a -ton of it—all we wanted and more! I would provide myself with a keg or -two and take it along with me when I left in my boat to escape. But how -I would use it, what I could do with the dangerous stuff, when once I -had it—having no guns and no cannon—this was more than I could tell. -Indeed this part of the proposition floored me at once, but with a ready -refuge in postponing the working out of this trifling problem, I -dismissed it from my brain completely and had my fellows assist me in -breaking off enough of the purest of the mineral to fill two baskets -heaping full. - -Two Links were required to each basket, when it came to bearing this -cargo away, but I meditated that some wholesome labour was precisely -what they needed. We reached the old camp shortly. There were the rocks -thrown up to cover the mouth of the cave, which had threatened to be our -tomb, but the grass and ferns had overgrown the spot and much of the -rock heaps, to such an extent that no one could have guessed that a camp -or a fire had ever been located in or about the clearing. - -The ravine, where the tribe had buried its dead, presented its former -appearance. We set to work without delay and in less than thirty minutes -the pebbles were accumulating with gratifying rapidity. I was careful to -select the ones best suited to our sundry requirements. Those in some of -the baskets I covered with soil, in order to keep their moisture from -departing before we should have the time necessary to split them and -chip out the arrow-heads, axes and knives. - -It was something of a giant task to convey our baskets away, when I -finally had them loaded to my satisfaction, but the Links were -tremendously strong, and all were willing to make the greatest possible -exertion, that day, to gratify my wishes. We ate a lunch of fruits and -some cold meat which I had carried along, after which we made a -“bee-line” for home. But I fear that any self-respecting bee would have -been much ashamed of such a line as ours became before we issued forth -from the trees, at last, in sight of the hill. - -When we arrived, a great surprise was in store for all. Grin, the -fawner, had disappeared—run away. The news was received with -indifference by the chief, and with evident gladness by not a few of the -others. When at last it was made intelligible to me, I knew not whether -to rejoice or to be concerned and suspicious of something impending. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV - EXPERIMENTAL GUNPOWDER - - -Our work of creating things of flint began that same day, although the -afternoon was far advanced when we arrived. I was in a fever to complete -our preparations against any future aggressions on the part of the -enemy, particularly as I had a growing conviction that Grin, the -deserter and treacherous devil, had gone straight away to hunt for the -Blacks. I believed his sole intention was that of betraying his kind and -thereby of wreaking a vengeance for all the punishments which he had -rightfully undergone. - -All the questions I could ask about the fellow, through the medium of my -few words in Linkish and my signs, which were supplemented by my native -language, failed to elicit any satisfactory information. Having too much -to do to spend my time in thinking of the beast, I set my selected -assistants to work at splitting out slabs of flint. - -The greater part of the pebbles, I had my fellows bury in a moist, shady -place, for, labour as diligently as we might, we could not complete the -work on a third of the stone, as I knew, before the hot air would begin -to render the stuff as hard as glass and quite unworkable. - -During all next day we were at it, hammering, chipping and forming. Four -fellows, clever at binding were heading the arrows already provided, and -lashing hatchets and knives to handles. That night, by way of a pleasant -diversion, I secured some fragments of charcoal, and reducing this and -some of my sulphur and nitre to a flour, mixed the three together and -ground the grayish substance for a time, between two stones. Such a dust -arose that I was obliged to sprinkle the stuff with a few drops of -water. This seemed to help it in combining, but do my best, I could not -make the mixture resemble gunpowder in the slightest degree. Having just -about decided to give the task over, as one presenting difficulties too -great for me to cope with successfully, I took a palm-full of my -material and, by way of experiment, threw it on the fire. - -Instantly the well-known hiss resulted and a dense cloud of pungent -smoke arose with such a quickness that I stumbled backward from the -place, involuntarily. Only Fatty and one or two others of the Links -beheld this exhibition, the others being already asleep. The fright -depicted on the faces of this small but select audience was a wonderful -thing to see. I determined at once to set about burning a quantity of -charcoal, for already I had conceived an idea that it might be possible -to utilise the explosive to advantage, and I intended at least to give -my scheme a trial. - -On the day that followed, the first thing I did was to have the Links -collect a lot of wood, the softest and driest I could find. This I -heaped up in a conical pile and walled in snugly with turf and a little -of the clay, which was everywhere about us. When it was lighted and -smoking slightly through various small chinks, I banked it up around the -bottom and returned to the work on the flints. - -Before we got through with those pebbles we had rough but serviceable -arrow-heads by the hundreds, knives in plenty, hatchets for all, with -some to spare, and sixty or eighty spear-heads, which were bound to -long, stout hafts, in the regular course of finishing up. I reserved for -my own personal arsenal two axes, two knives and fifty of the finest -arrows in the lot. Also I assumed a general command, as custodian, over -all the weapons and utensils in the tribe’s possession. - -No sooner were the armaments complete than I went to my powder-making -with indefatigable vigour, thankful for every day that passed without -bringing the foe, which I dreaded and thoroughly expected to see come -swarming up the slope from the woods. I made my fellows pound up -charcoal till some were nearly as black as the enemy for whom we were -preparing. The powdered stuff we placed in the baskets, several of which -I plastered inside with clay, which dried hard and firm. The saltpetre, -which we dug and brought up the hill, was treated in a similar manner, -as was also the sulphur. Anyone to have seen me directing this business -would have thought I intended to supply an old-fashioned navy with -explosives. - -During these days I in nowise neglected the archery practice, which -alone could make my warriors capable of using the weapons to advantage. -We shot at a target the size of a man, which I fashioned out of skins -and heavy palm leaves. This being backed by a sort of hedge, constructed -of bamboo and more of the leaves, we lost but few of the arrows -employed. And the arrows used were not from our pointed stock, though -they were whittled sharp on the end, so that many pierced the target as -neatly as a bullet. Thirty of my force grew decidedly efficient, being -accurate, strong shots who could be relied upon to perform good work on -any attacking party. We also used the spears, in the throwing of which -the Links took great delight. I was sure that come what might, the -fellows would never again be so primitive as they were when first I met -them in the jungle. Whether I left them or not, they would hereafter -possess weapons which would place them far above the Blacks in point of -capacity to kill. - -One of the greatest difficulties with which I had to contend, while -making my powder, was the frequent coming of rain. This threatened to -make it all too wet to be of any use. There were also many days when a -thick, damp fog rolled upward from the lower levels, slowly evolving -into a ponderous cloud which covered all the jungle-world. The baskets -containing the pulverized materials were doubly protected, however, by -skins, and the roofs of the special dug-outs which we made, but the -roofs were never entirely water-tight. - -Being unacquainted with the recognised formulæ for mixing various -powders, I simply took about three parts charcoal to one each of nitre -and sulphur, and set the Links to grinding these substances together, -slightly dampening the whole as before. The grayish stuff, which I -regarded finally as the best product of which we were capable, I stored -away, next to my own shelter. There must have been two hundred pounds of -this powder, the making of all of which had only occupied us for a short -time, after the several ingredients in their rough state had been -assembled. - -In order to impress the tribe with the urgent necessity of keeping all -fire away from the baskets, I dropped a glowing coal into a handful as -it lay on a rock. The vivid flash did so much to accomplish my purpose -that I could hardly get the Links to approach the dangerous mixture -under any circumstances whatsoever. - -My next step now was to visit the swamp where the thicket of bamboo -flourished. In this place, as I had expected, there were all sizes of -this peculiar tree-reed, but the largest ones appealed to me most -strongly. I carried off what I thought I should need, and selecting the -driest of my stock, cut off a large section behind the joint, on one -end, and in front of the next joint on the other. The piece then -resembled quite a cannon, without further ado. - -This thing I was aware was much too brittle to stand an explosion, but I -meant to try it, nevertheless. To begin with I bored a vent through the -hard, thick shell, near the end that was naturally plugged. Then I -reinforced that plug by lashing a stone across the end firmly. Next I -split some more bamboo and laid the strips lengthwise along the barrel, -thus doubling the thickness, after which I had the whole thing stoutly -wound about with tough, slender creepers, till I was sure it would -resist a powerful tendency to burst. - -What to do for a fuse, when at length my piece of mountain artillery was -loaded—with powder and rocks—puzzled me no little. - -The thing was “mounted” half way down the hill, pointed toward an -imaginary foe, and was amply weighted with rocks at the sides and on the -top. At length I hit upon a plan for the fuse. It was simply to split a -creeper, the outside of which we frequently employed, and to pull out -the smooth, wire-like core inside, and then to fill the space so left -hollow, with powder. In the sun this shell of the creeper dried out -rapidly, rolling up so tightly in the process that it squirmed itself -into several twists. This “habit” of the thing was exactly what was -required, for when the powder was laid along inside, the chances for it -to trickle out were exceedingly meagre. - -About thirty feet of this fuse I laid to the “gun,” with stones along -its length to keep it properly in place. Then, with a thumping heart -under my shirt, I proceeded down the hill, alone, with a fire-brand -glowing hotly in my fist. I looked all about, when I came to the match, -and selected my path back up to the camp. Then I touched the end of the -creeper—and jerked my fire away, quickly. - -There was no alarming sputter after all. I tried again. The creeper -smoked, giving forth a pungent odour, but the powder must have fallen -out for a short distance. I cut off six or seven inches and had the -satisfaction of seeing powder in plenty. This time it lighted and began -to spit in a hurry. I darted off, stopped, looked back, saw a tiny -smoke-snake running down the hill, and again I ran as hard as I could, -momentarily expecting something tremendous to happen behind my back. - -To my surprise I reached the camp and nothing had occurred. I turned -about and looked, panting and yet attempting to hold my breath. There -was nothing to be seen, save the heap of rocks where my “battery” was -planted. I waited and waited. The seconds slipped by; the Links behind -me were as silent as the grave. My heart ceased its violent jumping; the -thing was going to prove a failure; the Links would think me a fool. - -“I’ll have to go down and see what’s the matter,” I grumbled. “That fuse -is no good.” - -I had taken two steps when suddenly a great flare of fire leaped upward, -the side of the hill appeared to fly into fragments and a roaring -detonation split the silence into a thousand ringing reverberations. A -cushion of air gave us all a push, and a huge geyser of smoke went -upward in rolling, billowy gushes. I wondered in that second, how many -pounds of that powder I had put in the “piece” in my natural anxiety to -give it a good, square trial. - -Something screamed weirdly in the air, while we stood speechless, and -presently it came whirring down, a rod below the wall, striking the -ground with a sounding thud. - -Yelling in dismay, the second they recovered power to do anything, the -Links fell over each other helter-skelter, in their great confusion, and -desire to take to the woods. As for myself, I laughed and laughed like a -veritable maniac, and threw my arms about myself and jumped in the air -repeatedly, as tickled with my exploit as a boy. Then I ran outside and -found my cannon, the thing which had whistled as it hurtled back to -earth. - -It was a “goner” and no mistake. Black as a hat, ripped from muzzle to -breach, blown to pieces at the plugged-up end, it certainly gave the -appearance of having “gone through the war,” but it pleased me not a -whit the less. - -“Why that’s all right,” I assured the surrounding stillness, “I’ll go to -work and make a lot of bamboo bombs.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXV - THE TRIBE FRIGHTENED - - -The spot with the pile of rocks, where my cannon had been planted, bore -ample testimony to the high explosive quality of my powder, for nothing -was left in place and everything which had been in contact with the -piece was beautifully blackened. - -My frightened Links seemed to be anything but confident that I was not -likely to burst myself, with a loud report, and scatter devastation -everywhere. They stood off a distance that was more than merely -respectful and were not to be induced to return to my side by any -persuasion or assurances for more than an hour. I had no doubt they -thought me a bit of a devil, for even Fatty and the children were afraid -to return to my side. The single exception to this unanimity of feeling -was furnished by my little favourite chap who seemed so human. - -This tot of a Link had been much neglected of late, so busy had I been -with work. Now when he came and clung to my leg, as I stood in the camp -eating a mango and thinking busily, I looked down in his tiny face and -felt happy to see him so near. Sitting down against my rock, in the -sun-light, I let him cuddle down in his usual place, and together we -enjoyed a time of peace. It became one of those natural spells of rest. -I felt like easing off on the pressure of work for a time, having -accomplished really all that seemed to be needful by way of making ready -to receive any invaders of our village who might choose to come. - -The attitude of Tike—as I called my little friend—did much to -re-convince the Links of my normal, pacific intentions. Fatty was the -first to return, doubtless actuated by a trifling touch of jealousy. -After him the others came edging back, one by one, every individual -inordinately curious to see if I were in any manner altered by the -extraordinary disturbance which I had so recently created. All that day -they evinced alarm and a readiness to run whenever I stirred about. For -the powder, carefully stored away, they possessed a profound distrust -and respect. - -During the next few days I sat around for much of the time, always with -wistful little Tike nestled up under my arm. The tiny chap seemed more -quiet than before, if possible, and somewhat thinner. All the other -little Links were as fat, rolly, bright-eyed and lively as so many Pah -Ute Indian papooses, and equally red and naked, but Tike was almost a -sad little fellow. He leaned his head against me by the hour, sighing -now and again, and patting my big, brown hand with his wee, red one, as -if there could be no greater content and happiness in the world. - -The attack I had daily expected and against the advent of which I had -laboured with such unremitting zeal, had failed to materialise. Day -after day went by, with such a stillness and peace over all the world, -that I began to forget the malignant Grin, who had kept the troubles -simmering constantly, and to forget my fears of the savage Blacks. -Without the slightest stir or bother, I kept my fellows in training with -the bows, accompanied the parties on the hunt, kept the baskets and -other essential properties of the camp in good condition and still found -time leisurely to work at making my deadly bombs. - -This labour I made simple and easy by selecting sections of bamboo -which, when cut off to form cylinders open at one end only, telescoped -together. That is the smaller cylinder, containing a large charge of -powder, slipped inside the larger, and each being provided with a stone -reinforcement, where naturally plugged, I bound the two shells together -firmly. Five of these bombs were enormous, containing probably -twenty-five pounds of powder. Some of the others were only about a foot -in length and three inches or less in diameter. These smaller ones I -intended to take with me in my boat, if ever I started on my voyage of -escape. I thought I could throw them at any foe which might approach too -near. Each was provided with a tube-like fuse, stopped with clay, to -prevent the powder from running out, and which could be broken off at a -moment’s notice to form a connection with the powder in a longer fuse, -which could then be bound upon it. I also provided several coils of the -match, made of creepers, each coil at least thirty feet in length. This -became dry so that I determined that if occasion should ever arise I -would make a fresh supply, keeping this other ready for emergencies. - -The days of peace became weeks. So free from trouble had we become in -the camp, since the disappearance of Grin, that my feverish desire to -flee had somewhat abated. Moreover the albino female had partaken of -such a thorough fright, on the day when my ordnance exploded, that she -left me severely alone. Yet I did think constantly of the boat and -should have busied myself more with my half-formed project of getting -away, had I not been bound more closely than I realised to the Links by -little Tike, who seemed to me to be fading away. - -He came every morning to my shelter, often before I was awake, and when -at last I stirred and turned over, there he would be, sitting quietly by -the side of my couch, looking yearningly into my face with his steady, -thoughtful eyes, and holding his tiny hands together in his “lap.” -Always he greeted my look with a strange, quiet smile, which made his -wee, homely face the very next thing to divine. I got to carrying the -little chap about, as I went from place to place. I found that I missed -him, when resting out in the jungle, after a hunt with my fellows. It -also gave me a most unreasonable pleasure to talk to the tiny mite, who -would answer with a faint, half-crooning sound of pleasure. I called him -frequently my “Little Man.” At intervals, sometimes of days, he would -repeat the word “Man” in a way that caused me to feel a peculiar thrill -whenever it came from his lips. - -As before, my attitude of comparative passivity begot more or less of -the symptoms of familiarity on the part of several Links. This did no -little in the way of deciding me anew to quit the place, if possible. I -was doubtful in my mind as to which method would be preferable, that of -attempting to find and utilise the outlet of the lake in my boat, or to -endeavour to induce about fifty of the fighters to escort me across the -country to the sea. But one day which we spent in the jungle decided me -without further mental debate. - -We were stalking a pair of hogs, which were unusually clever at evading -the flanking Links and at penetrating far into the jungle, when suddenly -the great, dark form of a genuine elephant loomed up, as he smashed his -way through a thicket. Instantly every Link in the party screamed out an -imitation “trumpet” of alarm and fled incontinently, as they had on the -former occasion. This time I had no intention of being left behind, nor -of giving battle to the brute with my fists and knife. I joined the -running fellows, endeavouring to make them halt and retire in at least -decent order, but this effort was utterly futile; their panic was -complete and not to be overcome. - -Thankful thus to be reminded of the former incident, which I had been -too near to forgetting, I decided, even as we hastened away from the -monarch of the jungle, that the attempt to perform any long and -hazardous march with such a cowardly “army” as this at my heels would be -madness. I must launch the boat and proceed alone. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVI - SPORT AT THE LAKE - - -It was not a difficult operation to bore some holes in the gunwale of my -boat and to hammer in four stout pegs for row-locks, and then I put in a -seat, constructed of thin bamboo strips, and all was ready. The craft -was more than sixteen feet long, three feet in the beam and hollowed out -to a depth of about eighteen inches. The launch was not effected until -after I had secured a long, stout painter to the bow, the rope being -made of creeper-fibre, twisted and braided. This was pliable and quite -as enduring as hemp. - -Although the Links were manifestly afraid of the lake, they were -intensely interested when the craft upon which we had worked so hard and -long, went splashing into the water. She righted herself in a second and -floated high above the surface. But when I hauled her in with the rope -and jumped inside, sat down and got out my sweeps, to row, the -astonishment of the fellows was unbounded. They were frightened for my -safety, uneasy to the verge of whining, as they ran up and down the -beach, and still were all so fascinated that not one could look at -anything else. Old Fatty acted precisely like one of those dogs who is -crazy to join his master and yet dreads the water so greatly as to fear -even wetting his feet. He lifted either foot, and half squatted and gave -little jumps, as if about to plunge in and make a bold swim for the -boat, till he appeared too ridiculous for words. Then he ran down the -shore and back again and stood with his comical head on one side making -me laugh uproariously. - -The boat was great! She was inclined to roll a trifle, owing to the fact -that she was the same size from stem to stern, and therefore minus the -broad beam which makes a craft steady, but she was remarkably light to -row and easily steered. Moreover I found, by throwing my weight to -either side, that she had a powerful tendency to return to an even keel, -which rendered her almost impossible to turn bottom upward. This I -attributed to the fact that while her sides were comparatively thin, the -bottom was at least eight inches thick, which made her light on top and -heavy below, an excellent arrangement when to give her a larger belly -was out of the question. I am bound to admit that she had no “lines,” -that indeed she looked like the log she was, clumsy and quite -ungraceful. Nevertheless I was prouder as I sat in her hold than is any -captain of the noblest ship afloat. - -I rowed her this way and that, across to a nearby point and then -straight away down the middle of the lake for half a mile. When I turned -I made out a floating thing a score of yards from the shore on the -left—one of my alligator acquaintances, swimming about. I was not afraid -of any attack in so large a boat, especially as my nature could not have -been so readily surmised by the hungry saurians, while I was rowing. I -should not have minded a race anyway, for I felt secure on my own -stamping ground and as saucy as a boy with a toy pistol. - -Before starting back, I noted particularly the outline against the sky -which our hill and its neighbours formed, thinking I might be much in -need of some such guide when I came to go further from home. Then I -drove my craft with all the speed I could force. Her prow was slightly -above the glass-like surface and the water swashed backward from her -keel with a sound that stirred me to immoderate delight in this my -supreme achievement. - -The oars were heavy and the row-locks a trifle awkward; we rolled a bit -to one side and I was obliged to keep fetching her nose about to port at -every dozen strokes, but I made satisfactory time and just before she -shot across the last fifty feet of water and rammed up high on the -shore, a startled fish of some description, leaped bodily out of the -water and darted off in affright. - -My friends gave forth various notes of alarm and fell back quickly to -the shelter of the trees. I was not at all certain whether they were -most afraid of the fish or of me and the magic which they seemed to -think I possessed. Fatty, however, was too glad to get me back to care -for anything else. He fell headlong over the boat in his crazy endeavour -to get his paws upon me and to roll on top of my feet. - -Inasmuch as the day was too far advanced to permit of any extended -explorations, I decided to try for a bit of sport. - -“Boys,” said I, remembering an old-time joke, “which would you rather do -or go fishing?” - -I got them to fetch me a long line, made of thongs tied firmly together, -while Fatty got a bird for bait and I cut a tough hard hook out of wood. -For this I chose a V-shaped crutch, one leg of which became the shank, -while the other was cut off shorter, sharpened and formed like a barb. -With the line tied to this, a rock for a sinker and a piece of the bird -spitted on my hook, I got out at the end of the boat and heaved the -tackle out as far as the cord would permit. - -I pulled it back with no result, save for a nibble when I had taken it -almost in. I thought the fish must be small and near the shore. However, -I tried again. The result was the same, only that I got two nibbles -instead of one. The third cast was an aggravation, for some miserable -sprat got my bait. We put on a fresh piece and tied it in place. - -“Now,” I grunted, as I threw the line again, “we’ll see if you young -sardines will—” - -A sudden, hard jerk on the line nearly dragged me overboard, neck and -crop. I had a bite which felt big enough to indicate a whale. - -Bracing, I stopped the line abruptly from running through my hands; and -then began a tug-o’-war. It was not a scientific fight, for I dared not -permit Mr. Fish to take his head for a second, well knowing that when he -turned and slacked the line, the hook would slip from its hold at once -and let him escape. I therefore hauled at him hard and stubbornly, -panting soon and leaning backward, for he felt as heavy as the bottom of -the lake and quite as unwilling to be led as a mule. The strain came on -the line and on the hook. If these held—what would we see? - -I worked backward, inch by inch in the boat, till at last I was out on -the shore. By that time the craft had been hauled off the bank and was -all but ready to float. - -“Here, Fatty,—come here—and help,” I panted. - -Fatty understood and while he was filled with misgivings that made him -actually tremble, he laid hold of the line and together we drew it in, -hand over hand. Presently with a mad whirl our catch came floundering -and slashing upward till it splashed the surface, in violent action, -when it disappeared like a piece of lead. A minute later we hauled the -thrashing denizen to shallow water and then clean out on the bank. It -was a good-sized tortoise, fairly hooked, dripping, fierce-looking and -struggling with all its might to get away. - -Fortunately the Links knew something of turtles. Three plucked up -courage sufficient to despatch our prize at my third shout of, “Shoot -him! Pig!” - -“Shoot” meant to slay, in any style or form, and “pig” signified -anything in the way of game or a foe. The catch made my friends so -enthusiastic that they wanted no end of fishing. It also provided a food -of which they were fond, and it gave me a nice new basin. Deep-lake -angling having proved to be hot, hard work, I bethought me of trying for -something more quiet. Additional line was soon forthcoming, and a run up -to camp provided a bamboo rod, after which I cut a smaller hook and -baited as before. - -At the second cast from the boat, I got a good sharp strike, and without -the slightest ceremony jerked out a silvery fish a foot in length, of a -species wholly unknown in my limited category of the finny tribe. In -fifteen minutes I had seven of these, ranging in weight from one to four -pounds, I judged, and all of firmer flesh than I had expected to find in -water so warm. The enjoyable part of all this play was to hear the -exclamations of wonder on the part of the Links, at every successive -catch. Had I remained there a day, performing this feat every two -minutes, I believe those child-like creatures would have stayed at my -side, marvelling no less at the very last catch than they did at the -first. - -I created an incredible excitement, finally by making Fatty take the rod -in his hand for a cast. He got a bite so quickly that it made him jump -inside his skin, from toes to crown. The fellow would have fallen down -and rolled away had I not held him fast and compelled him to land his -flopping shiner. At this the Links behind us nearly had a fit. -Amusement, curiosity, timidity and desire to come and do likewise made -them the most excited and entertaining group in the world. One by one -they worked themselves up to the frenzy of courage necessary to try -their luck, but the ticklish, unique sensation of catching a fish so -quickly dispelled their fears that before we finished they were fairly -scrambling for the chance to be the next to try. - -Beholding the immense satisfaction with which males and females, young -and old, cooked and devoured our catch, I wondered that the Links had -never progressed sufficiently to fish for themselves. The only -explanation I was able to give was that owing to their dread of the -lake, about the borders of which were innumerable snakes and alligators, -they had never discovered this food and therefore knew nothing of the -ease of taking all they could wish, by various primitive methods. - -A small quantity of tortoise and one of the smaller shiners satisfied my -craving for a change of diet, for neither was cooked to my liking, nor -was the flesh of a flavour to give me any particular delight. However, I -thought the Links deserved the play which the nearness of the lake -afforded, and therefore I cut them a score of hooks, that night by the -light of the fire, and had them prepare a lot of lines to tie at the end -of some bamboo rods which they fetched before the darkness descended. - -For myself, I laid out a bit of roasted meat and some fruit, got my bow -and arrows together, and otherwise made ready for an early start on my -tour of exploration. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVII - AN EXPLORATION - - -The lake was a shimmering mirror, dashed with endless splashes of -colour, when my boat glided swiftly away in the sunshine of the early -morning. From the jungles that fringed the shores came many sounds of -birds, singing, screaming and calling out. The noise made by my oars in -the crude locks seemed to travel far and to echo back from every side. - -Believing in systematic investigation, I chose the shore off to the -right, along which I intended to cruise that day. I would try the -left-hand side the following day, if necessary, and then, if the outlet -I was seeking were still undiscovered, I might be obliged to undertake a -much longer trip than either of these would become. - -The alligators had apparently not begun to stir about on the shady side -of the lake. I skimmed along within fifty yards of the shore, constantly -watching for any indication of a stream flowing outward through the -trees. The first hour brought no results; in the second I came to “my” -creek, the stream down which I had plunged that evening of the storm, -with the savage ourang behind me. Its volume was normal now, and -therefore much less than when it had bowled me into the lake, -nevertheless it tumbled over its last rocky leap with a pleasant murmur -which sounded familiar enough, and bubbles of silver floated away on the -placid surface of the water. It was good to recognise this old “friend,” -for it gave me another guide and cleared up my mental map of the lake -and surrounding country. - -Beyond this point there were miniature bays and tedious windings of the -shore, many of which I felt inclined to ignore, but any one of which -might have hidden the outlet I felt so eager to discover. In not a few -of the trees, which often overhung the water, I discerned troops of -curious monkeys. Of these there seemed to be almost endless variety, but -all were particularly shy upon beholding the strange creature out on the -lake, though I had no means of determining whether or not they classed -my boat and me among the ’gators. - -From one rather narrow inlet I escaped as quickly as I could turn my -craft and drive her back to the main body of water, for I nearly pushed -my oar against a huge boa-constrictor, half hanging from a tree with its -body partially submerged beneath the surface. Although I saw this -reptile before approaching so near, I readily mistook it for a portion -of the branch from which it depended. What it might have done, had I -rudely disturbed the sleep in which it was quietly indulging, I did not -pretend to know; it was quite enough for me that the creature was there, -and that for all the snake family I have a great aversion. - -The morning sped away. The heat of the day increased, so that rowing the -boat became an irksome task, particularly as I found nothing but -inconsiderable brooks, all of which flowed into the lake. Floating -quietly, with the oars shipped, I ate my lunch and felt somewhat -refreshed. A full hour of rest was spent in idly dabbling my feet in the -water. Later in the afternoon I had a swim, but in this the pleasure was -marred by a too persistent feeling of uneasiness about the monsters -which the place might contain. - -It must have been as late as four o’clock when at length I rounded a -point and found a long, irregular estuary, not more than seventy feet in -width, rank with grass and giving evidence of being the slack-water of a -large stream. From its juncture with the lake, I was quite unable to -determine its nature; it could have been either an inlet or an outlet, -as far as I could see. Proceeding up the centre of this, I was not -particularly gladdened to observe that my boat and oars were frightening -three medium-sized alligators to the cover afforded by the growth on -either side. Also there were great swarms of pestiferous insects, -dancing above the water in the sunlight. However, if this did mark the -outlet, I had to know it; the gauntlet would have to be run. It would be -comparatively safe, I thought, as long as it was I who continued to -frighten the alligators, instead of having them perform the office for -me. - -The place seemed literally alive with these monsters. I think it must -have been a breeding ground, for there were little ones by the score. -They all continued to be shy, but I confess I was not inspired with -confidence in any of the creatures, nor yet with a large pressure of -courage in myself. The insects settled upon me by hundreds. I slapped at -them constantly, but in a few minutes I was bitten in no fewer than -fifty places upon my hands, face and body and many of these spots had a -drop or more of blood oozing out to mark their location. - -Made desperate, I rowed as fast as caution would permit, being afraid -every moment of incurring the wrath or exciting the hunger of some huge -mother ’gator. The estuary wound away tortuously, into a realm weirdly -luxuriant with creepers, giant exotics and trees overhung with parasitic -vines. It narrowed down, also, which brought me nearer the banks, with -their crawling life. I presently noted a number of water-snakes escaping -in all directions, some of them near enough for me to strike them with -the oars. - -The sun was down toward the far horizon so that this place was in a -dense shade, amounting to gloom. It was just as much as I could do to -get my own consent to going further. It almost seemed as if I would -prefer to live with the Links forever than to have the nightmarish -features of this place increase or be nearer to me. I do not claim to be -a man of bravery and this estuary, I confess, gave me the creeps. I was -enormously relieved, in a moment, to hear a sound like rippling water. -Then I rounded a point on which a brood of alligators had just made a -landing, and saw where the water was in motion. - -It was flowing into the lake, not out toward the sea. My investigation -of the place had been time and energy wasted, not to mention nerves. In -haste I swung my craft about and started back. As it stopped for a -space, to turn, a water-snake crawled up, near the stern and glided -across. The reptile was large, glistening and altogether as repulsively -headed as Nature ever constructs. - -I hit at it viciously, and it dodged and plunged into the slimy water -like a shot. By that time my prow had drifted against the tail of an -alligator which must have been lying asleep, concealed in the grass. He -waked and gave the boat a bat with his great caudal extremity that made -her quiver, as he scrambled to shore. There was such a chorus of -dreadful sounds then that the creeps chased from my feet to the hair on -my head. Added to the maddening torture inflicted by the stinging -insects—some of which seemed large enough to be classed with -vampires—the place gave forth an animal stench comparable only to that -of a den of serpents. I grew “rattled,” in my frantic endeavour to get -out of the place, and rowed against the shore, in one place, and into a -tangle of reeds and vines at another. All of this added to my own -confusion as well as to the sounds of hissing, squirming away and -floundering in the water produced by the creatures whose home I had -rudely invaded. Had the beasts turned upon me in that maze of horrors, I -should have been wild enough to jump out of the boat and try to dash to -shore and away through the swampy tangle and the jungle. - -As I neared the exit, I did have the misfortune to strike not only the -edge of a sort of grass island, but also the head of a baby ’gator, -therein hiding. The mother gave forth an angry snort and started to -overtake the boat. An oar got caught for a second but I jerked it loose -and plunged it deep for a stroke that shot me away toward the lake. The -furious reptile gained for a moment, but then I got down to boat-race -work and slid away in a desperate mood. Paying too little attention to -where I was steering, I forgot the tendency of the craft to yaw about to -starboard, and therefore sent it fairly through a mass of green drapery -hanging from a tree on the right-hand bank; and the tail of a snake -which was climbing hurriedly up in the branches, dragged slimily across -my neck. - -I shuddered and nearly fell forward, but the boat had gained such -headway that it pushed through everything and was floating free on the -lake in a second. I bent to the oars anew, but Mrs. Alligator had turned -back, defeated. Without waiting for more experiences I headed for home -and commenced a steady pull. - - - - - CHAPTER XXVIII - AMAZING DISCOVERIES - - -It was nearly dark when at length I beached the boat and made the -painter fast to a tree. The Links were in a state of great anxiety, -fearing the dread lake had swallowed me down. They had fished, during my -absence, with such success that they had lost every hook, snarled all -the lines, broken several rods and procured about a hundred pounds of -shiners for dinner. - -A few of the fellows were attempting to fashion new hooks with the -knives of flint. There was promise, in the work of some, indicating that -in this direction at least there was chance for progress. Old Fatty, who -had whined on the shore when I left in the morning, romped about me -insanely, as usual. He and little Tike had occupied my shelter -throughout the day, awaiting my return. My “Little Man” was asleep there -when I entered, a troubled look on his serious little face. I carried -him off to his mother, but he did not awake, so weary had he grown at -his vigil that warm, long day. - -He was crooning “Man, man” beside me in the morning, happily, yet so -wistfully that it played upon every cord in my breast. How thin the -little fellow looked as he gazed in my eyes with that dumb affectionate -expression; how different he appeared from all the other Links, with the -golden sunlight streaming in on his quaint, childish countenance. When I -had taken my morning bath, I washed the tiny chap. He caught his breath -in funny little gasps, but I think he liked it immensely. Then we ate my -breakfast. He ate so small a portion that I shook my head and pushed the -fruits aside before I had taken half my usual quantity. - -Having vaguely thought of my exploration business as a duty to be -continued faithfully, I had half intended to leave, later in the day, -for a shorter trip. When the wee youngster nestled up to be comforted, -the plan faded away. We would have a quiet day of rest and peace. The -elders of the tribe, discovering my mood, gave up to the laziest of -lounging and rolling about, playing at indolent games and wrestling, -throwing bits of twigs and pulling at each other’s feet and toes. The -chief and his white mate sat about in a somewhat superior style, the -latter eyeing me sullenly from time to time, while her husband gazed by -the hour into the half-clear depths of the great rock-crystal at the end -of his club. The fellow seemed to adore this stone, as well he might, -for by its weight and his own overtowering height he had made himself -chief of his fellows. - -His chieftainship continued, although I had long believed I could -overthrow the fellow and usurp his power to add to my own, did I wish to -create a disturbance. But inasmuch as I was in no way hampered, and was -obeyed, my position amounted to that of a ruler, while I gave this giant -Link no offense. As long as he continued to feel himself the master of -the family, my own sway could never be complete, but for this I cared -nothing as long as I was enabled to proceed with my plans. More than -once I might have taken advantage of the awe created by natural means to -bring the chief under my rule, but I was waiting to see what he would do -of his own accord. The day when my cannon exploded he had been so ready -to acknowledge my leadership that a look would have brought him cowering -to my feet, but I had turned my back upon him and he had refrained from -doing anything impulsive. - -In order to provide entertainment for little Tike, this day of rest, I -selected a slender section of bamboo rod and cut him a whistle. By -placing a second piece inside of this and sliding it up and down, I had -a primitive trombone, which begot a craze of delight among all the -Links. I played this instrument about an hour during which time the -fellows all came crawling up on all fours, to squat about in a circle -where they remained, nodding, blinking and holding their heads on one -side, with the greatest attention and pleasure. - -I bethought me then of a drum and procuring a section of bamboo six -inches or more in diameter, stretched a wetted fish-skin across the end -and let it dry there. This thing produced a fine resonant tone that made -the creatures jump with astonishment at first and dance with excitement -later. In point of popularity this instrument eclipsed the whistle -totally. The Links took to it as naturally as a cat takes to mice. - -Having pleased little Tike and having rested myself, while providing a -holiday of amusement for the tribe, I decided to go at my navigation -again in the morning. Agreeable as some of these moments appear to have -been, I was fretting constantly to be away from the unclean, semi-animal -beings, and once more restored to my kind and to civilisation, where I -could lie on a decent bed, eat a decent meal and listen to something -besides barbarous language. So desperate did I frequently become to hear -my native tongue, that I spouted every quotation and sang every song I -could conjure from my memory. This performance was always attended by a -demonstration of surprise and unrest on the part of all the Links who -were close enough to hear. - -The following morning was the cool, still forerunner of another sultry -day. Fatty waddled behind me to the boat, where he whined again and -started convulsively every time I bade him “come along,” but to master -his fear of the lake sufficiently to enter the boat and trust himself -away from the shore, was quite beyond his power. He wanted to go, but -had he been thrust in by force, he would have scrambled wildly back to -the bank, to run up and down and dance, like an unwilling dog who has -been thrown in the water whether he would or no. I left him, sad and -anxious, on the beach. - -According to my previously formulated scheme, I directed the prow toward -the left shore this morning, and rowed as before, about fifty yards out -from the wall of foliage which marked the boundary of lake and jungle. -In half an hour I passed the place where I had fought the battle with -the alligator, while I was floating on the log. On this present occasion -not a saurian could I see, but I knew the place where I was sure there -were half a dozen. - -The day was practically a repetition of the other, except that this -western shore had a greater number of small streams, and none that were -large, contributing to the body of the lake. I dipped into bays and -inlets without number, many of which were of exceeding beauty. These -were frequently so large that I travelled many miles without being more -than three or four from camp, by air line. In the late afternoon, when I -had worked perhaps two miles further away in actual distance—or about -eight as I skirted the edge—I approached what appeared to be a deeper -and narrower bay than any before discovered. - -This arm of the lake presently curved about a point, which made me think -it might perhaps be another tributary stream, or river, like the one in -which I had passed a desperate fifteen minutes. I felt not entirely fond -of such experiences and therefore regarded this place with suspicion. It -was freer of insects than the other had been, although there were some I -could have spared; while the alligator population was not numerously -represented. There was the grass which I thought indicated flowing -water, however, and the trees on the banks were like those of the other -place which I dreaded. - -When I had penetrated several hundred yards into the jungle on the bosom -of this winding stream, the shadows from the overhanging trees were -again exceedingly dense. I confess I had a poor stomach for doing much -of this sort of thing at the end of day. My brain began to invent -excuses for proceeding home and coming again when the light was better. -A number of scares, to which I had been subjected during the day, had -contributed largely to this lack of proper enthusiasm. Soon I conceived -a brilliant scheme for determining whether this stream were inlet or -outlet to the lake. In either case there would be a slight current. I -would stop the boat and let it drift. If it went on “up” I could be sure -I had found the outlet which in all reason should flow eventually to the -sea; if I drifted back toward the lake, I must continue my search on the -morrow. - -Pulling slowly to the next turning, I brought the craft to a standstill -and awaited results. For a long time I failed to detect any movement in -either direction, so sluggish was the current. I became absorbed in -studying a number of stakes, which stood in the water, near the bank. -“Surely,” I thought at last, “we are moving slightly—down the stream.” -Was it then actually the outlet for which I was seeking? - -I grew excited as I watched the stakes. Then I began to comprehend -something. These stakes suggested order. Could it be possible they had -been planted? I could not see how they could get there at such -semi-regular intervals, in any natural manner. How far did they extend? -Where was the first one I had noticed? I looked back. Then I was -convinced, abruptly, that the boat was drifting down the stream much -more rapidly that I had suspected. - -It was the outlet! - -This truth flashed upon me with all the power of instantaneous -conviction. I forgot the stakes and all the line of speculation which -their mysterious presence had engendered. I looked toward that green -gate of deliverance. Mentally I saw myself rowing and drifting down this -gentle, winding current, hastening away from this extraordinary -land—away from this jungle fastness to the great open sea. A thousand -suggestions came tumbling in upon me, as to how to provision my boat, -how to leave the Links, how to sleep at night on “Outlet” river, how to -search for a village when I should find myself at last free, and how -then to take a steamer and hasten back to the world which was really a -world! - -“The outlet!” I muttered in fervent thankfulness. “Freedom—Life—Home!” - -I was wrought to a fever in my excitement of hope; I was all but -transported, thus to find the gate that let me out of my prison of -greenery, when suddenly I nearly froze from chills and paralysis of all -my senses and blood-circulation. - -A voice rose clear in the silence of ended day—a human voice, in that -wilderness of jungle and jungle-creatures,—a voice pronouncing words in -English—a singular mixture of words with no reason. Then presently they -settled into the musical order of poetry: - - “There was a sound of revelry by night, - And Belgium’s capital had gathered then - Her beauty and her chivalry, and bright - The lamps shone o’er fair women and brave men, - And when music arose with its voluptuous——” - -I arose to cry out at the top of my voice. A human being—a man, no -doubt, was in reach of my voice—a friend, companion, perhaps, to share -my fate and solitude! I filled my lungs for a mighty halloo—a cry to -this partner in exile—when out from the trees on the bank, not a spear’s -throw distant, issued a black, ungainly form—and then another. - -Links! They were black Missing Links! - -Those stakes were theirs! I had found their camp. The voice—this human -being—was he then a prisoner? What did it mean—and what should I do? - -To cry out meant instant detection—perhaps immediate death. The two had -failed to see me—they might go back. But I was drifting—drifting toward -them. One of them turned about. - -A yell went up immediately. I was known. The alarm spread like -prairie-fire, up through the wood. I swung the boat about like mad and -headed for the lake. A club came whizzing through the air, struck in the -water beside the boat and splashed me with spray. A score of the -villainous looking devils came running to join their companions. Along -the bank they dashed in pursuit, crying out and making crazy -gesticulations. The water foamed where it left the oars and it rippled -and swashed from the prow of my craft. Club after club came hurtling -toward me, end over end. One of these struck the stern a resounding -thump; the demons cried out savagely and showered more. A small one -would have dashed out my brains had I not been quick to duck to the -bottom of the boat. - -I shot across the river to the opposite side, but a curve gave my -infuriated pursuers a slight advantage. It seemed as if the thickets and -trees were simply bridges over which the creatures hurried the faster. -Making as if to sweep along below them, I back-watered one of my oars -and pulled with the other, at the turn, spinning the boat clean about to -hard-a-port, and sent her ahead so swiftly that all the clubs, which the -devils threw at point-blank range, plunged stone-head first into the -ripples behind. - -“Never touched me!” I bawled out in derision. - -They screamed in impotent rage. I rounded the curve and sped away with -all the advantage mine. They gave up the chase. Ten minutes more saw me -out on the lake and well away. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIX - A SACRED DISGUISE - - -Before I got home I had ample time in which to think. What a strange -concatenation of events! The outlet discovered, deliverance almost -assured me, and then to find the camp of my bitterest enemy on the very -bank of my gateway to freedom! But that human voice—what could it mean? - -I began to speculate and to reason from deduction. Inasmuch as I had -lost myself and been found by the red Missing Links, it was evident that -another man could have met with some accident which would have thrown -him in contact with the Blacks of the same family or species. The Reds -had treated me with marked consideration from the first, therefore the -Blacks might do the same for another of my kind. More than this, the -Blacks had manifested not only an extraordinary interest in myself, that -day when first I met them at the volcanic peak, but they had also -attempted to abduct me without injury to my body or feelings. I had made -them my foes by allying myself offensively and defensively with the -Reds, but they might not be savage to one who had not so given them -cause. Undoubtedly, I reasoned, they knew man and what he is and had -recognised me at once. They had desired also to possess me, an -inclination, I reasoned, which had resulted from association with this -other, mysterious man. - -What manner of person was it they held as prisoner in their camp? How -long had they held him captive? To this latter question I mentally -answered that they had kept him several months at the least, since I had -been a considerable time with the Reds, myself, and they had apparently -become acquainted with my species before my arrival in the country. Then -about his capacity as a man, my thought ran quickly to the conclusion -that he must be weak or at least a man of no inventiveness and of no -particular inward resources. I arrived at this from two sources of -argument. First, he had obviously done nothing to arm his fellows, even -with primitive spears, or bows and arrows, to say nothing of never -having headed their hunting or fighting expeditions; and, second, he had -done nothing to escape, although he must have known that he was living -on the very edge of that great outflowing river, which should suggest to -his mind the sea beyond, as it had done to me. - -Almost without considering anything, my first conclusion had been that I -must meet this partner-in-exile, enlist his services and make him my -comrade in escaping. Indeed I had been conscious of a great elation of -spirits, to think of such an encouraging piece of good fortune. Now, -however, when I was sure that he was neither bold, nor alert, nor -superior to circumstances, I doubted the wisdom of burdening myself with -such a companion, in the midst of my accumulated adversities. This last -selfish thought was hardly complete, however, before I banished it with -scorn, as utterly unworthy of any man in my position. - -Perhaps the poor fellow had been shipwrecked, under conditions that -shattered his nerves; perhaps he was crippled, or otherwise disabled; -perhaps he had undergone severe illness; he might even have been an -invalid when captured; and it was always possible that the Blacks kept -him bound or so closely attended that action was rendered impossible. I -recalled then that his voice had not sounded strong. His recitation of -verses and conning over of words, I could understand precisely, for I -had done the same myself on many occasions. Whatever it was that made -him helpless, he was a fellow-being and certainly in more or less -distress. I felt my heart expanding toward him—my unknown partner! I -would see him, help him and take him with me—or die at his side, -fighting like a devil! - -My plans, which had been nearly complete for my own escape, became -immediately most uncertain and scattered. It was not a matter now merely -of stocking the boat, securing my weapons and then proceeding down the -outflowing river, but of bearding the Blacks in their stronghold, seeing -this man and getting him away. Then would come the running of the -gauntlet past their camp on the river. The first proposition, that of -entering this village of the hostile Links and interviewing my -“partner,” loomed up, unsolved, for careful consideration. That the -fellows were keenly on the lookout, I had demonstrated fully; they had -seen me and sounded the alarm in a style truly masterful if not -admirable. That they thirsted somewhat for my unwilling gore, I had -precious small reason to doubt. If I got away with their captive and the -demons discovered who it was that engineered the feat, there would be a -warm jungle-region all about the lake. - -How much could I count on the man I meant to assist? Not a great deal, I -feared, for he was probably incapacitated in some important manner. -However, he had doubtless superintended the hammering down of those -stakes I had seen in the river, which evidently meant some sort of -fishing operations, so that perhaps, after all, he was more inventive -than I had previously supposed. All the way up the lake, I racked my -brain for a suitable plan for invading the enemy’s camp. There were wild -ideas in plenty, but no one of these was practical or even worthy of a -moment’s consideration. - -I gave up thinking, when at last the boat was secured on the beach, -knowing how far away my thoughts would be driven by the welcome of the -Links. All through my dinner, however, even with little Tike in my arms -and Fatty languishing about my feet, I was lost in pondering over the -doings of the day. That night, although I was weary, I tossed and rolled -uneasily, catching but snatches of sleep between the spells of being -vividly awake over my new discoveries and their attendant problems. Time -after time I awoke with a start, thinking I had solved the difficulty, -only to realise that my brain was indulging in the most fantastic of -workings. My whole being was dominated and occupied by this scheme of -uniting with that human prisoner on the river. - -Sometime in the earliest hours of morning I sat up abruptly, having been -tortured by a sort of nightmare in which there was an inextricable -tangle of Links, alligators and bears. As before, this was intimately -connected with the man whom I intended to rescue from the Blacks, but -this time I got an idea out of the chaos and it fairly made me twitch, -so galvanically did it grip my whole nervous system. - -I would visit the hostile camp in safety, because I would go as a bear. - -A bear—yes, a sacred black bear! Those superstitious creatures should -worship my tracks and make themselves fools over my visit, while I spied -upon them, planned against them and robbed them of their captive! I -should be more than safe, more than free to come and go as I liked, more -respected than the general of the world’s greatest army. - -Before attempting to get my plans in operation, I must kill a bear, skin -him and cure the hide. This preliminary business presented no -inconsiderable sum of difficulties, as I was thoroughly aware. “First -find your bear,” said the funny fellow in my brain. This part I thought -I could manage, for I had seen a bear in the neighbourhood of the place -where the one had appeared that morning after my fight with the -alligator. I thought him the same identical animal, which might -therefore abide in or about that quarter. But having secured my bruin’s -pelt, there remained the task of curing it,—a work which I must conduct -alone and away from camp, inasmuch as the Links would be horrified to -know that I had committed the deed on so sacred a beast. - -There was no more sleep for me after thinking of this. At the first -suggestion of dawn I crept out, silently, avoided old Fatty, who was -curled down beside my door, and glided noiselessly down the hill, armed -with a club, my knife, bow and quiver of arrows. When I arrived at the -edge of the lake I went a little into the forest and dug some fresh -saltpetre. With this substance I intended to preserve the skin, for not -only are its properties well suited to the business, but I was denied -the use of our spring of brine by the presence of my bear-adoring -friends. - -With my cargo of stuff thrown down in the end of the boat, I pushed away -from the bank and rowed slowly off toward a point around which I meant -to be concealed by the time the Links would begin to stir. The dawn was -breaking as I neared my destination, but I waited for full day-break -before attempting to go ashore. When at length the boat ran up on the -beach I was a mile from the swampy region in which the alligators had -proved themselves so numerous and hungry. A small clearing afforded an -adequate retreat, where I felt that I could operate without interruption -or likelihood of being observed. - -With the club and quiver on my back, and the bow in hand, I forced my -way through a stubborn growth, coming presently upon the trail of some -jungle creature which had apparently broken this path for the purpose of -drinking at the lake. I had gone no more than several strides in this -beaten track when I nearly stepped upon a hooded snake. Though I jumped -back quickly and made ready with speed to hit the reptile with my club, -it glided away before I could fetch it a blow, escaping into a maze -where I own I dared not follow. Willing enough to let the creature -alone, if it would do the same by me, I went on my way. Then occurred -the thought, if only I could have killed it and poisoned my arrows, how -much better I should be armed for the bear. - -Going back I thumped about for several minutes, looking for the venomous -serpent, yet dreading to see it. There was little danger of seeing that -particular snake again, so I once more resumed my journey. Having the -venom thought in mind, I decided to search for a serpent deliberately, -for the sake of its poison. - -Snake hunting is not in my line. I kept an eye open and peered about in -likely places but the reptiles I saw were not the venomous kind and they -were often of the constricting variety, so that they and I had nothing -in common. I passed them by frequently, in haste to be about my -business. The whole morning was passed in this half-hearted search for -venom. In the early afternoon, having worked through a wide belt of -trees, I issued forth in the largest clearing I had seen since leaving -the boat. It was hardly more than fifty feet wide by one hundred long, -slightly swampish under foot and overrun with vines, gigantic flowering -plants and the rankest of grass. - -At the edge of this place I had the luck to see the tail end of what I -thought to be a venomous snake. The reptile was nearly safe from harm -beneath a mass of interlocking creepers, yet I tried to get at him and -became so absorbed while poking about the brush that I clean forgot my -more important quest. In the midst of this dallying about, I left my -position to run around to the further side of the tangle, and found -myself confronted by the creature of all creatures which I regarded as -particularly mine—a bear as black as soot. - -This animal was nosing about the trunk of a tree. He was only five or -six long strides away, paying no tribute of attention whatsoever to me -or my prowess. That he had seen me and heard me I could not possibly -doubt. I knew at once that the veneration in which he was held by the -Links grew out of this remarkable inoffensiveness and the grave, knowing -air with which the creature kept about its own concerns. I longed for a -well-poisoned arrow, but the time being inopportune for regrets, I -silently fitted my choicest shaft on the bow-string and stepped aside -for a better chance to shoot. - -The bear rose partially up on its haunches, to investigate the tree, -presenting an open front, with a bit of white fur at the throat. With -this white for a target, I raised my weapon and drew the arrow to the -head. It leaped across the meagre distance like a flash of light and -quivered a second, buried deep in that snowy fur, which was dyed with -red before the creature could drop to a normal position on its feet. - -I expected to hear a roar of rage, and then to be attacked forthwith by -the infuriated animal, but instead the bear made a sound almost human in -its vivid expression of agony. It staggered slightly and brushing at the -shaft with its paw, started away toward a thicket. Not to be cheated of -my pelt, I threw down the bow and dashed after the creature, club in -hand. - -In a second or two I was almost on his back. He half turned about—and -met the descending club with his head. Simply moaning, this singular -animal shuddered down in its tracks, breathed heavily a moment and was -dead. - -If I hunt till I kill a thousand creatures I shall never feel so guilty -of murder as I did to see this harmless bear lying motionless there in -the jungle. If only it had fought me, threatened my life, or shown -itself malignant, I could have done the deed cheerfully. If only the -creature had growled, or even torn up the grass, I should have felt a -bit of relief; but to see it die as I knew it had lived, unaggressive, -good-natured and retiring—this made me feel that I was the brute and the -wanton destroyer of life. Even dead, the animal accused me of lust for -blood. - -“No,” I finally said to the body, aloud, “I would never have done this -merely for fun. I needed your skin,—hang it! there’s a human life at -stake and you ought to be glad!” - -Fortunately I was easily consoled. I came to my senses in a -business-like manner. The skinning did much to remove the last vestige -of my sentimentality, for it was a tough, hot job. My knife was none too -sharp, despite its recent honing on a rock, and the bear was heavy to -turn. When at last I had the hide removed, with the feet and head left -on, I rolled the whole mass up and got it on my shoulder. It was heavy -and wet; I felt the need of haste, and therefore with my weapons duly -gathered together and so disposed as to cause me the least possible -inconvenience, I strode away. - - - - - CHAPTER XXX - AGAIN BESIEGED - - -The sun was ready to disappear by the time I reached the boat. Embarking -as soon as I had cut a large quantity of leaves, I rowed until I was -some distance out on the lake before completing my day’s work. This -labour consisted of skinning the head of my bear and then of wetting the -whole hide thoroughly. With a generous hand I spread the saltpetre upon -the fleshy side, after which I rolled the skin up in a bundle and stowed -it away in the stern, where I covered it over thickly with the leaves, -in order that my fellows might not see the beloved black fur. - -Knowing the beach would be deserted as soon as darkness began to -descend, I pulled homeward leisurely, reaching the landing after the -stars had begun to twinkle. There I got a lot of clay and placed it on -top of the leaves which covered the pelt. This I knew would serve the -double purpose of hiding my treasure from sharp, inquisitive eyes, and -of keeping the moisture in the skin till the saltpetre could permeate -the whole mass and convert the perishable and evil-smelling hide into -leather. In order further to insure the skin against anything which -might be tempted to meddle, I tied a big rock to my painter and dropping -it overboard anchored the boat about forty feet from the shore. After -this I swam and waded to the bank. - -As I had left in the morning before any of the Links were awake, I -thoroughly expected a flattering demonstration on my return to the top -of the hill. I was totally unprepared, however, to hear the wildest -imaginable beating of our drum, the moment I shouted to let them know I -had come. And when I came through the gate and loomed up in the glow of -the fire, there was more than enthusiasm—there was madness rife in the -tribe. - -The fellows were nervous, wild-eyed, starting at every sound, chattering -crazily in their few poor monosyllables, and they showed a readiness to -bury me in a heap of their prostrate bodies, so eager was their -supplication for something which they much desired. Males, females and -children had evidently been huddled together in a trembling mass, at my -arrival, but now the whole population was about me, mad to tell me news -of some calamity, I thought, but rendered wholly unintelligible by their -haste and fear. I pushed them away vigorously, convinced that something -more than merely my unaccountable absence and safe return had wrought -this excitement. - -“Fatty,” I demanded of my half-blubbering slave, “what’s the matter? -Stand still and tell me like a man. What’s eating all these idiots? What -has happened?” - -He made an effort that was truly heroic. - -“Peegs,” he said. “Gee wizz!” - -The rascal knew I never exclaimed “Gee whizz!” till something -extraordinary occurred. So poignant did the silly words become in this -connection that I jumped at what he meant to convey at a single mental -bound. - -He meant that we were again invaded. The black Links had marched upon -the village in force. I was almost carried to the further side of our -wall, from which place I could see the campfires of the enemy, fitfully -gleaming through the trees, below. The creatures were intrenched at the -edge of the jungle, just at the base of our hill. But they had not yet -attacked our position, that was evident. I was amazed at this and also -at the fact that they dared to remain all night so near the haunts of -the savage prowlers. - -I worked for an hour endeavouring to calm my fellows sufficiently to get -some sort of a “statement” of what had really occurred. The words I knew -of their language and the little they tried to comprehend of mine served -only to aggravate our confusion. By means of signs and various -pantomimes I was able to make some guesses. The most important of these -was that the foe had come there late in the afternoon, whereupon my -friends had retreated inside the walls and waited, armed with their -clubs, while Fatty made a hideous noise on the drum. - -Attributing little virtue to the power of our musical instrument, and -groping about for the reason why the invaders had not attacked the camp, -I concluded that something in the way of a deeply laid “plot” was being -formulated by the Blacks, who were perhaps intent upon our total -destruction, in payment for all the defeats inflicted upon them by us in -the past. Whether only a portion of their force had come up, or whether -they reckoned on our disinclination to leave our stronghold and charge -upon them and so intended to surround and starve us out, was a matter -which time alone could determine. I thought of Grin, however, and -wondered if the wretch were with them. Also I mentally nodded my -recognition of the fact that my “visit” to their camp had been largely -instrumental in bringing about this war-like advance. I thought it -likely that the creatures concluded I had been spying upon them, with a -possible attack for my object, and that then they had determined to be -the first to strike. Doubtless, I meditated, they had long contemplated -this war of retaliation, and my presence in their river had precipitated -matters, which had been delayed for various reasons of state. - -Inasmuch as their reasons and plans could never be known by any man, I -gave up pondering about them and devoted my thoughts to planning my own -campaign. On the whole I was not exceedingly sorry to have a chance to -try my bamboo bombs. I entertained no doubt of the dire effect which -these would produce on our foe. For that night, at least, we were safe -from attack; no Link would dare proceed a score of yards from his fire -in the darkness. If they crept up the hill and surprised us in the -morning, while we were still in bed—then so much the worse for us, for -being so extremely luxurious and confident in the noise of our drum. - -I signified my desire for something to eat and then devoured a hearty -meal, a proceeding which surprised and calmed the Links no little. They -had been too much alarmed before to do anything but huddle together, -like so many animals in a corner, ready to fight if pressed another -inch, but more likely to be furious and savage through fear than through -any sort of courage. They were not wholly cowardly, but they were -mortally afraid of the Blacks (who came back so persistently for more -punishment), especially while here on our isolated hill, with neither -cave nor near-by jungle into which to run. They were awed by this -implacable foe, and having depended on me to defeat the Black army, had -become less confident of their own powers than they were when I first -came into the tribe. However, they had always evinced the greatest -readiness to attack a force smaller than their own, which fact, coupled -with their present behaviour, was now as good as an accurate report to -convince me that the fellows were sure the number of Blacks below was -much in excess of our own. - -Gratified to find that our supply of arrows had not been wasted again in -my absence—an indication of sense in my fellows which I attribute to the -wholesome dread they had of the powder magazine, in which the weapons -were stored—I laid out the shafts, with the bows, and otherwise -exhibited an assuring alertness and desire to be prepared. The Links did -me the honour of picking up a bit of courage, under my influence, making -me feel a half-affectionate regard and sympathy for the poor child-like -creatures, for it was plain that they strove hard and constantly against -their mental limitations. They wished to understand, to enlarge the -scope of their brains, to be like men. - -I felt a certain pride in knowing that my sentries, when I set the watch -and bade the others go to bed, would remain awake and alive to their own -responsible position; I felt like something of a general, to see my -agitated fellows calmed down and proceeding to rest in an ordinary -manner. If I could only hold them together, organised as warriors, -shooting steadily in the face of a charge, I knew we could repel those -Blacks much more easily than ever before and inflict upon them such a -loss that they might be completely quelled for years to come. - -Every personal plan had been driven out of my head by this unexpected -advent of “war.” I thought of nothing but what might occur in the -morning and what would be our most effective means of conducting the -hill-top part of the coming engagement. I was undecided, particularly -about the use to which I had best put the bombs, for I realised that if -I attempted to throw them, I might inflict half the injury on ourselves, -not to mention the panic sure to be produced within our walls. Under the -influence of such a feeling, my fellows might commit the gravest -indiscretions. - -Dismissing the whole affair from my weary brain at last, I retired, -surrounded by my weapons, and was deep in dreamless sleep in a moment. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXI - LOST IN THE JUNGLE - - -When I suddenly sat erect, with a feeling that the battle was on and I -too late to assume my part, it took me a second to realise what had -aroused me from sleep. It was only little Tike, who had come to my side -in the semi-light of dawn and laid his tiny hand upon my face. - -Not one of all the babies I have known in my life ever made a sweeter -sound of crooning than did my Little Man that morning, as I held him -snugly cuddled in my arm. It seemed to me the wee chap told how he had -searched my deserted shelter all the day before, and all the other days, -since I had been away so much; it seemed as if he forgave me and forgot -this neglect and made himself a promise that I would not go away and -leave him any more. The light increased, chasing the shadows away from -his thin, little face, but under his wistful eyes were shadows far too -deep to be dispelled by any light of earth. I noted this and observed -that his lip was inclined to tremble; his eye-lids seemed to be heavy as -lead. What a singular little face it was—such a homely, tiny, monkey -face, with phases of child-humanism coming and going across its -lineaments. - -“Man,” he said, “man,” and he patted my hand and gave a little shiver of -joy. - -I carried him out with me when I went to investigate the situation. -Below me, where I had seen the fires the night before, there was nothing -visible of any of the foe. I noted a thin wisp of smoke, curling lazily -upward above the lowest trees, and I presently detected the shaking of a -brush, denoting the presence of one of the black fellows, who was spying -upon us, unobserved. How I longed for a good rifle to rest on top of our -wall with its muzzle aimed down there at the cover of the demons! - -My fellows stirred about with commendable promptness, sixty of them -armed with the bows, all of them eagerly watching to see what I intended -to do. They commanded a certain thrill of admiration, for they were -impressively muscular, alert and active. I could almost fancy them -soldiers, some day, disciplined, efficient and worthy of trust. - -As the sun began to warm the earth, the invaders below commenced to move -about more freely. Although they brandished their clubs toward us and -seemed to swarm all through that portion of the jungle, there was no -indication that the creatures intended to make an immediate attack. I -was soon convinced that they were there in great numbers. What their -plan would be I found myself unable to surmise, but it was plain the -fellows were being held in check for some extraordinary measure. I had -been obliged to admit before that these Blacks exhibited certain marks -of superiority over my Reds, in points of aggressiveness and stratagem, -but this game of waiting and deliberate planning surpassed anything they -had performed since I first made their honoured acquaintance. - -As far as anything could be deduced from the position now occupied by -the besiegers, I concluded they meant to surge up the slope, at this -point of advantage, where the grade was easy and unobstructed. I own I -should have felt relieved had the savages commenced the war at once. -There was something ominous about this deliberation which I in nowise -relished. While I was attempting to put myself in their place, for the -purpose of thinking what I would do, knowing what they did of the -reception they were likely to meet upon storming the summit, I heard -distant yelling in the jungle. This drew nearer, after which the sounds -receded again in the distance. - -What might this incident portend? I inquired of myself, but I could -think of no satisfactory answer. In our larder we had a limited supply -of fruit and no meat fit to cook. I divided everything as equitably as -possible, but none of us had enough for a hearty breakfast. Old Fatty, -who observed me putting aside a portion of my share, put away the whole -of his, like a faithful dog who refuses to eat while his master is in -any way afflicted. - -During our meal, and while I was concerning myself with the question of -how we should manage to supply the camp with more provisions, I noted a -distant tumble of mist, arising from the lowlands, like a cloud of smoke -from heavy artillery. This grew and spread with great rapidity. I -comprehended at once that a fog would soon envelope all the world. At -first I thought this solved the problem of the Blacks’ new game of war. -I believed they had waited for this to occur, with a knowledge that it -came reliably often, intending to swoop upon us under its cover and -strike us down before we could realise the meaning of the charge. A -moment later, however, I knew they would never dare attack in even -semi-darkness. The fog was not a thing which a Link would think of -employing. - -Suddenly I had an idea that fog was exactly a thing of which man would -take advantage. I would utilise this one to the fullest extent. Watching -its progress now in excitement, for fear it might be too local to -include our hill, I was aware of a repetition of the yelling in chorus, -which I had noted before, out in the forest. I could think of no reason -why a portion of the besieging army should thus be off in the jungle, -making such a racket, but the fellows about me began to manifest the -greatest alarm. The sounds again drew nearer and nearer; the fog rolled -in, apparently on the heels of this party in the jungle. It seemed -almost like a race between the mist and this battalion of the invading -force. - -I heard the yelling creatures swerve off to the right. Their very -position was revealed by the rising of a large flock of parrots, all of -which made a considerable noise as they flashed brilliantly in the -sunlight a moment and swept down again, a hundred yards from where they -rose. Just as I began to have an indefinite anxiety about the game being -played below us, the fog enveloped that portion of the jungle where the -foe were conducting their mysterious operations. I fancied a wail of -disappointment finished their chorus of cries, after which the fog -seemed to blot out all sound as well as all the panorama below our -position. - -Silently the great pall spread and travelled, till I saw it climbing the -slope between ourselves and the camp of the Blacks. - -“Now we’ll fix ’em,” I cried to my warriors. “They have played their -game and now we’ll play the joker.” - -Going to the magazine I hurriedly uncovered all my bombs and took out -all but the smallest three, together with a quantity of fuse. This -latter had become so dry that I felt the greatest confidence in the -dryness of all the powder. Bidding my most intelligent and obedient -fellows take these up with care, I lifted the two largest myself and led -the way through the gate and started down and around the hill, toward -the entrenchment of the Blacks. - -At once my fighters halted, afraid of the fog and more afraid of the -enemy in waiting. I stormed and coaxed and threatened before I could get -them to follow, but Fatty came and then another, after which the others -felt ashamed to remain behind. Thus I got the small force a little more -than half way down the slope, where I directed them to deposit the bombs -on the ground and to dig a long, narrow trench across the path up which -I believed the Blacks intended to come when at last they made their -assault upon the summit. - -In the bottom of this ditch, which was made two feet deep in a time -amazingly brief, I arranged my bombs, about a foot apart, hurriedly -attaching a fuse to each, making the matches as nearly of a length as -possible. The mines extended for so considerable a distance that I -determined to lay two series of main fuses. This I did by bringing -together the matches of all the bombs on the right, in one bunch, and -all on the left in another. At these junctions I cut each fuse off to -insure freshness and to guarantee ignition of the powder, after which I -weighted them down with rocks, placed the end of the main fuse in -contact with them and sprinkled powder plentifully about to unite them -all in one train. A similar arrangement being completed for the second -group, I had the whole mine covered carefully, with rocks and earth, -when I trailed my main matches up the hill, had them weighted down and -brought the ends together several rods below our wall. - -The Links were willing enough to return inside our gate. I had them -remove a few of the stones from the wall at a point just opposite my -fuses, and then we conveyed some embers from the fire with which to -kindle a special blaze wherefrom I intended to snatch a lighted brand -when the moment should arrive for touching off the match. - -All being in readiness I should have been gratified to see the fog roll -away and the enemy starting up the hill in a solid phalanx. We stood on -guard as an extra precaution, in case the Blacks should summon a courage -sufficient to attack us under cover of the mist, but the world was -silent and the objects about us were ghostly in the vaporous shrouds. -The hours wore on and the fog continued thick and warm. We had all been -hungry before the mist arose; we were now growing restless and desperate -to satisfy our cravings. - -To add to my own discomforts I began to worry about the fuse absorbing -dampness. Should it be ruined by the fog the mines would be useless. -What might happen then was beyond conjecture, for we should have no -large bombs to use, and the small ones left in the magazine could not be -provided with fuse. In the midst of my troubles, little Tike came -stumbling against my leg. He fell down at my feet, but was up at once -and gazing in my face with his odd little smile playing lightly on his -lips. I took him on my arm and going to my shelter gave him all he would -take of the fruits. Fatty, on seeing this, fetched his hidden store and -rolled about in ecstasy when he had placed it before me. I ate a piece -of his hoarded fruit to please the old fellow, after which I -endeavoured, vainly, to get him to eat what remained. - -He was ravenously hungry, so much so that he could not keep his eyes -from the tempting mangoes and papaw, nor keep his tongue from lapping at -his chops, yet he still refused to eat when I signified that I should -take no more. He concealed the hoard again, returning to his place with -his stomach empty. - -Only once, since my advent among the Links, had a fog remained all day -to obscure the hills and forest, but this one threatened to perform a -similar feat. From time to time it lifted for a moment from a local -area, only to descend again more quickly than before. I began to believe -that perhaps it might be possible for a party of us to deploy on a -foraging tour and visit the grove of fruit-bearing trees. Unfortunately -the Blacks had made their camp in the most accessible “orchard,” which -gave them a great advantage. However, I knew of several cocoanut palms, -a little removed from the enemy’s position, which I thought I could -find, even in the dark. I decided to make an attempt to reach this -grove. - -It was well along in the afternoon by this, and the fog still hung -heavily on the country. As before, I had considerable trouble in getting -a force of fellows to back me in the enterprise. But the hungriest -became the bravest and therefore with ten stout fellows, all armed, I -left the wall behind and went cautiously down the hill. - -Very soon I found that everything appeared so altered in the mist that -piloting my party was not at all an easy matter. I disliked exceedingly -the prospect of finding myself in the enemy’s lines, but having started, -I was too proud, or too stubborn, to do such a sensible thing as retreat -and own myself baffled. We therefore proceeded uncertainly along, near -the edge of the trees, getting deeper and deeper, it seemed, into the -maze of fog and unfamiliar objects. The mist down here was much more -dense than that which floated about the camp above. - -As we prowled stealthily ahead, looking aloft at the shadowy trees, the -curtain of vapour was rended about us, abruptly, leaving us bare—as it -were—and completely revealed. On the second a cry of alarm broke from a -Black, not fifteen yards away, and a chorus of yells made answer, as a -score of the demons rushed out from the cover of trees, to give us -battle. - -My nimble fellows vanished like shadows, bounding swiftly up the slope -and into the kindly bank of fog, before the Blacks could so much as -count their heels. I also started to dash away toward the camp, but -tripped over a rolling stone and fell down heavily, my ankle sprained -and pain shooting all through my leg and body. Scrambling on hands and -knees in desperate haste, I made toward the fog, conscious that three or -four of the Blacks were dashing toward me. I breathed a great sigh of -relief and thankfulness to see the mist close in upon the place. - -Turning instantly, when this veiling pall was about me, I moved at the -top of my speed toward the trees and undergrowth of vines. I heard the -cry of triumph which burst from the lips of the creatures who thoroughly -expected to leap upon me, and I heard even the quick, light tread of -their feet as they ran, but the turn had deceived them and diving into -the tangle of leaves and creepers, pushing my bow and dragging my aching -foot, I lay at full length, to pant, for a brief time, when I crawled -laboriously off in the direction which I believed to be opposite the -camp of the foe. - -My pursuers raced about at random on the slope, chattering in disgust -and amazement, but they were soon confused by the fog. They searched -about for several minutes, one of them coming almost upon me, as I lay -beneath the vines, but at last all returned to their savage companions. -I could now guess the direction of the camp they had formed by the -sounds they made in retiring. This direction seemed entirely contrary to -what I had mentally determined to be right. However, I crawled away from -the vicinity which I now knew bordered on their position, and turned to -go toward the hill. - -Doubtless the pain in my ankle distracted my attention, but at any rate -when I had crept a distance which I thought should have been sufficient -to place me out of the forest and on the slope, there was no hill -visible and the jungle seemed equally deep on every side. Thinking I had -probably made a mistake of a point or more, by my mental compass, I -started off again, in a slightly different direction. - -This soon became hopeless. I realised that the fog had confused me a -trifle, but it seemed too absurd that I should not find the clearing and -then be able to go to the top of the hill. In fifteen minutes I had -become so muddled that I dared not move another yard. It appears -ridiculous, but I was lost. - -Jungle, I had found before this, was quite sufficiently difficult to -traverse toward a given point in the brightest light, but enveloped in a -fog it became the most bewildering and maddening maze. To make matters -worse, the day was nearly spent, my ankle pained me exceedingly and my -dread of snakes became a factor which contributed much to my nervous -excitement. I leaned against a tree, finally, convinced of the -inexpedience of blundering about in a hit-or-miss effort to rectify my -first mistake. If I got any deeper in the tangle, I thought, I might not -be able to find myself, even by the full light of day. - -To stand there in that inhabited place of horrors, knowing that the sun -was departing in its race toward the western horizon, feeling anxious -and uncourageous, aching from my foot to my thigh, and angry with myself -for being such a fool,—this was about as comfortless a thing as I had -ever undergone. I was sure the fog would lift from the hill while it -still surrounded me; I was certain the Blacks would swarm up the slope, -storm the place, murder half my Links and drive the others pell-mell to -the woods; and I was not at all convinced that I should ever issue forth -from that jungle alive. - -I listened, expectantly, but not a sound could I catch, either of -prowling brutes, nor of attack on our village; the silence was -particularly oppressive. Darker and darker grew the forest. I knew at -last the sun had set on an ocean of fog. Perhaps the attack had been -rendered impossible, for that day at least, but wherein my condition was -bettered by this descent of night was more than I could discover. My -thoughts were hardly more cheerful when I pictured the breaking of dawn, -the hill-top clear and distinct in the light, and the blood-hungry enemy -sweeping the summit of every vestige of our work and genius. - -One hour, two, perhaps three elapsed—a time that seemed a century. I had -remained all the while at the foot of that tree, without attempting to -move about. I was doomed to remain there, helpless and impotent, it -seemed, for any time which might prove agreeable to the gods of fortune. -My thoughts had wandered afield, so that doubtless I had forgotten to -listen to anything but my own meditation. It is certain that I was -conscious for several moments, in an automatic manner, of a dull, -monotonous sound, before it reached my notice. At last I seemed abruptly -to recognise that a thud and thud was penetrating the silence. Then I -started so quickly toward the direction whence this disturbance arose -that I all but fell, unsupported as I was by the injured foot. But I -pulled myself together and feeling my way, hastened forward as rapidly -as possible, crazed with a new delight. I had recognised the sound. - -It was Fatty, beating on the drum to affright the Blacks. