“How, Master Sam?”
“By filling the sacks with sand, and burying them again where we found them.”
Nux looked at me admiringly, and grinned until his mouth stretched from ear to ear and displayed every one of his white teeth.
“Good, Master Sam!” he cried, and at once stripped the trousers from his legs.
I now hunted in the pockets of my jacket and brought out several small bits of cord, which I knotted firmly together. Then I tied the legs of Nux’s trousers tightly at the bottoms, thus transforming them into a double sack of great capacity.
It did not take us long to transfer the gold-dust from the canvas bags to the trouser-legs, and as soon as this task was accomplished we refilled the bags with sand and tied up as before. I was obliged to tear away a part of my own shirt to get material with which to tie the upper part of the trousers, for I did not wish to deprive poor Nux of his entire apparel. The Sulu looked funny enough, dressed only in his shoes and shirt, with his legs between them, and more than once I was obliged to pause and laugh heartily at my comrade’s appearance. But Nux didn’t seem to mind, and soon the seriousness of our position and the necessity to hasten caused me to forget the queer costume of my follower.
We abstracted but a slender supply of provisions from the sacks, for we did not wish to arouse suspicion by taking too much. The next task was to bury the sacks of sand and the provisions exactly as they had been before, and to smooth over the surface of the sand and trample it down just as we had found it when we first entered the cave.
This being accomplished to our complete satisfaction, Nux lifted the heavy gold over his shoulder, one leg hanging behind his back and one in front, and started to mount the narrow ledge of rock with his burden, while I followed close behind to render any assistance I could.
The Sulu was a wonderfully strong man; but his task was a difficult one, although I tried to relieve him in the worst places by lifting a part of the heavy load.
Our progress was slow, for poor Nux had to stop frequently to put down his load and rest, and it was while we were on the outer surface of the rock, which faced the sea, that we were suddenly startled by hearing sounds that assured us the robbers were returning from the forest. Much time had been consumed in the cave, searching for the treasure and securing it, and now I began to fear we had delayed too long.
Just at this time the men could not see us; but as soon as they mounted the ledge and began to wind around the tower of rock, they would be sure to catch sight of our forms, and then our fate would be sealed.
“Nux,” I whispered, “pick up the gold and be ready to start. As soon as the thieves get back to the ledge we must go on, and keep the rock always between us and them, or we shall be lost.”
Nux nodded, and obeyed without a word. It was often hard to tell, by the sound of their voices, just how far up the ledge the men had progressed; but fortune favored us, and only once did we lag behind enough for the first of the robber band to espy us. But that first person, by good luck, proved to be Bryonia, and the clever islander at once pretended to stumble and fall, and so held the men that followed him in check until Nux and I had escaped around the crag.
Soon after this the robbers reached the cave, which they entered, thus enabling us to reach the top of the crag at our leisure.
Nux was nearly spent when at last he threw the laden trousers upon the flat top and tried to draw his tired body after them; but I gave him a hearty boost from behind, and then scrambled to the top unaided, nerved by the excitement of the moment.
For several minutes neither of us spoke. The Sulu man lay panting for breath, with the perspiration streaming from every pore of his body, and I, filled with gratitude at our escape and the successful accomplishment of our plan, sat beside my faithful friend and fanned him with my straw hat.
The sun was sinking fast, by this time, and the shadows of the three tall pine trees that grew upon this isolated peak fell upon the spot where we rested, and cooled our sun-parched bodies.
Although at times a rough laugh or a shouted curse reached our ears from the cavern below, there was no indication that Daggett or his band had yet made the discovery that the place had been visited in their absence, and the treasure for which they had risked so much abstracted from its sandy grave.
When twilight fell I arose and with some difficulty rolled the trousers to a place nearer the center of the rock, where there was a small natural hollow; and then Nux and I sat beside it and ate again sparingly of the food we had brought.
