Jack seemed very little the worse after a good night's rest, that is to
say bodily. He was a little white, and his breakfast did not disappear
so rapidly as usual, for, probably on account of his great length, and
the enormous amount of circulation and support to keep up, Jack Penny
used to eat about as much as two ordinary boys. He was, however
evidently a little bit upset in his mind, and he laid this open to me
just before starting once more.
"I say," he said in a low tone, "did I seem such a very great coward
yes'day, Joe Carstairs?"
"Coward! No," I said; "not you. Any one would have been frightened."
"But I hollered so," whispered Jack. "I don't think a young fellow
ought to holler like a great girl."
"I know I should," I replied. "There, never mind now. They're all
ready to start. Come on!"
Jack Penny shook his head rather thoughtfully, and then, in a
dissatisfied dreamy way, he walked on with me, shouldering his gun, and
stooping more than ever, so that it seemed as if he were looking for
something which he could not find.
We had to pass pretty close to the crocodile, so close that Jack nearly
stumbled over it, and a cry of horror involuntarily escaped him as he
jumped aside.
Then, turning scarlet with annoyance, he gave the monster a kick, and
darted back holding his nose, for it was exhaling a most offensive musky
odour.
I looked at the creature closely and with some curiosity, thinking the
while how much smaller it was than those we had seen in the lagoon. All
the same, though, it was fully as big in body as a man, though double
the length.
It was not going to poison the air long, for already it was covered with
something red, and a long red line extended from it right away into the
jungle. Each tiny red object was an ant, and from experience I knew
that very soon every particle of flesh would be devoured.
Keeping within easy reach of the river we journeyed steadily on, finding
the country grow more beautiful at every step. The trees were bigger,
the bamboos taller and more feathery. In the sunny patches flowers were
in abundance, and we had no want of opportunities for supplying our
larder, large pheasant-like birds, with long tails and crests, and
plumage of the most beautiful tints, being plentiful.
It seemed a pity to shoot them, but it was a necessity, for our supply
of powder, shot, and ball was looked upon by us as so much condensed
meat, ready to be expanded when opportunity served.
We encountered nothing particular that day except Gyp, who turned up all
at once with a piece of furry skin in his mouth, all he had been able to
carry of some deer that he had run down; and at the sight of his friend
Jack Penny became more himself, throwing off a good deal of his gloom.
In fact I saw the tears stand in his eyes as he saw him once more; but
catching sight of me looking at him he scowled, and, running to the dog,
kicked him over and over again quite savagely.
"Just you run away again," he drawled angrily, "and I'll 'bout kill yer.
That's what I'll do with you."
Gyp closed his eyes and winced and crouched down close to the ground
till his master had ceased punishing him, and then he rose dejectedly,
and followed quite in the rear of our party with drooping head and tail.
I noticed at the time that Jimmy had watched all this with sparkling
eyes, wonderfully intent, but I thought no more of it till I saw the
black glance at us all in turn, and then begin to slink back.
"What is he after now?" I said to myself; and stepping aside among the
thick leafage, I let our party go by and stopped to see what Jimmy was
about to do.
I had not long to wait, for the fact was that the black had snatched at
the opportunity to tyrannise over something. He had been summarily
checked when amusing himself by sticking his spear into the New Guinea
men, and, as we have seen, one of them resented it; but here was a
chance. Gyp had been beaten, and had cowered down under his master's
blows, so Jimmy took out his waddy, and after glancing forward to see
that he was not observed, he waited until Gyp came up slowly, and
casting sidelong looks at the Australian, who gave him a heavy thump on
the ribs with the war-club.
"Bad bunyip dog. Good for nothing, dirty dingo dog," cried Jimmy. "Go
long, bad for good dog. Get--yah!"
This last was a terrific yell of fear and pain, for instead of cowering
down and suffering himself to be beaten and kicked, Gyp knew that this
was not his master. For one moment he had stood astonished at the blow,
and then seemed puzzled by the strange broken English objurgations; then
with a fierce snarl he darted at the black and tried to seize him by the
legs, an attack which Jimmy avoided by making a tremendous spring,
catching at a horizontal branch above him, and swinging himself up into
a tree, where he crouched like a monkey, showering down angry epithets
upon the dog as it yelped and barked at him furiously.
