work of demolishing the canoe was going forward, and on perceiving that
Morton had accomplished his task, I was about to descend again, when
taking a final sweeping glance to the north and east, I observed several
figures moving rapidly along the beach, at a point somewhat less than a
quarter of a mile distant, of which my position commanded a view, and
coming towards us. In consequence of the indented character of the
shore, and the height of the bank bordering it for some distance, they
passed out of sight almost instantly.
Without losing a moment, I sprang down to the shore to communicate what
I had seen. Max, who had been posted upon the beach to keep a look-out
northward, ran up at the same time, having also caught sight of the
persons approaching us, as they came round a projecting point.
We now looked hurriedly around for some place of concealment, and Morton
pointed out a cluster of shrubs and rank weeds upon the verge of the
bluff just above us, from which, without any risk of being seen
ourselves, we could command a view of the shore and those passing along
it. There was but little time for deliberation or choice, and hastily
summoning Browne from his post, where he was still on the watch, we
scaled the almost perpendicular face of the height, with an ease and
celerity which would have been impossible under circumstances of less
excitement.
In the spot which Morton had designated, tall grass and flaunting weeds
fringed the edge of the bluff, and we threw ourselves down among them,
and awaited, with almost suspended breath, the approach of the persons I
had seen.
We were scarcely settled in our hiding-place, when a half-naked figure,
swinging a short club in one hand, rushed into view. Another, and
another followed, until I had counted seven of them. They were
well-made, athletic men, of a fine olive colour, with long straight hair
falling over their shoulders. The maro, which is a sort of fringed
belt, was their only clothing, and they carried spears and clubs of some
dark-grained wood.
Among them was one striking figure. It was that of an old man, of large
and powerful frame, and a marked and resolute countenance, the
expression of which reminded me of an old lion which I had seen in some
itinerant menagerie, years ago. His massive head was covered with a
tangled mass of iron-grey hair that streamed like a mane over his broad
shoulders. The club which he carried might have served Hercules
himself; it certainly would have severely tasked the strength of an
ordinary man to wield it. I observed that all of them seemed to breathe
quickly as though they had been running, or exerting themselves
violently in some way; and the old man, who came last looked backward
once or twice, as they came opposite us, in a way that caused me to
suppose that they were pursued. The one who had first come in sight,
went towards the spot where the canoe was concealed, and upon seeing its
condition, uttered an exclamation of surprise that quickly brought the
others around him, when they all commenced gesticulating, and talking in
a low key, looking cautiously about every moment, as though apprehensive
that the perpetrators of the mischief might still be lurking near.
The old man, however, neither talked nor gesticulated, but stooping
down, he examined the canoe narrowly, as if to ascertain the precise
extent of the injury done, and whether it admitted of any remedy. When
he had completed his inspection he arose, and shaking his head
sorrowfully, uttered some expression, which, accompanied as it was by a
threatening gesture with his ponderous club, sounded much like an
emphatic imprecation. Morton, who was crouching close beside me,
peering cautiously through the tufts of grass, at what was going on
below, gave a nervous start, as though the consciousness of the leading
part he had taken in the mischief so recently wrought, made him consider
himself the special object of the old giant's fury. One of them having
gone back a little way along the beach, as if to reconnoitre, now
returned in haste, and made some announcement, upon hearing which the
old man waved his hand, and the others immediately started off upon a
full run along the shore towards the south-west; he then followed them
at a somewhat less hurried pace.
"They are certainly pursued, judging from their actions," whispered
Morton, "let us keep quiet, and see what comes next."
But a few minutes had passed, when half a dozen savages, resembling in
their appearance and equipments those we had just seen, came in sight,
running at full speed, but with the air of pursuers rather than of
fugitives. Straggling bands of two or three each followed at short
intervals, all probably belonging to the same party, but scattered in
the heat of the chase. Altogether, there must have been as many as
fifteen or twenty of them. A tall, wild-looking savage, large-framed,
but gaunt as a greyhound, and with a kind of fierce energy in all his
movements, seemed to be the leader of the pursuing party. Just below us
on the beach, he turned and gave some order to a portion of his
followers, speaking with great rapidity, and pointing towards the bluff;
after which he darted off again along the shore at a speed that seemed
really marvellous. Those to whom he had spoken, immediately began, as
if in obedience to the order just given, to climb the bank, not a dozen
yards from the spot where we were lying.
