Rob and Joe looked at each other quite aghast as the boat was literally
snatched away out of the boatmen's control and went tearing down the
river. For, beside the alteration in their plans, there was the fire
waiting, all glowing embers, that would cook to perfection; there were
wild fruits which the two lads had noted from the boat; and there was
the puma, whose society Rob felt a strong desire to cultivate.
Then, too, there was something startling in being suddenly robbed of all
power to act and being swept at a headlong speed along a rapid, for
aught they knew, toward some terrible waterfall, over which they would
be hurled. So that it was with no little satisfaction that they saw
Shaddy seize the boat-hook and, after urging the crew to do their best
to pull the boat toward the trees, stand up in the bows and wait his
turn.
The crew worked hard, and kept the boat's head up stream, and by degrees
they contrived to get it closer to the side, while Shaddy made three
attempts to catch hold of a branch. In each case the bough snapped off,
but at the fourth try the bough bent and held, though so great was the
shock that when the hook caught, the strong-armed man was nearly drawn
over the bows into the river, and would have been but for one of the
boatmen's help.
It was a sharp tussle for a few moments, and then two of the men caught
hold of hanging branches as the boat swung within reach. The next
minute a rope was passed round a branch, and the boat was safely moored.
"Mind looking to see whether I've got any arms, Mr Rob?" said Shaddy.
"Feels as if they were both jerked out of their sockets."
"Are you hurt much?" asked the boys in a breath.
"Pootty tidy, young gents; but I ain't going to holler about it.
There's no time. I don't mind going fast, you know, either in a boat or
on horseback, but I do hate for the boat or the horse to take the bit in
its teeth and bolt as this did just now."
"What do you propose doing, Naylor?" said Brazier. "It is impossible to
get back, and yet I should have liked a few hours more at that
clearing."
"And them you shall have, sir, somehow. I'm not the man to be beaten by
a boat without making a bit of a fight for it first. Let's get my
breath and my arms--ah! they're coming back now. I can begin to feel
'em a bit."
He sat rubbing his biceps, laughing at the boys, Brazier looking up and
down-stream uneasily the while.
"Do you know exactly where this river runs, Naylor?" he said at last.
"Well, not exactly, sir. I know it goes right through the sort of
country you want to see, and that was enough for me; but I've a notion
that it goes up to the nor'-west, winding and twisting about till it
runs in one spot pootty nigh to the big river we left, so that we can
perhaps go up some side stream, drag the boat across a portage, and
launch her for our back journey over the same ground or water as we came
up."
"But we shall never get back to the lake," said Rob, as he glanced at
the running stream which glided rapidly by, making the boat drag at its
tethering rope as if at any moment it would snatch itself free.
"Never's a long time, Mr Rob. We'll see."
He turned to his men, gave them a few instructions in a low tone of
voice, and three seated themselves on the port side, while Shaddy and
the fourth, a herculean fellow with muscles which bulged out like huge
ropes from his bronzed arms, stood in the bows, the latter with the
boat-hook and Shaddy with the rope.
"Praps you young gentlemen wouldn't mind putting a hand to the branches
when you get a chance," said Shaddy; "every pound of help gives us a
pound of strength."
Then, renewing his orders, he seized the light rope, hauled upon it, the
man beside him making good use of his hook, and between them they
dragged the boat a few feet and made fast the rope, hauled again, cast
off the rope, and made fast again--all helping wherever a bough could be
caught.
And so they slowly fought their way back against the gigantic strength
of the rapid stream, but not without risks. Rob was hauling away at a
bough with all his might, when it suddenly snapped, and he would have
gone overboard had not Joe thrown himself upon him and held on just as
he was toppling down without power to recover his balance.
"That was near," said Rob as he gazed on the young Italian's ghastly
face. "I say, don't look scared like that."
Joe shuddered and resumed his work, while Rob put a little less energy
into his next movements for a few minutes, but forgot his escape
directly after, and worked away with the rest.
It was toil which required constant effort, and they won their way
upward very slowly. Twice over they lost ground by the giving way of
the branch to which the rope had been attached, and once the boat-hook
slipped from the Indian's hand and floated down-stream past the boat,
the heavy iron end causing it to keep nearly upright. For a few moments
it disappeared, but came gently to the surface again just as it was
passing the stern, when the boys gave a ringing cheer, for, leaning out
as far as he could, Brazier secured it and passed it back to the man.