I came out of my hiding-place laughing till the tears ran down my
cheeks; and the noise made by Gyp brought back the doctor and Jack
Penny, the latter taking in the situation at a glance and indulging in a
broad grin.
"Take away bunyip dog; take um way or Jimmy killum," cried the black.
"All right!" said Jack Penny; "come down and kill him then."
But Jimmy showed no disposition to move, and it was not until Jack had
ordered the dog away that the black dropped down, looking at me very
sheepishly and acting like a shamefaced child.
As we proceeded farther into the interior, wild creatures grew more
abundant, and we saw fewer traces of man having traversed these regions.
As I noted the various objects I could not help feeling how my father
must have revelled in exploring such a naturalist's paradise as this,
and I grew more hopeful as the idea gained ground in my mind that very
likely he was busy in the interior still pursuing his researches.
We travelled very little way now without catching glimpses of some of
the occupants of these wilds. Perhaps it was but a glimpse, but
generally we were able to distinguish what it was that darted through
bush, tree, or shadowy glade. Once or twice we caught sight of the
spots of leopards; then a graceful deer would stand at gaze for a moment
before going off like the wind. Once a herd of heavy buffaloes started
up before us and crashed through the undergrowth; and at last, as we
drew near a great tree, the doctor said, pointing upward:
"No fear of our wanting food, Joe, while there are such birds as these."
As he spoke, with a noise like a whirlwind a flock of great pigeons took
flight--great fellows, three times as big as ordinary pigeons, and, as
we knew from those shot in Australia, splendid eating.
The great tree offered so pleasant a camping place that we decided to
pass the night there, and after a look round to see if there was likely
to be danger lurking near, the fire was lit, the blacks setting to work
at once to collect wood when they had put down their burdens. Then food
was prepared and a hearty meal enjoyed, the restful sensation that came
over us after the day's exertion being most delicious. Then one by one
our followers dropped asleep, Jack Penny, who was still rather grumpy,
last.
The doctor and I were sitting together by the fire that night, talking
in a low voice about our plans, and agreeing that we could not do better
than wander on and on through the wilds until we learned some tidings of
the lost man, when suddenly my companion laid his finger on his lips and
bent forward as if listening.
I listened too, thinking the while how strange it all looked about us,
with the fire casting weird shadows all around, while the silence now
was almost appalling.
"Nothing, Joe," said the doctor, dropping his hand. "I thought I heard
something."
"I'm sure I did," I whispered, with a strange feeling upon me that it
would be dangerous to speak aloud.
"There are curious sounds heard sometimes in forests," he said
thoughtfully. "There, go on--what were we talking about?"
As he spoke there was a strange rushing noise, then a peculiar whining
sound not far distant among the trees.
"What can that be, doctor?" I whispered.
"Can't say, Joe. Sounds as if some animal had been climbing along a
branch, or had bent down a sapling and then let it fly up again with a
loud whish among the trees."
"That is just how it sounded to me," I said, gazing full in his eyes.
He remained silent for a few moments, not listening but thinking.
"We must take a lesson from our friend Jack Penny, there," he said,
smiling in my face as he stroked his broad beard. "I must confess, Joe,
to feeling a curious sensation of awe as we sit out here in this
primeval forest, surrounded by teeming savage life; but Jack Penny
coolly sleeps through it all, and, as I say, we must take a lesson from
him, and get used to these strange sounds."
"There it is again!" I said, catching his arm, and unable to control
the feeling that at any moment something might spring out of the
darkness upon my back.
For the same curious rustling of leaves came whispering from among the
trees, and then there was a low expiration of breath, as if some great
beast had yawned.
Click-click, click-click sounded loudly on the night air, and I followed
the doctor's example, cocking both barrels of my piece.
"It's coming nearer, whatever it is," said the doctor in a low tone,
"and that strange noise means, I think, that it is some great serpent."
"But would serpents be out at night?" I said.
"That one was the other night, Joe, and we must not reckon upon the
regular habits of animals if we light great fires in their lairs."
We sat listening again, and the rustling sound began once more.
