UNAWARES IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY
During the evening, while engaged in their usual discussions the
surveying implement was brought up, and it was understood that a crude
instrument should be made, so that it would be ready within the next
week.
While speaking on the subject of laying off the segments into degrees,
the former matter of observing the heavens was alluded to, and Ralph
inquired why all calculations of the heavens were made by degrees.
"Because degrees mean angles and not measurements. Positions or
distances are determined by angles and by measurements in miles."
"But in looking at the stars how can mariners tell where they are,
simply by getting the angles?"
"That is a matter which can be calculated with such accuracy on the high
seas that the distance can be determined with absolute certainty to
within three or four miles. Furthermore, when the moon is shining, a
mariner, even without an instrument, will be able to make a pretty
accurate determination, if the moon is in sight."
"This is interesting information, and I would like to know how it is
done."
"Simply by noting how far the moon is from some fixed star. It is
difficult to explain this without making a drawing of the heavens or
drawing a map which shows the positions of the fixed stars, and the two
sketches (Figs. 13 and 14) that I have drawn out will, I hope, make it
clear to you. The first figure (13) is a map of the sky for the northern
hemisphere, and the second drawing (Fig. 14) of the southern hemisphere,
where we are.
[Illustration: _Northern Hemisphere. Fig. 13._]
"On the maps I have shown the fixed stars and named them, those of the
first magnitude being the largest, those of the second magnitude a
little smaller, and so on, but I have not by any means indicated all of
the second and third magnitude owing to their great number."
[Illustration: _Southern Hemisphere. Fig. 14._]
There had always been a secret grief in the hearts of Harry and George
at the loss of the boat at the mouth of South River, and the Professor
joined in their wish to recover it at the first opportunity. Harry again
alluded to it on this occasion, and it was decided that such a trip
would be a welcome change.
The trip could be made in the wagon, and by consent the four agreed to
undertake the journey and bring it back.
"I have often thought it might be done by taking the lifeboat," was
George's idea, "and we could fix it up there and sail it back."
"It does not seem to me that would be practical, because it is too much
damaged to repair in such a way as to make it safe for such a journey,
and if that plan should be adopted all of us should go, and we cannot
leave for the length of time necessary to repair it."
"Then we had better take the team. Do you think, Professor, we could
haul it back?"
"If you can load it there will be no difficulty in that particular."
It was decided to start the following morning, and a supply of
provisions was stored in the wagon, and before starting the Professor
made the following suggestions:
"When you get there the top must be removed--that is the bows and
covering----"
"Why, we haven't any covering to it now. We had to use it up for
clothing."
"I had forgotten all about that. I supposed the top had been taken off
when we took it out to haul in the supplies. That being the case the
boat, when it is loaded in, upside down, will make a splendid top for
you for camping purposes."
"How long will it take to make the trip?" inquired Tom.
"Not to exceed five or six days, because we know every step of the way,
and we can push along pretty lively."
The start was not made until about ten o'clock, and Angel was on hand
with his inevitable gun. They did not forget the usual accompaniments of
such trips, namely, guns and ammunition, together with the spears and
bolos.
"This is certainly a jolly lark," sang out Ralph, as they neared the
forest. He and Tom had fully recovered from their weakened condition,
and were able to take their part in any of the work which was necessary.
"Which way shall we take?" asked George.
"The road directly through the forest, for the reason it is much better
than the route near the sea."
The four young spirits made wonderful progress toward the goal, as they
had a light load, and every minute seemed to be precious. What hunting
was done was on the route itself, and they had mutually agreed that
there should not be any wandering on the part of either.
The first night the camp was made on the banks of the Cataract, well
within the woods, and not far from the scene of their first exploits
with the two bears.
"I wish we could come across more of the same kinds of bears that we met
in these woods," said George.
"But the forests south of South River are the places for the animals.
Didn't George tell you about our hunting there?"
"No," answered Ralph; "but I want to go there when we get back."
During the first night Angel was restless, as usual in the woods at the
merest sound, and George tried to find out the cause of the uneasiness.
"Wasn't it near here that the wildcat attacked us?" asked George.
"I believe you are right. Possibly he has scented another one."
"Suppose we take a peep out," Ralph whispered; and taking their guns,
they stole down from the wagon.
They silently stood by the wagon, peering around in the darkness.
"They will be up in the trees," said Harry. "Wait--I see something; look
up to the right, a little to the left of the opening through to the
sky."
"Two balls of fire could be distinctly noticed.
"That is one of them, if it isn't something larger. What shall we do?"
"Ralph, you and I will aim and fire at it, and if it makes a dive for us
George and Tom can take the next shot. Get in the wagon quietly, and
prepare."
"Now, ready, aim, fire!" Something came down from the tree faster than
an ordinary descent.
"Get into the wagon, quickly," and suiting the action to the word, they
leaped up quickly.
"Don't shoot, George, until you see something definite to shoot at."
Something went crashing through the underbrush, and Angel, who was their
monitor, increased his alarm.
"I believe it is making for us."
