Jim becomes a Mechanic
"See here, Jim," whispered the Major, as he and our hero, with Tom
beside them, huddled close to the bank of the stream which gave exit
from the lagoon, "when she comes abreast of us you and I will jump
aboard. There are branches in plenty overhead from which we can swing
ourselves. We leave Tom to get a grip of the launch itself, and pull her
in to the side; got that?"
The big negro wagged his head knowingly from side to side. "Got um safe
and sound, sah," he whispered hoarsely. "Tom grip de launch, lift her
outer de water if you wants. Lummy! But dis goin' to be a bean feast!"
"S-s-sshe, man! Stay here. Jim, I'll go a little farther up, just a few
feet, and pick my branch. You had better do the same; there won't be
much time to waste."
"Supposing she doesn't come in; supposing those men discover us, smell a
rat, eh?"
Jim asked the question anxiously, and detained the Major on the point of
leaving.
"Then we'll be after them quick."
"Will the men fire on them?"
"No; I've given them orders not to do so unless opposition is
offered. I never like shooting into men before they open fire. But we're
right this time; those fellows are going to jump into the net we have
spread for them."
[Illustration: WAITING FOR THE ENEMY]
He moved off at once, while Jim stepped a few paces from the spot where
the bulky figure of Tom was reclining, and, searching above his head,
quickly found a branch strong enough to support his weight. He held to
it, and lifted his feet from the ground, making assurance doubly sure.
By then the strange launch was heading direct for the opening of the
narrow tunnel in which the pursuers were secreted. Jim could hear the
splash of her tiny propeller; for the launch was running light, and the
blades often rose clear of the water. Then suddenly the noise ceased
absolutely, the low, clock-like tick of her engines could no longer be
heard, while the moonrays playing upon the ripples at her stern alone
showed that she was in motion.
"Coming! In a second I shall have to jump. Reckon we shall have to be
pretty slippy with those fellows, for they have arms and are likely to
use them."
For some reason or other our hero felt not the slightest trace of
excitement on this occasion. No doubt the experiences he had already
gone through had helped not a little to steady his nerves, while the
overwhelming force of the party he accompanied seemed to argue that
there could be now but little prospect of danger; but he was to learn
that it is the least-expected thing that happens. For hardly had the
words left his lips when the propeller of the launch was heard again
thrashing the water frantically, while the ripple ahead suddenly died
out altogether, leaving the surface of the lagoon shimmering placidly
beneath the soft rays which flooded every portion of it. Then there came
a shout, a startled cry from the deck of the launch, a man stood up to
his full height forward, his figure silhouetted blackly against the
water. A second later he had dived down again, there was another shout,
then flames suddenly roared from the funnel, while a glow which
illuminated the rear of the vessel showed that the door of the furnace
had been thrown open.
Jim rubbed his eyes; the sudden change in the movement of progression of
the launch amazed him. He could hardly believe that she was retreating,
that those agitated ripples now spreading from her stern right forward
beyond the bows meant that she was departing. It was the whirr of her
engine and the splashing of her propeller as it churned the water
violently which brought the true facts clearly to his mind.
"They're off," he shouted; "we must follow. Quick, on to the launch!"
He dashed along the bank of the stream, calling loudly to the men, and
arriving opposite to their own vessel, swiftly cast adrift the rope
which had been passed from her stern to a tree growing close down to the
water. With a spring he was aboard, and, tumbling at once into the well,
he searched in the darkness for the starting handle. But however
convenient a gasolene motor may be on ordinary occasions, the fact
cannot be denied that there are at times difficulties in connection with
them. For instance, it was always a practice of Jim's to shut off his
petrol supply when the engine was not running; for otherwise there was
risk of leakage through the carburettor, and leakage of such a volatile
and inflammable fluid aboard a boat spells danger for those who man her.
Then, too, it happened that this engine trusted to drip lubricators for
her supply of oil, and though she might reasonably be expected to run
satisfactorily for a while without that supply, still, in the exciting
time before him, Jim might easily forget to turn up his lubricators, and
such neglect spelt failure for his party. After all, this was decidedly
one of those cases where it would be better to follow his usual routine,
and thereby make sure that the engine had everything in its favour.
