THE COMING OF THE NATIVES
When Dave awoke, it was with a start. The wind was blowing half a gale
and the rain was falling.
"What a change since last night," he murmured to himself, as he sat up.
"Hello, are you up already?"
"I am," answered Billy Dill. "Thought as how I'd better keep the fire
a-goin', if it's goin' to storm. This ain't so nice, is it?"
"I should say not, indeed. My, now the wind is rising!"
The others soon roused up, and all gathered under the shelter of some
dense tropical trees and vines. Soon the rain was pouring down in
torrents, shutting out the landscape on all sides.
"Well, in one way, it's a good thing the _Stormy Petrel_ got out of the
harbor," remarked Captain Marshall. "This wind might make her shift, and
either throw her up on the island or on to the reef."
They could do nothing with the fire, and so allowed it to die out, and
crawled still further into the jungle in an endeavor to keep dry. But
the rain followed them, until each one of the party was about soaked.
"This is another one of the comforts of a Robinson Crusoe life,"
remarked Phil. "Soaking wet, and nothing to eat. Oh, don't I wish I was
on the bark again and had hold of those mutineers!"
The rain and wind kept up for the best part of that day. There was but
little thunder and lightning, and at nightfall the storm died away,
although the wind still kept up at a lively rate. During the afternoon
they managed to find a turtle in a hollow, and, after turning the
creature over, killed it and cooked it in its own shell. The meal was
not particularly appetizing, but all were exceedingly hungry and partook
of it without a murmur.
"To-morrow we must gather some yams and some plantains, and also do some
fishing," said the captain. "We might go hunting, too, but I would
rather save our ammunition for emergencies."
To keep from taking cold in their wet clothing, all slept close to the
campfire that night, and early in the morning they hung most of their
garments out in the bright sunshine to dry. Fishing proved good, and the
boys and Billy Dill caught over a score of good-sized fish, and also
discovered a bed of oysters, which, as Roger declared, "were not half
bad, even if they weren't particularly good." In the meantime the
captain, who knew not a little about tropical life, tramped around and
found some bread-fruit and some luscious berries, which he declared were
perfectly good to eat.
"This solves the question of food, at least for the present," said Dave.
"Not a very extensive list of things to eat, but much better than
nothing at all."
"What would the boys of Oak Hall say if they could see us?" asked Roger.
"We'll certainly have a tale to tell--if we ever get back to tell it,"
returned Phil.
Having nothing in particular to do, they took their time about preparing
the next meal, and, when it was done, it proved to be a regular spread.
Some of the fish made particularly good eating, and the berries topped
the repast off in good style.
"I do not believe that the _Stormy Petrel_ will come back to this
harbor," said Captain Marshall. "And that being so, I think we had best
take ourselves to the other side of the island, to those log huts and
shacks you mentioned. That is, most likely, the spot where the natives
land and where ships may stop. We can put up a flag of distress, and,
after that, there will be nothing to do but to wait and make the best of
it."
"Shall you leave the rowboats here?" asked Dave.
"We can leave one boat here and row around the island in the other. We
can carry the craft to some point beyond the reef."
This advice was followed, and beyond the reef line the ocean was found
to be comparatively quiet, despite the storm of the day before. All
entered the rowboat, and the captain and Billy Dill took the oars, and
the voyage to the other side of the island was begun.
By the end of the day they had reached the log houses, and they cleaned
out the larger of the two and gave to it as much of a homelike
appearance as possible. Then they set to work to gather all the
driftwood possible, for they had nothing with which to cut firewood. The
boys fell to fishing once more, and Phil began to manufacture a snare,
with which he hoped to trap some small animals that had been discovered
at a distance.
Another whole day passed by slowly, and they began to feel a little more
settled, when, in the middle of the afternoon, Billy Dill, who was out
in the rowboat trying to catch some big fish, set up a loud shout.
"What is it?" demanded Captain Marshall, who was busily at work breaking
up some of the driftwood.
"I see a big canoe comin', loaded with niggers!" announced the old
sailor.
This news brought all to the shore immediately, and they watched the
approach of the canoe with much interest. It was all of twenty-five feet
in length and manned by twelve dark-colored men, six on each side. The
natives in the craft numbered, all told, nineteen, and some of them had
guns, while others had bows and arrows and long spears. Each man had
also a long and sharp knife stuck in his girdle.