Of minor troubles there were plenty. At one moment they would be
covered with insects which were rudely shaken from the boughs; at
another some branch beneath which they were passing would threaten to
sweep the canvas cabin out of the boat; and once it was Joe, whose
flannel was caught by a snaggy end and hung there with the boat passing
from under him till a chorus of cries made the stalwart boatman cease
his efforts and look back at the mischief he was causing as he hauled.
But, in spite of all difficulties, the boat was slowly drawn over the
ground lost in the wild race downward, till at last the lake was
reached, and a few sturdy efforts sufficed to drag it once more into
still water.
"Once is enough for a job like that, Master Rob," said Shaddy, as he
wiped his dripping brow with the back of his hand.
"It was hard work," replied Rob.
"Ay, 'twas; and if you wouldn't mind saying you were so hungry you
didn't know what to do, it would be doing us all a kindness, and make
Mr Brazier think about meat instead of vegetables."
He gave his head a nod sidewise at Brazier's back, for as the men rested
under the shade of a tree the naturalist was busy hauling down some
lovely clusters of blossoms from overhead.
"You mean you want some dinner, Shaddy?"
"That's it, sir. This here engine will soon stop working if you don't
put on more coal."
"I'll give him a hint," said Rob, laughing; and he did, the result being
that Brazier gave the word for the men to row right across toward the
clearing--a task they eagerly commenced in spite of the heat and the
sturdy effort required to force a way through the dense covering of
broad green leaves. They had the river to cross on their way, and as
the clear stream was neared a long way above its exit from the lake the
men, as if moved by one impulse, ceased rowing, and paused to take their
breath before making a sturdy effort to cross it without losing ground.
It was a necessary precaution, for the moment the bows of the boat
issued from among the dense growth the stem was pressed heavily
downward, and the opposite side of the stream was reached after quite a
sharp fight. Then the long, steady pull was commenced again, and, with
the leaves brushing against the side, they forced their way onward till
the clearing came in view.
The faint curl of bluish smoke encouraged the men to fresh efforts, all
thinking of broiled deer meat and a fragrant cup of coffee, both of
which afforded grateful refreshment soon after they touched the shore.
"Will it be safe to attempt to continue our journey down that part of
the river?" Brazier asked as they were seated afterward in the shade.
"Oh yes, sir, safe enough," replied Shaddy.
"But suppose we have to come back the same way?"
"Well, sir, we can do it, only it will take time."
"You will not mind, Mr Brazier?" said Joe, smiling.
"Indeed I shall, for the work is terrible. Why did you say that?"
"Because you will have such a chance to collect, sir. I saw hundreds of
beautiful blossoms which I thought you would like to get, and you could
gather them while the men rested."
"Ay, to be sure, sir. Don't you mind about that river being swift!
Only wants contriving, and for you to know what's coming, so as to be
prepared. Now I know what to expect, I can manage. I shall just set
two of the fellows to pull gently, and go down starn first, and always
sit there ready with the boat-hook to hitch on to a tree if we are going
too fast. You trust me, sir, spite of all that's gone before, and I'll
do my best for you and the young gents till your journey's done, though
I don't see any coming back this way."
"Of course I shall trust you," said Brazier. "What's the matter?"
"Trust me now then, sir," cried Shaddy, who had leaped up, and was
looking sharply round. "Get aboard, all of you. Now, boys!" he roared
to his men, and he pointed to the sky.
Shaddy's orders were obeyed, and though there seemed to be no reason for
the preparations made, the guide was so confident of the coming of a
heavy storm that the waterproof sheet brought for such an emergency was
quickly drawn over the canvas roof of their little cabin and made fast;
the boat was moored head and stern close up to the bank and beneath a
huge, sheltering tree, the balers were laid ready for use in the
fore-part and the stern; and when this was all done, and the greatest
care taken to keep powder and bedding dry, Brazier turned and looked at
Shaddy.
"Well," he said, "is not this a false alarm?"
"No, sir; there's a storm coming. We shall have it soon. Good job we'd
got the cooking done."
"But I can't see a cloud," said Rob.
"Don't matter," replied Joe, who was also looking keenly round. "I've
seen the heavy rain come streaming down when the sky has been quite
clear, and the water has felt quite warm. Look at those fellows; they
know the storm's coming, or they would not do that."