"I'll have her running in double-quick time," he shouted. "Get that
painter cast off, Major; and, see here, can't you manage to push her
along until I have got the engine going?"
"Guess I'se got one mighty big pole here," called Tom, an instant later,
whilst the launch heaved and rolled as the ponderous fellow moved about.
"You get right along wid dat engine, Massa Jim. I'se gwine astern to
pole her."
Once more the launch rolled and heaved as Tom made his way rapidly aft.
Then his pole plunged into the water, one of the policemen pushed the
bows out from the bank, and, casting his eye upward for one brief
instant, Jim saw that they were moving. Meanwhile he had found the
gasolene tap and turned it, while the fingers of his other hand as
rapidly lifted the six lubricators which fed the engine with that fluid
so vital to her.
"Ready?" asked the Major tersely, his voice hard and cold, as if sudden
disappointment had changed it. "Get her going quick, my lad, or those
fellows will get clear away from us. Already they are steaming right out
into the lagoon."
It was true enough; for, casting his eye ahead, Jim could see, through
the dark tunnel formed by the overhanging branches of the trees, a wide
expanse of shimmering water, across which sped the boat that bore the
men in pursuit of whom they had come. There was a white wash at her
stern, while sparks and flames shot from her funnel. That and the glow
which surrounded her, coming from her opened furnace door, showed
clearly that the rascals aboard her were fully prepared for flight, with
a hot fire burning and roaring in their furnace, and a head of steam
which would drive their boat faster perhaps than she had ever travelled.
"Got it! Now we'll be moving."
With the fingers of one hand Jim had held the float of his carburettor
lifted, thereby making sure that the engine would obtain a free supply
of fuel; while with the other hand he had discovered the starting
handle. It was a simple matter to slip it on to the shaft and turn it
till the clutches engaged. Then he bent his back to the work, switched
his magneto into circuit and sent the engine twirling round. Poof! poof!
poof! Three of the cylinders fired, but the crank ceased turning. Jim
lifted his float again, adjusted the handle, and made another effort at
starting. Gur-r-rr! bizz! she was off. The rhythmical hum of the
machinery told his practised ear at once that the engine was running
beautifully.
He dropped the starting handle on to the floorboards and stepped briskly
across to his levers.
"Ready?" he asked steadily.
"Let her have it," came from the Major, who, meanwhile, had taken
possession of the wheel. "Let her have it all you know, Jim, for we've a
long way to make up. Those rascals have obtained a splendid start."
Jim promptly dropped his fingers on the quadrant where throttle and
ignition levers lay, and jerked both of them up a few notches. He could
feel the thrust of the propeller now, and could hear the wash of the
water as the launch pushed her way through it. Then suddenly the vessel
cleared the dark tunnel in which she had been lying, and a glorious
tropical moon shone down upon her, rendering every figure aboard
distinctly visible, while, better than all, the rays flooded the engine
well and made Jim's task all the easier.
"Faster!" commanded the Major sharply, and at the word Jim jerked his
levers some few notches higher, till the engine buzzed more loudly than
before, while the floorboards took on a trembling vibration to which, as
a general rule, they were unaccustomed.
"More! We must move faster if we are to catch them," cried the Major,
something akin to entreaty in his voice. "Can't you make her do a little
more, my lad? We mustn't let those rascals slip through our fingers."
Jim nodded curtly; he disliked racing his engine as a general rule, for
common sense told him that such a course if persisted in might well lead
to disaster. But these were exceptional circumstances, and, if race her
he must, he determined that no precaution on his part should be relaxed
so that the motor might come through the ordeal satisfactorily. Once
more, therefore, he jerked his levers upwards till the throttle was wide
open, while the ignition was advanced to the fullest extent. And how the
motor roared! Compactly built and beautifully designed, it could not be
expected to revolve at such extraordinary speed and give out its full
power without some sign of remonstrance. It answered the persistent
goadings of its grim young driver with a tremulous roar, while the
planks under foot now shook and rattled ominously. Indeed the whole
vessel vibrated, while the bows lifted out of the water, thrusting a
huge wave to either side. The surface of the lagoon, hitherto so placid,
was now churned to milky foam at the stern of the vessel, while a white
wash trailed aft, glimmering in the moonlight.
