THE WHOLE BEACH WAS LINED WITH YELLING SAVAGES.
Captain Fred Arundel, of the _Island Queen_, now left the island of
King Ota far astern, and proceeded to take a quiet survey of the
whole group.
The islands were five in all, although one was so small as hardly to
be worthy of notice. It is nevertheless the most important of all to
our story. This little isle, although well treed, was evidently not
inhabited, and had only one landing-place, all the rest of its shore
being as inaccessible as the Bass Rock itself.
The other islands were inhabited, as well they might be; for in
rugged grandeur of contour, and in beauty of tropical foliage, they
exceeded anything that Fred or Frank could have imagined or dreamt
about.
Waving cocoa-nut and palm trees, gigantic tree ferns, bananas,
pandanus, and bread fruits, and a wealth of waving woods and grasses
and flowers, that made them look like veritable fairy-lands afloat,
or the fabled islands of the blessed dead we read of in the classics.
Yet everyone of them was the abode of savages and cannibals. No
boats came off from either, though in one of the bays Fred lay at
anchor for very many hours.
He was concocting a bold and daring scheme, which if successful
should mean freedom for the white prisoners, whatever might befall
them next; but if unsuccessful it would mean death, or a slavery far
worse than death, for all concerned.
That the inhabitants of these islands were not really bad at heart
was Fred's evident thought, from the kindly way their own two
prisoners took to work and civilization.
Could the latter be trusted in a matter of life and death? Fred made
up his mind to try them.
So they were now brought on deck and questioned by Quambo, questions
and answers being very much as follows:
Why did they--the white men--see nothing of their brothers who were
held as slaves by King Ota? King Ota was too clever. He kept them
in the forest prison. Did they know the road from the beach to this
prison? They knew many roads to it.
Could they and would they be willing to guide a party to this bamboo
prison through the forest at the darkest hour of midnight? Yes, they
could and would gladly, the white men had been very good to them; but
if they guided them to their white brothers they must promise to take
them--the guides--away with them, else King Ota would put them to
death with much terrible torture.
So far then everything seemed satisfactory, and Fred and Frank
resolved to risk all in one bold effort to set the white men free.
"To dare is to do, Frank," said Fred.
"Yes," replied Frank, "and I should never forgive myself if we went
away and left these poor fellows prisoners and slaves among these
terrible cannibals. I cannot forget, Fred, that the Yankee skipper
was kind to me when I was sick, and that he was my captain, you know."
"Well, then, Frank, when does the moon rise, to-night?"
"What, will you venture so soon?"
"Oh, you know what a nervous coward of a chap I am! If I've got to
face anything I like to go at it at once. Besides, it is best to
strike the iron when it is hot."
"All right," said Frank. "I must say, however, Fred, that your
cowardice is of a very peculiar kind, from all the specimens I've had
of it lately."
And now the two savages were once more interrogated, and it was soon
found that from the back part of the island, where the pandanus
forest grew right down to the water's edge, a footpath led up through
the woods to the bamboo prison or fort. It would no doubt be well
guarded, but nothing venture nothing win.
"He either fears his fate too much,
Or his deserts are small,
Who dares not put it to the test,
To win or lose it all."
These lines are well worth remembering, and everyone who reads
British history must be struck with the fact, that nearly all our
greatest victories have been won by downright pluck and derring-do.
Well, everything seemed to favour our heroes to-night; for the moon
would not rise until nearly two o'clock, a favouring breeze was
blowing, and there would be light enough from the stars to creep
round to the back of King Ota's island and let go anchor. All the
rest must be left.
The sun went down at six o'clock. Then dinner was got through, and
preparations at once made for the adventure.
Luckily they had plenty of revolvers on board, saved from the brig,
and good ones too, the revolver being a tool as common on board all
Yankee foreign-going ships as toothpicks, more or less.
