Barely Escaped
Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible
for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor
desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to
the enemy. Tall and thin, each one of the natives was almost naked.
Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a
distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the
cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity. For the rest,
these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their
persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.
But when events are moving fast, and disaster stares one in the face,
details and trifles escape attention. Jim and his comrades had their
safety to think of, so that it is not wonderful that they failed to
observe too closely the appearance of their dusky enemies. But however
urgent the position, none could fail to see the short spears, with long
narrow blades attached to them, which each dusky warrior carried. Half a
dozen at least were gripped in each left hand, while the right held a
single one in readiness to discharge it. As for the gun, the cheap gas
barrels with which these wretched natives had been supplied, they were
without exception muzzle loaders; and now that events were moving so
fast and so furiously there was hardly time to load. A few of the men
handled their ramrods, but the rest had discarded their weapons and
stood prancing upon the deck of the launch, causing her to heave and
roll dangerously, and prepared to throw their spears the instant they
came within range of Jim and his party. It was not until that moment
that our hero realized that if their fortunes were desperate they were
at least lucky in one particular.
"Gee, ain't I glad!" he exclaimed. "From what Phineas told me I quite
expected them to be armed with bows and arrows--the latter poisonous.
Tomkins, you and your men had best concentrate your force aft of the
launch, where the engine is. I caught a glimpse of those rascals there;
and though I don't suppose that the death of one or both would cause the
gang to sheer off, yet it might do so, and in any case if we could put
them out of action there would be no white man to lead the natives."
"Right, sir, right," came from Tomkins instantly, while he and his two
comrades promptly moved to the back of the cab, from which point they
could best command that portion of the launch upon which they were
instructed to concentrate their fire.
"You, Tom and Sam, fire on the natives," shouted Jim. "I'm going to help
you. Ching, get hold of some of that clean cotton waste and wipe up all
round this magneto. Dry every part you can, and don't forget those plugs
on top of the cylinders."
He had already pointed out the ignition plugs to the Chinaman, for
they, like the rest of the engine, had been heavily sprayed with water.
Then he seized a rifle, jerked the magazine open as the Major had
instructed him when they first set out on the expedition, and levelled
his sights upon the advancing natives.
By now the latter were dangerously near, and already clouds of spears
were flying. It looked as if within a few seconds the steam launch would
be right alongside, and the black demons aboard her hurling themselves
upon the decks of the motor. But suddenly there came a high-pitched
shriek amidst the howls of the enemy, and to the relief of all in Jim's
party the course of the other vessel was abruptly altered. She shot away
obliquely to the left, while one of the white men who had been manning
the wheel was seen to tumble backwards.
"A grand shot," shouted Jim. "Now is our time to get this motor running.
Out of the way, Ching, and let me get to her. We'll see how she'll run
without water in her jackets."
The idea had suddenly flashed into his brain, and he proceeded promptly
to put it into execution. But, first of all, now that he had a short
breathing space, it was necessary to supervise the work that Ching had
been doing.
"It'll take 'em a good five minutes to round up and get back here within
range," he told himself, glancing across at the enemy. "That splendid
shot and the fall of their steersman have caused no end of confusion,
and now is the time to best them."
Laying his rifle down hurriedly, he bent over the magneto and seized a
handful of dry cotton waste.
"Me mop up all de water," grinned Ching, looking the coolest person
aboard the launch. Indeed, there seemed to be little doubt that he was
actually the least concerned of all the party, for his inexpressive
features had not changed in the slightest. There was not so much as a
tinge of red in his sallow cheeks, sure indication of some excitement.
His almond eyes--all aslant, as is common to this Eastern race--regarded
Jim, the useless motor, and the howling band of natives steaming across
the water with the same tranquillity. "Wipey all de water up, Mass Jim,"
he repeated. "Now, s'pose you start him. He go velly nicely p'laps. Den
run away from dem rascals, and Ching put de kettle on, hab someting to
eat, 'cos Ching hungry, velly."
"Get out of this!" cried Jim irritably. "Breakfast, man! Why, if we
don't get out of this in the next few minutes there won't be one of us
left to take a bite!"