"Full out, sir," reported Jim to the Major. "How are we doing?"
"Fine, fine, my boy. We'll have 'em yet, if only you can keep her at it;
but can she last? Can she keep up this pace much longer?"
"Guess she's got to," laughed Jim, a note of excitement in his voice, in
spite of his apparent coolness and unconcern. "Guess she's got to, sir;
I'll keep her at it all I know."
He craned his head to one side, and for the space of a minute fixed his
eyes upon the black shape ahead which they were following. A column of
flame and showers of sparks were being vomited from the funnel, whilst
the ruddy hue that had surrounded the escaping launch had now
disappeared entirely.
"Closed his furnace; that means that he's got steam up to
bursting-point," thought Jim. "But we're gaining on him sure. In half an
hour, if all goes well, we'll be alongside."
He let his glance rest for a few seconds on the figures of the policemen
huddled in the cab of the launch beside the Major. He even caught the
reflection of the moonlight in Sam's big rolling eyes. Then he turned
his glance to either side, watching the widespreading bow wave as it
swept out over the lagoon. He followed the ripples, and, turning, gazed
astern. It came as a shock to him almost to discover two figures there
crouching on the little deck aft of the engine well. One was huge and
massive, and bore aloft a long, straight pole, while the second sat
crouched on his haunches, as motionless as a statue. It was Ching. The
Chinaman sat playing with the end of his pigtail, and giggled as Jim
looked into his eyes.
"Velly fine! Dis allee lightee, sah; you catch him plenty quick," he
gurgled.
"Den hang um," simpered Tom, his eyes rolling. "Dem scum not stand de
chance of a dog, I tell yo. Massa Jim, yo make um buzz right along like
dis; and den, by lummy, yo see what we do to um. Nobble dem rascals
precious quick. Kill um; wring de neck of de villains."
Jim scowled at the negro, for such threats vexed him. Then, seeing the
broad smile on Tom's face, he laughed outright.
"Jest like you, Tom, always threatening. I don't believe you'd actually
hurt a fly unless you were forced to. But have a care, my lad; this
boat's over-loaded, and if I hear too much from you I'll give Ching
orders to send you overboard. Get lower, man; your big body meets the
wind and keeps us from moving forward."
The mere suggestion that he might be tossed overboard caused the
simple-minded Tom to open his big eyes wide in consternation. His huge
jaw drooped; then, hearing his young master's merry laugh, the thick
lips split asunder, and a loud guffaw came from the negro.
"Wat dat?" he demanded. "Yo ask dis man here to throw Tom overboard? By
de poker, but if dis Chinaboy breathe one little word, me smash um. Tom
nasty fellow to deal with when him angry."
But Jim had other matters to attend to rather than to listen to the
negro's sayings. Indeed he had already turned his back upon the two men
crouching astern, and was bending over the engine. Fumbling at the lock
of a cupboard, he pulled the door open and extracted a heavy object from
within. His finger pressed a button, and instantly a flood of light came
from the electric torch he had secured. For five minutes he busied
himself with the motor. Carefully adjusting the drips from the
lubricator, he set them to give a more liberal supply than was usual.
Then he lifted the board which covered the tail shaft bearing, and
squeezed down the grease cup secured there. A finger laid on the top of
the bearing assured him that it was running cool, while the same
precaution in regard to the cylinders disclosed the fact that the water
pump was working as it should do. In fact, in spite of the tremendous
pace at which the motor was revolving, there was as yet no sign of
failure, nothing to point to an immediate breakdown, nothing, in fact,
to lead him to suppose that the chase would have to be abandoned.
"Then I can begin to take a little interest in those rascals," he
thought, "Ah, we're nearer, we're overhauling them without a shadow of
doubt! I give them a quarter of an hour's more freedom."
It did indeed seem as though the pursuit was entering upon its last
stage, for the black shape ahead was decidedly nearer--so near, in fact,
that one could make out the various features of the launch as well as
the two fugitives crouching beside their engine. Tongues of flame and
broad showers of sparks still belched from the funnel, while at one
moment, when she steamed into the dense shadow cast by some tall trees
growing upon the tail end of a group of small islands which studded the
lagoon, the funnel itself was seen to be glowing hot. Indeed, while the
launch herself was blotted out in the darkness, the glowing funnel
remained the one conspicuous object.