"It's just as if the thing were climbing along trees that are not strong
enough to bear it," I said in an excited whisper, "and they keep flying
up after it passes."
"Hush!" said the doctor.
We listened, and from out of the darkest part before us there arose a
loud tearing noise as if bark was being scratched from a tree trunk.
"Some kind of beast of the cat family, I should say," whispered the
doctor. "Pst! be ready; but don't fire unless we are attacked."
Just then there was a rush, a scramble, a dull thud, and some creature
uttered a sound that seemed like the word _Howl_ in a hollow echoing
tone.
Again and again there was the low rustling, and then that word _Howl_
that seemed to come from some great throat; and in imagination I saw in
the darkness a pair of fiery eyes and a set of great sharp teeth.
"Yes; some kind of cat, leopard, or panther," said the doctor; but, low
as his utterance was, it seemed to irritate the creature in our
neighbourhood, as it kept on the rustling, for there was a harsh
exclamation and the earth seemed to be torn up.
Then all at once the sound ceased, and it was perfectly still for quite
a quarter of an hour, which seemed an endless time; and then, tired of
staring intently into the darkness, and too much excited to be silent, I
whispered:
"This night-watching is the hardest part of our work, doctor."
"Oh! no, my boy. It makes you a little creepy at first, but as soon as
you feel your own power and how you must alarm these creatures, you will
get used to it."
"But the fire makes them see us, and we can't see them," I said, in an
ill-used tone.
Just then there arose from what seemed to be just the other side of the
fire one of the most awful cries I ever heard, and my hair felt as if a
tiny cold hand were stirring it about the roots, while a curious
sensation ran down my back.
As the fearsome howl rang out the doctor levelled his piece, ready to
fire, and as the fire shone full upon him in his half-kneeling position
there was something terribly earnest in his face, and he looked so brave
that it seemed to give me a little courage just when I seemed to have
none.
"Pick up some of those thin branches and throw them on the fire," said
the doctor; and I hurried to obey his command, when there was another
awful howling roar, and the creature, whatever it was, charged at me;
but I threw on the branches all the same, when the fire leaped up with a
tremendous blaze, lighting the forest all round.
"See it, doctor?" I whispered.
"No," he answered; "it keeps in amongst the trees."
The doctor's voice sounded so hoarse and strange that it added to my
trepidation. He stopped, and I wanted him to go on talking, but he
remained silent, while once more the forest resounded with the hideous
cry of the beast.
The wood blazed well, so that I could see, as it were, a circle of
light, and behind us our black shadows were thrown upon the trees, quite
startling me as I looked round.
"Keep up the fire," whispered the doctor; "whatever it is it will not
attack while there is this blaze."
I obeyed him and kept on throwing twigs and boughs that had been laid in
a heap ready, but with a curious sensation of dread the while, for it
seemed to me that if the fire consumed all our wood we should be left at
the creature's mercy.
All at once it seemed to me that the rustling and snuffling noise was
coming round to our left, and as if I had drawn his attention to the
fact, the doctor exclaimed:
"Yes, it is coming on here; keep round this way."
We edged round the fire so as to keep it between us and the animal that
seemed to be watching us, when all at once the sound came from close
behind us, and, as if moved by one impulse, we bounded past the fire,
the pieces I had held in my hand making a crackling blaze and shower of
sparks.
This seemed to excite our assailant, which uttered three hideous roars
at intervals, and each seemed nearer than the last, so that we were
driven to keep on edging round the fire so as to keep it as our shield.
We walked slowly round the fire three times, fully aware of the fact
that the creature was regularly stalking us, for it kept up the
scratching rustling noise, and howled at intervals.
This was trying enough to our nerves; but when, all at once, every sound
ceased, and we stood there by the ruddy blaze, it seemed terrible to
know that our enemy was close at hand, but not to know exactly where.
At any moment we felt that it might spring upon us, and I turned a
wistful look upon the doctor, which he responded to by saying:
"Throw on more wood."
I obeyed him, and the blaze flashed up higher once again, spreading a
cloud of sparks on high to rise among the leaves and tinge the broad
branches with a ruddy golden glow.