He pushed the Chinaman to one side, and rapidly ran over his ignition
system. Ching had done his work with that painstaking thoroughness for
which the Chinaman is noted, and though hollows and crevices in and
about the motor still held pools of water, the vital parts were dry.
"Then I'll try it," he said. "Those beggars have managed to turn rather
quicker than I had imagined; but if I can only get her going within a
minute we ought to be able to escape them. Ah! here come their bullets
again, boys; get in at them with your rifles."
All the while he had been troubled with the want of one small article.
To keep the water out of his motor he must plug the opening which led
from the vessel's side direct to the pump. For the rest, it was an easy
matter, there being a tap which would drain all the jackets within the
space of but a few seconds. But that alone was insufficient; with the
water port still open, the pump would drive a column of fluid through
the jackets, and the ignition would be again drenched.
"A cork! a cork!" he cried. "Something with which to fill this port."
He leant over the side of the vessel and pointed out the opening to
Ching. And the wily, cunning Chinee immediately came to his assistance.
"A cork, sah; I's got the velly thing. You wantee someting to push in
dere. Ching hab plenty fine cork."
He moved with exasperating slowness across the engine well, and rummaged
in a locker in which his cooking utensils were stored. There came the
characteristic sound of a bung being extracted from a bottle, and then
Ching came back again, still slowly, still unconcernedly, still with
that unruffled countenance.
"He, he, he! him come out of the vinegar bottle," he giggled. "Him one
velly fine cork, Mass Jim. But yo gib him back when yo finished? Eh?
Velly fine cork dat."
Jim snatched it from his hand without ceremony, in fact with a
brusqueness altogether foreign to him. Then he leaned over the side of
the launch and gave a shout of triumph when he discovered that Ching had
supplied him with an article which fitted nicely. He rammed it home
forcibly, driving his fist through the water against the cork. Then he
bounded to the engine, jerked the starting handle into position, and
sent the motor whirling. Bizz! She was off. The engine went away with an
encouraging roar, while but a few ounces of water escaped from the rent
in her jacket.
"Wipe it up," he commanded Ching. "And guess you'd better keep clear of
the magneto and plugs and suchlike. If you touched them you'd get a
shock that would knock you endways. Gee! Ain't she buzzing! Hooray!
we'll best them."
Sam was already at the steering wheel of the launch, watching his master
out of the corner of his big eyes, and paying some attention to the
enemy. Indeed he would not have been human had he failed to cast more
than one anxious look in their direction. Sam was not the same stolid,
supernaturally unemotional individual as the Chinaman. He had nerves;
excitement told on the little fellow.
"Dey almighty near, sah," he sang out. "Dat motor goin'? den, fo'
goodness sake, put de gear in, push on, get away from dem demon."
"Dodge 'em; swing her about. Put out their aim," Jim called to him, and
at once pushed his gear lever home. Then, like the practical young man
he was, he reached over to his lubricators and sent them dripping at a
pace which, while they would not flood the engine and overlubricate her,
would still supply a more abundant amount than usual, and so in a
measure serve to counteract the want of water cooling.
"She's bound to run hotter," Jim told himself, "and as a permanent
arrangement the thing wouldn't do; but for the time being it's got to.
Round with her, Sam."
The launch meanwhile had floated quietly on the surface of the river,
and, owing to the fact that her propeller was stationary, being thrown
out of gear by the failure of the engine, she had lost steerage way, and
had drifted completely round. She was heading upstream when Jim set her
propeller thrashing the water again, and for a while she raced away from
the other vessel, the manoeuvre drawing shrill yells of rage from the
natives. But Sam had her in hand. The fine little fellow had not been
with Jim and his father all this time without learning how to steer a
launch, and at once, with a glance over his shoulder, he sent his wheel
round, causing the boat to flop over and heel till her rail was almost
under the surface. Round she spun on her keel, and within the
half-minute was heading direct for the enemy. A growl broke from Tomkins
as he laid his cheek once more down on the butt of his rifle.
"This time guess we'll make hay with 'em," he shouted. "Don't you be in
too much of a hurry, sir. You can make rings all round 'em and still
keep out of range. Dare say their bullets'll reach right enough, but
they won't strike hard enough to hurt more'n a fly. It's the spears I'm
frightened of."
