A WELCOME CHANGE.
While they were on the mountain where no shade could be found the boys
thought that it would be a wonderful relief to gain the shelter of the
forest; but after traveling an hour they realized that the heat was
nearly as great in one place as another.
Among the trees the rays of the sun did not beat directly down upon
them; but to balance this every breath of wind was shut out, and the
atmosphere seemed stifling.
The perspiration rolled from their faces in streams, and so great was
the humidity that it seemed as if it would be a positive relief to be in
the sunlight.
"I reckon you've got a better opinion of mountain travel by this time,"
Cummings said laughingly, as Neal involuntarily halted. "In such a
climate the shade of the trees is a positive discomfort."
"We can stand it," Teddy replied bravely. "Every step takes us just so
much nearer the coast, and one glimpse of the sea will repay us for all
our exertions."
It seemed as if even Poyor was affected by the heat. He no longer strode
forward at such a rapid pace; but lagged from time to time as badly as
either member of the party.
Cummings urged first one and then another on until about eleven o'clock
in the forenoon, and then he said, coming to a full stop by the side of
the stream they had been following:
"We can now afford to indulge in a siesta, and shall probably travel all
the better for frequent halts. Later in the day one of us will do a
little hunting, and the march need not come to an end until it is no
longer light enough for us to see the way."
To this very welcome proposition no one had any objections to offer, and
in the shortest possible space of time only the sentinel, which on this
occasion proved to be Teddy, was left awake.
It was dull work sitting there listening to the droning of the insects;
but no member of the party could have kept watch more conscientiously
than did he, and when it seemed impossible to hold his eyes open any
longer he paced to and fro to prevent them from closing.
With the exception of the usual noises of the forest, it was as if all
nature slumbered, and he had just begun to think that standing watch was
a useless precaution when an unusual rustling among the foliage caused
him to start in surprise.
His first thought was that the Chan Santa Cruz had followed them over
the range; but an instant later this was shown to be a mistake, as four
copper-colored men, bearing no resemblance to the inhabitants of the
Silver City, however, passed through the forest a short distance away
without apparently being aware of the proximity of the white party.
To arouse Poyor was but the work of an instant, for it was only
necessary to touch him gently on the shoulder when he sprang to his
feet.
"There are some men over there," Teddy whispered as he pointed in the
direction taken by the strangers.
The Indian started through the underbrush as noiselessly as a serpent,
and as he disappeared the boy awakened Cummings.
"Were they armed?" the latter asked, after the short story had been
told.
"I didn't notice. My only idea was to arouse you and Poyor, and there
wasn't much time for an examination."
"It can't be that they have followed us over the range," Cummings said,
half to himself, as he seized his weapon and made sure it was loaded.
"It won't do any harm to be prepared, therefore you had best get the
others on their feet; we may have to trust to our legs."
It was not an easy matter to awaken the remainder of the party without
causing an outcry; but by first covering the mouth of each with his hand
Teddy finally succeeded, and then stood on the alert with them as
Cummings made his way in the direction taken by Poyor to assist in the
investigation.
One, two, three minutes of suspense followed, and then came a cry which
set all their fears at rest. It was the salutation of friends, and an
instant later Cummings shouted:
"Do not fear; we have found acquaintances."
"It is time something of the kind was discovered," Jake said in a tone
of relief. "I was beginning to think we should never meet one again."
"They looked like Indians," Teddy said doubtfully, and Neal added:
"I fancy we can take Cummings' word for it. Here they are, and it will
soon be possible to know why they were so foolish as to come into this
part of the country where wild beasts are not the least of the dangers
to be encountered."
The strangers appeared, escorted by Poyor and the white man, and the
latter said as they came into the opening selected as a halting place:
"These are acquaintances of ours from Merida, who have visited this
section of the country in search of bird skins, which find a ready sale
among your people. They have a canoe, and report that a dozen miles
below here the stream widens until it can be navigated by reasonably
large crafts."
"Since we haven't so much as the smallest kind of a boat I can't see how
that information will be of any use to us," Neal replied laughingly.
"It won't take long for me to explain. I propose to hire them to carry
us to the sea-shore, and thus save just so much labor of traveling on
foot."
"Is their canoe large enough?"
"It will carry a dozen."
