1581.
2227 1819 1919 2622 1820 1335 1138 1918
1717 2020 1618 2727 2722 2222 3811 1819 1816
1237 2225 1915 1515 2424 2525 1730 2014 1430
1718 2121 1420 1920 3014 1830 1519 2120 1915
2018 1030 1440 1614 3019 2017 1028 2226 1930
1226 1616 1324 1325 1236 1818 1235 1222 1218
3118 2725 3113 1334 3217 1324 1424 1335 3212
1817 2019 1321 2824 1420 2021 1434 2121 3212
1533 3316 2223 1614 1433 3415 3311 1916 2220
2525 1715 1423 2322 3314 2414 1517 1816 3019
1416 1822 1618 2122 1120 2826 2022 1321 1424
2221 1930 2413 2014 2413 3311 2624 2029 1423
2512 1915 1614 2611 2319 1713 2320 2925 1519
2418 1816 1433 2218 1922 1320 1126 1721 2920
1133 1232 1030 1520 1730 3212 2418 2317 2520
3017 2117 2023 1220 1321 3311 2015 2517 1222
1821 1721 2012 3014 2616 2426 1220 2413 1818
1430 2219 2013 1614 1922 2424 3113 1120 2624
1730 1721 2212 1320 1419 2311 2410 2124 1918
1331 1922 2113 2426 2320 1914 2014 3017 2523
2821 3113 2023 1915 1820 1829 3212 2122 2928
1919 2221 1620 1616 1416 2428 1816 2318 3311
2320 1717 2417 2826 2018 2419 2516 1618 2920
752626 202122 1519 1420 1924 1320 1820 2325 1625
1317 2419 2013 2017 2117 2424 2421 1218 1825
1721 3311 2615 1317 2523 2029 1133 2518 1816
14 2124 1812 1616 1915 2622 2220 3410 2624 2920
1720 5 2223 1218 1715 1717 2424 2626 1515 2120
2021 2020 1717 1818 1720 1930 1816 2122 3019
1618 1822 1816 2221 1917.
Beyond these figures, the paper, which seemed of considerable age, was
perfectly blank.
The lads gazed earnestly at the mass of figures for some time, trying to
fathom its meaning.
That a hidden meaning of some kind was attached to it was almost
certain, as no sane man would put down a long string of figures to no
purpose, or for mere pastime; and if the writer had not intended the
meaning to be hidden, he would certainly have used words in preference
to a number of mystifying figures.
"Roger," said Harry, "the more I look at this cipher--for cipher I am
convinced it is--the more certain do I feel that it is the key to
something important or of value. Now, friend, do you notice anything
peculiar about these figures?"
"I cannot say that I do," answered Roger, "unless you mean that they are
arranged in groups of four."
"Yes, that is certainly so," agreed Harry; "but there is somewhat else
of significance, and that is, that, although they are grouped in fours
for the most part, there are two groups of six figures, one of two, and
one figure stands alone. These being different from the remainder of
the cipher, we may at once set them down as denoting something different
from the rest of the writing. I should say that possibly some
direction, instruction, or it may even be a compass-bearing, is
concealed in these two groups of six figures, while, to my mind, the
figures 14 and 5, are to be read as they really are, that is as figures
only; for I believe that the remainder of the figures stand for words or
letters, as indeed they must, if any sense is to be made of the thing.
Yes, the more I study this, the more certain am I that we have found
something of value, and this, I am convinced, is the document you told
me Alvarez was looking for while you were in the cabin of the sinking
_Gloria del Mundo_."
"By Saint George," said Roger, "I am inclined to believe you are right,
Harry; only I see not how it will benefit us if we cannot translate the
cipher, and that seems to me impossible without the key thereto."
"Nothing is impossible, my friend," retorted Harry. "We have no key, it
is true, but by repeated experiments we shall solve the thing
eventually, I am sure."
"Let us start trying right now, then," suggested Roger.
"Well, starting from the beginning, let us take the first group of--"
"Mr Trevose, hie you on deck, if you please; I want you," came
Cavendish's voice down the companion at this moment, putting an abrupt
end to the operations on the cipher.
Leaving Harry to put away the document in safety, Roger ran up on deck,
and touched his hat to his captain.
