The Golden Canyon

by G. A. Henty

  The yacht was still in moderately smooth water, but a quarter of a milebefore her the sea was covered with a thick mist, while it was tossedhither and thither in tumbling waves, which met and crossed one anotherin wild confusion.

  As they looked a thick body of smoke was belched from the midst of theturmoil.

  "Port! hard aport!" shouted the captain. "Round with the yards! Flattenin the jib! Be smart, there!"

  Rushing forward, followed by Bok and Jack, the captain himself seizedthe rope and aided the sailors to execute his orders, while Leeksattended to the jib.

  Bok was at the wheel.

  When on the new tack the _Dart_ was not a cable's length from theboiling water.

  "It's a subterranean eruption!" exclaimed the captain. "Look--lookyonder!"

  Where he pointed, from the midst of the curling waves, a great blackpatch of what seemed to be mud rose above the surface.

  Round it were thick columns of smoke, which instantly shut it out fromview.

  The wind chopped round, and a fierce gust came, laden with steam andsmoke, from the north.

  The yacht heeled over till her copper sheeting gleamed above thewater-line.

  Gasping for breath, for a fearful stench accompanied the smoke, whichenveloped them, all on board could do nothing but hold on to whateverwas handiest.

  A rushing, roaring sound filled their ears as the _Dart_ dashed onward,throwing the boiling water in showers of spray over her bows.

  The men forward were forced to stagger aft.

  It looked as if the _Dart_ was doomed!

  Chapter X.--The Escape Of The "Dart."

  For fully ten minutes no one could tell whether the yacht would rightherself or not.

  Captain Sumner, aided by our hero and Jack, at length found thetopgallant halyards, and lowered the sail in the peak.

  We say found, for the darkness was intense.

  Then the gallant little vessel, as if freed from an overpowering load,came up to her bracings.

  Once more she flew with increased speed through the water.

  A few seconds and the star-lit sky again appeared overhead, and therolling smoke wreaths were left behind.

  "Heavens!" cried the captain; "never in all my life have I seen thelike. What a death to have escaped!"

  As if exhausted with its own fury, the squall subsided as suddenly as ithad sprung up. The smoke gradually blew away.

  And there, over the starboard quarter, some two miles distant, lay along, low, black island.

  "Look! look!" yelled Bob suddenly.

  All eyes followed his outstretched hand.

  There on the shore rested a familiar-looking boat, containing threefigures--Mrs. Cromwell, Viola, and the madman.

  Mrs. Cromwell and Viola were waving their hands. Then, assured they wereseen, both fell back unconscious.

  As for the mad sailor, he never stirred. He was dead.

  It did not take the captain and Bob long to reach the women folks. Theywere taken on board the _Dart_, and, after Bob had kissed his mother andthe captain had hugged his daughter, and both were given food, they toldtheir story.

  "When the madman struck Bob I nearly fainted," said Mrs. Cromwell. "WhenI came to he had hoisted the sail, and we were leaving the shore. Thecrazy fellow was eating some ship biscuit, which lay in a basket.

  "When the madman had appeased his hunger he looked at us for someminutes without speaking.

  "We were dreadfully frightened, but he never once came aft to annoy us.

  "He placed some tinned meat and water near us, and then sat by the mast,singing loudly and rocking himself backward and forward.

  "Viola and myself slept in turn; but the madman sat in the bow, lookingout ahead, hour after hour.

  "When the wind rose and the waves broke into the cutter he reefed thesail, and managed her wonderfully well.

  "Still he never spoke.

  "A shower fell, and Viola and myself collected the water and had a gooddrink.

  "Another time snow fell.

  "This also we collected and put into the barrel.

  "Time after time a fresh can of meat was placed out for us.

  "But we ate very sparingly.

  "I think at this period the man's senses were returning to him, for soonafter he spoke.

  "He told us he did not know where we were, but trusted it was off thecoast of Siberia, and that we had every chance of being picked up.

  "He said that his name was Charlow, and that he had been mate of a brigthat had been wrecked, but he had gone mad through misery, loneliness,and want.

  "We had just sighted the coast, when first the smoke from your vesselcame into view.

  "Charlow was very weak, but he altered the direction the boat was going,and told us how to steer toward you.

  "Presently the yacht came in sight, and we tried to get him to put us onboard; but he was too weak, and just before Bob saw us he breathed hislast."

  Such was Mrs. Cromwell's narrative, and Viola corroborated it.

  A happy day was spent on board of the _Dart_. "I trust we are neverseparated again," said Bob to his mother.

  "So do I, Bob," she returned fondly. Then she gave a sigh. "I wonderwhen we will reach Cedar Island. I see nothing like cedar trees aroundhere."

  "The map has but one cedar on it," he returned. "It must have floated uphere in the water and taken root in the ice. Even Captain Sumner can'tunderstand that part of it."

  On the following day the _Dart_ again set sail for the coast of Siberia.

