Fighting Against Heavy Odds
Bob had often run in track races at high school, but never had he
equaled the pace that was now taking him to the boats. It was as
though wings had suddenly lifted him through space at an alarming rate
of speed.
The youth had all he could do to prevent coming in contact with thorns
and fringed plants, but he did his best. But what of thorns when
Professor Bigelow needed help?
On and on he went, swinging his rifle over shrubs and bushes. At times
it was necessary to hold his arms high above his head to prevent
striking limbs and other projections.
At last, after what seemed a terribly long time, he parted the foliage
and gazed ahead to see what was happening. Then a look of rage came on
his face.
On the river bank a terrific struggle was taking place between
Professor Bigelow and the two Indians who had been left behind. The
men had the professor down, and the latter's face was ghastly white as
strong arms and hands tried to choke him into unconsciousness.
Occasionally he would manage to call out a muffled cry for assistance.
For a moment Bob took in the situation carefully. Then he rushed at
the men with rage and fury and landed on the back of the one nearest,
bearing him to the ground with a thud. The Indians glanced up in
surprise at this abrupt interruption, and they turned to deal with
this new enemy.
One of the men gained his feet and launched himself with all force at
Bob's side, the impact hurling the youth from the back of the first
man. But Bob shook the fellow off and threw an arm around his neck
with the strength of one in desperation. There was a terrific
struggle, and the two thrashed about, neither able to gain the upper
hand. Bob gripped the Indian's neck with all his strength, and the
man's face began to turn purple from the terrific strain. It was
clearly evident that he would soon be put out of the fight.
But the other Indian was not motionless. In fact if it had not been
for him, the youth would have had the better of the first fellow, for
he was slowly giving out. But suddenly Bob felt a heavy body landing
on his back and had to release his hold on the first man.
This again gave the Indians the advantage, and they were quick to
sense their chance.
Bob soon saw that he could gain nothing as things were. He must resort
to some other means.
Professor Bigelow was now beginning to show signs of life, but he was
so badly battered that what little he did to help amounted to nothing,
for he was soon sent sprawling to the ground.
Suddenly Bob gained his feet, intent upon resorting to boxing, a
method that the Indians probably knew little about.
A quick glance around showed that his friends had arrived and were
making for the boats as fast as they could. But it was only a glance,
for the Indians were rushing at him with redoubled force.
Bob caught the first man squarely between the eyes and sent him
sprawling to the ground in a dazed condition. The other Indian saw
that it would be useless to continue the fight, for the other whites
were returning fast.
He turned and made for the boat, Bob at his heels. The youth suspected
that the man was going after a gun, and he was right. But he hardly
had the revolver in his hand when Bob pounced upon him and wrenched
the weapon from his grip. One hard blow put him out of the fight.
Then, for the first time, Bob drew a long breath. He was panting and
gasping from exertion, but he hurried over to Professor Bigelow.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yes," the professor replied, getting to his feet. And then: "That was
a wonderful fight you put up, Bob. If you had come much later, the
Indians would have escaped with the boat and our provisions."
"So that was their game!" said Mr. Lewis angrily, glancing at the
still limp Indian on shore. "They wanted to put you out and then
escape with the boats, leaving us here to starve!"
He drew his fist, and for a moment it looked as if another fight were
going to take place.
"Just for that we should desert them," gritted Joe.
"Can hardly do that," said Mr. Holton. "It would amount to the same as
murder for robbery, and such punishment is unjust. Now if they had
killed one of our party it might be different. Even then I'd hesitate
to do it."
"But they've got to have some kind of punishment," persisted Joe. "Who
knows but that they'll attempt the same thing later?"
"We'll have to keep a close lookout," returned the professor. "If we
see any more treachery we won't dare take any more chances."
The other members of the crew could not understand the actions of the
two would-be deserters, and at once cast them aside as traitors,
calling them names which, had they been translated into English, would
have been extremely shocking to civilized persons.
In a short time the two Indians emerged into consciousness, and they
sat awaiting any fate that might be thrust upon them. The explorers
were at a loss to know what to do with the men, but they finally
decided to give them hard jobs in full view of all, so that they could
neither escape again with the boats nor get the others of the crew to
thinking their way.
"Probably won't have any more trouble," remarked Mr. Lewis, as they
prepared to start up the river again. "We'll keep a sharp lookout,
and if we see any more dishonesty we'll act accordingly."
The specimens were prepared, and they resumed the journey up the
river, hoping that few more days would pass before they found the
unknown Indians. The whites were anxious and yet rather fearful to
come in contact with them, fortified as the boats were. Professor
Bigelow, however, took the matter lightly, and often when his friends
thought of his numerous visits to strange tribes, many of them
hostile, they were inclined to cast aside their worries and leave the
future happenings to him. For surely, with his wide experience, he
could see to any predicament.
"We want to make good time today," said Mr. Holton. "Twenty-five
miles, at least."
"We will," Joe's father assured him. "Unless," he added, "more rapids
hold us back."
"I don't think--I hardly believe they will," Professor Bigelow said,
but this was a statement of hope rather than of conviction.
Bob and Joe constantly took motion pictures of the country they were
passing through, and often they took the cameras with them on hunting
trips, to photograph not only wild life but any adventures that they
might have. The number of feet of exposed film had grown to nearly a
thousand, and they intended to make it several more before they
"closed" the picture. They were allowed four thousand feet and fully
expected to use all of it.
The next day after the fracas with the traitorous Indians, they were
paddling swiftly along when suddenly there was a jar and a crash, and
the foremost boat was sent aside and heading in the opposite
direction. At once the explorers were on their feet and had their
rifles in ready grasp. They cautiously peered over the side into the
river, half expecting to see a dozen or more savages leap out and make
for the boat.
But no savages came. Instead there arose a large black body, nearly
ten feet long, shaped like a seal, with the faintest suggestion of
fins protruding from its side. For a moment it glanced about, then
swam on up the river.
"A manatee," said Mr. Holton. "Or sea-cow, if you prefer that name."
"Sure is a whopper," observed Joe. "Looks like it might be dangerous.
Is it?"
"No," his father replied. "One of the most harmless animals of South
America."
Mr. Lewis raised his rifle to bring the creature down as a specimen,
but just as he prepared to pull the trigger it darted below the water
and swam off at a rapid pace, leaving a thin streak of ripples behind.
Then the naturalists saw that shooting would mean only a waste of
bullets.
A few miles on they came upon another rapids and saw that it would be
necessary to lay a portage of logs along the river bank in order to
get the boats through. Anxious to make time, they worked untiringly
and had the task completed in a short time.
"Now to get the boats through," said Mr. Holton, beginning to unload
their contents.
The canoes were heavy, even with the provisions removed, and it
required all the combined strength of the whites and the Indian crew
to get them beyond the rough stretch. But the undertaking was finally
finished.
Next the provisions were carried around, placed in the boats, and the
latter were moved into the river. At last the strenuous task was
completed.
"Ready to go again?" asked Joe.
"It's about noon," said Professor Bigelow. "I suggest that we get a
lunch."
The others agreed, and an ample repast was prepared.
Then Mr. Lewis advised that they take it easy under low palm trees.
The others, with the exception of Bob and Joe, were glad of a chance
to repose. The boys, however, were restless and eager to explore the
surrounding territory. Unlike their elders, their tireless limbs cried
out for action, even after hard labor.
"We'll be careful and not take any chances," Joe assured the men.
But had they realized what dangerous country they were in, they would
never have started out.