WAUPARMUR
Oftener than we suppose does heaven interfere directly in the affairs
of men. Minutes had passed since Sanders and Storms had agreed that no
earthly occurrence could avert a fight with the dusky demons, with
scarcely a grain of hope for escape from them, when Inez uttered the
astounding exclamation:
"We are gaining on them!"
It was inconceivable, and the two looked again to the rear to learn
the cause of her unaccountable delusion. Five minutes later Sanders
added in a husky gasp:
"She is right; we are not only gaining, but we are gaining fast."
"How do you account for it?"
"I can't account for it."
"I can."
"How?" asked the amazed youth.
"God interposes many times when mortals do not see it," said the New
Englander reverently; "there is joy in heaven over one sinner that
repenteth. You have repented, and He has extended his hand to help
you."
"Perhaps you are right," replied Sanders, much impressed.
"I _know_ I am right."
"And I hope to prove worthy of such undeserved kindness. All I ask is
the opportunity."
"It shall be granted you. But, humanly speaking, there has been some
accident on board that craft yonder."
"It must be that; as a sailor, you know any one of a half dozen things
would be sufficient to throw them out of the race. A ripping of the
sail, a fracture of the mast, the breaking of the steering gear, or
some sudden quarrel would do the trick. Sufficient for us is it to
know that it has been done."
"God helps them that helps themselves," added Storms, "and we must
improve to the utmost the chance thrown in our way."
Naturally the fear of the two was that their pursuers might repair the
accident which was throwing them to the rear for the time, and regain
what was lost. They steadily fell behind, and, as soon as invisible,
the proa made an abrupt change in her course, with the view of
defeating the calamity that they feared threatened them. When this had
lasted for an hour, another change was effected, with the result, as
Sanders announced, that they were now heading directly for Wauparmur.
The eyes peering backward through the vivid moonlight failed to bring
the dreaded craft to view, and it was not yet midnight when Sanders
announced the thrilling fact that the twinkling lights, which appeared
in front like a constellation in the horizon, were made by the
dwellings in the native South Sea town of Wauparmur. All danger was
past, and about an hour later the proa glided in among the shipping in
that excellent harbor, made fast to the wharf, and the three
disembarked.
Fred led the way to a house of entertainment near the harbor, in which
he found good lodging for his friends.
Abram Storms carried all the precious pearls to his room and carefully
secured the door, after which he threw himself upon the bed and slept
as soundly as an infant.
Inez Hawthorne, in the solitude of her apartment, devoutly thanked her
Heavenly Father for His care, and then she, too, slept the sleep of
exhaustion and perfect health.
It was near noon on the succeeding day when both rose and found Fred
Sanders awaiting them. The young man had not slept at all, and was
uneasy.
"It won't do to stay here another night," said he, in explanation, as
soon as the meal was concluded.
"I am sure we have no wish to do so," replied Storms. "But wherein
lies the particular peril?"
"That whole crew of the double canoe are scattered through town, and
they only await the chance to kill us. They will find the chance, too,
to-night, if we remain here."
"But what is the prospect of getting away?"
"I was in despair nearly all the forenoon; but a little while ago I
came upon a schooner which sails for San Francisco at three o'clock
this afternoon. I have engaged passage on it for us three, for you
know I go with you."
"How can we ever repay you for your kindness?" said Inez, her lustrous
eyes speaking eloquently her gratitude to the youth.
"There's no service on earth that I can render you which will compare
with what you have done for me," was the reply of Captain Fred, whose
manner showed his sincerity. Inez Hawthorne did not understand what
all this meant, but the speaker ventured upon no explanation at the
time.
As the three were about to start upon a long voyage, it was decided
that some indispensable articles should be procured, and, since they
had little spare time at command, the three set out immediately after
dinner.
Wauparmur, as we have already intimated, is a town numbering several
hundreds--perhaps more than a thousand--in population. Among these are
a number of foreign shopkeepers, whose places are close along shore,
so as to be the more readily accessible to their customers, who are
almost exclusively confined to those on board the vessels which stop
at the island.
Back from the town the land rises into hills, and the settlement
becomes straggling and scattered. In these portions it is composed
entirely of rude huts and cabins, in which none but natives live, and
they are a bad lot.
It was from among those who lived in the "suburbs" that the wretches
were gathered with which to attempt to capture and murder the little
party of Europeans for the sake of the invaluable pearls they had in
their possession.
Fred Sanders shuddered when he thought of the risk he and his friends
ran by going straight to the inn and taking quarters for the night,
for these miscreants must, after all, have reached Wauparmur only a
few hours after the proa, and the wonder was that they did not manage
to slay the fugitives in their beds.
The first thing Fred did in the morning was to slip out and buy a
revolver, and his second act was to load it.
While engaged in hunting a vessel upon which to take passage, he
encountered his own acquaintances continually, and he needed not their
black faces and scowling eyes to tell how they thirsted to kill him
for his treachery. It was only by his bold front and constant
watchfulness that he kept the dusky demons at a distance. Some of them
were seen when the three ventured out, and though the pirates dared
not attack them in open daylight, they were on the verge of doing so
more than once. But their fury was directed principally against
Captain Fred Sanders, and there can be no doubt the youth spoke the
truth when he declared that if he attempted to stay on land until
morning, he would not live till midnight.
Mr. Storms laid in a good supply of clothing, shoes and knick-knacks
for himself and Inez, and with as little delay as possible. When they
reached the wharf and approached the plank leading to the deck of the
schooner, Mr. Storms noticed a small man standing a few feet off, with
a blanket drawn up about his shoulders and neck like an Indian. His
legs, feet and head were bare, but a huge bandage was bound around his
forehead, giving him a grotesque appearance.
His position was like a statue, and he held the blanket so high that
little could be seen except his black, glittering eyes. Some distance
off, on the street close to the shop-houses, was a group of other
natives, who looked as if they were expecting some important event.
So they were, indeed!