The object of this movement undoubtedly was, to anticipate and frustrate
any attempt on the part of the fugitives, to escape, by quitting the
shore and making towards the interior. The party thus detached had
probably been directed to continue the chase, keeping to the higher
ground. If so, they would pass quite near our place of concealment, and
there was some danger of our being discovered, to avoid which, we
crouched close to the ground, and remained perfectly silent and
motionless. The point where the savages were attempting to ascend was
steep and difficult, and several of them, apparently to disencumber
themselves for the effort of climbing, threw their clubs and spears
before them to the top. One of these weapons, a short, heavy club, fell
near me, and fearing that the owner might come to seek it, I hastily
cast it to a conspicuous place, free from vegetation, a little distance
from the bank, and nearer the spot where they were scaling it. But the
savage had probably noticed where it first fell, for the next moment
some one came running directly towards the place, and just as I was
expecting to see him stumble into the midst of us, a deep guttural
exclamation announced that we were discovered. Any further attempt at
concealment was clearly idle, and we sprang up at once; the man was
within three yards of us; he seemed quite as much startled as ourselves
at so sudden a rencontre, and after standing for a minute looking at us,
he turned and ran off to his fellows.
"They will be back directly in a body," said Browne, "and we must decide
quickly what we are to do--whether to trust ourselves in their power, or
to make such resistance as we can, if they undertake to meddle with us."
"I doubt if it would be safe to trust them," said Morton, "at any rate I
don't like the idea of risking it. There are but five or six of them;
the rest are far enough off by this time."
"I wish Arthur were here," said Browne, anxiously; "he understands them
and their ways, and could tell us what we ought to do. I don't know
what the probability is of their injuring us if we throw aside our arms
and submit ourselves to them, and therefore I am loth to take the
responsibility of deciding the matter."
Meantime the savages appeared to be also holding a consultation. They
stood at a short distance talking rapidly, and pointing towards us. At
length they began to approach the spot where we stood, but slowly, and
with some apparent hesitation.
"Well," said Browne, "we must come to a decision quickly."
"I distrust them entirely," exclaimed Morton, "I am for acting on the
defensive."
"And I also," said Max, "I have no faith in them: but perhaps they won't
stop to interfere with us after all."
"Very well, then," said Browne, "we will fight if we must. But let us
stand strictly on the defensive, and offer them no provocation."
I could not help regarding this determination as unwise, but it was the
mind of the majority; and the present was no time for divided or
uncertain counsels. I therefore kept my thoughts to myself, and
grasping my cutlass, prepared for what was to follow.
Browne and Max were armed with the "Feejee war-clubs," of the latter's
manufacture: they were long, heavy bludgeons, of the wood of the
casuarina, rather too ponderous to be wielded with one hand by a person
of ordinary strength. Morton and I were provided with cutlasses, which
we had preferred as being lighter and more convenient to carry.
The savages were armed with spears and short clubs, the former of which
they presented towards us as they advanced.
I confess that my heart began to thump against my breast with unwonted
and unpleasant rapidity and violence. I dare say it was the same with
my companions; but externally we were perfectly composed and steady.
"There are just five of them," said Browne, "two antagonists for me, and
one apiece for the rest of you. If any one interferes with my two I
shall consider it a personal affront."
"Confound those long spears!" exclaimed Max, with a disturbed air, "they
have a mighty uncomfortable look, with those fish-bone barbs at the end
of them."
The still more "uncomfortable" thought that those fish-bone barbs were
perhaps poisoned, suggested itself to me, but I considered it expedient
to say nothing on the subject at the present juncture.