And everyone else, too; for the natives aboard the oncoming launch had
again discarded their firearms, and were now standing, spear in hand
ready poised, waiting for the moment when they might cast them. Sam gave
every dusky warrior a start when he headed the launch direct for them.
It looked as if he were bent on a collision; but a minute later, when
effective range for the spear throwers had almost been reached, he put
his wheel over again, and shot the launch away at a right angle. Then a
figure aboard the enemy was seen to rise erect beside her steering gear,
and within the space of a few seconds she paid off in the same direction
as Jim's craft had taken--on a course, in fact, which would bring the
two boats alongside very shortly. Either that or they must run hard into
the bank.
"Right round with her again; dodge them!" shouted Jim, his heart in his
mouth. "Then take her up stream a little. We have the legs of them, and
if only we can shake them clear for a while we shall get past them."
That was the difficulty. The enemy remained all the while between them
and the lagoon, and in that direction safety lay. Even a swift boat such
as the motor launch had proved herself to be could not slip by easily,
unless she risked running so close into the other as to place her crew
in danger of those terrible spears; but Sam seemed fully to have
realized the difficulty, and at Jim's command he brought the boat
heeling round again. Hardly three lengths separated the combatants when
he swung the wheel again, and, driven by her fast-rotating propeller,
the launch shot obliquely up the stream, leaving the other heading
helplessly for the bank. Tom roared with delight, brandishing his rifle
overhead, while Ching giggled and simpered as if he looked upon the
thing as a glorious joke. But Jim's face was set and stern. He had been
so close when the vessel turned that he had been able to look into the
eyes of the natives; and the ferocity of their appearance, their
terrible shrieks and howls, and the cloud of spears which they had
discharged brought realistically to him the depth of their danger.
Within a foot of his hand a spear stood quivering, the blade sunk deeply
in the woodwork. It needed but a glance to tell him that the weapon was
capable of dealing death to anyone. However, they were out of range now,
and the time had come to practise a further manoeuvre. Jim waved his
hand in Sam's direction.
"Over," he shouted. "Let her rip for the lagoon."
Meanwhile the course of the other launch had been hurriedly arrested;
for the ruffian aboard her was a clever skipper, and handled the craft
with decision. The waters churned into white foam beneath her rudder,
and before Jim and his friend had completed their slanting run upstream
the rascal had his boat running rapidly astern in an effort to intercept
them.
"Gee, he'll do it, too!" shouted Tomkins. "Say, sir, we'll have to
charge them. But that would mean the end of everything for them and for
us."
Jim shook his head emphatically. "You're asking for a funeral," he said
bluntly. "We've got to dodge 'em, even if we play at the game for the
rest of the morning. Steady there, Sam; do anything rather than let them
get within close range of us. Boys, if only you could pick off that
rascal who commands them we would soon make an end of the others."
But the man aboard the other boat proved to be as crafty as he was
capable. True, they had obtained a clear view of him on one occasion, at
least, when he had dashed for the steering gear of his vessel. But now a
gaudily painted native occupied that responsible position, while the
Spaniard himself lay out of sight in the engine well, but near enough
to prompt him. The rim of his hat could be seen on occasion as he
glanced across at Jim and his party. As for our hero, seeing that the
course was blocked, and that for the moment their escape was cut off, he
coolly threw his lever out of gear and slowed down his engine. Then he
reversed his propellor for a while until the launch had come to a
standstill.
"Two can play at this sort of game," he told himself. "We'll wait and
see what that fellow proposes to do; but listen here, Tomkins, and you
other fellows. Next time we attempt a rush we have to make a big
impression on these natives. We'll get them end on, if we can, and then
try them with volleys. We want to make every shot tell, and that hasn't
been the case up to the present. A moving target isn't too easy to hit
from a launch when she's heaving and rolling."
"Lummy! Look dere! By de poker, dere more of de scum. Yo see dem black
sons ob guns coming right away dere? Dey likely to be very troublesome."