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXII - THE BAMBOO BOMBS - - -In my haste to reach the clearing before that electrifying tom-tom -melody should cease, I took no account of the distance between the edge -of the wood and the place where I had halted. It was not so far as I had -feared, however, though it was further than I had any business to have -been away from home. - -Upon coming to the slope, I got upon my hands and knees to crawl, for my -ankle required rest. The fires were burning brightly in our village, but -the mist was still weaving thickly about the summit. - -When I turned up again among my fellows, like the penny which cannot be -lost, they were nearly knocked dumb with astonishment. Hungry, disgusted -and weary, I limped off to bed as soon as I had indicated the need of -sentries throughout the night. Such a war as this made me snort with -contempt. - -Sometime during the night the fog disappeared, as mysteriously as it had -come. I had rested badly, having been kept awake by the pain in my foot, -so that I arose before morning and sat by the fire. There, after bathing -the ankle in water from the spring of brine, I bound it up with strips -of squirrel skin, fastened on with cord made of divided creepers. This -treatment gave me much relief. The only luck I had in the accident was -that the sprain was not so serious as my facial contortions (when alone) -might have indicated to a keen observer. - -The morning broke clear as glass; one could feel that the day meant to -be hot before it finished. In our settlement we were all somewhat cross, -from lack of food, myself in particular, because this game of starving -us out seemed so nonsensical, and also because my relief expedition had -fizzled out to such a miserable end. I began to be anxious to try -results with our cunning besiegers. If they delayed the fight for the -day again, I meant to carry the issue into their own headquarters, for -we had to eat! - -Thinking I might enrage them to the point of starting the battle, I -carried the gold-nugget club from my shelter and planted it, nugget end -uppermost, on our ramparts, directly in line with their camp and the -mine of bombs below. Then I induced old Fatty to beat the drum, while I -got up on top of the wall and paraded, somewhat after the top-loftical -style of the American Indians, beating my breast with my fist, shouting -derisively and pointing with maniacal glee to the gleaming club which we -had taken, as a token of victory worthily won. - -This bit of vanity produced an immediate effect, for a score of the -fellows down in the trees appeared from the cover, sufficiently furious -to suit the most exacting mind. They screamed shrilly to express their -wrath, they beat the unoffending earth with their clubs, and they danced -about as if the soil were hot. Nevertheless they advanced hardly as much -as a stone-toss up the slope, being evidently under some powerful -restraint. I executed the most aggravating evolutions, limping about on -the wall, but to no apparent purpose. What was the game which the -creatures played with such assurance that they could wait with this -remarkable patience? I was angry to think they would not attack; I was -annoyed to be obliged to admit that their warfare threatened to be -subtle and effective. I hated to be starved into retreat, which would -certainly be disastrous, or into a charge, down hill, against an ambush, -which charge would doubtless prove to be an insupportable calamity. - -“Come up, you cowards!” I bawled in a sneering tone of voice. “Lay on, -you black McDuffers—we can wipe you off the map!” - -My only answer was an echo of the cries I had heard the morning before, -away in the jungle. This puzzled me again; it made me impatient. My -Links had surged about me, wrought to a fine frenzy of excitement, eager -to eat up the whole nation of Blacks—as splendid a pack of starving -wolves as one could find. They also heard the cries, where the enemy -appeared to be scouring through the forest, and I noted that many grew -silent and worried. They reminded me of animals which have an instinct -that warns them against the dangers which a human being cannot see nor -feel. - -The chief stood a little away, aloof from the others, leaning as ever on -his club. What a brilliant, coruscating spot was made by the great, -deadly crystal which he wielded so terribly in the fight! His mate, the -indignant albino, stood beside him, eyeing myself with scorn and hatred. -Her round, pink eyes were as nervous as quicksilver; her whole demeanour -expressed the jealousy she nourished against me for pushing aside the -chief, and the undisguised desire she felt to avenge herself for my -former repudiation of her serene regard. - -I gave her only a glance, and to the chief a nod of recognition. Below -me little Tike was looking up in my face; near him old Fatty was -standing, his quick, bright eyes upon me, his arms akimbo and the -battered old skull on his head pushed aside, revealing hairless spots -where, by rubbing, it had worn the growth off his leather-covered pate. - -“Animals or primitive men—what are you all?” I muttered, and I shook my -head and gave it up. - -Again came the concerted cries from the jungle. They were nearer; there -seemed to be a great commotion, not far from the edge of the trees, and -this appeared to increase with every second. I saw several of my fellows -begin to edge away, as if to make a run to a place of safety from a foe -most dread. All the Links were making uneasy sounds, comparable only to -the whimpering of a frightened dog. - -“Here—come back here. Brace up, you fellows!” I cried to stop the -incipient panic. “Pigs coming—pigs to shoot—pigs to kill!” - -I raised my bow and notched an arrow on the string. I jumped down and -stirred up the fire which must furnish me a brand for the fuses. Then -again I got on the wall and shouted our defiance to all the jungle-world -about us. Old Fatty began to beat the drum like a fury. - -My warriors were inflamed; they crowded forward to see what was -happening below. By this the cries of the enemy had become shrieks as of -madness. We saw fifty of the Blacks burst quickly from cover, run to -right and left and dash back in the woods, as if to flank an approaching -cavalcade. To my amazement I saw among the fellows the traitor -Grin—miserable coward! The Links observed him, too, and they chattered -their rage and their Link maledictions on his head. - -Once more I got down, this time to arm myself with a glowing brand from -the flames. With this I shook out our only banner—a banner of smoke. - -Suddenly the screen of trees, vines and creepers, seemed to bulge toward -us, then to break. Two massive dark chunks of the jungle appeared to be -bursting through. Then I saw what they were and realised what the cries -had meant, what the plan of the Blacks had been from the first—and what -a diabolical and clever scheme it was. - -Two trumpeting elephants, goaded and maddened, smashed ponderously out -of the jungle and headed up the hill—surrounded and driven toward us by -hundreds of the yelling, dancing devils, with Grin in their midst, all -of them incredibly nimble, daring and wrought up to force their -irresistible allies over and through us. - -The Links behind me, terrified beyond all control, were too stricken -with panic to know what to do. They fell headlong over and upon each -other; they ran in every direction. Females and children cried out in -fear; chief, fighters, all were seized in the maelstrom of fright, and -all went dashing away. Already we were as good as routed. Flight to the -jungle would mean separation, death of all who were lost and murder of -all who were overtaken by the terrible Blacks. - -Confused for a moment, I attempted to call them back, to restore the -order. This was worse than useless. - -The elephants came unwillingly up the hill; the din of voices and -trumpeting was appalling to hear. I jumped from my place, unconscious of -my wounded foot and dashed down the hill as if to meet this oncoming -tumult of death alone—racing toward my fuses. I had dropped my bow. My -only weapon was the smoking brand of fire. - -Shrieks from the Reds, who could not but see me, and screams of delight -from the enemy, greeted the sight of a single crazy man, running down to -the jaws of this living Juggernaut from the wilds. - -I reached my goal, I fell to my knees and fumbled the matches. The -monstrous battalion was nearly half way up to the trench of bombs. My -fuses failed to ignite. In desperation I broke off the ends and bore -them down upon my living coal. My thumb was burned, but I felt nothing. -A fierce hiss from the powder electrified my every fibre. I leaped to my -feet and darted part way back to the wall. - -“Man,” came the cry of a sweet small voice. - -Turning, I saw that my little Tike had followed me down the slope to the -fuses. There he sat beside them—and the serpents of igniting powder were -racing down to the mines, and the thundering horde of foes was racing -upward, toward the little chap and me. Insanely I ran with all my might -to rescue my only loyal Link—the baby who sat in the sunlight. - -How far away he was! What a time it seemed to take me to reach him! The -elephants—how near and awful they looked! I could see their -white-showing eyes. The monsters began to gallop upward, mad to wreak -vengeance on something, for that goading behind their backs. The yells -became a din. Already the brutes must be past my trench. It would -fail—it would kill little Tike and myself—anything but the terrible -creatures pounding the earth as they came upon us! - -I snatched the little fellow up and ran desperately away. Would nothing -ever happen? I fell—the ankle had gone at the critical moment. I rolled -and saw the dread spectacle crowding up and up the sun-lit hill. - -Then the earth was rent wide open—great castles of earth and elephants -rose toppling in the air, along with a glare of red-and-yellow flames -and a mighty volcano of smoke. The world belched forth a detonation like -the crack of doom. - -Another and yet another fearful fan of fire leaped exultantly upward, -hurling Blacks and fragments of Blacks, and soil and rock that blew -through the bellies of the elephants and shot away in every direction -toward the tranquil sky. - -I was deaf with the mighty roar and concussion. From the air the debris -came raining down. The smoke seemed a fountain of enveloping fog. -Shrieks—now of terror and dreadful pain—stabbed through the confusion. -Then a rock whirred down so close to my head that it puffed me with its -cushion of air. I heard a sound and looked for little Tike, whom I had -permitted to slip to the ground as I fell. - -He was there beside me, his steady, wistful eyes looking up in my face, -his poor little legs fairly crushed into the earth, beneath that -fragment of adamant, torn from its bed and hurled upon him. - -I was over him instantly heaving away the hunk of stone. But I did not -attempt to lift the little mangled body. I saw he was numbed by the -shock; I knew he was dying. He lay there and smiled, as I bent above his -tiny form. He made no motion with hand or head, but when I placed my -finger in his wee palm, he closed his baby-like grip upon it and gave me -the fondest look I have ever beheld. - -The Blacks could have swooped upon me, the earth could have quivered -with agony and death, but I should have known nothing of it all, nor -have cared. All the pangs of wrenched affection darted through my -breast. I was smitten dumb to see that human look of love, gratitude and -hope. The homely little face became transfigured with a look of inward -beauty; the promise of a dawning, evolving human being was there, -glowing like the life in a spark. The wistful eyes burned with that -singular light which makes us hope for things supernal. - -On my finger the tiny grip fluttered. I felt myself breaking down like a -woman. - -The little chap’s lip quivered a second; his fleeting breath came forth -lightly. - -“Man,” he whispered in the stillness, and smiling, closed his tired -little eyes—forever. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIII - KING AT LAST - - -There was a cloud over my heart; there was a pall of smoke and fumes -drawing slowly off from the scene of devastation. It seemed as if the -chasm in the hill-side were a ghastly wound of colossal proportions, for -not only was the earth torn raggedly, but blood was about, and the slope -was strewn with mangled remains. - -I felt no exultation; I was ill at the sight, and weak and quite -subdued. It was a pitiful, dreadful picture, with the two elephants like -mounds of butchery, looming large in the middle distance, while down -below were numerous wounded creatures creeping away toward the jungle. -And the dying made sounds of moaning. - -Not far from where I had fallen, lay part of a long, red arm—Grin’s. The -bombs had flung it nearly to the camp he had sought to betray. He must -have been among the foremost of the Links who drove the elephants up the -hill. I conjured back my vision of the charging force, at the second -when the explosion created its havoc. I remembered the huge wild animals -most distinctly, their trunks uplifted, their feet in awkward, active -motion, while to right and left and almost on their heels, the Blacks -surged up in their dance of death. I knew then that the destruction -among them must have been tremendous, for the whole length of the trench -had been covered thickly by their numbers, and the lateral force of the -bursting mines, especially down the hill, had evidently swept the slope -for rods. - -I shook my head as I realised the narrowness of my own escape. - -I believe I was saved only by a sort of half shoulder of the hill and -the fact that I fell and was flat on my side when the explosion -occurred. - -In my brain a panorama of all the tragedy ran, time after time. It -seemed unbelievable that the Blacks had been able to drive the -elephants. I shall never cease to wonder at this remarkable performance, -for everything I know of the jungle’s greatest brute leads me always to -suppose they would turn upon their pigmy tormentors and drive them away -in confusion, no matter how great their numbers. But more incredible -than even this was the sudden blotting out of all that mad stampede. I -felt like the last man left on earth. - -It was quite impossible for me to go down that dread slope as yet. I sat -on the ground, dejected, weak from hunger and the strain of all the -excitement. I rested my chin in my hand and gazed off abstractedly -toward the endless sea of green. I lost all interest in the world about -me, for all my memories and all my dreams had conveyed me afar from that -island of singular fates. At length I was aroused from my reverie by -Fatty, who came furtively down from the village and crawled in front of -my feet, to gaze in my face, with his comical, quizzical expression of -deep anxiety spread thickly on his homely phiz. - -“Hullo,” said I, “did you come back at last to twist the enemy’s tail?” - -Then I saw an amazing line of heads above the wall, where dozens of our -fellows were peering down upon the scene and upon myself. On their faces -I noted every conceivable look of awe and horror. That I sat there, -seemingly calm after all of that day’s fatal work, impressed them a -thousand fold more than as if I had strutted and boasted of the deed. -Perhaps my face betrayed a certain look of grimness, which events had -compelled in my thoughts; howbeit the creatures were stricken with an -overpowering dread of my presence. - -The hill-shaking explosion had been infinitely more terrific than my -first little celebration with a single bomb, and this had given them all -a fright, the memory of which could never be eradicated from their -minds. But if this had rendered them respectful toward me as the -actuating spirit of it all, the sight of the slope simply drowned them -in fathomless awe. The mightiest creatures of the jungle, torn apart -like things of paper, the hill split open and altered, a yelling army -scattered and blown to atoms—this sum of deeds appalled them so -thoroughly that the strongest might have died of shock had I jabbed him -in the ribs with my thumb. - -Fatty, on seeing that I lived, began to grovel on his face and to push -his head against the soil where my feet had rested, as if he were quite -unfit to abide on the surface of my earth and would therefore worm and -bore his way down and out of sight without further ado. - -One after another, then, the trembling fellows came crawling down the -hill, many on their stomachs, to adore my tracks, to wriggle about my -feet and otherwise to endeavour to calm me down and humble themselves in -my exalted shadow. Even the chief came toward me on hands and knees, -dragging his club and afraid to lift his head. His downfall was -complete; there were none more thoroughly overwhelmed than he. On the -ground before me the fellow laid his great crystal weapon—at once his -sceptre and his sword—and he, too, adored the turf where my feet had -trod. The women, with the albino among them, and even the children, got -on the ground, prostrate, abject and afraid. - -“Ahem, really, fellow citizens,” said I with a grin, “your attentions -quite overcome me. Pray excuse my unseemly emotion and blushes.” - -I had conducted a large experiment with some success, yet I felt that my -efforts had been far from superhuman, and not even carried out with -wholly unselfish motives. I felt in fact that the whole present -proposition bordered on the lines of comic opera, for I knew that by the -token of the chiefs submission I stood there at last, the King of the -Missing Links! - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIV - A MOMENT OF REST - - -We held a mighty funeral-carnival. The heat made it necessary to rush -this matter as much as possible. My Links took no little of the meat of -the slaughtered elephants, but as soon as all were fed again I set them -to work deepening the cavern which the mines had excavated in the hill. - -With creepers for ropes and with rollers to render the task more easy, -we dragged the huge carcasses into the graves by sheer force of numbers. -Collecting the Blacks was a most unpleasant labour, but it had to be -done thoroughly, and it was, although my subjects had never before -performed such an office for enemies of any description. Oddly enough we -were quite unable to discover the body of Grin. - -In the pits I had several great fires ignited, to cremate as much as -possible of the flesh, after which the earth was thrown in and heaped up -until I was sure that the shallowest portion of the grave was covered -with at least ten feet of soil. - -I could have rested with a very good grace after all this business of -war, but I remembered my former plans and the bear-skin waiting to be -tanned, in the boat. I feared the pelt might be ruined already, and -therefore I took the earliest opportunity of visiting my lake -possessions. When I came in sight of the boat, I had reason to be glad -that I had moored her away from the bank, for I found abundant evidence -that the Blacks had been there, undoubtedly intent on doing mischief. -Fortunately for me their dread of the water had proved greater than -their desire to destroy the boat, and their ingenuity had shown itself -deficient when they faced the problem of getting the craft ashore -without wetting their precious feet. But they had thrown every available -rock at the innocent craft, together with all the loose pieces of burnt -clay. - -Thanks to the covering of clay and leaves, which permitted a slight -circulation of air, while it kept out investigative insects, the skin -was in excellent condition. Indeed I am inclined to believe the delay -had been actually beneficial in the curing process. The thing was -pliable and as sweet as a hide could possibly be—which, by the way, is -not extravagant praise. I had rowed away, out of sight of my loyal -subjects, before uncovering my treasure. Floating on the calm surface of -the lake I worked at the pelt most arduously. Nearly the whole of that -day I was rubbing it, scrubbing the parts together and otherwise keeping -it soft, while the sun and the air dried out the moisture which made it -heavy and “green.” - -When I was finally ready to call it finished, the hide was much like a -soft, thick robe, such as is commonly employed for a rug, a condition -which I knew would be permanent, although in a spot or two the thing -might be inclined to stiffen. I packed it again in leaves merely to hide -it from sight and proceeded back to our beach, where I anchored the boat -as before. - -Inasmuch as I felt that my actual duties were now performed, I -determined to rest for a space and enjoy the peace which we had -compelled so abruptly. I therefore lay about the camp the following -morning, doing absolutely nothing to “earn my salt.” Now and again I -caught myself feeling or looking about. There was no little Tike. When I -dozed I fancied I heard his voice, but on starting awake found nothing -beside me but faithful old Fatty, who always poked his forehead on the -ground as soon as he saw me looking upon him. Someway the camp seemed -not itself. I got no enjoyment from my streak of laziness, and I got but -little rest. It did me good to carve a bit of a board, or section of -bamboo, with the inscription: - - “LITTLE MAN.” - -This I planted in the mound of rocks where the tiny chap was buried. - -The settlement, I thought, would never be the same to me again, -especially now that I was king. My Links were far too conscious of my -regal attributes; there was less of the feeling of fellowship than we -had enjoyed before. I had failed to appreciate our previous social -equality, but now that all were rendered so timid and humbled in my -presence, I was bored and somewhat annoyed. The crystal club I kept in -my shelter, beside the one of the gleaming nugget. Though he seemed, now -and again, to eye me somewhat sullenly and to gaze on the weapon with a -hungering expression of countenance, the ex-chief made himself an -excellent new bludgeon, with a rock at the end, which was twice the -weight of any other similarly employed in the place. - -The fellow accepted a bow and a lot of arrows readily enough. We hunted -as before, employing these excellent weapons. Some of the creatures had -learned by this time to shoot with great force and precision. One sent -an arrow entirely through the belly of a hog, on one of our many -excursions to the jungle. - -In a leisurely manner I provided myself with cord and sundry requisites -for masquerading as a bear. Before my rest was two days old I was weary -of it and restless to be again actively engaged. Once more the malady of -dislike for all the Links and their camp had broken out within me, -wherefore I desired to hasten matters in regard to my unknown friend, on -whose rescue I was fully determined. - -I began to wonder why I had delayed this important matter for a moment. -I was eager to see this man, grasp his hand and hear him speak the -language so long denied my ears. Why, if he were half a man, we two -could accomplish anything—everything! Why had I not hastened to reach -him and to get him away while the Blacks were still demoralised by the -recent extermination of more than half their number? I would dally no -longer; I would act at once. - -In order to proceed with intelligence I had need to formulate my plan. -What should I do? Do?—I would simply row my boat to Outlet river, dress -myself in the bear-skin suit and waddle into the settlement to make my -observations. This sounded simple enough, but reason told me I should -blunder no little as a bear and appear none too real in the role. I must -practice, I thought as my first sane conclusion, but my second was still -more rational—I would work the trick in semi-darkness only, when my -features would be rendered somewhat indefinite by the shadows. Should I -go there in the early morning, or should I try the game in the twilight -of evening? In the morning, I meditated, the light increases rapidly, -and my man might be asleep; daylight could readily overtake me while I -was crawling about to get my bearings. Clearly the evening would be the -better time. - -Well, then, the sooner the business began the sooner I should know what -was what. I decided to be present in the camp of the Blacks that very -day, when the sun should have disappeared behind the hills. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXV - A FELLOW HUMAN - - -Greatly relieved to have something to do—something which might be about -to furnish a turning point in all this unnatural existence of mine in -the wilds, I set off for the boat at an early hour of the afternoon. -Once started on the expedition, I was in a fever of haste to be about it -and to try my new conclusions with fortune. - -The skull of the bear had been boiled free of everything suggesting -meat. When a mile away, down the lake I replaced this heavy thing in the -skin and sewed the hide roughly about it to give the head a natural -appearance. Then along the edges where I had been obliged to cut the -pelt to get it off, I made a series of holes, into which I laced the -cords, provided for the purpose, intending to draw them tight when the -costume was properly adjusted about me. - -Having nothing more to prepare, I rowed leisurely for two hours, when I -went ashore, near the mouth of the outlet, and tried my disguise. This -business discouraged me greatly. I was able to get the neck portion -fastened about my head, in such a manner that I could see easily, and -the body of the skin about my chest and waist, but my arms and legs were -too long for the paws and legs of the bear, while the body part was -longer than my trunk. Altogether I was about the most extraordinary -looking freak to be found in the jungle, when I had done my utmost to -make the costume fit. - -I should quite have appreciated the use of several mirrors at this stage -of my make-up, in order to see if sundry portions were on straight, but -was denied this pleasure, having failed to provide myself with various -articles of the toilet. It was only by crawling and lolling about on the -ground, on knees and elbows that I was enabled to convince myself that I -looked the slightest bit like the creature whose part I had essayed to -perform. - -I have never felt more warm in my life than I did in that skin. The day -was hot, the hide was heavy, and I had laboured hard to get it on. The -perspiration threatened to make the pelt insupportable. But now that I -had myself fastened inside it, I dreaded the task of taking it off and -putting it on again later. As an outcome of much agitated mental debate, -I decided to be a bear until my work as a spy was concluded. I therefore -sat me down, in the shade, near my boat, and waited for sunset. - -The sun becomes very deliberate, I found, when it catches a man in a -tight, hot place. It seemed as if the fiery ball intended to hang in the -western sky for several centuries, for my particular delectation. At -last it got weary of the game and departed. - -A bear can perform several feats with comfort and ease to himself and -with grace, perhaps, but rowing a boat is not among the number. I grew -hotter, in several ways, directly. I think I wished fervently that my -unknown friend, the prisoner, had never committed the indiscretion of -being captured by the Blacks. It being necessary to proceed with -caution, my torture was much prolonged. At length, however, I noted a -snug retreat in which my boat could remain, undetected, and which I -hoped would be readily accessible from the camp I was searching in the -jungle. - -Already the shadows had begun to be deep, so that I walked erect, in -what I thought to be the right direction, moving with the greatest care, -and alert every second for the smallest sound. I had made my way for a -considerable distance in this manner, without being able to detect any -disturbance in the forest, when presently a low rumble, as of something -rolling over stones, beneath a muffling canopy, broke on the air. This -sound increased. It seemed to come from a source not far away, and yet -it was most uncertain and elusive. I was quite at a loss to determine -whence it proceeded. Growing stronger it made a great ado of grumbling, -reaching a sort of climax in less than a minute, after which it slowly -subsided and was gone. - -Standing where I was, I listened attentively, for the noise had puzzled -me much. Then through the silence came another sound, which anyone could -have understood, anywhere on earth. It was a moan. A second later I -heard the rustle of leaves and saw a prowling form—one of the ebon -Links. - -Falling upon my hands and knees, noiselessly, I waited for the fellow to -pass from sight and hearing, after which I crawled laboriously forward, -nearing the sound where something was voicing its pain. My heart was -beating so tumultuously that I felt obliged to halt frequently, in order -to calm myself as much as the perilous situation would permit. Moving -thus and keeping constantly in the cover of the vines and grasses, I -glanced about me keenly. - -When I came upon the clearing in which the Blacks abided, it happened so -abruptly that I started, to find myself so near. Lying out full length, -I endeavoured to quiet the thumping of my heart and to moisten my mouth, -which had become dry and gluey. Then I looked about, through the -friendly screen of creepers. - -The shadows lay thick enough for all purposes, yet there was light -enough to reveal several incongruous things. First I noted a dozen or -more of the black Links, some of them moving about, some squatting on -the ground, monkey-fashion, eating mangoes and melons, one lying flat on -his back in the agony of death. He it was that moaned; he had received -his mortal wounds in the great explosion. I saw that his arm was gone, -and then I knew him—Grin. - -At the back of the clearing was a wall of rock. In front of this stood a -natural pillar of stone, and fastened up at the top was something which -for a time presented the greatest mystery. It looked like portions of a -skeleton, disconnected, but it gleamed, even in the twilight. I studied -it closely for the thing compelled my undivided attention. Then I saw -the skull and knew it had all been, upon a time, the frame work of a -living creature, but astonishing fact of all things weird—it was plated -all over with something precisely resembling gold! - -I forgot the Links; I forgot my mission to their village. That skeleton -centered my every thought. I studied it, patched it together mentally, -and attempted to picture it properly straightened out. This process -convinced me at once that the arms were shorter than those of any Link, -while the skull was finely formed on the human pattern. I observed that -the whole thing, if properly articulated would be taller than I. The -Links, I told myself, cared nothing for the bones of their kind, and -less for those of their foes. It must be—it had to be the skeleton of a -man! - -But the gold—or whatever it was,—the plating, how came it on the skull -and on those ribs, those bones of the arms and thighs and all the rest? -Why was it here? Immediately my brain jumped to the preposterous -conclusion that my “friend,” the man I had come to save, had been killed -since my former visit, his skeleton plated with something and strung up -here on the rock to please some strange whims of these incomprehensible -creatures. I knew, a second later, that this was absurd. My mental -process as quickly formed a saner theory. This man had lived among the -Blacks before; they had learned of him—which accounted for many -things,—like their superiority over my Reds,—they had killed him, later, -and by some singular accident this appearance of plating had come to -pass on the bones. - -In the midst of my conjectures, that weird, low rumble commenced again, -nearer at hand, but still in some locality invisible from where I was. -Crouching, while its mighty tones increased, several Blacks glanced -upward at the skeleton and then put their heads upon the ground in -adoration before the pillar of stone. - -I nearly cried out as I suddenly grasped at a wonderful thought. That -rumbling—it was certainly a sound I had heard before that day—it -certainly must be that marvellous cauldron of gold, where the geyser -shot upward and boiled in its cavern. The plated skeleton had received -its plating there; the nugget of gold at the end of the club which a -Black had wielded in war, had come from there; the cavern which I and -old Fatty had seen, on the day we fled in the subterranean passage, was -there; and these creatures owned it and evidently knew of an opening -leading to its wondrous interior from the outside world! - -What was I about to discover? What was here, in and about this -remarkable camp? Would I see it all?—would I get a chance to investigate -the wonderful cave? Could I rob that cauldron of its treasure? I was -wild with excitement. I wished that I had an overwhelming army behind -me—a force sufficient to drive these creatures anywhere, away in the -jungle. I looked about, as if to see my army. Great Scott! I had utterly -forgotten how alone I was! The wretches might discover me, know me and -beat me to jelly in a second. My breath came hard; I remembered my -business in a manner painfully vivid. - -I must go ahead, for obviously there was nothing here for me, nothing of -that partner I had come to steal. He must be off, where a pair of Blacks -were walking as I looked. Still keeping in the cover, I edged about the -clearing and pushed ahead. A tangled isthmus of greenery divided the -small open space from another which was considerably larger. In a brief -time I came in sight of this and beheld another remarkable sight. - -At the foot of a towering cliff of rocks, surrounded by fruit trees on -the left, the river down in front, and the isthmus of trees and vines in -which I was lying on the right, was a fine flat space, commodious, -strategically situated and now alive with black Missing Links. Our -explosion had killed the fighters by the score, but the females and -children were exceedingly numerous, while of males there were still -almost as many as we had in all our tribe. - -That once the creatures had been directed by a man was plain, for here -were a score of dugouts, such as we possessed, but the roofs were gone -from many, while those of the others showed every sign of neglect and -the rapid deterioration into which it seemed as if the creatures must -fall, and let everything fall, when abandoned to themselves. Of any -weapons which they might have possessed in the “age” of that man, there -was not the slightest sign. Looking carefully about, I saw but one -shelter on which the roof appeared to be intact. This one was near the -base of the cliff, on the left-hand side of the clearing, from me; that -is to say, the same side on which I was now concealed. - -The light was growing dim. I peered about, in a vain endeavour to see -“my man.” How I wished I might raise my voice and cry out a greeting—a -something which would tell this other human being of my nearness! It is -unbelievable how strong was the impulse to commit this indiscretion. I -curbed the desire, however, and waited to see if anything would happen. - -Here and there, on the campus, the evening fires of the Links were being -kindled, from a “mother” fire smouldering in a natural hollow beneath -the wall of rock. I could see what I thought were the ruins of a more -convenient fireplace, near the central fire. It looked as if that former -man had provided a means for a better culinary output, but that the -creatures had soon gone back to their own original methods, when he was -dead. Then I thought that things were peculiar, for why were there no -material evidences of the presence of the man I had come to seek, about -the camp? What was the matter with this unseen individual? He must be -weak indeed to do absolutely nothing! - -I remembered his spouting of poetry, and I fear my estimation of a man -who would give himself over to such effeminate employment as that was of -precious little account. Poetry indeed! He was evidently a lady’s man -for his voice had sounded soft and here was proof that he either could -not, or was not willing to, manufacture the very first thing, either for -cooking, living or fighting. Perhaps such a fellow was hardly worth the -risk; perhaps I should be wise to retreat, in good order, and let him -work out his own salvation. - -My attention was caught, as I scanned the place in this critical frame -of mind, by a flutter of something, near the only decent shelter. - -“Upon my word,” I muttered in huge contempt, “I believe the fellow has -got out his washing on a line!” - -About that moment a bird in the tree above me made a sound like a boy -whistling. This was my cue. If any man were anywhere about, he would -hear a whistle—and the Links would have no suspicion. I piped up on the -opening bar of “Yankee Doodle.” This I repeated time after time. It -appeared as if the scheme would turn out worthless, as it produced no -apparent effect. Growing more bold, I started to whistle my lay a trifle -louder, but I chopped it off short in the middle, for I beheld a figure -emerge from the decent dug-out and start slowly toward me, walking and -performing some singular weaving motions with the arms. - -The dusk had gathered over the scene, yet I saw that this was a white -human being! - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVI - SURPRISE AND SUSPENSE - - -I held my breath, I shivered with sudden excitement. - -The figure, slight, beautifully erect, clothed in a skirt-like garment -of skins, came nearer and nearer. I was so thoroughly intent on seeing -why the arms were moved in those singular gestures that I clean forgot -to scan the face. - -The stranger came closer, followed now by scores of the Blacks, who -adored and worshipped in the tracks which were left by the feet. I could -see the heavy coils of some ornament about the neck and over the slender -shoulders of this human. Suddenly I knew what the hands were doing; -suddenly the most astounding intelligence broke on my brain. - -The figure was that of a woman, young, beautiful, clad like Diana, and -the coils about her maidenly form were those of a monster serpent, the -head of which she held in her hand while with the other she gently -unwound the wrappings of the tail. - -I whistled again, more softly, my excitement growing at every second. - -On she came, uncertainly, down along the edge of that open cage in the -jungle, her head held finely in a listening poise, her face white, set -and smileless. She moved like a goddess in a dream. In her eyes burned a -half-wild light of anxiety; on her lips there was a tense look of -suppressed emotion. Her beautiful arms seemed marble-white, as they -moved in those snake-soothing gestures; her whole deportment was that of -one who questions, yearns eagerly for a sign on which to build a hope, -but dares not believe that a cruel fate could possibly relent. - -She was almost opposite where I was lying. I knew I should speak to -her—do something instantly, before the moment should be gone, but my -tongue now cleaved fast to its sheath in my mouth, my teeth clenched -hard together and my muscles were all but paralysed at that fateful -moment. - -She was just before me—passing me by—in reach of the slightest sound. - -“Who is it?” she said aloud, in a voice that trembled. - -“It’s me—a man,” I whispered with ungrammatical suddenness, “Don’t -stop—you’ll betray me—Come to-night!” - -Half prepared as she was, she still started violently. She loosened her -hold on the head of the snake. The horrible thing wrapped itself about -her arm and tightened all its coils. Hastily clutching the serpent by -the neck again, she twisted and choked it into submission. Her eyes were -ablaze with fear and a wild, unbelieving hope! How luminous they were, -even in the meagre light! What a wondering, beseeching face she -revealed, as she turned for a second in her instinctive effort to see -where I was! - -As she had mastered the snake, so she mastered the womanly instinct to -cry out and dash to the spot where I lay. I saw her weave slightly, as -she recovered her poise, after which she resumed her singular march -toward the river. - -The Blacks came to where she had paused, adoring the trail so near me -that I could hear them breathing. What hideous brutes they were, now -that I had seen a beautiful human being! They passed, and I longed to -leap upon their backs and strike them all to death. - -All about that clearing the goddess-like prisoner led the creatures who -had made her captive. She was almost lost to sight in the darkness which -was now enveloping the wood. She was only the faint suggestion of a form -when at last I saw her pass again inside her shelter. - -I loosened a thousand tense muscles the second she disappeared, and lay -limber and all unstrung on the earth. I had not been seen by any Links. -It had perhaps been foolish and a waste of time to kill the bear and -adopt his hide after all. But it had given me the courage to come—and -great Heavens! what a find I had made! - -A woman!—among these monsters! No wonder there were no new houses, no -ovens, no weapons of war of her making. I had been profoundly stupid. I -should have been able to guess it was not a man—that soft, clear voice, -the absence of mannish contrivances, and then that suggestive little -line of her washing—these should have been enough to tell me the story. -A woman—a helpless, beautiful woman—and I had almost thought of giving -up the effort to rescue this friend!—this fellow human! - -“Gee whizz!” said I to myself, for the thing was tremendous. - -Then I wondered what would happen next. Would she come—return to the -place where she had heard my voice? Would she wait till all the Links -were safely asleep and then place her trust in a stranger? At what time -were these black beasts likely to retire? Would they wake and catch her -in the act? Could we find my boat in the dark? But everything else was -as nothing compared to the question, which I repeated over and over, -would she come? - -I believed she would. I intended to wait, whatever might occur, and to -wait until morning, if she did not sooner appear. A thousand times I -wished we were already in my boat and away on the lake. - -“All these days gone to waste for a bear-skin,” I muttered, “and all the -time it was easy to sneak into their place under their very noses.” - -I was glad now, however, of the warmth of the skin, for the ground was -moist. In the clearing the night had descended like a curtain, but five -or six fires somewhat illumined the place. The scene presented was -strange. About the centres of ruddy light were groups of these weird, -semi-human creatures, standing and squatting, eating like so many apes. -Their long, thin arms made their appearance most grotesque, silhouetted -as they were against the light. Here and there the red glow lighted up a -negro-gorilla countenance, flat-nosed, big-jawed and large-eared, till -it seemed like a region where the imps of darkness breed. And back of -all this, the play of the flames threw monster shadows, on the -background of trees and creepers, till it all had a strange appearance -of life, as if incredible snakes and incongruous animals weaved an -endless woof of mystery into the warp of night. - -An hour passed and I had hardly moved. By groups the creatures slunk -away to their huddling places. The groans of many wounded, unnoted -before in the chatter, arose to chorus with the distant sounds of the -jungle. Regularly, like a marker of time, came the rumble and grumble -from the cauldron of gold. - -Around the largest fire, a grim old warrior hovered for an interminable -time, after all the others had departed. I had no patience with his -pretence of cogitating over all the problems of the universe; I wished -him safely abed and snoring. He pothered about for an age, and finally -stretched himself near the embers and went to sleep. - -I waited and waited, expecting every moment to be rewarded by a vision -of the prisoner, gliding toward me. The moon arose above the trees -behind me and made the place altogether too bright for any good. To -allay my impatience I watched the matchless orb sailing above the -jungle. Turning at last from the brilliant picture, my heart leaped -wildly. The goddess was almost there! - -Slipping quickly, but noiselessly forth, I emerged from the vines on -hands and knees and started to arise. - -The girl gave a scream and fled like a startled doe. - -“Don’t be scared,” I half shouted, guardedly, “it’s only a skin,” but my -assurance was then too late. - -On the instant the Blacks bounded up, alert and alarmed. Club in hand, -the grim old fighter near the fire came running toward me. The shadows -were with us, by great good fortune. The girl, moreover, had the -presence of mind to disappear in the trees and emerge further up toward -her shelter. - -Realising that now or never I must act my part, I fell on all fours like -a plummet. Browsing about unconcernedly, I moved a little in the grass -at the edge of the growth, and then, having made myself sure that I had -been seen by the Links who came dashing excitedly up, I slowly rooted -back into the thicket and disappeared. - -It worked like magic. Chattering a lot of drivel which was plainly -eulogistic of all the bear family and congratulatory to all the black -Links in existence—who had thus been honoured in the night—the savages -kow-towed on the ground and otherwise wrote themselves down as -unmitigated asses for a longer period by far than they need have done -for my satisfaction. Indeed it began to look as if they had taken a -notion to spend the remainder of the night in adoration of the ground I -had condescended to spurn with my hands and knees. When at last I heard -them go, I crept silently back to the edge of the growth and watched -them stir up the fire and blunder off to bed. - -“Confound the skin!” I muttered to myself. “Why didn’t I tell her what a -beastly old bear I am?” - -Such a time now went by that I began to fear the girl had missed my -hurried explanation, in her natural fright, when she ran. However, it -did not seem possible she would give up so easily and be afraid to come. -Yet I knew it all depended upon her condition of mind. She had doubtless -become more than usually timid while subjected to all that she must have -undergone here among the Links, all alone, and no human being could -entirely eliminate a feeling of dread for the jungle in the dark. - -Trusting that in all the medley of night-sounds, a whistle would not -awaken the Links, I set up my piping on the bar of our Yankee -acquaintance again, repeating it, as before, as often as I deemed it -prudent. More of the endless waiting, in my far from enviable position, -ensued. If the moon got another half hour in which to sail before the -prisoner came, she would drive every friendly shadow squarely back to -the forest. - -I watched till my neck was stiff and my body cramped. “If the goddess -doesn’t hurry,” I muttered, “the game will be up for the night.” Still -she lingered in her shelter. I began to grow cross; I vowed she must be -crimping her hair and putting on a new pair of gloves. - -Suddenly she appeared again, coming out of the trees, not far away. This -time I whistled, ever so softly. She paused, came silently on a rod, and -halted as before. Another little whistle brought her almost before me. - -“Now please don’t yell again,” I whispered ungallantly. “Slip into the -woods as quietly as you can—we’ve got to hurry.” - -“Who is it?” she stopped to answer, below her breath, as I rose to my -feet. - -“It’s just John Nevers, a common, ordinary man—American. If we’re going -to get away, I wish you wouldn’t fool around another minute.” - -I saw that she stood undecided a second, with that evil-looking snake -about her shoulders; its eyes gleamed like beads in a ray of moonlight -which touched on its hateful head. For that brief space of time I felt -such a disgust for the serpent and such a growing impatience, that I had -a half impulse to trudge away alone. But she moved toward me; the light -which had fallen on the head of the snake silvered her pale, beautiful -face. The appeal which was there in her eyes, the trust which was born -on the moment, and the helplessness of a maiden, all combined to shame -me and to make me her champion against the terrors of all the world. - -“Come through here,” I whispered, bending back a branch, and she stepped -toward me, confident and strong in the hope newly kindled in her breast. - -The branch slipped from my fingers and swished noisily back. I heard a -snort; the light-sleeping old devil of a Link was up on his feet in a -second. He ran toward us again, this time unaccompanied by any of the -others. We stood there as silent as statues. My knife was out, for I had -instantly determined to slay this watch-dog of the tribe, if he came a -foot into the brush. - -He merely whined about, uneasily, a time, and then returned to his post. -Without waiting to let him lose himself in sleep, I led and cleared the -way, moving as slowly as a frozen tortoise, for a considerable time, -while the goddess followed, as silently as my shadow. - -Past the clearing, where the gilded skeleton hung in the moonlight we -glided. Here I saw the stiffened form of Grin, lying stark on the earth. -The deep, mysterious rumble of the gold-cauldron began anew. - -“Now hurry, while this racket drowns out all the noise we can make,” I -whispered. - -We made no mean bit of progress while the noise continued, after which I -felt there was no more need of particular care. The jungle thickets were -fearfully dark, as soon as we got away from the clearings, and I was -obliged to forge ahead as best I could, guided only by my sense of -direction. - -Half an hour went by and although we should have been at the river, -where the boat was on the bank, there was no immediate prospect of our -coming to the proper place. In the midst of my efforts, mental and -physical, to extricate myself and the girl from the maze, a peculiar -shriek went up in the distance behind us. I paused, inquiringly. - -“Oh—that is the voice of the horrid old woman,” said the goddess -anxiously. “I think she has found I have gone.” - -“The deuce!” said I. “She has alarmed the whole works, the old villain!” - -Judging by the noise which was raised one would have thought she had -awakened the whole world. I was certain every Link in the camp was up -and dancing about that clearing in the wildest confusion. - -“Come ahead,” said I, calmly enough, “they are all afraid of the woods -at night; they will never catch us now—unless the morning overtakes us -before we reach the river.” - -I knew she shuddered, but like a brave, good girl she made no fuss. As -for the racket, it furnished me with a bearing, as it were. Knowing -where their settlement was, I knew the approximate direction in which -the boat should be found. Indeed before we had travelled another fifty -yards I caught a gleam of reflected moonlight from Outlet river and knew -my way directly. - -“It’s lucky that beastly old woman didn’t make her discovery sooner,” -said I. - -“Yes,” replied the trembling voice of the goddess, “that was why I kept -you waiting so long; she wouldn’t go to sleep.” - -“Um,” was all I muttered. I was thinking about that crimping of her -hair, poor girl, and the putting on of tight, new gloves. - -We reached the boat, to my intense relief. “Please get in and make -yourself as comfortable as possible,” said I, and ripping off the -bear-skin, I flung it down to make her a seat. - -Out into the limpid stream I shoved my clumsy but beloved craft, and -manning the oars I swung her about, headed her toward the lake and made -the liquid silver shiver from the prow. - -The moonlight fell on the sweet, womanly face. The goddess looked at me -dumbly—almost with the divine expression I had seen on the face of -little Tike. Her eyes were eloquent of gratitude, relief and things too -great to be expressed. Slowly her head came forward on her breast, away -from which she held that ugly serpent, and she sobbed and sobbed like a -child. - -Ah what a night it was! I felt a throb of triumph all through my veins. -Rowing steadily and stoutly I said nothing, but let her have her cry. At -last she looked upon my face again. - -“Where—are we—going?” she faltered. - -“Home,” said I, “to the camp on top of the hill.” - -“Home?” she echoed softly. “To your—people, do you—mean?” - -“Yep,” I agreed. “For a while, at least. But they’re not exactly my -people. They’re a lot of Missing Links.” - -“Oh—what? Missing Links? You don’t mean things like the horrible -creatures we have just escaped?” - -“Same species,” I assured her cheerfully, “but mine are red.” - -“Oh—oh,” she moaned with a shudder, “but I’d rather not! Oh I hate them -so; they are all so horrid; they frighten me terribly, and I know they -will act exactly like the others—” - -“No they won’t,” I interrupted, with a grin, “they’ll get off the earth, -if I say the word, for they know that I am the King!” - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVII - THE GODDESS - - -The pull was a long one, even in the cool of the night. I knew my way, -by the stars, if necessary, but the moonlight made my steering easy. - -For half an hour the goddess was silent, sighing now and again, and -crying a bit, as if deliverance had broken down some barrier to all her -emotions, letting floods of pent up feelings free at once. - -“It doesn’t seem possible,” she told me finally. - -“What doesn’t?” said I, though I knew very well what she meant. - -“This boat,” she answered, “and you—a man—in this terrible place. It -doesn’t seem really true that I have escaped from those awful creatures; -I didn’t believe I should ever get away. Oh, how did you do it?” - -“Perhaps you’d better tell me first how you got there,” I made answer. -“How long have you been in the place?” - -“I—don’t know,” she faltered. “It must be months and months. I lost all -account, but it seems like an age. I didn’t seem to care about the -dates, there have been such lots of awful things to think of all the -while. What month is it now?” - -“Lord bless you, that’s more than I know,” I admitted shamelessly. “I -couldn’t keep track; things have been too hot. I should say, though, -it’s probably getting along toward summer.” - -Although she was deeply concerned with herself and all the troubles -which for long she had endured, she realised that I too had been lost in -this land of jungle. She made me tell my story first. I boiled it down -to the bones, being anxious to hear how it was she came to be there. -This she told me, brokenly, before we landed from the boat. - -She was a cosmopolitan sort of a girl, born and raised in Australia, -educated partially in England and partially in Massachusetts. Her father -was an Englishman, a scientist, her mother American, of fine old Puritan -stock. This mother had died in Sydney. The father and daughter having -spent much of their time together, had grown to be great companions. She -had long been interested in all his work, in which she had learned to be -of great assistance. Thus it came about that when he determined to visit -certain of the smaller Banyac Islands, for the purpose of collecting -flora and fauna for preservation, she accompanied him as a matter of -course. From a private steam yacht, placed at the professor’s disposal, -and also from the coast settlements, the two had made daily excursions, -in a ship’s yawl in which they could make a careful survey of all the -shore. - -Engaged in their work, one warm afternoon, they had moored the yawl -among a lot of weed-covered rocks. This had been accomplished by -securing the painter to one of the oars and wedging this oar down -between a pair of boulders. The tide was ebbing when they landed. - -In a short time her father had secured a medium-sized anaconda, which -having recently fed, was dull and half asleep. This serpent he had given -to his daughter, who carried it back to the boat and nailed it in a box -provided for any such emergency. Feeling slightly fatigued and -unenthusiastic she had then sat down in the yawl, raised her sun-shade -and taken out a book to read. - -She described the soporific effect of the heat and the lapping of the -water about the boat, which had begun soon to affect her senses when she -had settled down to rest. Before she knew it she had gone fast asleep. -She believed that finally the tide had risen and floated the oar from -between the rocks. Then doubtless a breeze had sprung up and the boat -had been drifted away. - -“Anyway I know I must have slept for hours.” she said, “but when I did -wake up—oh dear! The sky was black, and I couldn’t see any island, or -anything but water, and a terrible storm was coming, and the darkness -was all about me, and then—well, it was simply the awfullest wind in the -world that commenced to blow!” - -The storm which she now described had probably been a regular monsoon. -It lasted for hours, she said, and the yawl was driven wildly about on -the angry sea. Like many a yawl, this craft had been broad of beam and -it was therefore as seaworthy as a life-belt. It had ridden like a duck -throughout the night. - -When at last the light returned, the girl had found herself stranded in -a singular place. Not a sign could she see of the ocean, but the yawl -had been driven inland on what had appeared to be a great lagoon. This -water-way, the edges of which were bordered thickly with a dense, -jungle-like growth, had become as calm as a mill-pond. - -While she still sat in the boat she had suddenly discovered a score of -“horrid black brutes” descending upon the place. She had found the task -of pushing off to be quite beyond her strength, in addition to which she -had been so bewildered as not to know in the least where she had -arrived. The creatures—the Black Missing Links—had appeared of -threatening aspect, yet she had soon been made to realise that they were -delighted to see her among them and that all regarded herself as a prize -belonging to the tribe. - -With her snake, of which they had immediately manifested a fear, she had -followed where these monsters led, although unwillingly. They had given -her food, but they had appeared to have no thought or consideration of -her weakened condition, nor even of the fact that she was a woman and -therefore not as strong as themselves. In consequence of this, she had -been obliged to march through the jungle till nearly ready to drop from -sheer weariness of body. Her clothing had been torn to tatters on the -brush; her shoes had been all but ruined, and her flesh had been -scratched and bruised. - -“That is all there is to tell,” she concluded. “It has been a horrid, -desperate existence ever since. The monsters have never been cruel, but -I have been burned in the sun, and I have shivered in the rain and chill -of night. I have been trembling at the thought of some terrible death, -and then praying that I might really die and end all the wretched -horror. I couldn’t tell where I was,—you say you don’t even know -yourself,—and day and night I have been in a condition of dread -bordering on insanity. It has all been so terribly hopeless—so -loathsome. Oh how I have suffered! And that horrible old woman has -watched me like a hawk, and I couldn’t have escaped if I had tried, and -I didn’t know where to get a boat, and I couldn’t make anything—not even -clothes,—and the horrid female creatures stole nearly all I had left, -and I didn’t even have a needle, or a piece of soap, or a toothbrush!” - -“Perhaps I could make you a comb,” I suggested, to drive away her -dreadful thoughts, if possible, but she appeared not to hear. - -“Poor Papa,” she resumed, “I don’t know what he ever thought, or where -he is, or anything about anything.” - -“Oh well,” said I, “we’ll soon be getting away from here now, and -perhaps the trip will turn out pretty well after all. You’ll probably be -at home in a month, forgetting all about this expedition to the land of -Missing Links.” - -She shook her head, the wild look in her eyes came back. “That is too -good a dream to come true,” she said. “It doesn’t seem as if we can ever -get away,—but oh, Mr. Nevers—I do hope you will never let them get me -back,—oh if only you will take me away—if only you will!” and again she -broke down and sobbed, as if it had been a thousand times too much to -bear. - -“I’ll do it or bust!” I assured her with much enthusiasm. “I couldn’t -say more than that if I tried. We’ll come out all right, don’t you -worry.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXXVIII - A PROSPECT OF WEALTH - - -None of my Links fell dead at the sight of the goddess and myself, when -at last we were “home,” but that was merely because they were too -uncivilised to have any nerves. The poor creatures contracted headache -over the wonder of it all, however, for it utterly surpassed their -powers of speculation. - -I think they were much more frightened of the captive snake than they -had been at my explosions. For this I blamed them not at all, having -been rendered somewhat creepy by the beastly reptile myself. It was much -too weird a pet. I was not so indelicate as to mention my feelings on -the subject to the goddess, but I did hope the abominable thing would -die, or get away. - -Poor old Fatty was dizzy with concern. For two whole days he could not -have told whether he was afoot or horseback. He was even suspicious of -myself. All the child-like creatures seemed to regard me with added awe, -as if it were hopeless to attempt to solve the problem of the magic by -which I produced the snake-charming woman. They regarded the boat and -the lake with more suspicion than before. A strangeness grew upon them; -they stood away in groups, speaking a monosyllable now and again; they -stirred uneasily about, whenever the girl appeared. - -Yet remarkably soon the females of the tribe began to note, with -curiosity, the costume worn by this stranger. Madame Albino assumed -sundry airs with small delay. She also attempted to clothe her precious -self with various skins; she eyed the interloper with comical disdain; -she likewise looked at me with unmistakable reproach in those pink, -nervous optics of hers, as if she meant to say that she might have -forgiven me before, but after this—never! - -As for the girl herself, she was not exactly the same, when seen in the -daylight. She still had glorious eyes and her soft chestnut hair would -have been lovely, had it been combed or stabbed full of hardware to -build it up in a psyche knot, but her nose was somewhat freckled, she -was burned a lively red, as to face, neck, shoulders, arms and ankles, -and her great anxiety had made her a trifle thin. Yet she was beautiful, -I still maintain, for her features were fine, her poise splendid and her -hands and feet exquisitely moulded. What was more, her countenance was -lighted from within, by a charm as rare as it is divine; she was lovely -in her nature; she was womanly—and women, true women, are beautiful -forever! I nodded mentally and determined to continue to call her “the -goddess.” - -It being essential that we take some needed rest, before embarking for -worlds unknown, I made my shelter as comfortable as facilities would -permit, and abdicated in favour of the snake and the girl. However, my -subjects dug me a new palace in short order. This I occupied in my -customary regal state. I was obliged to construct a wicker bungalo for -his snakeship, for it seemed the goddess grew weary of holding the -monster at times, and yet wished to restrain him from his natural desire -to mingle with the creepers. Also I furnished the beast with gastronomic -delicacies of the season. He had a preference for squirrels, not even -the skins of which were left for me. - -I made some quiet preparations for the reception of our friends the -Blacks, should they come in search of their former captive, but these -consisted only of restringing the bows and furbishing up the feathers on -our arrows. I knew the fighting force of the feudal foe to be reduced -and in no wise able to cope with ours, wherefore I deemed extraordinary -measures unnecessary. As a matter of fact, no Blacks appeared, which led -me to doubt if they even guessed that the goddess could be harboured in -our village. - -Having recovered all my energies shortly, I thought the girl would be -ready and anxious to leave without further delay. In consequence I began -to lay in a stock of sun-dried meat, weapons and other things needful -for the cruise to the ocean. It soon became evident, however, that the -poor young woman had suffered so severe a depression of vital forces, in -the long-continued strain of worry and physical anguish, that immediate -departure was quite out of the question. - -We had long, hopeful talks together, while I manufactured small trifles -for her greater comfort, or brought her foods to cook at a small -stone-and-clay stove which I managed to construct; and she often related -the history of her days of trouble. She had been too deeply alarmed all -the time to give much attention to studying her captors; however, she -thought from what I told her that they must have a similar language to -that employed by the Reds, and many similar habits. Their attitude -toward herself had led her to believe that they actually had a great -reverence for human beings. - -Of the man who had evidently once been among them she knew but little. -She had seen the skeleton, but had only been able to make the merest -guesses as to how it came to be in such a place and in such a remarkable -condition. She had also seen a linen collar, preserved by having fallen -into a chink which kept it protected from the elements, and this -indicated, she thought, that the man had been a clergyman. That he had -produced certain effects upon the creatures, the results of which would -endure, she had no doubt. Though they had no other weapons than their -clubs, they appeared to be more fearless than my fellows. Any fishing -operations which they might once have conducted, guided by the man, were -now discontinued, she was sure, for she had never seen a fish in the -camp. The dug-outs were in ruins, as I had thought, though some of the -creatures employed them still for sleeping purposes. She did not believe -they utilised any caves. Without telling her of my own theories of the -gold cauldron, I questioned her sufficiently to convince myself that she -knew nothing of its existence in the place. - -About the fights and hunting expeditions of the tribe, she possessed -only the most general information. She had not been able to ascertain -what manner of enemies they encountered, but once had seen a wounded -fellow striving to pull out of his leg a piece of wood which she now -knew must have been an arrow. Also she had been aware that some -tremendous calamity had befallen the fighters on their last crusade, for -barely half the force had returned to camp, and of these many were -shockingly wounded. Fully twenty, she said, had died and been buried -since the day of the trouble. Beyond these few facts, the goddess told -me very little which differed from the tale of the daily routine of my -own loyal subjects. - -In the boat, my bear-skin was concealed by a cover of leaves as before. -I was thinking, one morning, of the various things I should take, when -the moment for leaving should finally arrive, when the two great -clubs—mine by right of conquest—thrust themselves upon my notice. The -one which was made of the nugget appealed to my human spirit of -acquisitiveness with great potency. Indeed the thing awakened a train of -thought which bordered somewhat on the wild and not-too-wholesome. I -found myself coveting my neighbour’s cauldron of gold. - -Heretofore I had given the geyser cavern, where the precious metal was -being deposited, not the slightest consideration. I had known of only -one way to approach the place, namely, by the long passage, the end of -which I might not be able to find, and which at best could only lead me -to a point high above the place of treasure. I knew, also, that snakes -abided in the passage and that getting gold up to the point where Fatty -and I had been that day and then out through the tortuous tunnel was -simply impossible, as a task. Even the nugget on the club—after the -first inevitable thrill which I could not help feeling, to see it and -know its worth,—had been no more to me than any rock, for what could it -purchase in such a land as this? - -But now—how things had altered! Not only did I feel the greatest -confidence in my ability to pilot my boat away from that open prison, to -a land where gold would be the “open sesame” to the whole world, but I -knew of an opening—or thought I did—to the cave where the precious metal -was lying ready to be had for the taking. It was a magic thought—an -intoxicating dream. The precious deposit belonged to no one, for who -were the Missing Links? I should do no injury to anyone by taking all I -needed. And why should I not have some remuneration for all this exile, -labour and suffering? - -“Why,” said I, and half seriously at that, “a king simply has to be -rich!” - -The task seemed easy, as I dreamed of proceeding to the spot, taking -what I wanted and then escaping with it as I had with the goddess. The -idea expanded rapidly; it began to make me feverish. As usual, when I -gave myself over to anything new, I forgot everything else about me. -Even the goddess and her snake became of secondary importance; escape -itself was indefinitely postponed. The premier question was, “When shall -I do it?” I answered aloud: - -“Why—to-day—to-night! What’s the use of waiting?” - -Then it became imperative that I should formulate a plan. The bear-skin -was the fundamental basis which gave me the courage to think of -attempting the task. I knew how to manage in regard to that, as well as -I knew how nicely it would work, if only the light were not too -searching. What more might the work require? Obviously I should need a -sack, in which to carry off the plunder; and I ought to have a pick or a -sledge-hammer, or something in the way of a tool with which to detach -the solid chunks of metal. For the sack, I decided to sew together some -of the skins which were lying on the floor of my shelter. For tools I -would carry a couple of the stoutest clubs to be had in the camp. In -addition to these requisites, I could think of nothing I should need, -except my weapons. - -I lost no time in setting about the preparations for this financial -venture. It seemed a pity to rob the goddess and her snake of the rugs -on which they reclined at various times, in my dug-out, but there was -nothing else to do. All the tribe-fellows’ clubs having proved -themselves to be serviceable, I had no difficulty in selecting two which -I deemed worthy of the great occasion. - -Old Fatty had resumed his faithful attendance on my every movement and -therefore he followed me down to the boat, carrying both of the clubs -and the skins. He stood on the bank and watched me embark, more crazy -than ever to go along, but still too frightened to trust himself afloat -on the lake. I had no wish to have company. Bidding him “be good,” I -pushed away and started on the expedition. - -By the time I had finished the work of fastening the skins together, the -afternoon was half gone. There was nothing to do, in the way of work -which would occupy my time, and I felt no desire to get into the -bear-skin prematurely, as I had done before, so that I was finally -obliged to pull in my oars and drift idly on the water. This was a -sleepy occupation. I nodded drowsily for half an hour, at the end of -which time I fell fast asleep. - -The sun was just disappearing when at last I awoke. Disgusted with -myself, for having thus overdone the time-wasting business, I rowed -rapidly for Outlet river, to which I came duly. Standing up in the boat -I arrayed myself in my costume; then I worked slowly down the river, as -before, and beached the boat in the spot where I had landed on the last -successful venture. - -Already the dusk made the forest gloomy, but as this was precisely what -I wanted, I struck off without delay, picking a path cautiously through -the growth. The neighbourhood seemed remarkably still, but finally the -rumble from the cauldron disturbed the quiet and gave me a guide by -which I corrected my course. - -Laden as I was, with the necessary things for the labour, I should have -presented a most amazing aspect, had any of the Blacks discovered my -presence. I thought of that, and knew that even if I got down in the -normal position of a bear, the juxtaposition of my bag and the clubs -might easily arouse the most dangerous suspicions in the brain of any -Link beholding them and me. However, nothing happened. - -“Why this is going to be a pic-nic,” I muttered. “I couldn’t ask for -anything nicer.” - -Indeed fortune seemed to be smiling upon me, for I came immediately upon -a continuation of the cliff of rock, which backed the camp of the -Blacks, and was soon confronted by a jagged heap of stone and quartz, at -the top of which appeared a dark, irregular cave. Before I could clamber -up the pile to this opening, the mighty roar came belching forth. I knew -I stood on the threshold of the cavern of wealth and wonder. - - - - - CHAPTER XXXIX - STEALING THE ENEMY’S FIRE - - -No sooner had the demonstration ceased than I hastened up the rock-heap -to the cave. I found the mouth of the place somewhat choked and hard to -enter, but I forced my way over massed-in boulders to a vestibule of the -great treasure-house itself. Then suddenly my hopes were blighted and -failure loomed before me. It was as dark as tar and I had clean -forgotten to fetch a torch! - -“But how could I have fetched a torch?” my brain demanded. I had no -civilised matches; I could not have carried a brand all day, for the -sake of having it now, and if I had, the smoke might have attracted the -attention of the Blacks. Had they caught a bear with a torch in his hand -they would unquestionably have desired an explanation. I thought of my -knife, which was steel, and the flints on my arrows. Could I not produce -a spark, ignite some tinder and then make some faggots take fire? Yes, I -could, but the arrows were all in the boat and I had about as much -tinder handy as a fellow could carry in his eye. - -In desperation I groped ahead for a rod and nearly broke my neck, by -jolting down an unseen step in the floor. It was useless to tackle the -cavern in this inky blackness; I might easily get boiled to death by the -fountain of scalding water. In bitter regret, I reproached myself for -having come away from camp without consulting the goddess and without -maturing my plans. But any ass should have known the place would be -dark! I acknowledged that I was a fool, and that after all this bother I -should have to give it up. Even if I did come again next day, it would -be no easy matter to fetch a torch, and I might try a hundred times and -not have the luck I had this evening in avoiding those villains, the -Blacks. - -More than ready to swear at my folly, mad as a hornet to think of -abandoning all the gold, which was right there, almost within reach of -my hands, I pinched myself viciously and groped my way out to the heap -of rocks at the entrance. - -Already a star was shining in the heavens. What good were stars, I would -have liked to know. It was fire I wanted—fire at the end of a stick. A -crazy idea of hunting for something highly inflammable, on which to try -my flint and steel, tried to get started in my brain. I rejected the -notion with scorn. I might as well begin a search for glow-worms or -incandescent electric globes. - -“Those fools of Links have got plenty of fire,” I grumbled, spitefully. -“For about two cents I’d kick them all out of their camp and take all -the torches I could carry.” - -This bit of pleasantry somewhat restored my humour. I started up from -where I was sitting on the rocks, abruptly, possessed of a great idea. -Why not make the trick worth the winning; why not steal their fire to -light myself in robbing their cave? - -In my haste to clamber down from the pile, I fell forward and struck my -hand smartly on something which felt like a collected lot of wood. I was -ready to kick this thing, for bruising my fingers, when I comprehended -that wood was exactly what I required. Grasping one of the branches I -lifted a whole bundle of sticks, all dry, cut neatly of an equal length, -and tied about with some sort of cord. Instantly I thought of the gilded -skeleton—the man who had lived in this place. I believed he had come to -the cavern often, and that doubtless these faggots had been gathered by -himself for torches. - -This discovery gave me new enthusiasm. I was calmer, also, and I -therefore resolved to proceed carefully, do nothing rash, and to wait -until the time was propitious before attempting to steal my fire. -Nevertheless I was determined not to give up the game until flatly -beaten. Much luck in the past had made me bolder than I was when I -arrived in the country. - -During the half hour following, I crept through the woods, toward the -spot where I had waited for the goddess. I thought it would bring me bad -luck to try any other location. My clubs and the sack, I had left at the -cauldron, along with my bundle of wood. Thus I had nothing to impede my -progress; but the skin in which I was clothed hampered every motion. - -Throughout the jungle, various sounds had commenced, for the darkness -was rapidly becoming that of full-fledged night. Through the trees, when -I approached their clearing, I caught the gleam of the fires about which -the Links were cooking their dinner. - -Knife in hand, I edged and pushed through the creepers and vines until I -dared go no further. From where I was, I could see very much the same -sort of groups about the fires which had made the picture weird on the -former occasion. But I was actually more excited and eager over the -present enterprise than I had been before, when a fellow-being was in -the game. Doubtless this arose from the greater risk I expected to take. - -Impatient as I was, the Links seemed to require an interminable time to -get ready for bed. I selected one and then another of the fires as the -one from which I would filch a brand, but was finally obliged to wait -and see which would be the most favourable to my task. I desired to -select the one furthest from the sleeping places, and yet not too far -from my cover. The one first abandoned by the Links would have answered -well. I watched it narrowly and kept an eye on the Blacks, who were -still lingering about. Long before the fellows had all retired, the fire -became hopeless, so few were the embers left aglow. I was obliged to fix -upon another. - -I waited all of two hours, by the end of which time the Links were all -safely asleep, save that watchful old fiend whose acquaintance I had -made on my former visit. When at length he laid himself down for the -night, his position was such that my intended deed had been rendered far -more difficult than I had expected. It became necessary for me to make a -long detour, for I deemed it wise that I should be able to make a -bee-line for cover the second I procured my bit of fire. - -In crawling and walking carefully about the tangle, I consumed a lot of -time. My position then was such that by creeping bear-like from the -vines and going straight for my original hiding place, I would pass the -remains of a fire, in which only one or two blazing pieces of wood -remained. Again I drew my knife. With a thumping heart, high up in my -neck, I began this desperate experiment. - -A night-bird hooted before I had gone three paces. That alert old -wretch, the sentinel Black, stirred about and turned sleepily over. For -several minutes I remained motionless; then again I moved cautiously -forward. Although I expected the worst possible calamities to happen -every moment, and thought my own breathing would betray my presence, I -neared the fire without arousing the lightest sleeper. Approaching the -burned-out heap, I selected the brand I would take, before I was there. -In consequence of this, I lost no time, but passed silently on, when I -had the precious ember in my possession. Transferring it quickly to my -left hand, in order to conceal its glowing end from any eyes which might -by chance be open, I dragged it on the ground beside me, and headed for -the shelter, which to reach would mean success. - -A half chuckle escaped me, at the thought of the Links’ stupidity and my -own adroitness, for the vines were now but a dozen feet away. Yet I was -horribly nervous, not daring to look behind me and fearing that anything -might be happening, now that my back was turned upon the sleeping foe. I -reached the cover in triumph, however, and even crawled to a small open -spot, when suddenly something gave me a vigorous push with its foot. - -Instantly then that monstrous old watch Link, recognised me, raised his -club and poised to fetch it down with a blow that should scatter my -brains. I saw him, knew he had caught me, realised that more silently -than I he had followed the singular bear that would steal a brand of -fire, and quick as a gun-spring I shot up against him, butted him hard -in the ribs and we closed, in a duel to the death. - -My only thought was—“Choke him off!” I knew that a single yell would -bring an army of foes upon me; I knew he had made no sound before -because of his commendable desire to determine my nature while I was -still unaware of his presence. Now I swiftly determined that not a sound -should he make, unless he did it over my dead body. I was thrice as -vicious as he, I verily believe, as I threw myself in against his body -and fastened my clutch on his throat. I was fierce as only a frightened -and desperate man can be; I was strong as three of my kind, in that -moment of terrible need. - -His arms had been raised with the club; the weapon had even been -descending as I thumped him violently backward. Down came the great -rock, but the force of the blow was gone, and the aim was so ruined that -he struck us both on the leg. He dropped the thing as useless, for he -could not have raised it again had he tried. But with his long, -iron-like arms he fought like a fiend, to shove me off, to gouge out my -ribs and to grip my throat as I was gripping his, with all but two of my -fingers. The two fingers gripped the handle of my knife. - -The length of his arms was for once against him. I was as close up as -flesh can freeze to flesh. His head was thrust far back; already his -breathing muscles were swelling and labouring beneath my thumbs. We -struggled about in the darkness hither and thither, wrestling, flinging, -treading on roots and branches and exerting the utmost of our strength -to win the battle. - -The monster’s muscles were something prodigious; his activity was simply -incredible. I have choked a man to submission in thirty seconds, but it -seemed as if I could never weaken this brute nor reduce him to a state -wherein I could use my knife. He fought me with his feet, scratched me -and kicked my shins. He got his bone-and-wire arms against my stomach at -last and clutched me and pushed me till I thought I should shriek with -pain. Had I not been protected by the bear-skin, I think he would have -killed me, in spite of the tremendous advantage I had gained at the -outset. All this time the only sound was what I made in breathing and -what we made with our scuffling about. It was an ominously silent duel. - -Over we toppled, tripped by a creeper, and rolled on the ground among -the vines. He had me under, like a cat with a squirrel, but I felt him -beginning to quiver all over. My grip had not been broken for a moment, -but now it nearly gave way; a weakness was stealing over me, for he was -crushing my ribs where I had received the blow with the nugget club. -This was the particular time when the bear-skin helped me out. - -Something smarted my leg then—the brand of fire. I had struck against -it. This made me furious. A gush of hot, new strength welled up in my -veins and along all my sinews. My finger-ends dug in about his wind-pipe -deeper and deeper. I heaved him over; his arms were becoming like lead; -his motions were powerless; all the force seemed slipping from his body. -Knowing my time had come, I gave the knife in my hand a sudden turn and -push against the jugular vein, swelling beneath my pressure, and felt -him shudder in death in a moment. - -Until I was sure he would move no more, nor raise a sound, I remained -astride his chest. The stillness then was awful. Not a sound could I -hear but that of my own laboured breathing and the trickle and drip of -this creature’s blood. I admit the dread of it all made me tremble. It -seemed such a ghastly end to my innocent escapade. - -But having plunged so deeply into the business, for the sake of a bit of -fire, I did not intend to leave the work unfinished because of this -unavoidable incident. Therefore I caught up the glowing branch, which -had nearly been smothered out as we rolled it in the grass, and blowing -upon it to liven it up, I stole away from that gory arena. - - - - - CHAPTER XL - COVETED GOLD - - -Still breathing hard, from the effects of the duel, I reached the heap -of stone, outside the cavern and hunted up my bundle of wood. I sat down -on a rock to get my torches lighted. This was not an easy matter, for -although my brand was a species of wood which retained fire remarkably -long, I was obliged to gather many small dry twigs and bits of dead -creeper, to which I added hair from the skins, before I could make a -blaze. Once having accomplished this feat, however, I found that the -torch-faggots burned with all the fierceness of pitch. - -Acknowledging that the skeleton-man had succeeded in finding a wood -which surpassed for torches anything that I had yet discovered, I threw -my bag and clubs inside the cave and climbed in after, with all the -light I needed. - -So far, the getting of treasure had not proved to be the “pic-nic” I had -previously been led to suppose was about to be enjoyed. Holding my torch -above my head and carrying both the clubs beneath my other arm, I now -went along in this wonder-house, waxing momentarily more and more -excited by the prospect of seeing what was there. - -The passage was narrow and low, it was likewise crooked, and the floor -was rough and uneven. On the walls there was not the slightest -indication of anything precious. I have never seen stone more dull. This -made me doubt if I had come to the cauldron of gold, after all. The -trend of the tunnel was downward. Presently I came to a “jump off” four -feet high. The bottom of this secondary gallery sloped rapidly downward. -Then I emerged from the tunnel-like hall, into a larger chamber. The -first thing I saw was water, in a crevice. I jumped then like a scared -cat, for a drop of the liquid fell plump on my nose from the ceiling, -where steam had condensed. - -A second after this I got a brilliant gleam of reflected light, from an -object on the floor, a rod away. It was gold. To right and left flashed -similar reflections. I hastened onward, and then halted, dizzy with -amazement, for below me, in a great basin was ebon water that moved, and -about it were nodules and drippings of gold, and stuffed into crevices -was gold on gold. I leaped a ditch, above which the mist was rising, hot -and damp. Beyond this, down in the very cauldron itself, which was -inaccessible and awe-inspiring, I beheld those stalagmites of solid -metal, those building nuggets and the seething abyss of water and -natural acid which before I had seen from above. - -The ascending steam curtained off the mouth of the cave above which I -knew to be over this eerie place, but I was far too eager for what was -about me, to spend my time in looking upward. It was not a place of -dazzling beauty; on the contrary it was dull, dripping and misty, but -here, there, in unexpected places I caught that inimitable glitter. -Having seen one piece of the forming gold-hunks, it seemed as if I were -qualified to see a score. The heat of the place was tremendous, the air -humid and hard to breathe. - -So deep was the boiling water that I could see nothing of what was -below, yet I knew from seeing the shallows, golden on the bottom, that -the basin was doubtless plated throughout with the beautiful metal. I -was wild with enthusiasm; I wanted to knock off tons of nuggets; I began -to wonder if I could take it all. Quickly clambering over jagged piles, -I stepped on a boulder that stood above an apron of rock all seamed with -cracks in which the gold had been stuffed till the places were full. - -While I was standing there, the rumble of the mighty giant commenced to -resound in the cavern. Alarmed at the thought that the water might surge -up and engulf me where I stood, I started to flee to a safer retreat. My -heel got caught in a crevice. The harder I tugged, the tighter it became -wedged. Stooping I got my fingers in behind it and slid it forward and -out. The second it cleared, my thumb struck an object full of something -that felt like nails. Glancing once at the place, I was astonished to -see the heel of a boot, not unlike my own. - -I leaped away to safety and the marvellous geyser burst upward. The -roaring noises thundered upon the air of the place with deafening -reverberations; the steam rolled away in tremendous volumes. Spray and -drops of the boiling liquid that splashed, fell all about, some on my -hand, burning me badly. The basin was all a-surge with its seething -brew; the waters gushed hungrily up, swirling about, filling the cracks -and tossing in extreme agitation. - -Down came the massive column of the fountain, as if the source had been -cut off in an instant. A tidal wave of the boiling stuff swelled up to -the brink of the cauldron, inundating the golden nodules, stalagmites -and the radiating fissures. - -I knew, then, as much as a man could ever know, who had not been -present, how that other man had lost his life, and how it came that his -skeleton was gilded. That heel told the story. He had probably caught -his foot just as I had done, but he had not been able to get away. He -had doubtless fallen headlong into the basin of boiling liquid, where -his life must have been forfeited instantly. Then time after time the -water had risen about him, until all the flesh had been boiled away from -the bones, and then the process of plating with gold had commenced on -the skeleton. Poor wretch. It had then been left, I thought, for one of -the braver spirits among the Links to rescue all that remained and carry -it forth from the dread cavern. I felt somewhat chilly to think how near -I had been to the same dreadful fate. - -The demonstration having ceased, the water subsided, the rocks and -nuggets dripped, and the steam arose, hotter than before. My zeal for -exploring the place had oozed away. It seemed to me that discretion -counselled me to complete my work and depart. - -“I’ll only stop for a few hundred pounds,” I told myself with a feeling -of virtuous moderation. “A man should never be a pig.” - -The first thing to do was to strip off my bear-skin, in which I was now -perspiring like a porpoise. Then I selected a fine, large nodule of -gold, from the vicinity of which I could easily escape when the geyser -began to spout, and this I began to batter with one of the clubs. I had -conceived an idea that I would bend these formations over and break them -off with comparative ease. I was in for a large disappointment. - -Not only were the gold masses bended over at the expense of great energy -and perseverance, but they refused to break after quite a number of such -bendings. That first one having been once so bent, refused to be knocked -back in the opposite direction. Also the geyser took its turn very soon -and in the end I humbly abandoned nodule number one and tackled one -which was smaller. - -It was at least an hour before my labours were awarded with any real -success whatsoever. But at last I had a chunk of metal of something like -five pounds weight. Mopping my head, puffing and losing my temper, I -“picked on” the smaller pieces now with great sagacity. I pounded and -pried, grunted and wrenched, waited for the geyser to have its say and -then went at it again, till I lost all reckoning of time. After several -failures, however, I got the knack of this mining business better, and -what with smashing rocks away to facilitate the work and contenting -myself with modest chunks, I got loose and heaped up something over a -hundred weight of treasure, according to my estimate by guessing. - -“That’s enough for any man of sense,” I finally assured myself. “I’d be -ashamed to take any more.” - -Lighting a new torch, from the one I had planted in a chink, I went out -toward the entrance and secured my bag. To my amazement I discovered -that the day had broken. I had worked for hours that sped like minutes. -Somewhat concerned about any Links, who might be stirring, I hastened -back, threw my hoard into the skin pouch and staggered with it to the -jump-off, where I boosted it up hurriedly. On emerging from the mouth of -the cave, I was obliged to rest, so weary had I become from my -long-sustained labours. However, I dared not pause, at so late an hour, -and therefore I shouldered my load again and started away, leaving -bear-skin, torches and clubs behind. My only idea now was to reach the -boat in haste. - -In spite of my stubbornness, I could walk not more than fifty yards at a -time with my burden, before putting it down to give myself “a blow.” It -was such a dead weight, and I had used up my whole reserve of force. -Breathing my great relief, to find myself out at last, within one more -carry of the boat, I set the sack down in a thicket and leaned against a -tree to rest my muscles. As I turned about to resume the load, a -startling yell suddenly penetrated the forest. - -Jump about as quickly as I could, I was not in time to avoid a furious -onslaught. A hideous female Link, as black as rubber and apparently as -old as the jungle, launched herself upon me and bit me on the shoulder -so severely that I cried out in pain and struck her with my knife before -I could stop to remember that a male should spare a female creature. The -steel went deep in her side. She wrenched with her jaws where she was -biting as she fell away, and injured a cord in my neck, which made me -all but collapse with sudden nausea and weakness. - -Before I could shake her off, after pulling out the knife, the forest -echoed with the yells of countless demons rushing toward me from the -direction of the cave. Undone, incapable of showing fight with my -dagger, against so large and fierce a mob, I tore myself free from the -clutch of the female and ran as hard as possible toward the river. - -That terrible female, stabbed only through the fleshy muscles under her -arm, made a dive for my feet and hauled me down. I slashed off two of -her fingers with a vicious lunge, and darted away again at the top of my -speed. - -By this time many of the demons were hot on my trail, crying out in -fearful monosyllables, tearing through the brush, and attempting to head -me off. The foremost fellow threw his club and the handle of it struck -me on the leg. I snatched it up, well knowing the creature would catch -me before I could go another twenty strides, and leaping behind a tree I -waited half a moment. He rushed to the spot, headlong and reckless. Down -came his own weapon, and he fell like a dead bull. But the motion of -striking nearly killed me, so fearful was the wrench where the female -had bitten the sinew. - -Once more I ran dizzily away, at the head of that screaming horde of -Links. Club after club was hurled to fetch me down, but all went wide. I -was beating them all—I knew it—I should reach the boat, for none were -aware of its presence. It was hardly more than a rod away. - -Stumbling and pitching, ready to fall down in my agony, I dived through -a hedge of vines and was thrown headlong within reach of the prow I knew -so well. Up and shoving at the boat in a twinkling, I heard the vines -being ripped apart behind me. Having held on to the club till I fell -here, I turned and pounced upon it and swung it back in time to crash it -fairly in the pit of the black devil’s stomach, as he hurtled upon me. - -Dropping it instantly, I shoved off the boat with all the strength I -had, and leaped in, as three or four more of the fiends came dashing -madly down to the river’s edge. This time when they threw their clubs I -was struck fairly on the fleshy portion of the back and knocked on my -face across the seat. Hurt by the blow, but strong in my instinct for -self-preservation, I got out the oars in jig-time and drove the good old -craft up the stream and away from the murderous brutes on the bank, like -a madman. Rowing almost straight for the further side, I distanced all -the clubs speedily. When they realised the utter futility of pursuit, -the enraged creatures merely yelled their maledictions as I went. - - - - - CHAPTER XLI - FAREWELL TO THE CAMP - - -The strength which had risen in my desperation, even against the shock -to my system which had been given by the bite of the female monster, -departed before I was out of the river. I trembled from head to foot; I -was ill all over and nearly as limp as a string. - -How serious the bite might be I had no means of ascertaining. To my -hand, when I felt of the place, there seemed to be only a raw, smarting -wound, on the top of a great hot swelling. I felt sure that no thews had -been actually severed by the terrible teeth, for had any been, I should -not have been able to row the boat nor to use my arm in any manner -whatsoever. Nevertheless I knew I was wounded badly, and I all but cried -with the pain it cost me to move the craft. - -Until I had reached the lake, the fear of the Blacks made me work, -despite my physical anguish. When I knew I was comparatively safe, I -sank forward and, I confess, fainted like a girl. - -It was probably as much as an hour before I recovered my senses fully. -For the last fifteen minutes or so of this time I was semi-conscious, -but incapable of motion, while my brain merely whirled in a vortex with -that female Link, the boat and the nuggets of gold. When at last I again -acquired the power of moving, I filled my hand with water from the lake -repeatedly and dashed it on my face and on my bitten shoulder. But I -could not row; I needed further rest. - -My head was beginning to ache. My brain insisted on revolving the story -of my greed for gold. Again I fought the battle of silence with the -watch-dog of the tribe; again I worked like a gnome in that steaming, -hot cauldron; again I staggered away with my plunder. Then I saw that -female Link, who, searching in the thicket, must have found the body of -the watch-dog, lying in his gore. He might have been her mate. Crazed, -she followed on the trail that led from the spot, with the tribe at her -heels. She reached the cauldron and then got again on the tracks I was -making to the river. At that I screamed and thought I was crazy myself. - -Aroused by this repeated nightmare, I struggled with the oars again. It -seemed as if I could not budge the boat; this made me work like a fury. -The heat of the sun grew intolerable; I could feel it baking the blood -in my head; it was all on the side of the Blacks. The lake was a sheen -of blinding light and heat; it mocked me and held me back. Again and -again came the lurid panorama of events. I could see through everything, -jungle, thicket and bag made of skin—see those pieces of gold—mine! -mine!