He pointed toward the boatmen, who were throwing a tarpaulin across the
bows, ready for them to creep under as soon as the rain came.
"False alarm, boys!" said Brazier.
Shaddy overheard him, and wrinkled up his face in a curious grin as he
looked hard at Rob. It was as much as to say, "All right! Just you
wait a bit and see who's right and who's wrong."
"My word, how hot!" cried Rob the next minute, for the sun appeared to
be shining down through a kind of transparent haze so dense that it
acted like a burning glass.
"Yes, this is fierce," said Joe, drawing back into the shade afforded by
the great tree.
"It would give one sunstroke, wouldn't it, if we stopped in the full
blaze?"
"I suppose so. But I say, Shaddy's right. We are going to have a
storm."
"How do you know?"
"By the sun gleaming out like that."
"Oh, I don't think that's anything," said Rob. "Here, let's get up into
this tree and collect some orchids for Mr Brazier."
He looked up into the large forest monarch as he spoke--a tree which on
three sides was wonderfully laden with great drooping boughs.
Consequent upon its position at the western corner of the clearing where
the boat was moored, the boughs formed a magnificent shelter for their
boat down almost to the water, while on the side of the opening they
pretty well touched the ground.
But Rob paid little heed to this, his attention being taken up by the
fact that, though there was perfect silence, the tree was alive with
birds and monkeys, which were huddled together in groups, as if their
instinct had taught them that a terrible convulsion of nature was at
hand. As a rule they would have taken flight or scampered about through
the branches as soon as human beings had come to the tree, but now, as
if aware of some great danger, they were content to share the shelter
and run all risks.
"See them, Master Rob?" said Shaddy, with a grin. "No mistake this
time! Look out; I daresay there'll be snakes dropping down there
by-and-by, but so long as you don't touch 'em I don't s'pose they'll
touch us. Shouldn't wonder if we get something else."
Just then Brazier called him to draw his attention to some of the
covering, and they heard him say,--
"Don't see as we can do any more, sir. Things are sure to get wet; you
can't stop it. All we can do is to keep 'em from getting wetter than we
can help."
The sun still shone brilliantly, streaming down, as it were, through the
leaves of the great tree like a shower of silver rain, but the silence
now was painful, and Rob strained his ears to catch the peculiar
modulation of one of the cricket-like insects which were generally so
common around. But not one made a sound, and at last, as if troubled by
the silence, the boy cried half jeeringly, "All this trouble for
nothing! I say, Joe, where's the storm?"
"Here!" was the reply in a whisper, as all at once out of the clear sky
great drops of rain came pattering down, then great splashes; and
directly after, with a hissing rush, there were sheets of rushing water
streaming through the branches and splashing upon the tarpaulin
coverings of the boat.
"I say, I never saw it rain like this before," cried Rob as he sheltered
himself beneath the tarpaulin and canvas. "Will it thunder--"
He was going to say, "too," but the word remained unspoken, and he
shrank back appalled by a blinding flash of vivid blue lightning, which
seemed to dash through beneath their shelter and make every face look of
a ghastly bluish-grey.
Almost simultaneously there was a deafening peal of thunder, and, as if
by an instantaneous change--probably by some icy current of air on
high--the moisture-laden atmosphere was darkened by dense mists whirling
and looking like foam, clouds of slaty black shut out the sun, and the
rain came down in a perfect deluge, streaming through the tree and
pouring into the lake with one incessant roaring splash.
One moment beneath the awning it was black as night, the next it was all
one dazzling glare, while in peal after peal the mighty thunder came,
one clap succeeding another before it had had time to die away in its
long metallic reverberations, that sounded as if the thunder rolled away
through some vast iron tunnel.
No one attempted to speak, but all crowded together listening
awe-stricken to the deafening elemental war, one thought dominating
others in their minds, and it was this: "Suppose one of these terrible
flashes of lightning strikes the tree!"
Reason and experience said, "Why shelter beneath a tree at a time like
this?" but the instinct of self-preservation drove them there to escape
the terrible battering of the rain and the rushing wind.