It taxed the perception of all to decide where this new arrival could
have come from; for up till that moment the banks on either hand had
seemed to be untenanted. Not a shot had come from them for quite a
while, and all imagined that every native taking part in this sudden and
unprovoked attack upon Jim and his comrades was embarked aboard the
other launch. And here, as Tom had brought to their notice, was another
boat, steering out from a bank to join her consort. It was a long,
dark-coloured craft, with sides protruding some little distance out of
the water, a stem erected high into the air, and bearing upon it a
hideous carving, while astern there was a platform perched up on the
post, and squatted upon it a painted and feathered savage, whose
steering oar controlled the course of the vessel. As for her crew, a
swarm of natives filled her from end to end; those in advance standing
ready, spear in hand, to join in the engagement, while the remainder,
situated aft, squatted on the floor and churned the water with their
paddles. In a little while she had come alongside the steamer, which now
rested across the centre of the stream.
"They'll talk for a bit now, I guess," growled Tomkins. "Then, like as
not, they'll make a dash for it. This here business ain't going to be
ended without a rare lot of bloodletting. It's that launch that's the
bother. She ain't as quick as we are, but she's swift enough to turn and
stop us now that she's got a position downstream. If only we had half a
dozen more men aboard here! I wouldn't funk, then, running aboard her.
We'd show 'em who was going ter be master."
The man's eyes were set and shining. There was a good deal of the bull
dog about Tomkins, and one had only to glance at him to feel satisfied
that when the crisis came the American could be trusted.
"As ef we was goin' down before a lot of black chaps same as they are!"
he growled. "But you can't get away from numbers. It's the crowd that
tells, and ef we lets 'em get close enough ter get their teeth
fixed--gee, it'll be a case! Funerals ain't in it. I for one ain't goin'
ter drop into the hands of sich rascals. I'll clear out all I can, and
then----"
His eyes were bent on his rifle, while his fingers--strong, brown
fingers--played with the lock.
Gurr! Jim switched the conversation in another direction by throwing his
gear in. "They're moving," he said. "Best get steerage way on the boat.
See here, boys, we've a heap of room upstream, and if they don't
separate directly I shall run up gently. We've always enough water to
turn in, and if only we can once fool the launch, and get by her, I
don't care a row of chips for the other craft. I'll run her down in a
winking. Ah, they're coming along! Swing her over, Sam. There's no
hurry: we'll see if the movement won't make them part company."
But the steamer and the huge war canoe held together. In fact, ropes had
been passed from one to the other, and the launch provided the power.
But men were stationed ready to cast off the bonds between them, so that
each craft could go separately. Jim's sudden movement produced nothing
more than a howl, while the steamer swung gently over towards him.
"That'll suit me as well as anything," he cried. "Let 'em hold together.
I'll tempt them across towards this bank, then double and be away before
they can cut the canoe adrift. How's that?"
The enemy answered the question. For, of a sudden, the ropes were cast
off, the canoe lay to in the centre of the stream, while the launch
steamed to intercept the other. It was a crafty move on the part of the
rascal who commanded the natives; for now he could rush at Jim. If he
failed to come to grips with him, and the latter attempted to slip
downstream, there was a formidable obstacle which was by no means to be
sneered at because she had no motor aboard. There were lusty arms to ply
the paddles, and when the backs of the natives were bent to the work
they could make their craft slip through the water at a pace which had
to be witnessed to be believed.
"Round we go, upstream for the moment," called Jim to the negro at the
wheel. "Easy does it: I'm only letting my motor out a little. We'll make
things hum before we have finished. She's coming along too. Well, we'll
make a race of it to the far side of the river."
All the time he was attempting to get the enemy so near one bank that,
in the race across to the other, the launch propelled by an
internal-combustion motor, which had already proved herself far the
speedier, would outstrip the other by so much that it would be safe to
head downstream and sweep past her without risking those formidable
spears. But always there was the crafty ruffian aboard the steamer to be
reckoned with. He turned as Jim's craft ran direct across to the far
bank, and followed swiftly. Then, as the motor launch approached close
to the far bank, the rascal coolly stopped his engine. When Sam swung
his boat round again the enemy had actually gained. A direct run
upstream would almost allow him to meet the motor launch.
"Gee, he's got us there!" cried Jim, disappointment in his voice. "I
thought we were going to do the trick nicely. But wait a little: we'll
be more successful on the second occasion. Run her slick across, Sam,"
he called. "I'm going to try and trick him."
