CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
IN A TROPIC STORM.
Rob and Joe looked at each other quite aghast as the boat was literallysnatched away out of the boatmen's control and went tearing down theriver. For, beside the alteration in their plans, there was the firewaiting, all glowing embers, that would cook to perfection; there werewild fruits which the two lads had noted from the boat; and there wasthe puma, whose society Rob felt a strong desire to cultivate.
Then, too, there was something startling in being suddenly robbed of allpower to act and being swept at a headlong speed along a rapid, foraught they knew, toward some terrible waterfall, over which they wouldbe hurled. So that it was with no little satisfaction that they sawShaddy seize the boat-hook and, after urging the crew to do their bestto pull the boat toward the trees, stand up in the bows and wait histurn.
The crew worked hard, and kept the boat's head up stream, and by degreesthey contrived to get it closer to the side, while Shaddy made threeattempts to catch hold of a branch. In each case the bough snapped off,but at the fourth try the bough bent and held, though so great was theshock that when the hook caught, the strong-armed man was nearly drawnover the bows into the river, and would have been but for one of theboatmen's help.
It was a sharp tussle for a few moments, and then two of the men caughthold of hanging branches as the boat swung within reach. The nextminute a rope was passed round a branch, and the boat was safely moored.
"Mind looking to see whether I've got any arms, Mr Rob?" said Shaddy."Feels as if they were both jerked out of their sockets."
"Are you hurt much?" asked the boys in a breath.
"Pootty tidy, young gents; but I ain't going to holler about it.There's no time. I don't mind going fast, you know, either in a boat oron horseback, but I do hate for the boat or the horse to take the bit inits teeth and bolt as this did just now."
"What do you propose doing, Naylor?" said Brazier. "It is impossible toget back, and yet I should have liked a few hours more at thatclearing."
"And them you shall have, sir, somehow. I'm not the man to be beaten bya boat without making a bit of a fight for it first. Let's get mybreath and my arms--ah! they're coming back now. I can begin to feel'em a bit."
He sat rubbing his biceps, laughing at the boys, Brazier looking up anddown-stream uneasily the while.
"Do you know exactly where this river runs, Naylor?" he said at last.
"Well, not exactly, sir. I know it goes right through the sort ofcountry you want to see, and that was enough for me; but I've a notionthat it goes up to the nor'-west, winding and twisting about till itruns in one spot pootty nigh to the big river we left, so that we canperhaps go up some side stream, drag the boat across a portage, andlaunch her for our back journey over the same ground or water as we cameup."
"But we shall never get back to the lake," said Rob, as he glanced atthe running stream which glided rapidly by, making the boat drag at itstethering rope as if at any moment it would snatch itself free.
"Never's a long time, Mr Rob. We'll see."
He turned to his men, gave them a few instructions in a low tone ofvoice, and three seated themselves on the port side, while Shaddy andthe fourth, a herculean fellow with muscles which bulged out like hugeropes from his bronzed arms, stood in the bows, the latter with theboat-hook and Shaddy with the rope.
"Praps you young gentlemen wouldn't mind putting a hand to the brancheswhen you get a chance," said Shaddy; "every pound of help gives us apound of strength."
Then, renewing his orders, he seized the light rope, hauled upon it, theman beside him making good use of his hook, and between them theydragged the boat a few feet and made fast the rope, hauled again, castoff the rope, and made fast again--all helping wherever a bough could becaught.
And so they slowly fought their way back against the gigantic strengthof the rapid stream, but not without risks. Rob was hauling away at abough with all his might, when it suddenly snapped, and he would havegone overboard had not Joe thrown himself upon him and held on just ashe was toppling down without power to recover his balance.
"That was near," said Rob as he gazed on the young Italian's ghastlyface. "I say, don't look scared like that."
Joe shuddered and resumed his work, while Rob put a little less energyinto his next movements for a few minutes, but forgot his escapedirectly after, and worked away with the rest.
It was toil which required constant effort, and they won their wayupward very slowly. Twice over they lost ground by the giving way ofthe branch to which the rope had been attached, and once the boat-hookslipped from the Indian's hand and floated down-stream past the boat,the heavy iron end causing it to keep nearly upright. For a few momentsit disappeared, but came gently to the surface again just as it waspassing the stern, when the boys gave a ringing cheer, for, leaning outas far as he could, Brazier secured it and passed it back to the man.