I gazed in all directions for the danger, and started with nervous
trepidation every time the doctor spoke, his words being
generally--"Throw on more wood." But at last, after a terrible period
of anxious silence, he whispered my name.
"Yes," I said.
"This can't go on much longer. I'm afraid the beast is coming nearer.
Can you see anything your side?"
"Yes--no--yes, I think so," I whispered back. "There's a shadowy
something just at the edge of the light. I think it is some kind of
wild beast."
"Is it the dog?" he whispered back.
"No," I said. "Gyp always sleeps close to his master."
"Do you think you could take steady aim at it, my lad?" he said.
"I don't know," I replied, "but I will try. Shall I fire at it?"
"Let me think," he answered. "I don't know whether it would be wise to
fire, and perhaps only wound the creature."
"But perhaps I shall kill it," I said.
"It is doubtful, Joe," he replied, "and the noise of your piece would
bring out our people, perhaps into danger. Let us wait. Here," he
said, "I have it! This beast has been cautiously following us round,
always keeping out of our sight. I think now that the best way will be
for you to continue the retreat round the fire while I stop here on one
knee. The beast will then follow you, and I shall get a good certain
shot at him."
I did not like the idea at all, for it seemed like setting a trap and
making me the bait; but I said nothing beyond intimating that I would do
as he wished, and he went on:
"I shall be certain to hit the brute, but I may not kill, so be ready to
fire in turn; you will get a good chance for a sure hit, the animal will
be less cautious."
"Stop a moment," I said. "I thought at first that it would be very
dangerous for me; now I see that it will be more dangerous for you.
Let's keep together."
"Do as I bid you," he replied sternly. "Now go on round, as if trying
to keep the fire between you and danger. Fire quickly if you have a
good chance, and don't miss. But first of all let's try the effect of a
firebrand or two in the direction you think you saw the brute."
He picked up a piece of blazing wood and gave it a whirl round his head.
The result was to bring a fierce roar from the wood close behind us, and
we involuntarily sprang to the other side of our fire.
"There's no knowing where to have the beast," muttered the doctor, as he
realised the cunning sneaking habits of our enemy.
As he spoke he stooped and picked up another blazing piece of wood, for
he had dropped the first to bring his gun to bear. Now, holding the gun
in his left hand, he gave the blazing wood a whirl round his head and
threw it in the direction from which the fierce roar had come.
To my horror and consternation it was answered by a savage yell, and
something charged out nearly to the fire but dashed back directly, so
quickly, indeed, that we had no time to get more than a sharp shot
apiece at the fierce creature.
"Load again quickly," whispered the doctor; and I obeyed him, listening
the while to the rustling crackling noise at a little distance.
"Do you think we hit it?" I said softly. I was afraid to speak aloud
lest it should bring down a charge upon us.
"I'm afraid not," he replied, as he reloaded and then stood scanning the
edge of the circle of light formed by the fire's glow.
There was nothing visible but what seemed to be a dark opening amongst
the trees, through which it appeared to me that our enemy must have
passed.
Then we waited, watching so excitedly for the next attack that the fire
was for the moment forgotten. Then, seeing the glow it cast become
less, we both seized upon armfuls of wood and threw them on, deadening
the flame so that the space around was comparatively dark.
That was the most anxious time of all, for, do what we would, the fire
sent forth huge volumes of smoke, but would not blaze. At any moment it
seemed that the great beast might take advantage of the gloom and spring
upon us, and we shook the ends of the burning branches and half-consumed
pieces of wood, but in vain. Instead of the light glow there was
comparative darkness, and in despair, as if again moved by the same
impulse, we ceased troubling about the fire, and stood with hand on
trigger, ready to pull at the first chance.
Then all at once there was a vivid tongue of flame cutting right through
the thick smoke, another and another, and I uttered a sigh of relief as
the heap of smouldering boughs and leaves burst once more into a blaze.
"Now while the light lasts let's have a good shot at the brute," said
the doctor, speaking as if nerved to desperation by the torture under
which we both writhed. "I'm going to kneel here, Joe; you walk on, and
that will make the tiger, or whatever it is, show itself in watching
you."
"It isn't a tiger," I whispered. "I caught sight of it, and it looked
more like a man."