"Shall we go back and try if we can see it?" he whispered.
"Go back! Now, my dear lad, don't. Don't think about that. Ugh! after
such an escape! Come along."
"Wait a moment. Where's the sun? It should be on our right."
"Well, it's on our left, now," said Billy.
"Then we've been going farther away from the sea. Well, we can't go
back."
"Go back, my dear lad! no! let's go this way, and make on till we come
to somewhere. Anything, so as to get right away from that horrible
beast."
In spite of his proposal to go back and try and get a glimpse of their
enemy, Mark felt more disposed to hurry away; and for the next two hours
they climbed and struggled on, half aware, and yet not willing to alter
their course, that they were going farther from help.
Mark said so at last.
"But we don't want help so much now, sir, as miles of distance. Let's
get away, right away, Mr Mark, and when we feels we're safe then we'll
talk about going for camp."
Mark said no more, but trudged on, and struggled through the trees, with
the ground growing higher and higher, till at last they came upon a
sight which made Billy Widgeon try to throw up his cap; but he only
struck it against a bough, and then made a dash forward in the direction
of something which quite for the moment overmastered all his feelings of
dread.
"Food!" he shouted; and Mark saw that he was making for a tall cocoa-nut
tree; but before he had gone many steps the report of a gun rang out on
the morning air, and this brought both to a stand-still.
"Ahoy!" they shouted as nearly as they could together, and a
faintly-heard shout answered their call.
"Hurrah!" shouted Mark, and he hailed again and went in the direction of
the response, closely followed by Billy, who cast longing eyes on the
cocoa-nuts.
The rest was but a matter of time, and was achieved by keeping up the
calls and answers. Sometimes they found they were going wrong, but this
was soon rectified, and in half an hour Mark's eyes were gladdened by
the sight of his father's face, as he forced his way out of a
cane-brake.
"Oh, father," the lad exclaimed, "I am so sorry!"
"Oh, Mark, my boy, I am so glad!" cried the captain, catching him by the
shoulders, and then pressing him tightly to his breast.
"You young dog! Here, Strong, give me leave to thrash him, and I'm
yours truly for ever. Why, Mark, my dear boy, what a stew you put us
in! There, if you'll go and look where I lay down to sleep for half an
hour you'll find some tears on the leaves."
"I'm so sorry, Major O'Halloran."
"Bedad, and it don't matter, for we've found you again. Ugh! you ugly
young ruffian! to go frightening your father into fits."
"It was an accident, sir."
"That's what your father said. He would have it that you had gone down
a hole to see what made the mountain burn, and couldn't get out."
"If you wouldn't mind, Mr Mark, sir, I'd like to shake hands," said
Small, "afore I punch Billy Widgeon's head."
"It wasn't his fault, Small," cried Mark, shaking hands heartily with
the boatswain before turning to the captain.
"Was my mother very much frightened, father?"
"I hope not, my lad."
"Hope not! What! haven't you been back to camp?"
"Not likely, my boy. We found you did not come back so we went off from
the mud-stream path to the right and searched for you till we could not
see, and have fired off half our ammunition for signals."
"But we went off to the left, father," said Mark.
"And so we got farther and farther apart, so no wonder we did not find
you."
"Did you shout?"
"Shout!" cried the major, who sounded very Irish that morning. "Why,
can't you hear, boy, how dumb we are with yelling after you!"
"Never mind, you are found, so now for camp. They must be very anxious.
But you are none the worse?"
"No, father, not a bit; only hungry."
"But did you hear that roar soon after daybreak?"
"Hear it! Yes," cried Mark; "it came out of the cave in which we
slept;" and he related their experience.
The captain looked at the major without speaking.
"Oh, I'm ready," said the latter with a look of determination. "Let's
have the rest of what we have to eat, and then set the matter at rest."
"We will," said Captain Strong, "and then we shall have a better right
to face those in camp. I don't like for our visit to be purposeless."
Billy Widgeon's eyes glistened as they found a level place to sit down
and make a fairly hearty meal, supplemented by some fruit picked by the
men during the laborious search, which had only ceased on the previous
night when they were quite exhausted.
As they made their sylvan breakfast the question was discussed as to the
possibility of finding the cave again. Mark felt that he could not but
express his willingness to try, and soon after, with guns loaded ready,
they rose and set off in quest of the monster that threatened to make
their life a penance.