—shining like the blazing sun, hot and baking. All that gold on the -ground was mine, but it mocked me and cooked my brain with its heat and -steam. - -I lost all reckoning; I rowed to escape the nightmare and the lake that -held me back. The sun got up in mid-heaven, and still I was on that -shimmering water. I knew nothing, absolutely, of what I did, except that -I rowed to get away from that female Link, who seemed to bite me times -without number, and always in that same burning spot. I must have -fainted half a dozen times; I rowed toward home between these spells by -instinct only. The distance which I could ordinarily compass in a little -more than an hour, required no less than seven hours, this fateful day. -When I think of the heat, the weight of the boat and my physical -condition, I wonder I did not die, and drift to the shore. - -As it was, I have not the slightest recollection of having reached the -bank. I thought that for years and years I strove to get away from that -last terrible encounter. When at length my brain was clear and I opened -my eyes, in the slow, weak manner of one who has all but passed to the -further side of the dark river, I saw a beautiful, worried face above my -own—the face of the goddess. - -“Thank God!” she whispered fervently, when she saw that I was mad no -longer, and the poor girl cried as she bathed my head and bade me go to -sleep. - -I had nearly pegged out, and that is the truth. When I was strong enough -to hear my own story, I learned of things which will never cease to fill -me with wonder, and with many emotions too soft to parade. It was good -old Fatty who had seen me coming; and he it was that finally carried me -bodily up the hill. Then for a nurse I had never lacked for a moment. -The goddess and Fatty, he her slave, she my guardian angel, had done the -all that could be done, with the poor facilities at hand, for a man in -such desperate straits that he raves night and day for a week. But the -goddess really saved me, when all is said, for she knew the properties -of certain tropical plants and with the crushed leaves of one she drew -the poison from the bite, reduced the swelling and made it possible for -proper healing to commence. I had done the worst possible thing, in -rowing home through the heat and with such a wound, but if I had not -done exactly what I did, and when I did, my doctor and nurse would never -have had the opportunity of proving their skill. - -They were strange days that followed—strange for me, who had never been -down on my back with illness before since childhood, for the fever left -me thin, weak, and feeling so helpless that I had no desire to move as -much as one of my feet. My first poignant thought was about the Blacks, -and the danger of their swooping down upon us again. When I knew that -for a week there had been no sign of any foe, I thought they had -probably undergone too great a fright on the last occasion to require -any more for some considerable time. - -For another week I lay like a baby, in the shelter, eating fruits and -bits of meat which the goddess prepared as best she could. How I yearned -to see her face, whenever she left me for a moment! Then came the time -when I began to mend, and desired to have back my strength and my title -of king. - -When I stood up and wobbled about on my pins one day, I made a discovery -which did much to hasten a return to my old condition. The crystal club, -presented to me by the ex-chief, in token of my exalted station and -regal attainments, had been stolen. I learned that the ex-chief had -dared to carry this sceptre of power into the jungle; I learned from -Fatty that the jealous Madame Albino had been the one to rob me of my -trophy. She feared the goddess—who in truth was more of a queen of the -tribe than I had even been a king,—but the creature had not feared a man -who was crazy and likely to die. - -So wroth did I wax over this outrage to my dignity that I became -unmanageable at once. Thin as a rail, but able to stagger about, next -day, I dug up one of my lesser bombs from the magazine, and waving it -wildly above my head, marched up to the guilty ex-chief, while he had -the club underneath him, as he sat on the ground, and scared him half to -death. He knew the bomb,—no trouble about that. I therefore took the -crystal club away from him, rudely, and slapped his face. He fell down -instantly and began to adore my tracks in the proper spirit of -humiliation, followed without delay by all the tribe. Madame Albino fled -to the woods, though what manner of personal violence the lady expected -I have never been able to guess. This fine, large bluff, of a man as -white as paper and thin as a hair-pin, had a most salutary effect. It -made all the fellows love me more than before, even the chief, for all -were much like dogs in disposition, and a dog is the better for it when -he learns that man is the master. I was more of a monarch every day. - -Yet I was slow in regaining my old weight, for the heat was increasing -steadily, and my system had been much depressed by the fever. In -consequence of this, I did more at playing than at work. With my fellows -I practiced archery in the cooler parts of the days, coaxing back the -strength to my arms, body and legs, but I made my excursions to the -jungle brief. - -During this period of convalescence, the goddess reassumed the company -of her snake. But the dear girl followed me about with her gaze, which I -frequently felt drawing my own. When I would glance toward her, I always -saw her glorious eyes filled with longing and sympathy and a tenderness -which went straight to my heart. But she would blush and look away, -nearly always at the hideous snake. - -With my returning strength came the recurrent desire to depart from the -place forever. Also, in spite of all I could do, the thought of my -gold—lying in the thicket, the treasure for which I had laboured so -hard—would persist in returning. I tried to banish the dream of avarice, -but it is a fearsome clutch which riches maintain on the imagination of -poor, weak man. I felt quite convinced that great as my longing was for -the world outside, that of the goddess was ten-fold greater. Of this I -spoke, one day, when my restored condition gave promise that I should -not fail for lack of strength in what I might undertake. Into the eyes -of that faithful girl came a burning light, which would have made the -heart of any man bound with feeling. She spoke, however, with her usual -control. - -“I should like to leave this place,” she said, “but I prefer to wait -until you are strong and masterful, as you were when I saw you first.” - -At this it was on my tongue to speak of the future, and of certain hopes -which had grown in my thoughts, of a home to be and of happiness, but I -curbed this desire as being untimely while she depended so entirely upon -myself for deliverance. - -Having dwelt no little on the prospect of the future in this camp, in -which—unless we escaped—I could see my own skeleton hung up on a stump, -and with no fine plating of gold upon it, either, I had small desire to -remain in the land another day. Strangely enough, however, I had no -sooner begun to make our preparations for leaving, than memory dragged -in every happy day I had spent with my Links, every thrill of triumph in -my puny successes, every faithful or affectionate deed which these -simple, half-animal creatures had ever performed toward myself. I own I -was foolishly attached to a number of the poor forest-children, who -watched me always with such a dumb look of regard, and wonder as to what -I was. - -It is not a boast to say that I had wrought an ineradicable effect upon -these less than merely primitive people. In turn they had been my -willing slaves, my companions—my everything of life. I thought of Little -Tike, and blessed his memory for the days of real enjoyment he had given -me when I was mending from a serious injury once before. But after -all—there was that gilded skeleton to think about and to dread. What -profit was it to a skeleton that sundry Missing Links still adored the -ground before it? I preferred to be a man of meat, unadored for the rest -of my life, rather than to be a gold-plated pile of bones, worshipped -madly throughout the centuries to come. - -Thus, taking matters quietly, I made myself and the boat ready for the -long, uncertain cruise. I was quite aware that we might be leaving a -place of comparative safety, for waters and lands of which the dangers -might be innumerable and the chances for escape absolutely nil; I -agreed, mentally, that we might be making a terrible mistake which we -would recognise when too late for any retreat, but these were the risks -we were obliged to assume. I believed I could win, in this game with -fates unknown, and virtually I wagered both our lives on the outcome of -the play. - -One of my chief concerns, in stocking the boat, was that of providing -water. As long as we floated on the river we should have this in plenty, -but if we did reach the sea, matters might be altered. The best I could -do was to take my tortoise shell, to hold a fair supply. It was an easy -matter to provision ourselves with meat, for strips which I cut from -various kinds of game, dried in the sun in a manner most satisfactory, -furnishing a palatable supply, which, with salt, was not at all bad to -chew upon by the hour. - -For weapons I depended on the bow and arrows, a club and a number of -good flint hatchets, in addition to four small bombs, with complement of -fuse. In order to provide an ever-ready brand of fire for these, should -occasion to use them arise, I selected a goodly quantity of the wood -which retained the glow so long, after which I lined all the bow-end of -the boat with clay, so that I could build my blaze on the bottom and yet -do no harm to the hull by burning. I meant to carry my fire along, for I -had experienced all the “pic-nics” I wanted for the lack of this useful -thing. Among sundry other materials, I provided myself with several -coils of good, stout line, made by braiding together the small, pliable -creepers. At this work the goddess assisted splendidly. - -All the skins which had formed my gold bag, had been left behind, in my -flight from the Blacks, of course, but my Links having learned the -process of curing pelts in the brine, had worked up some very good -pieces. On these I levied a tax—the only one I imposed during my -reign—thereby fitting the craft out in some degree of comfort, for the -goddess had dressed herself in all the hides I had left in my shelter. -This seemed to be the concluding ceremony, except that I made sure my -oars and thole-pins were staunch, and I cut a long slender pole, to be -used for any purpose which might develope later on. - -My decision was made to leave in the late afternoon, in order to pass -the camp of the Blacks after night had rendered them cowards. At the -very thought of their village, that bag of gold clamoured for another -fling at fortune. I was a poor man, in my own country, howsoever wealthy -I might consider myself in Linkland; the temptation was great. But I -shook my head decisively. I had an undoubted right to risk my own neck, -but I had not the slightest right to risk the personal safety of a -helpless woman. No, I must shut my eyes to the glitter, and pass the -treasure by—like a man! - -Although I had made frequent excursions in my boat, many of which had -required preparation, the Links seemed to comprehend that on this -occasion the matter was one of much more importance and gravity for all -concerned. When all was ready and the hour drawing near, I attempted to -convey to the assembled tribe my intention of going, with the goddess, -so far that I should never return. That they understood, I am positive; -the poor fellows were greatly affected. They regretted the arrival of -that day as plainly as if they had said so in a most solemn chorus. Even -the albino female, weak, inconsequent creature that she was, and like a -woman, would have forgiven everything and promised to be good all the -rest of her days, to have changed my decision. She wept on the ground, -sincerely. I felt saddened myself; I admit it freely. These rude -creatures had all seemed like my very own; they were more than faithful -animals, and yet they commanded a strange sympathy, being less than men. - -When ready to go, I carried the great rock-crystal club to the ex-chief -and placed it again in his hand, as he stood there and wondered. - -“Take it back,” I said, as if he could understand every word, “you are -man enough to wield it well. Boys,” I added to the others, “don’t go -backward again; stick to the bows, and make new ones for yourselves, to -shoot the pigs. Try to be good, manly fellows. And—and I hope you won’t -entirely forget me, when I’m gone.” - -Turning quickly away, I shouldered the gold-nugget club and started for -the boat, to which the goddess also repaired. Old Fatty was whining, as -he followed at my heels, and after him trooped every creature in the -tribe, till all stood together on the shore. - -In the boat was everything we needed, so far as I could plan and -provide, including a lot of the freshest fruit to be obtained. The -goddess took her seat in the stern. Seized with an impulse, I turned to -my loyal fellows and held out my hand to the chief. He was wholly at a -loss to know what I meant, yet so natural is the gesture that he placed -his hand in mine without even knowing that this shake was the symbol of -friendship, greeting and farewell. The others followed his example, in -wonder, and with awkward motions, so that I bade good-bye to all the -“men.” - -Fatty, who was eyeing the boat and whining and giving little jumps of -indecision, knew not what to do. I stepped in the craft and pushed her -gently off. - -“Come on then, Fatty,” I said to my good, old fellow, and bounding -through the tepid water, he did actually leap into the boat and sit -there, shivering with awe and delight. - -“Good-bye, old camp; good-bye, my friends,” I said, as we drifted slowly -away. “God keep you, poor children of the jungle.” - -The chief and all the others got down on the ground, along the bank, and -paid me such a tribute of genuine esteem as I shall never know again. -This was their long farewell; this was their voluntary expression of -love and regret. At that moment, more than any other in my life, I was a -king. - - - - - CHAPTER XLII - GOLDEN GLEAMS - - -As long as we could see them, the Links continued to watch the boat -departing. Even the goddess, who had conceived such a hatred and fear of -the Blacks, felt that these simpler fellows were not wholly savage and -bad; she even waved them good-bye till we passed around the point, after -which we were quiet for several minutes. - -Old Fatty was thoroughly frightened. He crouched down and trembled, -raising his head timidly from time to time to look about, but always -ducked it back under his arm as if he thought that to shut out the sight -was to eliminate the imaginary danger. I pitied him, but felt a greater -affection for the old fellow than ever before, to think he preferred to -undergo this torture, rather than to remain behind when I had gone. It -was a wonderful compliment, and so I shall always think. But I hoped his -fears would soon depart, for I was sorry to see him distressed. - -When I turned from the last view of our friends, to smile at the -goddess, I noticed for the first time that she was minus the anaconda. - -“Why—we’ve forgotten your darling, beastly old snake,” said I. “If it -makes a lot of difference, why—of course—” - -“I left it purposely,” she interrupted, rosy red. - -“The deuce!” I exclaimed. “I thought the critter was your pet—the one -thing on earth—” - -“My pet! Oh, the horrible, crawling thing!” She shuddered at the memory, -to my great, but secret delight. “I hated the nasty thing—I loathed it!” -she expostulated fervently. “I hope I’ll never see another snake again!” - -This was a huge surprise. “Gee whizz!” said I. - -“Gee wizz!” echoed Fatty, and he ducked his head back with a snap. - -“But—er—why, then,” I resumed, “why did you lug it around?” - -“I took it as my only protection,” she replied with dignity. “I had to -be protected from the outrageous brutes!” - -“That’s so,” I admitted, abashed. “I might have thought of that. Of -course—just as plain as day.... You’re right—I’m a donkey.... Yes.... -But—but why have you thrown him away, now?” - -“Because,” she murmured, looking at me timidly, while she blushed again, -“because I don’t need him—any more.” - -“Well—bless my soul!” said I, and that was all. - -Sending the boat along steadily, for the sun had set and darkness would -soon be coming, I thought of many things. My gaze rested on Fatty, who -was now beginning to look about him a trifle more boldly. What should I -do with the old fellow, provided we all got safely out of the country -and once more mingled with men? How astonished he would be at the sights -of steamers, railroad trains, cities, and the hurrying crowds of people! -I could fancy his comical face, as he looked in my eyes, like a -bewildered dog. Would it ever be possible to put him in clothes and have -him about me? I knew he could learn many useful things, and even much of -my speech, but whether a Missing Link could really be kept, as a -servant, or friend, was a question requiring no little amount of -thought. Of one thing I was certain, I would never under any -circumstances permit him to become a freak, nor even an object of -people’s idle curiosity. Poor old, faithful Fatty. - -By the time we arrived at Outlet river I felt that the darkness was -sufficient to make it possible and safe for me to run the gauntlet past -the camp of the Blacks. Cautiously I rowed the boat, bidding the goddess -say nothing till we should be past the clearing. - -I could see that she had become pale and frightened, as we neared the -place in which for long she had been a prisoner, but also there was -ample evidence of her courage. Without a sound, we glided by the bank -where twice I had beached the boat, and my heart beat with excitement as -I thought of the gold, lying so short a carry away. “Get it—take it!” -prompted a thought in my brain, “it will only take a moment and then you -will be rich!” But I conquered; I crushed out the tempting voice and -rowed slowly on. - -Proceeding across the river, to the side opposite the clearing of our -foe, I watched for the camp, eagerly. We came sooner than I had expected -to a point from which we could see the place. I looked, but was struck -dumb with surprise. Not a fire did I see. I rested on the oars and -listened; there was not a sound of the chattering Blacks. Daring to -approach a trifle nearer, so great is human curiosity, I was still -unable to discover a single sign of inhabitants on the flat where I had -formerly seen them by the hundred. - -“I’m a fish,” said I, “if they haven’t deserted the camp!” - -They had gone, for a fact. There was not a Link of them left. They had -fled, for what reason I could not even conjecture; and where they were -was a question which I did not care to propound. It seemed to me that -this lifted a great burden of worry from my shoulders. But as soon as I -had made myself sure of the truth, my thoughts went flashing back to the -bag of gold. If the Links were gone, I should run no risk in recovering -the treasure. So potent did this idea become, that I immediately turned -the boat back up the steam and began to row with vigour. - -The goddess asked me at once where I was going. When I told her she -seemed deeply to regret my resolution, but she sat there, grimly, and -made no comment. Brave girl, I knew she was terribly agitated, but a -girl could not be expected to do or to know any better. I admired her -pluck in restraining her natural impulse to protest and coax and make a -fuss. - -In the briefest time, the prow was grating on the bank. Fatty leaped -out, wild with delight to find himself again on solid earth. - -“We’ll only be gone a minute,” I told the goddess, and led the way up -through the brush and the darkness. - -To tell the truth I was more than half afraid that something might -happen, myself. Jungle noises had commenced and the place seemed to -breathe of my flight, struggles and pains of the time before. Stumbling -about, as silently as possible, I began to search for the treasure. - -I had pictured myself walking straight to where the gold was lying, but -I now began to realise that to re-discover the particular thicket where -I had dropped it would be a matter involving considerable luck. A -fruitless time elapsed while I plunged about. Fatty was of no -assistance, for he knew nothing of what I was seeking. - -Presently the same old grumble and roar, from the mighty cauldron, -commenced to roll outward on the air. I knew at once I was off the -track, at least twenty yards. Changing my base rapidly, I began the -search anew. But it seemed utterly hopeless. A doubt came over me; was -the bag still there? Might not the Blacks have found it and carried it -away? It seemed as if this must be so. I was worried about the goddess; -if anything should happen to her, how terrible it would be! - -On the point of giving up the gold, and persuading myself that I did not -care anyway, I turned to leave, and stumbled heavily over some obstacle -and into a tangle of creepers. - -“Here it is, all the time!” I grumbled. - -My excitement rose to fever pitch in a second. The bag, exactly as I had -dropped it down, was under my very hand. Lifting it out of the embracing -tendrils, I got it boosted up on my shoulder in a hurry. Then back we -plunged, through the growth. - -If I live to be a thousand, I shall never see a face so expressive of -dread and fright as was that of the poor, trembling girl in the boat, -when at last we came to where she was waiting. I believe that hers had -been a more cruel ordeal to endure than had been my own on the former -occasion. I had not even thought to whistle a bit, by way of assurance -that all was well. She had to cry, dear little woman, when the strain -was over and the boat once more headed down the stream. - -I spurned the gold with my foot, as it lay in the boat, and hated myself -for a miserly, greedy fool, yet in spite of myself I felt a tremendous -elation inside, to think of having all this wealth, after all. It seemed -too good for me to contain myself over. I wanted to roar out in -laughter, to sing, and to shout a mad defiance to all the Blacks in -kingdom. - -Fatty had entered the boat again, with more alacrity than before, -desiring any fate with us rather than to be left alone in an unknown -jungle after dark. He made himself small in the bottom of the boat, and -we glided past the deserted camp of our defeated foe. - - - - - CHAPTER XLIII - SURROUNDED BY THE BLACKS - - -It was a strange sensation to skim along that river through the dark, -irregular walls of trees, for the sounds of the jungle came to us -clearly and these were all we could hear. At times we could see but a -short distance ahead; at many a bend it appeared as if the great silent -water-way ended abruptly. Then again it would open out and curve away, -lighted only by its own reflections of the stars. - -So much did this outlet wind that I lost all account of directions, but -I knew we were traversing miles to accomplish but little direct advance. -Our talking amounted to nothing. My mood was not for conversation, while -I am sure the goddess dreaded to speak a word. From time to time some -water creature splashed its way among the grasses, next the bank. No -matter how often this sound was repeated, it made me start and breathe -heavily till we were past the place. - -The hours sped by, bringing no material change that could be noted. The -night was exceedingly dark, owing in part to the density of the forest -so near on either side. Pausing at length in my rowing, I observed that -we drifted more rapidly than I had thought the current to be moving. -Having become a trifle soft, while on my back, I found that my arms had -grown tired already from the work. Fatty had succumbed to his habit of -sleeping, acquired by going to bed at dark. His fears, however, had kept -him awake much later than usual. He was curled down in the hold, where -he twitched his feet and made little noises, like a dog that dreams. - -I whispered to the goddess that she had better try to follow Fatty’s -example, but I was quite unable to ascertain whether she slept or not, -so still had she been for an hour. Deeming it wise to conserve my -strength for the daylight rowing, I now permitted the boat to float down -the river at its own speed, merely keeping her out toward the centre of -the stream by steering with one or the other of the oars. She swung -about, broadside on, but as this enabled me to watch ahead easily, I -made no effort to keep her pointed directly down the current. - -Drifting thus, I kept the lonely vigil, hour after hour. I think I have -never felt more depressed than I finally became in that heart of the -wilderness. Not that anything threatened, nor that the sounds about me -were more than usually weird, but simply because there seemed to be no -end in promise; there appeared to be no progress toward anything -different from that interminable jungle, in which the river seemed -merely to wind without purpose. I felt as if the stream were like a -figure 8, on which we could float forever and never get out of the maze. -I knew better than this, but everything contributed to make me hopeless. -Sleepy and weary, dully aching in the muscles and bones made weak by the -fever, I almost thought the whole business a failure and the life, for -which I had fought so persistently, a mockery unworthy of the effort. - -On and on, winding and curving, drifted the boat with its extraordinary -cargo. Now and again I stirred the embers of fire, which were dully -glowing in my furnace-like receptacle of clay. In this place these -burning sticks appeared like the eyes of some crouching animal. I gave -up all idea of ever seeing dawn. Nodding, jerking myself awake, bathing -my heavy lids with water, steering my crooked course on this stream of -mystery, I passed the time without a single relieving incident to break -the deadening monotony of sound, motion and thought. - -Even when the first yellow streaks of morning did make slits in the -clouds, above the horizon of trees, it seemed as if the process of -day-breaking ceased and that the actuator had forgotten the method. -About this time, a rain commenced to fall, light, but wet and not -desired. Fatty and the goddess awoke. I stumbled over the faithful Link -to arrange a protection for the fire, which might otherwise have been -extinguished. Then in my eagerness to get back to the oars and head us -off from the bank, toward which we were gliding, I forgot to cover the -bombs. - -Grateful for the diversion, as well as for the company of my two -companions, I picked up my spirits rapidly, becoming actually cheerful. -This humour seemed to accelerate the coming of morning amazingly. The -river reflected the pale streaks of light, the trees began to emerge in -detail from the walls of gloom, and the dismal sounds, of hooting and -howling things, were abated. Before we knew it, day was upon us, our -winding course became a ceaseless invitation to hasten on and round the -next succeeding curve, and we were drifting with a doubled speed. - -Though the rain continued to fall, it was not annoying. I ate a bit of -fruit and manned the oars, soon having us going at an encouraging speed. -When the sun peered over the edge of the world, I felt like a boy. I let -out a shout and a roar to relieve the pressure of over exhilaration. The -echoes chased through the jungle madly. - -Glancing ahead I now discovered that the river narrowed down abruptly -between rude stairways of rock. On either side were shelves of the -adamant, not more than a foot above the tide; the whole gateway was -barely more than six feet in width. As might have been expected the -current was fairly being sucked through this chasm, which explained the -extra speed of the current where we were. - -Seeing nothing in or about the place which should make it difficult of -navigation, I merely kept the boat headed for the centre of the pass and -let her shoot along with the powerful sweep of waters. The place was not -long, nor were the rocks high nor difficult of access from the banks -below. I remember to have thought how easily a man could cross the river -at this peculiar place by simply jumping. - -The boat was tossed on the turbulent surface, as we darted through, but -below was another broad, smooth expanse, and the ever-inevitable curve -of the river. This latter we reached soon. I was then somewhat surprised -to observe two things: First, that for several hundred feet the stream -was nearly straight, and second that it narrowed again below us, between -banks a yard in height on which the growth was dense and which were so -close together that several slender creepers hung like the cables of a -projected suspension bridge across the stream, from branch to branch. I -thought the wind must have blown the first slight tendrils over and that -later they had grown to their present size. I also noted that again the -placid river became rapids, which tossed and foamed in their agitated -plunge between these banks. - -Absorbed in what I saw and watching my course narrowly, I gave no heed -to anything else. Therefore I started with galvanic quickness at a -sudden scream from the goddess. In answer, a chorus of yells, -triumphant, and diabolical enough to curdle the blood in one’s veins, -went up instantly. Then the jungle below us appeared literally to swarm -with terrible forms. - -The black Links, dancing like maniacs, screaming and racing toward the -rapids to intercept us, were surging from every possible space between -the trees, on the left-hand side of the river. They dashed ahead, fully -comprehending the situation and their own advantage. I thought I could -beat them to the rapids, but they were there by the score before we -could approach within a stone’s throw of its top, a fierce and terrible -array, armed with their clubs with which they could not have missed us -by throwing. - -To have attempted to run through the narrows would merely have been to -court a sudden death. I backwatered quickly and held the boat from -drifting. Fatty was whining; the goddess was white as paper. I thought -of the rapids above us, against the current of which I could not have -pulled the boat to save our souls. I looked about and noted the densely -wooded banks, which made escape in that direction impossible, even if we -could have landed on the side opposite the foe in the vain hope that -they could not get across as easily as we. - -We were trapped! - -The wild brutes, insane to get the goddess again in their clutches, mad -to tear Fatty in shreds, and crazy to beat me to a pulp, as their -arch-nemesis, simply writhed in eager anticipation of bagging us all, in -spite of all we could do. - -It was maddening; it all but drove me out of my senses. I knew that to -wait for night would mean that when they were goaded sufficiently by -their own impatience, the monsters would reach us, even if they had to -swim, in addition to which I should certainly not dare to run the rapids -after dark. Escape was utterly impossible, turn where I might. - -The greed for gold had done the trick! The time I had wasted to get it -would have saved us. Had I not delayed, we should have passed this place -before the light had become strong enough to reveal our presence. - -The demons never ceased for a moment to yell. That they knew we were -caught I could not doubt. Not only did the males all congregate to smash -us to atoms if we should attempt to shoot the rapids, but the females -also appeared like magic from the jungle and lined up along the bank, a -cruel looking mob with fingers that itched to tear poor Fatty and me to -strings of meat. I was alarmed, desperate, and enraged by turns. Keeping -off the boat and attempting to see a way out, I suddenly thought of my -bombs. - -Immediately I conceived a plan by which I meant to scatter the fiends in -utter dismay. Dropping the boat down toward them I stopped it just -outside the range of their clubs and headed it back up the stream. -Before it had ceased to go forward, under the impulse of a powerful -stroke, I shipped the oars, grabbed up a bomb and darted over Fatty to -the fire. Snatching up an ember, I applied it to the fuse, meaning to -throw the deadly explosive into their midst and dart through the rapids -in the instantaneous confusion which would follow. - -But the rain had dampened the powder! - -The fuse would not ignite! The trick was worse than a failure! - -With a curse on my lips, I sprang back to the oars and spun the boat -about, barely in time to save it from shooting the narrows broadside on. -A dozen clubs, whizzing and hurtling end over end, splashed the water -about us, as I drove the boat back to a safe position. In despair I -examined all the bombs, only to find them as useless and harmless as so -many hunks of cork. All my elaborate work to provide myself with these -weapons and with the fire to make them of use, had been wholly undone in -a moment of thoughtless neglect. I might have protected these -instruments of death, but I had failed at the critical moment. - -The weight of this calamity nearly overcame me. It seemed as if the -bombs had been our only hope, and that now we were certainly doomed. The -raging Blacks yelled more horribly than ever; they were more assured of -their prey. Nothing more ferocious can be imagined than this mass of -fiends, many of them foaming at the mouth, all excitedly moving from -place to place, and all showing fangs of teeth, as they watched us with -the nervous, near-together eyes which I knew so well. - -I was rendered so thoroughly unfit by the failure of my bombs, that I -gave up trying to think of any other way of outwitting the monsters. The -rain re-commenced. With a bitter sniff of scorn at myself for the -action, I covered the bamboo explosives with a skin, to prevent them -from getting any wetter. As if powder could be any wetter when it has -become too damp to ignite! - -“Oh what shall we do? what shall we do?” moaned the goddess. - -I tried to answer cheerfully, but having no sensible reply was denied -even this negative pleasure. I tried to think, in order to make some -rejoinder. - -“There is only one scheme and that is nearly hopeless,” I told her at -last. “If I can make them believe we are about to land on the opposite -side, up above, perhaps they might abandon their present position and -then we could make a dash for it and beat them past that narrow -channel.” - -She made no comment, but in her eyes there was such an imploring light -that I deemed no effort too great to make. Somewhat inspirited by the -plan concocted on the spur of a moment, I strung my bow and laid an -arrow near and immediately turning the prow up stream began to row away -from the waiting Blacks, toward the furthest bank we could see. - -At first they were undecided, or else they refused to believe we were -leaving. But their wits were keen only within narrow limits. Taking the -bait, in a moment, they seemed suddenly to remember the rock-passage, -over which they doubtless knew they could jump. By the score they chased -up the bank, swinging along in the trees with astonishing agility and -gaining on us every moment. - -I was purposely rowing slowly, but with great show of exertion. As far -as I could determine, from that distance, every demon in the tribe came -chasing up the river, to be in at the death. Dozens of them remained -visible, marking the position of the main body as it moved up the bank, -but the great majority were soon hidden in the tangle of verdure, -through which they weaved like so many animated black shuttles, playing -in and out through the warp of green. - -Steering now for the bank which was just below the upper rapids, and -appearing to row with all possible haste, I had the extreme satisfaction -of seeing our mad pursuers swarming toward the rocks where the stream -could be leaped at a bound. So eagerly did they push and crowd, when -they came to the place, that some, who paused undecided at the brink, -were shoved headlong into the angry current. But no sooner was I sure -that the ruse had succeeded than I swung the boat, as if she had been on -a pivot, and sent her shooting down the stream with might and main. - -Shrieks of rage and dismay burst from a hundred throats as the baffled -demons suddenly comprehended my game. With all their speed, and in a -frenzy of fury, they came running and climbing and swinging back. But -this time I had the double advantage of a shorter, straighter route and -the force of all the current to sweep me along. I rowed like an engine; -the race was a race for life or death. Every muscle was strained, every -volt of the superhuman dynamic, developed by the peril of our position, -surged upward to drive us onward, toward that narrow gate of safety. - -We neared it; we were far ahead of the mob; I saw victory smiling in the -sun-lit jungle beyond. Like a hideous black comet, then, athwart my line -of vision, a Link suddenly swung across the river, on one of the -creepers that spanned the space between the banks. He reached the -branches on the opposite side. Instantly another one followed. I -groaned, for evidently they had been left there to guard the pass. -Another and yet another swung across. They quickly formed a -“monkey-bridge” and hung suspended above the water like a sagging -hammock—not from the creepers, which would have broken, but each from -the arms of his neighbour. In less than half a minute their line was -complete. We were still driving toward them. - -“Oh, the horrible old woman!” cried the girl, in affright. - -I realised then that more than half the creatures in the bridge were -females; and out across them came swinging that she-devil who had caught -me with the gold, and whose fingers I had severed, and whose ribs I had -skinned—the harpy who had watched the goddess like a hawk. - -She meant to lean down over the ones in the bridge and clutch the girl, -as we shot beneath their bodies. Then others quickly joined her who -intended to snatch for Fatty and myself. It was diabolically clever. If -ever they reached us with those powerful arms, they could hold us -against a team of pulling horses. - -To turn now meant to abandon all hope; the Links who were tearing after -us behind, once fooled could be hoaxed no more; and all would be more -than ever infuriated and likely to swamp the boat. It looked like a -swift and awful death. - -In a heat of uncontainable rage myself, I stood up, as we swept toward -the rapids, and grabbing my bow, strung an arrow in desperate haste and -drew for a shot, which fury made vicious and fierce. I had become so -angered that I seemed to care nothing for what could happen. The arrow -sprang away like a streak of light. Just at that second the line of -Links slipped down a foot. In the brief time before the shaft could -arrive, my heart sank with dread—the slip of the target had ruined my -shot. - -But like the angered messenger of hate which it was, the arrow struck -where it had not been aimed—in the forearm of a Link who supported the -weight of all the line. It stabbed clean through, tearing the muscles -savagely as it plowed. Down swung the whole living bridge of demons, -with the shrieking “old woman” in the melee, for that supporting arm let -go as if it had been slashed in twain. - -Instantly the dropping fiends struck the stream where the current boiled -like a mill-race. Splashing, battling, screaming in fright, the -intertwisted monsters went swiftly down, every one trying to climb out -on his neighbour, all of them fighting, rolling like rags of waste and -gurgling as they attempted still to yell, with mouths full of water. - -The boat by this time had been caught in the tow of the torrent. We -swung down into the foam and tossing waves and drifted into the mass of -brutes as they fought and drowned in the irresistible flood. Two of them -flung an arm across our gunwale. Yelling as madly as themselves, we beat -them off with the clubs, Fatty fighting like a fury. The hideous old -female clutched in desperation and fastened her deadly grip on the wrist -of the goddess. What a scream of malice and triumph she gave! I jumped -across the seat and struck her arm a blow that smashed the bone and -flesh to a quivering pulp on the edge of the boat. About her neck was -flung the arm of a drowning beast at her side; and down they went -together. - -Yells upon yells now arose from the other Blacks, who had come to the -narrows. We were slowly revolving in a whirlpool. The creatures could -still have dashed to positions above us and sunk the boat with their -clubs. I shot out the oars and drove the craft quickly ahead. A monster -came boiling to the surface; I slashed him hard with my right-hand sweep -and he sank like a rock. One, a rod away was swimming with the inborn -skill and instinct of all wild animals, but the others had fought one -another, fatally, in that vortex of swirling water, and only this one -got back to the bank. - -Through the seething foam to where the turbulent river grew calmer, we -sped away, and at last these implacable demons were far behind. - - - - - CHAPTER XLIV - VALE, FAITHFUL FATTY - - -Had the Blacks known the country and human ways of cunning, they could -still have cut across the neck of a loop in the river, and so have -overtaken the boat, but this was beyond their sagacity. I feared they -might have forestalled us thus, so that when we came along to where they -should have been, in such an event, I was alert for trouble and hugged -the further side of the stream. Of course we passed the place -unmolested. - -The sun was shining brightly now, as if in promise of fairer things to -come. We had been too horrified to speak, but at last we breathed our -relief, and shuddered as we reviewed the fearful hour which, thank God, -was now of the past. Then we ate of our food, for all were faint from -hunger, and I stirred up and fed the fire, and laid out the bombs to dry -in the tropical heat. Also I moored the boat from the branch of an -overhanging tree, by means of the rope I had taken along. I needed rest -as much as food. - -There in the shade we floated quietly for more than an hour, during -which time I slept like a worn-out child, in a wretched position, but -yet dreamlessly and without the slightest inconvenience. I awoke much -refreshed. The goddess would have permitted me to slumber as long as I -listed, nevertheless she was anxious to be going ahead, seeing which I -cut us loose, and again we were hurrying down toward the sea. - -It was a long and somewhat tedious day. We shot more rapids, a number of -which threatened various dangers, and we rowed through a broad, shallow -lagoon that was almost a lake and in which there were alligators galore. -Of these the goddess had a natural horror, only exceeded by that of poor -Fatty. However, the saurians were quite as alarmed as we, having never -before seen the like of our floating terror, which the boat with -extended oars seemed to represent, so that we cleared this place without -delay and without a battle. - -Along the banks of the river, which presented itself in multitudinous -aspects, we beheld troops of monkeys and apes, vast flocks of parrots -and other noisy birds, which made the trees seem to quiver with life. -Tortoises were frequently started from a sun-bath, when they plunged -into the stream with clumsy haste. There were toads in great variety and -of snakes an ample representation. Of these latter reptiles some were -swimming in the water, while others lay upon the banks and others again -hung suspended from the trees, masquerading, it appeared to me, in -imitation of creepers. The insects were exceedingly pestiferous, -especially where the river became wide, sluggish and grown with rank -grasses. - -The changing panorama of jungle, hills, grassy clearings and rocky -ravines, was one of unquestionable beauty, yet I felt no joy in -observing it stretch and unfold so endlessly before us. I waxed -impatient to be out of the maze. In spite of all I could do, I was -conscious always of the ominous stillness about us, and of a sub-stratum -of fear in myself, as I dwelt upon the thought of things which might -occur. I have said before, and I repeat frankly, I am not a courageous -man. The constant succession of events and the omnipresence of menace to -life and limb had wrought sad havoc with my nerves. When I fought, it -was nearly always because I felt so frightened and nervous that I had to -do something desperate to relieve my feelings. At other times anger had -made me reckless. - -We had passed a number of tributary streams, so that the river was now -of much greater volume. Thinking of this, I was deeply puzzled, at noon, -to find that not only had the current ceased to assist me forward, but -that on the contrary it seemed abruptly to have reversed. Attributing -this “illusion” to my weakened condition of brain and muscles, I worked -harder than before to drive the boat along. There was no sense in -blaming myself, however, for soon the up current became actually -visible, as well as strong. Then I was suddenly made glad, and knew I -had been once more a dunce. - -The tide from the great sea itself was rising and driving everything up, -against the flow of the river. This glorious news I imparted at once to -the goddess. How she rejoiced! But even then, her feelings were most -expressed by her lustrous eyes, for she found it difficult to speak of -escape, and I think she dared not hope, for fear a jealous fate would -hear her wish and proceed to shatter every possibility of deliverance -from this wide-open prison. - -It being a useless expenditure of energy to pull against this tide, I -secured the boat to a vine-covered log, which protruded above the water, -and let her swing as she would. We refreshed ourselves again with the -fruits and a bit of the jerked meat. Already many of the mangoes and -papaws were becoming soft, in the heat. Instructing the goddess to wake -me the moment the tide should turn, I snatched another nap. - -Before long we were slipping so swiftly downward on the ebb of the -current that I was quite content to steer the boat and let it make its -own pace. Thus we skimmed rapidly along until late in the day, the smell -of the life-giving sea wafting to our nostrils, till it filled us with -joy unspeakable. Building my plan as we rode on the bosom of the river, -I decided to make the camp in the stream, or on the bank, within the -mouth of the outlet, rather than to venture on the ocean with night -descending. After a needed period of rest, we could explore the coast of -the land for a village, in the morning. - -The sky had become a trifle clouded before we resumed the drifting, -after my slumber; this condition now increased. Having been taught my -lesson before, I did not intend to be caught again. I spoke to the -goddess, asking her to steer us a bit, but the poor girl had fallen -asleep from exhaustion. Letting the craft take her course, I stretched a -protection over the fire and then turned about and performed a similar -service for the bombs, which had been dried thoroughly. - -While I was fairly in the midst of this important business, Fatty gave a -sudden cry of alarm. The next instant the boat struck upon the end of a -spit of land which projected out into the stream. I was thrown on my -knees; the craft swung with her bow as a pivot on the sand. - -Getting erect with the thought that no harm was done and that to push -off was only the work of a second, I was amazed to see a troop of -creatures darting toward us—my old enemies the hideous ourang-outangs! - -The goddess was jolted awake; she gasped in terror. Reaching for an oar -to push us off I found it caught in the skin that wrapped the bombs. I -jerked and wrenched; the delay was fatal. The monsters descended the -bank like an avalanche. Hampered as I was with the oar, I became the -easiest victim. Before I could drop the sweep to make a fight, the -brutes leaped across the beach which was between themselves and the -boat. Myself, the girl and Fatty were all but surrounded,—hideous murder -loomed before us in a second. - -Then Fatty, the faithful, the frightened, the loving, hurled himself -upon the brutes, defending me from instant capture and death; and the -fierce creatures gathered him to them. They tore him, bit him, fell upon -him and mangled his body in a manner frightful to see. He was done to -death most horribly in less than half a minute. - -The boat, relieved of his weight and shoved by the backward push of his -foot, as he leaped, swung off in the stream and began to drift away. I -sprang to where my bombs were lying, mad for vengeance, and tore one out -of the skin. Then scrambling to the fire, I snatched up a flesh-searing -coal and touched the fuse. It sputtered in swift anger. I threw the -deadly thing with all my force. While yet in the air, only mid-way -between those monsters and ourselves, the bomb exploded with terrific -violence. I saw a gigantic star of fire; I felt as if the world had -burst against my head. Then I fell forward in the boat and was utterly -blotted out. - - - - - CHAPTER XLV - NO LONGER A KING - - -The force of the bomb must have been tremendous. I believe it was hours -before I regained consciousness. When at last I did revive, I was dizzy -and deafened, the world about me was black, a storm was raging in the -heavens and the boat was heaving with a great commotion. Everything was -puzzling. Finally I remembered something of what had happened and knew -where I was. - -“Dearest,” I said, giving the goddess the name which I had only dared to -call her to myself, “dearest—are you there?” and I crawled toward the -stern. - -“Here—John,” said a faint, sweet voice, and then I found her hand and -knew that she too had been long unconscious, after that moment of -terrible things. - -We were on the sea! Of that I was soon made sure. The wind was driving -us—the Lord only knew where; the waves were tossing the boat about as if -she had been but a thimble afloat; and the spray flung across us and -drenched us both repeatedly. This had doubtless fetched us around, the -goddess first, for she had been less injured than I by the explosion, -having been seated, while I was standing, at the fateful moment. The -tide had carried us straight out to the ocean, as we lay helpless in the -craft. - -We crouched in the bottom of the boat and clung to the seat for an age. -The rain came driving down; the force of the gale appeared to increase, -and we scudded away into the black abyss which had for its limits the -ends of mighty ocean. - -We were out of our prison, adrift on the boundless main. When morning -came, we raised our heads and searched that wilderness of water—in vain. -No island—no ship—nothing was there in sight, save tumbling mountains of -water. We were lost in that trackless jungle of billows. - -Of the day and the night of physical and mental anguish that followed, I -have no desire to think. Two souls made one by sufferings long endured, -we sought and found our only consolation in the words of hope and -affection, which each could give to each. - -What water remained, or had been collected from the downpour, in the -shell of the tortoise, got slopped out soon in the boat. It mingled with -the salt water, shipped from time to time, and swashing about, ruined -the meat and fruits, put out the fire and soaked the skins. Then the sun -and the scorching air played their tricks at parching and burning us up. -How useless and vain seemed the sack of gold, lying there in the wash! - -I cut and broke the pole I had taken along, and lashing the shorter -piece across the boat, to the oar-lock pins, made the other stand -upright, with a bit of skin flapping idly, for a signal of distress. - -Toward the evening of the second day we sighted a steamer. As we were -low to the water and they were high, this boat was comparatively near -before we saw her loom above the horizon. She made us out, at last, and -we breathed our thanks, to see her put about and bear down toward the -good old boat which had served so nobly. - -Then it was that a surge of feeling welled up within me, thoughts of my -long exile, the friendly Links—who had saved my life,—and of poor old -Fatty, who had sacrificed himself like a hero at the end—poor old Fatty, -my loving and beloved friend. - -“What is it, John?” said the goddess tenderly. - -“Oh nothing,” I faltered, swallowing hard at the lump in my throttle, -“I—I was just thinking that now—that now I’m no longer King of the -Missing Links;—I’m just an ordinary man.” - - - END. - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard (or amusing) - spellings, dialect, and idiosyncratic punctuation unchanged. - ---In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the - HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Crystal Sceptre, by Philip Verrill Mighels - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRYSTAL SCEPTRE *** - -***** This file should be named 60860-0.txt or 60860-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/8/6/60860/ - -Produced by Tim Lindell, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from images made available by the -HathiTrust Digital Library.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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} -</style> -</head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Crystal Sceptre, by Philip Verrill Mighels - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: The Crystal Sceptre - A Story of Adventure - -Author: Philip Verrill Mighels - -Release Date: December 6, 2019 [EBook #60860] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRYSTAL SCEPTRE *** - - - - -Produced by Tim Lindell, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from images made available by the -HathiTrust Digital Library.) - - - - - - -</pre> - -<div class="img"> -<img class="cover" id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="The Crystal Sceptre" width="586" height="800" /> -</div> -<div class="box"> -<h1><i>The</i> CRYSTAL SCEPTRE -<br /><span class="smaller"><i>A Story of Adventure</i></span></h1> -<p class="tbcenter">By PHILIP VERRILL MIGHELS -<br /><i>Author of “Nella, the Heart of the Army,” etc.</i></p> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/ptitle.jpg" alt="Decorative glyph" width="200" height="84" /> -</div> -<p class="center">R. F. FENNO & COMPANY -<br />9 and 11 East Sixteenth Street, New York -<br />1901</p> -</div> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="small"><span class="sc">Copyright 1901 -<br />by -<br />Philip Verrill Mighels</span></span></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_7">7</div> -<h2>Contents</h2> -<dl class="toc"> -<dt class="jr"><span class="jl small">CHAPTER</span> <span class="small">PAGE</span></dt> -<dt><span class="cn">I. </span><a href="#c1">The end of the voyage</a> 9</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">II. </span><a href="#c2">A strange alliance</a> 14</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">III. </span><a href="#c3">The home of the Links</a> 25</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">IV. </span><a href="#c4">A reconnoitre</a> 36</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">V. </span><a href="#c5">Hostile neighbours</a> 44</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">VI. </span><a href="#c6">Language and weapons</a> 50</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">VII. </span><a href="#c7">Important discoveries</a> 60</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">VIII. </span><a href="#c8">Attacked and besieged</a> 67</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">IX. </span><a href="#c9">The cauldron of gold</a> 76</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">X. </span><a href="#c10">Daylight at last</a> 86</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XI. </span><a href="#c11">A camp on the hill</a> 91</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XII. </span><a href="#c12">A deadly foe</a> 97</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XIII. </span><a href="#c13">The night in the jungle</a> 108</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XIV. </span><a href="#c14">An old roué</a> 115</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XV. </span><a href="#c15">A gleam of hope</a> 120</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XVI. </span><a href="#c16">Treachery and a battle</a> 127</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XVII. </span><a href="#c17">Saurians as foes</a> 141</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XVIII. </span><a href="#c18">The enemy near</a> 151</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XIX. </span><a href="#c19">Adoration scorned</a> 155</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XX. </span><a href="#c20">The chief is pleased</a> 159</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXI. </span><a href="#c21">War with the Blacks</a> 165</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXII. </span><a href="#c22">Home joys and troubles</a> 172</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXIII. </span><a href="#c23">Needed munitions gathered</a> 183</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXIV. </span><a href="#c24">Experimental gunpowder</a> 188</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXV. </span><a href="#c25">The tribe frightened</a> 197</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXVI. </span><a href="#c26">Sport at the lake</a> 203</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXVII. </span><a href="#c27">An exploration</a> 211</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXVIII. </span><a href="#c28">Amazing discoveries</a> 218</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXIX. </span><a href="#c29">A sacred disguise</a> 229</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXX. </span><a href="#c30">Again besieged</a> 240</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXXI. </span><a href="#c31">Lost in the jungle</a> 247</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXXII. </span><a href="#c32">The bamboo bombs</a> 261</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXXIII. </span><a href="#c33">King at last</a> 271</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXXIV. </span><a href="#c34">A moment of rest</a> 276</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXXV. </span><a href="#c35">A fellow human</a> 282</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXXVI. </span><a href="#c36">Surprise and suspense</a> 293</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXXVII. </span><a href="#c37">The goddess</a> 306</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXXVIII. </span><a href="#c38">A prospect of wealth</a> 313</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXXIX. </span><a href="#c39">Stealing the enemy’s fire</a> 324</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XL. </span><a href="#c40">Coveted gold</a> 334</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XLI. </span><a href="#c41">Farewell to the camp</a> 344</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XLII. </span><a href="#c42">Golden gleams</a> 358</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XLIII. </span><a href="#c43">Surrounded by the Blacks</a> 365</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XLIV. </span><a href="#c44">Vale faithful Fatty</a> 380</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XLV. </span><a href="#c45">No longer a king</a> 387</dt> -</dl> -<div class="pb" id="Page_9">9</div> -<h1 title=""><span class="sc">The Crystal Sceptre</span></h1> -<h2 id="c1"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER I</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">THE END OF THE VOYAGE</span></h2> -<p>We had lost all control of the wild balloon. It -was driven ahead of the wind like a shred of rags, -the car trailing behind at a fearful angle, for -many of the ropes were broken and all the others -were twisted in a hopeless tangle. Nearly all our -ballast had fallen into the angry sea beneath us an -hour after the storm first caught us in its whirl.</p> -<p>I could hear the ocean roaring and swashing, -where its gigantic waves toppled over each other -below. The sound must have been tremendous, -for the wind blew such a howling gale that neither -Ford nor I could make each other hear what we -shouted two feet away.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_10">10</div> -<p>Our hats were gone; Ford’s face was haggard, -whenever the lightning revealed him in the -gloom. So intense was the darkness that I could -not even see the vast bag above us. When a great -flash illuminated the heavens, directly ahead, I -noted the monster globe full of gas, silhouetted -blackly against the glare, and knew it was slightly -leaking. A small three-cornered dent was in its -side already. I also observed that the sea was -hardly more than fifty feet below, churning milk-white -foam in its fury out of liquid ebon waves of -mountainous size. The sky seemed like a solid -bank of black. The darkness that followed the -flash absorbed even Ford. Yet I knew that -while he clung to the basket with his right hand, -as I had done for above an hour, he was nevertheless -attempting with his left to heave out the bag -of provisions and the blankets. I helped him at -this and we rose perceptibly.</p> -<p>Where we were it was absolutely impossible -even to guess. That the balloon was driving -ahead at more than sixty miles an hour we had -long been convinced. This had been the state -of affairs throughout the night. I had lost all -confidence in Ford’s calculations at the end of the -seventeenth hour out from Burma, for the twist -which the storm had given us then threw out or -broke every reliable instrument we had, leaving -not so much as a compass. I was not an aeronaut -like Ford, yet I knew we were doomed, unless -some change should occur, and that quickly.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_11">11</div> -<p>Ford, by the light of a flash, had seen a rope -which was sawing open a seam in the silk, as it -slashed and writhed in the tornado. When another -blinding illumination came, I saw him -climbing up in the ring to cut this rope away. -The car tilted more than before; I fully expected -to go hurtling out at every jerk. Suddenly two -ropes, worn to a thread, on the ring, parted without -the slightest warning. The car gave a lurch -and all but turned bottom-side up. I heard a -cry, as I swung out full length, suspended by my -arms, and was even slightly struck on the foot, -as Ford went plunging down. The balloon shot -upward, relieved of his weight, and I was alone.</p> -<p>How long I clung there, swinging far out behind -the wounded machine, is more than I would -dare to say. My arms finally ached so intensely -I could scarcely endure the pain. Dangling ropes -beat me like knouts, for a time, and then wrapped -and twisted about me like coils of a snake. Obviously -these must have supported my weight at -the last, for in a spell of dizziness and weakness -I lost my grip and then was conscious only a second, -when I thought, with the utmost unconcern, -my end had come. Like a dummy on the -tail of a kite, I dragged below the wreck of the -car and was whirled thus unconsciously on, above -the hungry sea.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_12">12</div> -<p>It might have been hours, it might have been -days after this last moment of despair, when my -brain began again to work. I can only describe -the sensations which followed as a species of -dream. I thought I was dead; it seemed as if my -soul, or something, was at perfect rest in a region -of loveliness. Whereas I had been chilled -through and through by the storm, I was warm -now and filled with comfort. Music, which -might have been the rustling of leaves or the -songs of birds, made itself heard. I could not see -for my eyes remained closed; but a sense of delicious -odours pervaded my being; I seemed also to -float, as if on the air.</p> -<p>At length I opened my eyes. The dream continuing -on me still, I lay perfectly quiet, gazing -aloft into a sky of matchless beauty. Doubtless -I remained in this position for more than half an -hour. Then a bright bird flitted across my range -of vision, and brought me back to things of earth. -I was still bound about by a piece of rope. Everything -came back to me sharply,—Ford, my -friend, the scientist and daring balloonist, our -start, the storm, his hurtling down to death, my -own desperation, and then oblivion.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_13">13</div> -<p>I was whole and sound, apparently. Removing -the rope and attempting to sit erect, I found -myself floundering for a second, in the top of a -tree. The branch I was on let me drop. I fell toward -the earth, made a grab for a limb, which -somewhat broke my fall, and landed plump on -the ground, in the midst of a circle of extraordinary -beings.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_14">14</div> -<h2 id="c2"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER II</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">A STRANGE ALLIANCE</span></h2> -<p>Neither men nor apes, yet clearly creatures -which were nearly the one and on the verge of -being the other, these inhabitants of the place had -evidently been observing my form, in a spirit of -cautious curiosity, for a number now came swinging -down from trees adjacent to the one I had -occupied, and the ones upon the ground set up a -series of singular cries.</p> -<p>Having landed on my feet, hatless, but otherwise -stoutly clad, I threw my hand to my belt, instinctively, -desiring to arm myself against possible -aggression. I found only my knife remaining. -This weapon I merely hauled around by -sliding the belt, to bring the dagger directly beneath -my hand. The creatures about me were a -score or so in number, standing erect, apparently -much excited, yet threatening no attack. Their -movements were restless; their roundish, near-together -eyes were constantly moving, like those -of a monkey; they circled about me, uttering guttural -monosyllables, with many inflections. -Every one of them gripped in a powerful hand -the haft of a rude sort of club, fashioned out of a -rock, lashed firmly to the end of a stout piece of -wood.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_15">15</div> -<p>The mutual inspection between us lasted several -minutes. I could detect but little difference -between any two of the beings. They were nearly -as tall as I, averaging about five feet six inches; -they were thin, wiry, entirely naked, long-armed, -flat-nosed, big-jawed and covered, on their legs -and arms, with a thin and somewhat straggling -growth of hair. Their skin was a reddish light-brown -in colour; their feet were large, but much -like hands, having the great toe set back like a -thumb; their legs were slender and poorly shaped, -but exceedingly muscular; their shoulders and -backs were round.</p> -<p>One of the first to drop from a tree was a giant -among them, a creature more than six feet tall, -active as a panther, commanding in aspect, and -possessing arms that reached fully to his knees. -He carried a remarkable club which was made of -a great chunk of rock-crystal, secured at the end -of a polished bone, large and straight. This -crystal still had its gleaming points and facets preserved; -it therefore inspired me with a dread of -the jagged hole it could smash in the skull of the -largest animal.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_16">16</div> -<p>Amazed as I was by what I saw, my astonishment -was instantly increased when I observed -the only female creature I had yet beheld. She issued -from a copse and took her place beside the -giant, who stood leaning on his club, eyeing myself -nervously. She was a pure albino. Her hair, -which was long and coarse, was as white as foam, -her eyes were as pink as a rabbit’s; her complexion -was florid red on white. With a rudimentary -modesty, she stood partially concealed behind the -giant, although she was “clothed” in a patch of -skin from a pure white gull, in addition to a sort -of rude necklace of claws.</p> -<p>What were they? Where was I? What would -they do? These questions I asked myself rapidly -a hundred times, as the creatures continued to -edge about me and to chatter obvious comments. -I could only answer what they were, and my premature -conclusion may have been wide of the -truth, yet I dubbed them Missing Links without -the slightest hesitation.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_17">17</div> -<p>For a space of at least ten minutes I was subjected -to the closest scrutiny, during which time -I kept the keenest possible watch on every movement, -behind as well as before me. Resistance, -however, would have been madness, had they -closed in for a battle. There was evident indecision -among these Links as to what they should -do, and I was equally at a loss to determine what -I most desired with regard to themselves. I now -underwent another sensation. Pushing his way -through the circle came a fat, waddling “fellow,” -who afforded as great a contrast to the ordinary -Links as did the female albino. He was entirely -black. As if to render him quite grotesque, his -legs were thick and bowed, his stomach was large -and glistening, and his head was crowned with a -skull, securely tied in place with thongs which -passed beneath his chin. But his face was so irresistibly -comical, with its broad, good-natured -grin, that I smiled in actual forgetfulness of -where I was.</p> -<p>At this he approached, holding forth in his -hand a luscious fruit, the like of which I had -never seen. A murmur—plainly of dissent, or -warning—went up from his companions. Two -or three made as if to drag him roughly back by -the leg. I fancied I understood him to be an emissary -of peace, and therefore deciding instantly -that I preferred to be friendly, I took a step forward -and held out my hand. With a look of -gratitude, mingled with one of suspicious uncertainty, -the fat chap gave me the fruit and capered -clumsily away, out of possible reach.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_18">18</div> -<p>Grunts of wonder and perhaps also of relief, -greeted my acceptance of this overture of hospitality. -The Links settled in their tracks, to see -what would happen next, many of them standing -with arms akimbo and glancing from me to the -giant, rapidly, by which I concluded that he was -a chieftain to whom they looked for a final decision -of the case. Trusting that the action might -create a salutary impression on the audience, I -drew my knife from its scabbard and proceeded to -cut away the thick, hard rind of the fruit, paying -not the slightest attention to the exclamations -which followed this exhibition of the sharpness -and use of the gleaming blade. When the fruit -was peeled, I put the knife away and ate as delicious -and juicy a thing as ever a man has -known, provoking thereby a feeling of undisguised -pleasure in the Links and of apparent -ecstasy in the breast of the fat one who had provided -the breakfast.</p> -<p>“Now,” said I, when the thing was gone, -“who are you fellows, and what do you want?”</p> -<p>I was surprised at myself for thus addressing -this half-ape gathering, but they were smitten -temporarily dumb at the sound of my voice. I -made a gesture of cordiality and turned completely -around in the circle, finally holding both -my hands extended to the giant.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_19">19</div> -<p>The chatter was instantly resumed. One of -their “words,” in a language which seemed to -me to be exceedingly limited and primitive, was, -as nearly as pen can write it.</p> -<p>“Tzheck.”</p> -<p>Having caught this I attempted to repeat it, -pointing to myself meantime with my thumb, for -it occurred to my mind that they called not only -myself but also their species by the name, and I -desired to assure them I was “one of themselves,” -for at least they were better than no -companions in this unknown land.</p> -<p>My action evidently met with approval. They -advanced, retreated, pushed each other near and -otherwise exhibited a desire to know what I was. -But still they had a fear of my presence, although -they were now in a mood of timid friendliness. -Up to this the chief of the Links had not -“spoken” a word. He now gave a command, -or something of the sort, when each of the others -raised his club to rest it on his shoulder, as if in -readiness to beat me to death in case a necessity -should arise. The giant then came boldly up -and extending a finger, touched my clothing. -The feeling of the cloth caused him to tell something -to his followers, all of whom were breathless -with attention.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_20">20</div> -<p>Thinking I understood his perplexity, I quickly -unfastened my coat and shirt, exhibiting the -whiter portion of my neck, for the part exposed -was tanned very much the colour of his own. This -action begot a great enthusiasm, responding to -which I pulled my coat off entirely, when the -amazement of all was complete. I repeated their -word “Tzheck” again, whereupon they set up a -clamorous conversation in monosyllables, among -themselves, and came yet closer, the better to -place their hands upon me. The impression was -borne in upon me that they knew somewhat of -what I was, but were puzzled by the clothing I -wore.</p> -<p>All this preface to a mutual friendship and understanding, -which I much desired as a guarantee -of my personal safety, was progressing well -when a sudden scream threw all into a state of -violent alarm. No sooner did I turn than I beheld -the appalling sight of thirty or forty huge, genuine -ourang-outangs, descending upon us from the -near-by jungle. Two of these had swooped upon -the albino female and were struggling to carry -her off. I saw the giant nearly smash the head -from the shoulders of one, with his iridescent -club, and rescue his mate in a second. Then a -fierce engagement commenced about me on every -side.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_21">21</div> -<p>It was a horrible conflict. The monster -ourangs, half erect, appeared like so many -fiends, as they launched themselves in overwhelming -numbers on the Links, their mouths drooling, -and bristling with fangs, their hatred of the more -human creatures expressed by the fury with -which they attempted to mangle and murder all -the band. The Links, screaming out a word -which thrilled me as a battle cry of a courageous -few whose fight was all but hopeless, smote lustily -with their clubs, sinking the rock-end in many a -skull, breaking arms, legs and ribs, yet wasting -superlative effort from lack of skill and discipline. -Although they fought their foe with more acumen -than as many undrilled men could have done, I -thought they must fly or all be killed, for the odds -were too heavy by far.</p> -<p>In the midst of the uproar and turmoil, of -which I had been the centre for a time, a singular -snarl, as of triumph, issued from one of the attacking -brutes. He had discovered myself. Immediately -half a dozen would have rushed upon -me, had I not been still somewhat surrounded by -the Links. As it was, two ourangs rushed in, -headlong, to do me violence.</p> -<p>I had been about to fight for my “friends,” -and therefore held my dagger in my hand. I -plunged it quickly in the throat of the beast that -gripped my shoulder, nearly severing the creature’s -head from its body. As he fell I stabbed -the other to the heart, but felt so great a rib that -I knew I had reached his life by the merest good -fortune.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_22">22</div> -<p>That I then grew hot and eager for blood, I admit. -I received the next that came with a lunge -which ripped him open entirely across the abdomen. -My knowledge of boxing and fencing -stood me well. I attacked a monster who was all -but killing my fat, good-natured Link, and -crashed the steel fairly through the spinal column -at the base of his brain. The smell of blood and -the flash of that gory knife seemed to affect -the attacking brutes with horror. Yet the next -ones that came would have killed me outright had -not the fat Link beaten out the brains of one and -broken the arm of the other, which then was -readily despatched.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_23">23</div> -<p>Seeing the advantage of a club, I clutched up -one which an overmastered Link had dropped, -and swung it madly. With this and the knife, I -not only defended myself but became a champion -of the Links as well. The fight, with its din of -thuds and animal shrieks and screams of agony, -began to concentrate about three Links and myself. -A long, hairy arm, with an iron-like hand, -was thrust across my shoulder and my throat was -in a deadly grip. I dropped the club and slashed -my blade across the wrist, severing the stiff, white -cords. Then I swung in a blow that buried the -steel to the hilt. The brute fell heavily, dragging -the knife from my hand. Instantly two more -great animals were upon me and over I went, already -scratched and slightly bitten. For a moment -I struggled in desperation; then a horrible -black face came down toward my own, the jaws -awide for a fastening on my neck.</p> -<p>Down swept a gleaming streak. The rock-crystal -club knocked the face, head and all, away, -as if it had been a potato on a stick. Another -blow killed my second assailant like a fly might -be killed on a window. I bounded up with a -club in my hand. The giant Link was beating -his way through the foe like a doomsman. With -a cry of hatred and fear, the remaining ourang-outangs, -and many of the wounded, suddenly -turned and fled. The battle had been brief and -bloody; it had demonstrated a fierceness and -power incredible in the Links, a power which, if -concentrated and properly employed, would excel -that of twice the number of human savages.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_24">24</div> -<p>I found my knife and pulled it forth from its -sheath of flesh. Collecting his following about -him with a word, the giant leader touched me on -the arm and pointed toward the jungle. The -wounded of “our” force limped from the scene; -our dead, who were three in number, were carried -by those who were still unhurt. With the albino -mate of the chief I walked away, surrounded by -the chattering Links, whose conduct toward me, -I was sure, was that of a friendly “people.” The -fat fellow was next to idiotic in his gratitude for -the stroke which had saved his life.</p> -<p>I had fought with them, bled with them, eaten -of their food and endeavoured to show them my -good intentions and wishes toward themselves. -They were manifestly aware of all. I felt -strongly drawn to the singular beings, alone with -them and dependent upon them; I felt that for -weal or woe I was at least a temporary companion -to, if not an integral part of, a band of -Missing Links.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_25">25</div> -<h2 id="c3"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER III</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">THE HOME OF THE LINKS</span></h2> -<p>Filled with strange sensations, thus to find -myself in the midst of a company so extraordinary, -I kept my appointed place in the march, -looking about me in an effort to discover what -manner of country it was into which I had -dropped. I wondered what I should do to get -back to civilisation, and how this could be accomplished, -and when.</p> -<p>About us the jungle closed in thickly. Huge -trees, gigantic flowers and creepers, hanging like -intertwisted serpents, and with others like the -cables of incompleted suspension-bridges, convinced -me at once of the tropical nature of the -land. We were walking in a rude sort of trail, -which I concluded had been formed by some ponderous -animal, for the growth had been smashed -down or beaten and trampled aside.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_26">26</div> -<p>This trail became uncertain, in the gloom, for -soon the light was almost entirely obscured by the -super-abundant verdure. Had any of the Links -meditated treachery, or to take advantage of me -while unprepared, this jungle darkness would -have afforded an exceptional opportunity; but on -the contrary my fat friend waddled actively before -me, clearing the way of branches, and the -“person” next behind me was the albino female -herself. Nevertheless I was grateful for a -glimpse of light, now and again, which gave a -promise that beyond we should find something -less forbidding. During this march I noted how -silently the Links glided onward, how lightly -they stepped and how alert they were at every -sound, in that silent region of growing and -prowling things.</p> -<p>Thus we finally emerged from the forest, into -an opening of limited extent. Here I noted -fruit-trees and evidence of former occupation on -the part, I thought, of the Links, but they left -the place behind, to plunge again through the -jungle. A shorter trudge brought us out of the -trees once more, at the foot of a hill of no considerable -height. This hill we commenced to -ascend.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_27">27</div> -<p>At last I could see for a distance about me. -The prospect was disappointing, almost bewildering. -Instead of a glimpse of the ocean, which I -had thoroughly expected to get, I saw nothing -but hills and valleys, clothed endlessly with the -dense, luxuriant growth peculiar to the equatorial -zone, all of it seeming to breathe of heavy blossoms, -heat and the moisture from the universal -green. The solitary exception to this condition -of verdure was a bare hill, not half a mile away, -green in spots, but evidently volcanic in origin.</p> -<p>At the edge of the forest we had quitted, a -thousand monkeys appeared to swing from the -branches, into existence and then to sway back -again and disappear. A snake glided off in the -rank grass; a flock of birds, decked in brilliant -raiment, arose with a great confusion of flapping -wings and inharmonious cries. I believed myself -to be on an island, perhaps of the greater -Sunda group, but there was nothing in the visible -world, either to confirm or to deny my theory. I -felt that the sea, which had swallowed Ford and -which had so nearly been a grave for myself, was -in reality my best friend, but lost completely, and -in which direction—who should say?</p> -<p>Soon I observed that the hill we were climbing -was a sort of terraced mountain, low and broad. -As we neared its summit it widened out, revealing -endless features of beauty and natural provision. -It was wooded with trees in great variety, -many of them over-laden with fruits and nuts; -springs of water bubbled forth from bowers of -vines and ferns; birds and game abounded on -every side; and its surface “rolled” sufficiently -to comprise not only hummocks and swales but -also ravines and walls of rock as well.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_28">28</div> -<p>As we reached the edge of the largest clearing -I had seen, a chorus of cries arose from the further -side. Immediately the woods disgorged a -great collection of Links, young, old, male, female, -and babies. All were similar to those about -me, save that the children were more like little -chimpanzees, running about frequently on “all -fours,” swinging upward to the branches of the -trees and otherwise exhibiting animal spirits.</p> -<p>More than a hundred of these “inhabitants” -came running and walking toward us. Many of -the males bore clubs, of the usual pattern, while -the youths were to be distinguished not only by -their looks of immaturity, but also by the undersized -weapons in their hands, not a few of which -were like toys. Of the whole population, none -wore the slightest suggestion of clothing, excepting -the female albino, mentioned before. What -a lot of terra-cotta gorilla men and women they -were, as they dashed out to meet us!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_29">29</div> -<p>I found it difficult to be calm as they bore -down upon us, yet I was forced to note what magnificent -action was shown in their movements. -A tremendous excitement arose among them -when they had me surrounded. Evidently emboldened -by what they were told of my nature, by -my “captors,” yet timid and suspicious of what -I might do if aroused, they presented a singular -study of primitive curiosity and caution. The -“women” were bolder than the “men,” a condition -of fearlessness which I attribute to the fact -that, like the animals, the males never fought with -the females nor struck them for what they did. -These females, however, although to be classified -with animals because of this immunity from punishment -by the “men,” presently exhibited the -rudimentary modesty noted before in the conduct -of the chief’s mate, which was distinctly a human -thing. But this diffidence was not so great as -their natural desire to investigate, and they -plucked at my coat and trousers before many -of the newly met males among the number dared -to come so near.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_30">30</div> -<p>The chief having continued to stalk ahead, we -all made more or less progress toward the place -whence the Links had come. In all the chatter -I could occasionally distinguish the word -“Tzheck,” and this I again repeated, smiling and -nodding as I walked. The creatures amused me, -for I now began to note certain characteristics -that made a distinction between one and another. -Thus, one of the females carried a large baby. -She was a sharp-featured “person,” who employed -one of her hands to brush a straggling -wisp of hair from her eye, and the baby as constantly -dragged this wisp again from behind her -ear. Another was an “old woman,” obviously -deaf, for she placed her hand behind her ear to -listen, and she nodded and grinned in the way of -people who catch but fragments of a conversation.