"Mr Trevose," said Cavendish, "one of the boats has just come off from
the shore with a load of fresh fruit and vegetables which the men have
collected. They have now had a short spell ashore, and it is time for
us to be thinking of work again; so I wish you to take this boat and
proceed to the shore in her with instructions to Mr Leigh to collect
all the men forthwith. Let them bring off as much fruit and vegetables
as they can find, but they must not be very long about it. You can take
your friend Edgwyth with you, if you will, and while the men are getting
fresh provisions together you and he have my leave, after you have
delivered my message, to do as you please until all are ready to come
off aboard.
"And have a care," added the skipper, "that you two lads do not get into
any further scrapes. You had a particularly narrow escape this morning,
both of you, and perchance may not get off quite so easily next time."
Roger saluted, and forthwith ran down to inform Harry of his errand;
whereupon the two mounted again to the deck and dropped into the boat,
which was waiting for them alongside, and were soon being pulled over
the water to the shore again.
Arrived at the beach, Roger enquired of the few men who were there where
Mr Leigh was to be found. None of them seemed to know, but one man
said he believed that Mr Leigh had gone in "that" direction--pointing
it out with a stubby and tarry forefinger--and had taken a musket, with
the intention, he thought, of getting some fresh meat for the pot.
The lads at once set off in the direction indicated, pushing their way
through tangled underwood, and treading down in their passage many
splendid and brilliant flowers, while startled birds, of rainbow
plumage, flew out from the branches over their heads.
Everywhere stillness reigned supreme, and no sound or sign of any of the
men was to be met with. They pushed resolutely forward, however, trying
to discover some indication of people having passed that way before. So
dense was the undergrowth in many places that Harry and Roger were
obliged to draw their swords to cut a passage through it.
Presently Roger caught sight of a beautiful orchid on the trunk of a
tree just below the first branch, and put forth his hand to gather it.
As he did so there was a bright green flash, and the lad started back
only just in time. There was a swish of steel, and a snake fell to the
ground severed in half, yet still writhing horribly.
"A thousand thanks!" said Roger. "I owe you my life again, Harry. He
would surely have bitten me if you had not been so quick with your
sword."
They examined the reptile, which was about six feet long, and of a
brilliant green above and light yellow underneath, with the heart-shaped
head that betokened an extremely venomous variety. Tossing the two
writhing halves of the body into the bush with the point of his sword,
and giving a shrug of repugnance, Roger passed on, followed by Harry,
with no further desire to pluck orchids, and each taking care to look
well about him.
Presently they came to a small clearing, and on the opposite side saw an
opening in the bush which seemed to suggest that someone had recently
passed that way.
They crossed the clearing and pushed through the opening on the other
side, and, after going about half a mile, heard the report of a gun
close to them, followed by a great fluttering of wings, as a host of
startled birds flew away from the branches where they had been roosting.
A few moments later they came upon Leigh, accompanied by a seaman
carrying a large bag, which seemed to be well filled, and gave promise
of a few savoury meals in the immediate future.
Roger at once gave him Mr Cavendish's orders to reassemble the men, and
then asked him how far he had succeeded in his hunting.
"Oh, very well, Roger!" replied Leigh. "I have nearly filled the bag,
as you may see, and some of the birds are fine big fellows, and should
be excellent eating. At any rate we will sample them at mess this
evening. But I must be off and get the men together. As you two have
liberty until we start for the ship, you may take this musket and
ammunition, if you like, and try to shoot something on your own account.
One's own shooting always tastes best, I am told," he added with a
laugh, as he prepared to return. "But I should not wander too far away,
if I were you," he advised. "We do not know the place as yet, and there
may be dangers that we are not aware of; so be careful."
The lads thanked Mr Leigh for the loan of the musket, and the
lieutenant disappeared to collect the men, telling the lads that he
would sound the trumpet if they were not in sight when it was time to
return to the ships.
"Now," said Roger, when Leigh had disappeared, "where are we to go,
Harry?"
"Do you remember that ledge of rocks that we saw this morning?" asked
Harry! "Well, we noticed quite a number of caves among them; what say
you to going and having a look at them?"
"Agreed, my friend!" said Roger. "But can we get to them, I wonder,
from here, without going back to the beach and walking all the way
round?"
"Oh, yes! I think so," answered Harry. "I believe I remember how they
lie, and in what direction; and if we bear away to the left here it will
bring us to them, no doubt."
So the two turned off, and presently found another opening in the brush,
through which they went.