"Pshaw!" cried Browne, "the long spears are easily managed, if you will
only remember my fencing-lessons, and keep your nerves steady. It is
the simplest thing in the world to put aside a thrust from such a
weapon: depend upon it, those short clubs will prove much more
dangerous."
The savages, having now had a sufficient opportunity to note our
equipments, and our youthful appearance, quickly lost all hesitation,
and came confidently forward until they stood facing us, at the distance
of but ten or twelve feet. Then, seeing that we maintained a defensive
attitude, they paused, and one of them, stepping a little before the
rest, spoke to us in a loud and authoritative voice, at the same time
motioning us to throw aside our weapons.
"Can't you muster a few words of their heathen talk, Archer?" said
Browne, "perhaps if we could only understand one another, we should find
there is no occasion for us to quarrel. It seems so irrational to run
the risk of having our brains knocked out, if it can be avoided."
I shook my head: the few phrases which I had picked up from Arthur and
Eiulo, could be of no use for the present purpose, even if they should
be understood.
The spokesman, a sinewy, hard-favoured savage, whose native ugliness was
enhanced by two scars that seamed his broad squat face, repeated the
words he had before uttered, in a higher key, and with a still more
imperative air, accompanying what he said, with gestures, which
sufficiently explained what he required.
"If I understand you, my friend," said Browne, appearing to forget in
the excitement of the moment that what he was saying would be utterly
unintelligible to the person he addressed, "If I understand you, your
demand is unreasonable. Throw away your own weapons first; you are the
most numerous party:" and he imitated the gestures which the other had
made use of.
The savage shook his head impatiently, and keeping his eyes steadfastly
fixed upon Browne, he began to speak in a quiet tone. But I saw that
though looking at Browne, his words were addressed to his companions,
who gradually spread themselves out in front of us and without making
any openly hostile demonstrations, handled their weapons in what seemed
to me a suspicious manner.
"Be on your guard," said I, speaking in my ordinary tone, and without
looking round, "I am sure they are meditating sudden mischief."
Scarcely were the words uttered, when, with the quickness of lightning,
the spokesman hurled his club at Browne, narrowly missing his head, then
bringing his spear into a horizontal position, he made a thrust full at
his chest with his whole force.
Browne, however, was on his guard, and knocking aside the point of the
spear, he swung round his long club; and, before the other could draw
back, brought it down with such effect upon his right shoulder that his
arm fell powerless to his side, and the spear dropped from his grasp.
Browne promptly set his foot upon it, and the owner, astonished and
mortified, rather than intimidated at his repulse, shrunk back without
any attempt to regain it.
This attack was so sudden, and so soon foiled--being but a blow aimed,
parried, and returned, in a single breath--that no one on either side
had an opportunity to interfere or join in it. The other savages now
uttered a yell, and were about to rush upon us: but the leader, as he
appeared to be, motioned them back, and they drew off to a short
distance. If we were for a moment inclined to hope that we should now
be left unmolested, we soon learned the groundlessness of such an
expectation. The discomfited savage, instead of being discouraged by
the rough treatment he had received, was only rendered more dangerous
and resolute by it; and he prepared to renew the attack at once, having
taken from one of his companions a club somewhat heavier and longer than
his own.
"I wish," said Max, drawing a long breath as he eyed these ominous
proceedings, "that we had a few of Colt's revolvers, to keep these
fellows at a respectable distance: I confess I don't like the notion of
coming to such close quarters with them as they seem to contemplate."
"A genuine Yankee wish!" answered Browne, grasping his club with both
hands, and planting himself firmly, to receive the expected onset; "to
make it completely in character you have only to wish, in addition, for
a mud breastwork, or a few cotton bags, between us and our friends
yonder."
"Which I do, with all my heart!" responded Max, fervently.
"Let Kaiser Maximilien represent the high Dutch on this occasion," said
Morton, edging himself forward abreast of Browne, who had stationed
himself a trifle in advance of the rest of us; "he has no claim to speak
for the Yankees except the mere accident of birth. Archer and I will
uphold the honour of the stars and stripes without either revolvers or
cotton bags."