There is little doubt that had the enemy desired it he could almost have
arrested their progress on this occasion, or forced Jim and his party to
change their course. But the commander of the steamer had his own ideas
as to how to accomplish his purpose. Ching simpered when he discovered
the truth of the matter, but had the good sense to mention his fears to
our hero.
"Oh, him one velly clever person!" he giggled. "Yo see what him up to,
Mass Jim. All de time him run across alongside ob us him slippey nearer
and nearer. Presently him so close dat de black man able to dig dere
spears in."
Jim shivered in spite of the heat, for the sun was now streaming down
upon the contestants. Then he looked closely at the enemy, and realized
that Ching had given him valuable information. For though the steamer
was cutting across the river on an apparently parallel course to his
own, yet all the while her steersman was jerking his helm over, bringing
her by degrees closer to Jim and his party. It was a difficulty which
needed to be faced promptly, and Jim's lips were hard set together as he
made his plans to meet it. Very gradually he slowed down his motor,
keeping a keen eye all the while upon the stern of the steamer, where
white foam showed how her propeller was working.
"I don't know that his game won't suit me very well after all," he said
to himself. "So long as he actually doesn't come within spear range of
us we are all right, and my aim all the while is to get him dead on a
line with us. Once there he can't catch us by suddenly swerving off from
his course, as was nearly the case this last time. Sam, boy," he called
out, "when I shout, bring her clear round and face her back on her
tracks right away for the other side. Tomkins, you can get your men
ready for a little bit of quick business."
For the past five minutes not a shot had left the rifles of his
comrades, though an occasional ball came from the deck of the steamer.
It was remarkable that the rascal there made no attempt to use his
revolver; but perhaps he had run out of ammunition, and in any case the
management of the craft occupied all his attention. As to the men under
Jim's command, all wore a grim determined expression. Even Ching seemed
to take some definite interest in the adventure, and, though one could
not be quite sure of the matter, those slanting, almond eyes bore just
the merest trace of anxiety. Otherwise, there was tense excitement on
board, for by now each man had realized the nature of the manoeuvre
about to be attempted, and the narrow margin which must necessarily lie
between themselves and safety. It was Tomkins who put in an encouraging
word.
"Jest you get in at it, pard," he said, moistening the palms of his
hands preparatory to gripping his rifle. "You ain't got no cause to fear
that we won't fight. When the ruction comes you can count on us, every
blessed mother's son of us; and, see here, siree, ef you don't happen to
bring off this trick, and there's a chance of them chaps driving us up
into a corner, jest round her and go baldheaded for 'em. I'm getting
sick of this here runnin'."
His two comrades nodded curtly to show that this statement met with
their full approval, while Tom, the noble fellow, who always seemed to
carry his young master's interests uppermost in his mind, stepped across
to the rear edge of the cab and leaned over towards the motor.
"We ain't gwine to knuckle down to dem black niggers," he said in a
voice which was meant to be a confidential whisper, but which as an
actual fact was a deep-chested roar that wellnigh drowned the noise of
the engine. "Yo ain't got no cause to fear, 'cos this here boy and all
de odders wants to get back right along home again. We ain't a-goin' to
let scum like this stan' in de way. Nebber. We's gwine to do as we
wants. Sam, jest see that you're nippy."
Tom gave his master one of his most expansive smiles; then, as if to
relieve his overwrought feelings, he swung round and glowered upon the
harmless but extremely energetic Sam. Indeed, if the fortunes of the day
were due to some extent to those who had wielded rifles, they were none
the less the work of Jim and Sam and Ching between them, while at this
very critical moment they may rightly be said to have rested in the
hands of our hero and the little negro only.
Jim glanced swiftly across at the steamer. By now she was almost abreast
of them, and if only he had but known it her commander was on the point
of bringing his scheme to a termination by a rapid movement. He imagined
that the slowing down of the launch was due again to further trouble of
her motor. It was distinctly an opportunity to be snatched at, and, with
a promptness which did him credit, he caused his steersman to swing his
helm over. In an instant the steamer had changed her course and was
heading for the broadside of the other vessel.
"Now," shouted Jim excitedly. "Right round with her. Let her rip. We've
got 'em nicely."