It was while we were thus occupied that an incident occurred that filled us with sudden panic. For before our faces a man’s head appeared above the edge of rock, and two dark eyes glared fixedly into our own.
At the moment I almost screamed with fright, so unnerved had my recent adventures rendered me; but Nux laid his broad hand across my mouth and arrested the outcry.
“It’s Bry,” he whispered, and even as he spoke the newcomer drew himself over the edge and crept on all fours to our side. I had no trouble in recognizing the friendly features then.
“Oh, Bry!” I said — softly, so as not to be heard by the robbers below — and clasped the islander’s hands fervently in both my own.
Bry squatted beside us, his kindly face wreathed in smiles.
“They send me up here to see if anyone ‘round,” he whispered. “In a minute I go back and say’ no.’”
“Can’t you stay with us, Bry?” I asked, pleadingly.
“Not yet, Master Sam. They very bad mans down there. They kill you quick if they find you.”
“We’ve got the gold, Bry!”
“I know. I see you in the wood; I follow your footprints all way home; I see you climbin’ up rock. Then I see the sand been dig up, so I knew you got gold.”
“Did they suspect us at all, Bry?”
“No, Master Sam. They too busy tryin’ to kill each other. All want to have gold for himself, so all try to kill everyone else. Very bad mans, Master Sam.”
“They’re going to take you on the ship, and make you sail it,” said I.
Bry laughed, silently.
“I stay with them now, so they not find you,” he said. “But when right time come I steal away an’ come back to you. Did you fill sack with sand, Master Sam?” glancing enquiringly at the stuffed trousers.
“Yes.”
“That good,” said Bry, approvingly. “They dig up one, when they come back, to see if all safe. Then they hide it again. Very good way to fool bad mans.”
“But we can’t leave here until they go away,” I remarked.
“No. Must be careful. Tomorrow they finish raft. Tomorrow night they go to ship. You stay here and hide till then. After the bad mans go, I come back to you, and we go to camp again.”
“All right, Bry,” said I, as cheerfully as possible.
Then the islander bade us good-bye and returned to the cave to report to Daggett that no one was to be seen anywhere about. And now Nux and I, wearied by the adventures of the day, but buoyed by the hope that we might finally escape with the recovered gold, lay down upon the rocky eminence and, bathed by the moon’s silver rays, slept peacefully until morning.
CHAPTER 13
THE CATASTROPHE.
I was awakened by the voices of the robbers, who were leaving the cave early in order to complete their raft by nightfall. It was evident that they had not suspected our intrusion into their retreat, or the fact that their stolen treasure had been taken from them. Indeed, they seemed in high spirits, especially Larkin and Judson, who were doubtless eager to carry out their nefarious plan of murdering their comrades as soon as the work on the raft was finished. Daggett might also harbor a conspiracy to secure the bulk of the treasure, and probably all the members of the evil band were looking forward to this coming night to end their suspense and give them an advantage one over the other. “Honor among thieves” has often been quoted; but in this instance, as in many others that could be mentioned, the thieves were as lackin
g in honor as they were in honesty.
From my elevated perch I watched them file along the ledge to the sands, and upon reaching the level set off toward the forest. Not till they were well out of sight did Nux or I venture to rise upright and stretch our limbs.
The morning was warm and sultry. The sun gleamed hot in a cloudless sky and not a breath of air stirred the leaves of the three tall trees that stood at the edge of our towering rock.
“It’s going to be a roasting day,” I said to Nux, “and we won’t get any shade from those trees until afternoon. Do you suppose we dare go down to the cave for a while?”
Nux shook his head.
“We all safe now, Master Sam,” he replied. “Better not run no risk with this here gold dust.” Thoughtfully I gazed toward the forest.
“Those fellows will be cool and comfortable enough in the shade,” I remarked, rebelliously, “and I don’t believe they’ll come back through the hot sun until it’s time to get the treasure. Let’s go down to the sea and take a swim.”