For they had ample knowledge of the state of the lake, though, save in
momentary glances, it was invisible beneath the black pall of cloud and
rain, for waves came surging in, making the boat rise and fall, while
from time to time quite a billow rushed beneath the drooping boughs,
which partially broke its force ere it struck against the side of the
boat with a heavy slap and sent its crest over the covering and into the
unprotected parts.
There was something confusing as well as appalling in the storm, which
was gigantic as compared to anything Rob had seen at home, and as he
crouched there listening in the brief intervals of the thunder-claps,
the rain poured down on the tarpaulin roof with one continuous rush and
roar as heavily as if the boat had been backed in beneath some
waterfall.
All at once from out of the darkness a curious startling sound was
heard, which puzzled both lads for some minutes, till they suddenly
recollected that Shaddy had placed tin balers fore and aft, and any
doubt as to their being the cause of the peculiar noise was set at rest
by Shaddy, who suddenly thrust in his head at the end of a deafening
roar and shouted,--
"How are you getting on, gentlemen? Water got in there yet?"
"No, no," was shouted back, "not yet."
"That's right. We're pumping it out here as quick as we can. Comes in
fast enough to most sink us."
Shaddy then went on working away out in the pelting rain, and a minute
later they made out that his chief man was hard at work forward.
And still the rain came down, and the lightning kept on flashing through
the dark shelter; while, if there was any change at all in the thunder,
it was louder, clearer, and more rapid in following the electric
discharge.
"I say, Joe," whispered Rob at last, with his lips close to his
companion's ear, "how do you feel?"
"Don't know: so curious--as if tiny pins and needles were running
through me. What's that curious singing noise?"
"That's just what I want to know. I can feel it all through me, and my
ears are as if I had caught a bad cold. Like bells ringing; singing you
call it."
Just then Shaddy's voice was heard in an interval between two peals of
thunder shouting to his men in a tone of voice which indicated that
something was wrong, and Brazier thrust out his head from the opening at
one end of the awning to ask what was the matter.
"Matter, sir? Why, if we don't get all hands at the pumps the ship'll
sink."
"Is it so bad as that? We'll all come at once."
"Nay, nay. I've got a strong enough crew, only we must use buckets
instead of balers."
"But--"
"Go inside, sir, please, out of the wet, and see to your things being
kept dry. I was 'zaggerating, being a bit excited; that's all. I don't
want you, and I daresay the storm's nearly over now."
The sound of dipping water and pouring it over the side went on merrily
in the darkness and brilliant light alternately, for, in spite of the
guide's words, there seemed to be no sign of the storm abating, and
while the men were busy outside Brazier and the two boys set to work
piling the various objects they wished to keep dry upon the barrels
which had been utilised for their stores, for the water had invaded the
covered-in part of the boat to a serious extent, and threatened more
damage every moment.
A few minutes later, though, the efforts of the men began to show, and
Shaddy appeared again for one moment, his face being visible in the
glare of light, but was hidden the next.
"Getting the water down fast now, sir," he said. "Hope you haven't much
mischief done."
"A great many things soaked."
"That don't matter, sir, so long as your stores are right. Sun'll dry
everything in an hour or two."
"But when is it coming, Shaddy?"
"'Fore long, sir."
They did not see him go, but knew from the sound of his voice the next
minute that he was in the fore-part of the boat, ordering his men to
take up some of the boards.
Ten minutes later the rain ceased as suddenly as it had begun. There
was a vivid flash of lightning, a long pause, and then a deep-toned
roar, while all at once the interior of the little cabin became visible,
and a little later the sun came out to shine brilliantly on what looked
like a lake of thick mist.
"Will one of you young gents unfasten the stern rope?" cried Shaddy,
"and we'll get out from under this dripping tree."
"All right!" cried Rob, and he turned to throw open the stern end of the
awning, while Brazier and Joe went in the other direction to where the
men were still baling, but scraping the bottom hard at every scoop of
the tins they were using.
The stern end of the canvas was secured by a couple of straps, similar
to those used in small tents, and these were so wet that it was not easy
to get them out of the buckles, but with a little exertion this was
done, and Rob parted the ends like the curtains of a bed, peered out at
the dripping foliage, and shut them to again, startled by what he saw.
After a few moments' hesitation, he was roused to action by a shout from
Shaddy.
"Can't you get it undone, sir?"