It is one of the advantages of a gasolene motor, that the engine is
capable of instant acceleration. A second before it had been purring
gently, whilst the propeller was barely turning; but now the machinery
gave out a sudden roar, while every plank and strut aboard shivered and
vibrated. Under her keel the blades of her propeller churned the stream
into milky foam, while the craft itself gathered way promptly. Once more
she rolled heavily as Sam swung his wheel. Then she came round on her
former course as if she were a living thing that understood, and was in
full sympathy with the work expected of her. She bounded forward,
raising her bows clear of the water, and by the time she had reached
midstream had gained five lengths on the steamer.
"Edge her down, Sam; edge her down," urged Jim, giving hasty directions
to his steersman. "Be ready to bring her over. That will be the time for
you, Tomkins, and the others with the rifles."
It hardly needs the telling that the din from those aboard the steamer
was now bewildering and deafening. But a few short seconds before the
game had seemed entirely in their hands; it looked as though they would
be aboard the other craft in a twinkling. Now they were hopelessly left
behind; every instant made their failure more certain. Puffs of smoke
burst from the crowded decks, while the huge bullets discharged from the
gas barrels owned by the natives splashed all round Jim and his friends.
Then there was a roar of anger as the launch turned once more on her
heel, exposing her bottom boards right down to the keel as she rolled to
the movement. A cloud of useless spears filled the air, while right aft
of the steamer a figure sprang on to the stern deck waving both arms and
shouting furiously. Tomkins's eye fell upon the man, and he gripped hard
to the rail of the vessel to steady himself whilst she was rolling. Then
down came his rifle, the weapon cracked forth a bullet, and the figure
beyond collapsed across the engine and was hidden from view in the depth
of the well which housed it. There were others amongst the natives who
met with their deserts about the same moment; while, as if to put the
question of the steamer's further utility entirely beyond discussion,
there came suddenly from the neighbourhood of her funnel a thick column
of hissing steam which rose in clouds over the river.
"I guess I'd had to shoot him," declared Tomkins grimly; "and well he
deserved it. Say, sir, you needn't think no more of that steamer, for
she's put clean out of the running. Reckon a bullet found her boiler and
plugged a hole clean through it."
Whatever the cause of that cloud of escaping steam the effect was to
bring the launch to a standstill. Indeed the position of affairs seemed
to have become suddenly reversed. A little while before it had been
Jim's motor which was _hors de combat_. He and his friends were stranded
and helpless on the water. Now the situation was pleasantly reversed. As
Tomkins had said, the steamer was out of the running.
"Dead straight ahead for them," called Jim, his eye fixed upon the huge
war canoe hovering farther down the stream. "If they swerve, swing over
towards them, and, when within a couple or more lengths, cut off in the
other direction. Don't forget to keep them a spear throw from us."
"And meanwhile pepper 'em with the rifles, eh?" asked Tomkins, grinning
over his shoulder, and wearing now a very different expression to the
grim, determined look he had shown but a short while before. "Pepper 'em
nicely, eh, so as to give 'em a taste of what's coming?"
But Jim shook his head decidedly. "There's been enough bloodlettin'
already," he said, using the very words which the policeman had employed
already. "We've done well with these other fellows, and have shot the
two rascals for whom we came in this direction. These ignorant natives
don't know any better. Guess we'll give 'em a chance."
A flush of vexation rose to Tomkins's face as he heard his suggestion
scouted. He turned with shining eyes upon our hero, and doubtless, had
the incident happened some few hours before, would have blurted out a
protest. But Jim's manly form, his stern, set face, and his coolness
disarmed the policeman and smoothed down his ruffled temper. He
recollected that it was to our hero's guidance that the party, so far,
owed in great measure its security. The young fellow had done right
well, as his worst enemy must needs admit. Then why should he, Tomkins,
step in to disturb him? True, Jim was not his lawful commander; but then
he himself had placed the lad in that position of responsibility, while
a sense of discipline urged him to support one who filled the post of
officer.
"Dash it all, man," he growled, "play the game! Don't he deserve it?"