"It appears to me," said Roger presently, "as though someone had been
along this way before us. See, some of the small branches are broken,
and the growth beneath our feet seems to have been recently trodden. I
expect we shall find that some of our men have been here before us,
perhaps to look at those same caves themselves. If so, we can warn them
to return immediately; and if they are in front of us it will give us a
little longer, as it will take them some considerable time to get back
to the boats from here."
Thus reassured in their own minds--for there was always the danger of
savages to consider,--they pressed on, but saw no further signs of the
men whom they imagined to be in front of them.
"It is possible," said Harry, his thoughts still dwelling upon the
matter, "that if they have gone this way they are still at the caves.
Or they may have gone back along the beach; for that, I suppose, is the
nearest way of return. And if so, we shall not meet any of them coming
this way; but we may overtake them."
They had gone but a little distance farther when Roger looked up
suddenly.
"Harry, I heard something whistle past my head a moment ago," said he.
"Nonsense!" responded Harry. "What you heard was one of those small
creatures they call `humming-birds' flying past your ear."
"I am certain it was not," retorted Roger. "If it had been, I should
have seen as well as heard him, and--why, there it is again!"
"Yes, you are right, Roger; I heard it myself that time. I wonder what
it can be?" exclaimed Harry.
"I don't know," said Roger, "but it sounds very queer. Let us push on,
or we shall have no time to explore those caves."
They pushed forward for some little distance, and again heard, more than
once, the same peculiar sibilant sound, as of something flying past them
with great velocity; but they saw nothing, and could not account for the
occurrence at all.
Suddenly Harry, who was behind, whispered to Roger: "Do not appear to
take any notice, Roger, at present; but I distinctly saw the head of a
savage peering at us from behind a tree when I turned my head just now,
and I believe that what we heard was the sound of arrows flying past us.
I should not be greatly surprised to find that there is quite a crowd
of natives round us, and the only wonder to me is that we have not yet
been hit. Now, we must press on and endeavour to reach the shelter of
the caves, and there defend ourselves, if necessary, until assistance
comes. It is useless to think of retreating by the way we have come; we
should only be ambushed. Ah! I see two more faces looking at us over
there in the bush. We had better make haste; but we only need walk a
little faster. It will never do to run, or they will see that we have
discovered them, and in that case they will attack us at once, and we
shall have no chance here. By the way, is that musket loaded?"
"Yes," replied Roger. "It was loaded when Leigh handed it to me; for I
remember that, after the discharge we heard which led us to him, he was
loading as we came up, and he did not fire again."
"Very well," said Harry, "we had better for the present trust to our
swords; we must reserve the musket until the last. And you had better
drop a few more bullets in, so that it will do as much execution as
possible when we fire. And I trust to Heaven that the report may bring
some of our men up. But it will not do that if we fire now, as they
will merely think we are shooting game. If we fire from the caves they
will know there is no game there to shoot at, and it may attract their
attention."
The two lads now moved as fast as they thought consistent with safety,
and, to their great relief, at length perceived an opening in the trees,
and got a glimpse of the sea beyond. A few minutes later they emerged
on the beach, and found themselves quite close to the caves.
Then, having a clear ground, they took to their heels and ran as hard as
they could for the nearest cave.
As they started to run, a chorus of savage yells broke on their ears,
and what they had quite anticipated happened. The natives had at last
left cover and were pursuing them at the top of their speed.
Roger and Harry, unaccustomed to running in sand, moved but slowly, and
the savages gradually began to overhaul them. They were not far from
the caves by this time, however, and presently they gained the entrance
to one of them some fifty yards ahead of their pursuers.
As soon as they were safely inside, Roger turned, and, raising the
musket to his shoulder, discharged the piece point-blank into the midst
of the nearest group of running savages.
It was a lucky discharge, and the extra bullets that they had put in,
scattering as they flew, had almost the effect of a round of grape-shot,
dropping no fewer than four of the blacks. It did not check their rush,
however, and there was no time to reload before the howling, yelling mob
were upon them.
Roger and Harry had at once taken up positions, one on each side of the
entrance to the cave, allowing themselves sufficient room to avoid
striking each other with the blades of their long swords, which, with
the now useless musket, were all the weapons they had.
The savages came at them with a rush, stabbing furiously with their
spears, and forced on by those behind, who feared to use their bows and
arrows at such close quarters lest they should hit their companions.
The long sword-blades, however, rose and fell untiringly, flashing in
the sunlight, now parrying a spear-thrust, and anon making a sweeping
cut, and with every blow at least one savage had cause to regret his
temerity.
