WELL-TIMED SHOTS
"I am lost now for sure!"
Such were the words which escaped Dave Fearless' lips as he watched
the approach of the jaguar that had entered the cave and leaped the
underground stream.
The young diver had long since given up trying to loosen the bonds
which held him so tightly to the jagged rocks. Pete Rackley had done
his villainous work well, and the efforts to get free had only caused
the cords to sink deeply into Dave's wrists and ankles, until now the
blood was flowing freely from those members.
And it was this blood which the wild beast of the island forest had
scented!
The growl of the jaguar echoed and re-echoed throughout the lonely
cave, causing Dave to shiver as with the ague.
It did indeed look as if the young diver's last hour on earth had
come.
"Hi, go away!" he cried, frantically. "Go away! Scat!"
The cries caused the jaguar to pause while yet fifty feet from the
youth.
It had never before attacked a human being, and the new experience
caused it to proceed with caution.
But now it advanced again, crouching low on the cavern floor, its two
eyes glowing like balls of fire in the semi-darkness of the retreat.
Nearer and nearer came the beast, until Dave imagined he could feel
the hot breath of the jaguar upon his cheek. Then the tail of the
animal began to oscillate slowly, showing that the jaguar was
preparing to make a leap.
Bang! bang!
Almost deafening was the double report of a repeating rifle as it
rang throughout the cave. At the shots the jaguar leaped high in the
air, turned over several times, and then stretched itself in a
convulsive death shudder.
Dave could scarcely believe his eyes and ears. Who had thus
unexpectedly come to his deliverance?
"Bob!" The cry was little short of a scream. "Where in the world
did you come from?"
"From the bowels of the earth, I reckon," was the reply, as the young
engineer of the _Swallow_ ran forward. "Is the beast dead?" he went
on, as he halted at the outer edge of the underground stream.
"I guess he is," answered Dave, watching the jaguar for a moment.
"You are a good shot."
"I knew I had to kill him, or it would be all up with you, Dave. But
how came you to be bound to yonder rock?"
"It's a long story. Take care of that stream, or you'll go
underground again. You'll have to get a tree limb, or something,
before you can come over. I think you'll find a tree limb at the
mouth of the cave."
Without delay Bob Vilett ran out of the cave again, to return in a
few minutes with the very tree limb Pete Rackley had used for
crossing the stream.
Soon the young engineer was at Dave's side, and a slash or two of a
pocket-knife set the young diver free.
Then both lost no time in quitting the cave.
Sitting down near the entrance, each told his story, to which the
other listened with close attention.
Bob Vilett had lost his senses after going down into the hole, and
had recovered, to find himself resting on a ledge in another cave,
not far from the one Dave was occupying.
In trying to get out he had lost his way, and had at last emerged in
the middle of a tiny valley choked with brush, vines, and other
tropical growth.
He had wandered around until chance had brought him to the cave where
Dave was a prisoner, and he had been astonished beyond measure to
hear his friend calling loudly.
"It was a lucky thing that I retained my rifle, and that the water
didn't hurt the cartridges," concluded Bob. "Had it been otherwise,
the jig would have been up with you."
"That's true, Bob, and I shan't forget what you have done for me,"
returned Dave, warmly.
"Where have the rascals gone?"
"I don't know. Probably they have carried out the plot they
mentioned while here."
"Then the _Raven_ has sailed."
"But what of the _Swallow_? Surely they wouldn't sail without us."
"I don't think they would. We must hunt her up without delay."
"I must have something to eat first. I am as hungry as--as that
jaguar was."
"Hurrah! I have it. Let's broil ourselves a jaguar steak, just for
the novelty."
To this Dave instantly agreed, and returning to the cave, they
brought the beast forth and Bob proceeded to cut him up.
The steak was soon broiling over a fire which Dave kindled, and the
smell proved more than appetizing.
The jaguar meat was tough and not of an extra fine flavor, yet they
were tremendously hungry, and that made them less critical than
otherwise.
In less than an hour the dinner was over, and after getting a drink
and a wash-up, both proceeded on their way.
It was warm outside of the cave, so they did not suffer much
inconvenience because of their wet clothing.
"Now to find our way back to the _Swallow_, and with all speed," said
Dave. "Which do you suppose is the right direction?"
"That way," and Bob pointed with his hand.
"And I was thinking it was in that direction," and Dave pointed at
right angles to the other course.
Then both laughed.
"We can't both be right," said Bob.
"Let us split the difference and take a course between the two. Then
we probably won't go far wrong, Bob."
"Right you are."
On they went, into the valley which Bob had traversed, and then up
the line of hills where they had shot the goats just after coming
ashore.
But now they found themselves confronted by a deep ravine, partly
choked with brush and vines.
"How are we going to get across that, Dave!"
"We'll have to walk along the bank until we reach some
crossing-place," answered the young diver. "I am not going to risk a
tumble by taking a leap."
"Nor I. I have had tumbles enough to last me a lifetime," and the
young engineer shook his head dubiously.
On they went, the way growing more perilous every moment. They were
at the edge of a forest, and the top of the ravine was lined with
loose rocks.
Suddenly Bob, having made a leap from one rock to another, went down
in a heap and gave a loud cry of pain.
"My foot! My foot!"
"What's the matter?"
"I've caught my foot under the rock!"
Dave immediately hastened forward, and saw that his chum was indeed
fast.
The foot was wedged in a crevice, and could not be budged until Dave
rolled the rock away by main force.
Then Bob grated his teeth and gave a deep groan.
"My ankle! It must be broken! Oh, Dave!"
And with another moan he fell back in a faint.
If Dave had been alarmed before, he was doubly so now, and he
scarcely knew what to do. He remembered passing a pool of water a
distance back, and he ran to this, filling the water bottle Bob had
been carrying.
The water revived the young engineer somewhat, and in the meantime
Dave cut loose his shoe. He found the injured ankle much discolored,
and swelling rapidly. He bathed it, and this gave some relief, until
the pain gave way to a stiff numbness.
"Now I am in a pickle," groaned Bob. "Did ever anybody run up
against such luck before?"
"Better not try to stand yet," replied Dave.
"Stand? Why, the pain would go to my very heart if I tried it!" And
poor Bob gave another groan.
Dave walked back and got more water, and after another bath the
sprained ankle was bound up in some crushed leaves and some linen
torn from one of the youth's shirtsleeves. Then they made themselves
as comfortable as possible on the rocks, and began to talk over the
new turn of affairs.
"Do you think I had better go on alone?" questioned Dave.
"I don't know. Somehow, I don't think we ought to separate."
"I agree, and yet we ought to try to reach the _Swallow_ as soon as
possible."
"That's so, too."
"Supposing I try to get over the ravine and to the top of the hill?
I won't get out of rifle shot, and it may be I'll be able to spot our
ship from the hilltop."
"All right, go ahead. But don't wander too far, or--gracious, look!"
He broke off short and pointed to a tree growing close at hand.
The leaves of the tree had parted slowly, and now from between them
appeared the hideous head and shoulders of a monstrous gorilla! The
gorilla's eyes were bent upon both boys, and the beast looked as if
he meant immediate mischief!