</p> -<p>With this chattering, scampering escort I came -to what was evidently the camp of the tribe. -This was marked principally by the trampled condition -of the earth and the number of lively babies -about, on the ground and in the lower branches -of the trees. There was a large cave in a wall -or terrace of rock. This was apparently used for -purposes of sleeping under cover, or of other protection -when needed. Into this place, the dead of -the band were carried. There was no exhibition of -grief, however, and indeed no one seemed to take -any special interest in the corpses. There were -no constructed shelters about, no signs of permanency -nor of provision for the morrow. Except -for one thing I might now have hesitated to -place the creatures above the highest order of -animals, but this one thing was conclusive.</p> -<p>They made fire.</p> -<p>Animals may live together in a colony, and -even inhabit caves or burrows of their own digging, -but the animal will always be animal until -he starts a blaze and cooks his food.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_31">31</div> -<p>Their fire at that moment was merely a smouldering -heap of ashes and charred ends of wood; -there were no utensils about, no suggestions of a -meal in process of cooking. Presently, however, -an old female who muttered to herself and -who paid no attention to me nor to any of the -excitement, threw fuel on the embers and blew up -a flame, after which several Links borrowed a -burning brand with which to start other fires in -various places. Soon thereafter a desultory cooking-bee -commenced, each cook providing for himself.</p> -<p>Their process was crude; it consisted merely -in spitting a raw piece of meat on a stick and -thrusting it into the blaze, or the coals, according -to the fancy of the chef in question. When this -meat began to burn, the hungry Link blew it, to -cool it a trifle, bit out the smoked and barely heated -spot, and ate it greedily, the while he or she -thrust the remaining piece in the heat for another -bit of roasting.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_32">32</div> -<p>The interest in myself had in no wise abated. -The majority of the Links who had not been of -the discovering party, having thrown aside their -clubs, surrounded me still and placed their inquisitive -hands on my shoes and clothing. My -knife was a source of awe and wonder. Its -bloody handle only was visible, yet scores of those -who had not been present at the fight listened -with manifest amazement to what I knew to be -primitive tales of my prowess, and to explanations -of the uses to which I put the weapon. Even -the children, the greater part of whom were as -shy as little foxes, gave over their play to stand -behind the trees and behind their elders, from -which places of safety they peered at me with -shifty, bright eyes. One little monkey-like chap -gave no heed to anything but a noise he was -making by clattering several small empty sea-shells -together with all his power and possible -speed.</p> -<p>I missed my comical Link, whom I had mentally -nicknamed “Fatty.” He now appeared -with an armful of fruits, and laid them down at -my feet. There were cocoa-nuts, a melon -(papaw), mangoes and other things of which I -never learned the names. Being exceedingly hungry -I assailed these refreshments with vigour, to -the intense delight of all. Fatty disappeared -again, returning soon with a bird, half plucked, -ungutted and warm. He stabbed it on a stick, -borrowed some fire and gave me the morsel to -cook to my liking.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_33">33</div> -<p>Without thinking, I glanced about for a pot or -a skillet. In a second I realized the hopelessness -of the situation. The incident served to set me -thinking. I was lost in a land of which I knew -nothing; I was safe, apparently, in the company -of a tribe of Missing Links; I might not be able -to escape from the place very soon and therefore -I must rely upon myself, if I were to have anything -like comforts, either of food or shelter. It -was a situation to be pondered, carefully. It -would certainly be folly to attempt to leave these -creatures, with whom perhaps I might be able to -exist for a time, without first acquiring a knowledge -as to where lay the sea-coast. I should -not only be lost in the jungle at once, if I started -away, but I should doubtless be an immediate -prey to prowling brutes. Yet already I began to -feel as if I had stayed there too long and as if I -ought to be starting for “home,” or back to a -land peopled by human beings. I could not -imagine myself accepting the company of these -creatures seriously, nor of remaining long where -they were.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_34">34</div> -<p>The present moment, however, was the most -immediately important. I was too hungry to be -appeased by fruits alone, but I felt no desire to -eat scorched bird. As I looked about, a novel idea -was suggested to my brain. Striding forward I -picked up a fine large shell—which had doubtless -once been occupied by something like a giant -escallop—near the small ones with which the -baby Link was playing. This I washed out at a -near-by spring, and filled with water. Then I -placed it on the ground and propping it up with -stones, conveyed some fire beneath it, to heat the -water. The bird was speedily prepared, and cut -into bits, after which I held out my hand for -more.</p> -<p>The Links had all abandoned their several pursuits -to crowd about. They were eager to see -what would happen. Fatty was inordinately -tickled. He ran clumsily off, with others, and -brought me three more birds and the meat of -some small animal, already in the larder. I was -not at all sure that my shell would do for a -kettle, as I feared the heat would make it crack -or scale off in pieces. It did crackle, as if about -to split, but the water soon began to sizzle at the -edges and was nicely boiling by the time I was -ready. All my meat went in, and then I longed -for a few potatoes and a bit of salt. However, -I was gratified exceedingly by the whiffs of steam -which floated away, and I thought of numerous -things which I must soon devise.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_35">35</div> -<p>Before my dinner was sufficiently done, I -speared out pieces and found them good, especially -the birds. Then to Fatty and also to the -chief—who with his albino mate had watched -proceedings with flattering attention—I gave -pieces of the meat to try. The exclamations had -been numerous when the water boiled; the Links -were silent now until the leader had tasted and -uttered a doubtful verdict, when grunts, eager -questions and sounds of peculiar laughter ensued. -Bits of boiled dinner were sought by many of the -bolder fellows, after which I was obliged to laugh -myself, for a dozen new fires were started and -over each a Link or two prepared a piece of meat—in -their usual manner. Evidently stew was not -to their taste.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_36">36</div> -<h2 id="c4"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER IV</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">A RECONNOITRE</span></h2> -<p>Whether the fruit I had eaten produced a soporific -effect, or whether I was physically exhausted -by my recent experience in the balloon -and the subsequent events, is more than I know, -but in the heat of that day, in the camp of the -Links, I grew so drowsy that sleep was not to be -resisted. For at least forty-eight hours and perhaps -for sixty, or more, I had not so much as -taken off my shoes. Feeling confident of the -friendly attitude of the tribe of creatures, I finally -removed nearly all of my clothing, made a bed in -the shade of a tree and sank at once into dreamless -slumber. The last thing I remembered was -that Fatty had taken up a position near by, much -as a faithful dog might do, to watch against intrusion. -Necessarily my every movement had -been observed by a large and appreciative audience -of Links.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_37">37</div> -<p>In the late afternoon I awoke, amazingly refreshed. -Such a chattering and game of chase -was in progress that I sat up abruptly. Every -stitch of the clothing with which I had covered -myself, had disappeared. In a moment I beheld -it, then, in fragments. The male Links—all but -Fatty—had gone off on some expedition, but the -females were there in force and these had appropriated -coat, vest, trousers and shoes. My -trousers were occupied by two different “ladies,” -one of whom had a half, pulled wrong side out. -She wore it jauntily on her arm, while the other -had both her feet inside the other portion, and -was consequently falling down at every movement, -thereby furnishing no end of enthusiasm in -her efforts at marching on dress-parade. My -vest had become a breech-clout, ripped up the -back. Evidently instinct suggests robing the -legs, for my coat was employed in this manner by -a female of peculiarly thin proportions. Her inordinate -vanity, begotten of the attention she attracted, -was quite human, as also was the savage -jealousy of other females who made ineffectual -efforts to rip the article off for themselves.</p> -<p>The fate of my shoes concerned me more than -anything else, for my feet were too tender for -tramping about without protection, not to speak -of the risk incurred from the presence of -poisonous snakes.</p> -<p>“Here,” I shouted, “bring me those things, -you critters!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_38">38</div> -<p>They started in alarm at my voice, but none -made a move to restore my property. I then discovered -one of my shoes suspended on the breast -of the tall albino “woman,” hung about her neck -by the laces. The other had fallen to the lot of -perfidious Fatty, who, having put it on his foot, -heel foremost, was hopping about on one leg only, -while he held the other, more precious, booted -leg as high as possible, and pounded on his great -glistening stomach as if executing an eccentric -dance to his own music.</p> -<p>I strode over the ground gingerly, clad in a -shirt, and the belt with the knife about my waist, -going first to the dancer, whom I bowled on his -back and divested of the shoe, literally before he -could say Jack Robinson. After that I jerked the -other shoe from the neck of the female so quickly -that she ran away in alarm to the cave. This -latter action incited a show of incipient resentment -on the part of the old female who muttered -to herself. But inasmuch as she beheld some of the -other guilty creatures divest themselves of sundry -pieces of my wardrobe and flee, leaving them on -the ground, she conceived an idea of the respect -my knife had engendered in the tribe. She -therefore stood sullenly watching me as I made -shift to put on my shoes, a pair of leggings and a -loin cloth, which I hastily constructed of the pieces -left of my pantaloons.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_39">39</div> -<p>The “lady” with my coat had quickly climbed -a tree to avoid being obliged to deliver the garment. -Fatty, bearing no resentment and being -obviously devoted to my interests, gave chase. -Although the female proved the more agile of -the two, she fell into the clutches of another of -her sex and between them they tore the coat all -in shreds many of which Fatty finally brought to -my feet with excessive demonstrations of pride.</p> -<p>By the time my toilet was complete, nearly all -the females were up in the trees, looking down -upon me with nervous, questioning eyes. I reflected -how fortunate it was that they were at -least partially human, for their strength was -enormous and had they been unreasoning animals, -and therefore ferocious, they might easily have -rended me to pieces for less exasperation than I -had already given.</p> -<p>I felt ill at ease as it was; I began to be restless, -worried, eager to be gone. Where had the wind-driven -balloon landed me, I wondered? What -course had I best pursue? What would these -Links do, or attempt to do if I sought to leave? -I could not remain here, under any circumstances, -I said to myself. Think how absurd it would be -to live with a lot of Missing Links!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_40">40</div> -<p>From where I stood I could see the peak of the -volcanic mountain, less than half an hour’s -journey away. Instantly I made up my mind to -visit this eminence and get my bearings. I might -be able to see the ocean itself; if I could, then the -sooner I made a bee-line for the coast the better -for me.</p> -<p>There was considerable excitement among the -“women” when I started away. They had -doubtless been instructed to keep me there in -safety till the return of the males. Fatty made an -eloquent verbal protest, singularly plain to comprehend, -although the words were the merest -gibberish, but seeing that I intended to be master -of my actions, he followed anxiously at my heels.</p> -<p>Fortunately there was open country between -the camp and the volcanic pile. Nevertheless the -way was not all of grass and flowers, for we were -obliged to fight our way through narrow belts of -trees and vines and to scale the sides of several -chasms, all but one of which had been formed, -apparently, by earthquakes of the greatest violence. -In the one exception, which was the bed -of an ancient river, I saw much evidence of mineral -deposits, chiefly iron. Strewn along here, in -the sand, were bright, crystalline formations -which I recognised presently as being pyrites of -iron. Afterward I thought of these, having remembered -that with this stuff and flint, a spark -of fire may be procured quite readily. None of -the mineral features held my attention above a -moment, however, the peak being the objective -point of my march.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_41">41</div> -<p>It is difficult for me to express the feverish -anxiety I felt to mount the summit of that hill. It -seemed as if everything depended on what I -should see from the elevation. Half way up the -slope, which was not at all steep, my weight -broke away the top of a ledge of crumbling stuff, -which proved to be sulphur of great purity. I -had never seen a deposit of natural sulphur before, -although I had read of mines of the mineral on -volcanoes of Mexico, notably Popocatapetl. I -merely placed a bit in the pocket of my shirt and -went on. Further up, my attention was attracted -by innumerable fragments of glass-like substance, -with dark, smoky lines woven through, in the -form of a rude feather. Such stuff had often -come to my notice on the mountains of Nevada, -where, as boys, we called it flint, erroneously, I -was afterward informed. A few pieces of this I -likewise placed in my pocket, but my main desire -was to hurry upward.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_42">42</div> -<p>We reached the summit, from which all traces -of the crater had disappeared, through lapse of -time since the last eruption, and there my heart -sank within me. There was no sight nor sign of -the sea on all the wide horizon. Far and away -below me lay the dark, undulating cloth-of-green, -jungle after jungle and range after range of -densely wooded hills. In one direction, about -forty miles away, were mountains of greater -height than the one I was on. These tempted me -to hurry onward toward their peaks, but I knew -how vain was such a desire. To the eastward I -caught a glimpse of a shimmering lake, hedged -about with forest which I knew to be practically -impenetrable.</p> -<p>All this panorama was marvellously beautiful, -but for me beauty was mockery. I stood as good -a chance to fly over the hills and trees to the sea -as I did of reaching the coast by tramping across -the country. I realized that without a guide and -a force of resolute, hard-working men, loyal, and -afraid of nothing, escape was a dream—a hope as -fatal as a will-o’-the-wisp.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_43">43</div> -<p>Nevertheless I determined that I would regain -the world I had left in such an amazing manner. -Wild dreams of enslaving the tribe of Missing -Links, whom I should make my warriors, and -who would then escort me to the coast, danced -through my brain. Prodigious schemes for accomplishing -some superhuman feat—which was -wholly vague and constructed of air—made me -twitch with nervous energy. It seemed as if I -ought to be able to grasp something big—to force -the marvellous to come to my aid. Then the reaction -of despair succeeded; all my intangible -ideas mocked me with their silliness. I felt inconceivably -helpless. The enormity of the tropical -hedge by which I was completely surrounded—a -hedge alive with venomous snakes, doubtless with -tigers, with droves of savage beasts, and with perhaps -more savage men,—this arose in my brain -as a picture which made me ill with dread.</p> -<p>“Great Scott!” I finally said aloud, to myself, -“are you such a miserable coward, then? By -gracious—no! There must be some way—there -has to be a way! Hang it, at the worst a man -can merely die!”</p> -<p>This speech, which startled Fatty not a little, -gave me a new sort of courage. I began to think -of things I must do to live, and of plans I must -formulate to explore the country. I nearly forgot -that my lot had been cast with the singular -man-gorillas, but this was presently thrust upon -my notice by Fatty, who made a noise very like -to whining, to indicate his uneasiness and desire -to return to the camp. The sun was nearly set. -I fancied I saw something move, in a tangle far -below, but concluded this something was merely -a shadow.</p> -<p>“All right, Fatty,” said I, and we started down -the hill.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_44">44</div> -<h2 id="c5"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER V</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">HOSTILE NEIGHBOURS</span></h2> -<p>Doubtless I grew absorbed in thinking, as we -made our way to the base of the hill, for I was -startled by a singular cry from the Link.</p> -<p>What I saw confused me for a moment. -Three Links, taller than any except the chief of -the tribe I had joined, were darting toward us -with the wildest of gestures,—three Links as -black as tar. Inasmuch as Fatty was nearly as -dark as they, and considering the treatment I had -already received, I felt no alarm and failed to -comprehend what the situation meant.</p> -<p>Like a leopard for quickness, Fatty darted -away, uttering sounds of fright. Instantly one -of the Links approaching started on his trail in -hot pursuit, a club in his hand which was glinting -with colour in the rays of the setting sun. I was -surprised and somewhat amused as I saw the -clever Fatty elude the larger creature and gain -the trees. Once in the cover he swung himself -upward and out of sight with all the agility of a -monkey.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_45">45</div> -<p>Suddenly the two I had failed to watch were -upon me. I was thrown down, pinioned to the -ground a second and then dragged up, hastily. -Then the pair began to hustle me off with astonishing -force and with method in their frenzy, for -they attempted to get me away as nearly unharmed -as possible.</p> -<p>“Here!” I cried in a moment, endeavouring to -check my progress, “let go of me—you devil!”</p> -<p>I had hardly noted their faces, but now, as I -struggled, I saw that the two were tremendously -like a pair of burly Negroes. That they were -Links, as much as the others were, that indeed -they belonged to the very same species and genus, -there could be no doubt, but they were as widely -differentiated from “my” Links as a black ant is -from one that is red.</p> -<p>I jerked myself loose from the grip of one, by -losing a part of my shirt, and struck him a blow -on the point of his jaw that laid him flat on his -back, stunned and helpless. I was annoyed by -the liberties they were taking, more than angered -or rendered desperate. I therefore kicked the -other in the stomach and beheld him double like -a hinge. A chorus of cries arose at this and I -looked about to discover ten or a dozen more of -the fellows, all black, swarming up the slope to -assist their friends.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_46">46</div> -<p>At that moment the third one, who had ceased -pursuing Fatty and returned, launched himself -upon me from the rear and bore me down. Fight -as I would, he was the equal in strength of three -of my build and easily kept me on the ground till -four of the others, quickly followed by their companions, -rushed to the scene and secured my arms -and legs.</p> -<p>There was no resentment, as far as I could determine, -for the blows I had given the two. The -pair, in fact, soon regained their senses and -breath, respectively, and joined their kind, in a -dazed and half-hearted manner. I was aware that -I was being considerately handled, though -roughly, to be sure, and was quite unable to think -of a reason, until the fellows began again to convey -me away. I realised then that they were actually -abducting me and proceeding straight away -from the camp I had left. Had I been a thing of -rare value and highly prized by the creatures, they -could not have acted with more care to avoid inflicting -an injury on my body, nor with more -resolution in their obvious plan to carry me away -to their own retreat.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_47">47</div> -<p>In the midst of the Babel of tongues and confusion -of getting me across a chasm, to which we -came with surprising promptness, a cry resounded -through the cleft, and instantly a force of the red -Links leaped down on top of the Blacks and commenced -a furious attack. I was dropped as if I -had been a cumbersome rock, but landing on my -feet and clearing myself of the scrambling fellows, -who shot forward to meet the onslaught of -the Reds, I whipped out my knife, prepared to defend -myself at any cost and to fight for my -friends, if I mingled at all in the fray.</p> -<p>The battle with the huge ourangs had been hot -enough, but this present combat exceeded all -bounds, in the rage of the creatures pitted against -each other. I could see at once that Reds and -Blacks were old-time foes, as sure to fight on contact -as are the different coloured ants. They smote -at one another with the wildest ferocity. Club -crashed on stone, and rock thudded fearfully on -skull and ribs, till blood splashed widely about the -place and heads were pulp.</p> -<p>It had all occurred with surprising abruptness. -The contending bands were inextricably mixed; -they surged together and swayed from wall to wall -of the chasm, yelling defiance, snarling in wrath, -groaning with agony. The crunch of bones and -the thuds of those terrible clubs against naked flesh -were awful to hear, yet the fight was such a whirlwind -of action that no one thing could hold the -attention a second, where deaths and mighty actions, -and the crude but deadly club-play made a -picture of such close-knit battle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_48">48</div> -<p>One second I noted the great chief of the Reds -mow down two of the Blacks at a single swing of -his blood-painted, light-flashing club of crystal; -the next I noted how like the writhing of a snake -was the death contraction of one of my friendly -Links. Then the flash of a club swinging quickly -to its living cushion of ribs and flesh made a brilliant -streak against the background of dusky -forms. I saw that the head of this weapon was -a massive nugget of gold. In that second I also -detected a movement from the corner of my eye -where a black creature, wounded and desperate, -was rising up, club in hand, to strike me down. -It flashed upon me instantly that the Blacks, if -they could not possess me themselves, would -rather I were dead than allied with their enemies.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_49">49</div> -<p>I was standing with my back to the wall, willing -to see fair play, but too wise to become entangled -in that medley of physical giants. The treachery -now revealed made me angry in a second. The -smell of fight in my nostrils had been working on -my animal nature; a pin-prick would have been -sufficient to arouse all my human frenzy for slaying. -I turned about, burning with wrath, and -had no more than struck down the wounded monster -than three others leaped to perform the office -in which he had failed. A reeking club was -swinging in toward my head like a shot from a -cannon. I dived below its line of motion and -drove home my knife with all the lust of vengeance. -My falling antagonist tripped and overtoppled -the second, destroyed the blow he was about -to aim and made him an easy mark for the dripping -rock-crystal that crushed his shoulder and -part of his neck to a boneless mass. The third -met another of my friends and beat him down, -only to be killed himself a second later.</p> -<p>Shrieks of agony had rent the air and screams -of rage and yells of triumph made discord as a -number of the black Links now fled abruptly down -the chasm to escape. And the fellow with the -nugget club turned to hurl his defiance and to -shake his reddened fist at me, as I stood on a rock -in a circle of my friends. The cause of the Reds -I had made my cause; I had slain a Black. The -feud between these warring tribes included myself. -I had created deadly enemies in the land of Missing -Links.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_50">50</div> -<h2 id="c6"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER VI</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">LANGUAGE AND WEAPONS</span></h2> -<p>The darkness had begun to descend before we -reached the camp, plainly causing anxiety to the -Links, who were hindered on the march by the -burden of several dead members of the tribe. -Various sounds issued from the jungle, where -brutes that eat flesh in the night were beginning -to prowl. Doubtless no few of these smelled the -blood that laded the wind which was sweeping -down through the chasm.</p> -<p>I thought of all this and meditated much also -on my peculiar situation. Why these two opposing -bands of Missing Links should so desire myself -as a prize as to fight with such fatal results, -was a puzzle too deep for solution, considering -that I had been treated by both parties in a manner -far from being inimical to my safety. Were -they cannibals, I asked myself, did they desire me -for a dinner? Manifestly such was not the case, -inasmuch as no man-eating creatures should be expected -to be so moderate as to permit me to live in -freedom as long as I had lived already in their -settlement. No, their purpose involved something -more permanent.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_51">51</div> -<p>There was no end to the chatter as we hastened -“home.” Though I failed to understand this, -yet the gestures were easy to interpret. Reason -also made it plain that Fatty, when he fled from -my side and escaped the Blacks, had darted toward -the camp to give the alarm, meeting on the -way the Links who had come to the rescue, they -having started beforehand on information furnished -by the females, who had watched us start -toward the peak.</p> -<p>I recapitulated the results of my exploration. -I was hopelessly lost, as far as any human beings -were concerned. I was in the hands of friendly -creatures, more primitive than the lowest mortal. -My only chance of escape lay in cultivating the -friendly feelings and in endeavouring to understand -my companions, with a view to inducing a -force, later on, to accompany myself on a march -across the country to the sea. Incidentally I had -much to do to keep myself partially civilised. I -must fashion tools, in the use of which the Links -must be instructed. We were surrounded by -dangerous animals, and we had a powerful enemy, -the force of whose numbers might be greater than -our own. This would mean that I must make -our tribe superior, and arm them with a better -class of weapons. Fortunately the country promised -to be one of great resources. Yet the only -tool I had with which to start was my knife.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_52">52</div> -<p>I thought of the endless array of implements -of war and peace to be had in the poorest modern -community. Such meditation being idle, I reflected -how glad I would be to hammer out my -own requisites from the crude iron, but this was -equally vain. In short my thoughts came tumbling -down the age of iron and the age of bronze, -as if I had fallen back through time and history, -to land at the very age of stone itself. Here I -must work with stone for hammers, axes, drills -and even for an anvil, supposing I had my white-hot -metal ready to forge into shape, for there was -nothing else to be had.</p> -<p>All this made me excited, eager to be at work. -I was forgetful of all that it meant, as my brain -pictured stage after stage of this new development, -but when a cool night wind blew across my -half-clothed body, I was aroused from my reverie -and confronted by a pitiless array of facts. I -then foresaw personal suffering, mayhap a miserable -death, and toil and disappointment, before I -could wrest even something small from the fist -of Nature, while I should have about me a tribe of -semi-animal beings, fighting constantly for a bare -existence. My hope and fate were rapidly being -entangled with the lives and fates of these extraordinary -creatures.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_53">53</div> -<p>Before we reached the camp, the glow of fires -shone brightly through the trees. The Links had -learned the use of a lively blaze in keeping off the -beasts of prey. I wondered how they had first -started their fire, admitting that I should doubtless -find no end of trouble if I were obliged to -kindle one myself, without a match.</p> -<p>We were met by a large and enthusiastic band -of the males, with Fatty in their midst. His -capers, at seeing me whole and hearty, were -enough to shake an ordinary individual to pieces. -He made me ponder on another peculiar thing. -How did it happen that he, being black, was not -only living among the Reds, but was also at -feud with the fellows of his colour? I made up my -mind that he was either a freak, like the albino, -born in the tribe, or else that he had been captured -when a baby, and reared away from his -kind. It was certain the black Links recognised a -foe in the fellow, whatever his pedigree and blood.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_54">54</div> -<p>Having conceived an idea, I was glancing about -at the trees revealed by the glow of the fires, when -I discovered a growth of stuff wherein there was a -large portion dead and dry. Going to this, amid -evident protest and questionings on the part of -many Links, I took out my knife and cut away -some likely looking branches. The wood I found -to be exceedingly tough. It was hard work to get -what I wanted. On bending it over, in an effort -to break it off, where my cut had been made, I -found it to be exceptionally elastic and stubborn, -although I could see it had been dead and seasoned -for many months. Getting out a long straight -shaft, half as large as my wrist, and several other -straight pieces a trifle larger than a pencil, I -brought it all to the circle about the fire.</p> -<p>The Links, who were much excited over recent -events, watched my every movement with the -gravest concern. I faced them and attempted to -convey, by signs and pantomime that I intended -to make a bow and several arrows with which I -could kill six of the number in the briefest time. -They understood enough to be highly amused and -delighted. There were an incredible number of -things they did and said of which the meaning -was clear, and with comparative ease I made Fatty -understand that I wished him to boil me a dinner -in the way he had seen me do already.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_55">55</div> -<p>Fatty, I believe, was one of the most intelligent -of all the Links. He made blunders enough -in doing what I wished, while I tried to keep at -work on my bow, yet he was insanely anxious to -do me any favour and crazy with delight at being -considered worthy of employment. Dinner cooking -went forward again in the same desultory -manner I had noted before, but a large majority -of the Links sat or stood about me in the semidarkness, -seeming more than ever like apes as they -glanced about with their nervous, round eyes, -chattered their monkey-like language, and released -the muscles of their long, uncanny arms. -The glow that was tossed from the fire, making -silhouettes of many an astounding red statue, -painted a weird picture that night beneath the -trees.</p> -<p>As I looked in their faces, many of them drawn -with the first vague efforts of thinking, I beheld -strange, fleeting promise of things to be, dim -lights, as it were, of ambitions—desire to grasp -a something just beyond their mental capacity. -Many seemed awed by the simple sight of that -knife, cutting away the stubborn wood in thin, -smooth shavings, as it flashed in the light.</p> -<p>I put my finger on the blade. “Knife,” I said, -“knife.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_56">56</div> -<p>A few, including Fatty, attempted to repeat -the word. A chorus of peculiar laughter followed -and the spell of awe was gone. As I -worked, then, I pointed to various things and gave -the name in English. There was not even one of -the Links who failed to comprehend that I was -making an effort to establish a means of communication -between us, but a very few only tried my -easy lessons. Fatty, however, was quite willing -to “make a fool of himself,” for he essayed everything, -manfully. But better than this, the fellow -attempted to reciprocate the favour. Thus when I -had given a name to the blazing pieces of wood he -waited a moment and then pointing to it earnestly -said, distinctly:</p> -<p>“Ouch.”</p> -<p>Then he pantomimed burning his finger, and -jerked it back, saying “Ouch” again. He made -it plain that the fire would hurt if touched, that -a Link would cry “ouch” at the smart, and that -therefore a fire was named for this cry. When I -proved that this much Link language was mine -beyond a doubt, the ecstasy of my fat friend was -most extravagant. Gratified with his effort, he -soon made me acquainted with the names of a -number of articles. These names were invariably -chosen in a manner analogous to the one by which -they had arrived at “ouch” for fire. For instance, -a gurgle, impossible to set down in letters, -was the name for water; a sound like a thud -meant a club; an audible breath through the lips, -(wind), signified a tree. Manifestly such -“words” as these defy all efforts at spelling. -I found them difficult to imitate, for the throat -was largely employed to make the noises and my -tongue seemed to be very much in the way. I -tried my best, as I worked out my first crude bow, -and when I had finished my dinner I felt that no -little progress had been made toward a better understanding -all around.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_57">57</div> -<p>Inasmuch as there was more need for haste than -there was for finish on my weapon, I made short -work of tapering off the ends of my bow and -cutting the notches. I then prepared several arrows, -somewhat clumsy, but still fairly straight, -after which I feathered them all, roughly, and -attempted to break some of the glass-like “flints,” -I had found that day, into shapes that would pass -for arrow-heads. This was a most unsuccessful -business. An accident formed the only piece -which by any stretch of the imagination could be -conceived as what I desired. This I bound at the -tip of a shaft, with cord similar to that which the -Links employed on their clubs, but it was hopelessly -awkward. Being then provided with more -of their string, I bent my bow and had the satisfaction -of seeing that it was fairly symmetrical -in form and amazingly stout. Indeed, it broke -the string, and I feared it had split at the sudden -release, but this was not the case. In excitement -and admiration, the Links now furnished me with -a stouter cord, a cleverly twisted deer-gut, or tendon, -which was nearly perfection for the purpose.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_58">58</div> -<p>Fitting my pointed arrow on the string and -bidding the Links stand aside, I drew it as far as -I could and let it drive at the nearest tree. The -twang that followed gave me a thrill of delight, -as always it had done in the days of my youth, -and I felt a gush of pride in my veins when the -shaft stood quivering in the bark, its head so -deeply buried that the greatest effort to drag it -out merely broke it short off in the hands of the -giant chief.</p> -<p>The Links knew not whether to be alarmed or -delighted. Again I placed a shaft on the string. -This time I signed for silence and turned the arrow -straight up toward the star-dappled sky, to -give my friends a rough idea of the height to -which the wooden messenger would climb. In the -absolute silence I drew even further than before. -With a swish the arrow sprang from the humming -string and disappeared like a bullet as it -cleaved the upper darkness, near the trees.</p> -<p>I threw up my hand for continued silence. In -eager expectation we waited. Beat, beat, beat, -went my heart as the seconds were multiplied, -the long stillness proclaiming the distance to -which the arrow had sped. Longer became the -time; I was thrilled with pleasure and surprise -myself; it seemed as if the shaft never would return. -How still was the night for that minute; -not a breath was stirring.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_59">59</div> -<p>Suddenly there was a swish—a plunk! as the -leaf of a palm was punctured, and then a quick, -incisive plith! as the shaft was driven forcibly -home in the earth. It had come down about ten -good strides away!</p> -<p>We hastened in a body to find it. There it was, -standing straight as a line, stabbed six inches deep -in the sod and roots of grasses, and—marvel of -accidental things!—impaled upon it, half way up -its length, was a bat, transfixed in action, still holding -in its mouth an unswallowed moth.</p> -<p>Circumstance had completely eclipsed my humble -skill, for this miracle of chance made me at -once a species of god and devil, in the eyes of -my wonder-smitten companions.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_60">60</div> -<h2 id="c7"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER VII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES</span></h2> -<p>In the morning I witnessed a primitive ceremony, -the burial of the dead, killed in our latest -battle.</p> -<p>The ones who had been despatched by the savage -ourang-outangs had been buried the day before, -while I lay asleep beneath the trees.</p> -<p>The males proceeded, this morning, to a rocky -gulch, not far from the camp, where the soil was -largely of gravel and bits of stuff which I thought -indicated a chalk formation below. Here they began -to dig as if their lives depended on their -speed, all of them scratching out the dirt with -powerful, claw-like hands and sending it flying -behind them, between their legs. In fact, they -dug like so many dogs.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_61">61</div> -<p>It was surprising how soon they had excavated -a great hole, but they kept at it, hard and fast, -taking turns, as if they had learned that depth -was the only virtue of any vault for the dead. -Chunks of rock flew out, with lesser debris, and -some of the pebbles being smooth and round, I -gathered half a dozen as large as a mango and -pushed off the dampish soil adhering about them. -This revealed their colour, which was chalkish -white. I could not rely upon my limited knowledge -of geological formations, yet I thought the -pebbles looked very like chalcedony.</p> -<p>On a large rock, with another for a hammer, I -struck one of my pebbles, when it split most -neatly in twain. The inside had a moist appearance -the like of which I had never noted before, -but it was decidedly like flint, and I was therefore -confirmed in my classification. Well satisfied -with myself, I struck a half again, when I succeeded -in splitting off a thin, flat section. Astonished -at the manner in which this substance -broke, I selected a neater “hammer” from among -the rocks and began to knock off chips from my -fragment, and almost before I could believe it -myself, I had a crude arrow-head of which I felt -I need not be ashamed. I was thoroughly amazed. -Had I discovered a stone which lent itself peculiarly -to chipping, or had I stumbled upon some -flint in a natural condition for being worked? I -remembered to have heard of rock which certain -savages—notably those of Alaska—take from the -earth while moist, in which condition they carve -it with ease, and which subsequently grows -as hard as glass. I wondered if this were not a -similar material. Also I reasoned that savages -must always have had some flint which was capable -of being worked with the poorest of tools -and by persons of no intellectual attainments, for -all had made arrow-heads from the year of one.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_62">62</div> -<p>In my zeal, I split the original pebble into six -thin slabs, nearly all of them as regular as if I had -cut them with a knife. These I wrought at with -feverish eagerness. Too much haste soon ruined -one for any purpose, but out of the others I got -several heads, which should have been better, but -which made me ready to dance with joy, for they -suggested such wonderful possibilities, when care -and patience and better tools should be employed.</p> -<p>I had quite forgotten the burial, but looked up -from my hammer-hunting in time to see the -stiffened bodies of the Links, who had given their -lives in the fray, go rolling down to the bottom of -the grave where they lay, looking terribly human. -Then without even a moment’s pause, for regret -or touch of reverent feeling, the Links above -turned their backs upon the bodies and began to -scratch the dirt once more into place. A pang of -sympathy welled up in my breast, for the brave -fellows so lightly considered. I breathed a -little hope that their rest might be that of -peace.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_63">63</div> -<p>Before the hole was full I had gathered together -a lot of the pebbles. Later we all piled rocks on -the grave till no animal of the jungle could have -dug out the bodies in a week. I signified then that -I wished my geological collection carried to camp, -and this was accordingly done.</p> -<p>On arriving at the cave, I selected a rock for an -anvil and others for tools, for a fit of work was on -me. Fruits gave me breakfast enough. I chipped -away rapidly, with never-ending astonishment at -the rapid results achieved. It was easy even to -indicate to Fatty and to one or two others what -they could do to promote the manufacture of -needed things. They were able to cleave the pebbles -with reasonable accuracy and skill. I then -made them understand that I wished the smaller -pebbles split into thin slices and the larger ones -into sections that were thicker.</p> -<p>I make no pretence that my arrow-heads were -as fine as many a primitive man has fashioned in -ages past, but at least they were sharp and provided -with shanks for binding them to arrows -and, what is more to the purpose, they accumulated -fast. Of the longer pieces of flint I formed -a number of spear-heads and knives. Some of -these latter would doubtless have been as well -named had I called them saws. With some pieces -I made what I mentally dubbed experimental -hatchets. All these things, as fast as made, were -placed in the large sea-shell, which answered well -as a receptacle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_64">64</div> -<p>Without interrupting my labours I managed to -convey to the marvelling Links that I needed more -of the wood for bows, arrows and handles. How -they would manage to cut this material was more -than I knew, yet I reasoned that inasmuch as they -must have cut the handles of their clubs, they -could do the work by some means or other. Their -method surprised me. They built a fire near the -place where I had cut the branch for the bow, -and getting a peculiar hard wood into a glowing -state, pressed the incandescent surface against the -limbs desired, and then by blowing, burned them -off, not rapidly, but with great neatness. The -fiery brand passed through the wood much as a -red-hot iron might in the hands of a smith.</p> -<p>We were an enthusiastic lot that morning, I -directing and working at my flints, some preparing -cords, many scraping handles with bits of the -glass-like material I had found, and with which -they were already familiar, while others bound -my hatchets to hafts, rudely finished, and knife -blades to smaller odds and ends of wood. It was -remarkable how readily they grasped the meaning -of various things. Their exclamations of -surprise and acknowledgment of the virtue of our -growing “arsenal” frequently suggested to me a -something as if the fellows were surprised at the -real simplicity of all and were wondering why -they had never done the like before.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_65">65</div> -<p>After three or four hours the heat of the sun -became so great, on my unprotected head, that I -abandoned the pebbles long enough to construct -a makeshift for a hat. For this I employed some -palm leaves, excellently suited to the purpose. -The chief eyed all our business with something -of a look of sullen disdain. Perhaps it was -jealousy beginning to work. He held to his -precious club of rock-crystal—which certainly -gleamed with great beauty in the rays of sunlight -piercing through the leaves—as if it were the all -in all that a warrior should require. At his side -was a fawning fellow whom I had marked before -as lazy, small-headed and much too fond of grinning, -in a manner which conveyed no idea of -mirth nor good-nature, but which, on the contrary, -threw his teeth into disgusting prominence.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_66">66</div> -<p>At about noon, when I was cramped and tired, -from my close application to the work, I was glad -to see a small detachment of our number returning -from an excursion in quest of meat. It was -not until a subsequent time that I learned how -they drove their game into pits, to replenish the -larder, but this day I inaugurated a new system -of cooking. It was too great a waste of time for -each to cook for himself, or herself, and the women -being employed at nothing more arduous than -gathering fruits and suckling babes, I saw no reason -why they should not become the chefs for -the tribe.</p> -<p>Accordingly I soon had two uprights driven in -the ground and a lot of meat spitted on the green -branch of a sapling. With glowing embers from -two fires, collected between my uprights, and the -wooden spit resting upon them, I showed a female -how to keep the roast turning. Again the -Links approved of the plan, for they were quick -to see that one person working in this manner, -could cook for all as readily as for one. They -were restless to be at the meat as soon as the first -bit of brown appeared, but I kept them off, made -them replenish the embers from fires burned down, -and then I cut off the places where the meat was -done with my knife, for general distribution.</p> -<p>Again at this meal I was mad for salt. What -did these fellows do for this requisite seasoning? -I asked myself, for I had always understood that -even savages grow unhealthy, if they lack this -mineral, and become willing to barter off their -souls for a small pinch. There was no explanation -of the riddle that day.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_67">67</div> -<h2 id="c8"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER VIII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">ATTACKED AND BESIEGED</span></h2> -<p>We set to work again in the afternoon, getting -out a lot of material to be finished later. The following -morning I won the regard of all—unless -I except the fawning creature mentioned before—by -giving lessons in archery, another bow and -several arrows having been hastily completed. -The Links proved themselves not only practicable, -but most excellent pupils. They were magnificently -muscled, to begin with, and therefore shot -with force from the start, while all seemed to -possess a natural knack, as if the weapon had once -been theirs and then for long had been mysteriously -lost.</p> -<p>In the midst of our “tournament” and while -I was walking cautiously about, to get a shot at -a brilliant bird which had flown into a near-by -tree, a peculiar sound was uttered by many of the -Links. The cause of their exclamation was revealed -a second later, for moving through a clearing, -not forty yards away, was a large black bear.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_68">68</div> -<p>My heart leaped with excitement. I moved -quickly to gain a point of vantage, raising the -bow for a shot, when a dozen of the Links leaped -in alarm between myself and the bear, raising -their arms as if in affright and plainly imploring -me not to shoot at the creature. This I thought -absurd. I believed them to be a pack of cowards -who feared the arrow might only serve to irritate -the brute and so bring down its wrath upon us -all. But in this I was mistaken. As I tried to -wave them away—for the bear would be gone in -a minute—they became frantic in their appeals. -They indicated clearly that if I wished I might -try the shaft on any one of themselves, if only -I would spare the beast which had walked thus -deliberately into camp.</p> -<p>There was nothing else for it; the creature disappeared -before I could argue the question. -Thereupon a score of males, foremost of whom -was the chief, hurried to the place where the bear -had paused a moment and there each placed his -head on the ground with such a show of reverence -and primitive superstition, that even I could comprehend -they attached some great significance to -this peculiar visit. When I reasoned how easily -two or three with their terrible clubs could have -despatched the animal, I concluded that they all -regarded bruin’s visit as an omen of particular -good fortune.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_69">69</div> -<p>I was speculating upon this occurrence when -suddenly another cry—this time of alarm—startled -us all. The males came dashing back -from their adoration of the bear tracks, making a -shrill sound of warning and waving their arms -wildly. The females and scores of others ran pell-mell -for the cave. Children came swinging down -from trees as if the sky were raining little Links. -Mothers fled with babes in their arms. There -was sudden arming of the fighters.</p> -<p>Somewhat amazed I stood where I was, bow -still in hand. Then the reason for the visit of the -bear was speedily furnished. I was clutched and -hustled off with the others, while with screams of -savage vengeance—which mingled with a war-note, -easy to understand,—innumerable black -monsters swarmed from the woods and charged -upon us.</p> -<p>The whole fighting tribe of black Missing -Links, it appeared, had surrounded the camp. -They were armed and ferocious, thirsting for -revenge for the defeat of two days before, and -seemed equal to the task of annihilating all our -force. They had frightened the bear there before -them.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_70">70</div> -<p>In a time incredibly short, the Reds were in the -cave. I was dragged and pushed in among the -last. Then I saw my precious new weapons, -twenty feet away—arrow-heads, spear-heads, -knives, hatchets, handles, bows and all. Tearing -away I dashed out to these and brought the sea-shell, -with its contents back to safety. Fatty -darted out in my tracks, saving a number of unfinished -bows, but the foremost Blacks were -almost upon him. The chief himself—who -thereby testified his high appreciation of the collection—leaped -from the cave, to get all he could -of what we had missed. I turned about in time -to see him fill his arms and hands. A great black -Link bounded swiftly up with brandished club, to -smash his rival’s skull. My whole being thrilled, -thus to behold the bravery of our great red fellow -who, leaping like a panther, refused to drop anything, -in such a moment of peril. Cries of warning -and of terror went up from the cave. I jerked -up my bow, with a pointed arrow, strung. Lustily -I drew against that powerful deer-gut. There was -only a foot in which to miss the chief and hit the -pursuing Black. The arrow sped like a streak. -It struck the murderous creature fairly at the -base of the throat, crashed clean through his neck -and protruded on both sides at once.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_71">71</div> -<p>He plunged forward, striking such a blow on -his face that the arrow was driven to the feathers -in the hole it had made. A chorus of howls resulted. -The Links immediately on the heels of -their fallen companion, halted abruptly, in dread -and horror, yet on came a hundred behind them, -mad for blood.</p> -<p>A blunt arrow, shot too high, but which nevertheless -struck another black Link in the forehead, -smashed its way through his skull before it shattered -and split into pieces. Then the crystal club -caved in the chest of the only assailant who had -reached the cave, for the chief had recovered his -fighting position like an elastic spring, and was -ready to deal a fearful death to any who should -dare attempt to enter the frowning mouth of the -cave. Reinforced by another fighter, the chief -could almost have stayed the rush of an army, -coming in singles and pairs through the open -door.</p> -<p>This fact the attacking creatures realised -quickly. Another of the arrows, which missed the -mark for which it had been intended, broke the -arm of a powerful Black and compelled him to -drop his club. His cry was a signal for all to -halt and draw back, to consider what had best be -done. They had us trapped, but how should they -now proceed to beat out our brains?</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_72">72</div> -<p>The last of my arrows was gone too soon, but -the visible effect of these silent messengers of -death was that of terror on the part of the mystified -Blacks. Had we possessed a score of bows, -with a quiver full of arrows for each, in the hands -of skillful archers, we should have won a bloody -battle and driven the foe away, hopelessly routed, -but they had surprised us completely, in our unprepared -condition, and the situation was decidedly -theirs in point of advantage.</p> -<p>Behind me, in the cave, the females and young -ones were being sent to the rear. There was -much excited chatter and much uneasiness of -movement among all the huddled creatures. -What the Blacks would do was evidently a matter -of great concern.</p> -<p>Our besiegers decided soon on aggressive measures. -They gathered all the loose rocks, which -were practical as missiles, and rushing forward, -hurled them into the cave with tremendous violence. -Not a few of our party received bruises -from the first volley, but many stones missed the -cave entirely and many merely struck the rock -walls and so fell harmlessly down. All that came -to hand were immediately gathered, so that when -the second company advanced to supplement the -first fusilade, they were met by a fierce return -shower of rocks, which stretched two Blacks on -the ground.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_73">73</div> -<p>This business proving unprofitable was not long -continued. The Blacks retired again for consultation -the result of which was that more than a -dozen soon lighted brands at our smouldering fires -and threw these in upon us as they darted by the -opening of the cavern. No serious injury came -from this. Our fellows would have flung these -fiery spears back again, had I not restrained the -action. The branches, it occurred to me, made -torches too good to sacrifice for nothing. I therefore -extinguished a number and kept several -lighted. These latter we passed to the rear, in -order that our positions might not be revealed to -the foe.</p> -<p>This throwing in of fire was concluded abruptly -when the giant chief, watching his opportunity, -sprang out, as one of the Blacks was running by, -and battered in his head with the gleaming club. -The rage of the assailants increased momentarily. -They saw themselves baffled by a force inferior -to their own, although they had us cornered.</p> -<p>With no little anxiety, we watched them detach -a company of powerful fighters and send them off -out of sight. This could not indicate retreat, I -knew, for the ones who were left were too expectant. -Perhaps, I thought, this was a blind -to make us believe the force was now so reduced -that we could charge them from the cave in -safety and drive the invaders from the camp. -There were, indeed, a few in our party, as I could -see, who desired to attempt such a sortie, but fortunately -the chief and other wise fellows over-ruled -the suggestion.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_74">74</div> -<p>While we were waiting, restless and worried, -the plan of the Blacks was suddenly revealed. -Amid yells of triumph and hatred, there came a -thundering shower of rocks and boulders from -directly above the cave, falling down across its -mouth, heaping rapidly up, filling the place with a -stifling dust and obliterating much of the light of -day. The party detached had gone around and -climbed on top of the terrace in which the cave -was hollowed out. It would simply have been to -court a sudden death had any of us attempted to -dash from the place. Startled, undecided as to -what we ought to do, we stood there paralysed, -while the bewildering Niagara of sand and stone -kept rumbling and crashing down. Before we -realised what was occurring, the barrier had -grown to a heap that was midway up across the -opening of the hole.</p> -<p>There were strange cries, roars and howlings, -from those behind us. Above the din rose the -piercing screams of delight from the horde without. -All of them now rushed to the spot in a body -and began to heap up all the stones they could -gather. Blinded, confused and frightened, my -friendly Links began to jostle about, in the dread -and anguish of the doomed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_75">75</div> -<p>In less than five minutes the last rays of light -were being blotted out. The sounds of the army -still building the barrier higher and thicker came -dully in. The cave was sealed; we were buried -alive in an unknown tomb!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_76">76</div> -<h2 id="c9"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER IX</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">THE CAULDRON OF GOLD</span></h2> -<p>Throughout the mass of Links in the cavern, -the news of the unforeseen calamity spread with -great rapidity. Some of the females set up a -wailing; the “men” all chattered at once; baby -Links caught the infection of fear and began to -cry. A more demoralised collection of beings it -would be hard to conceive.</p> -<p>The tremendous advantage gained by the -Blacks was readily comprehended by all the older -males. They knew, as well as I, that did they -attempt to dig out, the Links in waiting on top of -the heap could kill them as fast as a head appeared; -they also seemed to know that their -enemies would wait outside, long enough to be -sure that all of us had starved to death, before -they finally decamped.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_77">77</div> -<p>So desperate seemed the prospect that I got in a -fever myself. We should all have been in absolute -darkness had not the torches been lifted up, and -these cast so feeble an illumination that the -crowded-in mass of Links appeared like a great -serpent, along the body of which weird muscular -contractions were flitting. The place was stifling, -for the day was hot, and here we appeared to -get no air. I began to think we should never live -long enough to starve.</p> -<p>To all my attempted questions, by signs and -otherwise, concerning the further end of the cave, -the chief and others gave answers which were decidedly -in the negative. They seemed even fearful -of the chamber, now that we were trapped and unable -longer to go out into the light and air. -Nevertheless I did not propose to remain there -motionless till death should bring me to a finish. -I therefore made my way through the moving -crowd, toward the torches. Fatty followed -closely. His face was positively ludicrous in its -solemnity, which was oddly mocked by the skull -he wore on his head, for this ghastly thing had -slipped rakishly down on one side.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_78">78</div> -<p>So helpless and dependent had the Links become, -in the face of our danger, that it seemed as -if they could not bear to let me out of their sight. -In consequence of this all tried to follow where -I went, but so densely were we packed very soon -that this became impossible. The chief, however, -thrust himself along in our wake, apparently bidding -the others be still and remain where they -were. Taking one of the torches I worked my -way past the last of the females and youngsters—the -latter like frightened little monkeys, unable to -escape me and dreading to be touched—when I -soon came to what seemed to be the wall at the -end of the cavern.</p> -<p>The light was so poor that for a moment I -failed to discover a small hole to the right. Into -this I thrust the lighted brand. To my great delight -it cast a glow on the walls of a cavern beyond, -quite as wide as the one we were in and the -end of which was not in view. Believing that -anything was better than stagnation in such a -tomb as ours, I attempted to kick off the edges -of the hole, to render it large enough for a man to -pass. I succeeded in breaking away one small -fragment only. My knife came out and I should -have sacrificed its point and edge to widen the -aperture, had not the chief pushed me gently -aside. With his magnificent club he smote the -rock a score of giant blows, knocking chunk after -chunk into the gloom beyond.</p> -<p>“That’s good—that’s enough!” I cried finally, -and climbing through with Fatty almost on my -back, I beckoned to the chief to follow with all his -people. I reasoned that nothing could be worse -than to remain where we were, no matter where -this passage might lead—or end.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_79">79</div> -<p>Misgivings were rife, but the chief was evidently -in undisputed command. Some of the -Links followed eagerly, others with moans of -doubt and fear. Nothing so much resembles the -sound they made as the uneasy whining of a dog -that is driven or dragged to a place of which it -has a terror, but this sound was magnified till it -filled the place.</p> -<p>“Ouch,” I said to them, pointing to the torch, -“ouch.”</p> -<p>They understood and lighted more of the -brands from the one just behind. The added light -gave them added courage. The tunnel we were -now in was spacious, and cooler. The floor was -rough with rocks, yet I think we made excellent -time. The passage wound and its grade was uneven, -up for a space, then down, then level.</p> -<p>In half an hour I came to a halt, for the rock -hall-way divided; a branch led off to the right and -another went off to the left. In order to save time, -should the wrong one be selected first—if there -was a wrong one,—I determined to go up the left-hand -passage alone. If I came to an exit I could -hurry back and bid the Links to follow. If, on the -contrary, I discovered any barrier which compelled -retreat, it would certainly be better for one -only to be obliged to return, instead of all, and -then we could make a trial of the second tunnel. -Enough of this I was able to convey to the chief -to make him content to wait. He instructed the -Links to sit down on the floor, setting the good -example of patience himself.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_80">80</div> -<p>Fatty felt privileged to dog my heels. As a -matter of fact I was glad enough to have him go -along, for the place was none too cheerful at the -best. We came upon difficult walking presently, -and also the corridor narrowed down. I believed -it would end in a mere fissure, yet I could not -afford to condemn it, nor to decide where it went, -without a thorough trial.</p> -<p>After plodding a mile in this stuffy place, we -climbed a jagged heap of fragments and paused -abruptly, for the sound of a roaring and rumbling -came from the darkness in a manner most -disagreeably impressive. It continued a brief time -only and then the ringing silence of a sepulchre -ensued. We resumed the onward march. Passing -down an incline, where the rocks slid under -foot, I fell heavily and rolled toward the bottom. -Unable to stop, I dropped the torch and underwent -an instantaneous sensation of fear, as I continued -downward toward the abyss of night. -Then Fatty clutched me by the ankle; we slid -together a second longer, and stopped. He lifted -the torch. I was on the brink of a yawning precipice.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_81">81</div> -<p>A chill flashed down my spine. Most cautiously -I arose and took the light. There appeared to be -no bottom to the pit.</p> -<p>“Gee whizz!” I muttered.</p> -<p>“Gee wizz!” said Fatty, with remarkable distinctness.</p> -<p>I looked at the creature in a sort of wonder. -Animal or man, my heart sent a great gush of feeling -all through my being toward him, as I saw -him smiling fondly in my face. He should always -have my friendship after this. I could almost -fancy the old fellow was wagging a tail all to -pieces, such a light was in his restless eyes; and -yet his face was almost that of a fat, good-natured -Negro.</p> -<p>Being careful where I stepped, I moved along -the edge of a great well, came to a place where -the shelf widened, and found myself facing a short -hall, at the end of which there was light, dim and -diffused. We were soon at the limit of our journey -in this direction, for here also the precipice -terminated the passage.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_82">82</div> -<p>As I looked below I saw that vapour was rising, -as if from heated rocks. Then I made out fissures -in the floor, fifty feet below us; and this floor was -covered with peculiar excrescences, half-hidden by -the steam. When revealed, these resembled stalagmites, -melted and slumped down like great -nodules, “double-chinned,” I am tempted to -write, but “double” would not express the multiplicity -of “chins.” These nodules appeared to -be of the brightest yellow colour, but so often were -they veiled in the mist that I could not be sure -of anything concerning their appearance and formation.</p> -<p>Presently, while I was trying to study the odd -features of the place, as well as to determine the -source of the light, the rumbling and roaring we -had heard before recommenced. It was louder, -more awe-compelling, for it came from the fissures -directly beneath us. It seemed to go booming -upward and through the cavern as if the -god of the under world were grumbling out a -huge complaint. This noise increased, in wave-like -volumes; the rock gave a tremor, and then -with a seething and hissing, with a tumble of -sound which issued from the depths of the earth-creature, -as if it were growling at having to work, -a great geyser of boiling water and steam shot -upward and toppled back to its bed. I reeled -away, with an involuntary movement. Below, -the water swashed about and foamed in mighty -agitation. The cauldron heaved up swirling tides -and the drowned murmur burst forth through -bubbles. The giant below gathered anew a mighty -strength and blew up a fountain as high as where -I was standing.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_83">83</div> -<p>I saw a falling blob of the water strike on a -small projection near my foot. Then the demonstration -ceased, the roar became subdued, as if the -grumbler withdrew to his realm of molten substance, -and only great clouds of the vapour arose as -before. The projection where the water had struck -caught my glance, for assuredly it possessed a remarkable -gleam. Stooping I looked at it closely. -It was a nodule of something metallic, shaped -somewhat like a small pear. I touched it, finding -it barely warm; then I grasped it firmly and gave -it a wrench. It came away from the rock in my -hand.</p> -<p>By its remarkable weight, its colour and its lustre, -I knew it instantly for gold. It was solid -gold, Nature’s own deposit—a nugget most peculiarly -constructed. I knew in that moment that -all those massive nodules below had a right to -gleam with yellow colour, for all were gold—the -purest gold, from the great inscrutable laboratory -of earth itself!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_84">84</div> -<p>I recalled what I had read and learned of the -waters and acids mingled with the molten interior -of the planet; how they dissolve the precious -metals, hold them in solution and come with them -bubbling to the surface, spouting through the -fissures in the crust; how through the centuries -they deposit atom by atom of their rich freightage -on the rocks, permeating the very tissue of stones -and porous substances, to leave them at last all -streaked and flaked with gleaming yellow; and -then how the fluids retire, the earth cools down, -and man—ages after—comes wandering by and -delves day and night to rob the fissures of their -hoardings.</p> -<p>I knew that below us a monster treasure-house -was being filled by this wonderful process, slowly, -surely, regularly, hour after hour, while generation -after generation of men came and strove and -went to their graves, willing to bargain off souls -to know where to get but a little of this cold, glinting -metal of the earth. We had come upon the -hoary alchemist and caught him at his work.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_85">85</div> -<p>But the pit might as well have been a mile in -depth, as far as reaching the wealth, or the outside -world with which I believe it connected, was -concerned, for we had no means of getting down -in the place and its heat would have made this -impossible, even if we had possessed the best of -ladders or ropes. All the gold in the world, moreover, -was worth no more than so much dross to -me; the dream of emerging again to the light -was vastly more to be coveted. Reluctantly acknowledging -that the diffused light which was -here probably came from the outside world -through a cave which I could not by any possibility -reach, I placed the small nugget in my -pocket, and making sure that the passage through -which we had come was of no value to me or to -the party of Links, I retraced my steps, with Fatty -following noiselessly behind.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_86">86</div> -<h2 id="c10"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER X</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">DAYLIGHT AT LAST</span></h2> -<p>There were many expressions of relief on the -part of our waiting friends when again the forward -movement was commenced, in the right-hand -tunnel. Those at the rear had become particularly -anxious; the darkness was evidently a -source of much vague alarm.</p> -<p>The passage we were now in was inclined -downward. It wound in a general direction at -right angles to the one which led to the cauldron -of gold. In places it became so low that we were -obliged to creep on hands and knees. This condition -finally prevailed, so that I began to believe -we were wedging ourselves into a crack. If this -were true, then the case would be worse than hopeless—it -would be most horrible. The death, one -by one, of all the Links, in such a place as this, -would be appalling to the last degree.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_87">87</div> -<p>I went steadily on, my knees growing tender -from contact with the rocks. Presently Fatty and -the chief, directly behind me, gave a low exclamation -of affright. I halted, but heard nothing. -Perhaps they were able to smell some enemy, for -certainly their monosyllables gave a warning, easy -to interpret.</p> -<p>“What is it?” I said, as if they could understand -and let me know. “What’s the matter?”</p> -<p>Those behind made low sounds of worry. It -made me desperate. If anything confronted us -now, it was too late to pause; there was no such -thing as turning back. I drew my knife and advanced, -feeling cold creepers go down my back. -It might be the den of a tiger I thought, but surely -such a beast would prefer to run out rather than -to face so weird a foe as we would have seemed to -be, proceeding through the cave, for we made a -strange sound, moving, breathing and expressing -our various emotions.</p> -<p>Fatty was halting, whining, coming on and -halting again in a most disquieting manner. The -chief seemed to realise that we might as well die -in one way as another, yet I noted a look of dread -on his face, such as one often sees in the eyes of a -startled horse, when approaching dangers which -he feels by instinct. It occurred to me now that -if anything were in the cave, then the end must be -near—an opening to the outside world!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_88">88</div> -<p>“Come on, you fellows,” I said at this, and -holding my torch before me, rounded a corner. -Immediately a glimmer of light, through down-hanging -foliage and vines, revealed the exit we -were seeking. Made careless for the second, I -was suddenly startled most loathsomely. I had -placed my hand on a cold, moving body—a snake -which was crawling toward the light.</p> -<p>Electrified into galvanic action, I plunged my -knife into the body of the serpent half a dozen -times, as fast as I could strike, feeling my hair -“crawling” as I did it. The head of the reptile -came backward—a great flat head with bulges of -poison-glands making it hideous. I knew he was -deadly. The knife stabbed clean through his -neck and ground on the rocks beneath; his jaws -stretched open fearfully; his lip receded from the -two great fangs, but he was killed, though the -body writhed and twisted belly upward in powerful -muscular contractions.</p> -<p>“Ugh!” I had said, as I struck.</p> -<p>“Ugh!” repeated Fatty and the chief.</p> -<p>“Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!” went echoing back -through the cave, as the Links repeated the utterance, -in dread. I had stumbled on their word for -snake, or any reptile.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_89">89</div> -<p>I thought we should encounter more of the -snakes, but not until I had come, most cautiously, -to the growth which formed a door to the cavern, -did I see anything move. In the vines a few -inches of tail were intertwined, but before I could -deliver a good stab, this serpent escaped. I now -slashed away tendrils and creepers in a sort of -frenzy, for the darkness and closeness of the cave -had oppressed me with a feeling which developed -into horror. We in the lead were soon out, on a -small bluff, overlooking a dense wood; indeed -there was jungle all about. I heard not a few -sounds of crashing branches, where heavy-weight -animals made away from the neighbourhood and -sound of our voices.</p> -<p>What a strange sight it was to see the cave -pouring forth that collection of ape-like Links. -Nearly all were chattering—not talking—like so -many monkeys, frightened to the point of being -crazy. On getting out into the light, not a few -ran about as if they would leave us altogether and -hide in the trees. The fighters, however, huddled -the females and young ones together, and glanced -about and at me, with their round, restless eyes, -as if to know what to do next. Left to themselves -they would doubtless have soon been self-reliant -and capable of thinking and acting for themselves, -but having followed me blindly, through an ordeal -totally foreign to any previous experience, they -were hopelessly dependent upon me now. This I -knew, for even the fawning creature was humbled.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_90">90</div> -<p>I knew also that our old “home” would have -to be abandoned and a new one made. I was likewise -aware of the necessity of selecting a place -which could be more easily defended—a point of -vantage. This base we must secure as speedily -as possible, for already the sun was nearly down. -Studying the faces of the calmer Links, as they -looked about, I was not encouraged to believe -they knew where we were, with regard to the -abandoned camp. To get my bearings I went up -the hill we were on, to the edge of the jungle. -From there I was able to see a portion of the lake -which I had seen from the volcanic peak. Above -this water, on the summit of a hill, was a clear -space, discernible, with rock formations and indications -of springs. If it had fruit-bearing trees -it would be nearly right for our needs and purposes.</p> -<p>Fatty and several others, including the chief -and his albino mate, having followed me up the -hill, I indicated the spot to which I desired them -to lead the way. They comprehended and conveyed -the whole plan to the tribe in about three -separate monosyllables, whereupon we made a -start.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_91">91</div> -<h2 id="c11"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XI</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">A CAMP ON THE HILL</span></h2> -<p>We found signs of wild animals in great number -and variety, as we forced our trail through -the jungle, but so considerable a concourse of -creatures as ours was sure to frighten anything -and everything from the line of march. It -seemed to me to be a place in which company was -exceedingly desirable.</p> -<p>A feeling of relief came over me when at length -we reached the clearing we had selected from -afar, and made our way to the rounded summit of -the hill. No sooner had I signed for a halt than -half a dozen of the fighters advanced and laid at -my feet the sea-shell receptacle, filled with our -flints, and everything else which had been saved -when we fled into the cave, all of which had been -carried at great pains through the tunnel. These -things I had quite forgotten in our stress of cares.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_92">92</div> -<p>The place we had reached proved to be ideal -for a settlement. Not only were fruit and nut-trees -abundant, but the forest contained countless -woods of value, while huge bamboos were flourishing -not far away, at a marshy spot, and the -hills and ravines about us were teeming with birds -and game. We held a commanding position, the -rock-formations of which made a natural fortification -nearly complete. Through the trees, in -one direction, I could see the lake, a thing which -gave me the greatest delight, for I thought it -might mean almost anything to me, later on.</p> -<p>Although we got the benefit of a cooling breeze, -the end of the day was intensely hot. While we -had been out of the tunnels probably no longer -than about an hour and a half, yet the whole adventure -made the day seem very long. Thirsting -for water, I hastened down the side of our hill to -where I saw signs of a spring. Clear water, sure -enough, was gushing out of a fissure, and I hastened -to drink. The first mouthful fetched me up -standing, bitterly disappointed. The water was -salt. For a second I was ready to curse the living -fountain, and then I fairly danced with delight.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_93">93</div> -<p>Salt! The only thing I really needed, and the -rocks and banks of this little stream were white -with the precious incrustation! I lost no time in -scraping some off the pebbles at the edge, after -which I got some pure, cold water for drinking -at another spring a hundred yards away. I had -known of hot springs and cold springs, almost -side by side, in Nevada, and of sulphur springs -and iron springs and countless other varieties, but -it had never before been my fortune to drink from -a spring of brine. This elated me beyond anything -yet discovered.</p> -<p>Before I could rejoin the main body of my fellows, -a few were striking off hap-hazard, for rations. -Some vigorous sign-language, which I -found I could make more forcible if I also talked -out what I wanted to convey, in Anglo-Saxon, -begot a show of order. Twenty fellows went -after fruit and nuts for all; as many crept into -the woods to dig some pits and attempt to drive -in some game; others fetched wood for the fires, -as well as for more of the bows and arrows. I -had a lot of the females gather a species of tough -reed, much resembling osiers, and although I -knew little of weaving, I succeeded in making a -small, clumsy basket, which at least served to -initiate the scheme, but it took some time before -we achieved any results worth mentioning in this -needed line of utensils.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_94">94</div> -<p>At the head of a gang I began to supplement -our natural ridges of rock with a wall made of -piled-up stones. It would never do to be defenceless -again. During all our work and hustling -about, the chief stood leaning on his rock-crystal -club, his albino mate at his side, and the fawning-fellow—whom -I named Grin—smiling maliciously -at all I did. The chief saw a certain amount -of usurpation in my ordering the work. The new -mode of things amazed him, for the Links not -only had a keen comprehension of what I wanted, -but they actually vied with one another in the zeal -with which they laboured to perform my bidding.</p> -<p>Darkness came on before we had accomplished -much in any direction. The old female who muttered -had preserved a glowing coal from the -torches, a trick made the easier by the wood she -employed, for it possessed the property of retaining -fire for a time incredibly long.</p> -<p>“Here, Granny,” I said to her, as if by habit, -“make ouch here, ouch over there, and ouch -against the rock.”</p> -<p>By the light of the flames, I constructed a -rude shelter for myself. The Links had a way of -massing up in bunches on the ground, to sleep, a -system which hardly appealed to my fancy. Already -two or three dozen of the youngsters were -curled on the ground and were doubtless deep in -dreams.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_95">95</div> -<p>We ate no meat that evening, for the hunters -came back empty-handed, as soon as the light began -to fail in the woods. An hour after night had -settled down, they were all at rest, save Fatty and -myself. I sat before a glowing fire, thinking, -wondering what would come, out of this strange -caper of my frolicsome fate. I planned out work, -with escape for my motive, and builded strange -structures in the air, as I looked vacantly into the -embers. Fatty watched me eagerly, his nervous -eyes as lively as quicksilver. The light shone on -half of his face and illuminated the skull tied on -top of his head, with a changeful glow. He tried -his best to remain awake and help me to think it -all out, but his head would nod, and his eye-lids -insisted on drooping, till at length he slumped, -rather than curled down, fast asleep.</p> -<p>How long I sat there, getting drowsy myself -and intending all the while to go to my shelter, -is more than I know. A scream woke me suddenly -at last. The moon had nearly set, but still -was casting a mellow light on the world. A mass -of the Links made a singular picture, as they -scrambled about in a great confusion. Then out -of their midst leaped a monster beast—a long, thin -tiger, with a female Link, now flung upward, now -dragged, now half across his shoulder, held in -his mouth, and she fairly splitting the air with her -cries, as he ran away with her bodily.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_96">96</div> -<p>I saw the brute clear the ridge of rock and -bound down the slope to the region of shadows, -like a thing of evil; I heard a Babel of affrighted -chattering; I heard roars and howls and death-songs, -out in the jungle where the creatures held -carnival of blood. I saw the fear of my men-children, -huddling about me; and I felt a longing -to hover them all from harm.</p> -<p>They were badly demoralised, but we built up -the fires anew, and made more, to enclose all the -tribe. Then for hour after hour I walked about -the camp, keeping the fires from dying away, -while out in the savage world beyond, the prowlers -ate, and growled at the “kill.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_97">97</div> -<h2 id="c12"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">A DEADLY FOE</span></h2> -<p>At sunrise, when all the Links were actively -awake, there appeared to be a strong inclination, -on the part of many; to leave this new settlement -and flee to the woods. The visit of the tiger had -terrified the females and not a few of the fighters. -The fawning creature, Grin, was the moving -spirit in this scheme of flight, but the chief could -not be readily persuaded to leave when he saw that -I was strongly opposed to any such measure of -retreat.</p> -<p>I knew the tribe to be more or less nomadic, -and I believed them capable of finding a clearing -wherein we could live, by constantly fighting the -jungle brutes, yet I was convinced that the welfare, -not only of myself, but of all concerned, would -be better served by remaining where we were. Attempting -to show them how we could guard ourselves -against future enemies by adopting various -measures, I set them the example of working on -the wall and of building sheltered dug-outs, succeeding -at last in quieting many fears and convincing -the chief that we were the safest on the -hill.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_98">98</div> -<p>All day long we toiled at sundry occupations, -but the work to accomplish was great and the -efforts of my workmen, though the fellows were -strong and willing, were so crude that progress -was slow. We needed weapons, more than anything -else, unless I except the shelters. I worked -continuously at making bows and arrows. In this -labour I was considerably assisted by three Links -whom I finally selected as the most ingenious and -teachable fellows of the tribe. To my great delight -I found that my flints had already become -exceedingly hard from being exposed to the air. -This rendered the hatchets and knives remarkably -efficient as tools.</p> -<p>The fighters dug seven or eight large, shallow -holes in the earth, during the day, and a few -were covered with branches of trees and thatched -with enormous leaves before evening. What with -helping to carry stones for the wall and wood for -various purposes, the females accomplished but -little on the baskets which I had hoped they would -make. They were not as practical as the males, -having never been obliged to construct so much as -a blanket or a string of beads.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_99">99</div> -<p>As a relaxation from my other employment, I -busied myself with weaving a basket, that night -by the fire. The material was none of the best, -and I could only guess how the work should be -done, nevertheless I succeeded in finishing an awkward -affair which would hold above a bushel of -fruits and which required two men to carry it -home when filled.</p> -<p>For two more days we swarmed that hill-top -like a colony of ants. At the end of that time -we had three good fire-places, builded of stone, -thirty-odd bows, more than eighty arrows, four -baskets, nine tolerably decent dug-outs, and a -wall nearly completed about our city. Also we -had plenty of meat, for the hunters had driven -some goat-like deer into their pits, after their -primitive fashion, not to mention a number of -birds cleverly captured. In this latter business -they utilised a sticky substance procured from a -weed-like tree, the stuff being plastered on the -branches of trees much frequented by the birds, -which, alighting, got their feet, feathers and -wings quickly gummed, so completely that escape -was impossible. I was anxious to have the fighters -begin practise with the bows, but as yet we had -been too busily engaged with work for any such -diversion.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_100">100</div> -<p>Just before evening that day I strolled to the -edge of the jungle, with the faithful Fatty at my -heels, to try for a shot with some of our latest -arrows. The chief being away, at the head of a -hunting company, I waved back all others who -would have followed. We found nothing to shoot -at but a squirrel, and this lively little animal -evaded me time after time, as I stepped quietly -about.</p> -<p>I was just on the point of raising the bow at last -when from almost under my feet a fine turtle -started to run toward a heap of rocks. He was -almost round and his back was unusually high, -so much like half a sphere was his shell. Immediately -I thought what an excellent bowl or -basin this would make, and thereupon abandoned -the squirrel and started after the tortoise.</p> -<p>He moved much faster than one might have -supposed possible. Nevertheless I lifted him -plump on his back with a movement of my foot, -and then I jumped violently away. I had almost -trodden on a hooded snake, which struck at -my foot most viciously and then attempted to escape.</p> -<p>Fatty lost no time in getting too far away to -be of any help. I tried a shot at the reptile with -the bow, but missed. The creature would have -escaped in a moment. I dropped everything to -gather up some rocks, and a large one of these -I succeeded in smashing upon the creature so hard -that it broke his back and pinned him down, close -behind the head. Despatching my turtle then I -hastened back to camp.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_101">101</div> -<p>In the great sea-shell I boiled the turtle, not -without the greatest trouble. The Links ate the -meat, for I felt no hankering after this species -after one trial. The shell was all I had expected, -when at last it was clean, for I had felt the need -of a basin in which to wash.</p> -<p>Well satisfied with the work of the day, and -having impressed a trio of Links into service as -guard for the night, I turned in early and soon -dropped off into the heaviest sort of slumber. -Sometime in the night a hideous noise and a violent -jerking at my foot brought me suddenly to -my senses. I rushed out, bowling over Fatty in -my haste, to find the Links again verging on insanity -from fright.</p> -<p>The man-eating tiger had crept upon us again -and borne off one of the very guards themselves, -who had gone to sleep promptly, upon my retiring.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_102">102</div> -<p>I believe I cursed the wretches who had slept at -the post of duty, for I had much to do to restore -the slightest resemblance to calm among the excited -creatures. Then in the morning, as I thoroughly -expected, the tribe was unanimous for deserting -the works at once, to go anywhere—whither -they cared nothing at all,—so long as they -put the deepest jungle between themselves and -this dreaded foe. A tiger such as this, I could -see, created a terror as great as the Links could -contain. There was no suggestion of a courage -sufficient to battle with the brute; there was one -adequate scheme only, in their minds and this -was flight.</p> -<p>Situated as we were with that lake below us, -on which I had builded a vague sort of hope, I -was determined to go the utmost bounds before -I would consent to move a yard. I pantomimed in -desperation and jabbered fairly good English and -added my few words of bad Linkish (or Lingo), -to make them understand that I would undertake -to kill the man-eater myself, that coming -night. Even this “announcement” appeared to -be in vain, for a time, especially as I had to work -against the wretched influence of Grin, the fawning -coward, who had an unmistakable power in -“getting around” the chief. At length, however, -my counsel prevailed. But I could see that failure -to execute my boasted vengeance on the brute of -the jungle would mean the total overthrow of “my -city” and my hold upon the primitive imaginations -of the Links.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_103">103</div> -<p>Feeling that if they did leave all behind and -plunge anywhere through the forest I should be -obliged to go along, regardless of the fact that -this would make my escape even more than ever -hopeless, and realising also that I had assumed a -large contract under any circumstances, I was -decidedly anxious, the moment after they finally -consented to my rash suggestion. Indeed, though -I kept at the work, as I strove to devise a plan of -attack on the tiger, throughout the morning, I -became nervous and doubtful of my ability to -perform the vital deed. My brain seemed capable -of only the wildest schemes, all of which were as -utterly impracticable as flying to London for a -gun.