"Then our troubles are indeed over," Teddy cried joyously; but Cummings
dampened his ardor somewhat when he added:
"There will then remain the journey around the coast, and with such a
load it would not be safe to put to sea in their craft. But let us enjoy
the blessings which come to us," he added, on observing how quickly his
companions' countenances fell. "Half a loaf is decidedly better than no
bread at all, and when a tramp of six days can be set aside we have good
cause to feel pleased."
The strangers had not waited to be welcomed by the other members of the
party. Without stopping to be invited they began preparations for
cooking on rather an extensive scale, using the contents of their well
filled game bags, and the savory odor which soon arose brought Jake to a
full realization of the good fortune that had come to them.
"With those fellows to hunt the game it will be a regular feast from
here to the coast," he said approvingly, "and I think this is the first
piece of good luck we've had since leaving the Sea Dream."
The newcomers could not speak the English language, consequently all the
conversation on the part of the fugitives was carried on by Cummings and
Poyor; but these two interpreted such portions as they thought might be
of interest to the boys.
From the middle of what is known as the "dry season" until the period of
almost incessant rains is well advanced, these hunters spend their time
on one or another of the streams leading from the coast, and they
consider themselves well paid when a year's work nets each an hundred
dollars.
"That is really a large amount of money to them," Cummings explained
when Neal suggested that hunting was not a very profitable employment.
"One quarter of the sum will serve to purchase the absolute necessities
of life in a country where fruit can be had for the labor of gathering,
and in ten years they can well afford to retire from business, or become
landed proprietors by leasing logwood cuttings, sub-letting the land to
those who will pay fifteen cents a hundred pounds for all that can be
gathered."
The strangers were quite as satisfactory cooks as Poyor, and when the
dinner had been spread on the leaves each member of Cummings' party was
ready to do it full justice.
After the meal a short time was spent by the men in smoking, and at
about four o'clock in the afternoon the journey was resumed.
Feeling secure because of numbers, and the reports made by the newcomers
that there was no one in the immediate vicinity the boys were allowed to
follow their own inclinations as to the line of march, and each strayed
here or there as he pleased until the coming of night forced them to
keep together because of the danger to be apprehended from wild animals.
It was late in the evening when they arrived at the hunters' camp; but
Cummings did not propose to remain there even for one night.
He insisted that they could travel by water as well during the hours of
darkness, while it would be no more labor for one to guide the canoe,
allowing her to drift with the current, than to stand watch.
The strangers used every argument to induce him to defer the beginning
of the journey until morning; but he was determined, and after some
controversy the men made the canoe ready.
Neal, Teddy and Jake were stationed amidships, where thanks to the
generous size of the craft, they could stretch out at full length
whenever the fancy seized them. Poyor was seated in the bow, Cummings on
the stern thwart, and the owners of the boat where they could use the
paddles to advantage.
Of this first night's journeying the boys knew very little. The stream
was narrow, and lined on either bank with trees so that at times even
the heavens were obscured by foliage, therefore they could perceive
nothing save the dark wall on either side.
From the movements of the helmsman it was possible to understand when
the canoe was rounding a bend, or being pulled from the bank; but that
was all, and, weary of watching without being able to see anything, the
boys soon gave themselves up to slumber.
When they awakened the little craft was moored to the bank at a point
where the stream formed a basin; a fire was burning brightly, and over
it Poyor bent in a suggestive attitude.
"Well, this is the kind of traveling that suits me," Teddy cried,
springing to his feet and arousing his companions. "While we were
sleeping the boat drifted steadily on, and, at this rate, when we arrive
at the coast all hands ought to be in good condition for a long tramp."
"Where's Cummings?" Neal asked, as he in turn arose from the bottom of
the canoe.
"Gone for game," the Indian replied.
"Oh, we're not to have breakfast until it is shot," he added laughingly.
"It makes no difference what they find, for there are twenty fat fish
roasting in the coals, and you may eat at any time."
"Is there a chance of meeting with an alligator or a crocodile in this
stream?"
"Not here."
"Then I'm going to have a bath," and Neal began to undress, Teddy and
Jake quickly following his example.
During half an hour they had most glorious sport swimming, and then the
return of the hunters literally laden down with game warned them that it
was time to prepare for the morning meal.