Of minor troubles there were plenty. At one moment they would becovered with insects which were rudely shaken from the boughs; atanother some branch beneath which they were passing would threaten tosweep the canvas cabin out of the boat; and once it was Joe, whoseflannel was caught by a snaggy end and hung there with the boat passingfrom under him till a chorus of cries made the stalwart boatman ceasehis efforts and look back at the mischief he was causing as he hauled.
But, in spite of all difficulties, the boat was slowly drawn over theground lost in the wild race downward, till at last the lake wasreached, and a few sturdy efforts sufficed to drag it once more intostill water.
"Once is enough for a job like that, Master Rob," said Shaddy, as hewiped his dripping brow with the back of his hand.
"It was hard work," replied Rob.
"Ay, 'twas; and if you wouldn't mind saying you were so hungry youdidn't know what to do, it would be doing us all a kindness, and makeMr Brazier think about meat instead of vegetables."
He gave his head a nod sidewise at Brazier's back, for as the men restedunder the shade of a tree the naturalist was busy hauling down somelovely clusters of blossoms from overhead.
"You mean you want some dinner, Shaddy?"
"That's it, sir. This here engine will soon stop working if you don'tput on more coal."
"I'll give him a hint," said Rob, laughing; and he did, the result beingthat Brazier gave the word for the men to row right across toward theclearing--a task they eagerly commenced in spite of the heat and thesturdy effort required to force a way through the dense covering ofbroad green leaves. They had the river to cross on their way, and asthe clear stream was neared a long way above its exit from the lake themen, as if moved by one impulse, ceased rowing, and paused to take theirbreath before making a sturdy effort to cross it without losing ground.
It was a necessary precaution, for the moment the bows of the boatissued from among the dense growth the stem was pressed heavilydownward, and the opposite side of the stream was reached after quite asharp fight. Then the long, steady pull was commenced again, and, withthe leaves brushing against the side, they forced their way onward tillthe clearing came in view.
The faint curl of bluish smoke encouraged the men to fresh efforts, allthinking of broiled deer meat and a fragrant cup of coffee, both ofwhich afforded grateful refreshment soon after they touched the shore.
"Will it be safe to attempt to continue our journey down that part ofthe river?" Brazier asked as they were seated afterward in the shade.
"Oh yes, sir, safe enough," replied Shaddy.
"But suppose we have to come back the same way?"
"Well, sir, we can do it, only it will take time."
"You will not mind, Mr Brazier?" said Joe, smiling.
"Indeed I shall, for the work is terrible. Why did you say that?"
"Because you will have such a chance to collect, sir. I saw hundreds ofbeautiful blossoms which I thought you would like to get, and you couldgather them while the men rested."
"Ay, to be sure, sir. Don't you mind about that river being
swift!Only wants contriving, and for you to know what's coming, so as to beprepared. Now I know what to expect, I can manage. I shall just settwo of the fellows to pull gently, and go down starn first, and alwayssit there ready with the boat-hook to hitch on to a tree if we are goingtoo fast. You trust me, sir, spite of all that's gone before, and I'lldo my best for you and the young gents till your journey's done, thoughI don't see any coming back this way."
"Of course I shall trust you," said Brazier. "What's the matter?"
"Trust me now then, sir," cried Shaddy, who had leaped up, and waslooking sharply round. "Get aboard, all of you. Now, boys!" he roaredto his men, and he pointed to the sky.
Shaddy's orders were obeyed, and though there seemed to be no reason forthe preparations made, the guide was so confident of the coming of aheavy storm that the waterproof sheet brought for such an emergency wasquickly drawn over the canvas roof of their little cabin and made fast;the boat was moored head and stern close up to the bank and beneath ahuge, sheltering tree, the balers were laid ready for use in thefore-part and the stern; and when this was all done, and the greatestcare taken to keep powder and bedding dry, Brazier turned and looked atShaddy.
"Well," he said, "is not this a false alarm?"
"No, sir; there's a storm coming. We shall have it soon. Good job we'dgot the cooking done."
"But I can't see a cloud," said Rob.
"Don't matter," replied Joe, who was also looking keenly round. "I'veseen the heavy rain come streaming down when the sky has been quiteclear, and the water has felt quite warm. Look at those fellows; theyknow the storm's coming, or they would not do that."