</p> -<p>Having never killed a tiger I knew nothing of -his habits, beyond the fact that he was almost always -sure to return to his “kill,” if undisturbed, -on the second night, and even on the third, if there -still remained undevoured portions of his victim -sufficient for a meal. I could fancy this brute -treading silently up to the ghastly remains; I -could picture him, bloody of muzzle, fierce-eyed, -alert and terrible, as he dined in his dread loneliness. -How I wished that a snake, more silent -than himself, might glide upon him and strike him -deep with its venomous fangs!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_104">104</div> -<p>A snake!—Why a snake to be sure! It suggested -just the plan! I had no weapon reliably -stout enough to give him a mortal wound, but I -could, perhaps, bury a poisoned arrow in his blood—a -shaft that need but scratch to do its deadly -work. The snake I had killed the day before -might still be fresh enough to furnish the fatal -juice, and then—if I could find the mangled body -in the jungle, perhaps—perhaps—</p> -<p>I was more excited and nervous now than before. -Three times I was on the point of crying -quits. Once I was nerved anew by the contemplation -of the lake and our settlement, which -meant that I was working out a plan of escape, already -nicely started. Again, I was hardened to the -task by the thought that, surrounded as I was in -this unknown region, with death so easy on every -hand, I was childish to wish to avoid this one -particular danger, perhaps only to plunge into -others far more awful. The third time I was -steeled by observing the sneering smile on the face -of Grin, which seemed to mock my show of manhood. -This was the thing which made me put all -doubt and hesitation away.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_105">105</div> -<p>In the late afternoon, having selected five of the -straightest and truest of the arrows tipped with -flint, and having seen that the bow-string was -stout and reliable, I walked off boldly, alone, and -went to where the hooded snake lay crushed beneath -the rock. Until I was out of sight the -Links watched me, narrowly, all of them standing -together on the hill. The body of the snake -was where I had left it, the tail partially eaten by -something, which must have been desperately hungry. -Cutting off the head I pried open the jaws -with a stick and my knife, finding the poison-glands -of great size.</p> -<p>The venom flowed thickly out when I tore the -sacks open with the point of an arrow, and although -the whole revolting operation made me -nearly ill, I fairly bathed the flints in the viscid -substance. Holding the arrows carefully from me, -to let them dry, I concealed the serpent’s head beneath -a rock, for I did not wish the Links to know -what I had done, and so to learn the use of so -deadly a creature.</p> -<p>Skirting the edge of the woods, I came opposite -our settlement, at about the point where I judged -I had seen the tiger disappear, in the jungle, -the night when he carried away the female from -our midst. Here I had not far to search before I -found trampled grass, vines ripped aside and even -the tracks of the brute’s massive paws. With a -fast-beating heart and also with a tremendous -desire to turn and run, I stepped noiselessly along -in this suggestive trail.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_106">106</div> -<p>The stillness, save for the note of a far-away -bird, or the quick start of some porcupine or sloth, -frightened from its haunt, was terribly oppressive. -I confess to have had a constant feeling as if my -hair were standing upright on my head, as I slowly -made my way into that tangle of greenery. The -day seemed suddenly to have grown old and dark. -I felt horribly near to the lair of the man-eater, -knowing that he had actually been in the place -such a short time before.</p> -<p>Presently I came upon a clearing which was -hardly thirty feet across in either direction. Approaching -the centre of this I started violently, for -I nearly stumbled across the mangled body of my -sentinel Link of the night before. I had not believed -it could be so near the edge of our own -clearing. The tiger, I thought, had grown thus -insufferably impudent, not to say indifferent to our -nearness to his feast, because he had never been -hunted, nor even threatened with retaliation.</p> -<p>The body was a ghastly sight, so human-looking, -so fearfully fresh! I turned away my head -and somewhat retreated. How much I desired to -dash madly away—out to the sunlight—I can -never convey to another mind. I had no feeling -of bravery left; it seemed to me as if the jungle -were filled with deadly creatures, prowling about -me as I stood in the place.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_107">107</div> -<p>What should I do, now that I had found the -spot I had dreaded to find? Would the tiger come -back that night? I felt only too sure that he -would. Looking about me I saw that a great tree -held out a branch which was easy to climb. It -was such a relief to think of getting off the ground, -up out of reach of the creatures which might come -creeping or prowling along, that I waited only -long enough to tie the end of a long, cord-like -creeper about my bow and arrows, when I scrambled -up in the tree as if all the fiends of Hades had -been upon my track. I make no excuse for the -lack of courage I felt, for absolutely I could not -help it, strive as I might.</p> -<p>Once up on the branch, however, I felt better. -Moving along to a bend, where a lot of creepers -were thickly interlaced, I found a sort of natural -seat, not quite directly above the terrible “kill,” -below in the trodden and red-painted grass. In -this seat I could rest my weight, my position then -being one of half erectness, my feet on the great -branch, my body leaning against the supporting -vines. Drawing up my weapons, I so disposed -four of the arrows that I could easily and safely -find them in the dark—which I tried by closing my -eyes. Then I fitted the fifth one to the bow-string -and prepared myself for a lengthy wait.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_108">108</div> -<h2 id="c13"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XIII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">THE NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE</span></h2> -<p>It seemed as if I had been in the tree for an age -when the sun finally sank behind the hill. For -long the twilight had been dim in the jungle, and -creepers and shadows made a picture of grotesque -forms, wrapped about and hung as if with serpents, -like a weird conception by Doré. There was -rarely a sound. It seemed like the hour when the -day-creatures crept stealthily home to caves and -covers, afraid they were already too late and sure -to be overtaken by the prowlers of the darkness.</p> -<p>Once I had a fearful up-welling of excitement -suddenly flood my being and make my heart to -thump heavily. An armadillo came trotting -quietly into the open space below me. The movement -was what caught my glance, and for the -second I thought only of the tiger. Then the little -animal sniffed that gory object and darted instantly -away.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_109">109</div> -<p>The darkness increased. Some early complainer -howled out a dismal note. Now and then -there came a rustling sound from the trees or vines. -An hour after the darkness became complete, I -heard a pounce, a struggle, the quiet moan-cry of -something which gave up its life, and it made a -chill go down my back and spread through my -nerves. Sounds of birds in the air and forest—inhabitants -hiding in the trees, came occasionally, -now, with surprising distinctness. All of this kept -me in a high state of tension. I wished myself -anywhere on earth other than where I was. I confess -the woods at night, where merely bears and -owls were at large, had awed me earlier in life, -and this jungle, alive with poisonous reptiles and -blood-hungry animals, terrified me beyond expression. -If I had only had a companion, if there -had even been another man awaiting my return—somebody -to talk to, somebody to think about rejoining, -or even a soul who would dare to hunt for -my body if I never returned,—it would have been -a little comforting at least.</p> -<p>I managed, with an effort, to pull myself together -a trifle, by thinking that it was now too late -to meditate retreat. I would not have climbed -down from my tree and attempted to find my way -out of the darksome forest—taking the chances -of starting wrong and getting lost—for the price -of a mine of diamonds. Thus the hours went by -and a score of things kept me startled constantly. -I feared the tiger would fail to come; then I -feared he would arrive at any second.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_110">110</div> -<p>It seemed to me that midnight must have come -and gone ages since. Suddenly my breath came -fast, my whole body was rigid with attention as -I noted a dim form, apparently standing in the -tangle, directly across the clearing. I knew I -had become pale; I knew I trembled with agitation. -I was cold and my teeth did their best to -chatter, as I watched to see if the form moved.</p> -<p>There were ample sounds about me, some slight, -some heavy, but I think I paid little heed to anything -except that dim, uncertain form. Then I -was sure it moved. While I was still at the height -of my excitement I noted a leaf, which became -clearly defined. I knew immediately that the form -was merely a patch of half light, cast through the -foliage by the moon.</p> -<p>The excitement subsided as if I had pulled out a -plug and let it run away. And while it was going, -I heard a wet lapping and chewing, beneath me, -which told me instantly that the man-eater was -below and dining at his cold and ghastly feast. -He had come—unseen and unheard,—while I was -being frightened at a patch of light!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_111">111</div> -<p>I looked, but so dark was the place that until the -monster moved around I thought his body was -exactly on the opposite side of his victim, to which -it really was. The excitement had flushed upward -in my veins again, but not so strongly as before. -I was angered, as I have often been to hear a cat -lapping at the meat in a cupboard.</p> -<p>Moving cautiously on the branch, I half stood, -half leaned against my seat and slowly brought -my bow into position. I was stiff in my hands -and joints, from sitting so long in one position. -Having made a slight slip and noise, the flood of -nervousness leapt upward in me at once; I perspired -coldly; my heart beat a violent measure; in -my mouth the saliva became like gluey cotton. -But the beast below kept on chewing, with a horrible -noise of drooling chops. I dared not try at -him yet, both because my hands were too unsteady -and because the brute was too undefined an object -to be seen.</p> -<p>I underwent a trying ordeal for half an hour. -While I was watching below, straining my eyes to -pierce the gloom, slightly bending the bow and -holding the poisoned arrow in readiness, the tiger -shifted about in his feeding. Abruptly I saw a -patch of his hide, a small irregular target, full in -the light of the moon, where a ray shone down -through some open shaft between leaves and -branches. I could see a dark stripe across the -dusty-looking hide. Even the play of a muscle -was visible.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_112">112</div> -<p>Doubtless the thrill and ardour of the hunter -came to my rescue in that vital second. I only -know that I was eager, steadied, released from all -that had made me nerveless and cold. I even -forgot what a deadly brute he was and what he -might be capable of doing, if only slightly -wounded.</p> -<p>The bow became vertical in my fist, at the end -of my arm, now as rigid as oak. I drew the arrow -backward to my ear with a strong, confident pull. -Then the point came down, toward the lighted -patch. I aimed as one aims at the head of a nail -with a hammer—with no need to see my shaft. -Then it sprang away like a flash, the twang resounded -in my ear, and I saw a streak stab straight -in the middle of the target.</p> -<p>Instantly a furious lunge and a roar that all but -shook me down made the place terrible. I clutched -another of the arrows, and fumbled it, so that -it fell. Another then I got upon the string. All the -while a most awful uproar was continued below. -The arrow that had dropped betrayed my presence. -The tiger leaped toward the branch, fell short, -leaped again, thrashed in the grass with frantic -force and bellowed a doom-song that made my -flesh creep on my bones.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_113">113</div> -<p>In his madness the brute was in the patch of -light and out again, constantly. Once, as he oscillated -there for a whole second, making ready to -jump toward me, I fired another arrow with all -the power of fear and hatred. It struck him, I -could not determine where, and a moment later -he reached my branch with his two great paws, -and hung there by his claws, bending the limb so -low and shaking all so tremendously that I clung -on for very life. I felt his paw against my foot -and stamped upon it viciously. He lifted that -one; the bark gave way from beneath the other -and down he thudded.</p> -<p>Again and again he leaped in his wrath. It -sounded as if all the beasts of the jungle were there -in mortal combat. I tried with another poisoned -arrow, though I was sick, from my dread that he -was proof against the venom. This shot I missed. -It served to make the brute more furious, however, -but finally I thought his ravings began to -lose in force.</p> -<p>Once more he crouched in the light. This time -my last arrow met him just as he rose in his spring. -I failed to notice where it was planted in his body, -for so tremendous was his leap that his whole head, -chest and paws were up on the tree. The shock -knocked me off; I fell, grasping a creeper, that -stopped me with a jerk and a painful wrench.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_114">114</div> -<p>The tiger dropped, striking me down the leg -with one of his out-thrown paws; I thought my -time had come. With a superhuman effort I -chinned myself on the creeper, clutched the limb -again, got an arm about it, reached a twig higher -up and threw my leg fairly over. I was quickly -in my old position again, blown, dizzy and wholly -unable to believe the tiger had been evaded by such -a clumsy scrambling. He was beating about in -the trampled grass below, but his roar had grown -hoarse and guttural; it seemed no longer so savage. -Then I heard his breath blowing froth and -bubbles-of-blood through his nostrils. My heart -leaped exultantly—I knew an arrow had reached -his lungs!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_115">115</div> -<h2 id="c14"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XIV</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">AN OLD ROUÉ</span></h2> -<p>In a time incredibly short I heard sounds growing -fainter where the great brute stiffened out -in the grass. The poison, I knew, had gotten in -its work at last. When the final convulsion had -shivered itself out, what a death-silence settled on -the jungle! It seemed as if for miles about, the -lesser beasts had held their breath and fled from -that theatre of throes and roars of the master-murderer.</p> -<p>The hush affected me deeply. I felt so alone -with the dead, and yet not confident of my safety. -My imagination pictured a ring of leopards, cats -and other creatures stealing silently up, like the -curious women who enjoy to look upon a corpse, -these all half afraid that the king was not really -lifeless after all. Probably no creature was then -within half a mile of the spot, for the noise had -been sufficient to frighten away even the snakes, -it seemed to me, yet I never for a moment entertained -a thought of climbing down from where I -was.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_116">116</div> -<p>The wait, through the midnight and the long -chilly hours of morning was the harder to bear -because of the weakness I felt, after all the over-wrought -emotions I had undergone. It was difficult, -moreover, to cast off the dread of the still -brute below me, not to mention the sounds which -recommenced in the animal-haunted jungle. I -was exhausted, for the strain had been as hard -to bear as severe physical labour. In addition to -this, I had performed a good day’s work, before I -came to my tryst with the tiger. How long -seemed the time since I left the friendly Links, on -my quest of vengeance and retribution!</p> -<p>I may have dozed, as I half lay against the -woven creepers, and although it could not have -been for long, dawn had come when I started -awake. In the forest the shadows were still too -deep to be fathomed, yet at last I made out the -rigid form on the ground. My enemy was almost -directly under the place where I was sitting. I -could see no arrows at all; and my mind had -pictured him bristling with the shafts.</p> -<p>Slowly the light increased. What a gaunt, unhandsome -form it was in the grass! Then the -sunlight struck on the tree-tops and bird-notes, -not particularly musical, began to make more -cheerful that dark abode. With a new impulse of -courage, I dropped myself down, laid hold of my -bow and a leg of the tiger, and dragged with all -my strength to get him out of the place.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_117">117</div> -<p>Then I got a good look at the carcass. He was -old, wretchedly thin, scarred about his bleary, -dead eyes, nearly toothless and as worn-looking -as an old hearth-rug. I saw where my first shot -had struck him above the shoulder. The arrow, -which was broken off in the wound, had jabbed -in and plowed along under the skin for six or eight -inches. The second had ripped through the flesh -of his right fore leg, leaving a gash which the -brute had widened when he broke the shaft out, -sidewise, in his thrashing. The last shot had sent -the envenomed flint tearing into his breast, an -inch below the throat, where it had penetrated to -a considerable depth. It also was broken, but a -tough shred of the wood still held the feathered -portion dangling from the wound.</p> -<p>As I looked on the thin, old reprobate I was -silly enough to feel a little pity, so tragic seemed -the “poverty” which he had known, as testified -by his miserable condition. My fears too had -been wholly dissipated by the sun; I wondered -why I had been in such a plight of dread throughout -the night.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_118">118</div> -<p>A final tug brought the roué of the jungle clear -of the undergrowth. The second I emerged to the -edge of the hill clearing, a chorus of cries came -down from the camp. I turned to see the whole -drove of Links coming madly down the slope from -which they had been watching for more than an -hour.</p> -<p>Such a commotion the simple creatures made, -as, crazy with joy and awe, and still dreading the -foe they knew so well, they pressed about me and -chattered and made me a hero and struck at the -ground all about the tiger with their clubs! Fatty -went through a sort of blubbering welcome and -got down and licked at my shoes until I felt obliged -to give him a trifle of a kick. The chief -made no effort to conceal his admiration for my -feat, but he was dignified, after the manner of a -great Newfoundland dog among the lesser canines. -His albino mate, however, gazed upon me from -her round, pink eyes with a look of worshipping -to which I very much objected. At her side the -carping Grin was doing his best to belittle the -tiger and to sneer through his expression of -amazement. On the whole, one would have -thought the tiger a monster and a prince among -his kind. I began to feel my glory to be somewhat -tawdry.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_119">119</div> -<p>After half an hour of tribute, both to the brute -and myself, on the part of the tribe, I rolled the -beast over to look for a decent bit of hide. He -was not worth the skinning, and that is the truth. -However, I had my plan and therefore I whipped -out my knife and skinned a part of the shoulders -and back. After this I took off the head, for I -meant to have the skull for a trophy. Then I -directed the Links to dig a grave.</p> -<p>They were loth to consign even this partially -stripped carcass to oblivion, yet they complied with -my wish. Eventually all withdrew to the camp -above. I immediately set Fatty to work at skinning -the head for boiling,—to rid it of flesh—while -I placed my piece of the pelt in the stream of -brine, in order to prepare it for tanning.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_120">120</div> -<h2 id="c15"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XV</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">A GLEAM OF HOPE</span></h2> -<p>When I finally fastened the tiger’s skull above -my shelter, and girded my loins about with the -skin, I was conscious of having attained a great -respect among my primitive friends. Not a few, -I soon became aware, would have followed me -readily in any measure, not requiring too vast a -courage, even to the point of seceding from the -semi-command of the chief. They attested this -feeling, which resembled that evinced from the -first by Fatty, in all the work and in various -smaller matters, from daylight till dark.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_121">121</div> -<p>I might have been more flattered than I was at -my exaltation among these half-human creatures, -had I not easily detected the jealousy of the chief, -which feeling Grin continued constantly to feed. -Indeed in spite of all I could do, a division of parties -was growing every day. Unfortunately the -females were more fierce in their partisanship than -were the males. Moreover a majority of these -“ladies” evinced a strong desire to ally themselves -to the side of which I was becoming the -unwilling leader. Prominent among them was -the chief’s albino mate, who was far too persistent -to give me any peace of mind. I foresaw trouble -to come from this unhappy complication.</p> -<p>Had all the Links united in considering myself -a leader and governor of the tribe, I should have -enjoyed very much the “recognition of my talents,” -especially as such an outcome would have -furthered the scheme I had, to make them fit as -warriors and then persuade them to march as my -escort to the coast. Indeed I was planning and -working deliberately to become commander-in-chief. -But this division was not at all assuring, -for although all had a wholesome fear of the Tartar -they had caught, yet any one of the creatures, -turning treacherous, could have killed me outright -with a single blow.</p> -<p>I made no end of attempts to procure the confidence -of the chief, and frequently thought I was -winning him over, but always Grin got in a stroke -which set my endeavours at naught. I could have -killed the beast with great satisfaction to myself -and with profit all around. The albino female I -ignored pointedly at every opportunity afforded. -This gave some degree of satisfaction to the chief, -but like Othello, he grew insufferably suspicious.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_122">122</div> -<p>Our work of providing weapons and utensils, -and also of securing a better state of existence and -defence, proceeded daily. I worked like an engine, -myself, to employ all my thoughts, which began to -be disquieting. Although I strove to avert what -was slowly coming, the conviction was borne in -upon me more and more that if things continued -as they were going, I should either be obliged to -fight a pitched battle, backed by my voluntary adherents, -against the chief and his party, or else -abandon my scheme of escape altogether.</p> -<p>But if I brought about the internecine strife and -even won the battle, my force would be utterly -inadequate for an escort, (provided I could get -them to leave the wilds to which they were all -accustomed), for the whole tribe did not muster -half the number of fighters which the black Links -had assembled against us that day at the cave. If -we started through the jungle, who should say -we might not walk straightway into the settlement -of our hostile neighbours? Besides this natural -enemy, the woods were sure to be filled with -ourang-outangs, snakes, tigers and no end of other -animals that would snip off man after man, if they -did not annihilate the party entirely.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_123">123</div> -<p>The situation was trying. If I discontinued the -archery practice and the teaching of “civilized -arts,” my Links would never be fit for my -“army;” if, on the contrary, I proceeded to place -the fellows on a fighting equality with myself, they -would all be the worse as enemies, if ever a genuine -rebellion should occur. Having thought and -thought till my brain was weary, I decided to take -my chances on having them understand the bow, -trusting that something might happen which -would make us all united. I reasoned that if our -foe, the Blacks, should swoop upon us again, we -might all be killed, if they found us unprepared, -and then all schemes of escape would be equally -vain.</p> -<p>Our programme of armament therefore proceeded -with all reasonable haste. We had frequent -practice with the weapons, many of the Links soon -giving promise of great proficiency with this natural -weapon of early man. During this time the -strained relations were in no wise improved, -thanks to the ceaseless efforts of Grin and to the -idiocy of Madame Albino, who became the more -zealous as I treated her with greater contempt. -I grew desperate, for matters were tending toward -disruption too plainly for any concealment.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_124">124</div> -<p>One morning I was drilling the Links in sham -fighting, and making them form in hollow square -about me. In the midst of our manœuvres I -had an inspiration, totally foreign to the work. -The lake! Why had I not figured out before that -the lake must have inlets and an outlet, and that the -latter must eventually reach the sea itself? True -the thought came quickly that out in that ever-anomalous -Nevada there are lakes (or “sinks”), -which have no outlet at all, but I doubted strongly -if this lake belonged to that same peculiar species. -By all means I would explore it, come what might. -I would know what it promised, and no matter -what manner of outlet I might discover, I would -attempt my escape on its bosom, and snap my fingers -at Links and all of their ilk.</p> -<p>For this business I should require a boat. Perhaps -this would be no better than a raft, in the end, -if nothing better could be constructed, but something -floatable would be necessary before I could -move a mile down or about the sheet of water, for -the jungle grew to the very edge of this shimmering -gem, rendering its circum-exploration on the -shore as good as a physical impossibility.</p> -<p>It was easy enough to induce the Links to help -me force a path to the water’s edge, but I soon -discovered that without exception they held the -place in awe and superstitious dread. It did prove -to be generously inhabited, but this was quite to -be expected. For the matter of that, the whole -country was crawling with deadly reptiles and -brutes, so that choosing the lesser evil was not -too decidedly easy.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_125">125</div> -<p>One would have said that material was plentiful, -even had I contemplated building a fleet, but the -growth was so dense that I knew it would be a -gigantic task to cut down any timber. The Links -were anxious to leave the shore for the safer hill, -but I kept them with me and communicated to several -the fact that I was searching for a log. This -was an excellent move, for Fatty soon underwent -a paroxysm of delight at his cleverness, and at my -open satisfaction, when he jerked away a snarl of -vines, already concealing the trunk of a tree which -apparently had succumbed to a violent gale.</p> -<p>We soon had the log laid bare for more than -twenty feet of its length. It was twined about by -creepers, but it had no low branches to give us -trouble, while its size was entirely satisfactory. -With our tools of flint we started to cut the thing -off in two places, the root end being in no wise fit -to form the prow or the stern of a boat, but our -efforts seemed so feeble and childish that apparently -it was next to an insurmountable difficulty -to perform even this primary office. I felt so -discouraged that I nearly gave it up then and there.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_126">126</div> -<p>However, one of my admirers was willing to -run to camp for a brand of fire, for I had resolved -to burn the log in two. This was a task which -opened up large possibilities for the expenditure of -time and patience, although we constantly removed -the fire, as soon as its flames had eaten inward, -charring the wood, when we chopped away -this softened portion and began again. At the -end of the first day we had accomplished so little -that the task, merely of getting the log cut off, -seemed hopeless. I determined that if we did get -the log free at last I would have it rolled into the -water and content myself with its plain, unvarnished -bulk for a craft, for digging it out to form a -boat I feared would be more of a job than my patience -could endure.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_127">127</div> -<h2 id="c16"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XVI</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">TREACHERY AND A BATTLE</span></h2> -<p>The labour at the lake-shore, day after day, -somewhat reduced the party-feeling brewing between -the chief and our respective followers. He -was with us often, but quite as frequently went -hunting in the jungle at the head of a dozen -fighters.</p> -<p>Our practice with the bows had proceeded so -well that we bagged a good deal of our game with -the weapons, squirrels, various birds and hogs -proving to be the most abundant and easy victims. -Of the skin of one of the hogs so secured, I made -myself a clumsy sort of quiver, which held my -arrows to perfection. Of another I fashioned -some thick but serviceable leggings, which afforded -me a much-needed protection.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_128">128</div> -<p>What with sundry interruptions, for needed -labours about the camp, it was more than a week -before we finally completed the burning and hacking -off of the log by the lake. Then we began to -roll it and push it toward the water, a task requiring -more patience than ingenuity, for we had -an abundance of muscle although I found it not -always easy to direct this crude force to the best -advantage. I set my fellows to work getting out -rollers, so that if necessary, later on, I could use -a lever and get the log in the water alone.</p> -<p>Having brought it near the edge, I was tempted -to proceed with my original plan of digging it -out to form a canoe, trusting that the trouble -which threatened between our divided forces would -merely smoulder, at the worst, for a time and that -before it broke out dangerously I might be better -prepared to make my explorations and my attempt -to escape. Deciding to try this plan, I had the log -lifted up on two rocks, one under each end, after -which I had my Links dig me a quantity of stiff -red clay, which we worked up with water and -plastered thickly over the sides and ends of the -log, leaving a wide place uncovered on the under -side. We then made fire all along underneath, -and by constantly digging away the portions that -were charred, and then by burning and digging -again, we made considerable progress with the -work. The clay, of course, protected the parts of -the boat so covered from being consumed. By -plastering more of the clay inside of the sides and -ends, as soon as the boat began to be hollowed out, -we protected them also, and thereby directed the -flames in such a manner that they burned deeper -into the wood all the time, without endangering -the portions which I desired to leave stout and -thick.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_129">129</div> -<p>It was hot work and hard, to get in under that -boat and dig out ash and charcoal, but several of -my loyal workers conceived a tireless enthusiasm -for the task, although none could have guessed what -I was fashioning, to save his life. Their industry -and tractability reminded me always of the faithful -work which dogs will perform for a master. -While the burning-out was being done, I hacked -and worked away to make the bow and stern of the -craft a bit more shapely than they were after our -crude log-cutting process. Also I formed a -clumsy keel, of straight, slender saplings, which -we fastened firmly in place by boring several holes -straight through them and then hammering plugs -into these and into corresponding holes made, at -the cost of infinite pains, along what would be the -bottom of the boat when we turned her over for -launching.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_130">130</div> -<p>This keel was finally finished, and by that time -all along underneath we had burned and dug away -a foot in depth of the wood, which meant that -after the log—which was about three feet in -diameter—was squared off to form the open top -of the hull, the inside hollowing-out was only -three or four inches deep, and we had still to dig -it out fully eighteen inches more. Altogether I -began to feel no little amount of pride in the general -appearance and promise of the craft, hence I -worked at it with feverish impetuosity.</p> -<p>My affairs were still at this stage when, one -afternoon, I headed a large party of the Links on -a hunt in the jungle to the east of the camp. It -was a sultry day, peculiarly still, for we nearly -always had a cooling breeze. Doubtless our usual -quarry had crawled away to various places of concealment. -Certainly we found nothing stirring, -and after we had tramped unavailingly for more -than an hour, I fancied I detected signs of uneasiness -among our fellows.</p> -<p>The chief was along, closely followed by Grin, -whose malicious face seemed particularly wicked -in the shadows of the forest. When a cloud rolled -sullenly across the face of the sun, the Links came -to a halt, as if undecided what to do. The chief -gave a sign and uttered a word conveying his -intention of returning to the camp. At that moment -we started a hog from his wallow near a -small marsh, and calling out eagerly to all to follow -and surround the animal, I darted ahead, bow -in hand, excited by the prospect of a shot. My -enthusiasm carried the main body of the Links, -who joined me readily enough.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_131">131</div> -<p>I noted as I went that the chief brought up the -rear, in a sulky mood, while the fawning Grin -pointed a finger at myself and laughed in a manner -fit to make a fiend of a saint, such ridicule did he -heap upon all who would suffer themselves to be -led by this power-usurping stranger.</p> -<p>The hog eluded our vigilance completely. We -arrived at the base of a mass of rock which towered -up like a heap of ruined masonry. Thinking I -could command a wider view from its top, while -my fellows thrashed the undergrowth about its -neighbourhood, to drive the hog from cover, I -climbed laboriously up, intent on having a shot if -possible.</p> -<p>No sooner was I fairly on the peak and moving -about to get in sight of all the Links below, than -I noted Grin come dashing out of a jungle, making -a noise for all the world like the trumpeting -of an elephant. Undoubtedly this sound must -have been their name for the huge pachyderm, and -it was equally certain that the cry was a warning -which inspired the greatest terror, for without -delaying a second for anything, the whole force -ran madly away from the place, back along the -way we had come.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_132">132</div> -<p>I bawled out lustily, to halt them, and then to -try to make them wait, but again Grin sounded the -startling trumpet and not a Link—not even Fatty—turned -or paused for all my shouting. I scrambled -along the rocks to descend as rapidly as possible. -It was not an easy task to regain the lower -level; I was occupied several minutes by the task. -I fell the last five feet and the vines wherein I -landed held me back a time which became exasperatingly -long.</p> -<p>At length I started away in pursuit of my -friends, but not a sign of one could I see, not a -sound of one could I hear. Soon I began to -doubt if I were on their trail. However, I felt -that I knew my way as well without as with them, -and therefore made what speed I could to overtake -the band.</p> -<p>Presently I paused to see if they had gone -through the vines in the path I was attempting -to follow. A low sound came from the distance; -with amazing suddenness the forest began to grow -dark and oppressive. I fancied for a second the -sound was made by the elephant. This theory was -abandoned a moment later, for an echo of the rumble -proclaimed the noise as thunder. Like a flash, -the thought came in my brain that there was no -elephant—that Grin had purposely given his cry, -knowing well what a terror and consequent flight -would ensue, with the deliberate purpose of leaving -me abandoned in the jungle. I remembered -the uneasy feeling which had been manifested by -all the Links; they had doubtless been aware that -a storm was approaching.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_133">133</div> -<p>Intent upon defeating this scheme of treachery, -and reviling the whole Link nation for cowards of -the most consummate type, I stumbled on, through -the gathering gloom and through the vines that -tripped my feet, growing a trifle anxious about -the approaching shower.</p> -<p>Almost before I had gone a hundred yards, the -sky was a sea of tempest and driving clouds of the -blackest hue. Gusts of heavy, hot wind shook the -tops of the trees and crashed through the creepers, -swaying them roughly where they hung. The -darkness of night descended like a mist of ink. I -floundered forward and fell. A flash of lightning -and a crash of thunder seemed to rip the very -firmament in twain. I was blinded and utterly -confused. I ran ahead, only to find myself confronted -by an impenetrable fabric of vines and -creepers. This I strove to go around, but it -seemed to hedge me nearly all about. In desperation -I hastened through the only opening I could -find. This appeared to lead me into a trail, along -which I ran.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_134">134</div> -<p>Again a brain-scorching glare of lightning -threw everything into weird relief, the trees like -living creatures which struggled in the mesh -of creepers, writhing like snakes, in the bluster of -wind. Then a lesser illumination, when I had -torn my way along for some distance, cut out of -the ebon depths the great mass of rock I had -climbed such a short time before. I reeled backward—it -seemed preposterous—some enormity of -fate—it could not mean that I was lost—no, no—I -would turn about—I knew the way—I should -reach the camp in an hour. What a child I was -to be so confused and alarmed by a storm!</p> -<p>Again I started. The flashes and the deafening -peals of thunder increased. In five more minutes -I stood still, confused, for the fearsome play of -lightning illuminated the jungle clearly and it -looked all wrong—all unfamiliar about me—and -all deadly thick. I must hasten back to the -pile of rocks, I thought, in a sort of despair. I -could wait there—wait till the storm had passed, -and then, when the sky became clear again of -clouds, I could easily find my way to the camp.</p> -<p>For fifteen minutes I fought my way through -the vines and plants. The flashes were more intense, -and nearer than before, but of rocks or of -anything familiar I saw not so much as a shadow.</p> -<p>“I’m lost!” I cried at last, “I’m lost!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_135">135</div> -<p>The confession burst from my lips as if to mock -me. The stupendous meaning of the truth burst -in upon me ruthlessly. I was lost—alone in this -terrible jungle and night coming on apace! Every -horror of my night in the tree, above that ghastly -banquet of the tiger, came vividly back. Every -thought of the snakes and the prowling beasts, in -search of blood and meat, seemed to burn deeper -into my brain with the blinding shimmer of lightning. -I fled in one direction, then in another—then -anywhere, at random.</p> -<p>It was foolish and weak to race hither and yon -as I did in my semi-madness, but the dark jungle -created an unspeakable dread in my brain; its terrors -were magnified by my contemplation of one -danger after another. I foresaw nothing but a -dreadful death, which might come soon or late. -To find the camp of my Links I felt would be quite -impossible, for I knew absolutely nothing, by this, -of one direction from another.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_136">136</div> -<p>Wildly and thoughtlessly I kept on going. A -crash of thunder now split open the clouds and -let down a deluge of rain. It made no difference -to me, any more than did the darkness. But while -I was pushing senselessly ahead, I slipped on a -patch of wetted clay and slid to an unseen edge, -over which I shot, going down below like a sack -of bolts. I struck on my feet, landing on something -half soft. Instantly a furious growl of pain -and rage made me leap away forward. A brilliant -dance of lightning made the spot as bright as -day—and I beheld two hideous ourang-outangs, -which had just been in the act of crawling into a -cave, and on the legs of one of which I had landed. -They came quickly toward me, in a frenzy of -anger.</p> -<p>I dashed away, along a well-beaten path that -was made through the growth, the two brutes hotly -pursuing. The darkness that followed the glare -of light was of only a second’s duration, so continuous -had the electric display in the heavens become. -The beasts were gaining upon me. Across -a leaf-hidden log I pitched headlong. The ourangs -were nearly upon me when I sprang again to my -feet and raced away. Still they gained; and the -noises they made chilled the blood in my veins, -so diabolical was the sound. My breath grew -short, my bow, which I had continued to hold in -my hand, got caught for a second, yet I dared -not let it drop, though it caused me the greatest -of trouble.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_137">137</div> -<p>Behind me now I could almost feel my infuriated -foes. I dared to dart a glance across my -shoulder. What a snap-shot picture it was, of -awful forms—half erect and fearfully active,—a -picture of monsters, suggestive of most inhuman -humans, with fiery eyes, with hideous muzzles, -massive, prognathous jaws,—with terrible open -mouths which were filled with drooling fangs, and -with black, leather-and-iron hands, now on the -ground, now up and reaching, as if to clutch and -drag me down!</p> -<p>I knew they would certainly overtake me unless -I could do something desperate at once. I jerked -out my knife—recently whetted on a stone. By -the continuously fluttering lightning-shimmer, I -chose a spot, ahead, which was comparatively -clear. Then while my flesh fairly crept for my -dread of being reached, I slacked off my speed a -trifle and let the nearest ourang gain a yard.</p> -<p>Suddenly leaping aside, when I bounded to the -selected clearing, I swung around with my arm -extended, the knife gripped hard, and quickly aiming -at the monster’s throat, stabbed him with all -my might. So great was the impact of the blow, -increased by the brute’s momentum, that his head -was nearly slashed from his body. I saw it lop -limberly over on his shoulder. Then the larger -brute behind struck the falling body and both were -toppled together in a heap.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_138">138</div> -<p>Again like a madman I darted away. In a few -seconds on came the now doubly raging creature, -behind. My breathing had become so painful that -it seemed as if I could taste my own blood in my -mouth. I dared not stop and I dared not attempt -my trick a second time. A fearful note of wrath -was in the sound which the gaining monster now -began to utter. I knew he was sure he should -catch me soon. Before me, abruptly, the growth -was as thick as a hedge. I saw that I must change -my course. Baffled, not knowing what else I could -do, I pulled an arrow from my quiver and notched -it on my bow-string as I ran. Then stopping I -turned, drew it quickly and let it drive point blank -at my on-rushing foe. It flew too low, for the -string was wet and in no fit condition, and struck -the beast in the fleshy part of the thigh.</p> -<p>Emitting a scream of agony, the brute snapped -the shaft short off in the wound, with his hand. I -took advantage of the opportunity, nearly winded -as I was, and plunged desperately through a maze -of vines. It caught me, but I tore away a long -wire-like creeper that dragged behind for twenty -feet. And the gnashing ourang, limping on an -almost useless leg, came after me, relentlessly. It -seemed like a nightmare—endless, although, like -a terrible dream, it had not been of more than a -few minutes duration from the start.</p> -<p>My bow-string had apparently stretched, and -this effect I had increased when I shot; the weapon -was therefore temporarily useless. Had I now -been fresh, I believe I could have beaten the -wounded brute in the race, but I was ready to sink -from exhaustion. He got nearer and nearer. -What to do next was more than I could tell.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_139">139</div> -<p>Panting and fetching my breath by the most -painful of efforts, I blundered heavily through a -net-work of branches—and got my second sudden -fall over a bank. This time I struck sitting down—in -a stream of water which, swollen by the rain, -was a roaring torrent. It swept me downward, -gasping and battling to keep my head above the -surface.</p> -<p>Then with a splash the ourang-outang landed -headlong in the flood. He also came rolling and -tumbling along with the turbulent volume of -water. But he clutched an overhanging limb and -hauled himself out and up on the bank, as if he -found the plunge exceedingly hateful. Whether -he lost the scent, or whether he was convinced that -I also had scrambled out of the stream, would be -hard to determine. Busy as I was to keep from -being drowned, or dashed to death on the rocks, I -yet had a flash of relief and thankfulness to find -myself freed of the terrible pursuer.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_140">140</div> -<p>My bow, to which I had clung with such a -desperation, was lost from my hand when I fell -into the torrent. As I righted myself, a trifle, on -my downward sweep, and tried to mark out a -branch or a creeper to clutch, a terrific bolt of -lightning struck a tree not a hundred feet below. -As if a thousand cannon had burst, the din and -crash of thunder fairly stunned me for a second -where I was. I got a mental photograph of the -tree flying apart in monster splinters, as if a -charge of dynamite had rended it asunder; and -then followed a total annihilation of all light and a -downpour of rain which was simply overwhelming.</p> -<p>I was bowled downward helplessly, tossed -through a drag of vines that were growing over -the bed of the stream, and then, before I had half -collected my senses—scattered as they were by the -stroke of lightning,—I was shot through an agitated -run-way and plunged below my depth in -what I thought to be a large pool of water.</p> -<p>Almost immediately, as I began to swim, on -arising to the surface, I pushed against a great -piece of timber on the top of which I climbed -without a moment’s hesitation. Then came a -flicker of lightning a mile away, illuminating all -the scene, when I discovered that I was crouching -on a large section of the very tree which the fearful -lightning blast had shattered, and which was -floating on the surface of the sheet of water which -I had previously dubbed “My Lake.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_141">141</div> -<h2 id="c17"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XVII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">SAURIANS AS FOES</span></h2> -<p>As if the culmination of the electric discharge -in that particular quarter had come with the bolt -which struck so near myself, there was almost a -complete cessation of pyrotechnics which would -have been visible from the rain-pelted lake. Distant -thunder grumbled incessantly, but the gloom -which descended over water and jungle was only -rendered more intense by the fitful glow of light -which trembled upward so far away.</p> -<p>Inasmuch as my log was steady, I sat down as -comfortably as possible. Soaked through as I -was, I paid no attention to the drenching shower -which continued. It was warm enough, and -while it could hardly be pleasant, when thus continued -such a time, I felt as if it were less than -trifling, after all I had recently undergone. Naturally -enough the shore had no immediate attractions -which would tend to make me wish to paddle -in. From the sound of my stream, tumbling -noisily into the lake, I concluded the log could not -be drifting to any considerable extent. I would -wait for the light to come before I moved.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_142">142</div> -<p>One usually feels entitled to suppose that a -thunder-shower is fleeting, here one minute and -gone the next, but I was in for a disappointment. -Though the wind had ceased to blow, the lowering -clouds continued rank with rain and apparently as -dense as lead. The darkness of the storm continued -till the margin between day and night was -passed. I realised at last that there would be no -light till dawn.</p> -<p>“What shall I do?” I muttered aloud, but I -knew as I spoke that I would sit all night on that -floating log, wet, somewhat chilled and ravenously -hungry, to say no word of being alone and lost.</p> -<p>The prospect was not exactly bright, but I felt -so grateful for my miraculous escape, and so much -more content to be on the water than alone again -for a night in the jungle, that I entertained no -fears for present or future. I tried to think of -any duties I owed to myself, which I ought in reason -to perform, and then the obvious impossibility -of doing anything at all made me smile.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_143">143</div> -<p>It was still early evening when the rain ceased -to fall. I laid out full length on the log, to see if -I thought it safe as a position in which to sleep. -It served to ease my joints directly, though I -found it as a bed rather hard and lumpy. Sleep -being about the last thing possible, I remained on -my side, gazing absently at nothing, engaged in -reviewing my own mental panorama of events. -From time to time I dabbled my hand in the water, -as I always had done when in a boat as a child. -I was not so peaceful as this apparent mood of -dalliance might imply, for my brain was painfully -alert, both on the things already done since my -memorable ballooning trip with Ford, and concerning -what would happen on the morrow and -the days, weeks and months to come.</p> -<p>In the midst of this business something gently -“nosed” my fingers in the water. I jerked them -away quickly enough to have startled anything -alive out of all its wits, but nothing dived or swam -away in alarm, so that after a minute I put my -hand downward again and felt it come in contact -with something which was touching against the -log. Exultantly then I grasped this something -and pulled it aboard.</p> -<p>It was simply my bow, which had floated down -the stream, when I lost it by striking in the water, -and which had drifted in the only current there -was. In this current, of course, the log was also -drifting, hence the coming together.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_144">144</div> -<p>A feeling as if an old comrade had rejoined me -made me joyous, as I held the weapon up to let it -drip. Its return to my hand made me think of -and feel for the arrows. Five were still in my -quiver, and having been protected as they hung -on my back, they were as good as ever, except -for the wetness of the feathers. The string of the -bow was flabby and useless. I held this friend in -my hand for more than an hour, rubbing the wood -with my palm till it felt as dry as an idol in a temple.</p> -<p>The night advanced. I sat down, lay down and -then got up on my feet a dozen times. Once I -fancied the log was drifting in toward the shore. -With my hands I paddled it slowly away. The -stars shone brilliantly at last, for the final cloud -had disappeared from the sky. From the jungle -issued sounds in plenty, repetitions of what I had -heard before, but I thought myself secure and -tried to catch a bit of sleep.</p> -<p>A night more long than that one on the lake I -have never passed. It was made more interminable -by the five-minute slumbers which came to -my senses after midnight. I grew uncomfortably -chilly. Two things happened before the morning -finally dawned. The first was that weary nature -asserted herself and I became lost in dreams of -that horrible pair of ourang-outangs; the second -was that a breeze sprang up and drifted my log -where it listed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_145">145</div> -<p>I awoke with a start, for something struck the -log such a blow that it lurched heavily and all but -pitched me end-ways in the water. I sprang up, -on my tossing craft, beholding myself less than -quarter of a mile from the nearest shore and surrounded -by the rings of a great ripple which something -had evidently caused on the lake’s surface.</p> -<p>It was morning and already warm. My bow -string was not only dry, but it had shrunk to -nearly its old condition. The stream of water -down which I had tumbled was neither in sight -nor hearing. I began slowly to realise the truth; -I had drifted almost entirely across the lake. I -scanned the scenery on every side. There were -jungle-covered hills in front, the same, but more -distant, behind me, and again the same toward -the North, where the shore was two miles away. -To the South I saw familiar slopes and features of -the mountains. This meant that I was looking on -the lake as I had when at work on the boat. -Plainly my boat and “home” then, were northward -a goodly distance.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_146">146</div> -<p>Suddenly, while I was looking about, the maker -of all the recent disturbance appeared—an alligator. -He was not very large, but black, hideous -and actively concerned about the log. He must -have overlooked me entirely to have struck such -a blow, and then doubtless he had dived for safety. -Now as he jutted up darkly, dividing the waters -which rolled off his revolting head, his two little -eyes gleamed with a look which made me think of -my weapons in a hurry.</p> -<p>He came toward me cautiously, circling slowly -about. There was nothing to do but to get an -arrow in readiness, and then to wait, but I shuddered -to think of a fight with such a powerful -monster. The creature, I am convinced, thought -me a larger one of the monkeys on which his kind -were fond of dining. He presently headed straight -for the log. Knowing he would dive in a moment -I shot at him quickly. The arrow struck -him just beneath the eye. It broke and glanced -from the tough wet skin, but a splinter actually -struck in his eye-ball and ruined his sight on that -side of his head. He sank like a thing of iron. -A second later the end of the log went heaving -up and I was thrown violently off into the lake.</p> -<p>The log came down with a force that beat up a -fountain of spray. I was struck on the foot by -the half-blinded reptile as I struggled to get back -to my place and out of his way. He began furiously -to lash the water as he rammed about in a -circle. Rising to the surface like a small living -island, he turned upon me again and came ahead -with all his speed, making me think of a deadly -torpedo.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_147">147</div> -<p>There was no time for arrow or bow, and the -latter was gone again in the bargain, but it took -me only half a second to rip out that ever-needed -knife. Over we went, more abruptly than before, -the water churning and boiling up in foam about -my ears. He had calculated poorly and now he -closed his awful jaws upon the jagged end of the -log, not a foot from my shoulder. I jabbed at -him frantically—stabbing at his other eye which -suddenly popped fairly out of its socket as I pried -and gouged with the end of the blade.</p> -<p>The beast raised a snorting noise at this, which -made me ill with fear. With the power of a -whale and the ferocity of a shark he whipped the -water into froth and snapped his jaws in every -direction. He was head on, side on and tail on, -alternately, feeling for me and grinding pieces out -of the log whenever he found it. He clawed me -once and knocked me clean over the log with his -tail a moment later. I stabbed at him wildly, but -with no effect, a dozen times. I was nearly -drowned and the creature seemed to be everywhere -at once.</p> -<p>Had he been able to see me, my life could not -have been saved by any chance, in such a whirlpool -of wrathful attacking. I was nearly blinded -by the spray which flew from the waves. The log, -which was pitching madly, with a force only second -to the creature’s own, arose abruptly from a -plunge and, like a lever, pried the alligator fairly -over on his back and threw me almost upon him.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_148">148</div> -<p>I stabbed him twice in the belly, the last blow -tearing a deep, wide hole, as he rolled to right -himself, and then to my great astonishment he -dived like a porpoise. I lost not a second in getting -on top of the log. But the water grew calm -and a deep red dye came floating up, to weave a -strange device in the ripples.</p> -<p>Breathlessly I waited, for a time that seemed -endless. Cautiously I drew in my bow, which was -floating near. At last there came a small commotion -fifteen feet away. The alligator rose, fought -a second with the foe which is Death, and sank -again from sight. I believed then that my knife -had reached his heart.</p> -<p>Up to this moment I had taken not so much as a -glance toward the shore. I did so now and discovered -myself to be something like fifty yards -off. The breeze had drifted me rapidly while the -fight was being waged. Looking hurriedly about, -I saw a rude sort of path, leading into the jungle -from the shore, made through the growth, which -all along was so thick that I could see no beach in -either direction. At the same moment I beheld -another huge alligator some distance away, up -toward a jutting point of land.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_149">149</div> -<p>It took me about an instant to decide that I had -experienced all the alligator tactics I needed. -Quietly pushing my bow downward, to sound the -water’s depth, I was surprised and glad to have it -strike bottom at three feet only. Using it then to -pole myself and the log forward, I headed for the -trail on shore.</p> -<p>The alligator saw me before I had gone ten feet. -He started, full steam ahead, to overhaul my craft. -I worked like a maniac; the monster was closing -up the gap between us with alarming rapidity. -My raft was heavy and deep in the water. Nearer, -nearer I drew to the shore, and terribly nearer -came the fierce and hungry saurian.</p> -<p>I had twenty yards, fifteen, ten to make; the -creature was hardly more than five away. In a -second he would strike the log. Leaping madly -into the water I dashed to the bank and bounded -up a slippery way, less than six good feet from the -creature’s snout.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_150">150</div> -<p>Knowing I could beat him on the land, I dashed -along full speed. Forty feet up—Lord save me!—it -seemed as if the woods were full of the monsters, -several of which moved sluggishly as they -heard me coming. These got no chance to be -dangerous, for I ran the gauntlet between them -almost before they were awake. In five minutes -more I was clear of the marshy border of the lake -and up on higher ground. Here a large tree, -twined in a thousand folds of the creepers, offered -an easy retreat. I climbed up among its branches -and finding a natural seat, where my back was -supported by the extra growth, sat down, weak -and winded.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_151">151</div> -<h2 id="c18"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XVIII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">THE ENEMY NEAR</span></h2> -<p>In fifteen minutes after I settled myself in the -tree, in a position of comparative ease, I fell into -a deep and dreamless slumber. I had not intended -to give up in any such manner, but the warmth, -the relief to my mind and my weariness, combined -to send me off before I realised what I was doing.</p> -<p>It might have been a noise and it could have -been pangs of hunger that awakened me finally. -The hour was certainly that of noon, if not later. -I felt hazy in my notions; it required no little -blinking to get the webs from my eyes and brain. -Then I heard voices. What was being said -sounded to me like Link language.</p> -<p>I nearly cried out, thinking some of the tribe -were near at hand, but fortunately I was still too -lazy and exhausted to make such an effort. Then -a movement attracted my gaze and I saw several -Links, sure enough.</p> -<p>But they were black!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_152">152</div> -<p>I was wide enough awake in a second. I -crouched low and got a mass of leaves between -these vengeful creatures and myself, for I knew -it would be death, or worse, if once they clapped -eyes upon my form. Peering furtively down, I -saw that all of them were standing perfectly still, -just as if they might have halted abruptly and remained -in various poses of action. There were -eight in all, every one of whom was looking intently -at something across the little clearing.</p> -<p>Without moving my body I turned my head and -discovered a small black bear, which was sleepily -smelling about and moving through the grass and -giant ferns. Wondering if presently the Links -would dart upon the inoffensive animal and beat -it to death with their clubs, I looked them over -carefully. Except that they stood erect, they did -certainly look like close relations of the savage -ourangs. Their ears were large, foreheads low -and receding, and jaws tremendously heavy and -protuberant. Their noses were flat and broad, -while their eyes, like those of my friendly Reds, -were small, round, near together and nervously -watchful. I was not at all gratified to see them -here; I wondered if, being so near, they had discovered -our settlement on the hill. Our settlement! -Would I ever get back to my barbarous -company and that “city” again, I wondered.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_153">153</div> -<p>The bear shuffled off, with the utmost indifference -to anything which might be near. Then I -beheld those black Links, one of whom possessed -the club with the nugget of gold on the end, do -precisely what I had seen my Reds do, the day -we were driven into the cave. They crept up to -the tracks which bruin had left in the moist earth -and kneeling, as if in adoration, each placed his -forehead down where the bear had trod. Plainly -the creature was held in great reverence and awe -by all the family of Links, whatever their colour. -This seemed to me a remarkable and wholly inexplicable -thing.</p> -<p>Two of the fellows, I noted, had fruits and -cocoa-nuts in their hands, having probably gathered -them recently for the dinner of the party. -They now parleyed a moment in monosyllables, -with the others, the result being that all of the -food was deposited on the ground, doubtless with -the thought that the bear might return and be -pleased to find something to eat. It was doubtless -a primitive “sacred” offering. As silently as so -many snakes, the fellows then withdrew, on the -side just opposite to that in which their adored -one had disappeared. I heard their voices die -away in the jungle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_154">154</div> -<p>In order to be sure that I incurred no risk, I -waited for fully fifteen minutes. The forest was -particularly still. Slipping quietly down from my -perch, at last, I possessed myself of those fruits in -the twinkling of an eye, and devouring a part then -and there, I ascended to my throne with all I could -carry, and finished a meal, the relish of which surpasses -all human imagination.</p> -<p>When I had done at last and that craving, inward -system was fully gratified, I heaved a big -sigh of content and gazed off listlessly into the -ocean of endless verdure. A soft wind fanned -lazily by; there was nothing to threaten my life; -the tropics were at their loveliest. As naturally -as it comes to a tired animal, sleep again came -creeping across my senses. Without even moving -into an easier position, I slept away the whole -balmy afternoon.</p> -<p>I waked at last and found it was night. How -drowsy it was, how blissful to sleep and sleep. -My brain was too dull to receive an impression of -alarm at my being alone in the jungle; I felt that -I did not care what occurred. If anything wished -to come and eat me up, it was all right, but I did -wish they might not make me awake while the job -was being done. Howls, death-screams, roars of -the prowlers—all made a lullaby that soothed me -more. I turned the other way about, heavily, and -sank again into slumber.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_155">155</div> -<h2 id="c19"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XIX</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">ADORATION SCORNED</span></h2> -<p>Nothing was fresher nor keener than I when -again the sun touched the tips of the trees. Asleep -one second as soundly as a hibernating squirrel, -I was as sharply awake the next as a ferret in a -coop. I shook myself and stretched.</p> -<p>“Great Scott!” I exclaimed, “that was a -nap!”</p> -<p>Swinging down from my berth I ate of the -food which was still on the ground, where the bear -had neglected it quite, and then taking my bearings -as best I could, from memory of my imaginary -map of the lake, I struck off through the -jungle for “home.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_156">156</div> -<p>Of the hours which it took me to force my way -between tangles and around a marsh and over -hills and down dales, to accomplish what I thought -to be something like two miles on an air line, I -have anything but pleasant recollections. That I -met with many creatures, flocks of parrots and a -troop of apes and monkeys; that I recoiled from -a path in which a huge boa-constrictor was gliding, -and that I cursed my luck repeatedly for ever -having landed in such a place, is all a matter of -small account, compared to the fact that I stood -at last on a hill and saw our very camp. I came -to it then in less than one more hour of hottest -work and travel.</p> -<p>An excited yell announced my approach before -I had walked ten feet on the slope of our hill. If -the Links had been enthusiastic on the morning -after my night with the tiger, they were crazy and -flabbergasted all at once on this occasion. The -whole population came tumbling and running -down the slope. They were worse than a pack of -great, rough dogs that nearly knock one endways -with delight. They made me fairly wild, the -idiotic things, for my patience was gone to the -winds, after my struggle to win through the jungle, -and besides, it was they who had plunged me -into all the trouble. I batted them off with rare -satisfaction and punched a couple of heads in the -bargain, but the fools were more tickled than ever, -though I would wager that some of them smarted.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_157">157</div> -<p>They fell all over one another as they crowded -me up the hill, but my temper rather rose than -lowered, for I began to pile my accumulated grievances -up against them. I wanted the whole outfit -to understand that I thought them cowards, for -running from a noise, that day in the woods, and -that I now owed nothing to any one in the tribe -for my whole skin and presence once more in -“My village.”</p> -<p>When I arrived inside the walls I was made -decidedly more angry to find that Grin had stolen -the tiger-skull off my shelter to fasten it up on the -one in which he slept at night, and also by the fact -that every blessed arrow we owned had been shot -away by the fellows, as a lot of inconsequent boys -might have done, merely to see them fly and to -meddle with the bows. These bows, by the way, -were strewn about on the ground where everyone -kicked them carelessly and walked on them -with utter unconcern.</p> -<p>It took me about one minute to exhibit a bit of -temper that scared the creatures so thoroughly that -all but Fatty jumped smartly away and stood at a -distance, eyeing me painfully, ready to fall dead, -if such act could calm me down. Fatty had hastily -and exultantly jerked the tiger relic off from -Grin’s abode and fetched it over to mine, after -which the old idiot clung to me patiently through -rain of blows and kicks, content to receive any -amount of punishment, but wholly unwilling to -leave the region of my feet. I believe he would -have smiled affectionately up in my face and refused -to run away if I had raised my knife to kill -him on the spot.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_158">158</div> -<p>“You Grin, there,” I snorted in my wrath, “if -ever I catch you in another of your beastly, treacherous -tricks, I’ll rip you in two and beat the -pieces on a rock!”</p> -<p>The females, seeing in a moment that the fawner -was the chief object of my anger, and cordially -hating the fellow in the bargain, pinched him and -struck him and bit him on the shoulders till he was -constrained to run away to preserve his miserable -hide. Had they killed him at once I confess I -should have been delighted to witness the deed.</p> -<p>I moved about, with Fatty, in the fine large circle -which the troubled but respectful Links maintained, -while I drank some water and ate up a -mango which was left in one of the baskets. This -was evidently taken as a favourable sign, for immediately -old and young, male and female made a -great demonstration of procuring me anything and -everything that Link or Link-governor could possibly -desire to eat, in hopes of propitiating the -demon of temper which they readily comprehended -was raging within me.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_159">159</div> -<h2 id="c20"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XX</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">THE CHIEF IS PLEASED</span></h2> -<p>My indignation having produced a wholesome -effect, I decided not to be placated readily by anything, -and determined thereafter to maintain a certain -strictness which should compel a greater respect. -It is not entirely a human characteristic -for a creature to grow too familiar when treated -with easy-going indulgence, for I have often seen -dogs and other animals impose on good nature -with manners almost insolent.</p> -<p>For several days I treated the Links somewhat -harshly, requiring much work on the boat and on -more of the arrows. I encouraged also a species -of fear which I found my conduct had created. -It was high time, I knew, to dominate the creatures, -unless I was willing that they should dominate -me.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_160">160</div> -<p>They were quick to see that I rarely even threatened -physical violence, however, and this soon -tended to give them a confidence about approaching -my “sacred” person. I had been in hopes -that my gruffness and show of impatience had so -discouraged the albino female that she would -keep her distance, for she did exhibit a becoming -timidity for a time, but this gradually wore away. -I was exceedingly annoyed to observe, not only -that her disquieting symptoms were returning, -but also that she manifested greater ardour than -ever before. My efforts to appear disagreeable -were producing an effect exactly the opposite of -what I desired.</p> -<p>That trouble would be brewed again I felt was -inevitable. The chief had somewhat manifested -a spirit of doubt and alarm, in common with the -others, when he found me aroused, but this he was -daily attempting to overcome. I could see that the -fire of jealousy, especially in regard to the -manœuvres of his fickle and silly mate was getting -more assertive. It could only be a matter of time -till his animal-rage would burst all bounds, and -then—one or the other of us would get hurt, for -I had early decided that my life was quite as important -as his, and I therefore watched him narrowly, -always.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_161">161</div> -<p>The work on the boat and weapons was progressing, -but I was all impatience to make things -ready for my contemplated flight. In the midst of -this state of affairs, the albino increased her advances, -by bolder demonstrations. Exasperated -beyond endurance, I seemed powerless to perform -anything which should end the matter decisively. -Upon coming from my shelter, one morning, after -having been to the spring, I saw her down the -hill, adoring my tracks.</p> -<p>She was on “all fours,” worshipping, by placing -her forehead on the ground where I had stepped, -just as Reds and Blacks had done to the tracks -of the bear. She was obviously in a state of -ecstasy which was most insane. She had never -before proceeded so far as this, to my knowledge. -It made me boil with wrath. I should have liked -to box her ears smartly. How alert and “secret” -she was in her unseemly behaviour was demonstrated -by the activity with which she made off -when her chief appeared around the slope.</p> -<p>Two days later I was exceptionally provoked -to find this female within a rod of my dug-out, -indulging in more of this madness. Moreover she -was being observed by the angry chief, although -I was not aware of this at the moment. So disgusted -and desperate did I feel that I stepped -quickly to a rock, whereon my tortoise basin was -standing, filled with water in which I had washed, -and grabbing it up I jumped toward her and -dashed the contents all over her head and body, -while she was still upon the ground, adoring.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_162">162</div> -<p>She was simply wild. A wet cat could not begin -to be half so surprised, indignant and outraged as -her ladyship became, instantly. She leaped to her -feet, gasping, dripping, shuddering at the contact -of all that water, her mouth wide open, her -eyes afire with the light of sudden hatred and -fury. Not even a “woman scorned” could have -been so ready to shred my flesh from my bones. -I thought for a second she would fly at my throat, -in her passion, and gouge out my eyes, but the -fiendish laughter of the chief and of ten or a dozen -other females—who, of course, had seen the whole -performance—turned her attention. This derision, -however, made her face the more diabolical -in its expressions of wrath.</p> -<p>Fortunately what the lady said to myself was -wholly unintelligible, for I had mastered hardly as -much as twenty of their “words” at the time. -But I was left no room for doubt that the language -was as “burning” as it was impetuous. I laughed -with the others; indeed the whole thing struck me -as being so comical that I was fairly doubled over -with unrestrained merriment. This acted like oil -on a blazing fire, and being no longer able to control -herself at all, the drenched female dashed -madly off to the edge of the woods, to vent her -rage as best she could. The chief was immensely -pleased.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_163">163</div> -<p>In the immunity from the female’s attentions -and the consequent jealousy of her mate which -I now enjoyed, I drove the work with hearty zest. -The boat was all but finished, yet it needed digging -out at least two inches more, and this I felt -to be important, knowing how heavy was the log -of which it was made. I had even fashioned a -pair of oars, the blades of which were firmly lashed -to the handles, but by then our tools of flint were -almost entirely useless. Many had been lost and -all had been more or less broken. The work actually -ceased for lack of these necessary implements.</p> -<p>I set my fellows to digging up the ground, in -the hope of unearthing more of the pebbles which -furnished the flint. In the forest, where the soil -was damp, we found a white, efflorescent substance -in great abundance, near the surface. This, -from its peculiar taste and general appearance, I -knew to be common saltpetre, doubtless of value -to the commercial world, but of no account to me -when I wanted flint. We tried the hillsides and -various localities, but not one of the precious -chalcedony pebbles could we find.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_164">164</div> -<p>The suggestion occurred to me at once that we -could go to the old camp and dig all we needed, -but this presented difficulties which aroused my -impatience. I desired to get away before additional -complications could arise. As a matter of -fact, I was watching Grin very closely for evidence -of further duplicity, which I thoroughly expected -to detect, soon or late. If once I could find the -outlet of the lake, I thought, I would say good-bye -to these half-animal beings without the slightest -pang of regret, for they grated on me daily, -more and more.</p> -<p>I determined to launch the boat as it was and -begin my explorations. This work we undertook -one sultry morning. The clay which I had plastered -over the surface of the wood, where I had -wished to protect it from the fire, was baked hard. -We broke it away in pieces, and when it was off -and the boat turned bottom downwards, I felt exceedingly -proud of the work and gratified to find -the craft in much better shape than I had thought -to be possible.</p> -<p>It was placed on the rollers, after no little -amount of pulling and hauling, and we were all engrossed -with the preparations to shove her across -the intervening beach to the water, when without -the slightest warning there was a sudden rush and -yelling about us, and we were almost instantly surrounded -by a force of the savage black Links from -the jungle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_165">165</div> -<h2 id="c21"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXI</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">WAR WITH THE BLACKS</span></h2> -<p>Wholly unprepared as we were for this attack, -and with the only clubs we had lying about in the -grass, it seemed as if we should be overwhelmed -in a moment and killed where we stood. My fellows, -however, were not only marvellously quick -to regain their weapons, but they also set up a -series of cries which alarmed the camp on the -moment.</p> -<p>A score of fighters had been left in the settlement -that morning, to prepare the skins of animals -recently taken, and to point some arrows with -what flints we had remaining. These now came -running down the hill, not with the bows and -arrows, as I had hoped they might, but with their -usual weapons.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_166">166</div> -<p>Before our reinforcements could arrive, the -Blacks rushed in and killed two of my workers as -if they had been a pair of helpless worms. We -were in the midst of a mass of the black devils, -about three to our one, making terrible sounds of -triumphant yelling and snarling. Fortunately the -chief was with us, and now his great crystal club -retaliated on one of the foremost enemies and -cleared a space for a moment, while I hurriedly -pushed my fellows back to back in hollow-square -order, and tried to let them know we must move -all we could toward our hill, as we fought.</p> -<p>The Blacks were fiercely impetuous—mad to -wipe us out. They dashed upon us with total lack -of order, and therefore we beat down many before -they killed one more of our number. Had my -fellows not been used to obeying what I ordered, -I could not have kept them formed together for a -moment. It was only this condition of semi-order -which saved us from total annihilation, for -our mad antagonists rushed the fray with most -inconsequent violence and force.</p> -<p>There was singular din of blows—clubs on flesh -and clubs on clubs,—cries of rage and agony and -shouted words—both of Linkish and English. -It was a spectacle of wildest action, the quick, muscular -Blacks, inconceivably savage, dancing, leaping -about and hurling themselves upon us, their -clubs fairly flaying the air, their faces fiendish -with animal ferocity, teeth revealed and eyes darting -fire of hatred, while we were equally wrought -up, vicious and thirsty for blood, smashing them -down, waging war of defense and war of vindictive -aggression.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_167">167</div> -<p>They were winning, crowding us too near together, -beating our outside fighters to death and -dragging them feet first into a melee of descending -clubs, when our mates descended on the rear of the -ones between ourselves and camp, and broke the -cordon completely. They screamed with hideous -delight as they bowled over a dozen of the foe, -but over-confidence would have cost us every life—and -the Lord only knows what after results—had -my comrades not understood and obeyed my -commands to fly, for we were still outnumbered -by heavy odds. Pushing my Red fellows, guiding -and endeavouring to retire them in order, I suddenly -saw a club coming straight for my neck. I -dodged, but got a scrape along the scalp and a -thud on the shoulder, when I drove home my -knife for the first time during the fight, and ripped -it out from a three-cornered wound. Then we -darted through the battered-down opening in the -ring and ran as hard as we could drive for the -camp.</p> -<p>Up the hill we surged with the Blacks swarming -up behind us. We had gained fifty yards, owing -doubtless to our perfect familiarity with the -ground; nevertheless a pair of our wounded fell -behind and were overtaken and beaten to a pulp -at once. Through the gate in our wall we scrambled, -and then I got my bow in hand at last and -flew about frantically, shouting and urging my -fellows to arm themselves with the others.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_168">168</div> -<p>While only about twenty of us rushed back to -the wall as archers, the foremost Blacks, outstripping -their comrades, bounded through the opening, -or over the wall, insane with the hoarded rage -of former defeats, and ignorant of what they -should find. The chief had halted just inside, with -two of his mightiest fighters. They smashed -down Link after Link that attempted to rush the -gate. Then we with the bows arrived on the -scene. The black demons in solid phalanx -stormed the wall and came climbing up over its -top.</p> -<p>“Now! Now!” I cried, “Shoot the pigs!”</p> -<p>It made me thrill to see those powerful fellows -making crescents of the bows. My heart -leaped exultantly to hear the twangs and to see the -small but deadly shower of arrows suddenly pierce -the air and sink in the scabbards of flesh. The -very first flight toppled five of the creatures endways.</p> -<p>“Shoot! Pigs!” I shouted again, for these -two words my Links comprehended.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_169">169</div> -<p>More came running to join us with the bows. -We spread out in something of a line. The air -became thick with the hurtling arrows. Some -struck the wall and some flew high, but we mowed -down many a Black, dead or wounded, till the -fierce attacking devils were appalled to see us and -to see this mysterious work of slaughter.</p> -<p>They halted; the back-bone of their mad impulse -was broken; they could not endure to advance -in the face of fatalities about them, much -less to carry the place, over the bodies of their -fellows. Yet they were still more than we in numbers, -and had they known of and adopted the -bloody tactics which sacrifice many, in those -heroic, irresistible charges by which men win a -fearful battle, they would still have swept us off -the hill to the forest beyond, for our meagre supply -of arrows was nearly exhausted already.</p> -<p>Below the wall they rallied. The fellow who -was armed with the gold-nugget club—which was -dripping with gore—seemed to be in command. -He flourished his terrible weapon and fired the -Blacks with courage anew. They came for us, hot -and eager to even up the score.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_170">170</div> -<p>I saw the great ebon creature head their charge, -and notching my last remaining arrow on my -bowstring, I waited for him, in great excitement. -They paid no attention to the gate, but crying out -madly, swarmed up over the wall again as if nothing -on earth could check their career. Those of -my fighters who still had arrows shot with vengeance -in every vibrating muscle. The Black who -led, presented a splendid target, presently, though -he was moving quickly. I let the shaft drive -straight for his breast, but he was leaping downward -at the second it arrived, and it struck him -squarely in the top of the left shoulder, near the -neck and just inside the collar-bone. It seemed -for a second as if it had gone in half its length, but -beyond stumbling forward a trifle when he landed, -the fellow appeared to have received no harm.</p> -<p>I heard a cry of despair go up from the Blacks -when they saw their leader struck, but I gave no -heed to anything, so intent had I become on watching -this active creature. I was so absorbed, indeed, -that before I realised what was occurring, -the fellow had bounded near enough to swing his -club to slay me where I stood. Half falling backward -to escape, I lost my footing. The club came -swiftly through the air, my arm was knocked aside -and the nugget thumped ponderously on my ribs -and bowled me end over end.</p> -<p>It had all happened in a second. I was down and -knew I was badly hurt before I could have winked. -I thought the furious Black would rush upon me -and batter in my head, for I could not have risen -to save myself from anything. But the savage -creature fell dead in his tracks for my arrow had -found his heart and he had died even as he struck -that powerful blow. Had he not been fatally hit, -his blow would have slain me outright.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_171">171</div> -<p>In the meantime, my fellows, having brought -down three of the foe with arrows, had grabbed -up their clubs again to beat in the heads of the -Blacks who dared jump down in the field of death. -Seeing their chief as he sank, without so much as -the flicker of a movement, the remaining besiegers -gave a yell of dismay and fled in a panic.</p> -<p>Our forces—savage and aggressive the moment -the tables were turned—became the hunters instead -of the hunted. They descended upon the -flying Blacks, slaying all the wounded who hobbled -in the rear of the wild retreat and all whom -they overtook before the jungle received its defeated -children back.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_172">172</div> -<h2 id="c22"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">HOME JOYS AND TROUBLES</span></h2> -<p>I must have swooned, for I knew no more of -anything until I awoke, in a dazed condition, and -found old Fatty bending down above me, while -near at hand nearly all the beings of the tribe stood -gazing on my prostrate form with expressions of -grave concern.</p> -<p>Upon trying to arise I was so shot through -with pain in my side and chest, that I felt things -go dizzy directly. Then after a little I attempted -to move to a more comfortable position. This was -accomplished only at the cost of great agony. I -found that my left arm was badly injured while all -the upper portion of my body seemed quivering -with pain. Never had I been so wounded in my -life.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_173">173</div> -<p>I asked for water, for the Links were but little -better than so many faithful dogs, who could -whine over my helpless carcass, but who had not -the slightest idea of what to do to relieve my suffering. -Never had muscular action caused me such -pangs as I underwent upon trying to swallow. -The thump I had received, slightly back of the -region of the heart, had come so near to being my -pass to the world beyond that I believe another -volt of power in the blow would have done the -work. As it was, I refrained from crying out -only by exerting my utmost will, when the chief -and Fatty carried me bodily and laid me down on -the skins in my shelter.</p> -<p>My consciousness went again as soon as my -body touched the couch; yet I rallied soon and -attempted to nod my recognition as the chief came -back again, bearing the great gold-nugget club, -which he leaned against the wall.</p> -<p>It became manifest early that if I survived the -shock to my system and the fracture of at least one -rib, which I felt sure had resulted from the blow, -it must be through sheer good luck, backed by a -hardy constitution, for of lotions, or bandages or -skillful attendance there could be absolutely none.</p> -<p>That night I experienced the most excruciating -torture it has ever been my lot to endure. Every -beat of my heart was like the stab of a dagger, in -feeling. Concussion, even that inflicted by a -fist, has proved too much for the great throbbing -organ of man full many a time. I thought of this -afterward, but during that first twenty-four hours, -I was utterly incapable of doing anything except -living through the ordeal of pain.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_174">174</div> -<p>All through the day that followed I lay there, -feverish, yet too badly hurt to move on my bed. -I ate nothing and drank water only, in single -swallows. Fatty remained at my side as a mother -might have done. Fifty times that day he ran -to the spring for the fresh, cool water, as that -which stood about in a shell for half an hour became -too warm to be fit to drink. After a time he -licked one of my burning hands, timidly, as if uncertain -of how this ministration would be received. -It felt cool and not at all disagreeable; I therefore -made no motion to draw the member away. -Presently the worried creature repeated the -favour; and after he had done this humble office -for both hands and wrists, I felt so soothed and -refreshed that I fell asleep at last, and got a -natural rest.</p> -<p>Day after day went by and I was still on my -back, though I could see that improvement continued -steadily. It was fully a week before I was -able to move without suffering agonies, and for -some time after that the pain in my ribs was exceedingly -sharp. During all this time I was amply -supplied by Fatty with fruits and with abominably -cooked meats, for the females were neglecting all -my former instructions, concerning the fire and the -roasting and boiling of game.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_175">175</div> -<p>As soon as I was able to sit up, propped against -a rock, I worked a little every day at making arrows, -and urged my most skillful assistants to do -the same. These shafts could not be pointed, owing -to our lack of flints, but we finished several -hundred, as to all but the requisite heads. I was -visited daily by all the tribe, except two individuals, -Grin and the unforgiving Lady Albino. The -little Links who had fled in uncertainty before, -even up to the last, now began to make me more -of a regular companion. They were near me, -more or less, from dawn till dusk, capering about, -sitting in groups in the sunlight, to watch me with -ever-nervous eyes, and rolling over one another in -rough, good-natured play.