A HURRICANE ON THE MOUNTAIN.
The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt
that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light
affair.
Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal,
but now old Jacob stopped him.
"There is an overhanging cliff," he said, pointing with his long finger.
"We had better look for shelter there afore we think of eating."
"You are right," said Robert Menden. "This coming storm may prove what
the boys would call a corker."
They took up their traps, which had been hidden in the brush while they
were in the cave, and set off for the cliff which loomed up less than
quarter of a mile away. It was a difficult road, through brush and
creeping vines and over rough rocks, and before it was finished, the big
raindrops were beginning to patter down on the broad tropical leaves.
"Here's a pretty good place," said Dick, pointing to a hollowed-out spot
eight or more feet in depth. There were several wild plantains in front
of it, and it certainly looked a very good shelter.
"I can't make no fire here," said Danny. "De rain will put it out in no
time."
"Build up close to the rocks, Danny," replied Don. "Here, I will show
you;" and soon they had a fairly good blaze started, and Danny placed
some water to boil.
By this time the storm was on them in all of its fury. The rain came
down in sheets, so that they could not see fifty feet in front of them.
The wind made the trees groan and creak as it swayed them in one
direction or another.
"This is a small-sized hurricane, I reckon," observed old Jacob. "Hark!"
He put up his hand and they all listened. From afar came a dull, humming
sound. It was coming closer.
"It's a hurricane, ez sure ez guns!" shouted the Yankee sailor. "I hope
we are safe here."
"We ought to be," replied Leander. "Oh, my! Listen!"
The humming seemed to fill the air all around them, while the sky grew
as black as night. Then came a wild rushing of wind and at a distance
they heard several forest trees go down with a crash. A tree directly
before their shelter followed, and then the full force of the hurricane
was upon them.
In a twinkle, one and another of the boys found himself lifted up and
dashed against the rocks. The wind soused the rain in all around them,
and the embers of the fire were hurled hither and thither, some sailing
up into the air to disappear in the raging element. In front of the
shelter the brush was torn up by the roots, and the very rocks seemed to
quake and quiver, as if about to tumble down upon their heads.
"This is fearful!" groaned Bob; but nobody heard him, nor were the
remarks from the others audible. The wind had found a crack in the rocks
and through this it was whistling with the loudness of a steam calliope.
Swish! crack! bang! down came another tree before their hiding-place,
and the uppermost branches were thrust at them, hemming all in against
the wall. But this gave additional shelter, and now the wind that came
after could not reach them.
In a few minutes the first fury of the hurricane was spent; but it
continued to blow and rain at a lively rate, and this kept up until
almost morning. To make even a torch-light was impossible, and they
huddled together in the dark, side by side, with their backs to the
cliff, silently praying that God might see them through this peril in
safety. And their prayer was heard; for morning found them wet, sleepy
and hungry, but still unharmed by a hurricane which, in other quarters,
had done untold damage.
"My gracious! that was worse than the blizzard we had on Snow-Top
Island!" declared Leander. "I'll tell you what—I wouldn't want to be out
in the Dashaway in such a blow."
"I trust the storm ain't found the yacht," replied old Jacob, dubiously.
"If it got in the harbor it would play high jinks with the shipping."
"Oh, I hope it passed by San Juan," said Dick. The Dashaway was his
pride, and he did not wish to see the beautiful vessel harmed.
It was with difficulty that the entire party found enough dry wood with
which to kindle a fire. All were soaked to the skin, and it was decided
to remain in camp until noon.
"Perhaps we would have been better off in the cave," said Bob. "I wonder
if Joseph Farvel remained down there."
"As like as not," said Robert Menden. "But I think staying in such a
hole in a hurricane is dangerous. You don't know what pranks a storm
might play."
"Yes; if the wind got in there it would haul down a good bit o' the
roof," said old Jacob.
While Danny was nursing the fire into a big blaze, several flocks of
birds flew over the cliff. At once the boys got out their firearms and
half a dozen shots brought down twice that number of the feathered
specie. The birds were speedily dressed, and cooked, and made a welcome
addition to their otherwise scant breakfast.
Robert Menden was anxious that no more time be lost, and promptly at
noon, with clothing once more dried, they started off again for the
caves. Carlos Remora had disappeared entirely, nor did he show up again,
thinking that all of the party were buried under the fallen ceiling of
the cave.
The side of the mountain was wet and slippery, and they had to proceed
with care, for fear of slipping into some hollow and becoming seriously
hurt.
On all sides were the evidences of the terrific storm—shattered trees,
bushes laid flat, and here and there a ripped-up portion of grass, as if
some giant's hand had reached down and twisted it up from the roots.
"It's wonderful what a power the wind has when it lets itself loose,"
remarked Dick. "I'm awfully glad we weren't caught out in the open."
"That's so," said Don. "We would have been blown to Kingdom Come."
When they reached the entrance to the Dark Cave they looked around for
some trace of Remora and of Joseph Farvel's party; but the storm had
obliterated all footprints and other signs.
With lighted torches they passed inside and down the first slope, which
was now familiar to them. Their future operations had been talked over
during the breakfast hour, and it had been decided to try a central
branch of the great cave—one which Carlos Remora had told them had a
very uneven flooring and was, consequently, but little travelled.
They had just reached the ending of the first slope when Dick saw a
white object sticking up on the end of a stick.
"Hullo! what's that?" he cried.
"What's what, Dick?"
"That thing on the stick?"
"It's a sign of some sort," exclaimed Bob; and running forward he held
the torch to it. It proved to be a piece of white paper stuck on a bit
of tree bark. On the paper was written:
"WARNING!
"Be it known to all that I, by right of inheritance and also
discovery, do hereby lay claim to everything of value which is to be
found in this cave or any of its branches. I warn all outsiders, and
especially Robert Menden and his party, to keep away from my
property.
"JOSEPH FARVEL."
"Oh, what cheek!" burst out Dick.
"He had better claim the earth and have done with it," put in Leander.
"Will you pay any attention to that?" asked Don, turning to Robert
Menden.
"Do you think I should?" queried the Englishman, with a twinkle in his
eye.
"No."
"Nixey," cried Danny, who could not always get away from his old-time
slang.
"He hasn't any more right here nor any o' us," burst out old Jacob.
"Jest let him try to stop me, thet's all. He'll reckon he fell in with a
second hurricane!"
At this they all laughed. And that laugh settled matters. They would go
ahead and pay no attention to the warning left by their enemy.