Nux was unable to resist the temptation; so, leaving the trousers full of golden grains resting on top of the rock, we made our way cautiously along the narrow, winding ledge until we reached the shore.
There was not a ripple on the sea. It lay as still and inert as a sheet of glass; but the water was cool, nevertheless, when compared with the stifling atmosphere, and so I and my companion paddled in it for more than an hour, feeling much refreshed by our luxurious bath.
Afterward we ate our simple breakfast and then climbed the ledge as far as the mouth of the cave, where we sat down in the shade. Even that slight exertion quite exhausted us.
“We will be sure to hear them if they should by chance return” said I, “and we’ll certainly be roasted if we get on top of this rock, where the sun can strike us. I believe it’s the hottest day I ever knew.”
Meantime the men in the forest were finding their work far from pleasant, as Bryonia afterward told us. They were shaded from the sun, it is true; but the air they breathed was as hot as if it came fresh from an oven, and the least exertion caused the perspiration to stream from their pores. So there was considerable grumbling among them and a general shirking of work that made their progress slow. Even Bryonia, who was fairly heat-proof, found he had little energy to swing his axe, although he made a pretense of working as industriously as ever.
“Never mind, boys,” said Daggett, when noon had arrived and they were eating the luncheon they had brought in their pockets. “The raft will be big enough to carry us and the gold to the ship, I’m sure, for the sea is as still as a mill-pond. We’ll just get these two logs to the shore, and fasten them to the others, and call the thing a go. What do you say?”
They agreed with him readily enough. As a matter of fact the raft might suffice to carry them all, but none of them believed that all five would embark upon it, so many murderous schemes were lurking in their minds.
Wearily they dragged the two logs toward the sea, but much time was consumed in this operation, and the day was far spent before the raft was complete and ready to launch.
Most of the men had stripped themselves naked, to work more comfortably, for the heat was well-nigh unbearable; but now, as they stood ready to push the raft into the water, the sun suddenly disappeared and a cold chill swept over them.
“We’re going to have a storm,” cried Daggett, looking curiously into the sky. “Better leave the raft where it is, my lads, and make for the cave.” The warning was unquestionable. Already a low, moaning sound came to their ears across the sea, and the sky grew darker each moment.
With one accord the men seized their clothing in their arms and ran along the beach toward the cave, while tiny points of lightning darted here and there about them, casting weird if momentary gleams upon their naked forms.
Nux and I sitting half asleep by the mouth of the cave, were warned by the first chill blast that swept over us that the weather had changed and a storm was imminent. Springing to my feet I looked fearfully at the darkening sky.
“What’ll we do, Nux?” I asked. “This will bring our enemies back here in double-quick time.”
“Better climb on top the rock, Master Sam,” advised the Sulu.
“But it’ll rain — floods and torrents, probably — and thunder and lightning besides.”
“‘Spect it will, Master Sam. But rain won’t hurt us much.”
“And Daggett’s gang will, if they catch us. I guess you’re right, Nux. Come along.”
As we started along the ledge the wind came upon us in sudden gusts, and the sky grew so dark that we almost had to feel our way. It was necessary to exercise great care, both to find a secure footing and to cling fast to the face of the rock, to prevent our being blown into the abyss below; but we struggled manfully on, and presently reached the top, where Nux hoisted me over the edge and then scrambled after me.
By this time the lightning was playing all around us, and we were obliged to crawl carefully on hands and knees to the little hollow in the center of the rock, where we were to an extent shielded from the fierce gusts of wind. Even then I feared we would be blown away, but Nux shouted in my ear to hold fast to the gold, which served as a sort of anchor, and enabled us both, as we lay flat in the hollow, to maintain our positions securely.