</p> -<p>The very smallest of these “children” were -hairy little scamps most astoundingly like baby -chimpanzees, except for their lighter colour. By -the hour I watched them at their play and listened -to their funny little words of talk. It was not an -ordinary baby prattle, to be sure, but it made me -think that all babies are very much alike. Their -chief amusement consisted in making a noise, by -striking any two objects together. The rarest -things they did were crying and laughing.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_176">176</div> -<p>There was one little chap who never rolled on -his back with the others, never made a noise and -rarely spoke. He was the only one that looked -in my face with eyes that were human-like and -steady. I fancied his quaint little face was wistful; -it was certainly serious and therein widely -different from those of all his companions. This -little creature approached me most timidly and yet -with a certain persistency that finally made me -look about, in the morning, to see if he had come.</p> -<p>For several days he sat near my feet, over -which, finally, he laid his little arm. Gradually -then he worked nearer and nearer to my head, as I -sat against the rock until at last he cuddled unobtrusively -up against me and permitted my arm to -close loosely about his little form. Thereafter this -was his one particular place. Hour after hour he -would nestle close in this, his nook, turning his -questioning eyes to mine, now and again, and -blinking as if he tried to think out the great inscrutable -problem of what we are and why we -came to partake of the mystery of life. How -foolishly fond of this little creature I became, I -shall not attempt to say.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_177">177</div> -<p>This was a time of laziness for all the tribe. -The Links were sun-lovers of the most ardent description. -Secure on our hill, undriven by any -task-master, provided with food in plenty, they -basked for hours, lying flat on the back, and played -exaggerated pranks, sometimes in a languid spirit -of ease and sometimes with the greatest activity -of movement. They appeared to know nothing -of family ties, nor of sorrow for those whom they -had been obliged to bury. They had no remorse, -nor “pricks of conscience” for any acts ever performed, -nor did they seem to have conceived of -anything superior to themselves, except in a purely -physical manner. Thus they realised nothing of -an occult, spiritual power of control and nothing -of mystery, either in life or death. They therefore -had not the slightest fundamental suggestion of -a religion, and worshipped nothing and feared -nothing, save that which they could see and which -they had discovered, in their animal capacity, to be -dangerous to life or limb. They could be made -to feel a certain sort of awe, but this was one -slight degree only above that emotion which in an -animal would excite the expression “the creature -is cowed.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_178">178</div> -<p>I had ample opportunity to become acquainted -with the various traits of my friends, for I was -something of an invalid for more than two weeks. -I came to the conclusion that the Links were -keener than I in every natural sense; that is, they -could see things more quickly; they could hear that -which escaped my duller ears; they could smell -odours which failed to convey themselves to me; -and they could “feel” dangers by a sort of unknown -sense, or instinct, of which I would always -remain in complete ignorance. They were highly -organised in the natural attributes; they were -powerful and active above any animal of their size -I have ever seen; but when thought of as humans, -they ranked with children who just fail to clutch -the ideas of older people and whose efforts in -manufacturing are crude and worthless.</p> -<p>When at last I began to walk about again, performing -small labours, I still had an occasional -dart of pain through my side, which made a feeling -of illness spread all through my system. However, -the weather was beautiful, the food simple -and wholesome and the work soon began to limber -me up.</p> -<p>Before I was quite myself again, I commenced -to be exceedingly annoyed by the actions of Grin. -Although I had been the recognised superior, if not -the governor, of the tribe at the moment when I -laid low the chief of the Blacks and completed our -victory, yet my wound and subsequent weakness -had rendered nearly everything nugatory. Inasmuch -as my nearness to death had robbed me of -the power by which I kept the Links in awe, many -had assumed an irreverent air which became positive -insolence on the part of the fawner.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_179">179</div> -<p>Having allied himself with the resentful female -albino, this creature was never neglectful of an -opportunity to perform some sneaking bit of meanness. -For a time I was too weak to resent these -impositions, and therefore the creature grew bolder -in the liberties which he dared to take. Thus my -tiger skull had again disappeared, and I knew he -had stolen it, although I had no means of proving -the theft. One morning, however, I caught the -scoundrel in the act of smashing my turtle-shell -basin with a rock. His reason for doing this was -two-fold. First, it had contained the water with -which I had dampened the ardour of Madame -Albino, and second, it was regarded by all as -something uncanny out of which I drew a certain -power as I washed my face and hands—an operation -of which none of the tribe was ever guilty. -Grin may have thought to deprive me of my source -of strength.</p> -<p>This wanton destruction of my property made -me exceedingly angry. Before he could leave the -scene of his labour I rushed up and gave him a -kick which was decidedly swift. It assisted him to -rise with great alacrity. He turned with a snarl -and threw himself upon me. A fight was on in -less than a second. I had feared this collision for -several weeks. It had come at a bad time for me, -inasmuch as the creature was twice as strong as -I, even when in my normal state, and now I was -far from being restored to my former condition.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_180">180</div> -<p>We wrestled for a moment, the beast attempting -to bite, scratch and choke me and to bear me down -to the ground. I threw him off for a moment and -Fatty would have jumped him instantly—and -killed him, no doubt, with his club—had I not -waved him off abruptly. I was gratified to know -that a friend was near, but I desired to show the -Links, who assembled at once, that I was master -when it came to a battle. This decision nearly -cost me my life, for the brute gave me a wrench -that brought back agonies which were well nigh -insupportable, while I was knocking his hideous -head aside from an attempted bite at my cheek.</p> -<p>For a second I regretted that Fatty had not -batted off his head, for I felt as if I should drop -from weakness. But when he dug his nails in my -arm the smart aroused such a rage that my -strength came flooding upward, like a gush of -something hot in my blood. I had warded off -many of his lunges and was waiting for an opening -as if I had been engaged in boxing. The -chance presented itself now. He was leaping toward -me viciously when I “slugged” him with all -my might, fairly in the pit of the stomach. My -fist actually seemed to sink into the fellow’s body. -He was lifted off his feet, but before he could fall -I fetched him a right-hander under the chin that -jolted his head backward abruptly.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_181">181</div> -<p>He fell like an effigy, arms outstretched, so that -the back of his skull was the first thing to strike -the ground. There he lay, limp as a snake and -motionless as a stone, while a referee could have -“counted him out” for the next twenty minutes. -A great howl of satisfaction greeted this performance, -which placed me again on my pedestal of -incomprehensible power. The truth of the matter -was, however, that I was ready to fall over, myself, -so severe had been the strain and the injury -done to my weakened frame. By the greatest of -efforts I walked away and washed myself at the -spring.</p> -<p>Grin, when at last he again assumed a perpendicular, -was dizzy on his legs, ill and altogether a -sorrowful object. I knew his head was aching and -that his stomach would be morbidly sensitive for -several days. He was hooted and picked upon -also, having been utterly defeated, so that he was -glad to retire from active service, muttering no -end of what I supposed were threats and maledictions.</p> -<p>I was of precious little account to myself, or to -any of the tribe, that day, but on the morrow I was -mending rapidly again, and beginning to pick up -various threads of the plans I had fashioned before -our fateful day of battle with the Blacks.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_182">182</div> -<p>It was long since anyone from the camp had -visited the boat, but my thoughts had been there -much of the time. I had feared, daily, another -invasion by the enemy, whom I knew to be revengeful -and who now understood the nature of -our fortifications and means of defense. This feeling -of alarm increased. Should they come, with a -force still greater than the last, and find us armed -with blunt arrows only, our resistance would be -short indeed. I dared not contemplate undertaking -my exploration of the lake, much less my escape, -while we were possibly threatened with -another attack and while I was weaponless myself, -excepting for my trusty knife.</p> -<p>Being almost wholly fit again I determined to -make an immediate excursion to our old cave-camp -for the purpose of securing a supply of chalcedony -pebbles.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_183">183</div> -<h2 id="c23"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXIII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">NEEDED MUNITIONS GATHERED</span></h2> -<p>My preparations consisted merely of acquainting -a score of the Links with my desire and of -selecting six of the most suitable of our baskets -for use in bringing the flints to our village. More -of the fighters than I wanted were eager to be of -the party, but I deemed it advisable to leave a -number at home with the females and children.</p> -<p>We got an early start and headed in what I had -calculated to be the right direction. In this calculation -I had been guided solely by my memory of -our camp and its position, relatively to the lake, -as seen that day from the top of the old volcanic -peak. Pushing ahead as rapidly as possible, and -spending no time on the game which we naturally -encountered in the jungle, we traversed several -miles without coming upon anything with which -my friends were familiar, so that I soon gave up -hoping that they would be of much assistance in -finding the former dwelling place. From what I -knew of them now, I was convinced that none ever -proceeded far from camp in any direction. Their -longest marches were accomplished when they -felt obliged to abandon a settlement, and I believe -that even then they rarely travelled more than five -or six miles at the furthest.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_184">184</div> -<p>After another hour of pushing along we -emerged from the forest into a small, low valley -which was nearly all a swamp and at the head of -which was a mountain of considerable height. -This place discouraged me deeply for I had believed -I should really discover some guiding landmark, -on clearing the woods. That we had gone -somewhat in the wrong direction there could be -no doubt, for I was sure we had travelled far -enough, by this, to have passed the old cave, had it -been on our line of march.</p> -<p>The day was excessively hot and I was weary -and sleepy, being still a bit soft after my troubles, -but I was annoyed at the thought of being baffled. -I determined to climb the mountain, for the sake -of the enlarged prospect to be had from its summit, -and therefore we toiled up, slowly, through a -dense growth that covered the lower part of the -slope.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_185">185</div> -<p>Upon reaching the summit, I gave a cry of delight. -I had recognised the elevation as being the -very same volcanic peak which Fatty and I had -ascended together, and which the party of us now -had approached from the opposite side. This gave -me my bearings at once. I could all but see the old -camp below, when we had crossed the ancient, -filled-in crater. I pointed out the lake, and I made -out the true direction of our fortified settlement far -away on its miniature hill. We started down in a -hurry, for even the Links knew the way after this. -I might have thought of nothing but the flints -we were after had I not fairly stumbled against -the out-jutting ledge of sulphur which I had discovered -on the previous visit.</p> -<p>“Why here,” I said aloud, unthinkingly, “I -believe I’ll take a load of this to camp. By jingo, -boys, I’ll make a lot of gunpowder!”</p> -<p>Sulphur here, saltpetre at home, charcoal to be -had for the burning, my thoughts ran like lightning -over the possibilities thrust into my unwitting -hand. Powder? To be sure I could make -powder! I would make a ton of it—all we -wanted and more! I would provide myself with -a keg or two and take it along with me when I -left in my boat to escape. But how I would use it, -what I could do with the dangerous stuff, when -once I had it—having no guns and no cannon—this -was more than I could tell. Indeed this part -of the proposition floored me at once, but with a -ready refuge in postponing the working out of this -trifling problem, I dismissed it from my brain -completely and had my fellows assist me in breaking -off enough of the purest of the mineral to fill -two baskets heaping full.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_186">186</div> -<p>Two Links were required to each basket, when -it came to bearing this cargo away, but I meditated -that some wholesome labour was precisely -what they needed. We reached the old camp -shortly. There were the rocks thrown up to cover -the mouth of the cave, which had threatened to be -our tomb, but the grass and ferns had overgrown -the spot and much of the rock heaps, to such an -extent that no one could have guessed that a camp -or a fire had ever been located in or about the -clearing.</p> -<p>The ravine, where the tribe had buried its dead, -presented its former appearance. We set to work -without delay and in less than thirty minutes the -pebbles were accumulating with gratifying rapidity. -I was careful to select the ones best suited to -our sundry requirements. Those in some of the -baskets I covered with soil, in order to keep their -moisture from departing before we should have -the time necessary to split them and chip out the -arrow-heads, axes and knives.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_187">187</div> -<p>It was something of a giant task to convey our -baskets away, when I finally had them loaded to -my satisfaction, but the Links were tremendously -strong, and all were willing to make the greatest -possible exertion, that day, to gratify my wishes. -We ate a lunch of fruits and some cold meat which -I had carried along, after which we made a “bee-line” -for home. But I fear that any self-respecting -bee would have been much ashamed of such -a line as ours became before we issued forth from -the trees, at last, in sight of the hill.</p> -<p>When we arrived, a great surprise was in store -for all. Grin, the fawner, had disappeared—run -away. The news was received with indifference -by the chief, and with evident gladness by not a -few of the others. When at last it was made intelligible -to me, I knew not whether to rejoice or -to be concerned and suspicious of something -impending.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_188">188</div> -<h2 id="c24"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXIV</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">EXPERIMENTAL GUNPOWDER</span></h2> -<p>Our work of creating things of flint began that -same day, although the afternoon was far advanced -when we arrived. I was in a fever to -complete our preparations against any future aggressions -on the part of the enemy, particularly as -I had a growing conviction that Grin, the deserter -and treacherous devil, had gone straight away to -hunt for the Blacks. I believed his sole intention -was that of betraying his kind and thereby of -wreaking a vengeance for all the punishments -which he had rightfully undergone.</p> -<p>All the questions I could ask about the fellow, -through the medium of my few words in Linkish -and my signs, which were supplemented by my -native language, failed to elicit any satisfactory -information. Having too much to do to spend -my time in thinking of the beast, I set my selected -assistants to work at splitting out slabs of flint.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_189">189</div> -<p>The greater part of the pebbles, I had my fellows -bury in a moist, shady place, for, labour as -diligently as we might, we could not complete the -work on a third of the stone, as I knew, before the -hot air would begin to render the stuff as hard -as glass and quite unworkable.</p> -<p>During all next day we were at it, hammering, -chipping and forming. Four fellows, clever at -binding were heading the arrows already provided, -and lashing hatchets and knives to handles. That -night, by way of a pleasant diversion, I secured -some fragments of charcoal, and reducing this -and some of my sulphur and nitre to a flour, -mixed the three together and ground the grayish -substance for a time, between two stones. Such -a dust arose that I was obliged to sprinkle the stuff -with a few drops of water. This seemed to help -it in combining, but do my best, I could not make -the mixture resemble gunpowder in the slightest -degree. Having just about decided to give the -task over, as one presenting difficulties too great -for me to cope with successfully, I took a palm-full -of my material and, by way of experiment, -threw it on the fire.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_190">190</div> -<p>Instantly the well-known hiss resulted and a -dense cloud of pungent smoke arose with such a -quickness that I stumbled backward from the -place, involuntarily. Only Fatty and one or two -others of the Links beheld this exhibition, the -others being already asleep. The fright depicted -on the faces of this small but select audience was -a wonderful thing to see. I determined at once -to set about burning a quantity of charcoal, for -already I had conceived an idea that it might be -possible to utilise the explosive to advantage, and -I intended at least to give my scheme a trial.</p> -<p>On the day that followed, the first thing I did -was to have the Links collect a lot of wood, the -softest and driest I could find. This I heaped up in -a conical pile and walled in snugly with turf and a -little of the clay, which was everywhere about us. -When it was lighted and smoking slightly through -various small chinks, I banked it up around the -bottom and returned to the work on the flints.</p> -<p>Before we got through with those pebbles we -had rough but serviceable arrow-heads by the hundreds, -knives in plenty, hatchets for all, with some -to spare, and sixty or eighty spear-heads, which -were bound to long, stout hafts, in the regular -course of finishing up. I reserved for my own -personal arsenal two axes, two knives and fifty -of the finest arrows in the lot. Also I assumed a -general command, as custodian, over all the -weapons and utensils in the tribe’s possession.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_191">191</div> -<p>No sooner were the armaments complete than -I went to my powder-making with indefatigable -vigour, thankful for every day that passed without -bringing the foe, which I dreaded and thoroughly -expected to see come swarming up the slope from -the woods. I made my fellows pound up charcoal -till some were nearly as black as the enemy for -whom we were preparing. The powdered stuff we -placed in the baskets, several of which I plastered -inside with clay, which dried hard and firm. The -saltpetre, which we dug and brought up the hill, -was treated in a similar manner, as was also the -sulphur. Anyone to have seen me directing this -business would have thought I intended to supply -an old-fashioned navy with explosives.</p> -<p>During these days I in nowise neglected the -archery practice, which alone could make my -warriors capable of using the weapons to advantage. -We shot at a target the size of a man, -which I fashioned out of skins and heavy palm -leaves. This being backed by a sort of hedge, constructed -of bamboo and more of the leaves, we lost -but few of the arrows employed. And the arrows -used were not from our pointed stock, though they -were whittled sharp on the end, so that many -pierced the target as neatly as a bullet. Thirty -of my force grew decidedly efficient, being accurate, -strong shots who could be relied upon to -perform good work on any attacking party. We -also used the spears, in the throwing of which the -Links took great delight. I was sure that come -what might, the fellows would never again be so -primitive as they were when first I met them in -the jungle. Whether I left them or not, they -would hereafter possess weapons which would -place them far above the Blacks in point of -capacity to kill.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_192">192</div> -<p>One of the greatest difficulties with which I had -to contend, while making my powder, was the -frequent coming of rain. This threatened to make -it all too wet to be of any use. There were also -many days when a thick, damp fog rolled upward -from the lower levels, slowly evolving into a ponderous -cloud which covered all the jungle-world. -The baskets containing the pulverized materials -were doubly protected, however, by skins, and the -roofs of the special dug-outs which we made, but -the roofs were never entirely water-tight.</p> -<p>Being unacquainted with the recognised -formulæ for mixing various powders, I simply -took about three parts charcoal to one each of -nitre and sulphur, and set the Links to grinding -these substances together, slightly dampening the -whole as before. The grayish stuff, which I regarded -finally as the best product of which we -were capable, I stored away, next to my own -shelter. There must have been two hundred -pounds of this powder, the making of all of which -had only occupied us for a short time, after the -several ingredients in their rough state had been -assembled.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_193">193</div> -<p>In order to impress the tribe with the urgent -necessity of keeping all fire away from the -baskets, I dropped a glowing coal into a handful -as it lay on a rock. The vivid flash did so much to -accomplish my purpose that I could hardly get the -Links to approach the dangerous mixture under -any circumstances whatsoever.</p> -<p>My next step now was to visit the swamp where -the thicket of bamboo flourished. In this place, as -I had expected, there were all sizes of this peculiar -tree-reed, but the largest ones appealed to me most -strongly. I carried off what I thought I should -need, and selecting the driest of my stock, cut off -a large section behind the joint, on one end, and -in front of the next joint on the other. The piece -then resembled quite a cannon, without further -ado.</p> -<p>This thing I was aware was much too brittle -to stand an explosion, but I meant to try it, nevertheless. -To begin with I bored a vent through the -hard, thick shell, near the end that was naturally -plugged. Then I reinforced that plug by lashing -a stone across the end firmly. Next I split some -more bamboo and laid the strips lengthwise along -the barrel, thus doubling the thickness, after which -I had the whole thing stoutly wound about with -tough, slender creepers, till I was sure it would resist -a powerful tendency to burst.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_194">194</div> -<p>What to do for a fuse, when at length my piece -of mountain artillery was loaded—with powder -and rocks—puzzled me no little.</p> -<p>The thing was “mounted” half way down the -hill, pointed toward an imaginary foe, and was -amply weighted with rocks at the sides and on -the top. At length I hit upon a plan for the fuse. -It was simply to split a creeper, the outside of -which we frequently employed, and to pull out -the smooth, wire-like core inside, and then to fill -the space so left hollow, with powder. In the sun -this shell of the creeper dried out rapidly, rolling -up so tightly in the process that it squirmed itself -into several twists. This “habit” of the thing -was exactly what was required, for when the -powder was laid along inside, the chances for it to -trickle out were exceedingly meagre.</p> -<p>About thirty feet of this fuse I laid to the -“gun,” with stones along its length to keep it -properly in place. Then, with a thumping heart -under my shirt, I proceeded down the hill, alone, -with a fire-brand glowing hotly in my fist. I -looked all about, when I came to the match, and -selected my path back up to the camp. Then I -touched the end of the creeper—and jerked my -fire away, quickly.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_195">195</div> -<p>There was no alarming sputter after all. I tried -again. The creeper smoked, giving forth a pungent -odour, but the powder must have fallen out -for a short distance. I cut off six or seven inches -and had the satisfaction of seeing powder in -plenty. This time it lighted and began to spit in -a hurry. I darted off, stopped, looked back, saw -a tiny smoke-snake running down the hill, and -again I ran as hard as I could, momentarily expecting -something tremendous to happen behind -my back.</p> -<p>To my surprise I reached the camp and nothing -had occurred. I turned about and looked, -panting and yet attempting to hold my breath. -There was nothing to be seen, save the heap of -rocks where my “battery” was planted. I -waited and waited. The seconds slipped by; the -Links behind me were as silent as the grave. My -heart ceased its violent jumping; the thing was -going to prove a failure; the Links would think -me a fool.</p> -<p>“I’ll have to go down and see what’s the matter,” -I grumbled. “That fuse is no good.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_196">196</div> -<p>I had taken two steps when suddenly a great -flare of fire leaped upward, the side of the hill -appeared to fly into fragments and a roaring detonation -split the silence into a thousand ringing -reverberations. A cushion of air gave us all a -push, and a huge geyser of smoke went upward in -rolling, billowy gushes. I wondered in that second, -how many pounds of that powder I had put -in the “piece” in my natural anxiety to give it a -good, square trial.</p> -<p>Something screamed weirdly in the air, while -we stood speechless, and presently it came whirring -down, a rod below the wall, striking the -ground with a sounding thud.</p> -<p>Yelling in dismay, the second they recovered -power to do anything, the Links fell over each -other helter-skelter, in their great confusion, and -desire to take to the woods. As for myself, I -laughed and laughed like a veritable maniac, and -threw my arms about myself and jumped in the -air repeatedly, as tickled with my exploit as a -boy. Then I ran outside and found my cannon, -the thing which had whistled as it hurtled back to -earth.</p> -<p>It was a “goner” and no mistake. Black as a -hat, ripped from muzzle to breach, blown to pieces -at the plugged-up end, it certainly gave the appearance -of having “gone through the war,” but -it pleased me not a whit the less.</p> -<p>“Why that’s all right,” I assured the surrounding -stillness, “I’ll go to work and make a lot of -bamboo bombs.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_197">197</div> -<h2 id="c25"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXV</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">THE TRIBE FRIGHTENED</span></h2> -<p>The spot with the pile of rocks, where my cannon -had been planted, bore ample testimony to -the high explosive quality of my powder, for nothing -was left in place and everything which had -been in contact with the piece was beautifully -blackened.</p> -<p>My frightened Links seemed to be anything but -confident that I was not likely to burst myself, -with a loud report, and scatter devastation everywhere. -They stood off a distance that was more -than merely respectful and were not to be induced -to return to my side by any persuasion or assurances -for more than an hour. I had no doubt -they thought me a bit of a devil, for even Fatty -and the children were afraid to return to my side. -The single exception to this unanimity of feeling -was furnished by my little favourite chap who -seemed so human.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_198">198</div> -<p>This tot of a Link had been much neglected of -late, so busy had I been with work. Now when -he came and clung to my leg, as I stood in the -camp eating a mango and thinking busily, I -looked down in his tiny face and felt happy to -see him so near. Sitting down against my rock, -in the sun-light, I let him cuddle down in his usual -place, and together we enjoyed a time of peace. -It became one of those natural spells of rest. I felt -like easing off on the pressure of work for a time, -having accomplished really all that seemed to be -needful by way of making ready to receive any -invaders of our village who might choose to come.</p> -<p>The attitude of Tike—as I called my little friend—did -much to re-convince the Links of my normal, -pacific intentions. Fatty was the first to return, -doubtless actuated by a trifling touch of jealousy. -After him the others came edging back, -one by one, every individual inordinately curious -to see if I were in any manner altered by the extraordinary -disturbance which I had so recently -created. All that day they evinced alarm and a -readiness to run whenever I stirred about. For -the powder, carefully stored away, they possessed -a profound distrust and respect.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_199">199</div> -<p>During the next few days I sat around for much -of the time, always with wistful little Tike nestled -up under my arm. The tiny chap seemed more -quiet than before, if possible, and somewhat thinner. -All the other little Links were as fat, rolly, -bright-eyed and lively as so many Pah Ute Indian -papooses, and equally red and naked, but Tike was -almost a sad little fellow. He leaned his head -against me by the hour, sighing now and again, -and patting my big, brown hand with his wee, -red one, as if there could be no greater content -and happiness in the world.</p> -<p>The attack I had daily expected and against the -advent of which I had laboured with such unremitting -zeal, had failed to materialise. Day after -day went by, with such a stillness and peace over -all the world, that I began to forget the malignant -Grin, who had kept the troubles simmering constantly, -and to forget my fears of the savage -Blacks. Without the slightest stir or bother, I -kept my fellows in training with the bows, accompanied -the parties on the hunt, kept the baskets -and other essential properties of the camp in good -condition and still found time leisurely to work -at making my deadly bombs.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_200">200</div> -<p>This labour I made simple and easy by selecting -sections of bamboo which, when cut off to form -cylinders open at one end only, telescoped together. -That is the smaller cylinder, containing -a large charge of powder, slipped inside the larger, -and each being provided with a stone reinforcement, -where naturally plugged, I bound the two -shells together firmly. Five of these bombs were -enormous, containing probably twenty-five pounds -of powder. Some of the others were only about a -foot in length and three inches or less in diameter. -These smaller ones I intended to take with me in -my boat, if ever I started on my voyage of escape. -I thought I could throw them at any foe which -might approach too near. Each was provided -with a tube-like fuse, stopped with clay, to prevent -the powder from running out, and which -could be broken off at a moment’s notice to form -a connection with the powder in a longer fuse, -which could then be bound upon it. I also provided -several coils of the match, made of creepers, -each coil at least thirty feet in length. This became -dry so that I determined that if occasion -should ever arise I would make a fresh supply, -keeping this other ready for emergencies.</p> -<p>The days of peace became weeks. So free from -trouble had we become in the camp, since the disappearance -of Grin, that my feverish desire to flee -had somewhat abated. Moreover the albino -female had partaken of such a thorough fright, -on the day when my ordnance exploded, that she -left me severely alone. Yet I did think constantly -of the boat and should have busied myself more -with my half-formed project of getting away, had -I not been bound more closely than I realised to -the Links by little Tike, who seemed to me to be -fading away.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_201">201</div> -<p>He came every morning to my shelter, often -before I was awake, and when at last I stirred and -turned over, there he would be, sitting quietly by -the side of my couch, looking yearningly into my -face with his steady, thoughtful eyes, and holding -his tiny hands together in his “lap.” Always he -greeted my look with a strange, quiet smile, which -made his wee, homely face the very next thing to -divine. I got to carrying the little chap about, as -I went from place to place. I found that I missed -him, when resting out in the jungle, after a hunt -with my fellows. It also gave me a most unreasonable -pleasure to talk to the tiny mite, who -would answer with a faint, half-crooning sound of -pleasure. I called him frequently my “Little -Man.” At intervals, sometimes of days, he would -repeat the word “Man” in a way that caused me -to feel a peculiar thrill whenever it came from his -lips.</p> -<p>As before, my attitude of comparative passivity -begot more or less of the symptoms of familiarity -on the part of several Links. This did no little -in the way of deciding me anew to quit the place, -if possible. I was doubtful in my mind as to -which method would be preferable, that of attempting -to find and utilise the outlet of the lake -in my boat, or to endeavour to induce about fifty of -the fighters to escort me across the country to the -sea. But one day which we spent in the jungle -decided me without further mental debate.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_202">202</div> -<p>We were stalking a pair of hogs, which were -unusually clever at evading the flanking Links -and at penetrating far into the jungle, when suddenly -the great, dark form of a genuine elephant -loomed up, as he smashed his way through a -thicket. Instantly every Link in the party -screamed out an imitation “trumpet” of alarm -and fled incontinently, as they had on the former -occasion. This time I had no intention of being -left behind, nor of giving battle to the brute with -my fists and knife. I joined the running fellows, -endeavouring to make them halt and retire in at -least decent order, but this effort was utterly futile; -their panic was complete and not to be overcome.</p> -<p>Thankful thus to be reminded of the former incident, -which I had been too near to forgetting, I -decided, even as we hastened away from the monarch -of the jungle, that the attempt to perform any -long and hazardous march with such a cowardly -“army” as this at my heels would be madness. I -must launch the boat and proceed alone.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_203">203</div> -<h2 id="c26"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXVI</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">SPORT AT THE LAKE</span></h2> -<p>It was not a difficult operation to bore some -holes in the gunwale of my boat and to hammer in -four stout pegs for row-locks, and then I put in a -seat, constructed of thin bamboo strips, and all -was ready. The craft was more than sixteen feet -long, three feet in the beam and hollowed out to a -depth of about eighteen inches. The launch was -not effected until after I had secured a long, stout -painter to the bow, the rope being made of creeper-fibre, -twisted and braided. This was pliable and -quite as enduring as hemp.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_204">204</div> -<p>Although the Links were manifestly afraid of -the lake, they were intensely interested when the -craft upon which we had worked so hard and long, -went splashing into the water. She righted herself -in a second and floated high above the surface. -But when I hauled her in with the rope and jumped -inside, sat down and got out my sweeps, to row, -the astonishment of the fellows was unbounded. -They were frightened for my safety, uneasy to -the verge of whining, as they ran up and down -the beach, and still were all so fascinated that not -one could look at anything else. Old Fatty acted -precisely like one of those dogs who is crazy to -join his master and yet dreads the water so greatly -as to fear even wetting his feet. He lifted either -foot, and half squatted and gave little jumps, as -if about to plunge in and make a bold swim for -the boat, till he appeared too ridiculous for words. -Then he ran down the shore and back again and -stood with his comical head on one side making -me laugh uproariously.</p> -<p>The boat was great! She was inclined to roll a -trifle, owing to the fact that she was the same -size from stem to stern, and therefore minus the -broad beam which makes a craft steady, but she -was remarkably light to row and easily steered. -Moreover I found, by throwing my weight to -either side, that she had a powerful tendency to -return to an even keel, which rendered her almost -impossible to turn bottom upward. This I attributed -to the fact that while her sides were comparatively -thin, the bottom was at least eight -inches thick, which made her light on top and -heavy below, an excellent arrangement when to -give her a larger belly was out of the question. I -am bound to admit that she had no “lines,” that -indeed she looked like the log she was, clumsy and -quite ungraceful. Nevertheless I was prouder -as I sat in her hold than is any captain of the -noblest ship afloat.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_205">205</div> -<p>I rowed her this way and that, across to a nearby -point and then straight away down the middle -of the lake for half a mile. When I turned I made -out a floating thing a score of yards from the -shore on the left—one of my alligator acquaintances, -swimming about. I was not afraid of any -attack in so large a boat, especially as my nature -could not have been so readily surmised by the -hungry saurians, while I was rowing. I should -not have minded a race anyway, for I felt secure -on my own stamping ground and as saucy as a boy -with a toy pistol.</p> -<p>Before starting back, I noted particularly the -outline against the sky which our hill and its -neighbours formed, thinking I might be much in -need of some such guide when I came to go further -from home. Then I drove my craft with all the -speed I could force. Her prow was slightly above -the glass-like surface and the water swashed backward -from her keel with a sound that stirred me to -immoderate delight in this my supreme achievement.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_206">206</div> -<p>The oars were heavy and the row-locks a trifle -awkward; we rolled a bit to one side and I was -obliged to keep fetching her nose about to port -at every dozen strokes, but I made satisfactory -time and just before she shot across the last fifty -feet of water and rammed up high on the shore, -a startled fish of some description, leaped bodily -out of the water and darted off in affright.</p> -<p>My friends gave forth various notes of alarm -and fell back quickly to the shelter of the trees. I -was not at all certain whether they were most -afraid of the fish or of me and the magic which -they seemed to think I possessed. Fatty, however, -was too glad to get me back to care for anything -else. He fell headlong over the boat in his -crazy endeavour to get his paws upon me and to -roll on top of my feet.</p> -<p>Inasmuch as the day was too far advanced to -permit of any extended explorations, I decided to -try for a bit of sport.</p> -<p>“Boys,” said I, remembering an old-time joke, -“which would you rather do or go fishing?”</p> -<p>I got them to fetch me a long line, made of -thongs tied firmly together, while Fatty got a -bird for bait and I cut a tough hard hook out of -wood. For this I chose a V-shaped crutch, one -leg of which became the shank, while the other -was cut off shorter, sharpened and formed like a -barb. With the line tied to this, a rock for a -sinker and a piece of the bird spitted on my hook, -I got out at the end of the boat and heaved the -tackle out as far as the cord would permit.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_207">207</div> -<p>I pulled it back with no result, save for a nibble -when I had taken it almost in. I thought the fish -must be small and near the shore. However, I -tried again. The result was the same, only that I -got two nibbles instead of one. The third cast was -an aggravation, for some miserable sprat got my -bait. We put on a fresh piece and tied it in place.</p> -<p>“Now,” I grunted, as I threw the line again, -“we’ll see if you young sardines will—”</p> -<p>A sudden, hard jerk on the line nearly dragged -me overboard, neck and crop. I had a bite which -felt big enough to indicate a whale.</p> -<p>Bracing, I stopped the line abruptly from running -through my hands; and then began a tug-o’-war. -It was not a scientific fight, for I dared not -permit Mr. Fish to take his head for a second, well -knowing that when he turned and slacked the -line, the hook would slip from its hold at once and -let him escape. I therefore hauled at him hard -and stubbornly, panting soon and leaning backward, -for he felt as heavy as the bottom of the -lake and quite as unwilling to be led as a mule. -The strain came on the line and on the hook. If -these held—what would we see?</p> -<p>I worked backward, inch by inch in the boat, -till at last I was out on the shore. By that time -the craft had been hauled off the bank and was all -but ready to float.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_208">208</div> -<p>“Here, Fatty,—come here—and help,” I -panted.</p> -<p>Fatty understood and while he was filled with -misgivings that made him actually tremble, he -laid hold of the line and together we drew it in, -hand over hand. Presently with a mad whirl -our catch came floundering and slashing upward -till it splashed the surface, in violent action, when -it disappeared like a piece of lead. A minute later -we hauled the thrashing denizen to shallow water -and then clean out on the bank. It was a good-sized -tortoise, fairly hooked, dripping, fierce-looking -and struggling with all its might to get away.</p> -<p>Fortunately the Links knew something of turtles. -Three plucked up courage sufficient to despatch -our prize at my third shout of, “Shoot -him! Pig!”</p> -<p>“Shoot” meant to slay, in any style or form, -and “pig” signified anything in the way of game -or a foe. The catch made my friends so enthusiastic -that they wanted no end of fishing. It also -provided a food of which they were fond, and it -gave me a nice new basin. Deep-lake angling having -proved to be hot, hard work, I bethought me of -trying for something more quiet. Additional line -was soon forthcoming, and a run up to camp provided -a bamboo rod, after which I cut a smaller -hook and baited as before.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_209">209</div> -<p>At the second cast from the boat, I got a good -sharp strike, and without the slightest ceremony -jerked out a silvery fish a foot in length, of a -species wholly unknown in my limited category -of the finny tribe. In fifteen minutes I had seven -of these, ranging in weight from one to four -pounds, I judged, and all of firmer flesh than I had -expected to find in water so warm. The enjoyable -part of all this play was to hear the exclamations -of wonder on the part of the Links, at every successive -catch. Had I remained there a day, performing -this feat every two minutes, I believe -those child-like creatures would have stayed at -my side, marvelling no less at the very last catch -than they did at the first.</p> -<p>I created an incredible excitement, finally by -making Fatty take the rod in his hand for a cast. -He got a bite so quickly that it made him jump -inside his skin, from toes to crown. The fellow -would have fallen down and rolled away had I not -held him fast and compelled him to land his flopping -shiner. At this the Links behind us nearly -had a fit. Amusement, curiosity, timidity and desire -to come and do likewise made them the most -excited and entertaining group in the world. One -by one they worked themselves up to the frenzy of -courage necessary to try their luck, but the ticklish, -unique sensation of catching a fish so quickly -dispelled their fears that before we finished they -were fairly scrambling for the chance to be the -next to try.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_210">210</div> -<p>Beholding the immense satisfaction with which -males and females, young and old, cooked and devoured -our catch, I wondered that the Links had -never progressed sufficiently to fish for themselves. -The only explanation I was able to give -was that owing to their dread of the lake, about -the borders of which were innumerable snakes -and alligators, they had never discovered this food -and therefore knew nothing of the ease of taking -all they could wish, by various primitive methods.</p> -<p>A small quantity of tortoise and one of the -smaller shiners satisfied my craving for a change -of diet, for neither was cooked to my liking, nor -was the flesh of a flavour to give me any particular -delight. However, I thought the Links deserved -the play which the nearness of the lake afforded, -and therefore I cut them a score of hooks, that -night by the light of the fire, and had them prepare -a lot of lines to tie at the end of some bamboo -rods which they fetched before the darkness descended.</p> -<p>For myself, I laid out a bit of roasted meat and -some fruit, got my bow and arrows together, and -otherwise made ready for an early start on my -tour of exploration.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_211">211</div> -<h2 id="c27"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXVII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">AN EXPLORATION</span></h2> -<p>The lake was a shimmering mirror, dashed with -endless splashes of colour, when my boat glided -swiftly away in the sunshine of the early morning. -From the jungles that fringed the shores came -many sounds of birds, singing, screaming and -calling out. The noise made by my oars in the -crude locks seemed to travel far and to echo back -from every side.</p> -<p>Believing in systematic investigation, I chose -the shore off to the right, along which I intended -to cruise that day. I would try the left-hand side -the following day, if necessary, and then, if the -outlet I was seeking were still undiscovered, I -might be obliged to undertake a much longer trip -than either of these would become.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_212">212</div> -<p>The alligators had apparently not begun to stir -about on the shady side of the lake. I skimmed -along within fifty yards of the shore, constantly -watching for any indication of a stream flowing -outward through the trees. The first hour brought -no results; in the second I came to “my” creek, -the stream down which I had plunged that evening -of the storm, with the savage ourang behind -me. Its volume was normal now, and therefore -much less than when it had bowled me into the -lake, nevertheless it tumbled over its last rocky -leap with a pleasant murmur which sounded -familiar enough, and bubbles of silver floated -away on the placid surface of the water. It was -good to recognise this old “friend,” for it gave -me another guide and cleared up my mental map -of the lake and surrounding country.</p> -<p>Beyond this point there were miniature bays -and tedious windings of the shore, many of which -I felt inclined to ignore, but any one of which -might have hidden the outlet I felt so eager to -discover. In not a few of the trees, which often -overhung the water, I discerned troops of curious -monkeys. Of these there seemed to be almost -endless variety, but all were particularly shy upon -beholding the strange creature out on the lake, -though I had no means of determining whether or -not they classed my boat and me among the -’gators.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_213">213</div> -<p>From one rather narrow inlet I escaped as -quickly as I could turn my craft and drive her -back to the main body of water, for I nearly -pushed my oar against a huge boa-constrictor, half -hanging from a tree with its body partially submerged -beneath the surface. Although I saw this -reptile before approaching so near, I readily mistook -it for a portion of the branch from which it -depended. What it might have done, had I rudely -disturbed the sleep in which it was quietly indulging, -I did not pretend to know; it was quite enough -for me that the creature was there, and that for -all the snake family I have a great aversion.</p> -<p>The morning sped away. The heat of the day -increased, so that rowing the boat became an irksome -task, particularly as I found nothing but inconsiderable -brooks, all of which flowed into the -lake. Floating quietly, with the oars shipped, I -ate my lunch and felt somewhat refreshed. A full -hour of rest was spent in idly dabbling my feet in -the water. Later in the afternoon I had a swim, -but in this the pleasure was marred by a too persistent -feeling of uneasiness about the monsters -which the place might contain.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_214">214</div> -<p>It must have been as late as four o’clock when -at length I rounded a point and found a long, irregular -estuary, not more than seventy feet in -width, rank with grass and giving evidence of -being the slack-water of a large stream. From -its juncture with the lake, I was quite unable to -determine its nature; it could have been either an -inlet or an outlet, as far as I could see. Proceeding -up the centre of this, I was not particularly -gladdened to observe that my boat and oars were -frightening three medium-sized alligators to the -cover afforded by the growth on either side. Also -there were great swarms of pestiferous insects, -dancing above the water in the sunlight. However, -if this did mark the outlet, I had to know it; -the gauntlet would have to be run. It would be -comparatively safe, I thought, as long as it was -I who continued to frighten the alligators, instead -of having them perform the office for me.</p> -<p>The place seemed literally alive with these monsters. -I think it must have been a breeding ground, -for there were little ones by the score. They all -continued to be shy, but I confess I was not inspired -with confidence in any of the creatures, nor -yet with a large pressure of courage in myself. -The insects settled upon me by hundreds. I slapped -at them constantly, but in a few minutes I was -bitten in no fewer than fifty places upon my hands, -face and body and many of these spots had a drop -or more of blood oozing out to mark their location.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_215">215</div> -<p>Made desperate, I rowed as fast as caution -would permit, being afraid every moment of incurring -the wrath or exciting the hunger of some -huge mother ’gator. The estuary wound away -tortuously, into a realm weirdly luxuriant with -creepers, giant exotics and trees overhung with -parasitic vines. It narrowed down, also, which -brought me nearer the banks, with their crawling -life. I presently noted a number of water-snakes -escaping in all directions, some of them near -enough for me to strike them with the oars.</p> -<p>The sun was down toward the far horizon so -that this place was in a dense shade, amounting -to gloom. It was just as much as I could do to get -my own consent to going further. It almost seemed -as if I would prefer to live with the Links forever -than to have the nightmarish features of this place -increase or be nearer to me. I do not claim to be -a man of bravery and this estuary, I confess, gave -me the creeps. I was enormously relieved, in a -moment, to hear a sound like rippling water. Then -I rounded a point on which a brood of alligators -had just made a landing, and saw where the water -was in motion.</p> -<p>It was flowing into the lake, not out toward -the sea. My investigation of the place had been -time and energy wasted, not to mention nerves. -In haste I swung my craft about and started back. -As it stopped for a space, to turn, a water-snake -crawled up, near the stern and glided across. -The reptile was large, glistening and altogether -as repulsively headed as Nature ever constructs.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_216">216</div> -<p>I hit at it viciously, and it dodged and plunged -into the slimy water like a shot. By that time my -prow had drifted against the tail of an alligator -which must have been lying asleep, concealed in -the grass. He waked and gave the boat a bat -with his great caudal extremity that made her -quiver, as he scrambled to shore. There was -such a chorus of dreadful sounds then that the -creeps chased from my feet to the hair on my head. -Added to the maddening torture inflicted by the -stinging insects—some of which seemed large -enough to be classed with vampires—the place -gave forth an animal stench comparable only to -that of a den of serpents. I grew “rattled,” in -my frantic endeavour to get out of the place, and -rowed against the shore, in one place, and into a -tangle of reeds and vines at another. All of this -added to my own confusion as well as to the -sounds of hissing, squirming away and floundering -in the water produced by the creatures whose -home I had rudely invaded. Had the beasts turned -upon me in that maze of horrors, I should have -been wild enough to jump out of the boat and try -to dash to shore and away through the swampy -tangle and the jungle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_217">217</div> -<p>As I neared the exit, I did have the misfortune -to strike not only the edge of a sort of grass island, -but also the head of a baby ’gator, therein hiding. -The mother gave forth an angry snort and started -to overtake the boat. An oar got caught for a -second but I jerked it loose and plunged it deep -for a stroke that shot me away toward the lake. -The furious reptile gained for a moment, but then -I got down to boat-race work and slid away in a -desperate mood. Paying too little attention to -where I was steering, I forgot the tendency of the -craft to yaw about to starboard, and therefore -sent it fairly through a mass of green drapery -hanging from a tree on the right-hand bank; and -the tail of a snake which was climbing hurriedly -up in the branches, dragged slimily across my -neck.</p> -<p>I shuddered and nearly fell forward, but the -boat had gained such headway that it pushed -through everything and was floating free on the -lake in a second. I bent to the oars anew, but -Mrs. Alligator had turned back, defeated. Without -waiting for more experiences I headed for -home and commenced a steady pull.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_218">218</div> -<h2 id="c28"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXVIII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">AMAZING DISCOVERIES</span></h2> -<p>It was nearly dark when at length I beached -the boat and made the painter fast to a tree. The -Links were in a state of great anxiety, fearing the -dread lake had swallowed me down. They had -fished, during my absence, with such success that -they had lost every hook, snarled all the lines, -broken several rods and procured about a hundred -pounds of shiners for dinner.</p> -<p>A few of the fellows were attempting to fashion -new hooks with the knives of flint. There was -promise, in the work of some, indicating that in -this direction at least there was chance for progress. -Old Fatty, who had whined on the shore -when I left in the morning, romped about me insanely, -as usual. He and little Tike had occupied -my shelter throughout the day, awaiting my return. -My “Little Man” was asleep there when I -entered, a troubled look on his serious little face. -I carried him off to his mother, but he did not -awake, so weary had he grown at his vigil that -warm, long day.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_219">219</div> -<p>He was crooning “Man, man” beside me in -the morning, happily, yet so wistfully that it -played upon every cord in my breast. How thin -the little fellow looked as he gazed in my eyes with -that dumb affectionate expression; how different -he appeared from all the other Links, with the -golden sunlight streaming in on his quaint, childish -countenance. When I had taken my morning -bath, I washed the tiny chap. He caught his -breath in funny little gasps, but I think he liked it -immensely. Then we ate my breakfast. He ate -so small a portion that I shook my head and -pushed the fruits aside before I had taken half my -usual quantity.</p> -<p>Having vaguely thought of my exploration -business as a duty to be continued faithfully, I had -half intended to leave, later in the day, for a -shorter trip. When the wee youngster nestled up -to be comforted, the plan faded away. We would -have a quiet day of rest and peace. The elders of -the tribe, discovering my mood, gave up to the -laziest of lounging and rolling about, playing at indolent -games and wrestling, throwing bits of twigs -and pulling at each other’s feet and toes. The -chief and his white mate sat about in a somewhat -superior style, the latter eyeing me sullenly from -time to time, while her husband gazed by the hour -into the half-clear depths of the great rock-crystal -at the end of his club. The fellow seemed to adore -this stone, as well he might, for by its weight and -his own overtowering height he had made himself -chief of his fellows.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_220">220</div> -<p>His chieftainship continued, although I had -long believed I could overthrow the fellow and -usurp his power to add to my own, did I wish to -create a disturbance. But inasmuch as I was in -no way hampered, and was obeyed, my position -amounted to that of a ruler, while I gave this giant -Link no offense. As long as he continued to feel -himself the master of the family, my own sway -could never be complete, but for this I cared nothing -as long as I was enabled to proceed with my -plans. More than once I might have taken advantage -of the awe created by natural means to bring -the chief under my rule, but I was waiting to see -what he would do of his own accord. The day -when my cannon exploded he had been so ready -to acknowledge my leadership that a look would -have brought him cowering to my feet, but I had -turned my back upon him and he had refrained -from doing anything impulsive.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_221">221</div> -<p>In order to provide entertainment for little Tike, -this day of rest, I selected a slender section of -bamboo rod and cut him a whistle. By placing a -second piece inside of this and sliding it up and -down, I had a primitive trombone, which begot -a craze of delight among all the Links. I played -this instrument about an hour during which time -the fellows all came crawling up on all fours, to -squat about in a circle where they remained, nodding, -blinking and holding their heads on one side, -with the greatest attention and pleasure.</p> -<p>I bethought me then of a drum and procuring -a section of bamboo six inches or more in diameter, -stretched a wetted fish-skin across the end and -let it dry there. This thing produced a fine resonant -tone that made the creatures jump with astonishment -at first and dance with excitement -later. In point of popularity this instrument -eclipsed the whistle totally. The Links took to it -as naturally as a cat takes to mice.</p> -<p>Having pleased little Tike and having rested -myself, while providing a holiday of amusement -for the tribe, I decided to go at my navigation -again in the morning. Agreeable as some of these -moments appear to have been, I was fretting constantly -to be away from the unclean, semi-animal -beings, and once more restored to my kind and to -civilisation, where I could lie on a decent bed, eat -a decent meal and listen to something besides -barbarous language. So desperate did I frequently -become to hear my native tongue, that I spouted -every quotation and sang every song I could conjure -from my memory. This performance was -always attended by a demonstration of surprise -and unrest on the part of all the Links who were -close enough to hear.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_222">222</div> -<p>The following morning was the cool, still forerunner -of another sultry day. Fatty waddled behind -me to the boat, where he whined again and -started convulsively every time I bade him “come -along,” but to master his fear of the lake sufficiently -to enter the boat and trust himself away -from the shore, was quite beyond his power. He -wanted to go, but had he been thrust in by force, -he would have scrambled wildly back to the bank, -to run up and down and dance, like an unwilling -dog who has been thrown in the water whether he -would or no. I left him, sad and anxious, on the -beach.</p> -<p>According to my previously formulated scheme, -I directed the prow toward the left shore this -morning, and rowed as before, about fifty yards -out from the wall of foliage which marked the -boundary of lake and jungle. In half an hour I -passed the place where I had fought the battle -with the alligator, while I was floating on the log. -On this present occasion not a saurian could I -see, but I knew the place where I was sure there -were half a dozen.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_223">223</div> -<p>The day was practically a repetition of the -other, except that this western shore had a greater -number of small streams, and none that were -large, contributing to the body of the lake. I -dipped into bays and inlets without number, many -of which were of exceeding beauty. These were -frequently so large that I travelled many miles -without being more than three or four from camp, -by air line. In the late afternoon, when I had -worked perhaps two miles further away in actual -distance—or about eight as I skirted the edge—I -approached what appeared to be a deeper and -narrower bay than any before discovered.</p> -<p>This arm of the lake presently curved about a -point, which made me think it might perhaps be -another tributary stream, or river, like the one in -which I had passed a desperate fifteen minutes. I -felt not entirely fond of such experiences and -therefore regarded this place with suspicion. It -was freer of insects than the other had been, although -there were some I could have spared; -while the alligator population was not numerously -represented. There was the grass which I thought -indicated flowing water, however, and the trees -on the banks were like those of the other place -which I dreaded.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_224">224</div> -<p>When I had penetrated several hundred yards -into the jungle on the bosom of this winding -stream, the shadows from the overhanging trees -were again exceedingly dense. I confess I had -a poor stomach for doing much of this sort of -thing at the end of day. My brain began to invent -excuses for proceeding home and coming -again when the light was better. A number -of scares, to which I had been subjected during -the day, had contributed largely to this lack of -proper enthusiasm. Soon I conceived a brilliant -scheme for determining whether this stream were -inlet or outlet to the lake. In either case there -would be a slight current. I would stop the boat -and let it drift. If it went on “up” I could be -sure I had found the outlet which in all reason -should flow eventually to the sea; if I drifted back -toward the lake, I must continue my search on the -morrow.</p> -<p>Pulling slowly to the next turning, I brought -the craft to a standstill and awaited results. For -a long time I failed to detect any movement in -either direction, so sluggish was the current. I -became absorbed in studying a number of stakes, -which stood in the water, near the bank. “Surely,” -I thought at last, “we are moving slightly—down -the stream.” Was it then actually the outlet for -which I was seeking?</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_225">225</div> -<p>I grew excited as I watched the stakes. Then -I began to comprehend something. These stakes -suggested order. Could it be possible they had -been planted? I could not see how they could get -there at such semi-regular intervals, in any natural -manner. How far did they extend? Where was -the first one I had noticed? I looked back. Then -I was convinced, abruptly, that the boat was drifting -down the stream much more rapidly that I -had suspected.</p> -<p>It was the outlet!</p> -<p>This truth flashed upon me with all the power -of instantaneous conviction. I forgot the stakes -and all the line of speculation which their mysterious -presence had engendered. I looked toward -that green gate of deliverance. Mentally I saw -myself rowing and drifting down this gentle, -winding current, hastening away from this extraordinary -land—away from this jungle fastness -to the great open sea. A thousand suggestions -came tumbling in upon me, as to how to provision -my boat, how to leave the Links, how to sleep at -night on “Outlet” river, how to search for a village -when I should find myself at last free, and -how then to take a steamer and hasten back to the -world which was really a world!</p> -<p>“The outlet!” I muttered in fervent thankfulness. -“Freedom—Life—Home!”</p> -<p>I was wrought to a fever in my excitement of -hope; I was all but transported, thus to find the -gate that let me out of my prison of greenery, -when suddenly I nearly froze from chills and -paralysis of all my senses and blood-circulation.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_226">226</div> -<p>A voice rose clear in the silence of ended day—a -human voice, in that wilderness of jungle and -jungle-creatures,—a voice pronouncing words in -English—a singular mixture of words with no -reason. Then presently they settled into the musical -order of poetry:</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">“There was a sound of revelry by night,</p> -<p class="t">And Belgium’s capital had gathered then</p> -<p class="t0">Her beauty and her chivalry, and bright</p> -<p class="t">The lamps shone o’er fair women and brave men,</p> -<p class="t0">And when music arose with its voluptuous——”</p> -</div> -<p>I arose to cry out at the top of my voice. A -human being—a man, no doubt, was in reach of -my voice—a friend, companion, perhaps, to share -my fate and solitude! I filled my lungs for a -mighty halloo—a cry to this partner in exile—when -out from the trees on the bank, not a spear’s -throw distant, issued a black, ungainly form—and -then another.</p> -<p>Links! They were black Missing Links!</p> -<p>Those stakes were theirs! I had found their -camp. The voice—this human being—was he -then a prisoner? What did it mean—and what -should I do?</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_227">227</div> -<p>To cry out meant instant detection—perhaps -immediate death. The two had failed to see me—they -might go back. But I was drifting—drifting -toward them. One of them turned about.</p> -<p>A yell went up immediately. I was known. -The alarm spread like prairie-fire, up through the -wood. I swung the boat about like mad and -headed for the lake. A club came whizzing -through the air, struck in the water beside the -boat and splashed me with spray. A score of the -villainous looking devils came running to join -their companions. Along the bank they dashed -in pursuit, crying out and making crazy gesticulations. -The water foamed where it left the oars -and it rippled and swashed from the prow of my -craft. Club after club came hurtling toward me, -end over end. One of these struck the stern a -resounding thump; the demons cried out savagely -and showered more. A small one would have -dashed out my brains had I not been quick to -duck to the bottom of the boat.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_228">228</div> -<p>I shot across the river to the opposite side, but -a curve gave my infuriated pursuers a slight advantage. -It seemed as if the thickets and trees -were simply bridges over which the creatures hurried -the faster. Making as if to sweep along below -them, I back-watered one of my oars and -pulled with the other, at the turn, spinning the -boat clean about to hard-a-port, and sent her -ahead so swiftly that all the clubs, which the devils -threw at point-blank range, plunged stone-head -first into the ripples behind.</p> -<p>“Never touched me!” I bawled out in derision.</p> -<p>They screamed in impotent rage. I rounded -the curve and sped away with all the advantage -mine. They gave up the chase. Ten minutes -more saw me out on the lake and well away.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_229">229</div> -<h2 id="c29"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXIX</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">A SACRED DISGUISE</span></h2> -<p>Before I got home I had ample time in which -to think. What a strange concatenation of events! -The outlet discovered, deliverance almost assured -me, and then to find the camp of my bitterest -enemy on the very bank of my gateway to freedom! -But that human voice—what could it -mean?</p> -<p>I began to speculate and to reason from deduction. -Inasmuch as I had lost myself and been -found by the red Missing Links, it was evident -that another man could have met with some accident -which would have thrown him in contact -with the Blacks of the same family or species. -The Reds had treated me with marked consideration -from the first, therefore the Blacks might do -the same for another of my kind. More than this, -the Blacks had manifested not only an extraordinary -interest in myself, that day when first I met -them at the volcanic peak, but they had also attempted -to abduct me without injury to my body -or feelings. I had made them my foes by allying -myself offensively and defensively with the Reds, -but they might not be savage to one who had not -so given them cause. Undoubtedly, I reasoned, -they knew man and what he is and had recognised -me at once. They had desired also to possess me, -an inclination, I reasoned, which had resulted -from association with this other, mysterious man.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_230">230</div> -<p>What manner of person was it they held as -prisoner in their camp? How long had they held -him captive? To this latter question I mentally -answered that they had kept him several months -at the least, since I had been a considerable time -with the Reds, myself, and they had apparently -become acquainted with my species before my arrival -in the country. Then about his capacity as a -man, my thought ran quickly to the conclusion -that he must be weak or at least a man of no inventiveness -and of no particular inward resources. -I arrived at this from two sources of argument. -First, he had obviously done nothing to arm his -fellows, even with primitive spears, or bows and -arrows, to say nothing of never having headed -their hunting or fighting expeditions; and, second, -he had done nothing to escape, although he -must have known that he was living on the very -edge of that great outflowing river, which should -suggest to his mind the sea beyond, as it had done -to me.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_231">231</div> -<p>Almost without considering anything, my -first conclusion had been that I must meet this -partner-in-exile, enlist his services and make him -my comrade in escaping. Indeed I had been conscious -of a great elation of spirits, to think of -such an encouraging piece of good fortune. Now, -however, when I was sure that he was neither -bold, nor alert, nor superior to circumstances, I -doubted the wisdom of burdening myself with -such a companion, in the midst of my accumulated -adversities. This last selfish thought was hardly -complete, however, before I banished it with scorn, -as utterly unworthy of any man in my position.</p> -<p>Perhaps the poor fellow had been shipwrecked, -under conditions that shattered his nerves; perhaps -he was crippled, or otherwise disabled; perhaps -he had undergone severe illness; he might -even have been an invalid when captured; and it -was always possible that the Blacks kept him -bound or so closely attended that action was rendered -impossible. I recalled then that his voice -had not sounded strong. His recitation of verses -and conning over of words, I could understand -precisely, for I had done the same myself on -many occasions. Whatever it was that made him -helpless, he was a fellow-being and certainly in -more or less distress. I felt my heart expanding -toward him—my unknown partner! I would see -him, help him and take him with me—or die at his -side, fighting like a devil!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_232">232</div> -<p>My plans, which had been nearly complete for -my own escape, became immediately most uncertain -and scattered. It was not a matter now merely -of stocking the boat, securing my weapons and -then proceeding down the outflowing river, but -of bearding the Blacks in their stronghold, seeing -this man and getting him away. Then would -come the running of the gauntlet past their camp -on the river. The first proposition, that of entering -this village of the hostile Links and interviewing -my “partner,” loomed up, unsolved, for careful -consideration. That the fellows were keenly -on the lookout, I had demonstrated fully; they -had seen me and sounded the alarm in a style -truly masterful if not admirable. That they -thirsted somewhat for my unwilling gore, I had -precious small reason to doubt. If I got away -with their captive and the demons discovered who -it was that engineered the feat, there would be a -warm jungle-region all about the lake.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_233">233</div> -<p>How much could I count on the man I meant to -assist? Not a great deal, I feared, for he was probably -incapacitated in some important manner. -However, he had doubtless superintended the -hammering down of those stakes I had seen in -the river, which evidently meant some sort of fishing -operations, so that perhaps, after all, he was -more inventive than I had previously supposed. -All the way up the lake, I racked my brain for a -suitable plan for invading the enemy’s camp. -There were wild ideas in plenty, but no one of -these was practical or even worthy of a moment’s -consideration.</p> -<p>I gave up thinking, when at last the boat was -secured on the beach, knowing how far away my -thoughts would be driven by the welcome of the -Links. All through my dinner, however, even -with little Tike in my arms and Fatty languishing -about my feet, I was lost in pondering over the -doings of the day. That night, although I was -weary, I tossed and rolled uneasily, catching but -snatches of sleep between the spells of being -vividly awake over my new discoveries and their -attendant problems. Time after time I awoke -with a start, thinking I had solved the difficulty, -only to realise that my brain was indulging in the -most fantastic of workings. My whole being was -dominated and occupied by this scheme of uniting -with that human prisoner on the river.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_234">234</div> -<p>Sometime in the earliest hours of morning I sat -up abruptly, having been tortured by a sort of -nightmare in which there was an inextricable -tangle of Links, alligators and bears. As before, -this was intimately connected with the man whom -I intended to rescue from the Blacks, but this time -I got an idea out of the chaos and it fairly made -me twitch, so galvanically did it grip my whole -nervous system.</p> -<p>I would visit the hostile camp in safety, because -I would go as a bear.</p> -<p>A bear—yes, a sacred black bear! Those superstitious -creatures should worship my tracks -and make themselves fools over my visit, while I -spied upon them, planned against them and robbed -them of their captive! I should be more than safe, -more than free to come and go as I liked, more respected -than the general of the world’s greatest -army.</p> -<p>Before attempting to get my plans in operation, -I must kill a bear, skin him and cure the hide. -This preliminary business presented no inconsiderable -sum of difficulties, as I was thoroughly -aware. “First find your bear,” said the funny -fellow in my brain. This part I thought I could -manage, for I had seen a bear in the neighbourhood -of the place where the one had appeared -that morning after my fight with the alligator. I -thought him the same identical animal, which -might therefore abide in or about that quarter. -But having secured my bruin’s pelt, there remained -the task of curing it,—a work which I -must conduct alone and away from camp, inasmuch -as the Links would be horrified to know -that I had committed the deed on so sacred a beast.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_235">235</div> -<p>There was no more sleep for me after thinking -of this. At the first suggestion of dawn I -crept out, silently, avoided old Fatty, who was -curled down beside my door, and glided noiselessly -down the hill, armed with a club, my knife, bow -and quiver of arrows. When I arrived at the edge -of the lake I went a little into the forest and dug -some fresh saltpetre. With this substance I intended -to preserve the skin, for not only are its -properties well suited to the business, but I was -denied the use of our spring of brine by the presence -of my bear-adoring friends.</p> -<p>With my cargo of stuff thrown down in the -end of the boat, I pushed away from the bank and -rowed slowly off toward a point around which I -meant to be concealed by the time the Links would -begin to stir. The dawn was breaking as I neared -my destination, but I waited for full day-break -before attempting to go ashore. When at length -the boat ran up on the beach I was a mile from -the swampy region in which the alligators had -proved themselves so numerous and hungry. A -small clearing afforded an adequate retreat, where -I felt that I could operate without interruption or -likelihood of being observed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_236">236</div> -<p>With the club and quiver on my back, and the -bow in hand, I forced my way through a stubborn -growth, coming presently upon the trail of some -jungle creature which had apparently broken this -path for the purpose of drinking at the lake. I -had gone no more than several strides in this -beaten track when I nearly stepped upon a hooded -snake. Though I jumped back quickly and made -ready with speed to hit the reptile with my club, -it glided away before I could fetch it a blow, escaping -into a maze where I own I dared not follow. -Willing enough to let the creature alone, if -it would do the same by me, I went on my way. -Then occurred the thought, if only I could have -killed it and poisoned my arrows, how much better -I should be armed for the bear.</p> -<p>Going back I thumped about for several minutes, -looking for the venomous serpent, yet dreading -to see it. There was little danger of seeing -that particular snake again, so I once more resumed -my journey. Having the venom thought -in mind, I decided to search for a serpent deliberately, -for the sake of its poison.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_237">237</div> -<p>Snake hunting is not in my line. I kept an eye -open and peered about in likely places but the reptiles -I saw were not the venomous kind and they -were often of the constricting variety, so that -they and I had nothing in common. I passed them -by frequently, in haste to be about my business. -The whole morning was passed in this half-hearted -search for venom. In the early afternoon, -having worked through a wide belt of trees, I -issued forth in the largest clearing I had seen since -leaving the boat. It was hardly more than fifty -feet wide by one hundred long, slightly swampish -under foot and overrun with vines, gigantic -flowering plants and the rankest of grass.</p> -<p>At the edge of this place I had the luck to see -the tail end of what I thought to be a venomous -snake. The reptile was nearly safe from harm -beneath a mass of interlocking creepers, yet I tried -to get at him and became so absorbed while poking -about the brush that I clean forgot my more important -quest. In the midst of this dallying about, -I left my position to run around to the further side -of the tangle, and found myself confronted by the -creature of all creatures which I regarded as particularly -mine—a bear as black as soot.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_238">238</div> -<p>This animal was nosing about the trunk of a -tree. He was only five or six long strides away, -paying no tribute of attention whatsoever to me -or my prowess. That he had seen me and heard -me I could not possibly doubt. I knew at once -that the veneration in which he was held by the -Links grew out of this remarkable inoffensiveness -and the grave, knowing air with which the creature -kept about its own concerns. I longed for a -well-poisoned arrow, but the time being inopportune -for regrets, I silently fitted my choicest shaft -on the bow-string and stepped aside for a better -chance to shoot.</p> -<p>The bear rose partially up on its haunches, to -investigate the tree, presenting an open front, with -a bit of white fur at the throat. With this white -for a target, I raised my weapon and drew the -arrow to the head. It leaped across the meagre -distance like a flash of light and quivered a second, -buried deep in that snowy fur, which was -dyed with red before the creature could drop to a -normal position on its feet.</p> -<p>I expected to hear a roar of rage, and then to -be attacked forthwith by the infuriated animal, -but instead the bear made a sound almost human -in its vivid expression of agony. It staggered -slightly and brushing at the shaft with its paw, -started away toward a thicket. Not to be cheated -of my pelt, I threw down the bow and dashed after -the creature, club in hand.</p> -<p>In a second or two I was almost on his back. -He half turned about—and met the descending -club with his head. Simply moaning, this singular -animal shuddered down in its tracks, breathed -heavily a moment and was dead.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_239">239</div> -<p>If I hunt till I kill a thousand creatures I shall -never feel so guilty of murder as I did to see this -harmless bear lying motionless there in the jungle. -If only it had fought me, threatened my life, or -shown itself malignant, I could have done the -deed cheerfully. If only the creature had growled, -or even torn up the grass, I should have felt a -bit of relief; but to see it die as I knew it had lived, -unaggressive, good-natured and retiring—this -made me feel that I was the brute and the wanton -destroyer of life. Even dead, the animal accused -me of lust for blood.</p> -<p>“No,” I finally said to the body, aloud, “I -would never have done this merely for fun. I -needed your skin,—hang it! there’s a human life -at stake and you ought to be glad!”</p> -<p>Fortunately I was easily consoled. I came to -my senses in a business-like manner. The skinning -did much to remove the last vestige of my -sentimentality, for it was a tough, hot job. My -knife was none too sharp, despite its recent honing -on a rock, and the bear was heavy to turn. When -at last I had the hide removed, with the feet and -head left on, I rolled the whole mass up and got -it on my shoulder. It was heavy and wet; I felt -the need of haste, and therefore with my weapons -duly gathered together and so disposed as to cause -me the least possible inconvenience, I strode away.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_240">240</div> -<h2 id="c30"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXX</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">AGAIN BESIEGED</span></h2> -<p>The sun was ready to disappear by the time I -reached the boat. Embarking as soon as I had cut -a large quantity of leaves, I rowed until I was -some distance out on the lake before completing -my day’s work. This labour consisted of skinning -the head of my bear and then of wetting the whole -hide thoroughly. With a generous hand I spread -the saltpetre upon the fleshy side, after which I -rolled the skin up in a bundle and stowed it away -in the stern, where I covered it over thickly with -the leaves, in order that my fellows might not see -the beloved black fur.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_241">241</div> -<p>Knowing the beach would be deserted as soon -as darkness began to descend, I pulled homeward -leisurely, reaching the landing after the stars had -begun to twinkle. There I got a lot of clay and -placed it on top of the leaves which covered the -pelt. This I knew would serve the double purpose -of hiding my treasure from sharp, inquisitive -eyes, and of keeping the moisture in the skin -till the saltpetre could permeate the whole mass -and convert the perishable and evil-smelling hide -into leather. In order further to insure the skin -against anything which might be tempted to -meddle, I tied a big rock to my painter and dropping -it overboard anchored the boat about forty -feet from the shore. After this I swam and waded -to the bank.</p> -<p>As I had left in the morning before any of the -Links were awake, I thoroughly expected a flattering -demonstration on my return to the top -of the hill. I was totally unprepared, however, to -hear the wildest imaginable beating of our drum, -the moment I shouted to let them know I had -come. And when I came through the gate and -loomed up in the glow of the fire, there was -more than enthusiasm—there was madness rife in -the tribe.</p> -<p>The fellows were nervous, wild-eyed, starting -at every sound, chattering crazily in their few -poor monosyllables, and they showed a readiness -to bury me in a heap of their prostrate bodies, so -eager was their supplication for something which -they much desired. Males, females and children -had evidently been huddled together in a trembling -mass, at my arrival, but now the whole population -was about me, mad to tell me news of -some calamity, I thought, but rendered wholly unintelligible -by their haste and fear. I pushed -them away vigorously, convinced that something -more than merely my unaccountable absence and -safe return had wrought this excitement.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_242">242</div> -<p>“Fatty,” I demanded of my half-blubbering -slave, “what’s the matter? Stand still and tell me -like a man. What’s eating all these idiots? What -has happened?”</p> -<p>He made an effort that was truly heroic.</p> -<p>“Peegs,” he said. “Gee wizz!”</p> -<p>The rascal knew I never exclaimed “Gee -whizz!” till something extraordinary occurred. -So poignant did the silly words become in this -connection that I jumped at what he meant to convey -at a single mental bound.</p> -<p>He meant that we were again invaded. The -black Links had marched upon the village in -force. I was almost carried to the further side of -our wall, from which place I could see the campfires -of the enemy, fitfully gleaming through the -trees, below. The creatures were intrenched at the -edge of the jungle, just at the base of our hill. But -they had not yet attacked our position, that was -evident. I was amazed at this and also at the -fact that they dared to remain all night so near -the haunts of the savage prowlers.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_243">243</div> -<p>I worked for an hour endeavouring to calm my -fellows sufficiently to get some sort of a “statement” -of what had really occurred. The words I -knew of their language and the little they tried to -comprehend of mine served only to aggravate our -confusion. By means of signs and various pantomimes -I was able to make some guesses. The -most important of these was that the foe had come -there late in the afternoon, whereupon my friends -had retreated inside the walls and waited, armed -with their clubs, while Fatty made a hideous noise -on the drum.</p> -<p>Attributing little virtue to the power of our -musical instrument, and groping about for the -reason why the invaders had not attacked the -camp, I concluded that something in the way of -a deeply laid “plot” was being formulated by the -Blacks, who were perhaps intent upon our total -destruction, in payment for all the defeats inflicted -upon them by us in the past. Whether only -a portion of their force had come up, or whether -they reckoned on our disinclination to leave our -stronghold and charge upon them and so intended -to surround and starve us out, was a matter which -time alone could determine. I thought of Grin, -however, and wondered if the wretch were with -them. Also I mentally nodded my recognition of -the fact that my “visit” to their camp had been -largely instrumental in bringing about this war-like -advance. I thought it likely that the creatures -concluded I had been spying upon them, -with a possible attack for my object, and that -then they had determined to be the first to strike. -Doubtless, I meditated, they had long contemplated -this war of retaliation, and my presence -in their river had precipitated matters, which had -been delayed for various reasons of state.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_244">244</div> -<p>Inasmuch as their reasons and plans could -never be known by any man, I gave up pondering -about them and devoted my thoughts to planning -my own campaign. On the whole I was not exceedingly -sorry to have a chance to try my bamboo -bombs. I entertained no doubt of the dire effect -which these would produce on our foe. For that -night, at least, we were safe from attack; no -Link would dare proceed a score of yards from -his fire in the darkness. If they crept up the hill -and surprised us in the morning, while we were -still in bed—then so much the worse for us, for -being so extremely luxurious and confident in the -noise of our drum.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_245">245</div> -<p>I signified my desire for something to eat and -then devoured a hearty meal, a proceeding which -surprised and calmed the Links no little. They -had been too much alarmed before to do anything -but huddle together, like so many animals in a -corner, ready to fight if pressed another inch, but -more likely to be furious and savage through fear -than through any sort of courage. They were not -wholly cowardly, but they were mortally afraid of -the Blacks (who came back so persistently for -more punishment), especially while here on our -isolated hill, with neither cave nor near-by jungle -into which to run. They were awed by this -implacable foe, and having depended on me to -defeat the Black army, had become less confident -of their own powers than they were when I first -came into the tribe. However, they had always -evinced the greatest readiness to attack a force -smaller than their own, which fact, coupled with -their present behaviour, was now as good as an -accurate report to convince me that the fellows -were sure the number of Blacks below was much -in excess of our own.</p> -<p>Gratified to find that our supply of arrows had -not been wasted again in my absence—an indication -of sense in my fellows which I attribute to -the wholesome dread they had of the powder -magazine, in which the weapons were stored—I -laid out the shafts, with the bows, and otherwise -exhibited an assuring alertness and desire to be -prepared. The Links did me the honour of picking -up a bit of courage, under my influence, making -me feel a half-affectionate regard and sympathy -for the poor child-like creatures, for it was -plain that they strove hard and constantly against -their mental limitations. They wished to understand, -to enlarge the scope of their brains, to be -like men.