"Right, sir," he said pleasantly, turning to Jim. "You've shown us a
cool head so far, and, gee! if I don't think you'll pull us through this
business. Not a trigger will we draw on those darkies till you give the
word, or till there's actual reason to teach them a lesson. Now, sonny,
you ain't got no need to glare at me as if I'd stolen yer last dollar. I
ain't done nothing to hurt your master."
It was Tom to whom he addressed himself on this last occasion, for the
watchful negro had overheard the words which had passed between Jim and
the policeman. Incensed at Tomkins's seeming disloyalty, and always
eager to protect our hero, Tom was on the verge of indignation. His big,
broad face, which had lost its happy smile since the beginning of the
action, now wore an expression akin to anger. His sharp, white teeth
were gritted together, while he leaned toward the policeman as if he
would do him an injury. But in an instant his manner changed. Tom could
not be resentful for more than a moment; besides, there were other
pressing matters to engage his attention.
"Yo hab a care, yo policeman," he cried; "me smash dem niggers easy. If
me commence on yo, knock de stuffing out ob yo altogether, make yo
terrible ill and shaky. Savvy dat? Den put dem in yo pipe and smoke
dem."
But Tomkins had already turned away from him with a grin and a shrug of
his shoulders, while Jim silenced the negro peremptorily.
"Get a grip of that pole," he cried, nodding to the one that Tom had
used on the previous evening, "just in case they happen to come within
close distance of us. I hope they won't. We ought to run slick past
them."
And that, in fact, seemed to be the most likely termination of the
matter, though it was a little disconcerting to notice that the huge war
canoe still lay stationary in the very centre of the river. So far it
had not been necessary for Sam to swerve the launch in the slightest,
and now, as before, she was running head on towards the enemy. In a
minute it would be necessary to cut away to one side or the other, the
choice resting entirely with Sam, the negro. Deliberately he swung his
wheel to the right, and shot the launch obliquely across the river. At
the very same instant the man squatting upon the high platform right aft
of the canoe shouted, and some fifty paddles plunged into the water.
With incredible speed the native craft made off, and shot forward at an
angle which would bring her alongside the launch. In spite of the
latter's speed it became evident, with startling suddenness, that she
could not escape contact with the enemy. It was Sam who decided the
course of Jim's party. He bent over his steering wheel till he seemed to
hug it. Then he twisted it to the left abruptly.
"Down under with you all!" shouted Jim. "We shall strike her. Tom, get
your pole ready." But the negro's services were not required, for the
collision and all that followed was ended with startling swiftness. The
bows of the launch swung round till they pointed but a few feet ahead of
the canoe. Then they came round a little more, while a terrible shout
burst from the enemy. There was a gentle shock as the launch struck the
stem post of the huge native craft, spears rattled upon her deck, and
then they were passed. As for the canoe, the collision had driven her to
one side just as she had seemed on the point of running along in close
company with the launch. She was now some twenty yards in rear, her crew
paddling hopelessly. That she had very nearly run aboard Jim's boat
there could be no doubt, for one of the warriors had actually managed to
leap forward and reach her. Tom discovered him clinging to the rail
amidships, his mouth wide open to hold his spears.
"Oh, dat yo, my frien'!" he laughed, peering over at him. "You hab a
free ride all fo' noding. But goodbye now. Sorry to lose yo: we a bit in
a hurry."
The burly fellow pushed his pole beneath the man, and by sheer strength
lifted him clear out of the water. He held him there for a little while,
casting choice expressions at him, then he cast him back into the water,
as if the native were some species of fish for which Tom had no use
whatever.
"Lucky him swim so well," he laughed. "Tom almost sorry he not kill um.
Not so sure dat blackguard not de one who shoot and hit him hand."
"Nonsense!" cried Jim. "Nothing of the sort. That man was aboard the
steamer. Stand out of the way, Tom! I think we may take it easily."
There was, in fact, no longer any reason for haste; therefore Jim slowed
down his motor. They cruised slowly across the lagoon, and lay close to
its exit. There, with the help of the kit of tools carried aboard, and
a strip of tinned iron cut from a biscuit box, our hero effected a
temporary repair to the water jacket, soldering the patch into position.
It was a triumphant crew which returned to Colon, for the Major was
himself again, and their duty was accomplished.