It was hard work to be dull and low-spirited in the midst of the
beautiful scene which greeted Rob as he stepped out and followed Shaddy
down to the fire. The clearing was one mass of glorious colour, the sky
gorgeous with the sunrise tints, and the river flushed with orange, blue
and gold. Birds sang, piped, and shrieked loudly, butterflies were
beginning to flutter about, and a loud chattering from the nearest tree
roused Rob to the fact that the puma had been following him, for it
suddenly made three or four leaps in the direction of the sounds, and
then crouched down to gaze at a party of monkeys, which were leaping
about, scolding, shrieking and chattering angrily at the enemy watching
their movements. Directly after, though, the puma returned to Rob's
side, uttering a sound strongly suggestive of the domestic cat.
"Going to have a dip, Mr Rob, sir?" said Shaddy. And then--"I'd be
very careful, sir; you know how full of biting varmin the river is.
Look sharp; breakfast's ready, and as soon as we've done we'll go and
find Mr Brazier."
"Try to," cried the boy sadly.
"Find him, Mr Rob, sir. Bah! who's going to say die on a lovely
morning in a lovely place like this?"
Rob thought of his companion's words as he turned down to the edge of
the water and bathed, with the puma sitting near watching him,
apparently with wonder. Then, refreshed and invigorated, he hastened
back to where there was the appetising odour of roasting meat, while the
puma returned to the remains of its last night's feast.
Half an hour after, armed with rough spear, bow and arrows, and a big
package of roasted meat, consisting of deer legs, and the best parts of
the iguana which Shaddy had taken out and begun cooking while Rob still
slept, they were threading their way amongst the trees once more, with
the puma somewhere behind them, for they could hear it utter a curious
cry from time to time, though they never once caught sight of it in the
dense growth.
"Feel as if I was right, don't you, my lad?" said Shaddy, as they
tramped on. "Couldn't have got through the trees like this without rest
and food."
"You were quite right," replied Rob. "Where are you making for?"
"The place I showed you last night. I think we'll start from there."
It was a long time before they reached the spot, and examined it
carefully, to find more traces of Mr Brazier having been there and
stopping. So they shouted and whistled again and again, but there was
no response, and trying to pick up the trail they started again--now
utterly baffled and ready to return, now gathering fresh hope on
suddenly coming upon a scrap of orchid or a bunch of woodland flowers,
which had been carefully gathered and thrown down, apparently by some
one wearied out. Then Rob uttered a cry of excitement, for he stumbled
suddenly upon a spot which was comparatively open, so that the sunshine
penetrated. It was no doubt the work of a hurricane, for great trees
lay prostrate, decaying fast, and fresh flowery growths had sprung up.
Birds and insects were plentiful, and the spot looked lovely after the
gloom of the forest shades. Here was the crushed-down growth where he
they sought had lain down to sleep, unless it was the resting-place of
an Indian.
Rob suggested it and Shaddy replied angrily:
"Look here, youngster, if ever you want a nickname call yourself Wet
Blanket. What a fellow you are for making the worst of everything!
Some one lay down to rest here, didn't he?"
"Yes, I think so."
"And I'm sure. Now look at the places where the flowers have been
snapped off. I know what you're saying to yourself: `wild beast or
Indian!' Now, I ask you, sir, as a young English gent who has been to
school and can read and write, do wild beasts and Indians go about
picking flowers or collecting anything that isn't good to eat?"
"Ah, Shaddy," said Rob sadly, "you beat me at arguing. I'm afraid to
hope that we shall find him alive, but you're quite right, and I will
try and believe."
"Bravo, Mr Rob, sir! Three cheers for that! Never fear, we'll find
him alive yet; weak and done up, but keeping himself going. He has
found bits of fruit and nuts, and when he couldn't find them there's
something in the tops of tender grasses. Cheer up, sir! Now then,
let's give a big shout here."
Shaddy set the example, and at the tremendous yell he sent forth there
was a rush of wings from one of the trees a short distance away, where
all had been perfectly still the moment before; and as a flock of birds
hidden by the leaves dashed off, quite a little shower of fruit was
dropped by them among the leaves.
"There, sir--that was food," cried Shaddy; "and a gentleman who knows
all about such things, as Mr Brazier does, would find them and keep
himself going. Now it's your turn. Shout, sir."
Rob uttered as loud a cry as he could, and then twice over imitated the
Australian "cooee," following it up with a shrill piercing note from a
little silver whistle; but the only response was the cry of an _ara_,
one of the great scarlet and blue long-tailed macaws, whose harsh shriek
came softened from the distance.