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_246">246</div> -<p>I felt a certain pride in knowing that my sentries, -when I set the watch and bade the others go -to bed, would remain awake and alive to their -own responsible position; I felt like something of -a general, to see my agitated fellows calmed down -and proceeding to rest in an ordinary manner. -If I could only hold them together, organised as -warriors, shooting steadily in the face of a charge, -I knew we could repel those Blacks much more -easily than ever before and inflict upon them such -a loss that they might be completely quelled for -years to come.</p> -<p>Every personal plan had been driven out of my -head by this unexpected advent of “war.” I -thought of nothing but what might occur in the -morning and what would be our most effective -means of conducting the hill-top part of the coming -engagement. I was undecided, particularly -about the use to which I had best put the bombs, -for I realised that if I attempted to throw them, I -might inflict half the injury on ourselves, not to -mention the panic sure to be produced within our -walls. Under the influence of such a feeling, my -fellows might commit the gravest indiscretions.</p> -<p>Dismissing the whole affair from my weary -brain at last, I retired, surrounded by my weapons, -and was deep in dreamless sleep in a moment.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_247">247</div> -<h2 id="c31"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXXI</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">LOST IN THE JUNGLE</span></h2> -<p>When I suddenly sat erect, with a feeling that -the battle was on and I too late to assume my -part, it took me a second to realise what had -aroused me from sleep. It was only little Tike, -who had come to my side in the semi-light of -dawn and laid his tiny hand upon my face.</p> -<p>Not one of all the babies I have known in my -life ever made a sweeter sound of crooning than -did my Little Man that morning, as I held him -snugly cuddled in my arm. It seemed to me the -wee chap told how he had searched my deserted -shelter all the day before, and all the other days, -since I had been away so much; it seemed as if -he forgave me and forgot this neglect and made -himself a promise that I would not go away and -leave him any more. The light increased, chasing -the shadows away from his thin, little face, -but under his wistful eyes were shadows far too -deep to be dispelled by any light of earth. I noted -this and observed that his lip was inclined to -tremble; his eye-lids seemed to be heavy as lead. -What a singular little face it was—such a homely, -tiny, monkey face, with phases of child-humanism -coming and going across its lineaments.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_248">248</div> -<p>“Man,” he said, “man,” and he patted my -hand and gave a little shiver of joy.</p> -<p>I carried him out with me when I went to investigate -the situation. Below me, where I had -seen the fires the night before, there was nothing -visible of any of the foe. I noted a thin wisp -of smoke, curling lazily upward above the lowest -trees, and I presently detected the shaking of a -brush, denoting the presence of one of the black -fellows, who was spying upon us, unobserved. -How I longed for a good rifle to rest on top of -our wall with its muzzle aimed down there at the -cover of the demons!</p> -<p>My fellows stirred about with commendable -promptness, sixty of them armed with the bows, -all of them eagerly watching to see what I intended -to do. They commanded a certain thrill -of admiration, for they were impressively muscular, -alert and active. I could almost fancy them -soldiers, some day, disciplined, efficient and -worthy of trust.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_249">249</div> -<p>As the sun began to warm the earth, the invaders -below commenced to move about more -freely. Although they brandished their clubs toward -us and seemed to swarm all through that -portion of the jungle, there was no indication that -the creatures intended to make an immediate attack. -I was soon convinced that they were there -in great numbers. What their plan would be I -found myself unable to surmise, but it was plain -the fellows were being held in check for some extraordinary -measure. I had been obliged to admit -before that these Blacks exhibited certain marks -of superiority over my Reds, in points of aggressiveness -and stratagem, but this game of waiting -and deliberate planning surpassed anything they -had performed since I first made their honoured -acquaintance.</p> -<p>As far as anything could be deduced from the -position now occupied by the besiegers, I concluded -they meant to surge up the slope, at this -point of advantage, where the grade was easy and -unobstructed. I own I should have felt relieved -had the savages commenced the war at once. -There was something ominous about this deliberation -which I in nowise relished. While I was -attempting to put myself in their place, for the -purpose of thinking what I would do, knowing -what they did of the reception they were likely to -meet upon storming the summit, I heard distant -yelling in the jungle. This drew nearer, after -which the sounds receded again in the distance.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_250">250</div> -<p>What might this incident portend? I inquired -of myself, but I could think of no satisfactory -answer. In our larder we had a limited supply -of fruit and no meat fit to cook. I divided everything -as equitably as possible, but none of us had -enough for a hearty breakfast. Old Fatty, who -observed me putting aside a portion of my share, -put away the whole of his, like a faithful dog who -refuses to eat while his master is in any way -afflicted.</p> -<p>During our meal, and while I was concerning -myself with the question of how we should -manage to supply the camp with more provisions, -I noted a distant tumble of mist, arising from the -lowlands, like a cloud of smoke from heavy -artillery. This grew and spread with great -rapidity. I comprehended at once that a fog -would soon envelope all the world. At first I -thought this solved the problem of the Blacks’ -new game of war. I believed they had waited for -this to occur, with a knowledge that it came -reliably often, intending to swoop upon us under -its cover and strike us down before we could -realise the meaning of the charge. A moment -later, however, I knew they would never dare attack -in even semi-darkness. The fog was not a -thing which a Link would think of employing.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_251">251</div> -<p>Suddenly I had an idea that fog was exactly -a thing of which man would take advantage. -I would utilise this one to the fullest extent. -Watching its progress now in excitement, for fear -it might be too local to include our hill, I was -aware of a repetition of the yelling in chorus, -which I had noted before, out in the forest. I -could think of no reason why a portion of the -besieging army should thus be off in the -jungle, making such a racket, but the fellows -about me began to manifest the greatest alarm. -The sounds again drew nearer and nearer; the fog -rolled in, apparently on the heels of this party in -the jungle. It seemed almost like a race between -the mist and this battalion of the invading -force.</p> -<p>I heard the yelling creatures swerve off to the -right. Their very position was revealed by the -rising of a large flock of parrots, all of which -made a considerable noise as they flashed brilliantly -in the sunlight a moment and swept down -again, a hundred yards from where they rose. -Just as I began to have an indefinite anxiety about -the game being played below us, the fog enveloped -that portion of the jungle where the foe were conducting -their mysterious operations. I fancied a -wail of disappointment finished their chorus of -cries, after which the fog seemed to blot out all -sound as well as all the panorama below our -position.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_252">252</div> -<p>Silently the great pall spread and travelled, till -I saw it climbing the slope between ourselves and -the camp of the Blacks.</p> -<p>“Now we’ll fix ’em,” I cried to my warriors. -“They have played their game and now we’ll play -the joker.”</p> -<p>Going to the magazine I hurriedly uncovered -all my bombs and took out all but the smallest -three, together with a quantity of fuse. This -latter had become so dry that I felt the greatest -confidence in the dryness of all the powder. Bidding -my most intelligent and obedient fellows -take these up with care, I lifted the two largest -myself and led the way through the gate and -started down and around the hill, toward the -entrenchment of the Blacks.</p> -<p>At once my fighters halted, afraid of the fog -and more afraid of the enemy in waiting. I -stormed and coaxed and threatened before I could -get them to follow, but Fatty came and then another, -after which the others felt ashamed to -remain behind. Thus I got the small force a little -more than half way down the slope, where I -directed them to deposit the bombs on the ground -and to dig a long, narrow trench across the path -up which I believed the Blacks intended to come -when at last they made their assault upon the -summit.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_253">253</div> -<p>In the bottom of this ditch, which was made -two feet deep in a time amazingly brief, I -arranged my bombs, about a foot apart, hurriedly -attaching a fuse to each, making the matches as -nearly of a length as possible. The mines extended -for so considerable a distance that I determined -to lay two series of main fuses. This I -did by bringing together the matches of all the -bombs on the right, in one bunch, and all on the -left in another. At these junctions I cut each fuse -off to insure freshness and to guarantee ignition -of the powder, after which I weighted them down -with rocks, placed the end of the main fuse in contact -with them and sprinkled powder plentifully -about to unite them all in one train. A similar -arrangement being completed for the second -group, I had the whole mine covered carefully, -with rocks and earth, when I trailed my main -matches up the hill, had them weighted down and -brought the ends together several rods below our -wall.</p> -<p>The Links were willing enough to return inside -our gate. I had them remove a few of the stones -from the wall at a point just opposite my fuses, -and then we conveyed some embers from the fire -with which to kindle a special blaze wherefrom I -intended to snatch a lighted brand when the -moment should arrive for touching off the match.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_254">254</div> -<p>All being in readiness I should have been -gratified to see the fog roll away and the enemy -starting up the hill in a solid phalanx. We stood -on guard as an extra precaution, in case the Blacks -should summon a courage sufficient to attack us -under cover of the mist, but the world was silent -and the objects about us were ghostly in the -vaporous shrouds. The hours wore on and the -fog continued thick and warm. We had all been -hungry before the mist arose; we were now growing -restless and desperate to satisfy our cravings.</p> -<p>To add to my own discomforts I began to worry -about the fuse absorbing dampness. Should it be -ruined by the fog the mines would be useless. -What might happen then was beyond conjecture, -for we should have no large bombs to use, and the -small ones left in the magazine could not be provided -with fuse. In the midst of my troubles, little -Tike came stumbling against my leg. He fell -down at my feet, but was up at once and gazing -in my face with his odd little smile playing lightly -on his lips. I took him on my arm and going to -my shelter gave him all he would take of the fruits. -Fatty, on seeing this, fetched his hidden store -and rolled about in ecstasy when he had placed it -before me. I ate a piece of his hoarded fruit to -please the old fellow, after which I endeavoured, -vainly, to get him to eat what remained.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_255">255</div> -<p>He was ravenously hungry, so much so that he -could not keep his eyes from the tempting mangoes -and papaw, nor keep his tongue from lapping at -his chops, yet he still refused to eat when I -signified that I should take no more. He concealed -the hoard again, returning to his place with -his stomach empty.</p> -<p>Only once, since my advent among the Links, -had a fog remained all day to obscure the hills and -forest, but this one threatened to perform a -similar feat. From time to time it lifted for a -moment from a local area, only to descend again -more quickly than before. I began to believe that -perhaps it might be possible for a party of us to -deploy on a foraging tour and visit the grove of -fruit-bearing trees. Unfortunately the Blacks had -made their camp in the most accessible “orchard,” -which gave them a great advantage. However, I -knew of several cocoanut palms, a little removed -from the enemy’s position, which I thought I could -find, even in the dark. I decided to make an attempt -to reach this grove.</p> -<p>It was well along in the afternoon by this, and -the fog still hung heavily on the country. As -before, I had considerable trouble in getting a -force of fellows to back me in the enterprise. -But the hungriest became the bravest and therefore -with ten stout fellows, all armed, I left -the wall behind and went cautiously down the -hill.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_256">256</div> -<p>Very soon I found that everything appeared so -altered in the mist that piloting my party was not -at all an easy matter. I disliked exceedingly the -prospect of finding myself in the enemy’s lines, but -having started, I was too proud, or too stubborn, -to do such a sensible thing as retreat and own -myself baffled. We therefore proceeded uncertainly -along, near the edge of the trees, getting -deeper and deeper, it seemed, into the maze of fog -and unfamiliar objects. The mist down here was -much more dense than that which floated about -the camp above.</p> -<p>As we prowled stealthily ahead, looking aloft -at the shadowy trees, the curtain of vapour was -rended about us, abruptly, leaving us bare—as it -were—and completely revealed. On the second -a cry of alarm broke from a Black, not fifteen -yards away, and a chorus of yells made answer, -as a score of the demons rushed out from the -cover of trees, to give us battle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_257">257</div> -<p>My nimble fellows vanished like shadows, -bounding swiftly up the slope and into the kindly -bank of fog, before the Blacks could so much as -count their heels. I also started to dash away -toward the camp, but tripped over a rolling stone -and fell down heavily, my ankle sprained and pain -shooting all through my leg and body. Scrambling -on hands and knees in desperate haste, I made toward -the fog, conscious that three or four of the -Blacks were dashing toward me. I breathed a -great sigh of relief and thankfulness to see the -mist close in upon the place.</p> -<p>Turning instantly, when this veiling pall was -about me, I moved at the top of my speed toward -the trees and undergrowth of vines. I heard the -cry of triumph which burst from the lips of the -creatures who thoroughly expected to leap upon -me, and I heard even the quick, light tread of their -feet as they ran, but the turn had deceived them -and diving into the tangle of leaves and creepers, -pushing my bow and dragging my aching foot, I -lay at full length, to pant, for a brief time, when -I crawled laboriously off in the direction which I -believed to be opposite the camp of the foe.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_258">258</div> -<p>My pursuers raced about at random on the -slope, chattering in disgust and amazement, but -they were soon confused by the fog. They -searched about for several minutes, one of them -coming almost upon me, as I lay beneath the vines, -but at last all returned to their savage companions. -I could now guess the direction of the camp they -had formed by the sounds they made in retiring. -This direction seemed entirely contrary to what -I had mentally determined to be right. However, -I crawled away from the vicinity which I now -knew bordered on their position, and turned to -go toward the hill.</p> -<p>Doubtless the pain in my ankle distracted my -attention, but at any rate when I had crept a distance -which I thought should have been sufficient -to place me out of the forest and on the slope, -there was no hill visible and the jungle seemed -equally deep on every side. Thinking I had probably -made a mistake of a point or more, by my -mental compass, I started off again, in a slightly -different direction.</p> -<p>This soon became hopeless. I realised that the -fog had confused me a trifle, but it seemed too -absurd that I should not find the clearing and then -be able to go to the top of the hill. In fifteen -minutes I had become so muddled that I dared not -move another yard. It appears ridiculous, but I -was lost.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_259">259</div> -<p>Jungle, I had found before this, was quite sufficiently -difficult to traverse toward a given point -in the brightest light, but enveloped in a fog it -became the most bewildering and maddening -maze. To make matters worse, the day was nearly -spent, my ankle pained me exceedingly and my -dread of snakes became a factor which contributed -much to my nervous excitement. I leaned against -a tree, finally, convinced of the inexpedience of -blundering about in a hit-or-miss effort to rectify -my first mistake. If I got any deeper in the tangle, -I thought, I might not be able to find myself, even -by the full light of day.</p> -<p>To stand there in that inhabited place of -horrors, knowing that the sun was departing in -its race toward the western horizon, feeling anxious -and uncourageous, aching from my foot to -my thigh, and angry with myself for being such -a fool,—this was about as comfortless a thing as -I had ever undergone. I was sure the fog would -lift from the hill while it still surrounded me; I -was certain the Blacks would swarm up the slope, -storm the place, murder half my Links and drive -the others pell-mell to the woods; and I was not -at all convinced that I should ever issue forth -from that jungle alive.</p> -<p>I listened, expectantly, but not a sound could I -catch, either of prowling brutes, nor of attack on -our village; the silence was particularly oppressive. -Darker and darker grew the forest. I knew -at last the sun had set on an ocean of fog. Perhaps -the attack had been rendered impossible, for -that day at least, but wherein my condition was -bettered by this descent of night was more than I -could discover. My thoughts were hardly more -cheerful when I pictured the breaking of dawn, -the hill-top clear and distinct in the light, and the -blood-hungry enemy sweeping the summit of -every vestige of our work and genius.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_260">260</div> -<p>One hour, two, perhaps three elapsed—a time -that seemed a century. I had remained all the -while at the foot of that tree, without attempting -to move about. I was doomed to remain there, -helpless and impotent, it seemed, for any time -which might prove agreeable to the gods of fortune. -My thoughts had wandered afield, so that -doubtless I had forgotten to listen to anything -but my own meditation. It is certain that I was -conscious for several moments, in an automatic -manner, of a dull, monotonous sound, before it -reached my notice. At last I seemed abruptly to -recognise that a thud and thud was penetrating -the silence. Then I started so quickly toward the -direction whence this disturbance arose that I all -but fell, unsupported as I was by the injured foot. -But I pulled myself together and feeling my way, -hastened forward as rapidly as possible, crazed -with a new delight. I had recognised the sound.</p> -<p>It was Fatty, beating on the drum to affright -the Blacks.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_261">261</div> -<h2 id="c32"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXXII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">THE BAMBOO BOMBS</span></h2> -<p>In my haste to reach the clearing before that -electrifying tom-tom melody should cease, I took -no account of the distance between the edge of the -wood and the place where I had halted. It was -not so far as I had feared, however, though it was -further than I had any business to have been away -from home.</p> -<p>Upon coming to the slope, I got upon my hands -and knees to crawl, for my ankle required rest. -The fires were burning brightly in our village, but -the mist was still weaving thickly about the -summit.</p> -<p>When I turned up again among my fellows, like -the penny which cannot be lost, they were nearly -knocked dumb with astonishment. Hungry, disgusted -and weary, I limped off to bed as soon as -I had indicated the need of sentries throughout -the night. Such a war as this made me snort -with contempt.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_262">262</div> -<p>Sometime during the night the fog disappeared, -as mysteriously as it had come. I had rested badly, -having been kept awake by the pain in my foot, so -that I arose before morning and sat by the fire. -There, after bathing the ankle in water from the -spring of brine, I bound it up with strips of -squirrel skin, fastened on with cord made of -divided creepers. This treatment gave me much -relief. The only luck I had in the accident was -that the sprain was not so serious as my facial -contortions (when alone) might have indicated to -a keen observer.</p> -<p>The morning broke clear as glass; one could -feel that the day meant to be hot before it finished. -In our settlement we were all somewhat cross, -from lack of food, myself in particular, because -this game of starving us out seemed so nonsensical, -and also because my relief expedition had -fizzled out to such a miserable end. I began to be -anxious to try results with our cunning besiegers. -If they delayed the fight for the day again, I -meant to carry the issue into their own headquarters, -for we had to eat!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_263">263</div> -<p>Thinking I might enrage them to the point of -starting the battle, I carried the gold-nugget club -from my shelter and planted it, nugget end uppermost, -on our ramparts, directly in line with their -camp and the mine of bombs below. Then I induced -old Fatty to beat the drum, while I got up -on top of the wall and paraded, somewhat after -the top-loftical style of the American Indians, -beating my breast with my fist, shouting derisively -and pointing with maniacal glee to the gleaming -club which we had taken, as a token of victory -worthily won.</p> -<p>This bit of vanity produced an immediate effect, -for a score of the fellows down in the trees appeared -from the cover, sufficiently furious to suit -the most exacting mind. They screamed shrilly -to express their wrath, they beat the unoffending -earth with their clubs, and they danced about as if -the soil were hot. Nevertheless they advanced -hardly as much as a stone-toss up the slope, being -evidently under some powerful restraint. I executed -the most aggravating evolutions, limping -about on the wall, but to no apparent purpose. -What was the game which the creatures played -with such assurance that they could wait with -this remarkable patience? I was angry to -think they would not attack; I was annoyed -to be obliged to admit that their warfare -threatened to be subtle and effective. I -hated to be starved into retreat, which would certainly -be disastrous, or into a charge, down hill, -against an ambush, which charge would doubtless -prove to be an insupportable calamity.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_264">264</div> -<p>“Come up, you cowards!” I bawled in a -sneering tone of voice. “Lay on, you black -McDuffers—we can wipe you off the map!”</p> -<p>My only answer was an echo of the cries I had -heard the morning before, away in the jungle. -This puzzled me again; it made me impatient. My -Links had surged about me, wrought to a fine -frenzy of excitement, eager to eat up the whole -nation of Blacks—as splendid a pack of starving -wolves as one could find. They also heard -the cries, where the enemy appeared to be scouring -through the forest, and I noted that many grew -silent and worried. They reminded me of animals -which have an instinct that warns them against the -dangers which a human being cannot see nor feel.</p> -<p>The chief stood a little away, aloof from the -others, leaning as ever on his club. What a brilliant, -coruscating spot was made by the great, -deadly crystal which he wielded so terribly in the -fight! His mate, the indignant albino, stood -beside him, eyeing myself with scorn and hatred. -Her round, pink eyes were as nervous as quicksilver; -her whole demeanour expressed the jealousy -she nourished against me for pushing aside -the chief, and the undisguised desire she felt to -avenge herself for my former repudiation of her -serene regard.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_265">265</div> -<p>I gave her only a glance, and to the chief a nod -of recognition. Below me little Tike was looking -up in my face; near him old Fatty was standing, -his quick, bright eyes upon me, his arms akimbo -and the battered old skull on his head pushed -aside, revealing hairless spots where, by rubbing, -it had worn the growth off his leather-covered -pate.</p> -<p>“Animals or primitive men—what are you -all?” I muttered, and I shook my head and gave -it up.</p> -<p>Again came the concerted cries from the jungle. -They were nearer; there seemed to be a great commotion, -not far from the edge of the trees, and -this appeared to increase with every second. I saw -several of my fellows begin to edge away, as if -to make a run to a place of safety from a foe most -dread. All the Links were making uneasy sounds, -comparable only to the whimpering of a frightened -dog.</p> -<p>“Here—come back here. Brace up, you fellows!” -I cried to stop the incipient panic. “Pigs -coming—pigs to shoot—pigs to kill!”</p> -<p>I raised my bow and notched an arrow on the -string. I jumped down and stirred up the fire -which must furnish me a brand for the fuses. -Then again I got on the wall and shouted our -defiance to all the jungle-world about us. Old -Fatty began to beat the drum like a fury.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_266">266</div> -<p>My warriors were inflamed; they crowded forward -to see what was happening below. By this -the cries of the enemy had become shrieks as of -madness. We saw fifty of the Blacks burst quickly -from cover, run to right and left and dash -back in the woods, as if to flank an approaching -cavalcade. To my amazement I saw among the -fellows the traitor Grin—miserable coward! The -Links observed him, too, and they chattered their -rage and their Link maledictions on his head.</p> -<p>Once more I got down, this time to arm myself -with a glowing brand from the flames. With this -I shook out our only banner—a banner of smoke.</p> -<p>Suddenly the screen of trees, vines and creepers, -seemed to bulge toward us, then to break. Two -massive dark chunks of the jungle appeared to be -bursting through. Then I saw what they were -and realised what the cries had meant, what the -plan of the Blacks had been from the first—and -what a diabolical and clever scheme it was.</p> -<p>Two trumpeting elephants, goaded and maddened, -smashed ponderously out of the jungle -and headed up the hill—surrounded and driven -toward us by hundreds of the yelling, dancing -devils, with Grin in their midst, all of them incredibly -nimble, daring and wrought up to force -their irresistible allies over and through us.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_267">267</div> -<p>The Links behind me, terrified beyond all control, -were too stricken with panic to know what -to do. They fell headlong over and upon each -other; they ran in every direction. Females and -children cried out in fear; chief, fighters, all were -seized in the maelstrom of fright, and all went -dashing away. Already we were as good as -routed. Flight to the jungle would mean separation, -death of all who were lost and murder of all -who were overtaken by the terrible Blacks.</p> -<p>Confused for a moment, I attempted to call them -back, to restore the order. This was worse than -useless.</p> -<p>The elephants came unwillingly up the hill; the -din of voices and trumpeting was appalling to -hear. I jumped from my place, unconscious of -my wounded foot and dashed down the hill as if -to meet this oncoming tumult of death alone—racing -toward my fuses. I had dropped my bow. -My only weapon was the smoking brand of fire.</p> -<p>Shrieks from the Reds, who could not but see -me, and screams of delight from the enemy, -greeted the sight of a single crazy man, running -down to the jaws of this living Juggernaut from -the wilds.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_268">268</div> -<p>I reached my goal, I fell to my knees and -fumbled the matches. The monstrous battalion -was nearly half way up to the trench of bombs. -My fuses failed to ignite. In desperation I broke -off the ends and bore them down upon my living -coal. My thumb was burned, but I felt nothing. -A fierce hiss from the powder electrified my every -fibre. I leaped to my feet and darted part way -back to the wall.</p> -<p>“Man,” came the cry of a sweet small voice.</p> -<p>Turning, I saw that my little Tike had followed -me down the slope to the fuses. There he sat -beside them—and the serpents of igniting powder -were racing down to the mines, and the thundering -horde of foes was racing upward, toward the -little chap and me. Insanely I ran with all my -might to rescue my only loyal Link—the baby -who sat in the sunlight.</p> -<p>How far away he was! What a time it seemed -to take me to reach him! The elephants—how -near and awful they looked! I could see their -white-showing eyes. The monsters began to gallop -upward, mad to wreak vengeance on something, -for that goading behind their backs. The yells -became a din. Already the brutes must be past -my trench. It would fail—it would kill little Tike -and myself—anything but the terrible creatures -pounding the earth as they came upon us!</p> -<p>I snatched the little fellow up and ran desperately -away. Would nothing ever happen? I -fell—the ankle had gone at the critical moment. -I rolled and saw the dread spectacle crowding up -and up the sun-lit hill.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_269">269</div> -<p>Then the earth was rent wide open—great -castles of earth and elephants rose toppling in the -air, along with a glare of red-and-yellow flames -and a mighty volcano of smoke. The world -belched forth a detonation like the crack of doom.</p> -<p>Another and yet another fearful fan of fire -leaped exultantly upward, hurling Blacks and -fragments of Blacks, and soil and rock that blew -through the bellies of the elephants and shot away -in every direction toward the tranquil sky.</p> -<p>I was deaf with the mighty roar and concussion. -From the air the debris came raining down. The -smoke seemed a fountain of enveloping fog. -Shrieks—now of terror and dreadful pain—stabbed -through the confusion. Then a rock -whirred down so close to my head that it puffed -me with its cushion of air. I heard a sound and -looked for little Tike, whom I had permitted to -slip to the ground as I fell.</p> -<p>He was there beside me, his steady, wistful eyes -looking up in my face, his poor little legs fairly -crushed into the earth, beneath that fragment of -adamant, torn from its bed and hurled upon him.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_270">270</div> -<p>I was over him instantly heaving away the hunk -of stone. But I did not attempt to lift the little -mangled body. I saw he was numbed by the -shock; I knew he was dying. He lay there and -smiled, as I bent above his tiny form. He made -no motion with hand or head, but when I placed -my finger in his wee palm, he closed his baby-like -grip upon it and gave me the fondest look I have -ever beheld.</p> -<p>The Blacks could have swooped upon me, the -earth could have quivered with agony and death, -but I should have known nothing of it all, nor -have cared. All the pangs of wrenched affection -darted through my breast. I was smitten dumb to -see that human look of love, gratitude and hope. -The homely little face became transfigured with a -look of inward beauty; the promise of a dawning, -evolving human being was there, glowing like -the life in a spark. The wistful eyes burned with -that singular light which makes us hope for things -supernal.</p> -<p>On my finger the tiny grip fluttered. I felt -myself breaking down like a woman.</p> -<p>The little chap’s lip quivered a second; his fleeting -breath came forth lightly.</p> -<p>“Man,” he whispered in the stillness, and smiling, -closed his tired little eyes—forever.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_271">271</div> -<h2 id="c33"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXXIII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">KING AT LAST</span></h2> -<p>There was a cloud over my heart; there was a -pall of smoke and fumes drawing slowly off from -the scene of devastation. It seemed as if the -chasm in the hill-side were a ghastly wound of -colossal proportions, for not only was the earth -torn raggedly, but blood was about, and the slope -was strewn with mangled remains.</p> -<p>I felt no exultation; I was ill at the sight, and -weak and quite subdued. It was a pitiful, dreadful -picture, with the two elephants like mounds of -butchery, looming large in the middle distance, -while down below were numerous wounded creatures -creeping away toward the jungle. And the -dying made sounds of moaning.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_272">272</div> -<p>Not far from where I had fallen, lay part of a -long, red arm—Grin’s. The bombs had flung it -nearly to the camp he had sought to betray. He -must have been among the foremost of the Links -who drove the elephants up the hill. I conjured -back my vision of the charging force, at the -second when the explosion created its havoc. I -remembered the huge wild animals most distinctly, -their trunks uplifted, their feet in awkward, -active motion, while to right and left and -almost on their heels, the Blacks surged up in -their dance of death. I knew then that the -destruction among them must have been tremendous, -for the whole length of the trench had been -covered thickly by their numbers, and the lateral -force of the bursting mines, especially down the -hill, had evidently swept the slope for rods.</p> -<p>I shook my head as I realised the narrowness -of my own escape.</p> -<p>I believe I was saved only by a sort of half -shoulder of the hill and the fact that I fell and -was flat on my side when the explosion occurred.</p> -<p>In my brain a panorama of all the tragedy ran, -time after time. It seemed unbelievable that the -Blacks had been able to drive the elephants. I -shall never cease to wonder at this remarkable -performance, for everything I know of the -jungle’s greatest brute leads me always to suppose -they would turn upon their pigmy tormentors -and drive them away in confusion, no matter how -great their numbers. But more incredible than even -this was the sudden blotting out of all that mad -stampede. I felt like the last man left on earth.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_273">273</div> -<p>It was quite impossible for me to go down that -dread slope as yet. I sat on the ground, dejected, -weak from hunger and the strain of all the excitement. -I rested my chin in my hand and gazed off -abstractedly toward the endless sea of green. I -lost all interest in the world about me, for all my -memories and all my dreams had conveyed me -afar from that island of singular fates. At length -I was aroused from my reverie by Fatty, who -came furtively down from the village and crawled -in front of my feet, to gaze in my face, with his -comical, quizzical expression of deep anxiety -spread thickly on his homely phiz.</p> -<p>“Hullo,” said I, “did you come back at last -to twist the enemy’s tail?”</p> -<p>Then I saw an amazing line of heads above the -wall, where dozens of our fellows were peering -down upon the scene and upon myself. On their -faces I noted every conceivable look of awe and -horror. That I sat there, seemingly calm after -all of that day’s fatal work, impressed them a -thousand fold more than as if I had strutted and -boasted of the deed. Perhaps my face betrayed -a certain look of grimness, which events had compelled -in my thoughts; howbeit the creatures were -stricken with an overpowering dread of my -presence.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_274">274</div> -<p>The hill-shaking explosion had been infinitely -more terrific than my first little celebration with -a single bomb, and this had given them all a -fright, the memory of which could never be -eradicated from their minds. But if this had -rendered them respectful toward me as the actuating -spirit of it all, the sight of the slope simply -drowned them in fathomless awe. The mightiest -creatures of the jungle, torn apart like things of -paper, the hill split open and altered, a yelling -army scattered and blown to atoms—this sum of -deeds appalled them so thoroughly that the -strongest might have died of shock had I jabbed -him in the ribs with my thumb.</p> -<p>Fatty, on seeing that I lived, began to grovel -on his face and to push his head against the soil -where my feet had rested, as if he were quite unfit -to abide on the surface of my earth and would -therefore worm and bore his way down and out -of sight without further ado.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_275">275</div> -<p>One after another, then, the trembling fellows -came crawling down the hill, many on their -stomachs, to adore my tracks, to wriggle about -my feet and otherwise to endeavour to calm me -down and humble themselves in my exalted -shadow. Even the chief came toward me on hands -and knees, dragging his club and afraid to lift his -head. His downfall was complete; there were -none more thoroughly overwhelmed than he. On -the ground before me the fellow laid his great -crystal weapon—at once his sceptre and his sword—and -he, too, adored the turf where my feet had -trod. The women, with the albino among them, -and even the children, got on the ground, prostrate, -abject and afraid.</p> -<p>“Ahem, really, fellow citizens,” said I with a -grin, “your attentions quite overcome me. Pray -excuse my unseemly emotion and blushes.”</p> -<p>I had conducted a large experiment with some -success, yet I felt that my efforts had been far -from superhuman, and not even carried out with -wholly unselfish motives. I felt in fact that the -whole present proposition bordered on the lines of -comic opera, for I knew that by the token of the -chiefs submission I stood there at last, the King -of the Missing Links!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_276">276</div> -<h2 id="c34"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXXIV</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">A MOMENT OF REST</span></h2> -<p>We held a mighty funeral-carnival. The heat -made it necessary to rush this matter as much as -possible. My Links took no little of the meat of -the slaughtered elephants, but as soon as all were -fed again I set them to work deepening the cavern -which the mines had excavated in the hill.</p> -<p>With creepers for ropes and with rollers to -render the task more easy, we dragged the huge -carcasses into the graves by sheer force of numbers. -Collecting the Blacks was a most unpleasant -labour, but it had to be done thoroughly, and it -was, although my subjects had never before performed -such an office for enemies of any description. -Oddly enough we were quite unable to -discover the body of Grin.</p> -<p>In the pits I had several great fires ignited, to -cremate as much as possible of the flesh, after -which the earth was thrown in and heaped up -until I was sure that the shallowest portion of the -grave was covered with at least ten feet of -soil.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_277">277</div> -<p>I could have rested with a very good grace after -all this business of war, but I remembered my -former plans and the bear-skin waiting to be -tanned, in the boat. I feared the pelt might be -ruined already, and therefore I took the earliest -opportunity of visiting my lake possessions. When -I came in sight of the boat, I had reason to be -glad that I had moored her away from the bank, -for I found abundant evidence that the Blacks had -been there, undoubtedly intent on doing mischief. -Fortunately for me their dread of the water had -proved greater than their desire to destroy the -boat, and their ingenuity had shown itself deficient -when they faced the problem of getting the craft -ashore without wetting their precious feet. But -they had thrown every available rock at the innocent -craft, together with all the loose pieces of -burnt clay.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_278">278</div> -<p>Thanks to the covering of clay and leaves, -which permitted a slight circulation of air, while -it kept out investigative insects, the skin was in -excellent condition. Indeed I am inclined to believe -the delay had been actually beneficial in the -curing process. The thing was pliable and as -sweet as a hide could possibly be—which, by the -way, is not extravagant praise. I had rowed away, -out of sight of my loyal subjects, before uncovering -my treasure. Floating on the calm surface -of the lake I worked at the pelt most arduously. -Nearly the whole of that day I was rubbing it, -scrubbing the parts together and otherwise keeping -it soft, while the sun and the air dried -out the moisture which made it heavy and -“green.”</p> -<p>When I was finally ready to call it finished, the -hide was much like a soft, thick robe, such as is -commonly employed for a rug, a condition which -I knew would be permanent, although in a -spot or two the thing might be inclined to -stiffen. I packed it again in leaves merely -to hide it from sight and proceeded back to -our beach, where I anchored the boat as before.</p> -<p>Inasmuch as I felt that my actual duties were -now performed, I determined to rest for a space -and enjoy the peace which we had compelled so -abruptly. I therefore lay about the camp the -following morning, doing absolutely nothing to -“earn my salt.” Now and again I caught myself -feeling or looking about. There was no little Tike. -When I dozed I fancied I heard his voice, but on -starting awake found nothing beside me but faithful -old Fatty, who always poked his forehead on -the ground as soon as he saw me looking upon -him. Someway the camp seemed not itself. I -got no enjoyment from my streak of laziness, and -<span class="pb" id="Page_279">279</span> -I got but little rest. It did me good to carve a -bit of a board, or section of bamboo, with the -inscription:</p> -<p class="center">“<span class="small">LITTLE MAN.</span>”</p> -<p>This I planted in the mound of rocks where the -tiny chap was buried.</p> -<p>The settlement, I thought, would never be the -same to me again, especially now that I was king. -My Links were far too conscious of my regal -attributes; there was less of the feeling of fellowship -than we had enjoyed before. I had failed to -appreciate our previous social equality, but now -that all were rendered so timid and humbled in my -presence, I was bored and somewhat annoyed. -The crystal club I kept in my shelter, beside the -one of the gleaming nugget. Though he seemed, -now and again, to eye me somewhat sullenly and -to gaze on the weapon with a hungering expression -of countenance, the ex-chief made himself an -excellent new bludgeon, with a rock at the end, -which was twice the weight of any other similarly -employed in the place.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_280">280</div> -<p>The fellow accepted a bow and a lot of arrows -readily enough. We hunted as before, employing -these excellent weapons. Some of the creatures -had learned by this time to shoot with great force -and precision. One sent an arrow entirely through -the belly of a hog, on one of our many excursions -to the jungle.</p> -<p>In a leisurely manner I provided myself with -cord and sundry requisites for masquerading as -a bear. Before my rest was two days old I was -weary of it and restless to be again actively -engaged. Once more the malady of dislike for -all the Links and their camp had broken out -within me, wherefore I desired to hasten matters -in regard to my unknown friend, on whose rescue -I was fully determined.</p> -<p>I began to wonder why I had delayed this important -matter for a moment. I was eager to see -this man, grasp his hand and hear him speak the -language so long denied my ears. Why, if he -were half a man, we two could accomplish anything—everything! -Why had I not hastened to -reach him and to get him away while the Blacks -were still demoralised by the recent extermination -of more than half their number? I would dally -no longer; I would act at once.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_281">281</div> -<p>In order to proceed with intelligence I had -need to formulate my plan. What should I do? -Do?—I would simply row my boat to Outlet -river, dress myself in the bear-skin suit and -waddle into the settlement to make my observations. -This sounded simple enough, but reason -told me I should blunder no little as a bear and -appear none too real in the role. I must practice, -I thought as my first sane conclusion, but my -second was still more rational—I would work the -trick in semi-darkness only, when my features -would be rendered somewhat indefinite by the -shadows. Should I go there in the early morning, -or should I try the game in the twilight of evening? -In the morning, I meditated, the light -increases rapidly, and my man might be asleep; -daylight could readily overtake me while I was -crawling about to get my bearings. Clearly the -evening would be the better time.</p> -<p>Well, then, the sooner the business began the -sooner I should know what was what. I decided -to be present in the camp of the Blacks that very -day, when the sun should have disappeared behind -the hills.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_282">282</div> -<h2 id="c35"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXXV</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">A FELLOW HUMAN</span></h2> -<p>Greatly relieved to have something to do—something -which might be about to furnish a turning -point in all this unnatural existence of mine -in the wilds, I set off for the boat at an early hour -of the afternoon. Once started on the expedition, -I was in a fever of haste to be about it and to try -my new conclusions with fortune.</p> -<p>The skull of the bear had been boiled free of -everything suggesting meat. When a mile away, -down the lake I replaced this heavy thing in the -skin and sewed the hide roughly about it to give -the head a natural appearance. Then along the -edges where I had been obliged to cut the pelt to -get it off, I made a series of holes, into which I -laced the cords, provided for the purpose, intending -to draw them tight when the costume was -properly adjusted about me.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_283">283</div> -<p>Having nothing more to prepare, I rowed leisurely -for two hours, when I went ashore, near -the mouth of the outlet, and tried my disguise. -This business discouraged me greatly. I was able -to get the neck portion fastened about my head, -in such a manner that I could see easily, and the -body of the skin about my chest and waist, but -my arms and legs were too long for the paws and -legs of the bear, while the body part was longer -than my trunk. Altogether I was about the most -extraordinary looking freak to be found in the -jungle, when I had done my utmost to make the -costume fit.</p> -<p>I should quite have appreciated the use of several -mirrors at this stage of my make-up, in order -to see if sundry portions were on straight, but was -denied this pleasure, having failed to provide myself -with various articles of the toilet. It was only -by crawling and lolling about on the ground, on -knees and elbows that I was enabled to convince -myself that I looked the slightest bit like the creature -whose part I had essayed to perform.</p> -<p>I have never felt more warm in my life than I -did in that skin. The day was hot, the hide was -heavy, and I had laboured hard to get it on. The -perspiration threatened to make the pelt insupportable. -But now that I had myself fastened inside -it, I dreaded the task of taking it off and -putting it on again later. As an outcome of much -agitated mental debate, I decided to be a bear -until my work as a spy was concluded. I therefore -sat me down, in the shade, near my boat, and -waited for sunset.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_284">284</div> -<p>The sun becomes very deliberate, I found, when -it catches a man in a tight, hot place. It seemed -as if the fiery ball intended to hang in the western -sky for several centuries, for my particular delectation. -At last it got weary of the game and -departed.</p> -<p>A bear can perform several feats with comfort -and ease to himself and with grace, perhaps, but -rowing a boat is not among the number. I grew -hotter, in several ways, directly. I think I wished -fervently that my unknown friend, the prisoner, -had never committed the indiscretion of being captured -by the Blacks. It being necessary to proceed -with caution, my torture was much prolonged. -At length, however, I noted a snug retreat in -which my boat could remain, undetected, and -which I hoped would be readily accessible from -the camp I was searching in the jungle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_285">285</div> -<p>Already the shadows had begun to be deep, so -that I walked erect, in what I thought to be the -right direction, moving with the greatest care, -and alert every second for the smallest sound. I -had made my way for a considerable distance in -this manner, without being able to detect any disturbance -in the forest, when presently a low rumble, -as of something rolling over stones, beneath a -muffling canopy, broke on the air. This sound increased. -It seemed to come from a source not -far away, and yet it was most uncertain and elusive. -I was quite at a loss to determine whence it -proceeded. Growing stronger it made a great ado -of grumbling, reaching a sort of climax in less -than a minute, after which it slowly subsided and -was gone.</p> -<p>Standing where I was, I listened attentively, for -the noise had puzzled me much. Then through -the silence came another sound, which anyone -could have understood, anywhere on earth. It -was a moan. A second later I heard the rustle of -leaves and saw a prowling form—one of the ebon -Links.</p> -<p>Falling upon my hands and knees, noiselessly, -I waited for the fellow to pass from sight and -hearing, after which I crawled laboriously forward, -nearing the sound where something was -voicing its pain. My heart was beating so tumultuously -that I felt obliged to halt frequently, in order -to calm myself as much as the perilous situation -would permit. Moving thus and keeping constantly -in the cover of the vines and grasses, I -glanced about me keenly.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_286">286</div> -<p>When I came upon the clearing in which the -Blacks abided, it happened so abruptly that I -started, to find myself so near. Lying out full -length, I endeavoured to quiet the thumping of -my heart and to moisten my mouth, which had become -dry and gluey. Then I looked about, through -the friendly screen of creepers.</p> -<p>The shadows lay thick enough for all purposes, -yet there was light enough to reveal several incongruous -things. First I noted a dozen or more -of the black Links, some of them moving about, -some squatting on the ground, monkey-fashion, -eating mangoes and melons, one lying flat on his -back in the agony of death. He it was that -moaned; he had received his mortal wounds in the -great explosion. I saw that his arm was gone, and -then I knew him—Grin.</p> -<p>At the back of the clearing was a wall of rock. -In front of this stood a natural pillar of stone, and -fastened up at the top was something which for a -time presented the greatest mystery. It looked -like portions of a skeleton, disconnected, but it -gleamed, even in the twilight. I studied it closely -for the thing compelled my undivided attention. -Then I saw the skull and knew it had all been, -upon a time, the frame work of a living creature, -but astonishing fact of all things weird—it was -plated all over with something precisely resembling -gold!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_287">287</div> -<p>I forgot the Links; I forgot my mission to their -village. That skeleton centered my every thought. -I studied it, patched it together mentally, and attempted -to picture it properly straightened out. -This process convinced me at once that the arms -were shorter than those of any Link, while the -skull was finely formed on the human pattern. I -observed that the whole thing, if properly articulated -would be taller than I. The Links, I told -myself, cared nothing for the bones of their kind, -and less for those of their foes. It must be—it -had to be the skeleton of a man!</p> -<p>But the gold—or whatever it was,—the plating, -how came it on the skull and on those ribs, those -bones of the arms and thighs and all the rest? Why -was it here? Immediately my brain jumped to the -preposterous conclusion that my “friend,” the -man I had come to save, had been killed since my -former visit, his skeleton plated with something -and strung up here on the rock to please some -strange whims of these incomprehensible creatures. -I knew, a second later, that this was absurd. -My mental process as quickly formed a saner -theory. This man had lived among the Blacks before; -they had learned of him—which accounted -for many things,—like their superiority over my -Reds,—they had killed him, later, and by some -singular accident this appearance of plating had -come to pass on the bones.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_288">288</div> -<p>In the midst of my conjectures, that weird, low -rumble commenced again, nearer at hand, but still -in some locality invisible from where I was. -Crouching, while its mighty tones increased, several -Blacks glanced upward at the skeleton and -then put their heads upon the ground in adoration -before the pillar of stone.</p> -<p>I nearly cried out as I suddenly grasped at a -wonderful thought. That rumbling—it was certainly -a sound I had heard before that day—it -certainly must be that marvellous cauldron of gold, -where the geyser shot upward and boiled in its -cavern. The plated skeleton had received its -plating there; the nugget of gold at the end of the -club which a Black had wielded in war, had come -from there; the cavern which I and old Fatty had -seen, on the day we fled in the subterranean passage, -was there; and these creatures owned it and -evidently knew of an opening leading to its wondrous -interior from the outside world!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_289">289</div> -<p>What was I about to discover? What was here, -in and about this remarkable camp? Would I see -it all?—would I get a chance to investigate the -wonderful cave? Could I rob that cauldron of -its treasure? I was wild with excitement. I -wished that I had an overwhelming army behind -me—a force sufficient to drive these creatures anywhere, -away in the jungle. I looked about, as if to -see my army. Great Scott! I had utterly forgotten -how alone I was! The wretches might discover -me, know me and beat me to jelly in a second. -My breath came hard; I remembered my -business in a manner painfully vivid.</p> -<p>I must go ahead, for obviously there was nothing -here for me, nothing of that partner I had -come to steal. He must be off, where a pair of -Blacks were walking as I looked. Still keeping -in the cover, I edged about the clearing and pushed -ahead. A tangled isthmus of greenery divided the -small open space from another which was considerably -larger. In a brief time I came in sight -of this and beheld another remarkable sight.</p> -<p>At the foot of a towering cliff of rocks, surrounded -by fruit trees on the left, the river down -in front, and the isthmus of trees and vines in -which I was lying on the right, was a fine flat -space, commodious, strategically situated and now -alive with black Missing Links. Our explosion -had killed the fighters by the score, but the females -and children were exceedingly numerous, while of -males there were still almost as many as we had -in all our tribe.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_290">290</div> -<p>That once the creatures had been directed by -a man was plain, for here were a score of dugouts, -such as we possessed, but the roofs were -gone from many, while those of the others showed -every sign of neglect and the rapid deterioration -into which it seemed as if the creatures must fall, -and let everything fall, when abandoned to themselves. -Of any weapons which they might have -possessed in the “age” of that man, there was not -the slightest sign. Looking carefully about, I saw -but one shelter on which the roof appeared to be -intact. This one was near the base of the cliff, -on the left-hand side of the clearing, from me; -that is to say, the same side on which I was now -concealed.</p> -<p>The light was growing dim. I peered about, in -a vain endeavour to see “my man.” How I -wished I might raise my voice and cry out a -greeting—a something which would tell this other -human being of my nearness! It is unbelievable -how strong was the impulse to commit this indiscretion. -I curbed the desire, however, and waited -to see if anything would happen.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_291">291</div> -<p>Here and there, on the campus, the evening -fires of the Links were being kindled, from a -“mother” fire smouldering in a natural hollow -beneath the wall of rock. I could see what I -thought were the ruins of a more convenient fireplace, -near the central fire. It looked as if that -former man had provided a means for a better culinary -output, but that the creatures had soon gone -back to their own original methods, when he was -dead. Then I thought that things were peculiar, -for why were there no material evidences of the -presence of the man I had come to seek, about the -camp? What was the matter with this unseen -individual? He must be weak indeed to do absolutely -nothing!</p> -<p>I remembered his spouting of poetry, and I -fear my estimation of a man who would give himself -over to such effeminate employment as that -was of precious little account. Poetry indeed! He -was evidently a lady’s man for his voice had -sounded soft and here was proof that he either -could not, or was not willing to, manufacture the -very first thing, either for cooking, living or fighting. -Perhaps such a fellow was hardly worth the -risk; perhaps I should be wise to retreat, in good -order, and let him work out his own salvation.</p> -<p>My attention was caught, as I scanned the place -in this critical frame of mind, by a flutter of something, -near the only decent shelter.</p> -<p>“Upon my word,” I muttered in huge contempt, -“I believe the fellow has got out his washing -on a line!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_292">292</div> -<p>About that moment a bird in the tree above me -made a sound like a boy whistling. This was my -cue. If any man were anywhere about, he would -hear a whistle—and the Links would have no suspicion. -I piped up on the opening bar of “Yankee -Doodle.” This I repeated time after time. It appeared -as if the scheme would turn out worthless, -as it produced no apparent effect. Growing more -bold, I started to whistle my lay a trifle louder, -but I chopped it off short in the middle, for I beheld -a figure emerge from the decent dug-out and -start slowly toward me, walking and performing -some singular weaving motions with the arms.</p> -<p>The dusk had gathered over the scene, yet I saw -that this was a white human being!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_293">293</div> -<h2 id="c36"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXXVI</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">SURPRISE AND SUSPENSE</span></h2> -<p>I held my breath, I shivered with sudden excitement.</p> -<p>The figure, slight, beautifully erect, clothed in a -skirt-like garment of skins, came nearer and -nearer. I was so thoroughly intent on seeing why -the arms were moved in those singular gestures -that I clean forgot to scan the face.</p> -<p>The stranger came closer, followed now by -scores of the Blacks, who adored and worshipped -in the tracks which were left by the feet. I could -see the heavy coils of some ornament about the -neck and over the slender shoulders of this human. -Suddenly I knew what the hands were doing; -suddenly the most astounding intelligence broke -on my brain.</p> -<p>The figure was that of a woman, young, beautiful, -clad like Diana, and the coils about her maidenly -form were those of a monster serpent, the -head of which she held in her hand while with the -other she gently unwound the wrappings of the -tail.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_294">294</div> -<p>I whistled again, more softly, my excitement -growing at every second.</p> -<p>On she came, uncertainly, down along the edge -of that open cage in the jungle, her head held -finely in a listening poise, her face white, set and -smileless. She moved like a goddess in a dream. -In her eyes burned a half-wild light of anxiety; -on her lips there was a tense look of suppressed -emotion. Her beautiful arms seemed marble-white, -as they moved in those snake-soothing gestures; -her whole deportment was that of one who -questions, yearns eagerly for a sign on which to -build a hope, but dares not believe that a cruel fate -could possibly relent.</p> -<p>She was almost opposite where I was lying. I -knew I should speak to her—do something instantly, -before the moment should be gone, but my -tongue now cleaved fast to its sheath in my mouth, -my teeth clenched hard together and my muscles -were all but paralysed at that fateful moment.</p> -<p>She was just before me—passing me by—in -reach of the slightest sound.</p> -<p>“Who is it?” she said aloud, in a voice that -trembled.</p> -<p>“It’s me—a man,” I whispered with ungrammatical -suddenness, “Don’t stop—you’ll betray -me—Come to-night!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_295">295</div> -<p>Half prepared as she was, she still started violently. -She loosened her hold on the head of the -snake. The horrible thing wrapped itself about -her arm and tightened all its coils. Hastily clutching -the serpent by the neck again, she twisted and -choked it into submission. Her eyes were ablaze -with fear and a wild, unbelieving hope! How -luminous they were, even in the meagre light! -What a wondering, beseeching face she revealed, -as she turned for a second in her instinctive effort -to see where I was!</p> -<p>As she had mastered the snake, so she mastered -the womanly instinct to cry out and dash to the -spot where I lay. I saw her weave slightly, as -she recovered her poise, after which she resumed -her singular march toward the river.</p> -<p>The Blacks came to where she had paused, -adoring the trail so near me that I could hear them -breathing. What hideous brutes they were, now -that I had seen a beautiful human being! They -passed, and I longed to leap upon their backs and -strike them all to death.</p> -<p>All about that clearing the goddess-like prisoner -led the creatures who had made her captive. She -was almost lost to sight in the darkness which was -now enveloping the wood. She was only the -faint suggestion of a form when at last I saw her -pass again inside her shelter.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_296">296</div> -<p>I loosened a thousand tense muscles the second -she disappeared, and lay limber and all unstrung -on the earth. I had not been seen by any Links. -It had perhaps been foolish and a waste of time to -kill the bear and adopt his hide after all. But it -had given me the courage to come—and great -Heavens! what a find I had made!</p> -<p>A woman!—among these monsters! No wonder -there were no new houses, no ovens, no -weapons of war of her making. I had been profoundly -stupid. I should have been able to guess -it was not a man—that soft, clear voice, the absence -of mannish contrivances, and then that suggestive -little line of her washing—these should -have been enough to tell me the story. A woman—a -helpless, beautiful woman—and I had almost -thought of giving up the effort to rescue this -friend!—this fellow human!</p> -<p>“Gee whizz!” said I to myself, for the thing -was tremendous.</p> -<p>Then I wondered what would happen next. -Would she come—return to the place where she -had heard my voice? Would she wait till all the -Links were safely asleep and then place her trust -in a stranger? At what time were these black -beasts likely to retire? Would they wake and -catch her in the act? Could we find my boat in -the dark? But everything else was as nothing -compared to the question, which I repeated over -and over, would she come?</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_297">297</div> -<p>I believed she would. I intended to wait, whatever -might occur, and to wait until morning, if -she did not sooner appear. A thousand times I -wished we were already in my boat and away on -the lake.</p> -<p>“All these days gone to waste for a bear-skin,” -I muttered, “and all the time it was easy to sneak -into their place under their very noses.”</p> -<p>I was glad now, however, of the warmth of -the skin, for the ground was moist. In the clearing -the night had descended like a curtain, but five -or six fires somewhat illumined the place. The -scene presented was strange. About the centres -of ruddy light were groups of these weird, semi-human -creatures, standing and squatting, eating -like so many apes. Their long, thin arms made -their appearance most grotesque, silhouetted as -they were against the light. Here and there the -red glow lighted up a negro-gorilla countenance, -flat-nosed, big-jawed and large-eared, till it -seemed like a region where the imps of darkness -breed. And back of all this, the play of the flames -threw monster shadows, on the background of -trees and creepers, till it all had a strange appearance -of life, as if incredible snakes and incongruous -animals weaved an endless woof of mystery -into the warp of night.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_298">298</div> -<p>An hour passed and I had hardly moved. By -groups the creatures slunk away to their huddling -places. The groans of many wounded, unnoted -before in the chatter, arose to chorus with the distant -sounds of the jungle. Regularly, like a -marker of time, came the rumble and grumble -from the cauldron of gold.</p> -<p>Around the largest fire, a grim old warrior -hovered for an interminable time, after all the -others had departed. I had no patience with his -pretence of cogitating over all the problems of -the universe; I wished him safely abed and snoring. -He pothered about for an age, and finally -stretched himself near the embers and went to -sleep.</p> -<p>I waited and waited, expecting every moment -to be rewarded by a vision of the prisoner, gliding -toward me. The moon arose above the trees behind -me and made the place altogether too bright -for any good. To allay my impatience I watched -the matchless orb sailing above the jungle. Turning -at last from the brilliant picture, my heart -leaped wildly. The goddess was almost there!</p> -<p>Slipping quickly, but noiselessly forth, I -emerged from the vines on hands and knees and -started to arise.</p> -<p>The girl gave a scream and fled like a startled -doe.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_299">299</div> -<p>“Don’t be scared,” I half shouted, guardedly, -“it’s only a skin,” but my assurance was then too -late.</p> -<p>On the instant the Blacks bounded up, alert and -alarmed. Club in hand, the grim old fighter near -the fire came running toward me. The shadows -were with us, by great good fortune. The girl, -moreover, had the presence of mind to disappear -in the trees and emerge further up toward her -shelter.</p> -<p>Realising that now or never I must act my -part, I fell on all fours like a plummet. Browsing -about unconcernedly, I moved a little in the grass -at the edge of the growth, and then, having made -myself sure that I had been seen by the Links who -came dashing excitedly up, I slowly rooted back -into the thicket and disappeared.</p> -<p>It worked like magic. Chattering a lot of drivel -which was plainly eulogistic of all the bear family -and congratulatory to all the black Links in existence—who -had thus been honoured in the night—the -savages kow-towed on the ground and -otherwise wrote themselves down as unmitigated -asses for a longer period by far than they need -have done for my satisfaction. Indeed it began -to look as if they had taken a notion to spend the -remainder of the night in adoration of the ground -I had condescended to spurn with my hands and -knees. When at last I heard them go, I crept -silently back to the edge of the growth and -watched them stir up the fire and blunder off to -bed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_300">300</div> -<p>“Confound the skin!” I muttered to myself. -“Why didn’t I tell her what a beastly old bear I -am?”</p> -<p>Such a time now went by that I began to fear -the girl had missed my hurried explanation, in -her natural fright, when she ran. However, it -did not seem possible she would give up so easily -and be afraid to come. Yet I knew it all depended -upon her condition of mind. She had doubtless -become more than usually timid while subjected -to all that she must have undergone here -among the Links, all alone, and no human being -could entirely eliminate a feeling of dread for the -jungle in the dark.</p> -<p>Trusting that in all the medley of night-sounds, -a whistle would not awaken the Links, I set up -my piping on the bar of our Yankee acquaintance -again, repeating it, as before, as often as I deemed -it prudent. More of the endless waiting, in my far -from enviable position, ensued. If the moon got -another half hour in which to sail before the prisoner -came, she would drive every friendly shadow -squarely back to the forest.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_301">301</div> -<p>I watched till my neck was stiff and my body -cramped. “If the goddess doesn’t hurry,” I muttered, -“the game will be up for the night.” Still -she lingered in her shelter. I began to grow cross; -I vowed she must be crimping her hair and putting -on a new pair of gloves.</p> -<p>Suddenly she appeared again, coming out of the -trees, not far away. This time I whistled, ever so -softly. She paused, came silently on a rod, and -halted as before. Another little whistle brought -her almost before me.</p> -<p>“Now please don’t yell again,” I whispered -ungallantly. “Slip into the woods as quietly as -you can—we’ve got to hurry.”</p> -<p>“Who is it?” she stopped to answer, below her -breath, as I rose to my feet.</p> -<p>“It’s just John Nevers, a common, ordinary -man—American. If we’re going to get away, I -wish you wouldn’t fool around another minute.”</p> -<p>I saw that she stood undecided a second, with -that evil-looking snake about her shoulders; its -eyes gleamed like beads in a ray of moonlight -which touched on its hateful head. For that brief -space of time I felt such a disgust for the serpent -and such a growing impatience, that I had a half -impulse to trudge away alone. But she moved toward -me; the light which had fallen on the head -of the snake silvered her pale, beautiful face. The -appeal which was there in her eyes, the trust which -was born on the moment, and the helplessness of -a maiden, all combined to shame me and to make -me her champion against the terrors of all the -world.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_302">302</div> -<p>“Come through here,” I whispered, bending -back a branch, and she stepped toward me, confident -and strong in the hope newly kindled in -her breast.</p> -<p>The branch slipped from my fingers and swished -noisily back. I heard a snort; the light-sleeping -old devil of a Link was up on his feet in a second. -He ran toward us again, this time unaccompanied -by any of the others. We stood there as silent as -statues. My knife was out, for I had instantly determined -to slay this watch-dog of the tribe, if he -came a foot into the brush.</p> -<p>He merely whined about, uneasily, a time, and -then returned to his post. Without waiting to let -him lose himself in sleep, I led and cleared the -way, moving as slowly as a frozen tortoise, for a -considerable time, while the goddess followed, as -silently as my shadow.</p> -<p>Past the clearing, where the gilded skeleton -hung in the moonlight we glided. Here I saw the -stiffened form of Grin, lying stark on the earth. -The deep, mysterious rumble of the gold-cauldron -began anew.</p> -<p>“Now hurry, while this racket drowns out all -the noise we can make,” I whispered.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_303">303</div> -<p>We made no mean bit of progress while the -noise continued, after which I felt there was no -more need of particular care. The jungle thickets -were fearfully dark, as soon as we got away from -the clearings, and I was obliged to forge ahead as -best I could, guided only by my sense of direction.</p> -<p>Half an hour went by and although we should -have been at the river, where the boat was on the -bank, there was no immediate prospect of our -coming to the proper place. In the midst of my -efforts, mental and physical, to extricate myself -and the girl from the maze, a peculiar shriek went -up in the distance behind us. I paused, inquiringly.</p> -<p>“Oh—that is the voice of the horrid old woman,” -said the goddess anxiously. “I think she -has found I have gone.”</p> -<p>“The deuce!” said I. “She has alarmed the -whole works, the old villain!”</p> -<p>Judging by the noise which was raised one -would have thought she had awakened the whole -world. I was certain every Link in the camp was -up and dancing about that clearing in the wildest -confusion.</p> -<p>“Come ahead,” said I, calmly enough, “they -are all afraid of the woods at night; they will -never catch us now—unless the morning overtakes -us before we reach the river.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_304">304</div> -<p>I knew she shuddered, but like a brave, good -girl she made no fuss. As for the racket, it furnished -me with a bearing, as it were. Knowing -where their settlement was, I knew the approximate -direction in which the boat should be found. -Indeed before we had travelled another fifty yards -I caught a gleam of reflected moonlight from Outlet -river and knew my way directly.</p> -<p>“It’s lucky that beastly old woman didn’t make -her discovery sooner,” said I.</p> -<p>“Yes,” replied the trembling voice of the goddess, -“that was why I kept you waiting so long; -she wouldn’t go to sleep.”</p> -<p>“Um,” was all I muttered. I was thinking -about that crimping of her hair, poor girl, and -the putting on of tight, new gloves.</p> -<p>We reached the boat, to my intense relief. -“Please get in and make yourself as comfortable -as possible,” said I, and ripping off the bear-skin, -I flung it down to make her a seat.</p> -<p>Out into the limpid stream I shoved my clumsy -but beloved craft, and manning the oars I swung -her about, headed her toward the lake and made -the liquid silver shiver from the prow.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_305">305</div> -<p>The moonlight fell on the sweet, womanly face. -The goddess looked at me dumbly—almost with -the divine expression I had seen on the face of -little Tike. Her eyes were eloquent of gratitude, -relief and things too great to be expressed. -Slowly her head came forward on her breast, -away from which she held that ugly serpent, and -she sobbed and sobbed like a child.</p> -<p>Ah what a night it was! I felt a throb of triumph -all through my veins. Rowing steadily and -stoutly I said nothing, but let her have her cry. -At last she looked upon my face again.</p> -<p>“Where—are we—going?” she faltered.</p> -<p>“Home,” said I, “to the camp on top of the -hill.”</p> -<p>“Home?” she echoed softly. “To your—people, -do you—mean?”</p> -<p>“Yep,” I agreed. “For a while, at least. But -they’re not exactly my people. They’re a lot of -Missing Links.”</p> -<p>“Oh—what? Missing Links? You don’t -mean things like the horrible creatures we have -just escaped?”</p> -<p>“Same species,” I assured her cheerfully, “but -mine are red.”</p> -<p>“Oh—oh,” she moaned with a shudder, “but -I’d rather not! Oh I hate them so; they are all -so horrid; they frighten me terribly, and I know -they will act exactly like the others—”</p> -<p>“No they won’t,” I interrupted, with a grin, -“they’ll get off the earth, if I say the word, for -they know that I am the King!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_306">306</div> -<h2 id="c37"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXXVII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">THE GODDESS</span></h2> -<p>The pull was a long one, even in the cool of -the night. I knew my way, by the stars, if necessary, -but the moonlight made my steering easy.</p> -<p>For half an hour the goddess was silent, sighing -now and again, and crying a bit, as if deliverance -had broken down some barrier to all her -emotions, letting floods of pent up feelings free at -once.</p> -<p>“It doesn’t seem possible,” she told me finally.</p> -<p>“What doesn’t?” said I, though I knew very -well what she meant.</p> -<p>“This boat,” she answered, “and you—a man—in -this terrible place. It doesn’t seem really -true that I have escaped from those awful creatures; -I didn’t believe I should ever get away. Oh, -how did you do it?”</p> -<p>“Perhaps you’d better tell me first how you got -there,” I made answer. “How long have you -been in the place?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_307">307</div> -<p>“I—don’t know,” she faltered. “It must be -months and months. I lost all account, but it -seems like an age. I didn’t seem to care about the -dates, there have been such lots of awful things to -think of all the while. What month is it now?”</p> -<p>“Lord bless you, that’s more than I know,” I -admitted shamelessly. “I couldn’t keep track; -things have been too hot. I should say, though, -it’s probably getting along toward summer.”</p> -<p>Although she was deeply concerned with herself -and all the troubles which for long she had endured, -she realised that I too had been lost in this -land of jungle. She made me tell my story first. -I boiled it down to the bones, being anxious to -hear how it was she came to be there. This she -told me, brokenly, before we landed from the -boat.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_308">308</div> -<p>She was a cosmopolitan sort of a girl, born and -raised in Australia, educated partially in England -and partially in Massachusetts. Her father was -an Englishman, a scientist, her mother American, -of fine old Puritan stock. This mother had died -in Sydney. The father and daughter having spent -much of their time together, had grown to be great -companions. She had long been interested in all -his work, in which she had learned to be of great -assistance. Thus it came about that when he determined -to visit certain of the smaller Banyac -Islands, for the purpose of collecting flora and -fauna for preservation, she accompanied him as a -matter of course. From a private steam yacht, -placed at the professor’s disposal, and also from -the coast settlements, the two had made daily excursions, -in a ship’s yawl in which they could -make a careful survey of all the shore.</p> -<p>Engaged in their work, one warm afternoon, -they had moored the yawl among a lot of weed-covered -rocks. This had been accomplished by -securing the painter to one of the oars and wedging -this oar down between a pair of boulders. The -tide was ebbing when they landed.</p> -<p>In a short time her father had secured a medium-sized -anaconda, which having recently fed, -was dull and half asleep. This serpent he had -given to his daughter, who carried it back to the -boat and nailed it in a box provided for any such -emergency. Feeling slightly fatigued and unenthusiastic -she had then sat down in the yawl, -raised her sun-shade and taken out a book to read.</p> -<p>She described the soporific effect of the heat -and the lapping of the water about the boat, which -had begun soon to affect her senses when she had -settled down to rest. Before she knew it she had -gone fast asleep. She believed that finally the -tide had risen and floated the oar from between -the rocks. Then doubtless a breeze had sprung -up and the boat had been drifted away.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_309">309</div> -<p>“Anyway I know I must have slept for hours.” -she said, “but when I did wake up—oh dear! The -sky was black, and I couldn’t see any island, or -anything but water, and a terrible storm was coming, -and the darkness was all about me, and then—well, -it was simply the awfullest wind in the -world that commenced to blow!”</p> -<p>The storm which she now described had probably -been a regular monsoon. It lasted for hours, -she said, and the yawl was driven wildly about on -the angry sea. Like many a yawl, this craft had -been broad of beam and it was therefore as seaworthy -as a life-belt. It had ridden like a duck -throughout the night.</p> -<p>When at last the light returned, the girl -had found herself stranded in a singular place. -Not a sign could she see of the ocean, but the yawl -had been driven inland on what had appeared to be -a great lagoon. This water-way, the edges of -which were bordered thickly with a dense, jungle-like -growth, had become as calm as a mill-pond.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_310">310</div> -<p>While she still sat in the boat she had suddenly -discovered a score of “horrid black brutes” descending -upon the place. She had found the task -of pushing off to be quite beyond her strength, in -addition to which she had been so bewildered as -not to know in the least where she had arrived. -The creatures—the Black Missing Links—had -appeared of threatening aspect, yet she had soon -been made to realise that they were delighted to -see her among them and that all regarded herself -as a prize belonging to the tribe.</p> -<p>With her snake, of which they had immediately -manifested a fear, she had followed where these -monsters led, although unwillingly. They had -given her food, but they had appeared to have no -thought or consideration of her weakened condition, -nor even of the fact that she was a woman -and therefore not as strong as themselves. In -consequence of this, she had been obliged to march -through the jungle till nearly ready to drop from -sheer weariness of body. Her clothing had been -torn to tatters on the brush; her shoes had been all -but ruined, and her flesh had been scratched and -bruised.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_311">311</div> -<p>“That is all there is to tell,” she concluded. -“It has been a horrid, desperate existence ever -since. The monsters have never been cruel, but -I have been burned in the sun, and I have shivered -in the rain and chill of night. I have been trembling -at the thought of some terrible death, and -then praying that I might really die and end all the -wretched horror. I couldn’t tell where I was,—you -say you don’t even know yourself,—and day -and night I have been in a condition of dread -bordering on insanity. It has all been so terribly -hopeless—so loathsome. Oh how I have suffered! -And that horrible old woman has watched -me like a hawk, and I couldn’t have escaped if I -had tried, and I didn’t know where to get a boat, -and I couldn’t make anything—not even clothes,—and -the horrid female creatures stole nearly all -I had left, and I didn’t even have a needle, or a -piece of soap, or a toothbrush!”</p> -<p>“Perhaps I could make you a comb,” I suggested, -to drive away her dreadful thoughts, if -possible, but she appeared not to hear.</p> -<p>“Poor Papa,” she resumed, “I don’t know -what he ever thought, or where he is, or anything -about anything.”</p> -<p>“Oh well,” said I, “we’ll soon be getting away -from here now, and perhaps the trip will turn out -pretty well after all. You’ll probably be at home -in a month, forgetting all about this expedition to -the land of Missing Links.”</p> -<p>She shook her head, the wild look in her eyes -came back. “That is too good a dream to come -true,” she said. “It doesn’t seem as if we can -ever get away,—but oh, Mr. Nevers—I do hope -you will never let them get me back,—oh if only -you will take me away—if only you will!” and -again she broke down and sobbed, as if it had been -a thousand times too much to bear.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_312">312</div> -<p>“I’ll do it or bust!” I assured her with much -enthusiasm. “I couldn’t say more than that if I -tried. We’ll come out all right, don’t you -worry.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_313">313</div> -<h2 id="c38"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXXVIII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">A PROSPECT OF WEALTH</span></h2> -<p>None of my Links fell dead at the sight of the -goddess and myself, when at last we were -“home,” but that was merely because they were -too uncivilised to have any nerves. The poor creatures -contracted headache over the wonder of it -all, however, for it utterly surpassed their powers -of speculation.</p> -<p>I think they were much more frightened of the -captive snake than they had been at my explosions. -For this I blamed them not at all, having -been rendered somewhat creepy by the beastly reptile -myself. It was much too weird a pet. I was -not so indelicate as to mention my feelings on the -subject to the goddess, but I did hope the abominable -thing would die, or get away.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_314">314</div> -<p>Poor old Fatty was dizzy with concern. For -two whole days he could not have told whether he -was afoot or horseback. He was even suspicious -of myself. All the child-like creatures seemed to -regard me with added awe, as if it were hopeless -to attempt to solve the problem of the magic by -which I produced the snake-charming woman. -They regarded the boat and the lake with more -suspicion than before. A strangeness grew upon -them; they stood away in groups, speaking a -monosyllable now and again; they stirred uneasily -about, whenever the girl appeared.</p> -<p>Yet remarkably soon the females of the tribe -began to note, with curiosity, the costume worn by -this stranger. Madame Albino assumed sundry -airs with small delay. She also attempted to -clothe her precious self with various skins; she -eyed the interloper with comical disdain; she likewise -looked at me with unmistakable reproach in -those pink, nervous optics of hers, as if she meant -to say that she might have forgiven me before, but -after this—never!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_315">315</div> -<p>As for the girl herself, she was not exactly the -same, when seen in the daylight. She still had -glorious eyes and her soft chestnut hair would -have been lovely, had it been combed or stabbed -full of hardware to build it up in a psyche knot, -but her nose was somewhat freckled, she was -burned a lively red, as to face, neck, shoulders, -arms and ankles, and her great anxiety had made -her a trifle thin. Yet she was beautiful, I still -maintain, for her features were fine, her poise -splendid and her hands and feet exquisitely -moulded. What was more, her countenance was -lighted from within, by a charm as rare as it is -divine; she was lovely in her nature; she was womanly—and -women, true women, are beautiful -forever! I nodded mentally and determined to -continue to call her “the goddess.”</p> -<p>It being essential that we take some needed rest, -before embarking for worlds unknown, I made my -shelter as comfortable as facilities would permit, -and abdicated in favour of the snake and the girl. -However, my subjects dug me a new palace in -short order. This I occupied in my customary -regal state. I was obliged to construct a wicker -bungalo for his snakeship, for it seemed the goddess -grew weary of holding the monster at times, -and yet wished to restrain him from his natural -desire to mingle with the creepers. Also I furnished -the beast with gastronomic delicacies of the -season. He had a preference for squirrels, not -even the skins of which were left for me.</p> -<p>I made some quiet preparations for the reception -of our friends the Blacks, should they come -in search of their former captive, but these consisted -only of restringing the bows and furbishing -up the feathers on our arrows. I knew the fighting -force of the feudal foe to be reduced and in -no wise able to cope with ours, wherefore I deemed -extraordinary measures unnecessary. As a matter -of fact, no Blacks appeared, which led me to doubt -if they even guessed that the goddess could be -harboured in our village.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_316">316</div> -<p>Having recovered all my energies shortly, I -thought the girl would be ready and anxious to -leave without further delay. In consequence I -began to lay in a stock of sun-dried meat, weapons -and other things needful for the cruise to the -ocean. It soon became evident, however, that the -poor young woman had suffered so severe a depression -of vital forces, in the long-continued -strain of worry and physical anguish, that immediate -departure was quite out of the question.</p> -<p>We had long, hopeful talks together, while I -manufactured small trifles for her greater comfort, -or brought her foods to cook at a small stone-and-clay -stove which I managed to construct; and she -often related the history of her days of trouble. -She had been too deeply alarmed all the time to -give much attention to studying her captors; however, -she thought from what I told her that they -must have a similar language to that employed -by the Reds, and many similar habits. Their attitude -toward herself had led her to believe that -they actually had a great reverence for human -beings.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_317">317</div> -<p>Of the man who had evidently once been among -them she knew but little. She had seen the skeleton, -but had only been able to make the merest -guesses as to how it came to be in such a place -and in such a remarkable condition. She had also -seen a linen collar, preserved by having fallen into -a chink which kept it protected from the elements, -and this indicated, she thought, that the man had -been a clergyman. That he had produced certain -effects upon the creatures, the results of which -would endure, she had no doubt. Though they -had no other weapons than their clubs, they appeared -to be more fearless than my fellows. Any -fishing operations which they might once have -conducted, guided by the man, were now discontinued, -she was sure, for she had never seen a fish -in the camp. The dug-outs were in ruins, as I -had thought, though some of the creatures employed -them still for sleeping purposes. She did -not believe they utilised any caves. Without telling -her of my own theories of the gold cauldron, -I questioned her sufficiently to convince myself -that she knew nothing of its existence in the place.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_318">318</div> -<p>About the fights and hunting expeditions of the -tribe, she possessed only the most general information. -She had not been able to ascertain what -manner of enemies they encountered, but once had -seen a wounded fellow striving to pull out of his -leg a piece of wood which she now knew must -have been an arrow. Also she had been aware -that some tremendous calamity had befallen the -fighters on their last crusade, for barely half the -force had returned to camp, and of these many -were shockingly wounded. Fully twenty, she said, -had died and been buried since the day of the -trouble. Beyond these few facts, the goddess -told me very little which differed from the tale of -the daily routine of my own loyal subjects.