"I'm going to give 'em a shot," called out the Major, casting a glance
at Jim over his shoulder. "You see, I don't know the ins and outs of
this lagoon, and those fellows might yet escape us if they happen to
have had time to do a little exploration. See here, Tomkins, send a ball
a foot or two ahead of them; and if that does not bring them to a stop,
put one right through her funnel. You can do it without fear of hitting
one of the men."
"Sure! I'd back myself nine times out of ten to bring off a shot like
that. I'll just wait till we're out of the shadow."
Anxious eyes flitted from the dark shape fleeting through the waters of
the lagoon to the long, bony fingers of the policeman. He stepped to the
front of the cab, leaned forward with his elbows on the deck, and
clicked the bolt of his rifle open. Then he dropped the weapon into
position, and there was a tense silence aboard as Tomkins squinted along
his sights. A second later the report came, for the policeman was too
old a hand with his weapon to hesitate. While he shot the empty
cartridge out and slipped in a fresh one all eyes went to the boat
ahead, and no doubt the bullet which Tomkins had dispatched had passed
but a few feet in front of her, conveying a message and a warning; but
the effect it had was entirely _nil_. The launch held on her course as
though there was no such thing as a pursuing vessel with arms aboard
able to reach the miscreants who were escaping.
"Guess they've got to have it then," growled Tomkins. "This time I'll
put one through the funnel, and there ain't a doubt that it'll send them
bobbing."
As cool as an icicle, the man stretched himself out again, half on the
deck and half in the cab of the launch. Once more his eyes went down to
the sights, and on this occasion the pause he made was long, so long, in
fact, that when the rifle belched forth a stream of fire the suddenness
of the report startled his comrades. Then they fixed their eyes upon the
launch steaming ahead of them.
"Didn't I tell you! Got it sure, plump through the centre, and a bare
foot above their heads," cried Tomkins, dropping his rifle. "See there,
the flames tell you what happened."
His finger shot out instantly, and drew the attention of all to the
funnel. Flames and sparks were still belching from the opening above,
but that was not all, for low down now, but a bare foot above the heads
of the two men crouching beside the engine, the sheet-iron tube was
punctured, and a thin stream of fire was issuing from the hole. Clank!
The sound of the furnace door being dragged violently open came clearly
to the ears of the pursuers, in spite of the hum of their own motor,
while that same red glow which had once before enveloped the launch
again surrounded her. It was the only answer the rascals aboard made to
Tomkins's shot, that and a dense column of smoke which now shot up,
mingling with the flames and smoke from the funnel.
"Their last kick," cried the Major. "That shot tells them that we mean
business. Tomkins, my lad, just give 'em another. Say, Jim, how's the
motor running?"
"Fine! fine! Couldn't be doing better. Sing out when you want me to cut
her down a little."
To all appearances the end of an exciting chase was already in sight,
for there was no doubt that now Jim and his party were running two feet
for the one covered by the escaping launch. But they had wily men to
deal with, and that fact was impressed upon them within the space of a
few seconds, for hardly had the third shot rung out when the launch in
front ran into another long shadow by one of the islands, her form being
instantly blotted out by the blackness.
There came the clang of the furnace door as it was kicked into place by
one of the rascals, and then all that could be seen was the glowing
funnel. Even that did not remain long in evidence, for suddenly it
swerved to the right, making off at a sharp angle to the course which
the launch had been pursuing. Then it disappeared from sight, as if the
vessel had gone beneath the water.
"Steady! Stop her!" commanded the Major, swinging his wheel over. "We'll
run on a little till we're out of the shadow. Then perhaps we shall be
able to see where those fellows have got to. Queer! Seems to me that
they know the road. They must have steered direct for the tail end of
these islands."