"Fair play!" cried Max, pushing Browne aside, "I won't have you for a
breastwork at any rate, however much I may desire one of turf or cotton
bales." And we arranged ourselves side by side.
"Really," said Morton, with a faint apology for a smile, "it appears
that we have to do with tacticians--they are going to outflank us."
This remark was caused by our antagonists separating themselves; the
leader advancing directly towards us, while the others approached, two
on the right and two on the left.
"Well," said Browne, "we shall have to form a hollow square, officers in
the centre, as the Highlanders did at Waterloo, and then I shall claim
the privilege of my rank."
But our pleasantry was, as may easily be imagined, rather forced. Our
adversaries were now evidently bent upon mischief, and thoroughly in
earnest. We were none of us veterans, and notwithstanding an assumption
of coolness, overstrained and unnatural under the circumstances, our
breath came thick and painfully with the intense excitement of the
moment.
At a signal from their scarred leader, the savages rushed upon us
together. I can give no very clear account of the confused struggle
that ensued, as I was not at the time in a state of mind favourable to
calm and accurate observation. A few blows and thrusts were exchanged;
at first cautiously, and at as great a distance as our weapons would
reach; then more rapidly and fiercely, until we became all mingled
together, and soon each of us was too fully occupied in defending
himself to be able to pay much attention to any thing else. At the
commencement of the attack I was standing next to Browne, who being
evidently singled out by his former opponent, advanced a step or two to
meet him. He skilfully parried several downright blows from the heavy
club of the latter, who in his turn dodged a swinging stroke which
Browne aimed at his head, and instantly closed with him. The next
moment they went whirling past me towards the edge of the bank, locked
together in a desperate grapple, which was the last that I saw of them.
I was assailed at the outset by an active and athletic savage, armed
with a short club. He was exceedingly anxious to close, which I, quite
naturally, was as desirous to prevent, knowing that I should stand no
chance in such a struggle, against his superior weight and strength.
While I was doing my best to keep him off with my cutlass, and he was
eagerly watching an opportunity to come to closer quarters, Morton,
locked in the grasp of a brawny antagonist, came driving directly
between us, where they fell together, and lay rolling and struggling
upon the ground at our feet. My opponent, abandoning me for a moment,
was in the act of aiming a blow at Morton's head, when I sprang forward,
and cut him across the forehead with my cutlass. The blood instantly
followed the stroke, and gushing in torrents over his face, seemed to
blind him: he struck three or four random blows in the air, then reeled
and fell heavily to the ground. Throwing a hasty glance around, I
perceived Max among some bushes at a little distance defending himself
with difficulty against a savage, who attacked him eagerly with one of
those long spears, towards which he entertained such an aversion.
Browne was nowhere to be seen. Morton and his strong antagonist were
still grappling on the ground, but the latter had gained the advantage,
and was now endeavouring, while he held Morton under him, to reach a
club lying near, with which to put an end to the struggle. Another of
the enemy was sitting a few steps off apparently disabled, with the
blood streaming from a wound in the neck. I hastened to Morton's
assistance, whereupon his opponent, seeing my approach, sprang up and
seized the club which he had been reaching after. But Morton gained his
feet almost as soon as the other, and instantly grappled with him again.
At this moment I heard Max's voice, in a tone of eager warning,
calling, "Look-out, Archer!" and turning, I saw the savage I supposed to
be disabled, with uplifted arm, in the very act of bringing down his
club upon my head. I have a confused recollection of instinctively
putting up my cutlass, in accordance with Browne's instructions for
meeting the "seventh" stroke in the broad-sword exercise. I have since
become convinced by reflection, (to say nothing of experience), that the
principles of the broad-sword exercise, however admirable in themselves,
cannot be applied without some modification when iron-wood clubs, with
huge knobs of several pounds' weight at the ends of them, are
substituted for claymores. However, I had no time then to make the
proper distinctions, and as instead of dodging the blow, I endeavoured
to parry it, my guard was beaten down--and that is all that I can relate
of the conflict, from my own knowledge and personal observation.