  They were well into the sea of Kamtchatka, and felt that they must soonstrike the spot mentioned in Ruel Gross' memorandums, if the old sailorhad taken his observations correctly.

  "If only we were sure father was alive!" Bob murmured more than once.

  Three days passed, and Bob was one morning in the foretop when suddenlyhe gave a wild shout.

  "Land ahoy!"

  "Where away?" asked Captain Sumner quickly.

  For from the deck nothing but icebergs were to be seen.

  "To the northwest, sir. Will you let me have the glass?"

  The glass was quickly brought and adjusted. The captain gave one glance.

  "Ah! Bob, look!"

  The boy did so, and then gave a shout that brought everyone on board ondeck.

  "Cedar Island!"

  Chapter XI.--Among A Strange Foe.

  It was true.

  Far off to the northwest they could see the shore of a land that wascovered with ice and snow.

  The snow was of a reddish color, and the ice a deep blue.

  But this was not all, nor by far the strangest part of the picture.

  On the top of a hill, amid the snow, there stood a large cedar tree.

  Its heavy branches swayed in the breeze mournfully; for though standingas if planted, the tree was dead.

  For several minutes those on the _Dart_ viewed the scene.

  Then Bob broke the spell.

  "Do you know what I think?" he said.

  "I think that dead cedar was stuck up on the hill for a guide."

  "Perhaps you are right," returned Captain Sumner. "One thing iscertain--we have reached Cedar Island, as Gross called it. Probably theground has a Russian name a yard long."

  "Let us waste no time in getting ashore," cried Bob. "My father may bewaiting for us!"

  At this the captain said nothing, not wishing to hurt the boy'sfeelings. But the _Dart_ continued on her course, and soon they droppedanchor in deep water but a few rods from the edge of the land.

  Bob was the first to enter the small boat. He was followed by thecaptain and Jack and two sailors.

  The shore of the land reached, they gazed around curiously.

  "Looks deserted," said Bob, in a disappointed tone of voice. "But comeon up to the cedar. We may be able to discover something from the top ofthe hill." The ascent was quickly made by Bob, but scarcely was the topgained than a shout was heard from below.

  "Savages!"

  Bob was right. The sight that met
his eyes startled him as he had neverbeen startled before.

  Rushing forward, they perceived the yacht surrounded by a half-score ofcanoes.

  Two others were drawn up on the beach, and half a dozen or morecopper-colored savages were standing round the dingy.

  "We must save our boat at any cost!" cried Captain Sumner.

  As they dashed down the hill the savages turned, armed with clubs, toface them.

  One was bending a bow, but a shot from Bob's gun broke his arm.

  Jack also fired, and the aborigines, all save one, took to flight,jumping into one of the canoes.

  This brave chief, for such he looked, wielding a heavy club with bothhands, rushed at our hero.

  Bob threw up his gun to parry the blow.

  The weapon was struck from his hand, but the blow fell harmless.

  Before the tall savage could regain his balance Bob bounded on him,clasping him round the body.

  But if our hero was strong, the native was stronger.

  Dropping his club, he seized his adversary's throat, and, forcing backhis head, made him relinquish his hold.

  Then, seizing him round the waist, he flung him at the captain, whom heupset, at the same instant springing into the sea and swimming after hiscompanions.

  The whole affair did not last a minute.

  Jack, who had reloaded, fired upon the overcrowded canoe.

  Two paddles fell into the water and drifted away.

  No sooner did they clamber on board than they were saluted with a scoreof spears, which stuck in the masts and deck, one passing through thefleshy part of a sailor's arm.

  "Here, man, go below and bathe it in brandy," cried the captain. "Drinksome, too. The rest of you get under shelter of the bulwarks.

  "I have heard that these fellows poison their spears and arrowheads," hecontinued to our hero.

  "Will they come back, do you think?" questioned Bob.

  "Perhaps--we must remain on guard."

  The next few hours were very anxious ones on board of the _Dart_.

  Chapter XII.--Bob's Discovery.

  Night came, and the hostile natives showed no sign of returning.

  A strict watch was kept until morning, but nothing out of the ordinaryhappened.

  In the meantime Captain Sumner and Bob examined the map with great careand also read and reread the papers Ruel Gross had left behind him.

  "Let us go on another tour of exploration," said the captain, on thefollowing day. "If those natives come back Bok can fire a gun to warnus."

  The boy readily agreed and they set off without delay.

  Once under the dead cedar tree they looked around them curiously.

  A short distance further inland they saw a hollow, which had evidentlyat one time been a camp.

  Tin cans were strewn around, along with a number of fish and animalbones.

  "I wonder if father and Ruel Gross once encamped here?" thought Bob.

  Hardly had the idea occurred to him than Captain Sumner set up a shout.

  He was pointing to a post set up in the ice. To the top of the post wasattached a rude sign, which read:

  "To the Svlachkys' Camp--One Mile."

  "Hurrah! here's a discovery!" cried Bob. "Shall we go on?"

  "Yes; but let us advance with extreme caution. These Svlachkys may bevery bad people."