Jim jerked throttle and ignition levers back as the orders came to his
ears, and threw his lever into neutral position. But the launch had been
ploughing along at a speed of some twenty knots, and the way on her
carried her swiftly forward. Dense shadow enveloped her, and for a while
there was not one aboard the launch but wondered whether the vessel
would dash herself upon a rock, since the course was being followed
blindly. The Major had swung his wheel just where he guessed the
fugitives had done likewise, and that movement still found the boat in
dense shadow. A second or two later she shot out into open water, and
once more the moon's rays flooded her from stem to stern.
"Gone! Not a sign of them! This is the queerest thing I have ever----"
"Stop! I can see them!" shouted Jim, interrupting the Major. "They
steamed straight between two of the islands, and there they are beyond.
Push ahead, Major? Our best way is to run right round this island, and
so take up their course again. Ain't that land ahead?"
"Land fo shore! Massa Jim right," sang out Sam, who seemed to have the
sharpest eyes of the whole party. "Dem villains know de way; dey been
here before. Sam say dey heading for anoder opening."
Whatever was the nature of the evolution practised by the fugitives, the
Major, as leader of the party, did not hesitate to follow Jim's advice.
"Forward!" he roared, glancing over his shoulder. "Rocks or no rocks,
I'll chance rounding the island. Send her ahead, Jim. Give her full
power again."
Bizz! Gurr! How the motor roared as our hero jerked his levers back into
their old position. As for that commanding the gears, it was already in
position, while the propeller was churning the water into white foam.
The launch shot ahead as if propelled from a gun, and in a trice was
rounding the island on the far side of which the fugitives had taken
their course. A minute later she was again in open water, while right
across her path stretched a dark, unbroken line, the edge of which was
obscured in deep shadow. It was the margin of the lagoon, without a
doubt, while it was equally certain that those whom Jim and his party
sought to capture had chosen some point along it on which to land.
Either that or their explorations had discovered some exit, for which
they were at that very instant racing madly.
"Artful dogs!" cried the Major, wrath in his voice. "They stole a nice
march on us by that movement, and gained many yards. Don't fire,
Tomkins. You might hit one of them in this uncertain light, and that
would defeat my special object. I want to capture the two alive and
strong, or not at all."
"See dat? Massa Jim, dere an openin' ober dere. Dose scum race for um!"
shouted Sam a moment later, stretching one black arm out in front, and
pointing eagerly. "Me see de light shinin' on de water ob a stream, and
de launch just about to enter. Steady, sah! Not do to dash right in at
dis pace. P'raps smash de launch, run ashore, or pile her up on a
mudbank. S'pose we take it easy."
"Steady! Stop her again!" commanded the Major, his eyes fixed on the
retreating launch. "Sam is right. Those gentlemen have discovered a
channel leading out of the lagoon, and have made for it at their fastest
pace. That shows that they have been there before. Look at them; they
have sent their boat in without attempting to slow down. Steady, Jim!
Let her push ahead slowly; those rascals are a long way from making good
their escape. I'll follow them even if it takes me miles into the
interior."
Had the Major but known it, there was every prospect of this pursuit
carrying him and his party many miles beyond the margin of the lagoon,
for the band of ruffians who had so lately attracted his attention, and
on the catching of two of which he was now bent, had not confined their
thieving attentions to the various settlements along the coast. They had
even exploited the peoples of the interior of the unsettled regions
lying adjacent to the canal zone. There were wide areas of trackless
forest, of jungle, and of swamp, which to this day are unexplored and
unknown by the white man. That deadly malarial fever, more than attack
by unfriendly natives, has kept the white man at a distance. Only along
the immediate line of the coast has trading been done in some of the
districts, and even then the results have not been always satisfactory.
"It's a queer place," said Phineas Barton, when describing the isthmus
to our hero. "Here along the canal zone you have civilization. Uncle Sam
has come in with his dollars and his men, and has worked with an energy
which, one of these days, when the facts are known, will surprise the
world. As I tell you, you've civilization right here. But jest step out
of the canal zone, and what do you find? Savages, sir. Wild men, armed
with spears and bows and poisoned arrows. Yes, sir, poisoned arrows that
will kill a man inside thirty minutes, even if they only happen to have
just broken the skin. And they tell me that 'way along in the jungle,
where the fever's that bad that a white man don't dare to go, there are
gangs of tall natives that won't allow a stranger to put so much as his
nose into their territory."