"Yes, I think so. Wait a moment," cried Rob huskily, and opening the
canvas curtain once more, he stepped out boldly and faced that which had
startled him before, this being nothing less than the puma. For it had
either leaped from the shore into the boat or crept out along one of the
great horizontal boughs of the tree and then dropped lightly down to
take its place right in the stern, where it was sitting up licking its
drenched coat as contentedly as some huge cat.
It looked so different in its soaked state that for the moment Rob was
disposed to think it another of the occupants of the forest, but his
doubts were immediately set aside by the animal ceasing its occupation
and giving its head a rub against him as, hardly knowing what to do, the
boy unfastened the rope in obedience to orders, set the boat free, and
then wished he had not done so till the puma had been driven ashore.
"All right, sir?" shouted Shaddy, who was hidden, like the rest, by the
intervening cabin-like structure.
"Yes," cried Rob, as the puma set up its ears and looked angrily in the
direction from which the voices came, while the boat began to glide out
through the dripping boughs, and the next minute was steaming in the hot
sunshine.
"What shall I do?" thought Rob, who was now in an agony of perplexity,
longing to call to his companions and yet in his confusion dreading to
utter a word, for the fear was upon him that the moment the puma caught
sight of Brazier it would fly at him. And again he mentally asked the
question, "What shall I do?"
Meanwhile the puma had continued contentedly enough to lick its coat,
sitting up on the narrow thwart at the end once more exactly like a cat,
and in such a position that Rob felt how easy it would be to give the
creature a sharp thrust and send it overboard, when it would be sure to
swim ashore and relieve him of his perplexity.
While he was hesitating, the word "Oh!" was uttered close behind him,
and looking sharply round, there was the wondering face of Joe thrust
out between the canvas hangings, which he held tightly round his neck,
being evidently too much startled to speak or move.
"It came on board, Joe, during the storm," whispered Rob; "whatever
shall we do?"
The lad made no answer for a few moments, and then in a hurried
whisper--
"Call Mr Brazier to shoot it."
This roused Rob.
"What for?" he said angrily; "the poor thing's as tame as can be.
Look!"
He took a step toward the great cat-like creature, and it ceased licking
itself and leaned sideways as if to be caressed.
At that moment Joe popped back his head, and Brazier's voice was
heard:--
"They want the grapnel lowered, Rob, my lad. Can you--Why, whatever is
this?"
The aspect of the puma changed in an instant. Its ears went down nearly
flat upon its head, and it started upon all-fours, tossing its tail
about and uttering a menacing growl.
Brazier started back, and Rob knew for what.
"No, no, Mr Brazier," he cried; "don't do that. The poor thing came on
board during the storm. It's quite tame. Look here, sir, look."
As he spoke in quite a fit of desperation, he began patting and soothing
the animal, and when Brazier peered out again, in company with a loaded
gun, the puma was responding to Rob's caresses in the most friendly way.
"Anything the matter, sir?" said Shaddy from beyond the cabin. "Can't
you get the grapnel overboard?"
"Come and look here," whispered Brazier; and their guide crept into the
cabin and peered out behind, his face puckering up into a grin.
"What is to be done?" whispered Brazier; "I can't fire without hitting
the boy."
"Then I wouldn't fire, sir," replied Shaddy. "'Sides, there ain't no
need. The thing's quite a cub, I think, and tame enough. I don't
suppose it'll show fight if we let it alone."
"Stop, man! What are you going to do?"
"Go to 'em," replied Shaddy coolly.
"But it will spring at you. It turned threateningly on me just now."
"Don't seem to on Master Rob, sir, and I don't think it will. What do
you say to going first, Mr Jovanni?"
"No," said the lad shortly. "I don't like animals."
"Well, then, here goes," said Shaddy coolly. "Don't shoot, sir, unless
the crittur turns very savage, and then not till I say, `Now!'"
He thrust the two canvas curtains apart quietly and stepped into the
little open space astern, when once more the puma's aspect changed and
it turned upon the new-comer menacingly.
"Pat him again, Master Rob," said Shaddy quietly. "I want to make
friends too. Here, old chap," he continued, sitting down, as Rob
hurriedly patted and stroked the animal's head, "let's have a look at
you. Come, may I pat you too?"
He stretched out his hand, but the puma drew back suspiciously, and,
with the others watching the scene, he remained quiet while Rob
redoubled his caresses, and the puma began to utter its low, rumbling,
purring sound.