CHAPTER FORTY.
HOW THE ROAR PROVED TO BE--A ROAR.
The task proved more simple than Mark had anticipated, and he went on,
step by step, learning how it was that the Indians tracked their prey.
Every now and then he was at fault, but on these occasions some other
eye detected the trampled ferns, a broken twig, or a cane dragged out of
place, and the result was that in a couple of hours the opening was
reached where the rocky scarp rose up high toward the mountain, and the
mouth of the cave yawned open before them.
Here there was a pause. What to do next?
"It's awkward," said the major, "supposing our friend's at home. I
don't want to go first, and I'm sure I don't want you to go, Strong."
"Shall we send Billy Widgeon in first, sir?" said Small. "He's a little
un, and knows his way. Here, Billy, where are you?"
An inarticulate noise above their heads made them turn, to find that
Billy had rapidly climbed a tree.
"Well, of all the cowards! Here, you come down," cried Small.
He pointed his gun at the little sailor, and vowed so heartily that he
would fire at his legs if he did not descend, that Billy swung himself
reluctantly on to a thin elastic branch, and let himself swing lower
till he could touch the ground.
"I think the best way will be to get a fire, and as soon as the brands
are well alight one of the men must go underneath and throw them in,
while we stand ready with our guns."
The plan was carried out; and eager now to show that he was not so great
a coward as the boatswain had suggested, Billy volunteered to throw in
the burning wood.
All was ready. The captain, major, Mark, and Small, with loaded pieces,
and the latter with instructions to fire calmly and with good aim, and
Billy with the burning wood, which was of a resinous nature, and burned
fiercely.
"Now, my lad," said the captain after a glance round, and finally fixing
his eyes on the mouth of the cavern, which looked black and grim, "when
I say `Ready!' get well under the cave mouth, climb up a little way, and
hurl in the burning wood as far as you can."
"But suppose he comes out, sir?"
"If he does, you will be out of sight, and the beast will come right at
us."
"You won't shoot me, gentlemen?"
"No, man, of course not."
"Nor you, Mr Small," pleaded Billy.
"Lookye here, Billy Widgeon," growled the boatswain, "if you don't do
your dooty like a man, and chuck them there blazing sticks right into
the back o' that there hole, I'm blest if I don't."
Billy Widgeon said never a word, but got his wood well ablaze, while the
captain and major stood right in front of the cave, with Small and Mark
on their right and left.
"Now, be careful," said the captain; and then Billy Widgeon crept
cautiously under the mouth of the cave, and then began to climb, with
the smoke rising from the fire, till he was so high that he could hold
on with one hand and throw with the other.
"Ready!" cried the captain.
Whizz went the burning brands, so well aimed that they went right into
the cave, and an unexpected result was produced. One of these went
right in, and the other fell upon the bed of palm leaves which Mark had
occupied. This began to blaze, the other caught, and in a few minutes
the interior was full of flame and smoke, the former roaring, and the
latter eddying out and up the face of the rock.
"Not at home," said the major, as they all stood breathlessly waiting
for the outburst of the furious monster, which Mark painted mentally as
something between a lion and a bear, but elephantine in size.
"Think not?"
"No wild beast would stand that without making a run for it."
Hardly had the major spoken when there was a deafening roar, accompanied
by a rushing sound; Billy Widgeon dropped down, and rolled over, to lie
among some ferns, crouched together like a ball; Small ran to the
nearest tree, and peered round it, taking aim, while the other two men
followed Small's example. The captain, major, and Mark stood firm, but
the latter had so hard a fight with self that he would have had but
little for any furious beast that had charged. For all the time nature
kept on saying, "Run for your life!" while education whispered, "Face
the danger like a man!"
Education won, and Mark stared as he saw his father uncock his piece and
throw it over his shoulder, while the major began to laugh.
"Well, Mark, there's your wild beast," he said merrily, and he pointed
up at the mountain.
"I--I don't understand."
"Steam, boy, gas, or something of that kind. Didn't you see the smoke
and flame come out with a puff?"
"Yes, I saw that; but don't you think it is a wild beast?"
"No beast could roar like that, my lad," said the captain. "Don't you
see that this is one of the ways into the mountain, and every now and
then it blows off so much steam, or heated air. It must come from a
tremendous distance through rocky passages, and the sudden blast makes
this roar."