It is all true enough, and is, indeed, one of the curious features of
the Isthmus of Panama. There, where one of these days, when America has
completed her gigantic task, a mighty canal will stretch from coast to
coast, bearing the commerce of the nations to and fro between Pacific
and Atlantic Oceans, there lie side by side the modern dwellings and the
civilization which an enormous undertaking of this description must
inevitably produce, and a condition of savagery unchanged since the
Middle Ages. Even Spain, with her huge capacity for conquest, failed to
penetrate into many of the wide areas of jungle adjacent to Panama and
Colon. Doubtless her gallant sons made the attempt; but history records
the fact that the fierce tribes within drove them back, murdering those
upon whom they could lay their hands, and showing such courage and
ferocity that further attempts were not embarked upon. Moreover, the
malarial fever, which haunts these jungles in its most virulent form,
was deterrent enough, without thought of the natives.
Still, there were some who had contrived to open up negotiations with
the tribes. There are men who will risk anything for a handsome profit,
and the gang of rascals we are dealing with had seen in these tribes an
opportunity of enriching themselves. They tempted the natives with the
offer of guns and powder, and already the bartering of those weapons had
given them access to a part which would have brought inevitable
destruction, had they entered on any other pretext. Cheap guns and
powder were to be obtained, and in return the natives willingly parted
with huge quantities of precious stones and gold. Sam was perfectly
right when he suggested that the man aboard the steam launch had visited
the lagoon and its surroundings before.
"I's sure of that," he cried, bending forward and peering into the
gloom. "Dem scum know ebery foot of de way, for dey steam hard ahead for
a place dat no one else can see."
"Know it or not, we're going on after them," growled the Major. "Where
they can run we can follow. But steady with her, Jim. This chase is not
going to be finished yet awhile, and we shall do better now that there
is no longer a chance of catching them on the lagoon. Take it easy.
After all, they can't go on for ever; some time or other the stream they
are making for will fail them, and then they must take to the jungle or
fall into our hands. Steady with her! Slow but sure must be our motto."
"Steady it is, sir!" cried Jim. "But say, I can see a line of water
running out of the lagoon. Those fellows are steering straight ahead
into it."
All eyes aboard followed the movements of the fleeing launch, and
watched as she crossed in the gleam of the moonlight the last few yards
of open lagoon. They saw her shoot across the dark line which till a
moment before had seemed unbroken; she sped on up the stream to which
Jim had called their attention, then once again she was lost to sight.
The blackness swallowed her; there was not even a glowing funnel to show
her whereabouts.
"Forward!" cried the Major hoarsely. "But see here, Jim, send one of
your men right up into the bows, for there's no knowing what may happen.
We may run into a mudbank, and if we have a man forward with a pole we
can get pushed off in a twinkling."
The launch heaved and shook as the huge Tom rose to his feet. As agile
as a cat, in spite of his size, the ponderous fellow went crawling
along, past Jim and his motor, past the Major and his man, and finally
established himself right forward in the bows.
"Come a mudbank and Tom push de launch off quick," he called. "But hab
no fear. Me able to see much better right away here; dere no mudbanks
in dis stream, sah. All open water; plenty room for eberyone."
By now Jim and his friends had reached the very edge of the lagoon, and
were able to make out their surroundings more distinctly. The bright
moon above helped them wonderfully; thanks to the light it shed, and to
the fact that the stream ahead was wide, and branches could not reach
across it, they could discern the path which they were to follow. Not a
stump, not a single object, broke the shimmering surface of the water. A
bright lane stretched before them, with a deep black shadow on either
hand.
"Give her steam," commanded the Major, forgetting that the launch which
he and the others manned was of the gasolene variety. "Send her ahead,
Jim. We've a clear road, way up there ahead, and we'll take it. Boys, be
on the lookout for trouble; those rascals are not the only ones we are
likely to come across in such an out-of-the-way part."
Jim jerked his levers forward promptly; the motor buzzed and roared,
while the propeller bit into the water, and, taking a grip of the fluid,
shot the launch forward. She swept on gallantly into the unknown, her
commander and crew careless of the consequences and determined to do
their duty whatever happened.