THE EXPOSURE OF THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR.
Leander had seen a man lying on the road on his back. Evidently the
fellow was unconscious.
Over the form bent another man, and it was none other than Bumbum, the
Carib who had taxed Leander and Dick ten dollars for pulling them from
the hole.
As Leander uttered his shout, Bumbum raised his head, and then shook his
fist at the youth.
But Leander was undaunted, and ran forward to detain the Carib until the
others might arrive on the spot.
But Bumbum was not to be caught thus easily, and when Leander grabbed
him by the arm, he struck fiercely at the boy and then tore himself
loose.
"Where is he?" came from Bob.
"There he goes—the fellow who took the ten dollars from Dick and me."
"And who is this man?"
"I don't know, but I think the Carib knocked him down."
At once a rush was made to the spot where Bumbum had disappeared, and
the wood and brush was searched thoroughly for a distance of ten or
fifteen rods.
In the meantime Robert Menden had come up, and was gazing in
open-mouthed wonder at the man lying in the road.
"Joseph Farvel!" he gasped. "What a meeting!"
"Is this Joseph Farvel, your enemy?" ejaculated Bob.
"The very same, lad. I wonder if he is dead?"
"I don't think so. But he got a bad crack on the head, that's certain."
Joseph Farvel lay in a slight hollow on the road. He had been hit over
the left eye by some blunt instrument, probably a club, and the blood
was pouring copiously from the wound.
Forgetting that this sour-faced man was his worst enemy, Robert Menden
whipped out his handkerchief, soaked it in a nearby pool of water, and
bound it about Farvel's head. Then he and old Jacob carried the sufferer
to a shady spot under a tree.
In the meantime the others gathered around, and then Don uttered a cry.
"Bob's knife!"
He was right; there lay the knife beside the spot where Joseph Farvel
had rested.
"It's mine, sure enough," said Bob, as he looked the blade over. He
gazed at Robert Menden. "Do you think it was this Joseph Farvel who
entered our room?"
"Great Cæsar! Perhaps."
"I believe it was that Bumbum," put in Dick. "I remember now that he
cast longing glances at my pocketbook when I paid him that second five
dollars. He is a regular brigand—or rather, a common sneak thief and
footpad—and he probably tackled this Farvel for what he could get out of
the fellow."
"I reckon as how Dick is right," was old Jacob's comment. He turned to
the Englishman. "What do ye think is best to do concerning your enemy?"
Robert Menden thought for a moment.
"I don't want to leave him to die here," he said slowly. "That wouldn't
be human. Cannot some of your party watch over him until he comes
around, while I get out of sight?"
This was decided upon, and after some more conversation on the point,
Robert Menden hurried on, accompanied by Dick, Don and Bob, leaving
Leander, Danny, old Jacob and the Porto Rican behind.
It was fully half an hour ere Joseph Farvel showed any signs of
returning to consciousness. In the meantime those around the man made
him as comfortable as circumstances permitted.
At last he opened his eyes and sat up.
"Where—what's the matter?" he asked, in a cold, disagreeable voice.
"You were struck down on the road," answered Leander. "Don't you
remember?"
"I—yes, I remember being hit from over the shoulder. Who did it?"
"A native—we caught sight of him running away," put in old Jacob. "I
don't believe you are seriously hurt, though."
"I don't know." Joseph Farvel gave a deep groan. "What beastly luck I'm
having, to be sure! Did the native rob me?"
"You'll have to find that out for yourself," answered Leander. "We don't
know what is in your pockets."
With some difficulty Joseph Farvel went through first one pocket and
then another, and then he gave another groan.
"My purse is gone—and it contained over eight pounds!"
"You certainly had hard luck," was old Jacob's comment. "Where are you
bound?"
"To the next village. I was—ah—roaming about these mountains, but I'm
rather sick of it."
"The mountains seem to be very nice," observed Leander, dryly. "We are
taking a look around, too."
"Indeed! Found anything of special interest?"
"No."
"It's a beastly island, and I shan't stay here long." Joseph Farvel
staggered to his feet. "My head swims like a top!"
"I would remain resting for awhile," said Leander. "You are not strong
enough yet."
"My boy, you don't know me. I'm stronger than you think for." The
sufferer turned to Carlos Remora. "How far to Caguas?"
"Less than two miles, señor."
"I can easily make that before noon, and I might as well travel before
it gets too hot."
"You may be attacked again," said Leander.
"I'll be on my guard, and if I am, I'll shoot the rascal. I am much
obliged for what you did for me."
"That's all right."
"Always ready to help a gentleman in distress," observed Danny, with a
wink behind Farvel's back at Leander.
"That's all right. So you are bound for the mountains. Beware of the
holes, or caves, as some of the natives call them."
"We have this man with us as a guide," said Leander.
"Indeed! Well, take care, that's all I have to say, and good-bye to
you," and so speaking, Joseph Farvel staggered off, but at a rapid gait.
"He certainly has grit," whispered Leander. "He's a bad man to have for
an enemy. What wicked eyes!"
"Jest so," said old Jacob. "He wouldn't hesitate to heave a man
overboard, an' I know it. Menden must keep his weather eye open."
The party resumed their march up the mountain side, and at the first
turn joined the others behind a large, projecting rock.
The Englishman listened with interest to all that they had to tell.
"I'd give a good bit to know if he has discovered anything," he
observed. "Being in such a hurry to get to Caguas makes me a little
suspicious. Perhaps he has located the treasure, and now wants to make
arrangements for getting it away."
"He can't have been here so very long," put in Don. "We came through as
fast as we were able."
"I told you he would want to put his hands on that gold as soon as he
could. But come, there is no use in wasting time here."
Up and up they went, along a twisting and turning trail, now broad, and
then again so narrow, that Dick wondered how a horse might find his way
without slipping. Yet the native assured him that horses sometimes came
that way with heavy burdens on their backs.
"Da get use to it, señor," he added. "But him bad—sometimes fall an' go
dead." And Dick believed him.
The first range passed, they began to descend into a valley. Here the
oranges, bananas and other tropical fruit grew in profusion, and in the
brush could be seen numerous wild coffee berries just turning a
beautiful red. The boys tasted them, to find them very bitter; "not a
bit like cooked coffee," as Don put it.
"It's the ripeness and roasting that brings out the flavor," said Robert
Menden.
Presently they came to a mountain torrent, all of twenty feet wide and
ten to twelve feet deep. There was no bridge, but a large palm tree lay
from bank to bank, and over this they made their way, one following the
other.
"What about horses here?" questioned Leander. "You don't mean to say
they walk this sort of a tight-rope."
"No, horses go up de water and walk on rocks," answered Carlos Remora.
Danny was the last to set foot on the tree, the others being some
distance ahead. He was over the very center of the stream when a large
bird, flying from some nearby bushes directly past his face, startled
him. He uttered a yell, and turning around, the others were just in time
to see him slip from the tree and disappear with a splash into the
swirling stream below.