</p> -<p>In the boat, my bear-skin was concealed by a -cover of leaves as before. I was thinking, one -morning, of the various things I should take, when -the moment for leaving should finally arrive, when -the two great clubs—mine by right of conquest—thrust -themselves upon my notice. The one which -was made of the nugget appealed to my human -spirit of acquisitiveness with great potency. Indeed -the thing awakened a train of thought which -bordered somewhat on the wild and not-too-wholesome. -I found myself coveting my neighbour’s -cauldron of gold.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_319">319</div> -<p>Heretofore I had given the geyser cavern, where -the precious metal was being deposited, not the -slightest consideration. I had known of only one -way to approach the place, namely, by the long -passage, the end of which I might not be able to -find, and which at best could only lead me to a -point high above the place of treasure. I knew, -also, that snakes abided in the passage and that -getting gold up to the point where Fatty and I -had been that day and then out through the tortuous -tunnel was simply impossible, as a task. Even -the nugget on the club—after the first inevitable -thrill which I could not help feeling, to see it and -know its worth,—had been no more to me than -any rock, for what could it purchase in such a -land as this?</p> -<p>But now—how things had altered! Not only -did I feel the greatest confidence in my ability -to pilot my boat away from that open prison, to a -land where gold would be the “open sesame” to -the whole world, but I knew of an opening—or -thought I did—to the cave where the precious -metal was lying ready to be had for the taking. It -was a magic thought—an intoxicating dream. -The precious deposit belonged to no one, for who -were the Missing Links? I should do no injury -to anyone by taking all I needed. And why should -I not have some remuneration for all this exile, -labour and suffering?</p> -<p>“Why,” said I, and half seriously at that, “a -king simply has to be rich!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_320">320</div> -<p>The task seemed easy, as I dreamed of proceeding -to the spot, taking what I wanted and then -escaping with it as I had with the goddess. The -idea expanded rapidly; it began to make me feverish. -As usual, when I gave myself over to anything -new, I forgot everything else about me. -Even the goddess and her snake became of secondary -importance; escape itself was indefinitely -postponed. The premier question was, “When -shall I do it?” I answered aloud:</p> -<p>“Why—to-day—to-night! What’s the use of -waiting?”</p> -<p>Then it became imperative that I should formulate -a plan. The bear-skin was the fundamental -basis which gave me the courage to think of attempting -the task. I knew how to manage in regard -to that, as well as I knew how nicely it would -work, if only the light were not too searching. -What more might the work require? Obviously -I should need a sack, in which to carry off the -plunder; and I ought to have a pick or a sledge-hammer, -or something in the way of a tool with -which to detach the solid chunks of metal. For -the sack, I decided to sew together some of the -skins which were lying on the floor of my shelter. -For tools I would carry a couple of the stoutest -clubs to be had in the camp. In addition to these -requisites, I could think of nothing I should need, -except my weapons.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_321">321</div> -<p>I lost no time in setting about the preparations -for this financial venture. It seemed a pity to rob -the goddess and her snake of the rugs on which -they reclined at various times, in my dug-out, -but there was nothing else to do. All the tribe-fellows’ -clubs having proved themselves to be serviceable, -I had no difficulty in selecting two which -I deemed worthy of the great occasion.</p> -<p>Old Fatty had resumed his faithful attendance -on my every movement and therefore he followed -me down to the boat, carrying both of the clubs -and the skins. He stood on the bank and watched -me embark, more crazy than ever to go along, but -still too frightened to trust himself afloat on the -lake. I had no wish to have company. Bidding -him “be good,” I pushed away and started on the -expedition.</p> -<p>By the time I had finished the work of fastening -the skins together, the afternoon was half gone. -There was nothing to do, in the way of work -which would occupy my time, and I felt no desire -to get into the bear-skin prematurely, as I had -done before, so that I was finally obliged to pull -in my oars and drift idly on the water. This was -a sleepy occupation. I nodded drowsily for half -an hour, at the end of which time I fell fast asleep.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_322">322</div> -<p>The sun was just disappearing when at last I -awoke. Disgusted with myself, for having thus -overdone the time-wasting business, I rowed -rapidly for Outlet river, to which I came duly. -Standing up in the boat I arrayed myself in my -costume; then I worked slowly down the river, -as before, and beached the boat in the spot where -I had landed on the last successful venture.</p> -<p>Already the dusk made the forest gloomy, but -as this was precisely what I wanted, I struck off -without delay, picking a path cautiously through -the growth. The neighbourhood seemed remarkably -still, but finally the rumble from the cauldron -disturbed the quiet and gave me a guide by -which I corrected my course.</p> -<p>Laden as I was, with the necessary things for -the labour, I should have presented a most amazing -aspect, had any of the Blacks discovered my -presence. I thought of that, and knew that even -if I got down in the normal position of a bear, the -juxtaposition of my bag and the clubs might -easily arouse the most dangerous suspicions in the -brain of any Link beholding them and me. However, -nothing happened.</p> -<p>“Why this is going to be a pic-nic,” I muttered. -“I couldn’t ask for anything nicer.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_323">323</div> -<p>Indeed fortune seemed to be smiling upon me, -for I came immediately upon a continuation of -the cliff of rock, which backed the camp of the -Blacks, and was soon confronted by a jagged -heap of stone and quartz, at the top of which appeared -a dark, irregular cave. Before I could -clamber up the pile to this opening, the -mighty roar came belching forth. I knew I -stood on the threshold of the cavern of wealth -and wonder.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_324">324</div> -<h2 id="c39"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXXIX</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">STEALING THE ENEMY’S FIRE</span></h2> -<p>No sooner had the demonstration ceased than I -hastened up the rock-heap to the cave. I found -the mouth of the place somewhat choked and hard -to enter, but I forced my way over massed-in -boulders to a vestibule of the great treasure-house -itself. Then suddenly my hopes were blighted -and failure loomed before me. It was as dark as -tar and I had clean forgotten to fetch a torch!</p> -<p>“But how could I have fetched a torch?” my -brain demanded. I had no civilised matches; I -could not have carried a brand all day, for the -sake of having it now, and if I had, the smoke -might have attracted the attention of the Blacks. -Had they caught a bear with a torch in his hand -they would unquestionably have desired an explanation. -I thought of my knife, which was steel, -and the flints on my arrows. Could I not produce -a spark, ignite some tinder and then make some -faggots take fire? Yes, I could, but the arrows -were all in the boat and I had about as much tinder -handy as a fellow could carry in his eye.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_325">325</div> -<p>In desperation I groped ahead for a rod and -nearly broke my neck, by jolting down an unseen -step in the floor. It was useless to tackle the -cavern in this inky blackness; I might easily get -boiled to death by the fountain of scalding water. -In bitter regret, I reproached myself for having -come away from camp without consulting the -goddess and without maturing my plans. But -any ass should have known the place would be -dark! I acknowledged that I was a fool, and that -after all this bother I should have to give it up. -Even if I did come again next day, it would be no -easy matter to fetch a torch, and I might try a -hundred times and not have the luck I had -this evening in avoiding those villains, the -Blacks.</p> -<p>More than ready to swear at my folly, mad as -a hornet to think of abandoning all the gold, which -was right there, almost within reach of my hands, -I pinched myself viciously and groped my way -out to the heap of rocks at the entrance.</p> -<p>Already a star was shining in the heavens. -What good were stars, I would have liked to -know. It was fire I wanted—fire at the end of -a stick. A crazy idea of hunting for something -highly inflammable, on which to try my flint -and steel, tried to get started in my brain. I -rejected the notion with scorn. I might as well -begin a search for glow-worms or incandescent -electric globes.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_326">326</div> -<p>“Those fools of Links have got plenty of -fire,” I grumbled, spitefully. “For about two -cents I’d kick them all out of their camp and take -all the torches I could carry.”</p> -<p>This bit of pleasantry somewhat restored my -humour. I started up from where I was sitting on -the rocks, abruptly, possessed of a great idea. -Why not make the trick worth the winning; why -not steal their fire to light myself in robbing -their cave?</p> -<p>In my haste to clamber down from the pile, I fell -forward and struck my hand smartly on something -which felt like a collected lot of wood. I -was ready to kick this thing, for bruising my -fingers, when I comprehended that wood was -exactly what I required. Grasping one of the -branches I lifted a whole bundle of sticks, all dry, -cut neatly of an equal length, and tied about -with some sort of cord. Instantly I thought of -the gilded skeleton—the man who had lived in this -place. I believed he had come to the cavern often, -and that doubtless these faggots had been gathered -by himself for torches.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_327">327</div> -<p>This discovery gave me new enthusiasm. I -was calmer, also, and I therefore resolved to proceed -carefully, do nothing rash, and to wait until -the time was propitious before attempting to steal -my fire. Nevertheless I was determined not to -give up the game until flatly beaten. Much luck -in the past had made me bolder than I was when -I arrived in the country.</p> -<p>During the half hour following, I crept through -the woods, toward the spot where I had waited for -the goddess. I thought it would bring me bad -luck to try any other location. My clubs and the -sack, I had left at the cauldron, along with my -bundle of wood. Thus I had nothing to impede -my progress; but the skin in which I was clothed -hampered every motion.</p> -<p>Throughout the jungle, various sounds had -commenced, for the darkness was rapidly becoming -that of full-fledged night. Through the trees, -when I approached their clearing, I caught the -gleam of the fires about which the Links were -cooking their dinner.</p> -<p>Knife in hand, I edged and pushed through the -creepers and vines until I dared go no further. -From where I was, I could see very much the -same sort of groups about the fires which had -made the picture weird on the former occasion. -But I was actually more excited and eager over -the present enterprise than I had been before, -when a fellow-being was in the game. Doubtless -this arose from the greater risk I expected to take.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_328">328</div> -<p>Impatient as I was, the Links seemed to require -an interminable time to get ready for bed. I -selected one and then another of the fires as the -one from which I would filch a brand, but was -finally obliged to wait and see which would be -the most favourable to my task. I desired to select -the one furthest from the sleeping places, and yet -not too far from my cover. The one first -abandoned by the Links would have answered -well. I watched it narrowly and kept an eye on -the Blacks, who were still lingering about. Long -before the fellows had all retired, the fire became -hopeless, so few were the embers left aglow. I -was obliged to fix upon another.</p> -<p>I waited all of two hours, by the end of which -time the Links were all safely asleep, save that -watchful old fiend whose acquaintance I had -made on my former visit. When at length he -laid himself down for the night, his position was -such that my intended deed had been rendered far -more difficult than I had expected. It became -necessary for me to make a long detour, for I -deemed it wise that I should be able to make a -bee-line for cover the second I procured my bit -of fire.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_329">329</div> -<p>In crawling and walking carefully about the -tangle, I consumed a lot of time. My position -then was such that by creeping bear-like from the -vines and going straight for my original hiding -place, I would pass the remains of a fire, in which -only one or two blazing pieces of wood remained. -Again I drew my knife. With a thumping heart, -high up in my neck, I began this desperate experiment.</p> -<p>A night-bird hooted before I had gone three -paces. That alert old wretch, the sentinel Black, -stirred about and turned sleepily over. For several -minutes I remained motionless; then again I -moved cautiously forward. Although I expected -the worst possible calamities to happen every -moment, and thought my own breathing would -betray my presence, I neared the fire without -arousing the lightest sleeper. Approaching the -burned-out heap, I selected the brand I would take, -before I was there. In consequence of this, I lost -no time, but passed silently on, when I had the -precious ember in my possession. Transferring it -quickly to my left hand, in order to conceal its -glowing end from any eyes which might by chance -be open, I dragged it on the ground beside me, and -headed for the shelter, which to reach would mean -success.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_330">330</div> -<p>A half chuckle escaped me, at the thought of -the Links’ stupidity and my own adroitness, for -the vines were now but a dozen feet away. Yet I -was horribly nervous, not daring to look behind -me and fearing that anything might be happening, -now that my back was turned upon the sleeping -foe. I reached the cover in triumph, however, and -even crawled to a small open spot, when suddenly -something gave me a vigorous push with its foot.</p> -<p>Instantly then that monstrous old watch Link, -recognised me, raised his club and poised to fetch -it down with a blow that should scatter my brains. -I saw him, knew he had caught me, realised that -more silently than I he had followed the singular -bear that would steal a brand of fire, and quick -as a gun-spring I shot up against him, butted him -hard in the ribs and we closed, in a duel to the -death.</p> -<p>My only thought was—“Choke him off!” I -knew that a single yell would bring an army of -foes upon me; I knew he had made no sound before -because of his commendable desire to determine -my nature while I was still unaware of his -presence. Now I swiftly determined that not a -sound should he make, unless he did it over my -dead body. I was thrice as vicious as he, I verily -believe, as I threw myself in against his body -and fastened my clutch on his throat. I was -fierce as only a frightened and desperate man can -be; I was strong as three of my kind, in that -moment of terrible need.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_331">331</div> -<p>His arms had been raised with the club; the -weapon had even been descending as I thumped -him violently backward. Down came the great -rock, but the force of the blow was gone, and the -aim was so ruined that he struck us both on the -leg. He dropped the thing as useless, for he could -not have raised it again had he tried. But with -his long, iron-like arms he fought like a fiend, -to shove me off, to gouge out my ribs and to grip -my throat as I was gripping his, with all but two -of my fingers. The two fingers gripped the -handle of my knife.</p> -<p>The length of his arms was for once against -him. I was as close up as flesh can freeze to flesh. -His head was thrust far back; already his breathing -muscles were swelling and labouring beneath -my thumbs. We struggled about in the darkness -hither and thither, wrestling, flinging, treading -on roots and branches and exerting the utmost of -our strength to win the battle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_332">332</div> -<p>The monster’s muscles were something prodigious; -his activity was simply incredible. I -have choked a man to submission in thirty seconds, -but it seemed as if I could never weaken this -brute nor reduce him to a state wherein I could -use my knife. He fought me with his feet, -scratched me and kicked my shins. He got his -bone-and-wire arms against my stomach at last -and clutched me and pushed me till I thought I -should shriek with pain. Had I not been protected -by the bear-skin, I think he would have -killed me, in spite of the tremendous advantage -I had gained at the outset. All this time the only -sound was what I made in breathing and what we -made with our scuffling about. It was an ominously -silent duel.</p> -<p>Over we toppled, tripped by a creeper, and -rolled on the ground among the vines. He had -me under, like a cat with a squirrel, but I felt him -beginning to quiver all over. My grip had not -been broken for a moment, but now it nearly gave -way; a weakness was stealing over me, for he was -crushing my ribs where I had received the blow -with the nugget club. This was the particular -time when the bear-skin helped me out.</p> -<p>Something smarted my leg then—the brand of -fire. I had struck against it. This made me -furious. A gush of hot, new strength welled up in -my veins and along all my sinews. My finger-ends -dug in about his wind-pipe deeper and -deeper. I heaved him over; his arms were becoming -like lead; his motions were powerless; all -the force seemed slipping from his body. Knowing -my time had come, I gave the knife in my -hand a sudden turn and push against the jugular -vein, swelling beneath my pressure, and felt him -shudder in death in a moment.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_333">333</div> -<p>Until I was sure he would move no more, nor -raise a sound, I remained astride his chest. The -stillness then was awful. Not a sound could I -hear but that of my own laboured breathing and -the trickle and drip of this creature’s blood. I -admit the dread of it all made me tremble. It -seemed such a ghastly end to my innocent -escapade.</p> -<p>But having plunged so deeply into the business, -for the sake of a bit of fire, I did not intend to -leave the work unfinished because of this unavoidable -incident. Therefore I caught up the glowing -branch, which had nearly been smothered out as -we rolled it in the grass, and blowing upon it to -liven it up, I stole away from that gory arena.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_334">334</div> -<h2 id="c40"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XL</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">COVETED GOLD</span></h2> -<p>Still breathing hard, from the effects of the -duel, I reached the heap of stone, outside the -cavern and hunted up my bundle of wood. I sat -down on a rock to get my torches lighted. This -was not an easy matter, for although my brand -was a species of wood which retained fire remarkably -long, I was obliged to gather many small dry -twigs and bits of dead creeper, to which I added -hair from the skins, before I could make a blaze. -Once having accomplished this feat, however, I -found that the torch-faggots burned with all the -fierceness of pitch.</p> -<p>Acknowledging that the skeleton-man had succeeded -in finding a wood which surpassed for -torches anything that I had yet discovered, I -threw my bag and clubs inside the cave and -climbed in after, with all the light I needed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_335">335</div> -<p>So far, the getting of treasure had not -proved to be the “pic-nic” I had previously been -led to suppose was about to be enjoyed. Holding -my torch above my head and carrying both the -clubs beneath my other arm, I now went along -in this wonder-house, waxing momentarily more -and more excited by the prospect of seeing what -was there.</p> -<p>The passage was narrow and low, it was likewise -crooked, and the floor was rough and uneven. -On the walls there was not the slightest -indication of anything precious. I have never -seen stone more dull. This made me doubt if I -had come to the cauldron of gold, after all. The -trend of the tunnel was downward. Presently I -came to a “jump off” four feet high. The bottom -of this secondary gallery sloped rapidly downward. -Then I emerged from the tunnel-like hall, -into a larger chamber. The first thing I saw was -water, in a crevice. I jumped then like a scared -cat, for a drop of the liquid fell plump on my nose -from the ceiling, where steam had condensed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_336">336</div> -<p>A second after this I got a brilliant gleam of -reflected light, from an object on the floor, a rod -away. It was gold. To right and left flashed -similar reflections. I hastened onward, and then -halted, dizzy with amazement, for below me, in a -great basin was ebon water that moved, and about -it were nodules and drippings of gold, and -stuffed into crevices was gold on gold. I leaped -a ditch, above which the mist was rising, hot and -damp. Beyond this, down in the very cauldron -itself, which was inaccessible and awe-inspiring, I -beheld those stalagmites of solid metal, those -building nuggets and the seething abyss of water -and natural acid which before I had seen from -above.</p> -<p>The ascending steam curtained off the mouth of -the cave above which I knew to be over this eerie -place, but I was far too eager for what was about -me, to spend my time in looking upward. It was -not a place of dazzling beauty; on the contrary it -was dull, dripping and misty, but here, there, in -unexpected places I caught that inimitable glitter. -Having seen one piece of the forming gold-hunks, -it seemed as if I were qualified to see a score. The -heat of the place was tremendous, the air humid -and hard to breathe.</p> -<p>So deep was the boiling water that I could see -nothing of what was below, yet I knew from seeing -the shallows, golden on the bottom, that the -basin was doubtless plated throughout with the -beautiful metal. I was wild with enthusiasm; I -wanted to knock off tons of nuggets; I began to -wonder if I could take it all. Quickly clambering -over jagged piles, I stepped on a boulder that -stood above an apron of rock all seamed with -cracks in which the gold had been stuffed till the -places were full.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_337">337</div> -<p>While I was standing there, the rumble of the -mighty giant commenced to resound in the cavern. -Alarmed at the thought that the water might -surge up and engulf me where I stood, I started to -flee to a safer retreat. My heel got caught in a -crevice. The harder I tugged, the tighter it became -wedged. Stooping I got my fingers in -behind it and slid it forward and out. The second -it cleared, my thumb struck an object full of something -that felt like nails. Glancing once at the -place, I was astonished to see the heel of a boot, not -unlike my own.</p> -<p>I leaped away to safety and the marvellous -geyser burst upward. The roaring noises thundered -upon the air of the place with deafening -reverberations; the steam rolled away in tremendous -volumes. Spray and drops of the boiling -liquid that splashed, fell all about, some on my -hand, burning me badly. The basin was all a-surge -with its seething brew; the waters gushed hungrily -up, swirling about, filling the cracks and -tossing in extreme agitation.</p> -<p>Down came the massive column of the fountain, -as if the source had been cut off in an instant. A -tidal wave of the boiling stuff swelled up to the -brink of the cauldron, inundating the golden -nodules, stalagmites and the radiating fissures.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_338">338</div> -<p>I knew, then, as much as a man could ever know, -who had not been present, how that other man had -lost his life, and how it came that his skeleton was -gilded. That heel told the story. He had probably -caught his foot just as I had done, but he -had not been able to get away. He had doubtless -fallen headlong into the basin of boiling liquid, -where his life must have been forfeited instantly. -Then time after time the water had risen about -him, until all the flesh had been boiled away from -the bones, and then the process of plating with -gold had commenced on the skeleton. Poor -wretch. It had then been left, I thought, for one -of the braver spirits among the Links to rescue -all that remained and carry it forth from the dread -cavern. I felt somewhat chilly to think how near -I had been to the same dreadful fate.</p> -<p>The demonstration having ceased, the water -subsided, the rocks and nuggets dripped, and the -steam arose, hotter than before. My zeal for exploring -the place had oozed away. It seemed to -me that discretion counselled me to complete my -work and depart.</p> -<p>“I’ll only stop for a few hundred pounds,” I -told myself with a feeling of virtuous moderation. -“A man should never be a pig.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_339">339</div> -<p>The first thing to do was to strip off my bear-skin, -in which I was now perspiring like a porpoise. -Then I selected a fine, large nodule of -gold, from the vicinity of which I could easily -escape when the geyser began to spout, and this -I began to batter with one of the clubs. I had -conceived an idea that I would bend these formations -over and break them off with comparative -ease. I was in for a large disappointment.</p> -<p>Not only were the gold masses bended over at -the expense of great energy and perseverance, but -they refused to break after quite a number of -such bendings. That first one having been once -so bent, refused to be knocked back in the opposite -direction. Also the geyser took its turn very soon -and in the end I humbly abandoned nodule number -one and tackled one which was smaller.</p> -<p>It was at least an hour before my labours were -awarded with any real success whatsoever. But -at last I had a chunk of metal of something like -five pounds weight. Mopping my head, puffing -and losing my temper, I “picked on” the smaller -pieces now with great sagacity. I pounded and -pried, grunted and wrenched, waited for the -geyser to have its say and then went at it again, -till I lost all reckoning of time. After several -failures, however, I got the knack of this mining -business better, and what with smashing rocks -away to facilitate the work and contenting myself -with modest chunks, I got loose and heaped up -something over a hundred weight of treasure, -according to my estimate by guessing.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_340">340</div> -<p>“That’s enough for any man of sense,” I finally -assured myself. “I’d be ashamed to take any -more.”</p> -<p>Lighting a new torch, from the one I had -planted in a chink, I went out toward the entrance -and secured my bag. To my amazement I discovered -that the day had broken. I had worked -for hours that sped like minutes. Somewhat concerned -about any Links, who might be stirring, I -hastened back, threw my hoard into the skin pouch -and staggered with it to the jump-off, where I -boosted it up hurriedly. On emerging from the -mouth of the cave, I was obliged to rest, so weary -had I become from my long-sustained labours. -However, I dared not pause, at so late an hour, -and therefore I shouldered my load again and -started away, leaving bear-skin, torches and clubs -behind. My only idea now was to reach the boat -in haste.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_341">341</div> -<p>In spite of my stubbornness, I could walk not -more than fifty yards at a time with my burden, -before putting it down to give myself “a blow.” -It was such a dead weight, and I had used up my -whole reserve of force. Breathing my great relief, -to find myself out at last, within one more carry -of the boat, I set the sack down in a thicket and -leaned against a tree to rest my muscles. As I -turned about to resume the load, a startling yell -suddenly penetrated the forest.</p> -<p>Jump about as quickly as I could, I was not in -time to avoid a furious onslaught. A hideous -female Link, as black as rubber and apparently as -old as the jungle, launched herself upon me and -bit me on the shoulder so severely that I cried out -in pain and struck her with my knife before I -could stop to remember that a male should -spare a female creature. The steel went deep in -her side. She wrenched with her jaws where she -was biting as she fell away, and injured a cord in -my neck, which made me all but collapse with -sudden nausea and weakness.</p> -<p>Before I could shake her off, after pulling out -the knife, the forest echoed with the yells of countless -demons rushing toward me from the direction -of the cave. Undone, incapable of showing -fight with my dagger, against so large and fierce -a mob, I tore myself free from the clutch of the -female and ran as hard as possible toward the -river.</p> -<p>That terrible female, stabbed only through the -fleshy muscles under her arm, made a dive for my -feet and hauled me down. I slashed off two of -her fingers with a vicious lunge, and darted away -again at the top of my speed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_342">342</div> -<p>By this time many of the demons were hot on -my trail, crying out in fearful monosyllables, tearing -through the brush, and attempting to head me -off. The foremost fellow threw his club and the -handle of it struck me on the leg. I snatched it -up, well knowing the creature would catch me -before I could go another twenty strides, and leaping -behind a tree I waited half a moment. He -rushed to the spot, headlong and reckless. Down -came his own weapon, and he fell like a dead -bull. But the motion of striking nearly killed me, -so fearful was the wrench where the female had -bitten the sinew.</p> -<p>Once more I ran dizzily away, at the head of -that screaming horde of Links. Club after club -was hurled to fetch me down, but all went wide. -I was beating them all—I knew it—I should reach -the boat, for none were aware of its presence. It -was hardly more than a rod away.</p> -<p>Stumbling and pitching, ready to fall down in -my agony, I dived through a hedge of vines and -was thrown headlong within reach of the prow I -knew so well. Up and shoving at the boat in a -twinkling, I heard the vines being ripped apart -behind me. Having held on to the club till I -fell here, I turned and pounced upon it and swung -it back in time to crash it fairly in the pit of the -black devil’s stomach, as he hurtled upon me.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_343">343</div> -<p>Dropping it instantly, I shoved off the boat with -all the strength I had, and leaped in, as three or -four more of the fiends came dashing madly down -to the river’s edge. This time when they threw -their clubs I was struck fairly on the fleshy portion -of the back and knocked on my face across -the seat. Hurt by the blow, but strong in my instinct -for self-preservation, I got out the oars in -jig-time and drove the good old craft up the -stream and away from the murderous brutes on -the bank, like a madman. Rowing almost straight -for the further side, I distanced all the clubs -speedily. When they realised the utter futility of -pursuit, the enraged creatures merely yelled their -maledictions as I went.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_344">344</div> -<h2 id="c41"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XLI</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">FAREWELL TO THE CAMP</span></h2> -<p>The strength which had risen in my desperation, -even against the shock to my system which -had been given by the bite of the female monster, -departed before I was out of the river. I trembled -from head to foot; I was ill all over and nearly as -limp as a string.</p> -<p>How serious the bite might be I had no means -of ascertaining. To my hand, when I felt of the -place, there seemed to be only a raw, smarting -wound, on the top of a great hot swelling. I felt -sure that no thews had been actually severed by -the terrible teeth, for had any been, I should not -have been able to row the boat nor to use my arm -in any manner whatsoever. Nevertheless I knew -I was wounded badly, and I all but cried with the -pain it cost me to move the craft.</p> -<p>Until I had reached the lake, the fear of the -Blacks made me work, despite my physical -anguish. When I knew I was comparatively safe, -I sank forward and, I confess, fainted like a girl.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_345">345</div> -<p>It was probably as much as an hour before I -recovered my senses fully. For the last fifteen -minutes or so of this time I was semi-conscious, -but incapable of motion, while my brain merely -whirled in a vortex with that female Link, the -boat and the nuggets of gold. When at last I again -acquired the power of moving, I filled my hand -with water from the lake repeatedly and dashed it -on my face and on my bitten shoulder. But I -could not row; I needed further rest.</p> -<p>My head was beginning to ache. My brain insisted -on revolving the story of my greed for -gold. Again I fought the battle of silence with -the watch-dog of the tribe; again I worked like a -gnome in that steaming, hot cauldron; again I -staggered away with my plunder. Then I saw -that female Link, who, searching in the thicket, -must have found the body of the watch-dog, lying -in his gore. He might have been her mate. -Crazed, she followed on the trail that led from the -spot, with the tribe at her heels. She reached the -cauldron and then got again on the tracks I was -making to the river. At that I screamed and -thought I was crazy myself.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_346">346</div> -<p>Aroused by this repeated nightmare, I struggled -with the oars again. It seemed as if I could -not budge the boat; this made me work like a -fury. The heat of the sun grew intolerable; I -could feel it baking the blood in my head; it was -all on the side of the Blacks. The lake was a -sheen of blinding light and heat; it mocked me -and held me back. Again and again came the -lurid panorama of events. I could see through -everything, jungle, thicket and bag made of skin—see -those pieces of gold—mine! mine!—shining -like the blazing sun, hot and baking. All that gold -on the ground was mine, but it mocked me and -cooked my brain with its heat and steam.</p> -<p>I lost all reckoning; I rowed to escape the nightmare -and the lake that held me back. The sun -got up in mid-heaven, and still I was on that -shimmering water. I knew nothing, absolutely, -of what I did, except that I rowed to get away -from that female Link, who seemed to bite me -times without number, and always in that same -burning spot. I must have fainted half a dozen -times; I rowed toward home between these spells -by instinct only. The distance which I could -ordinarily compass in a little more than an hour, -required no less than seven hours, this fateful day. -When I think of the heat, the weight of the boat -and my physical condition, I wonder I did not die, -and drift to the shore.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_347">347</div> -<p>As it was, I have not the slightest recollection of -having reached the bank. I thought that for years -and years I strove to get away from that last terrible -encounter. When at length my brain was -clear and I opened my eyes, in the slow, weak -manner of one who has all but passed to the -further side of the dark river, I saw a beautiful, -worried face above my own—the face of the goddess.</p> -<p>“Thank God!” she whispered fervently, when -she saw that I was mad no longer, and the poor -girl cried as she bathed my head and bade me go -to sleep.</p> -<p>I had nearly pegged out, and that is the truth. -When I was strong enough to hear my own story, -I learned of things which will never cease to fill -me with wonder, and with many emotions too soft -to parade. It was good old Fatty who had seen -me coming; and he it was that finally carried me -bodily up the hill. Then for a nurse I had never -lacked for a moment. The goddess and Fatty, -he her slave, she my guardian angel, had done the -all that could be done, with the poor facilities at -hand, for a man in such desperate straits that he -raves night and day for a week. But the goddess -really saved me, when all is said, for she knew the -properties of certain tropical plants and with the -crushed leaves of one she drew the poison from -the bite, reduced the swelling and made it possible -for proper healing to commence. I had done the -worst possible thing, in rowing home through the -heat and with such a wound, but if I had not done -exactly what I did, and when I did, my doctor and -nurse would never have had the opportunity of -proving their skill.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_348">348</div> -<p>They were strange days that followed—strange -for me, who had never been down on my back -with illness before since childhood, for the fever -left me thin, weak, and feeling so helpless that I -had no desire to move as much as one of my feet. -My first poignant thought was about the Blacks, -and the danger of their swooping down upon us -again. When I knew that for a week there had -been no sign of any foe, I thought they had probably -undergone too great a fright on the last occasion -to require any more for some considerable -time.</p> -<p>For another week I lay like a baby, in the -shelter, eating fruits and bits of meat which the -goddess prepared as best she could. How I -yearned to see her face, whenever she left me for -a moment! Then came the time when I began to -mend, and desired to have back my strength and -my title of king.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_349">349</div> -<p>When I stood up and wobbled about on my -pins one day, I made a discovery which did much -to hasten a return to my old condition. The crystal -club, presented to me by the ex-chief, in token -of my exalted station and regal attainments, had -been stolen. I learned that the ex-chief had dared -to carry this sceptre of power into the jungle; I -learned from Fatty that the jealous Madame Albino -had been the one to rob me of my trophy. -She feared the goddess—who in truth was more -of a queen of the tribe than I had even been a king,—but -the creature had not feared a man who was -crazy and likely to die.</p> -<p>So wroth did I wax over this outrage to my -dignity that I became unmanageable at once. Thin -as a rail, but able to stagger about, next day, I -dug up one of my lesser bombs from the magazine, -and waving it wildly above my head, marched up -to the guilty ex-chief, while he had the club underneath -him, as he sat on the ground, and scared him -half to death. He knew the bomb,—no trouble -about that. I therefore took the crystal club away -from him, rudely, and slapped his face. He fell -down instantly and began to adore my tracks in -the proper spirit of humiliation, followed without -delay by all the tribe. Madame Albino fled to -the woods, though what manner of personal violence -the lady expected I have never been able to -guess. This fine, large bluff, of a man as white as -paper and thin as a hair-pin, had a most salutary -effect. It made all the fellows love me more than -before, even the chief, for all were much like dogs -in disposition, and a dog is the better for it when -he learns that man is the master. I was more -of a monarch every day.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_350">350</div> -<p>Yet I was slow in regaining my old weight, for -the heat was increasing steadily, and my system -had been much depressed by the fever. In consequence -of this, I did more at playing than at work. -With my fellows I practiced archery in the cooler -parts of the days, coaxing back the strength to -my arms, body and legs, but I made my excursions -to the jungle brief.</p> -<p>During this period of convalescence, the goddess -reassumed the company of her snake. But -the dear girl followed me about with her gaze, -which I frequently felt drawing my own. When -I would glance toward her, I always saw her glorious -eyes filled with longing and sympathy and a -tenderness which went straight to my heart. But -she would blush and look away, nearly always at -the hideous snake.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_351">351</div> -<p>With my returning strength came the recurrent -desire to depart from the place forever. Also, in -spite of all I could do, the thought of my gold—lying -in the thicket, the treasure for which I had -laboured so hard—would persist in returning. I -tried to banish the dream of avarice, but it is a -fearsome clutch which riches maintain on the imagination -of poor, weak man. I felt quite convinced -that great as my longing was for the world -outside, that of the goddess was ten-fold greater. -Of this I spoke, one day, when my restored condition -gave promise that I should not fail for lack -of strength in what I might undertake. Into the -eyes of that faithful girl came a burning light, -which would have made the heart of any man -bound with feeling. She spoke, however, with -her usual control.</p> -<p>“I should like to leave this place,” she said, -“but I prefer to wait until you are strong and -masterful, as you were when I saw you first.”</p> -<p>At this it was on my tongue to speak of the -future, and of certain hopes which had grown in -my thoughts, of a home to be and of happiness, but -I curbed this desire as being untimely while she -depended so entirely upon myself for deliverance.</p> -<p>Having dwelt no little on the prospect of the future -in this camp, in which—unless we escaped—I -could see my own skeleton hung up on a stump, -and with no fine plating of gold upon it, either, -I had small desire to remain in the land another -day. Strangely enough, however, I had no sooner -begun to make our preparations for leaving, than -memory dragged in every happy day I had spent -with my Links, every thrill of triumph in my puny -successes, every faithful or affectionate deed -which these simple, half-animal creatures had ever -performed toward myself. I own I was foolishly -attached to a number of the poor forest-children, -who watched me always with such a dumb look of -regard, and wonder as to what I was.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_352">352</div> -<p>It is not a boast to say that I had wrought an -ineradicable effect upon these less than merely -primitive people. In turn they had been my willing -slaves, my companions—my everything of life. -I thought of Little Tike, and blessed his memory -for the days of real enjoyment he had given me -when I was mending from a serious injury once -before. But after all—there was that gilded skeleton -to think about and to dread. What profit was -it to a skeleton that sundry Missing Links still -adored the ground before it? I preferred to be a -man of meat, unadored for the rest of my life, -rather than to be a gold-plated pile of bones, -worshipped madly throughout the centuries to -come.</p> -<p>Thus, taking matters quietly, I made myself and -the boat ready for the long, uncertain cruise. I -was quite aware that we might be leaving a place -of comparative safety, for waters and lands of -which the dangers might be innumerable and the -chances for escape absolutely nil; I agreed, mentally, -that we might be making a terrible mistake -which we would recognise when too late for any -retreat, but these were the risks we were obliged -to assume. I believed I could win, in this game -with fates unknown, and virtually I wagered both -our lives on the outcome of the play.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_353">353</div> -<p>One of my chief concerns, in stocking the boat, -was that of providing water. As long as we -floated on the river we should have this in plenty, -but if we did reach the sea, matters might be -altered. The best I could do was to take my tortoise -shell, to hold a fair supply. It was an easy -matter to provision ourselves with meat, for strips -which I cut from various kinds of game, dried in -the sun in a manner most satisfactory, furnishing -a palatable supply, which, with salt, was not at all -bad to chew upon by the hour.</p> -<p>For weapons I depended on the bow and arrows, -a club and a number of good flint hatchets, -in addition to four small bombs, with complement -of fuse. In order to provide an ever-ready brand -of fire for these, should occasion to use them arise, -I selected a goodly quantity of the wood which retained -the glow so long, after which I lined all -the bow-end of the boat with clay, so that I could -build my blaze on the bottom and yet do no harm -to the hull by burning. I meant to carry my fire -along, for I had experienced all the “pic-nics” I -wanted for the lack of this useful thing. Among -sundry other materials, I provided myself with -several coils of good, stout line, made by braiding -together the small, pliable creepers. At this work -the goddess assisted splendidly.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_354">354</div> -<p>All the skins which had formed my gold bag, -had been left behind, in my flight from the Blacks, -of course, but my Links having learned the process -of curing pelts in the brine, had worked up -some very good pieces. On these I levied a tax—the -only one I imposed during my reign—thereby -fitting the craft out in some degree of comfort, -for the goddess had dressed herself in all the hides -I had left in my shelter. This seemed to be the -concluding ceremony, except that I made sure my -oars and thole-pins were staunch, and I cut a long -slender pole, to be used for any purpose which -might develope later on.</p> -<p>My decision was made to leave in the late afternoon, -in order to pass the camp of the Blacks -after night had rendered them cowards. At the -very thought of their village, that bag of gold -clamoured for another fling at fortune. I was a -poor man, in my own country, howsoever wealthy -I might consider myself in Linkland; the temptation -was great. But I shook my head decisively. -I had an undoubted right to risk my own neck, -but I had not the slightest right to risk the personal -safety of a helpless woman. No, I must shut my -eyes to the glitter, and pass the treasure by—like -a man!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_355">355</div> -<p>Although I had made frequent excursions in -my boat, many of which had required preparation, -the Links seemed to comprehend that on this occasion -the matter was one of much more importance -and gravity for all concerned. When all was ready -and the hour drawing near, I attempted to convey -to the assembled tribe my intention of going, with -the goddess, so far that I should never return. -That they understood, I am positive; the poor -fellows were greatly affected. They regretted the -arrival of that day as plainly as if they had said -so in a most solemn chorus. Even the albino -female, weak, inconsequent creature that she was, -and like a woman, would have forgiven everything -and promised to be good all the rest of her -days, to have changed my decision. She wept on -the ground, sincerely. I felt saddened myself; I -admit it freely. These rude creatures had all -seemed like my very own; they were more than -faithful animals, and yet they commanded a -strange sympathy, being less than men.</p> -<p>When ready to go, I carried the great rock-crystal -club to the ex-chief and placed it again in -his hand, as he stood there and wondered.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_356">356</div> -<p>“Take it back,” I said, as if he could understand -every word, “you are man enough to wield -it well. Boys,” I added to the others, “don’t -go backward again; stick to the bows, and make -new ones for yourselves, to shoot the pigs. Try -to be good, manly fellows. And—and I hope you -won’t entirely forget me, when I’m gone.”</p> -<p>Turning quickly away, I shouldered the gold-nugget -club and started for the boat, to which the -goddess also repaired. Old Fatty was whining, -as he followed at my heels, and after him trooped -every creature in the tribe, till all stood together -on the shore.</p> -<p>In the boat was everything we needed, so far as -I could plan and provide, including a lot of the -freshest fruit to be obtained. The goddess took her -seat in the stern. Seized with an impulse, I turned -to my loyal fellows and held out my hand to the -chief. He was wholly at a loss to know what I -meant, yet so natural is the gesture that he placed -his hand in mine without even knowing that this -shake was the symbol of friendship, greeting and -farewell. The others followed his example, in -wonder, and with awkward motions, so that I -bade good-bye to all the “men.”</p> -<p>Fatty, who was eyeing the boat and whining -and giving little jumps of indecision, knew not -what to do. I stepped in the craft and pushed her -gently off.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_357">357</div> -<p>“Come on then, Fatty,” I said to my good, old -fellow, and bounding through the tepid water, -he did actually leap into the boat and sit there, -shivering with awe and delight.</p> -<p>“Good-bye, old camp; good-bye, my friends,” -I said, as we drifted slowly away. “God keep you, -poor children of the jungle.”</p> -<p>The chief and all the others got down on the -ground, along the bank, and paid me such a tribute -of genuine esteem as I shall never know again. -This was their long farewell; this was their voluntary -expression of love and regret. At that moment, -more than any other in my life, I was a -king.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_358">358</div> -<h2 id="c42"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XLII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">GOLDEN GLEAMS</span></h2> -<p>As long as we could see them, the Links continued -to watch the boat departing. Even the -goddess, who had conceived such a hatred and -fear of the Blacks, felt that these simpler fellows -were not wholly savage and bad; she even waved -them good-bye till we passed around the point, -after which we were quiet for several minutes.</p> -<p>Old Fatty was thoroughly frightened. He -crouched down and trembled, raising his head -timidly from time to time to look about, but always -ducked it back under his arm as if he thought -that to shut out the sight was to eliminate the imaginary -danger. I pitied him, but felt a greater -affection for the old fellow than ever before, to -think he preferred to undergo this torture, rather -than to remain behind when I had gone. It was a -wonderful compliment, and so I shall always -think. But I hoped his fears would soon depart, -for I was sorry to see him distressed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_359">359</div> -<p>When I turned from the last view of our -friends, to smile at the goddess, I noticed for the -first time that she was minus the anaconda.</p> -<p>“Why—we’ve forgotten your darling, beastly -old snake,” said I. “If it makes a lot of difference, -why—of course—”</p> -<p>“I left it purposely,” she interrupted, rosy -red.</p> -<p>“The deuce!” I exclaimed. “I thought the -critter was your pet—the one thing on earth—”</p> -<p>“My pet! Oh, the horrible, crawling thing!” -She shuddered at the memory, to my great, but -secret delight. “I hated the nasty thing—I -loathed it!” she expostulated fervently. “I hope -I’ll never see another snake again!”</p> -<p>This was a huge surprise. “Gee whizz!” said I.</p> -<p>“Gee wizz!” echoed Fatty, and he ducked his -head back with a snap.</p> -<p>“But—er—why, then,” I resumed, “why did -you lug it around?”</p> -<p>“I took it as my only protection,” she replied -with dignity. “I had to be protected from the -outrageous brutes!”</p> -<p>“That’s so,” I admitted, abashed. “I might -have thought of that. Of course—just as plain -as day.... You’re right—I’m a donkey.... -Yes.... But—but why have you thrown -him away, now?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_360">360</div> -<p>“Because,” she murmured, looking at me -timidly, while she blushed again, “because I don’t -need him—any more.”</p> -<p>“Well—bless my soul!” said I, and that was -all.</p> -<p>Sending the boat along steadily, for the sun had -set and darkness would soon be coming, I thought -of many things. My gaze rested on Fatty, who -was now beginning to look about him a trifle -more boldly. What should I do with the old fellow, -provided we all got safely out of the country -and once more mingled with men? How astonished -he would be at the sights of steamers, railroad -trains, cities, and the hurrying crowds of -people! I could fancy his comical face, as he -looked in my eyes, like a bewildered dog. Would -it ever be possible to put him in clothes and have -him about me? I knew he could learn many useful -things, and even much of my speech, but whether -a Missing Link could really be kept, as a servant, -or friend, was a question requiring no little -amount of thought. Of one thing I was certain, -I would never under any circumstances permit -him to become a freak, nor even an object of people’s -idle curiosity. Poor old, faithful Fatty.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_361">361</div> -<p>By the time we arrived at Outlet river I felt that -the darkness was sufficient to make it possible and -safe for me to run the gauntlet past the camp of -the Blacks. Cautiously I rowed the boat, bidding -the goddess say nothing till we should be past the -clearing.</p> -<p>I could see that she had become pale and frightened, -as we neared the place in which for long she -had been a prisoner, but also there was ample evidence -of her courage. Without a sound, we glided -by the bank where twice I had beached the boat, -and my heart beat with excitement as I thought of -the gold, lying so short a carry away. “Get it—take -it!” prompted a thought in my brain, “it -will only take a moment and then you will be -rich!” But I conquered; I crushed out the tempting -voice and rowed slowly on.</p> -<p>Proceeding across the river, to the side opposite -the clearing of our foe, I watched for the camp, -eagerly. We came sooner than I had expected to a -point from which we could see the place. I looked, -but was struck dumb with surprise. Not a fire did -I see. I rested on the oars and listened; there was -not a sound of the chattering Blacks. Daring to -approach a trifle nearer, so great is human curiosity, -I was still unable to discover a single sign -of inhabitants on the flat where I had formerly -seen them by the hundred.</p> -<p>“I’m a fish,” said I, “if they haven’t deserted -the camp!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_362">362</div> -<p>They had gone, for a fact. There was not a -Link of them left. They had fled, for what reason -I could not even conjecture; and where they were -was a question which I did not care to propound. -It seemed to me that this lifted a great burden of -worry from my shoulders. But as soon as I had -made myself sure of the truth, my thoughts went -flashing back to the bag of gold. If the Links -were gone, I should run no risk in recovering the -treasure. So potent did this idea become, that I -immediately turned the boat back up the steam -and began to row with vigour.</p> -<p>The goddess asked me at once where I was -going. When I told her she seemed deeply to regret -my resolution, but she sat there, grimly, and -made no comment. Brave girl, I knew she was -terribly agitated, but a girl could not be expected -to do or to know any better. I admired her pluck -in restraining her natural impulse to protest and -coax and make a fuss.</p> -<p>In the briefest time, the prow was grating on the -bank. Fatty leaped out, wild with delight to find -himself again on solid earth.</p> -<p>“We’ll only be gone a minute,” I told the goddess, -and led the way up through the brush and -the darkness.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_363">363</div> -<p>To tell the truth I was more than half afraid -that something might happen, myself. Jungle -noises had commenced and the place seemed to -breathe of my flight, struggles and pains of the -time before. Stumbling about, as silently as possible, -I began to search for the treasure.</p> -<p>I had pictured myself walking straight to where -the gold was lying, but I now began to realise that -to re-discover the particular thicket where I had -dropped it would be a matter involving considerable -luck. A fruitless time elapsed while I plunged -about. Fatty was of no assistance, for he knew -nothing of what I was seeking.</p> -<p>Presently the same old grumble and roar, from -the mighty cauldron, commenced to roll outward -on the air. I knew at once I was off the track, at -least twenty yards. Changing my base rapidly, -I began the search anew. But it seemed utterly -hopeless. A doubt came over me; was the bag -still there? Might not the Blacks have found it -and carried it away? It seemed as if this must be -so. I was worried about the goddess; if anything -should happen to her, how terrible it would be!</p> -<p>On the point of giving up the gold, and persuading -myself that I did not care anyway, I -turned to leave, and stumbled heavily over some -obstacle and into a tangle of creepers.</p> -<p>“Here it is, all the time!” I grumbled.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_364">364</div> -<p>My excitement rose to fever pitch in a second. -The bag, exactly as I had dropped it down, was -under my very hand. Lifting it out of the embracing -tendrils, I got it boosted up on my -shoulder in a hurry. Then back we plunged, -through the growth.</p> -<p>If I live to be a thousand, I shall never see a -face so expressive of dread and fright as was that -of the poor, trembling girl in the boat, when at -last we came to where she was waiting. I believe -that hers had been a more cruel ordeal to endure -than had been my own on the former occasion. I -had not even thought to whistle a bit, by way of -assurance that all was well. She had to cry, -dear little woman, when the strain was over and -the boat once more headed down the stream.</p> -<p>I spurned the gold with my foot, as it lay in -the boat, and hated myself for a miserly, greedy -fool, yet in spite of myself I felt a tremendous elation -inside, to think of having all this wealth, after -all. It seemed too good for me to contain myself -over. I wanted to roar out in laughter, to sing, -and to shout a mad defiance to all the Blacks in -kingdom.</p> -<p>Fatty had entered the boat again, with more -alacrity than before, desiring any fate with us -rather than to be left alone in an unknown jungle -after dark. He made himself small in the bottom -of the boat, and we glided past the deserted camp -of our defeated foe.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_365">365</div> -<h2 id="c43"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XLIII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">SURROUNDED BY THE BLACKS</span></h2> -<p>It was a strange sensation to skim along that -river through the dark, irregular walls of trees, -for the sounds of the jungle came to us clearly and -these were all we could hear. At times we could -see but a short distance ahead; at many a bend it -appeared as if the great silent water-way ended -abruptly. Then again it would open out and -curve away, lighted only by its own reflections of -the stars.</p> -<p>So much did this outlet wind that I lost all account -of directions, but I knew we were traversing -miles to accomplish but little direct advance. Our -talking amounted to nothing. My mood was not -for conversation, while I am sure the goddess -dreaded to speak a word. From time to time some -water creature splashed its way among the grasses, -next the bank. No matter how often this sound -was repeated, it made me start and breathe heavily -till we were past the place.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_366">366</div> -<p>The hours sped by, bringing no material change -that could be noted. The night was exceedingly -dark, owing in part to the density of the forest so -near on either side. Pausing at length in my -rowing, I observed that we drifted more rapidly -than I had thought the current to be moving. -Having become a trifle soft, while on my back, I -found that my arms had grown tired already from -the work. Fatty had succumbed to his habit of -sleeping, acquired by going to bed at dark. His -fears, however, had kept him awake much later -than usual. He was curled down in the hold, -where he twitched his feet and made little noises, -like a dog that dreams.</p> -<p>I whispered to the goddess that she had better -try to follow Fatty’s example, but I was quite -unable to ascertain whether she slept or not, so -still had she been for an hour. Deeming it wise -to conserve my strength for the daylight rowing, -I now permitted the boat to float down the river -at its own speed, merely keeping her out toward -the centre of the stream by steering with one or -the other of the oars. She swung about, broadside -on, but as this enabled me to watch ahead -easily, I made no effort to keep her pointed directly -down the current.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_367">367</div> -<p>Drifting thus, I kept the lonely vigil, hour after -hour. I think I have never felt more depressed -than I finally became in that heart of the wilderness. -Not that anything threatened, nor that the -sounds about me were more than usually weird, -but simply because there seemed to be no end in -promise; there appeared to be no progress toward -anything different from that interminable jungle, -in which the river seemed merely to wind without -purpose. I felt as if the stream were like a figure -8, on which we could float forever and never get -out of the maze. I knew better than this, but -everything contributed to make me hopeless. -Sleepy and weary, dully aching in the muscles and -bones made weak by the fever, I almost thought -the whole business a failure and the life, for which -I had fought so persistently, a mockery unworthy -of the effort.</p> -<p>On and on, winding and curving, drifted the -boat with its extraordinary cargo. Now and again -I stirred the embers of fire, which were dully -glowing in my furnace-like receptacle of clay. In -this place these burning sticks appeared like the -eyes of some crouching animal. I gave up all idea -of ever seeing dawn. Nodding, jerking myself -awake, bathing my heavy lids with water, steering -my crooked course on this stream of mystery, I -passed the time without a single relieving incident -to break the deadening monotony of sound, motion -and thought.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_368">368</div> -<p>Even when the first yellow streaks of morning -did make slits in the clouds, above the horizon of -trees, it seemed as if the process of day-breaking -ceased and that the actuator had forgotten the -method. About this time, a rain commenced to -fall, light, but wet and not desired. Fatty and the -goddess awoke. I stumbled over the faithful Link -to arrange a protection for the fire, which might -otherwise have been extinguished. Then in my -eagerness to get back to the oars and head us off -from the bank, toward which we were gliding, I -forgot to cover the bombs.</p> -<p>Grateful for the diversion, as well as for the -company of my two companions, I picked up my -spirits rapidly, becoming actually cheerful. This -humour seemed to accelerate the coming of morning -amazingly. The river reflected the pale -streaks of light, the trees began to emerge in detail -from the walls of gloom, and the dismal -sounds, of hooting and howling things, were -abated. Before we knew it, day was upon us, our -winding course became a ceaseless invitation to -hasten on and round the next succeeding curve, -and we were drifting with a doubled speed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_369">369</div> -<p>Though the rain continued to fall, it was not -annoying. I ate a bit of fruit and manned the -oars, soon having us going at an encouraging -speed. When the sun peered over the edge of the -world, I felt like a boy. I let out a shout and a -roar to relieve the pressure of over exhilaration. -The echoes chased through the jungle madly.</p> -<p>Glancing ahead I now discovered that the river -narrowed down abruptly between rude stairways -of rock. On either side were shelves of the adamant, -not more than a foot above the tide; the -whole gateway was barely more than six feet in -width. As might have been expected the current -was fairly being sucked through this chasm, which -explained the extra speed of the current where we -were.</p> -<p>Seeing nothing in or about the place which -should make it difficult of navigation, I merely -kept the boat headed for the centre of the pass -and let her shoot along with the powerful sweep -of waters. The place was not long, nor were the -rocks high nor difficult of access from the banks -below. I remember to have thought how easily -a man could cross the river at this peculiar place -by simply jumping.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_370">370</div> -<p>The boat was tossed on the turbulent surface, -as we darted through, but below was another -broad, smooth expanse, and the ever-inevitable -curve of the river. This latter we reached soon. -I was then somewhat surprised to observe two -things: First, that for several hundred feet the -stream was nearly straight, and second that it -narrowed again below us, between banks a yard -in height on which the growth was dense and -which were so close together that several slender -creepers hung like the cables of a projected suspension -bridge across the stream, from branch to -branch. I thought the wind must have blown the -first slight tendrils over and that later they had -grown to their present size. I also noted that -again the placid river became rapids, which tossed -and foamed in their agitated plunge between these -banks.</p> -<p>Absorbed in what I saw and watching my -course narrowly, I gave no heed to anything else. -Therefore I started with galvanic quickness at a -sudden scream from the goddess. In answer, a -chorus of yells, triumphant, and diabolical enough -to curdle the blood in one’s veins, went up instantly. -Then the jungle below us appeared literally -to swarm with terrible forms.</p> -<p>The black Links, dancing like maniacs, screaming -and racing toward the rapids to intercept us, -were surging from every possible space between -the trees, on the left-hand side of the river. They -dashed ahead, fully comprehending the situation -and their own advantage. I thought I could beat -them to the rapids, but they were there by the -score before we could approach within a stone’s -throw of its top, a fierce and terrible array, armed -with their clubs with which they could not have -missed us by throwing.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_371">371</div> -<p>To have attempted to run through the narrows -would merely have been to court a sudden death. I -backwatered quickly and held the boat from drifting. -Fatty was whining; the goddess was white -as paper. I thought of the rapids above us, against -the current of which I could not have pulled the -boat to save our souls. I looked about and noted -the densely wooded banks, which made escape in -that direction impossible, even if we could have -landed on the side opposite the foe in the vain -hope that they could not get across as easily as we.</p> -<p>We were trapped!</p> -<p>The wild brutes, insane to get the goddess again -in their clutches, mad to tear Fatty in shreds, and -crazy to beat me to a pulp, as their arch-nemesis, -simply writhed in eager anticipation of bagging -us all, in spite of all we could do.</p> -<p>It was maddening; it all but drove me out of my -senses. I knew that to wait for night would -mean that when they were goaded sufficiently by -their own impatience, the monsters would reach -us, even if they had to swim, in addition to which -I should certainly not dare to run the rapids after -dark. Escape was utterly impossible, turn where -I might.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_372">372</div> -<p>The greed for gold had done the trick! The -time I had wasted to get it would have saved us. -Had I not delayed, we should have passed this -place before the light had become strong enough -to reveal our presence.</p> -<p>The demons never ceased for a moment to yell. -That they knew we were caught I could not doubt. -Not only did the males all congregate to smash us -to atoms if we should attempt to shoot the rapids, -but the females also appeared like magic from the -jungle and lined up along the bank, a cruel looking -mob with fingers that itched to tear poor -Fatty and me to strings of meat. I was alarmed, -desperate, and enraged by turns. Keeping off the -boat and attempting to see a way out, I suddenly -thought of my bombs.</p> -<p>Immediately I conceived a plan by which I -meant to scatter the fiends in utter dismay. Dropping -the boat down toward them I stopped it -just outside the range of their clubs and headed it -back up the stream. Before it had ceased to go -forward, under the impulse of a powerful stroke, -I shipped the oars, grabbed up a bomb and darted -over Fatty to the fire. Snatching up an ember, I -applied it to the fuse, meaning to throw the deadly -explosive into their midst and dart through the -rapids in the instantaneous confusion which would -follow.</p> -<p>But the rain had dampened the powder!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_373">373</div> -<p>The fuse would not ignite! The trick was -worse than a failure!</p> -<p>With a curse on my lips, I sprang back to the -oars and spun the boat about, barely in time to -save it from shooting the narrows broadside on. -A dozen clubs, whizzing and hurtling end over -end, splashed the water about us, as I drove the -boat back to a safe position. In despair I examined -all the bombs, only to find them as useless -and harmless as so many hunks of cork. All my -elaborate work to provide myself with these -weapons and with the fire to make them of use, -had been wholly undone in a moment of thoughtless -neglect. I might have protected these instruments -of death, but I had failed at the critical -moment.</p> -<p>The weight of this calamity nearly overcame -me. It seemed as if the bombs had been our only -hope, and that now we were certainly doomed. -The raging Blacks yelled more horribly than ever; -they were more assured of their prey. Nothing -more ferocious can be imagined than this mass of -fiends, many of them foaming at the mouth, all -excitedly moving from place to place, and all -showing fangs of teeth, as they watched us with -the nervous, near-together eyes which I knew so -well.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_374">374</div> -<p>I was rendered so thoroughly unfit by the failure -of my bombs, that I gave up trying to think -of any other way of outwitting the monsters. The -rain re-commenced. With a bitter sniff of scorn at -myself for the action, I covered the bamboo explosives -with a skin, to prevent them from getting -any wetter. As if powder could be any wetter -when it has become too damp to ignite!</p> -<p>“Oh what shall we do? what shall we do?” -moaned the goddess.</p> -<p>I tried to answer cheerfully, but having no sensible -reply was denied even this negative pleasure. -I tried to think, in order to make some rejoinder.</p> -<p>“There is only one scheme and that is nearly -hopeless,” I told her at last. “If I can make them -believe we are about to land on the opposite side, -up above, perhaps they might abandon their present -position and then we could make a dash for -it and beat them past that narrow channel.”</p> -<p>She made no comment, but in her eyes there was -such an imploring light that I deemed no effort -too great to make. Somewhat inspirited by the -plan concocted on the spur of a moment, I strung -my bow and laid an arrow near and immediately -turning the prow up stream began to row away -from the waiting Blacks, toward the furthest bank -we could see.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_375">375</div> -<p>At first they were undecided, or else they refused -to believe we were leaving. But their wits -were keen only within narrow limits. Taking the -bait, in a moment, they seemed suddenly to remember -the rock-passage, over which they doubtless -knew they could jump. By the score they -chased up the bank, swinging along in the trees -with astonishing agility and gaining on us every -moment.</p> -<p>I was purposely rowing slowly, but with great -show of exertion. As far as I could determine, -from that distance, every demon in the tribe came -chasing up the river, to be in at the death. Dozens -of them remained visible, marking the position of -the main body as it moved up the bank, but the -great majority were soon hidden in the tangle of -verdure, through which they weaved like so many -animated black shuttles, playing in and out -through the warp of green.</p> -<p>Steering now for the bank which was just below -the upper rapids, and appearing to row with -all possible haste, I had the extreme satisfaction of -seeing our mad pursuers swarming toward the -rocks where the stream could be leaped at a bound. -So eagerly did they push and crowd, when they -came to the place, that some, who paused undecided -at the brink, were shoved headlong into the -angry current. But no sooner was I sure that the -ruse had succeeded than I swung the boat, as if -she had been on a pivot, and sent her shooting -down the stream with might and main.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_376">376</div> -<p>Shrieks of rage and dismay burst from a hundred -throats as the baffled demons suddenly comprehended -my game. With all their speed, and -in a frenzy of fury, they came running and climbing -and swinging back. But this time I had the -double advantage of a shorter, straighter route and -the force of all the current to sweep me along. I -rowed like an engine; the race was a race for life -or death. Every muscle was strained, every volt -of the superhuman dynamic, developed by the -peril of our position, surged upward to drive us -onward, toward that narrow gate of safety.</p> -<p>We neared it; we were far ahead of the mob; I -saw victory smiling in the sun-lit jungle beyond. -Like a hideous black comet, then, athwart my -line of vision, a Link suddenly swung across the -river, on one of the creepers that spanned the -space between the banks. He reached the branches -on the opposite side. Instantly another one followed. -I groaned, for evidently they had been -left there to guard the pass. Another and yet another -swung across. They quickly formed a -“monkey-bridge” and hung suspended above the -water like a sagging hammock—not from the -creepers, which would have broken, but each from -the arms of his neighbour. In less than half a -minute their line was complete. We were still -driving toward them.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_377">377</div> -<p>“Oh, the horrible old woman!” cried the girl, -in affright.</p> -<p>I realised then that more than half the creatures -in the bridge were females; and out across them -came swinging that she-devil who had caught me -with the gold, and whose fingers I had severed, -and whose ribs I had skinned—the harpy who -had watched the goddess like a hawk.</p> -<p>She meant to lean down over the ones in the -bridge and clutch the girl, as we shot beneath -their bodies. Then others quickly joined her -who intended to snatch for Fatty and myself. It -was diabolically clever. If ever they reached us -with those powerful arms, they could hold us -against a team of pulling horses.</p> -<p>To turn now meant to abandon all hope; the -Links who were tearing after us behind, once -fooled could be hoaxed no more; and all would -be more than ever infuriated and likely to swamp -the boat. It looked like a swift and awful death.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_378">378</div> -<p>In a heat of uncontainable rage myself, I stood -up, as we swept toward the rapids, and grabbing -my bow, strung an arrow in desperate haste and -drew for a shot, which fury made vicious and -fierce. I had become so angered that I seemed to -care nothing for what could happen. The arrow -sprang away like a streak of light. Just at that -second the line of Links slipped down a foot. In -the brief time before the shaft could arrive, my -heart sank with dread—the slip of the target had -ruined my shot.</p> -<p>But like the angered messenger of hate -which it was, the arrow struck where it had not -been aimed—in the forearm of a Link who supported -the weight of all the line. It stabbed clean -through, tearing the muscles savagely as it plowed. -Down swung the whole living bridge of demons, -with the shrieking “old woman” in the melee, -for that supporting arm let go as if it had been -slashed in twain.</p> -<p>Instantly the dropping fiends struck the stream -where the current boiled like a mill-race. Splashing, -battling, screaming in fright, the intertwisted -monsters went swiftly down, every one trying to -climb out on his neighbour, all of them fighting, -rolling like rags of waste and gurgling as they -attempted still to yell, with mouths full of water.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_379">379</div> -<p>The boat by this time had been caught in the tow -of the torrent. We swung down into the foam and -tossing waves and drifted into the mass of brutes -as they fought and drowned in the irresistible -flood. Two of them flung an arm across our -gunwale. Yelling as madly as themselves, we beat -them off with the clubs, Fatty fighting like a -fury. The hideous old female clutched in desperation -and fastened her deadly grip on the wrist of -the goddess. What a scream of malice and triumph -she gave! I jumped across the seat and -struck her arm a blow that smashed the bone and -flesh to a quivering pulp on the edge of the boat. -About her neck was flung the arm of a drowning -beast at her side; and down they went together.</p> -<p>Yells upon yells now arose from the other -Blacks, who had come to the narrows. We were -slowly revolving in a whirlpool. The creatures -could still have dashed to positions above us and -sunk the boat with their clubs. I shot out the oars -and drove the craft quickly ahead. A monster -came boiling to the surface; I slashed him hard -with my right-hand sweep and he sank like a rock. -One, a rod away was swimming with the inborn -skill and instinct of all wild animals, but the others -had fought one another, fatally, in that vortex of -swirling water, and only this one got back to the -bank.</p> -<p>Through the seething foam to where the turbulent -river grew calmer, we sped away, and at last -these implacable demons were far behind.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_380">380</div> -<h2 id="c44"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XLIV</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">VALE, FAITHFUL FATTY</span></h2> -<p>Had the Blacks known the country and human -ways of cunning, they could still have cut across -the neck of a loop in the river, and so have overtaken -the boat, but this was beyond their sagacity. -I feared they might have forestalled us thus, so -that when we came along to where they should -have been, in such an event, I was alert for trouble -and hugged the further side of the stream. Of -course we passed the place unmolested.</p> -<p>The sun was shining brightly now, as if in -promise of fairer things to come. We had been -too horrified to speak, but at last we breathed our -relief, and shuddered as we reviewed the fearful -hour which, thank God, was now of the past. Then -we ate of our food, for all were faint from hunger, -and I stirred up and fed the fire, and laid out the -bombs to dry in the tropical heat. Also I moored -the boat from the branch of an overhanging tree, -by means of the rope I had taken along. I needed -rest as much as food.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_381">381</div> -<p>There in the shade we floated quietly for more -than an hour, during which time I slept like a -worn-out child, in a wretched position, but yet -dreamlessly and without the slightest inconvenience. -I awoke much refreshed. The goddess -would have permitted me to slumber as long as I -listed, nevertheless she was anxious to be going -ahead, seeing which I cut us loose, and again we -were hurrying down toward the sea.</p> -<p>It was a long and somewhat tedious day. We -shot more rapids, a number of which threatened -various dangers, and we rowed through a broad, -shallow lagoon that was almost a lake and in -which there were alligators galore. Of these the -goddess had a natural horror, only exceeded by -that of poor Fatty. However, the saurians were -quite as alarmed as we, having never before seen -the like of our floating terror, which the boat with -extended oars seemed to represent, so that we -cleared this place without delay and without a -battle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_382">382</div> -<p>Along the banks of the river, which presented itself -in multitudinous aspects, we beheld troops of -monkeys and apes, vast flocks of parrots and other -noisy birds, which made the trees seem to quiver -with life. Tortoises were frequently started from -a sun-bath, when they plunged into the stream -with clumsy haste. There were toads in great -variety and of snakes an ample representation. Of -these latter reptiles some were swimming in the -water, while others lay upon the banks and others -again hung suspended from the trees, masquerading, -it appeared to me, in imitation of creepers. -The insects were exceedingly pestiferous, especially -where the river became wide, sluggish and -grown with rank grasses.</p> -<p>The changing panorama of jungle, hills, grassy -clearings and rocky ravines, was one of unquestionable -beauty, yet I felt no joy in observing it -stretch and unfold so endlessly before us. I waxed -impatient to be out of the maze. In spite of all I -could do, I was conscious always of the ominous -stillness about us, and of a sub-stratum of fear in -myself, as I dwelt upon the thought of things -which might occur. I have said before, and I repeat -frankly, I am not a courageous man. The -constant succession of events and the omnipresence -of menace to life and limb had wrought sad -havoc with my nerves. When I fought, it was -nearly always because I felt so frightened and -nervous that I had to do something desperate to -relieve my feelings. At other times anger had -made me reckless.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_383">383</div> -<p>We had passed a number of tributary streams, -so that the river was now of much greater volume. -Thinking of this, I was deeply puzzled, at noon, to -find that not only had the current ceased to assist -me forward, but that on the contrary it seemed -abruptly to have reversed. Attributing this “illusion” -to my weakened condition of brain and -muscles, I worked harder than before to drive the -boat along. There was no sense in blaming myself, -however, for soon the up current became -actually visible, as well as strong. Then I was -suddenly made glad, and knew I had been once -more a dunce.</p> -<p>The tide from the great sea itself was rising -and driving everything up, against the flow of the -river. This glorious news I imparted at once to -the goddess. How she rejoiced! But even then, -her feelings were most expressed by her lustrous -eyes, for she found it difficult to speak of escape, -and I think she dared not hope, for fear a jealous -fate would hear her wish and proceed to shatter -every possibility of deliverance from this wide-open -prison.</p> -<p>It being a useless expenditure of energy to pull -against this tide, I secured the boat to a vine-covered -log, which protruded above the water, and -let her swing as she would. We refreshed ourselves -again with the fruits and a bit of the jerked -meat. Already many of the mangoes and papaws -were becoming soft, in the heat. Instructing the -goddess to wake me the moment the tide should -turn, I snatched another nap.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_384">384</div> -<p>Before long we were slipping so swiftly downward -on the ebb of the current that I was quite -content to steer the boat and let it make its own -pace. Thus we skimmed rapidly along until late -in the day, the smell of the life-giving sea wafting -to our nostrils, till it filled us with joy unspeakable. -Building my plan as we rode on the bosom of the -river, I decided to make the camp in the stream, -or on the bank, within the mouth of the outlet, -rather than to venture on the ocean with night -descending. After a needed period of rest, we -could explore the coast of the land for a village, -in the morning.</p> -<p>The sky had become a trifle clouded before we -resumed the drifting, after my slumber; this condition -now increased. Having been taught my -lesson before, I did not intend to be caught again. -I spoke to the goddess, asking her to steer us a -bit, but the poor girl had fallen asleep from exhaustion. -Letting the craft take her course, I -stretched a protection over the fire and then turned -about and performed a similar service for the -bombs, which had been dried thoroughly.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_385">385</div> -<p>While I was fairly in the midst of this important -business, Fatty gave a sudden cry of alarm. -The next instant the boat struck upon the end -of a spit of land which projected out into the -stream. I was thrown on my knees; the craft -swung with her bow as a pivot on the sand.</p> -<p>Getting erect with the thought that no harm -was done and that to push off was only the work -of a second, I was amazed to see a troop of creatures -darting toward us—my old enemies the -hideous ourang-outangs!</p> -<p>The goddess was jolted awake; she gasped in -terror. Reaching for an oar to push us off I -found it caught in the skin that wrapped the -bombs. I jerked and wrenched; the delay was -fatal. The monsters descended the bank like an -avalanche. Hampered as I was with the oar, I -became the easiest victim. Before I could drop the -sweep to make a fight, the brutes leaped across the -beach which was between themselves and the boat. -Myself, the girl and Fatty were all but surrounded,—hideous -murder loomed before us in a -second.</p> -<p>Then Fatty, the faithful, the frightened, the -loving, hurled himself upon the brutes, defending -me from instant capture and death; and the fierce -creatures gathered him to them. They tore him, -bit him, fell upon him and mangled his body in a -manner frightful to see. He was done to death -most horribly in less than half a minute.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_386">386</div> -<p>The boat, relieved of his weight and shoved by -the backward push of his foot, as he leaped, swung -off in the stream and began to drift away. I -sprang to where my bombs were lying, mad for -vengeance, and tore one out of the skin. Then -scrambling to the fire, I snatched up a flesh-searing -coal and touched the fuse. It sputtered in -swift anger. I threw the deadly thing with all -my force. While yet in the air, only mid-way -between those monsters and ourselves, the bomb -exploded with terrific violence. I saw a gigantic -star of fire; I felt as if the world had burst against -my head. Then I fell forward in the boat and was -utterly blotted out.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_387">387</div> -<h2 id="c45"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XLV</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">NO LONGER A KING</span></h2> -<p>The force of the bomb must have been tremendous. -I believe it was hours before I regained -consciousness. When at last I did revive, I was -dizzy and deafened, the world about me was black, -a storm was raging in the heavens and the boat -was heaving with a great commotion. Everything -was puzzling. Finally I remembered something -of what had happened and knew where I was.</p> -<p>“Dearest,” I said, giving the goddess the name -which I had only dared to call her to myself, -“dearest—are you there?” and I crawled toward -the stern.</p> -<p>“Here—John,” said a faint, sweet voice, and -then I found her hand and knew that she too had -been long unconscious, after that moment of terrible -things.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_388">388</div> -<p>We were on the sea! Of that I was soon made -sure. The wind was driving us—the Lord only -knew where; the waves were tossing the boat -about as if she had been but a thimble afloat; and -the spray flung across us and drenched us both repeatedly. -This had doubtless fetched us around, -the goddess first, for she had been less injured than -I by the explosion, having been seated, while I -was standing, at the fateful moment. The tide -had carried us straight out to the ocean, as we lay -helpless in the craft.</p> -<p>We crouched in the bottom of the boat and -clung to the seat for an age. The rain came driving -down; the force of the gale appeared to increase, -and we scudded away into the black abyss -which had for its limits the ends of mighty ocean.</p> -<p>We were out of our prison, adrift on the boundless -main. When morning came, we raised our -heads and searched that wilderness of water—in -vain. No island—no ship—nothing was there in -sight, save tumbling mountains of water. We -were lost in that trackless jungle of billows.</p> -<p>Of the day and the night of physical and mental -anguish that followed, I have no desire to think. -Two souls made one by sufferings long endured, -we sought and found our only consolation in the -words of hope and affection, which each could -give to each.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_389">389</div> -<p>What water remained, or had been collected -from the downpour, in the shell of the tortoise, -got slopped out soon in the boat. It mingled with -the salt water, shipped from time to time, and -swashing about, ruined the meat and fruits, put -out the fire and soaked the skins. Then the sun -and the scorching air played their tricks at parching -and burning us up. How useless and vain -seemed the sack of gold, lying there in the wash!</p> -<p>I cut and broke the pole I had taken along, and -lashing the shorter piece across the boat, to the -oar-lock pins, made the other stand upright, with -a bit of skin flapping idly, for a signal of distress.</p> -<p>Toward the evening of the second day we -sighted a steamer. As we were low to the water -and they were high, this boat was comparatively -near before we saw her loom above the horizon. -She made us out, at last, and we breathed our -thanks, to see her put about and bear down toward -the good old boat which had served so nobly.</p> -<p>Then it was that a surge of feeling welled up -within me, thoughts of my long exile, the friendly -Links—who had saved my life,—and of poor old -Fatty, who had sacrificed himself like a hero at the -end—poor old Fatty, my loving and beloved -friend.</p> -<p>“What is it, John?” said the goddess tenderly.</p> -<p>“Oh nothing,” I faltered, swallowing hard at -the lump in my throttle, “I—I was just thinking -that now—that now I’m no longer King of the -Missing Links;—I’m just an ordinary man.”</p> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="small">END.</span></p> -<h2>Transcriber’s Notes</h2> -<ul> -<li>Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.</li> -<li>Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard (or amusing) spellings, dialect, and idiosyncratic punctuation unchanged.</li> -<li>In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.)</li> -</ul> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Crystal Sceptre, by Philip Verrill Mighels - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRYSTAL SCEPTRE *** - -***** This file should be named 60860-h.htm or 60860-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/8/6/60860/ - -Produced by Tim Lindell, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from images made available by the -HathiTrust Digital Library.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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