At that moment Billy Widgeon raised his head and looked up at them
curiously.
"Aren't you going to shoot, gen'lemen?"
"Not this time," said the captain. "There, jump up, and let's get back.
We shall be able to live here in peace while we get our boat built.
I'm glad we've solved the problem."
"Well, I'm glad," said the major, "but it's a shabby end to the affair.
I should have liked to get the monster's head and skin for my room."
"It's a rum un," said Billy Widgeon, climbing up and staring in at the
hole. "That's what it is, Mr Mark, sir; it's a rum un."
"What's that?" cried Mark suddenly. "Here! hi! Bruff! Bruff! Bruff!"
He whistled loudly, and there was a joyous barking heard in the
distance, and soon after the dog came bounding up from the more open
ground at the end of the rocky scarp.
"That must be our way, then," said the captain. "Here, Mark, do you
think he could lead us home?"
"I don't know, father--let's try," cried Mark, and after the dog had
given every one a friendly recognition, and received his due meed of
pats and caresses, he was sent on in front, going forward quite as a
matter of course; but before they reached the end of the rock-encumbered
opening, there was a roar of laughter from the men, as Billy Widgeon
struck an attitude, smiling all over his face, resting his hands upon
his short knees, and shaking his head.
"A pritty creetur! Look at that now, Mr Mark, sir!"
All joined in the roar of laughter as the "pritty creetur," to wit,
Jack, came ambling along, and hopping from rock to rock, having followed
the dog; and as soon as he reached Billy, leaping upon his back, and
clinging tightly to his neck, chattering loudly the while.
"Forward!" cried the captain; and, following the dog, the little party
went on, to find that they had a couple of hours' hard struggle through
the tangled jungle, at the end of which time a familiar whistling sound
was heard, one of the mud-pools reached, and from that point, over known
ground, their course was comparatively easy to the camp, where the
anxiety of the ladies ceased, though they owned that, knowing how
difficult travelling was, they were not very much alarmed.
Judging, however, from the face of his mother, Mark rather doubted this,
while, though as a soldier's wife she would not show it, Mrs O'Halloran
had evidently passed a bitter night, and when Mark went up to Mary
O'Halloran to shake hands, that young lady told him it was horribly
cruel, that he ought to be ashamed of himself, and that she would never
shake hands with him again.
CHAPTER FORTY ONE.
HOW THERE WAS NO PEACE ON THE BEAUTIFUL ISLE.
Three months glided happily away, during which time there was no renewal
of the earthquake, the lightning ceased to play about the cone of the
beautiful mountain, and the roar from the lion's mouth, as Mark and Mary
christened it, grew gradually less and less audible till it finally died
away.
It was a busy time, and seemed to pass like magic in that wonderful
clime of sunshine, verdure, and brightly winged bird and insect. There
were occasional showers, such as fall with terrible violence in the
tropics, but the mornings after were so delicious that the rains were
welcomed.
There was shooting, and fishing, and fruit gathering, climbing for
cocoa-nuts, work in abundance, which seemed almost like play; but the
main task was the journey round to the ship to bring stores, of which
there were ample, and to commence building a small sailing vessel, which
would easily convey them all to Singapore.
But this part of the daily work was the only one which was distasteful
to the men.
"You see, Mr Mark, sir, it's like this here," said Billy. "Me and my
monkey's as happy here as the day's long, and so's my mates; for now, as
Mr Morgan and Stowaway Jimpny and t'other chap's strong as horses
again, what we says is this here, what call is there for us to want to
get back to London town?"
"Ah, what, indeed, Billy!" said Mark.
"To smoke and fog and blacks, and black-beadles, and blackguards, and
colds and coughs, and no sun never shining. Let's stop here, I says."
"To be sure, Billy!"
"I'm glad you think so, sir. Jack does, and so does old Bruff; and as
for David Jimpny, `Let me live and die here,' he says, `for I didn't
know as there was such places in the world.' But Mr Small says `No,'
he says, `We've got to make that there boat,' he says, and he's a
nigger-driving all day long. Blow the boat! I wish as it had never
been begun, and the gig was burned."
But the making of the boat progressed, and at the end of six months from
their landing she was finished, fitted with stores, and lay in Crater
Bay ready for the projected voyage.
