It is needless to say that our young hunters took as long strides as the
nature of the ground would permit; but, unfortunately, they were not
long enough. The sand was soft and heavy, and in places so full of
holes, where the turtles had had their eggs--now empty--that the
fugitives could make but slow progress, though fear was urging them to
do their utmost. The pursuers themselves did not make as good speed as
they would have made on firmer ground, but they were going faster than
the pursued; and the boys were beginning to fear that they would never
be able to reach the periagua in time. To be overtaken meant the same
as to be dragged down upon the sand, and torn to pieces by the sharp
tusks of the peccaries. The periagua was still three hundred yards
distant. The Indians saw the chase, and knew the danger--knew it so
well, that it was not likely they would venture ashore to the rescue;
and as for Pouchskin, he was unable to budge an inch--even had there
been no other means of saving his young masters. It was a moment of
fearful apprehension for the faithful Pouchskin. He had seized his
fusil, and wriggled his body into an erect attitude; but he felt
powerless to do more.
In this moment of peril an object came under the eyes of Alexis that
promised safety. At least it held out the prospect of a temporary
retreat from the danger--though whether they might succeed in reaching
this retreat was not certain.
This object was a tree--not standing and growing, but a fallen tree--
dead, and divested of its leaves, its bark, and most of its branches.
It lay upon the sand-spit--where it had, no doubt, been deposited during
the season of floods--not exactly in the line of their flight, but some
paces to the right of the track they would have followed in keeping on
to the periagua. It was nearer them than the boat, by full two hundred
yards; and Alexis observing this, suddenly conceived a hope that they
might yet reach the tree, and find shelter, either upon its trunk or
among its branches. Of these the larger ones still remained--rising
many feet above the surface of the sand, and shrouded under masses of
weeds and withered grass, which had been there deposited at the falling
of the flood. Indeed, Alexis scarce looked to the capabilities the tree
afforded for giving them a secure retreat. There was no alternative.
It was like the drowning man catching at straws. He only cast a look
behind him, to see what time they might have to spare; and by a quick
glance calculating their distance from the pursuers, he shouted to Ivan
to follow him, and turned obliquely towards the tree.
They had noticed the tree when first starting to run, but had not
thought of it as a place of retreat. Indeed, they had thought of
nothing except getting back to the boat; and it was only now, when this
had proved clearly impossible, that they determined on taking to the
tree.
As they faced full towards it, they were able to note the chances it
offered for their safety. They saw that they were not so bad; and,
encouraged by hope, they made efforts more energetic than ever--both of
them straining every nerve and muscle in their legs and bodies.
The effort was needed; but fortunately it proved sufficient to save
them. Just sufficient: for scarce had they succeeded in getting upon
the log, and drawing their limbs up after them, when the infuriated host
arrived upon the ground, and in a few seconds surrounded them on all
sides. Lucky it was that the log was a large one. It was the dead-wood
of a gigantic silk-cotton--the _bombax ceiba_ of the tropical forests;
and its trunk, being full five feet in diameter, gave them that
elevation above the surface of the sand. Notwithstanding this, they saw
that their safety was not yet quite assured: for the spiteful peccaries,
instead of desisting in their attacks, commenced leaping up against the
log, endeavouring to reach its top, and there assail them. Now and then
one more active than the rest actually succeeded in getting its fore
feet over the ridge of the dead-wood: and, had it not been for the quick
use which our hunters made of the butts of their guns, undoubtedly they
would have been reached. Both stood with their barrels grasped firmly--
now threatening the assailing host, and now punching in the head such of
them as sprang within reach--the peccaries all the while uttering their
angry grunts, and chattering their teeth, as if a hundred strings of
Christmas crackers were being let off at the same time!
In this way the conflict was carried on--the hunters bit by bit working
themselves along the log towards the top branches, which, projecting
higher, appeared to offer a more secure place of retreat. But at
intervals as they advanced, they were compelled to make halt, and deal a
fresh shower of blows to their assailants, who still kept leaping up
from below.
At length the boys succeeded in reaching the projecting limbs of the
tree; and each choosing one strong enough to carry him, they scrambled
up towards their tops. This placed them in a position where they could
set the peccaries at defiance; for although the creatures could now
spring up on the main trunk--which several of them had already done--the
more slender limbs baffled all their efforts at climbing; and such of
them as attempted it were seen to roll off and tumble back upon the
sandbank.
The hunters, now feeling secure, could not refrain from a shout of joy,
which was answered by a cheer from the periagua, in which the baritone
of Pouchskin bore a conspicuous part.
Our heroes now believing themselves in for a siege, began to consider
the best means of raising it; when all at once a spectacle came under
their eyes, that guided their thoughts into a far different channel.