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.
RECONNOITRING BY NIGHT.
THE SEARCH RENEWED--THE CAPTIVES--ATOLLO AND THE TEWANS.
"Trembling, they start and glance behind
At every common forest-sound--
The whispering trees, the moaning wind,
The dead leaves falling to the ground;
As on with stealthy steps they go,
Each thicket seems to hide the foe."
From the moment when startled by Max's warning cry, I turned and saw the
uplifted club of the savage suspended over my head, all is blank in my
memory, until opening my eyes with a feeling of severe pain, and no
distinct consciousness where I was, I found Browne and Max bending over
me, my head being supported upon the knee of the former.
"Well, how do you feel?" inquired he.
I stared at him a minute or two without answering, not understanding
very clearly what was the matter with me, though having at the same time
a vague impression that all was not quite right. Gradually I collected
my ideas, and at length, when Browne repeated his question the third
time, I had formed a pretty correct theory as to the cause of my present
supine attitude, and the unpleasant sensations which I experienced.
"I feel rather queer about the head and shoulders," I said, in answer to
his inquiry: "I must have got a pretty severe blow. I suppose!"
"Yes," said Max, whose uneasy look ill agreed with his words and manner,
"see what it is to be blessed with a tough cranium; such a whack would
have crushed mine like an egg-shell; but it has only enlarged your bump
of reverence a little."
"Nothing serious has happened, then--no one is badly hurt," said I,
trying to look around; but the attempt gave my neck so severe a wrench,
and caused such extreme pain, that I desisted.
"No one has received any worse injury than yourself," answered
Browne--"at least, none of us."
"And the savages--what has become of them?"
"We have nothing to apprehend from them at present, I think--they have
been gone but a short time, and Morton is in the tree yonder, keeping
watch for their return--do you feel now as if you can stand up and
walk?"
"Certainly, I can; with the exception of the pain in my head, and a
stiffness about the neck and shoulders, I am all right, I believe." And
in order to convince Browne, who seemed somewhat sceptical on the point,
notwithstanding my assurances, I got up and walked about--carrying my
head somewhat rigidly, I dare say, for it gave me a severe twinge at
every movement.
"Well," said he, "since that is the case, I think the wisest thing we
can do is to leave this neighbourhood at once."
While Max went to summon Morton from his post of observation, Browne
gave me a brief and hurried account of what had occurred after I had
been felled, as related.
He, and the leader of the savages, whom I had last seen struggling upon
the brink of the height, had gone over it together; the latter, falling
underneath, had been severely bruised, while Browne himself received but
little injury.
Leaving his adversary groaning and, as he supposed, mortally hurt by the
fall, he had climbed again to the higher ground, and reached it at a
very critical moment.
Morton was struggling at disadvantage with the same formidable
antagonist from whom he had before been for a moment in such imminent
danger; and Max was dodging about among the bushes, sorely pressed by
another of the enemy with one of those long spears, against which he
entertained so violent a prejudice. I had just been disposed of in the
manner above hinted at, by the savage who had been wounded in the neck
by Morton, at the very commencement of the affray, and he was now at
liberty to turn his attention either to Max or Morton, each of whom was
already hard bested.
Browne immediately fell upon my conqueror, almost as unexpectedly as the
latter had attacked me, and by a sudden blow stretched him senseless
upon the ground. He next relieved Morton, by disabling his adversary.
The two, then, hastened to Max's succour, but the savage who was engaged
with him, did not deem it prudent to await the approach of this
reinforcement, and made off into the forest. They then gathered up all
the weapons of the enemy, permitting Morton's recent antagonist to limp
off without molestation. The man whom I had wounded was by this time
sitting up, wiping the blood from his face and eyes; the other, also,
manifested signs of returning consciousness; but having been deprived of
their clubs and spears, no danger was apprehended from them. My three
companions had then carried me to the spot where we now were, from
whence they had witnessed the departure of the rest of our foes. Even
the man whom Browne had left dying on the shore, as he supposed, had
managed to crawl off at last.