This readiness was welcome and unwelcome, for though the idea of getting
back to civilisation was gladdening for some reasons, and the captain
longed to give an account to the owners of the _Petrel_ of his
misfortune, and to get a vessel and men from Singapore to try and save
all possible of her lading, there was something painful in the idea of
giving up their deliciously calm and peaceful life.
"I shall never get such shooting again," said the major. "But duty,
duty. 'Tention!"
"It has been a pleasant life," said Morgan thoughtfully. "I don't think
I could have recovered from that wound any where else so soon."
"Yes, it's pleasant," said Mr Gregory, "but one can't study oneself.
I've got a wife at home, who must think me dead."
"And I have someone waiting who is to be my wife," said Morgan, "and she
must think me dead."
The men could not hear these words, or several of them could have spoken
similarly; and somehow, in spite of the beauty of the place and the
abundance, with the sun shining constantly, England mentally seen from a
distance began to appear more and more attractive, and the time was
coming when the place would be wearisome.
One day, while they were still halting before making a start, the
captain wishing to make a few more additions to their vessel and then
take her on a trial trip before venturing with all on board so far, the
signal for starting came in a very unexpected manner.
David Jimpny, who had grown to be one of the strongest and healthiest
looking of the men there, proved still to be one of the most useless as
far as helping in matters nautical. But in anything relating to trips
inland he was invaluable. There was so much of the vagabond spirit in
him that he liked nothing better than being sent off inland to collect
palm tops or shoots for cooking like vegetables. These he would get and
bring into camp, and, what was more, try experiments on other promising
things. He would come back hot and scratched, but generally with an
eager look in his eyes as he had to announce the discovery of some
fruit-tree of which there was an abundance, but almost invariably hidden
in the depths of the jungle.
Off these trees he would bring in a splendid supply of fruit of strange
look, but often delicious quality, and nothing delighted Mark more than
a journey to one or other of these sylvan stores.
Upon this special day Mark had to take charge of the camp, for a rule
was made never to leave the ladies entirely alone. The island, as far
as they could make out, was uninhabited, the strange noises heard
occasionally being invariably attributed to the volcano; but there was
the possibility of danger coming from without, and it was considered
advisable that someone should always stay to be on the watch.
Mark had been wandering listlessly about for some time wishing he could
fish, or shoot, or collect insects--though he might easily have done the
latter, for an abundance of beautiful butterflies came from the forest
to settle wherever the skins of fruit were thrown. But he wanted to be
free, and it was tiresome, he thought, to be so useless and do nothing
better than to idle about the camp and watch the cooking--a tantalising
matter when you could not eat.
It was getting toward afternoon when Bruff, who was with him, lying on
the sand with his eyes shut and shaking his ears to keep out the flies,
suddenly sprang up and uttered a low growl.
"What is it, old boy?" cried Mark.
Another growl, and a short snapping bark, which was answered by a
chattering noise, told that the monkey was coming, and he appeared soon
after followed by the stowaway.
Something was evidently wrong, for the man was waving his hand wildly,
and beckoning to him to come.
Mark ran to meet him, to see, as he drew nearer, that Jimpny's face and
hands were bleeding and his shirt hanging in strips from his shoulders,
while his staring eyes and open mouth showed him to be suffering from
excess of terror.
"Why, David, what's the matter?" cried Mark as he ran up to him, the
stowaway sinking down upon the sand unable to answer, and his breath
coming and going with a hoarse roaring noise that was terrible.
"Can't you speak?" cried Mark. "What is the matter?"
The stowaway uttered a few words hoarsely, but nothing was
comprehensible but "quick!" and "run." He pointed seaward, though in
the direction opposite to that which the party had taken that morning on
their way round to Crater Bay, a journey which familiarity had made
appear now comparatively short.
Mark looked in the direction in which he pointed, and could see the blue
water of the lagoon, with to his left the long line of creamy surf and
to his right the fringe of cocoa-nut trees just beyond the sand.
Jimpny pointed again, and on once more looking searchingly Mark made out
a flock of the beautiful long-tailed parroquets which haunted the island
groves, but nothing more.
"Have you seen anything--has anyone touched you? Oh, I say, David, do
speak! What is the matter?"
The stowaway made signs again and pointed, striving once more to rise,
but sinking back from utter exhaustion.
"Point, then, if you can't speak," cried Mark. "If the ladies see you
like this they will be frightened to death."
The man pointed again toward where a long low point ran out into the
lagoon, fringed with luxuriant growth, but nothing more was visible.