He pointed toward the boatmen, who were throwing a tarpaulin across thebows, ready for them to creep under as soon as the rain came.
"False alarm, boys!" said Brazier.
Shaddy overheard him, and wrinkled up his face in a curious grin as helooked hard at Rob. It was as much as to say, "All right! Just youwait a bit and see who's right and who's wrong."
"My word, how hot!" cried Rob the next minute, for the sun appeared tobe shining down through a kind of transparent haze so dense that itacted like a burning glass.
"Yes, this is fierce," said Joe, drawing back into the shade afforded bythe great tree.
"It would give one sunstroke, wouldn't it, if we stopped in the fullblaze?"
"I suppose so. But I say, Shaddy's right. We are going to have astorm."
"How do you know?"
"By the sun gleaming out like that."
"Oh, I don't think that's anything," said Rob. "Here, let's get up intothis tree and collect some orchids for Mr Brazier."
He looked up into the large forest monarch as he spoke--a tree which onthree sides was wonderfully laden with great drooping boughs.Consequent upon its position at the western corner of the clearing wherethe boat was moored, the boughs formed a magnificent shelter for theirboat down almost to the water, while on the side of the opening theypretty well touched the ground.
But Rob paid little heed to this, his attention being taken up by thefact that, though there was perfect silence, the tree was alive withbirds and monkeys, which were huddled together in groups, as if theirinstinct had taught them that a terrible convulsion of nature was athand. As a rule they would have taken flight or scampered about throughthe branches as soon as human beings had come to the tree, but now, asif aware of some great danger, they were content to share the shelterand run all risks.
"See them, Master Rob?" said Shaddy, with a grin. "No mistake thistime! Look out; I daresay there'll be snakes dropping down thereby-and-by, but so long as you don't touch 'em I don't s'pose they'lltouch us. Shouldn't wonder if we get something else."
Just then Brazier called him to draw his attention to some of thecovering, and they heard him say,--
"Don't see as we can do any more, sir. Things are sure to get wet; youcan't stop it. All we can do is to keep 'em from getting wetter than wecan help."
The sun still shone brilliantly, streaming down, as it were, through theleaves of the great tree like a shower of silver rain, but the silencenow was painful, and Rob strained his ears to catch the peculiarmodulation of one of the cricket-like insects which were generally socommon around. But not one made a sound, and at last, as if troubled bythe silence, the boy cried half jeeringly, "All this trouble fornothing! I say, Joe, where's the storm?"
"Here!" was the reply in a whisper, as all at once out of the clear skygreat drops of rain came pattering down, then great splashes; anddirectly after, with a hissing rush, there were sheets of rushing waterstreaming through the branches and splashing upon the tarpaulincoverings of the boat.
"I say, I never saw it rain like this before," cried Rob as he shelteredhimself beneath the tarpaulin and canvas. "Will it thunder--"
He was going to say, "too," but the word remained unspoken, and heshrank back appalled by a blinding flash of vivid blue lightning, whichseemed to dash through beneath their shelter and make every face look ofa ghastly bluish-grey.
Almost simultaneously there was a deafening peal of thunder, and, as ifby an instantaneous change--probably by some icy current of air onhigh--the moisture-laden atmosphere was darkened by dense mists whirlingand looking like foam, clouds of slaty black shut out the sun, and therain came down in a perfect deluge, streaming through the tree andpouring into the lake with one incessant roaring splash.
One moment beneath the awning it was black as night, the next it was allone dazzling glare, while in peal after peal the mighty thunder came,one clap succeeding another before it had had time to die away in itslong metallic reverberations, that sounded as if the thunder rolled awaythrough some vast iron tunnel.
No one attempted to speak, but all crowded together listeningawe-stricken to the deafening elemental war, one thought dominatingothers in their minds, and it was this: "Suppose one of these terribleflashes of lightning strikes the tree!"
Reason and experience said, "Why shelter beneath a tree at a time likethis?" but the instinct of self-preservation drove them there to escapethe terrible battering of the rain and the rushing wind.
