LOST AMONG THE HILLS.
Both Alano and I were almost paralyzed by the sight of the huge
alligator bearing down upon us, his mouth wide open, showing his cruel
teeth, and his long tail shifting angrily from side to side.
"Back!" yelled my Cuban chum, and back we went, almost tumbling over
each other in our haste to gain the bank from where we had started.
The alligator lost no time in coming up behind, uttering what to me
sounded like a snort of rage. He had been lying half-hidden in the mud,
and the mud still clung to his scaly sides and back. Altogether, he was
the most horrible creature I had ever beheld.
Reaching the bank of the brook, with the alligator not three yards
behind us, we fled up a series of rocks overgrown with moss and vines.
We did not pause until we were at the very summit, then both of us drew
our pistols and fired at the blinking eyes. The bullets glanced from
the "'gator's" head without doing much harm, and with another snort
the terrifying beast turned back into the brook and sank into a pool
out of sight.
"My gracious, Alano, supposing he had caught us!" I gasped, when I
could catch my breath.
"We would have been devoured," he answered, with a shudder, for of
all creatures the alligator is the one most dreaded by Cubans, being
the only living beast on the island dangerous to life because of its
strength.
"He must have been lying in wait for somebody," I remarked, after a
moment's pause, during which we kept our eyes on the brook, in a vain
attempt to gain another look at our tormentor.
"He was--it is the way they do, Mark. If they can, they wait until you
are alongside of them. Then a blow from the tail knocks you flat, and
that ends the fight--for you," and again Alano shuddered, and so did I.
"We can't cross," I said, a few minutes later, as all remained quiet.
"I would not attempt it for a thousand dollars."
"Nor I--on foot. Perhaps we can do so by means of the trees. Let us
climb yonder palm and investigate."
We climbed the palm, a sloping tree covered with numerous trailing
vines. Our movements disturbed countless beetles, lizards, and a dozen
birds, some of the latter flying off with a whir which was startling.
The top of the palm reached, we swung ourselves to its neighbor,
standing directly upon the bank of the brook. In a few minutes we had
reached a willow and then a cacao, and thus we crossed the stream in
safety, although not without considerable exertion.
The sun was beginning to set when we reached a small village called by
the natives San Lerma--a mere collection of thatched cottages belonging
to some sheep-raisers. Before entering we made certain there were no
soldiers around.
Our coming brought half a dozen men, women, and children to our side.
They were mainly of negro blood, and the children were but scantily
clothed. They commenced to ask innumerable questions, which Alano
answered as well as he could. One of the negroes had heard of Señor
Guerez' plantation, and immediately volunteered to furnish us with
sleeping accommodations for the night.
"Many of us have joined the noble General Garcia," he said, in almost a
whisper. "I would join too, but Teresa will not hear of it." Teresa was
his wife--a fat, grim-looking wench who ruled the household with a rod
of iron. She grumbled a good deal at having to provide us with a bed,
but became very pleasant when Alano slipped a small silver coin into
her greasy palm.
Feeling fairly secure in our quarters, we slept soundly, and did not
awaken until the sun was shining brightly. The inevitable pot of black
coffee was over the fire, and the smoke of bacon and potatoes frying in
a saucepan filled the air. Breakfast was soon served, after which we
greased our boots, saw to our other traps and our bag of provisions,
which we had not opened, and proceeded on our way--the husband of
Teresa wishing us well, and the big-eyed children staring after us in
silent wonder and curiosity.
"That is a terrible existence," I said to Alano. "Think of living in
that fashion all your life!"
"They know no better," he returned philosophically. "And I fancy they
are happy in their way. Their living comes easy to them, and they never
worry about styles in clothing or rent day. Sometimes they have dances
and other amusements. Didn't you see the home-made guitar on the wall?"
On we went, past the village and to a highway which we had understood
would take us to Tiarriba, but which took us to nothing of the sort. As
we proceeded the sun grew more oppressive than ever, until I was glad
enough to take Alano's advice, and place some wet grass in my hat to
keep the top of my head cool.
"It will rain again soon," said Alano, "and if it comes from the right
quarter it will be much cooler for several days after."
The ground now became hilly, and we walked up and down several places
which were steep enough to cause us to pant for breath. By noon we
reckoned we had covered eight or nine miles. We halted for our midday
rest and meal under some wild peppers, and we had not yet finished when
we heard the low rumble of thunder.
"The storm is coming, sure enough!" I exclaimed. "What had we best
do--find some shelter?"
"That depends, Mark. If the lightning is going to be strong, better
seek the open air. We do not want to be struck."
We went on, hoping that some village would soon be found, but none
appeared. The rain commenced to hit the tree leaves, and soon there was
a steady downpour. We buttoned our coats tightly around the neck, and
stopped under the spreading branches of an uncultivated banana tree,
the half-ripe fruit of which hung within easy reach.
The thunder had increased rapidly, and now from out of the
ominous-looking clouds the lightning played incessantly. Alano shook
his head dubiously.
"Do you know what I think?" he said.
"Well?"
"I think we have missed our way. If we were on the right road we would
have come to some dwelling ere this. I believe we have branched off on
some forest trail."
"Let us go on, Alano. See, the rain is coming through the tree already."
It was tough work now, for the road was uphill and the clayey ground
was slippery and treacherous. It was not long before I took a tumble,
and would have rolled over some sharp rocks had Alano not caught my
arm. At one minute the road seemed pitch-dark, at the next a flash of
lightning would nearly blind us.
Presently we gained the crest of a hill a little higher than its
fellows, and gazed around us. On all sides were the waving branches of
palms and other trees, dotted here and there with clearings of rocks
and coarse grasses. Not a building of any kind was in sight.
"It is as I thought," said my Cuban chum dubiously. "We have lost our
way in the hills."
"And what will we have to do--retrace our steps?" I ventured anxiously.
"I don't know. If we push on I suppose we'll strike some place sooner
or later."
"Yes, but our provisions won't last forever, Alano."
"That is true, Mark, but we'll have to---- Oh!"
Alano stopped short and staggered back into my arms. We had stepped for
the moment under the shelter of a stately palm. Now it was as if a wave
of fire had swept close to our face. It was a flash of lightning; and
it struck the tree fairly on the top, splitting it from crown to roots,
and pinning us down under one of the falling portions!