"Only wants time, Mr Brazier, sir," said Shaddy quietly. "I don't
think the brute's a bit savage. Only thinks we mean mischief and is
ready to fight for himself. I could be friends with him in an hour or
two. What's best to be done--get him ashore?"
"Yes, as soon as possible."
"All right, sir; you go and tell the men to back the boat in to where we
landed before."
The canvas hangings dropped to, and Shaddy sat perfectly still, watching
the actions of their strange visitor and talking in a low voice to Rob,
while a low creaking began as two of the men forward thrust out their
oars and backed water.
Slight as the sound was, that and the motion of the boat startled the
animal, which began to look about uneasily, but a touch or two from Rob
calmed it directly, and after responding to his caresses it turned to
look curiously at Shaddy, taking a step forward and then stopping.
"Well, what do you think of me, puss, eh?" said Shaddy quietly. "I say,
Mr Rob, you and I had better keep him and set up as lion-tamers."
The rough voice had its effect upon the animal, which ceased its purring
sound and backed away close to Rob, against whom it stood, and began
watching the bank toward which the boat was being thrust.
"How are we to get it ashore?" said Rob at last.
"You want it to go, then?"
"No," replied Rob, "I don't. It is so very tame, I should like to keep
it, but it does not care for anybody else."
"Don't mind me seemingly," said Shaddy. "Well, the best thing will be
for you to jump ashore as soon as we're close in, and then it strikes me
he'll come after you, and if you kept on petting him he'd follow you
anywhere."
"You think so, Shaddy?"
"Feel sure of it, sir, but it ain't like a dog. You can't make a
companion of a scratching thing like that."
"Why not? A dog's a biting thing," said Rob shortly.
"Well, yes, sir, but here we are. Better get him ashore. There ain't
room for him aboard here. There might be a row, for he ain't ready to
make friends with everybody."
Rob stepped on to the gunwale rather unwillingly, for, in a misty way,
he was beginning to wonder whether it was possible for him to retain the
puma as a companion, though all the time he could see the difficulties
in the way.
He leaped ashore, and, as Shaddy had suggested, the puma immediately
made a light effortless bound and landed beside him, pressing close up
to the lad's side and rubbing one ear against his hand, while the
occupants of the boat looked wonderingly on.
"What am I to do next?" asked Rob. "If I jump back on board, he'll come
too."
"Safe," said Shaddy; "and there's no more room for passengers. Here,
stop a moment; I have it."
"What are you going to do?" said Brazier, who was watching the movements
of the puma with anxiety on Rob's behalf, but with keen interest all the
same, as he saw the active creature suddenly throw itself down by the
boy's feet and, playful as a kitten, begin to pat at first one boot and
then the other, ending by rubbing its head upon them, watching their
owner all the time.
"I'm going to get Mr Rob aboard without that great cat, sir, and this
seems best way."
He drew his knife, raised the tarpaulin, and cut off a good-sized piece
of the deer meat; then, bidding the men to take their oars and be ready
to row at the first command, he turned to Rob.
"Look here, sir," he said, "I'll pitch you the piece of dried meat. You
catch it and then carry it a few yards, and let the lion smell it. Give
it him behind one of those bushes, and as soon as he is busy eating it
dodge round the bush and come aboard. We'll soon have the boat too far
for him to jump."
He threw the piece of dry meat to the boy, who caught it and walked as
directed, the puma following him eagerly and sniffing at the food.
The next minute those in the boat saw Rob disappear behind a clump of
low growth, and directly after he reappeared running toward them just
as, uneasy at his being out of sight with the fierce creature, Brazier
had called upon Giovanni to bring his gun and accompany him ashore.
But Rob's reappearance of course stopped this, and the next minute he
was on board and being rowed away from the shore.
"It seems too bad," cried Rob, "just as if one was cheating the poor
thing. Look, there it is."
For just then the puma stalked out from behind the bushes and stood
tossing its tail and looking round as if in search of Rob, ending by
walking quickly down to the edge of the lake and standing there gazing
after the boat, which was now being rowed slowly down once more toward
the scene of their adventure with the swift current, Brazier having
decided to stay one more day at the lower part of the lake before
descending the river farther; and the object now in view was the
discovery of a fresh halting-place for the night.