"There, I thought as much!" cried Mark as he saw his mother coming up,
followed by Mrs O'Halloran, and Mary with them, the latter running on
in advance.
"What's the matter, Mark?" she cried as she came up--and then, "Oh, Mr
Jimpny, how you have got scratched!"
"There's nothing the matter, I think," said Mark laughing, for the
stowaway's face was comical with terror. "I think David has seen
another noise, or found a steam snake, like I did."
"No, no," panted the stowaway. "Boats! pirates! coming!"
"What! where?" cried Mark excitedly, as he looked in the direction
pointed out; and as he did so Bruff set up the hair about his neck, and
uttered a fierce and prolonged bark.
For there, just coming into sight beyond the point, was one of the long,
low, peculiar-looking boats which the Malays call praus, boats which
have been famous for ages as the means by which the fierce tribesmen
made their way from place to place, killing and destroying ship and town
wherever plunder was to be had.
"Down, Bruff! quiet, sir!" cried Mark. "Quick, every one! In amongst
the trees!"
Mrs Strong and the major's wife had hardly comprehended what was wrong
before they were hurried in among the trees, Jimpny following, limping
and still breathing hoarsely.
"I was up--up the side of the mountain," he panted, "when I--I saw them
coming. There's three boats."
"Three!" cried Mark, peering out from among the trees; and as he looked
it was to see one prau clear of the point, and another coming slowly out
into view.
"Do you think they saw us?" said Mary in a frightened whisper.
"No; not they," said Mark. "They could not, unless they had telescopes
and were watching; but ah! they'll see that. Come along, quick!"
He led the way, taking upon himself the guidance of the little party in
his charge, and together they hurried on through the trees to where the
huts were erected among the trunks of the cocoa grove.
"They could not see these places unless they landed," said Mark, looking
sharply about him, "and there is no boat nor anything that would take
their attention, only that."
"Only what, my boy?" said Mrs Strong eagerly.
"That," said Mark--"the fire. Jimpny, hold Bruff and don't let him come
after me. Lie down, sir. Let no one else show outside the trees."
"What are you going to do, Mark?" cried Mary.
"Put out the fire," he said quickly. "It will betray where we are."
He did not hesitate, but going down upon hands and knees crept down the
sand toward where, in the midst of the coral rocks, the fire was burning
in what they had called the kitchen.
Fortunately it was clear and glowing, the smoke having given way to
clear flame, but there was still a faint thread rising, and unless the
Malays took it for steam from one of the hot springs they might land
there to see, and if they did, though nothing was visible from a
distance, the trampled sand and litter of the camp, as well as the
tracks left by the keel of the boat, would show plainly enough that
there were inhabitants in the isle.
Those within shelter watched intently as Mark got over the intervening
space and disappeared behind the rocks, where, using his hands as
shovels, he rapidly threw on quantities of sand till the fire was
completely smothered out, and the birds roasting for their dinners
destroyed.
This task accomplished, Mark crept back, satisfied that if seen by the
Malays he would be taken for some animal, and as soon as he reached the
shelter of the trees, rising upright and gazing between the trunks out
to sea.
The stowaway was right; there were three praus now visible, and Bruff
was growling angrily, as if he recognised enemies in every long low
boat.
"What are you going to do?" said Mrs Strong. "Keep in hiding and let
them pass?"
"No," said Mark. "I must get round to Crater Bay and warn them there."
"Yes," said Mrs Strong, "that is right."
"How unfortunate that every one should have gone and left us this
morning!" said the major's wife.
Mark hesitated for a moment as if making his plans.
"I can't leave you all and go," he said at last. "You must come with
me. It will be a long hot walk; but you must come."
"I'm afraid the pirates have been round there, Mr Mark," said the
stowaway hoarsely.
"No, no," cried Mrs Strong.
"Which, begging your pardon, ma'am, they seemed to come from that way as
if they'd been round there."
"You've no business to say that," cried Mark excitedly. "It is only
guesswork, mother--Mrs O'Halloran. Come along, and keep well in among
the trees. Bruff, to heel, sir! You, Jimpny, lead the monkey."
"Yes, Mr Mark, sir; but hadn't I better get a gun?"
"Yes, of course," cried Mark eagerly, and together they ran into the
officers' quarters, to come forth again, armed to the teeth, to where
the ladies were waiting on the sand.