For they had ample knowledge of the state of the lake, though, save inmomentary glances, it was invisible beneath the black pall of cloud andrain, for waves came surging in, making the boat rise and fall, whilefrom time to time quite a billow rushed beneath the drooping boughs,which partially broke its force ere it struck against the side of theboat with a heavy slap and sent its crest over the covering and into theunprotected parts.
There was something confusing as well as appalling in the storm, whichwas gigantic as compared to anything Rob had seen at home, and as hecrouched there listening in the brief intervals of the thunder-claps,the rain poured down on the tarpaulin roof with one continuous rush androar as heavily as if the boat had been backed in beneath somewaterfall.
All at once from out of the darkness a curious startling sound washeard, which puzzled both lads for some minutes, till they suddenlyrecollected that Shaddy had placed tin balers fore and aft, and anydoubt as to their being the cause of the peculiar noise was set at restby Shaddy, who suddenly thrust in his head at the end of a deafeningroar and shouted,--
"How are you getting on, gentlemen? Water got in there yet?"
"No, no," was shouted back, "not yet."
"That's right. We're pumping it out here as quick as we can. Comes infast enough to most sink us."
Shaddy then went on working away out in the pelting rain, and a minutelater they made out that his chief man was hard at work forward.
And still the rain came down, and the lightning kept on flashing throughthe dark shelter; while, if there was any change at all in the thunder,it was louder, clearer, and more rapid in following the electricdischarge.
"I say, Joe," whispered Rob at last, with his lips close to hiscompanion's ear, "how do you feel?"
"Don't know: so curious--as if tiny pins and needles were runningthrough me. What's that curious singing noise?"
"Th
at's just what I want to know. I can feel it all through me, and myears are as if I had caught a bad cold. Like bells ringing; singing youcall it."
Just then Shaddy's voice was heard in an interval between two peals ofthunder shouting to his men in a tone of voice which indicated thatsomething was wrong, and Brazier thrust out his head from the opening atone end of the awning to ask what was the matter.
"Matter, sir? Why, if we don't get all hands at the pumps the ship'llsink."
"Is it so bad as that? We'll all come at once."
"Nay, nay. I've got a strong enough crew, only we must use bucketsinstead of balers."
"But--"
"Go inside, sir, please, out of the wet, and see to your things beingkept dry. I was 'zaggerating, being a bit excited; that's all. I don'twant you, and I daresay the storm's nearly over now."
The sound of dipping water and pouring it over the side went on merrilyin the darkness and brilliant light alternately, for, in spite of theguide's words, there seemed to be no sign of the storm abating, andwhile the men were busy outside Brazier and the two boys set to workpiling the various objects they wished to keep dry upon the barrelswhich had been utilised for their stores, for the water had invaded thecovered-in part of the boat to a serious extent, and threatened moredamage every moment.
A few minutes later, though, the efforts of the men began to show, andShaddy appeared again for one moment, his face being visible in theglare of light, but was hidden the next.
"Getting the water down fast now, sir," he said. "Hope you haven't muchmischief done."
"A great many things soaked."
"That don't matter, sir, so long as your stores are right. Sun'll dryeverything in an hour or two."
"But when is it coming, Shaddy?"
"'Fore long, sir."
They did not see him go, but knew from the sound of his voice the nextminute that he was in the fore-part of the boat, ordering his men totake up some of the boards.
Ten minutes later the rain ceased as suddenly as it had begun. Therewas a vivid flash of lightning, a long pause, and then a deep-tonedroar, while all at once the interior of the little cabin became visible,and a little later the sun came out to shine brilliantly on what lookedlike a lake of thick mist.
"Will one of you young gents unfasten the stern rope?" cried Shaddy,"and we'll get out from under this dripping tree."
"All right!" cried Rob, and he turned to throw open the stern end of theawning, while Brazier and Joe went in the other direction to where themen were still baling, but scraping the bottom hard at every scoop ofthe tins they were using.
The stern end of the canvas was secured by a couple of straps, similarto those used in small tents, and these were so wet that it was not easyto get them out of the buckles, but with a little exertion this wasdone, and Rob parted the ends like the curtains of a bed, peered out atthe dripping foliage, and shut them to again, startled by what he saw.
After a few moments' hesitation, he was roused to action by a shout fromShaddy.
"Can't you get it undone, sir?"