"Do you think they will be friendly?" asked Dave, in a low tone.
"I hope so," answered the captain. "They have nothing to gain by being
otherwise."
When the natives discovered the whites, they stopped rowing and set up
an animated jabbering among themselves. They looked around, thinking a
ship must be close by, and, finding none, were much astonished.
"Hello!" called out Captain Marshall, waving a welcome. "Glad to see
you!"
To this the natives did not answer. But the canoe was sent closer and
finally beached, and the majority of the black men leaped ashore, each
carrying his weapons with him.
"How do you do?" went on the captain, extending his hand and smiling.
"Glad to see you. Can anybody speak English?"
At the question, one of the natives, a short, thickset fellow with a
peculiarly flat nose, came to the front and shook hands.
"Soko speak Inglees," he said, and grinned. "Soko once on Inglees ship."
"I am glad to know you, Soko," replied the captain. "I am Captain
Marshall, of the ship _Stormy Petrel_. What island is this?"
"Dis Yam-kolo Island," answered Soko, still grinning. "How you come dis
way? Where he ship?"
"Some rascals have stolen my ship. She is a fine-looking bark. She was
here a few days ago. Have you seen her?"
"No see ship, no--no ship, so many days," and the native held up four
fingers, all stumpy and not overly clean. "Steal ship on you? Big thief,
yes!"
"You are right. Where do you come from?"
"Come from Waponu. Dat on Sobago Island."
"Yes, I have heard of the place." The captain turned to the others. "It
is a native village some ten miles from the town for which the _Stormy
Petrel_ was bound," he explained.
"Then perhaps they can take us to Sobago," said Dave, eagerly.
"Perhaps they can," answered the captain. "But it must be a long trip in
such a canoe as that."
"Tell me," said Dave, to the native. "Do you come here often?"
"Sometime, not many time," answered Soko, still grinning. He was
evidently of a sunny disposition.
"Did you ever come here with a man named Dunston Porter?"
At this question the native shrugged his shoulders and looked perplexed.
"I mean this man," went on the youth, and, taking the native by the
hand, led him into the hut and up to the map on the wall. Instantly the
face of Soko brightened.
"Yes, Soko know," he said. "Dat man come, so many time here----" He held
up three fingers. "Look in ground, dig, not can find much, no. Go back
to Sobago, so." And he made a dejected face, at which Roger and Phil had
to laugh.
"He means Mr. Porter didn't locate the treasure," said the senator's
son.
"Is that man in Sobago now?" went on Dave, paying no attention to his
chum's remark.
"Yes, him at big town, Nanpi!"
"Good I Then I would like to get to Nanpi just as soon as I can," cried
Dave, enthusiastically. "Will you take me there? I can pay you well," he
added, for he still had his money belt and cash with him.
"Yes, can take to Nanpi," answered the native.
After that he explained that he and his companions had come to the
island to hunt for some rare birds and for turtles. They were quite
willing to return to Sobago Island immediately, if paid for so doing. A
bargain was struck, and it was decided that the voyage should be begun
in the morning. In the meantime all hands were to catch some fish and
cook them, and also gather in a supply of other eatables. The natives
had a number of hollow reeds with them, and these were filled with fresh
water, just previous to setting out. It was calculated that, weather
permitting, the distance would be covered in three days.
"These fellows know how to handle their big canoes very well," explained
Captain Marshall. "They go out hundreds of miles, and sometimes weather
the worst of storms. Occasionally, of course, they get swept away, but
not often. They sail altogether by the sun and stars, and can strike
almost as straight a course as if they were using a compass."
Dave questioned Soko further about Dunston Porter, but could learn
little, outside of the fact that the man was a treasure hunter and had
paid very well for what was done for him. Soko added, however, that he
thought the man expected to remain at Sobago for some time.
The boys could sleep but little that night, so anxious were they
concerning the trip before them. They were up at dawn, but, early as it
was, found the natives ahead of them. A hasty breakfast was had by all,
the things to be taken along were packed in the bow and stern of the
canoe, and shortly after sunrise the craft was pushed from the shore,
whites and natives scrambled in, and the start from the lonely island
was made.