The natives, however, had numbers on their side, the sound replacing the
fallen until quite a heap of dead and wounded began to grow at the
entrance to the cave.
They were likewise growing chary of those long blades of steel that
hewed through shield and spear-haft as though they had been paper.
At length one of the natives stooped down and picked up the dead body of
a fallen comrade, held it before him as a shield, and rushed toward the
defenders of the cave, and as Harry thrust at him he flung the body full
upon the sword's point, where it remained impaled, dragging Harry's
weapon from his grip. The man then lunged savagely with his spear, but
Roger's wary eye was on him, and the fraction of a second before the
spear left the fellow's grasp the sword flashed and fell, and the savage
stood looking stupidly for a moment at the arm still grasping the spear,
that had fallen at his feet, ere he himself sank, groaning, to the
ground.
Harry shouted his thanks across to Roger, and drew his sword out of the
impaled body with some difficulty, determined not to be so tricked
again, and once more the battle went furiously on, the savages surging
madly about the cave's mouth, and the two lads straining every nerve to
keep their stronghold inviolate.
"I wonder," gasped Roger, "how long it will be before Leigh collects all
the men, and, missing us, sends out a search-party?"
"They should all be mustered long before this," replied his companion.
"You must remember that it took us some time to reach this place, and
Leigh started to look for the men directly we left him. Hark! there
goes the trumpet for our recall, unless I am mistaken. Did you not hear
it?"
"I think I heard something," answered Roger. "If it was indeed the
trumpet, it means that Leigh has collected all the men and only waits
for us; and he will not wait long before sending in search of us,
because of the captain's orders to return on board as quickly as
possible. If we could but find time to reload the musket and discharge
it again, Leigh might possibly hear the report, and it would show him
where to look for us."
"That is true," agreed Harry. "Now, Roger, leave me to defend the
cave-mouth alone, and try to load the piece; the discharge may bring
down the men, and if you load, as we did last time, with plenty of
bullets, we shall do the enemy some considerable damage at the same
time."
It was no time for arguing. Roger therefore did as Harry had suggested,
and, leaving the defence of the cave to his friend, grasped the musket
and loaded it with frantic haste.
Seeing one of the defenders apparently retreating, the natives at once
redoubled their onslaught, and spears came whizzing through the air,
thick as falling autumn leaves.
The long blade, however, still flashed untiringly hither and thither,
and the cave remained untaken.
"Hasten, Roger!" cried Harry. "I cannot much longer keep these fellows
off unaided."
"Coming, lad," shouted Roger in return.
A huge native at this moment forced himself to the front and engaged
Harry at close quarters, and, tired as he was, the boy knew his strength
must soon fail. He responded gallantly, however, and drove the man back
for an instant; but, with a cry like that of a furious beast, the fellow
again leapt at him, and, beating down the sword-point, bore the lad to
the ground, at once shortening his spear to pin him to the earth.
Poor Harry closed his eyes, and for a moment experienced all the
bitterness of death. But it was for a moment only. The weight suddenly
rolled from his chest, and, opening his eyes, he saw Roger pulling his
reeking blade from the savage's body. Then, dropping his sword, Roger
raised the musket to his shoulder and fired into the thick of the group
of natives.
With the report came a hearty English cheer as Leigh and a couple of
dozen well-armed sailors rushed round a bend in the beach.
"Lie down! lie down!" roared Leigh, and as the two lads flung themselves
to the floor of the cave, a storm of bullets whizzed over them that at
once accounted for ten of the savages.
Then out came the hangers, and the sailors charged the remaining
assailants, who turned resolutely to meet them, while Harry and Roger,
rising from the floor of the cave, dashed down on the rear, cutting and
slashing and thrusting with right good will, their strength renewed
somewhat by a sight of their own countrymen.
Thus taken in front and rear, the blacks, seized with sudden panic,
broke and fled, followed by another storm of shot from the sailors.
"Now," shouted Leigh, "make for the boats ere they return in
overwhelming numbers!"
In response to this order the English all went off along the beach at
the double, and soon reached the boats, which were not very far away.
They embarked forthwith, and were soon once more on board their
respective ships.
"Well, my boys," said Cavendish as the inseparables climbed the ship's
side, "this morning's adventure was not enough for you, it would appear,
so you must needs go and get yourselves into another mess. Now, mark my
words, you will some day get into a scrape, and one or the other of you
will fail to come out again alive!"