"Yes, I think so. Wait a moment," cried Rob huskily, and opening thecanvas curtain once more, he stepped out boldly and faced that which hadstartled him before, this being nothing less than the puma. For it hadeither leaped from the shore into the boat or crept out along one of thegreat horizontal boughs of the tree and then dropped lightly down totake its place right in the stern, where it was sitting up licking itsdrenched coat as contentedly as some huge cat.
It looked so different in its soaked state that for the moment Rob wasdisposed to think it another of the occupants of the forest, but hisdoubts were immediately set aside by the animal ceasing its occupationand giving its head a rub against him as, hardly knowing what to do, theboy unfastened the rope in obedience to orders, set the boat free, andthen wished he had not done so till the puma had been driven ashore.
"All right, sir?" shouted Shaddy, who was hidden, like the rest, by theintervening cabin-like structure.
"Yes," cried Rob, as the puma set up its ears and looked angrily in thedirection from which the voices came, while the boat began to glide outthrough the dripping boughs, and the next minute was steaming in the hotsunshine.
"What shall I do?" thought Rob, who was now in an agony of perplexity,longing to call to his companions and yet in his confusion dreading toutter a word, for the fear was upon him that the moment the puma caughtsight of Brazier it would fly at him. And again he mentally asked thequestion, "What shall I do?"
Meanwhile the puma had continued contentedly enough to lick its coat,sitting up on the narrow thwart at the end once more exactly like a cat,and in such a position that Rob felt how easy it would be to give thecreature a sharp thrust and send it overboard, when it would be sure toswim ashore and relieve him of his perplexity.
While he was hesitating, the word "Oh!" was uttered close behind him,and looking sharply round, there was the wondering face of Joe thrustout between the canvas hangings, which he held tightly round his neck,being evidently too much startled to speak or move.
"It came on board, Joe, during the storm," whispered Rob; "whatevershall we do?"
The lad made no answer for a few moments, and then in a hurriedwhisper--
"Call Mr Brazier to shoot it."
This roused Rob.
"What for?" he said angrily; "the poor thing's as tame as can be.Look!"
He took a step toward the great cat-like creature, and it ceased lickingitself and leaned sideways as if to be caressed.
At that moment Joe popped back his head, and Brazier's voice washeard:--
"They want the grapnel lowered, Rob, my lad. Can you--Why, whatever isthis?"
The aspect of the puma changed in an instant. Its ears went down nearlyflat upon its head, and it started upon all-fours, tossing its tailabout and uttering a menacing growl.
Brazier started back, and Rob knew for what.
"No, no, Mr Brazier," he cried; "don't do that. The poor thing came onboard during the storm. It's quite tame. Look here, sir, look."
As he spoke in quite a fit of desperation, he began patting and soothingthe animal, and when Brazier peered out again, in company with a loadedgun, the puma was responding to Rob's caresses in the most friendly way.
"Anything the matter, sir?" said Shaddy from beyond the cabin. "Can'tyou get the grapnel overboard?"
"Come and look here," whispered Brazier; and their guide crept into thecabin and peered out behind, his face puckering up into a grin.
"What is to be done?" whispered Brazier; "I can't fire without hittingthe boy."
"Then I wouldn't fire, sir," replied Shaddy. "'Sides, there ain't noneed. The thing's quite a cub, I think, and tame enough. I don'tsuppose it'll show fight if we let it alone."
"Stop, man! What are you going to do?"
"Go to 'em," replied Shaddy coolly.
"But it will spring at you. It turned threateningly on me just now."
"Don't seem to on Master Rob, sir, and I don't think it will. What doyou say to going first, Mr Jovanni?"
"No," said the lad shortly. "I don't like animals."
"Well, then, here goes," said Shaddy coolly. "Don't shoot, sir, unlessthe crittur turns very savage, and then not till I say, `Now!'"
He thrust the two canvas curtains apart quietly and stepped into thelittle open space astern, when once more the puma's aspect changed andit turned upon the new-comer menacingly.
"Pat him again, Master Rob," said Shaddy quietly. "I want to makefriends too. Here, old chap," he continued, sitting down, as Robhurriedly patted and stroked the animal's head, "let's have a look atyou. Come, may I pat you too?"
He stretched out his hand, but the puma drew back suspiciously, and,with the others watching the scene, he remained quiet while Robredoubled his caresses, and the puma began to utter its low, rumbling,purring sound.