  "Undoubtedly there are, or they wouldn't keep my father a prisoner,"rejoined Bob.

  "That signpost must be the work of Ruel Gross," went on the captain."The savages haven't dared to touch it, thinking there was somethingsupernatural attached to it--something to injure them."

  On went the captain and Bob, down one hill of ice and up another. It wasextremely cold, but neither minded that.

  At last they reached a portion of the island that was very uneven. Greatchasms yawned to the right and left of them. It was with difficulty thatthey pushed forward.

  But they were bound to go on, and go they did, until at the mouth ofwhat looked like a cave of ice the captain called a halt.

  "Listen!" he whispered. "I hear voices."

  Bob listened. Captain Sumner was right. From the cavern came the soundsof several human tongues.

  "They are not speaking Russian," said the captain. "Perhaps we havestumbled upon more savages."

  Hardly had he spoken when three human beings came into view.

  They were bundled up in furs, in strong contrast to the other natives,who had scarcely any body-covering.

  The new-comers were jabbering among themselves at a great rate.Presently they came to a halt before a large slab of ice.

  They tugged and pounded on this until the slab fell to one side,revealing a strange-looking opening.

  "What are they up to now?" whispered Bob.

  "I don't know--wait."

  They waited. Presently the three men disappeared within the opening.Soon a smoke came out, and they saw that firebrands had been lit tolight up the scene.

  "That may be the place where the stone chest is kept," said Bob.

  "More likely it is a burial place," replied Captain Sumner. "I've seensuch spots before. Maybe they're preparing for a funeral."

  "Can't we get a little closer to them?"

  "It would not be safe. Hark!"

  From a distance they heard the mournful toot of a large horn.

  "That's a funeral horn, I'm sure," said the captain. "If they are comingthis way we had better--Hullo! look!"

  The captain pointed to an opening to their left.

  A band of men were advancing.

  They were guarding a prisoner--a white man, who walked in their midst.

  Bob gave the white man one swift look, and then shrieked out at the topof his voice:

  "It's my father!"

  Chapter XIII.--The Big Polar Bear.

  "Your father!" cried Captain Sumner.

  "Yes, my father," repeated Bob, in high excitement. "What shall we do?"

  He felt like rushing forward, but the captain restrained him.

  "We can do nothing against such a force of men," he said. "Wait--or--"He hesitated.

  "What?"

  "You or I might go back to the _Dart_ for help. Every man on board cancome heavily armed. When these people see our number they may be willingto talk reasonably to us."

  "That's so, but I hate to leave," returned Bob. "They may do some harmto my father in the meantime."

  "Then I will go, Bob. But mind, keep shady, unless they do somethingvery bad."

  Bob promised, and without delay Captain Sumner started on the return tothe _Dart_.

  With a wildly beating heart Bob watched the people who held his father acaptive.

  They were marching along silently now and did not stop until the centerof the cave of ice was reached.

  Here the party assembled in a circle at a point where there was a slightelevation.

  Two of the men had axes, and with these they began to chop at theelevation, causing the pieces of ice to fly in all directions.

  "Now what are they going to do?" thought our hero.

  Presently he heard a slight noise behind him. Somewhat startled, heturned around to find himself face to face with a monstrous polar bear!

  The beast had just discovered Bob. For a moment he stood still.

  Then with a growl he leaped directly for the astonished youth.

  Had Bob not sprung out of the way the bear would have landed on hishead.

  But Bob moved with the quickness of lightning, and this saved his life.

  The bear, however, came down so close to the boy's side that our herohad no time left to fire at him.

  He struck the bear one hasty blow with his gun stock and then ran fordear life.

  Recovering, the huge beast came after him.

  Although a heavyweight, the bear managed to cover the ground withincredible swiftness.

  Down the side of the icy hill went Bob, with the bear less than a dozenfeet in the rear.

  The plain below reached, Bob scarcely knew which way to turn.r />
  The bear uttered growl after growl, showing that he was working himselfup to a perfect fury.

  "I must get to the yacht, if possible," thought Bob, and headed in thedirection without delay.

  On and on came the polar bear.

  He did not seem to gain, neither did he lose.

  So far the race had been about even, but Bob felt he could not keep upthat terrific strain much longer.

  As he ran he fingered his gun nervously.

  Should he risk a shot?

  "I must do something," he said to himself desperately.

  And wheeling about he took hasty aim and blazed away.

  The shot was not a bad one. The bullet struck the polar bear in the sideof the head, causing him to stagger back and halt.

  On went Bob again, and by the time the bear recovered sufficiently tocontinue the pursuit he was nearly fifty yards in advance.

  But the bear was undaunted, and on he came as swiftly as before.

  Once Bob stumbled and almost gave himself up for lost.

  But he scrambled up quickly, and was relieved to see the bear stop, notbeing able to make out what was about to happen.

  Then on went again, until, with a cry of terror, Bob leaped back.

  He had reached the edge of a swiftly flowing stream, which ran betweensmooth banks of ice.