"Not right yet, Mr Rob, sir," said Shaddy, quietly; "but we're not
going to despair, boy. I aren't a religious man your way, but after my
fashion I trust in God and take the rough with the smooth. What is to
be will be, so don't let's kick against it. We've got our duty to do,
my lad, and that's to keep on trying. Now then, what do you say to a
bit of a snack?"
"No, no--not yet, Shaddy; let's go on."
"Right, my lad."
They started again, and pressed on through the breathless heat of the
woods, but without finding further sign of any one having passed that
way; and at last Shaddy stopped short on the banks of a running stream,
which impeded farther progress, and whose waters offered refreshing
draughts to those who were getting in sore need.
"We're off his track, Mr Rob. He's not likely to have crossed a river
like this; but welcome it is, for it shows us the way back just when I
was getting a bit muddled."
"How does it?" said Rob, wonderingly.
"Because it must flow into the big river somewhere below our camp."
"Then you have seen no traces of him lately?"
"Nothing, my lad, since we left that open patch where the birds flew out
of the trees."
"Then we must go back at once, Shaddy."
"Not until we've trimmed the lamps again, my lad. Sit down on that old
trunk--No, don't; I daresay it's full of stinging ants and things, and
perhaps there's a snake or two. We'll sit on this root and have a good
feed, and then take up our track again."
Rob seated himself sadly down, while the guide unpacked his store of
meat wrapped in green leaves; and the boy felt annoyed with himself for
his want of forethought on seeing how carefully his companion put back
and bound up some of the best, nodding, as he caught Rob's eyes fixed
upon him.
"For Mr Brazier," he said. "He'll be glad enough of a bit o' meat when
we find him."
They began eating directly, washing down the savoury roast with handfuls
of clear water scooped up from the stream which bubbled and foamed by in
its rocky bed.
"Well, now look at that!" cried Shaddy the next minute, as with one
tremendous bound the puma alighted just before them, and stood looking
at Rob and lashing its tail. "Why, he must have come after us all the
time. Trust an animal for smelling meat."
Rob shared his portion with the great cat, which also crunched up the
bones. Then once more they began their search, taking up their own
trail backward, and with no little difficulty following it to the
opening, from whence they kept on making casts, till night was once more
approaching. They tramped back to the hut just in time to save their
fire; but they had nothing to cook, the remains of the iguana being too
far gone, and their meal consisted of nuts and water; though the puma
feasted well.
The next morning they were off again soon after daylight, after
breakfasting off fish secured by Shaddy as soon as it was light, while a
couple more were roasted and taken with them.
This time they tried a fresh direction, trusting more to chance; and as
they toiled on Shaddy grew more and more serious while forcing his way
through the trees, and his manner was softer and gentler to his
companion, who rarely spoke now save to the puma, which grew hourly more
confident, and kept close at Rob's heels, giving his leg a rub whenever
he stopped short to glance about him through the solemn shadows of the
forest.
For this was the third day of their search, and it was impossible to
help feeling that it was the very last upon which they could cling to
hope.
It passed as the others had done--in one weary tramp and struggle, but
without a single sign of the lost one to give them encouragement to
proceed; and at last, when they were bound to return if they intended to
sleep again in camp, Shaddy said suddenly:
"God help him, my lad: we've done all we can. Let's get back now. I
may think out something fresh by to-morrow morning. I can't do anything
to-night, for my head's like my legs--dead beat out."
Rob answered with a sigh, for his heart was very heavy now; and as his
companion stood calculating for a few minutes which way they should go,
he waited, and then followed behind him without a word.
They were a little earlier this time, but the sun had gone down before
they got out of the forest at the extreme corner on the right of their
hut; and as they trudged back the puma made two dashes at prey unseen by
the travellers, but without success, returning after each cautious crawl
and final bound to walk quietly along behind Rob, who, in a dull, heavy,
unthinking way, reached back to touch the beast, which responded with a
friendly pressure and rub of its head against the extended hand.
And as they crept slowly on, with the trees crowding round them as if to
hinder their progress, and the darkness of the umbrageous foliage
seeming to press down upon their heads, their journey was made with
greater difficulty than ever; for the spirit or energy had gone out of
Shaddy, who tramped on as if he were asleep.
It struck Rob once that this was the case, and he increased his own rate
so as to try and get ahead of his companion, but as soon as he drew
close up his comrade stopped.
"Like to go first, my lad?"
"No, no," said Rob hurriedly. "Are you sure of the road?"
"No, my lad, because there isn't one. I'm only pretty sure that we are
in the right direction."
It proved that he was correct when in due time they stood out in the
clearing, with the darkness falling fast; and then Shaddy said suddenly,
and as if with an effort:
"Come, Mr Rob, sir, we mustn't give up. Let's have some food, or we
shall be done. No deer meat to-night, no iguana. Get the fire going
while I go and try for a fish; there'll just be time."