The boys who had shot were now prepared with the newly loaded guns and
awaited the attack, but beyond the plain movement of the leaves, and
what appeared to be breaking twigs, nothing could be discerned, until
George almost screamed, as he saw the object above them, high in the
branches.
"Here is a chance for a shot?" And Harry and Ralph both aimed and fired
at the same moment, and the animal came down with a crash and landed
near the wagon, but was up in an instant, and appeared to spring out
through the forest.
Angel quieted down, and this gave George assurance that they were rid of
the animal.
The second day was not filled with stirring events, and they went along
with considerable speed, and judging from their former estimates the
distance traveled during the two days must have brought them fully forty
or fifty miles from home, so they counted on being able to reach the
location of the boat some time during the following day.
Before noon of the day they sighted the West River, but they reached it
at an unfamiliar point.
George and Harry looked at each other in surprise. "It does seem to me,"
said Harry, "that we must have made some miscalculation in coming from
the woods. If I am not mistaken we are miles south of the place we ought
to have aimed for."
Beyond question the direction was to the north, and the team was headed
for that direction, their route being near the river, as the ground was
much smoother, and speed was thus made.
"What is this?" asked Ralph in consternation. "Here are tracks."
The trails were examined, and Harry solved the question by the assertion
that it was the tracks made by their own wagon when they escaped from
the savages on the other side of the river.
"What idiots we have been to expose ourselves to the savages."
"We must leave the river bed now, or we may be discovered," was George's
answer, and the yaks were guided to a higher elevation, and urged
forward at a higher speed.
Selecting a secluded spot the noonday halt was made, and a hurried
luncheon provided, but before they were ready for a start, Angel, who
was in the branches of a tree, began his chatter, which caused George to
spring toward the direction of the tree.
"Come down, Angel; come down!" This was always heeded by the animal, and
it was plain that the direction of the approaching danger was from the
north.
Springing to a small, low-branching tree, he crawled up, and Angel
followed and looked to the north, and the sight that greeted him was
sufficient to cause a hasty descent, and he ran toward the wagon and met
the boys, who were coming toward him.
"What is it?" asked all in excitement.
"Savages."
"And if I am not mistaken, they are the same tribe that had Ralph and
Tom."
The two boys almost paled at the words. Ralph made his way back to the
wagon on a run. "If they attempt to take me again, I will never
surrender."
"Are they coming this way?"
"Yes; and they are not a quarter of a mile away."
The yaks were unyoked, and had not been hitched up, so they were led
behind the wagon, following out the plan previously adopted, as it would
have been useless to attempt to avoid them.
"Shall we attack them the moment they approach?"
"I believe," answered Ralph "that is our only hope."
"How many could you see in the party?"
"About a dozen."
The wagon had been camped behind a clump of shrubbery, not over twenty
feet from the small rivulet, and to the north of them the stream made a
slight turn, so that the party appeared in view to the watchers as soon
as they reached the wagon, and Ralph was the first to recognize their
late enemies.
To the surprise of the boys, the savages stopped, not a thousand feet
away, but on the opposite side of the stream, and built a fire
preparatory to cooking some game which had fallen into their hands.
"Well, this is interesting. They are going to have some luncheon, too.
Wouldn't this be a good time to slip away?"
"I am afraid," answered Tom, "that it would be a dangerous business. The
creaking of that rear wheel would put them on our track at once.
Couldn't we grease the wheel?" Tom was very much in earnest now.
As quietly as possible the wheel was removed, and some very good butter,
the only thing available, was used to ease it up, and the wheel was
gotten back in quick time.
Unfortunately the wagon tongue pointed toward the river, the very
direction which they dared not go, for fear of exposing their presence,
so they had to push the wagon back, by their combined energy, and as
noiselessly as it could be done the team was yoked on and slowly moved
south, and after traveling a quarter of a mile or more, directed toward
the river, and then northwardly, thus making a wide circle in the effort
to avoid their camp.
"I'd much rather shoot them than to run away," was Tom's opinion of the
situation. "The dirty rascals; they are known to be the meanest set on
the island, and we oughtn't show them any mercy."
By this time the boys were worked up into a fighting fever.
"I think we can lick the whole lot of them, and for my part, I am
willing to wait here and take a shot at them; what do you say?" Ralph
was really mad at the demons, as he called them.
The boys looked at each other. Harry was the only one who seemed to have
the situation well in hand from a true hunter's standpoint. "If we stay
here you will certainly get an opportunity, or I am very much mistaken."
"Why do you say so?" asked Tom.
"For the plain and simple reason that they will cross our tracks in all
probability, and that will mean an easy trail."
"But how will they know which way to go after us? They may go down to
the river."
"Well, they wouldn't be such idiots as to go in the opposite direction
that the footprints of the yaks plainly show."
The boys had not thought of that.
"And then there is another thing, that just occurred to me. If they
follow our tracks from the camping spot they will know we have made the
detour in order to avoid them, and that will make them only the more
anxious to make our closer acquaintance."
Harry had hardly stopped speaking before the voices of their enemies
were discernible.