And now the lightning began to be accompanied by sharp peals of thunder, while the wind suddenly subsided to give place to wild floods of rain. At intervals could be heard the shouts of the robbers, who had reached the rocks and were creeping along the ledge to their cave. All the elements seemed engaged in a confused turmoil, until I was nearly deafened by the uproar. I tried to ask a question of Nux, but could not hear my own voice, and gave up the attempt. The thought crossed my mind that we had been very foolish to climb to this peak of rock, where we were exposed to the full fury of the storm, and I wondered vaguely, as I clung to the sack of gold we had risked so much to secure, how long it would be before the wind swept us away, or we would be annihilated by a bolt of lightning.
Presently an arm was laid across my back, as if to protect me, and raising my head I saw by the light of a vivid flash that Bryonia had joined us and was lying in the hollow at my side.
I wondered how the daring Sulu had ever managed to reach us; but the strong arm gave me a new sense of security, and impulsively I seized the man’s hand and pressed it to express my gratitude and welcome.
An instant later a terrible crash sounded in my ears, while at the same time a blast of fire swept over the rock and seemed to bathe our three prostrate figures in its withering flame. Again came a crash, and another — and still another, while the crisp lightning darted through the air and made each nerve of our bodies tingle as if pricked by myriads of needle points.
Half bewildered, I raised my head, and saw the great rocking-stone sway from side to side and then plunge headlong into the gulf that lay between the precipice and the solitary rock whereon we reclined. And I felt the mighty column of rock shake and lean outward, as if about to topple into the sea, while the impact of the fallen mass reverberated above the shriek of the wind and the thunder’s loudest roar.
Instinctively I braced myself for the end — the seemingly inevitable outcome of this terrible catastrophe; but to my surprise no violent calamity overwhelmed us. Instead, the lightning, as if satisfied with its work of destruction, gradually abated. The blinding flashes no longer pained my closed eyes with their vivid recurrence, and even the wind and rain moderated and grew less violent.
CHAPTER 14
BURIED ALIVE!
Terrified beyond measure by the awfulness of the storm, I gave little heed to the fact that the rocky hollow in which I lay with the two faithful islanders had filled with water, so that our bodies were nearly covered by the pool that had formed. My head still rested on the trousers packed with gold, and one arm was closely clasped around a leg containing the treasured metal grains. So I lay, half dazed and scarcely daring to move, while the rain pattered down upon us an
d the storm sobbed itself out by degrees.
I must have lost consciousness, after a time, for my first distinct recollection is of Bryonia drawing my body from the pool to lay it on a dryer portion of the rock, where the overhanging trees slightly sheltered me. The sky had grown lighter by now, and while black streaks of cloud still drifted swiftly across the face of the moon, there were times when the great disc was clear, and shed its light brilliantly over the bleak and desolate landscape.
Within an hour the rain had ceased altogether, and stars came out to join the moon; but still we lay motionless atop the peak of rock, worn out by our struggles with the elements and fitfully dozing in spite of the horrors we had passed through.
Bry was first to arouse, and found the sun shining overhead. There was no wind and the temperature of the morning air was warm and genial. The islander’s legs pained him, for in his terrible climb up the rock during the storm a jagged piece of rock had cut his thigh and torn the flesh badly. He had not noticed it until now, but after examining the wound he bathed it in the water of the pool and bound it up with a rag torn from his shirt.
While he was thus occupied Nux sat up and watched him, yawning. They spoke together in low tones, using the expressive Sulu language, and had soon acquainted each other with the events that had occurred since they separated. Their murmured words aroused me to a realization of the present, and having partially collected my thoughts I began to rub my eyes and look wonderingly around me.
The top of the rock was no longer flat, but inclined toward the sea. The three tall trees also inclined that way, instead of growing upright, and the neighboring cliff of the mainland seemed further removed from us than before. Something appeared to be missing in the landscape, and then I suddenly remembered how the rocking-stone had leaped into the gulf during the storm.
“All safe?” I asked, looking at my friends gratefully.
“All safe,” answered Bry, smiling.
“It was a dreadful night,” I continued, with a shudder. “Have you heard anything from the robbers yet?”
Complete Works of L. Frank Baum Page 647