Rob tramped heavily to the fire, and the guide went to the tree where he
had hung the line, baited it from the remains of the food, and strode
down to his favourite spot for fishing; while Rob busied himself raking
the fire together with a half-burned branch, and then, as it began to
smoke, piled on it the partly-burned brands, and upon them the pieces
industriously heaped together.
The blaze began to creep up and lick the twigs and branches as the blue
smoke rose. Then the fire increased to a ruddy glow; and feeling chilly
after the heat to which he had been exposed, Rob sat listlessly down
gazing at the increasing flames, which lit up his sun-browned face as he
thought and thought of his boyish comrade, then of Mr Brazier, and at
last of himself.
They were sad thoughts, for he felt that he should never see home again,
that he would be the next to be struck down by some savage beast, bitten
by a poisonous snake, or lost in the forest, where he would be too weak
to find his way back. And as he thought he wondered what Shaddy would
do when he was gone--whether he would be picked up by some passing boat,
or live on in a kind of Robinson Crusoe life to a good old age.
Rob started involuntarily as he reached this point, for something
touched him; and turning sharply, he found that the puma was rubbing its
head against his shoulder, the beautiful creature uttering its peculiar
purring sound as Rob threw an arm round its neck and began to caress it,
ready as he was out there to cling to anything in his weariness and
desolation.
He was thus occupied when the puma started away, for there was a step
behind him.
"Tired, my lad? Only got one, but he's a fine fellow," said Shaddy, who
rapidly chopped off the head and a good-sized piece of the tail of a
fine dorado.
"Not so very; only low-spirited."
"Not you, my lad: hungry's the word. That's what's the matter with me.
Here, I say, squire, if you're anything of a cat you'll like fish," he
continued, as he threw the head, tail, and other portions of the fish
toward the puma, which hesitated for a few moments and then secured and
bore them off.
Meanwhile, to help his companion more than from any desire for food, Rob
had risen and cut some big palm leaves, laid them down, and then raked a
hole in the heap of embers ready for the fish.
"That's better," said Shaddy, as he lifted the great parcel he had made
of the fish; and depositing his load in the embers, he took the rough
branch they used for a rake and poker in one, and covered the packet
deeply.
"There, Mr Rob, sir; that's the best thing for our low spirits. We
shall be better after that physic."
"Hush!" cried Rob excitedly.
"Eh! What? Did you hear something?"
"Yes: a faint cry."
"No!"
"But I did. And look at the puma: he heard it too. Didn't you see it
start and leave the fish?"
"Yes, but I thought I startled it. He's very suspicious of me, and I
don't suppose we shall ever be good friends."
"No, it was not that," whispered Rob, whose voice trembled as if he were
alarmed.
"Then it was some beast in the forest. There they are, any number of
them. Frog perhaps, or an owl: they make very queer sounds."
Rob shook his head.
"I say, don't look so scared, my lad, just as if you were going to be
ill. I tell you what it was: one of those howling spider monkeys at a
distance."
"There again!" cried Rob, starting up,--an example followed by the
guide, who was impressed by the peculiar faint cry; and as Rob seized
his companion's arm, the latter said, with a slight suggestion of
nervousness in his tone:
"Now, what beast could that be? But there, one never gets used to all
the cries in the forest. Here, what's the matter? Where are you going,
my lad?"
"To see--to see," gasped Rob.
"Not alone, Mr Rob, sir. I don't think it is, but it may be some
dangerous creature, and I don't want you to come to trouble. Got enough
without. Hah! there it goes again."
For there was the same peculiar smothered cry, apparently from the edge
of the forest, close to where they had raised their hut.
"Come along quickly," whispered Rob, in a faint, panting voice.
"Yes, but steady, my lad. Let's try and see, our way. We don't want to
be taken by surprise. Get ready an arrow, and I may as well have my
knife."
"No: come on; don't you know what it was? It was close here somewhere.
Can't you tell?"
"No, my lad, nor you neither. I've been a little longer in the woods
than you."
"How can you be so dull?" cried Rob. "Now, quick: it must have been
somewhere here. I heard `Help' as plainly as could be."
"What?"
Just then the cry arose again, not fifty yards away; and unmistakably
that word was uttered in a faint, piteous tone:
"Help!"--and again, "Help!"
The pair sprang forward together, crashing recklessly among the branches
in the direction of the sound; but as they reached the place from whence
it seemed to have come all was still, and there was no response to their
cries.
"All a mistake, my lad," said Shaddy. "We're done up, and fancied it."
"Fancied? No, it was Mr Brazier," cried Rob excitedly. "I'm sure of
it; and--Yes, yes, quick; this way. Here he lies!"