"Only wants time, Mr Brazier, sir," said Shaddy quietly. "I don'tthink the brute's a bit savage. Only thinks we mean mischi
ef and isready to fight for himself. I could be friends with him in an hour ortwo. What's best to be done--get him ashore?"
"Yes, as soon as possible."
"All right, sir; you go and tell the men to back the boat in to where welanded before."
The canvas hangings dropped to, and Shaddy sat perfectly still, watchingthe actions of their strange visitor and talking in a low voice to Rob,while a low creaking began as two of the men forward thrust out theiroars and backed water.
Slight as the sound was, that and the motion of the boat startled theanimal, which began to look about uneasily, but a touch or two from Robcalmed it directly, and after responding to his caresses it turned tolook curiously at Shaddy, taking a step forward and then stopping.
"Well, what do you think of me, puss, eh?" said Shaddy quietly. "I say,Mr Rob, you and I had better keep him and set up as lion-tamers."
The rough voice had its effect upon the animal, which ceased its purringsound and backed away close to Rob, against whom it stood, and beganwatching the bank toward which the boat was being thrust.
"How are we to get it ashore?" said Rob at last.
"You want it to go, then?"
"No," replied Rob, "I don't. It is so very tame, I should like to keepit, but it does not care for anybody else."
"Don't mind me seemingly," said Shaddy. "Well, the best thing will befor you to jump ashore as soon as we're close in, and then it strikes mehe'll come after you, and if you kept on petting him he'd follow youanywhere."
"You think so, Shaddy?"
"Feel sure of it, sir, but it ain't like a dog. You can't make acompanion of a scratching thing like that."
"Why not? A dog's a biting thing," said Rob shortly.
"Well, yes, sir, but here we are. Better get him ashore. There ain'troom for him aboard here. There might be a row, for he ain't ready tomake friends with everybody."
Rob stepped on to the gunwale rather unwillingly, for, in a misty way,he was beginning to wonder whether it was possible for him to retain thepuma as a companion, though all the time he could see the difficultiesin the way.
He leaped ashore, and, as Shaddy had suggested, the puma immediatelymade a light effortless bound and landed beside him, pressing close upto the lad's side and rubbing one ear against his hand, while theoccupants of the boat looked wonderingly on.
"What am I to do next?" asked Rob. "If I jump back on board, he'll cometoo."
"Safe," said Shaddy; "and there's no more room for passengers. Here,stop a moment; I have it."
"What are you going to do?" said Brazier, who was watching the movementsof the puma with anxiety on Rob's behalf, but with keen interest all thesame, as he saw the active creature suddenly throw itself down by theboy's feet and, playful as a kitten, begin to pat at first one boot andthen the other, ending by rubbing its head upon them, watching theirowner all the time.
"I'm going to get Mr Rob aboard without that great cat, sir, and thisseems best way."
He drew his knife, raised the tarpaulin, and cut off a good-sized pieceof the deer meat; then, bidding the men to take their oars and be readyto row at the first command, he turned to Rob.
"Look here, sir," he said, "I'll pitch you the piece of dried meat. Youcatch it and then carry it a few yards, and let the lion smell it. Giveit him behind one of those bushes, and as soon as he is busy eating itdodge round the bush and come aboard. We'll soon have the boat too farfor him to jump."
He threw the piece of dry meat to the boy, who caught it and walked asdirected, the puma following him eagerly and sniffing at the food.
The next minute those in the boat saw Rob disappear behind a clump oflow growth, and directly after he reappeared running toward them justas, uneasy at his being out of sight with the fierce creature, Brazierhad called upon Giovanni to bring his gun and accompany him ashore.
But Rob's reappearance of course stopped this, and the next minute hewas on board and being rowed away from the shore.
"It seems too bad," cried Rob, "just as if one was cheating the poorthing. Look, there it is."
For just then the puma stalked out from behind the bushes and stoodtossing its tail and looking round as if in search of Rob, ending bywalking quickly down to the edge of the lake and standing there gazingafter the boat, which was now being rowed slowly down once more towardthe scene of their adventure with the swift current, Brazier havingdecided to stay one more day at the lower part of the lake beforedescending the river farther; and the object now in view was thediscovery of a fresh halting-place for the night.
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