SURROUNDED BY SAVAGES
"He's coming down on us, Bob!"
"Jump and save yourself, Dave!"
Crack! bang!
The cries and shots were uttered almost at the same time, and the air
was instantly filled with smoke, followed by an unearthly squeal from
the gorilla, who instantly disappeared from view.
But the beast was not seriously wounded, for the rifle balls had merely
nipped his paw and his shoulder, and he was in a terrible rage.
"Is he dead, Bob?"
"Reckon not, for I can hear him climbing through the tree."
"We ought to get away from here, for there may be more of the gorillas
about."
"That's true. But I can't walk."
"I'll carry you."
And having allowed Bob to slip some extra cartridges into the
repeating rifle, Dave took his friend up in his arms.
He was just about to start down the ravine when the gorilla showed
himself a second time.
He had armed himself with half-green cocoanuts, and taking aim, he let
fly at Dave's head.
"Dodge!" yelled Bob, and the cry came none too soon, for the missile
brushed over the top of the young diver's head. Then came several more
cocoanuts, and Bob was struck in the side.
He could not stand the fusillade, and watching his chance, discharged
the rifle again.
He only fired one shot, but this found its way through the gorilla's
stomach, and mortally wounded the creature.
Down dropped the cocoanuts, one at a time. Then the animal's hold
relaxed, and he too came down, almost at the feet of the youths.
The distorted, half-human face was terrible to look upon, and both Dave
and Bob turned quickly away.
"I never want to see another gorilla," shuddered Dave.
"And I never want to shoot one," responded Bob.
Along the ravine went the young diver, carrying his friend upon his
shoulder.
Two hundred feet of the rough way was covered when they reached a spot
where the ravine might be crossed with ease.
Over they went, and then Dave set down his burden and took a
well-earned rest.
By this time night was coming on, and still they were at least half a
mile from the seacoast.
"We won't gain the _Swallow_ to-day," murmured the young diver,
ruefully.
"And perhaps we won't gain the ship at all," responded the young
engineer.
As is usual in the tropics, night came on suddenly. The sun went down
behind the trees and the rim of the distant ocean, and soon the stars
shone out clearly and beautifully.
All was quiet save for the sounds of the night birds in the thicket
behind them.
To keep off the wild animals they built a large camp-fire, and at this
cooked some of the meat they had brought along from the cave.
Bob's ankle was cared for several times during the evening, and the
youth declared that it now felt much better.
They took turns watching during the night, yet little came to disturb
them. Once Dave heard a wild animal approaching and brought up the
rifle, ready to fire on the instant. But the fire made the beast keep
his distance, and he finally slunk away without showing himself.
Both boys were up at daybreak, and Bob declared that he would try to
walk upon his foot, at least as far as the seacoast.
A quarter of an hour's climb took them to the top of the hills, and
here they took a good look at the beach and the ocean spread out before
them.
Not a sign of the _Swallow_ was to be seen anywhere.
This was disheartening, and Dave's heart sank.
Were they really deserted?
"We can't see all of the beach from here," said Bob, encouragingly.
"See, yonder patch of wood hides a good stretch from view. The
_Swallow_ may be behind that. And even if she has gone off, remember
that Pete Rackley was to disable her so that she would have to put back
for repairs."
"And so far as he was concerned, I might have starved in the meantime,"
added Dave, bitterly.
"Yes. He must be a thorough rascal."
"He is. But no worse than Lemuel Hankers, to my way of thinking, Bob."
"Right you are."
They had to be careful in descending the side of the hill, for here
were many treacherous stones, and neither wished to risk another
sprained ankle.
But at last they stood at the bottom, with the ocean's shore but half a
dozen rods away.
The foam from the breakers could be seen distinctly through the tall
palms, and with their hearts beating rapidly they hurried forward to
where a long stretch of dazzling sand stood as a barrier between the
woodland and the water.
"No ship here," said Dave, soberly.
"This is not the spot where the _Swallow_ cast anchor, Dave. The
question is, was that cove north or south of here?"
"North, I should say."
"This time I agree with you. Come, walking along the beach will be easy
enough."
And so it proved, although the fierce rays of the sun soon made both
more than willing to seek the shade of the overhanging palms and other
tropical trees which lined the beach.
At a distance ahead the beach curved, and as they approached this spot
they heard a sudden wild shouting, combined with a flapping, which was
altogether new to their ears.
"Savages, I'll bet a dollar!" cried Bob. "We had better go into hiding!"
"But what is that other noise?" queried Dave.
"I can't imagine. But come, don't stay here."
Both started for the forest, but the movement came too late.
From around the curve of the beach appeared half a dozen wild savages
of the South Sea type, and the two youths were discovered.
"Hi ki werra!" shouted one of the savages. He was armed with a bow and
arrows, and quickly leveled an arrow at Dave, who was nearest.
"Hi ki werra!" repeated the other savages, and they, too, leveled their
arrows. "The white demons! The white demons!"
"We are in for it now!" whispered Dave.
"Give them a shot from the rifle!"
"No, that would only make them mad," replied the young engineer.
Nevertheless, he pointed the rifle at the head of the nearest native.
The effect was magical, for the savage immediately threw up both hands
and began to yell like a madman.
He had once seen a gun go off and a goat shot thereby, and he imagined
the "white demon" was going to slay him likewise.
The other savages also came to a halt, and all lowered their arrows.
Then Bob lowered the rifle.
A long pause on both sides followed.
The natives did not know what to do, and the youths were in a similar
predicament.
One of the savages began to jabber away in his native tongue, but
neither Dave nor Bob understood a word of what was said.
"This is all Greek to me!" shouted Dave.
"Talk English."
"Englees!" repeated the savage, and shook his head. He understood that
single word, but no more.
"We want to be left alone," put in Bob. "If you don't leave us alone,
somebody will get hurt."
"Englees," repeated the native. Then, struck by a sudden inspiration,
he advanced a few feet, threw down his bow and arrows, and held out
his hands.
"He wants to be friendly, evidently," observed Bob.
"If it isn't a trick," answered the young diver. "I must say I don't
like their looks."
"No more do I; but what are we to do, retreat?"
"Rather than fall into the hands of cannibals I'd go back over the
hills to the cave."
The native was coming closer, and he tried to put as pleasant a look on
his face as possible.
But the effort was a failure, for he was both crafty and cruel, and
this disposition shone in every line of his reddish-black features.
"Go back!" shouted Bob, and raised the rifle again.
Scarcely had he spoken when there came a shout from the rear, and
looking behind them, the two youths found that they were surrounded!