A dozen and a half of these were most carefully loaded with ball
cartridges. Ten of these were placed in a hand-bag or grip-sack, and
this Quambo was to carry. Fred, Frank, and Quambo, with one of the
savages, were to take part in this cutting-out expedition; little
Cassia-bud, all by himself, was to remain with the other savage as
ship-keeper; while Mac would come along to take charge of the boat.
Cassia-bud would be captain of the _Island Queen_ therefore for once
in a way, and Hurricane Bob assured the boy that he would keep his
eagle eye on the remaining black fellow.
"Would it not, sir," said Mac, "be as well to handcuff the darkie we
leave behind?"
"No," said Fred boldly. "I have told these men I trust them, and
trust them now I must and will."
About ten o'clock the _Island Queen_ quietly got up anchor and sail,
and began her dangerous voyage.
It was indeed in every way an expedition fraught with the greatest
danger. To begin with, they were in an unknown sea, where they must
trust to Providence to keep them off rocks and shoals. Secondly,
after they landed their lives were in the hands of the guide, who
might, if he chose, lead them into the very midst of the enemy; and
even if he proved true, they had the guards to silence, if nothing
worse.
All hands were armed to the teeth, and the boat's oars were muffled.
It still wanted half an hour of midnight when the yacht crept slowly
in towards the darkling shore, and the anchor was let silently down.
Finally the boat was lowered, and everything being ready, she was
shoved off and silently rowed towards the shore.
Stars were all out and shining, but the woods lay still and quiet
under their feeble light. Not a word was spoken by any one on board;
but just before the boat was run upon the soft white sand Fred felt
for Frank's hand and pressed it.
Frank well knew what was meant.
Then the landing was effected, Fred whispering some words in Mac's
ear just before the three brave men headed by their savage guide,
dipped into the dark woods and commenced the march.
Silently, and in single file, they followed on and on. It seemed a
very, very long mile, and more than once Fred suspected treachery.
So too did Frank. If treachery it was going to be, they at all
events had resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible; and it
was satisfactory to remember they were venturing those lives in a
worthy cause.
"Hist!" It was a signal from the guide.
All stopped, then cautiously advanced again. In a minute more they
came in view of the bamboo prison. And yonder were the guards,
seated by a blazing log fire--a fire that revealed their
fiercely-savage faces, but left all else in Rembrandtesque darkness.
Savoo, the guide, pointed to a spot just behind them, and whispered
to Quambo.
Quambo in his turn conferred with Fred and Frank, and in a moment a
plan of action was agreed to.
Quambo was to rush on, and throwing his huge bulk against the door,
burst it open, while the other three settled matters with the
spear-armed sentries.
For that matter they might have shot them where they sat; but Fred
was averse to using firearms before it was absolutely necessary.
Savoo was armed with a huge club. Fred and Frank, in addition to
their revolvers, had each a sword.
"Are we all ready?"
"All ready."
"Then dash on."
Quambo was first. He thrust at one of the guards with his spear as
he passed; but, rushing on and heeding nothing, hurled his whole
gigantic force against the frail bamboo door.
It gave way at once. It flew into flinders in fact. Meanwhile,
Savoo, club in hand, had followed Quambo to the fire.
Thud! thud! Two awful blows; and the two remaining sentries were
disposed of, and stretched beside the one Quambo had speared.
There was nothing left for Fred or Frank to do.
"Friends," cried Quambo as soon as the door flew open, "are you all
here, men?"
"The Lord's name be praised!" cried the Yankee skipper, "whoever you
are. But we're all tied and trussed like fowls goin' to the market."
Frank was beside his old captain in a minute, and Fred showed a light
from his bull's-eye lantern.
What a fearful sight! Every man was tied up in a bundle, as it were;
and when the cords were cut, for a few moments they scarce could
stand.
Here was a new danger that had not even been thought of. They could
not carry the men, and what if they could not walk?
But the odour of their prison was like that of some vile
charnel-house; and it was as much this as their cramped position that
rendered them so helpless.
They revived very soon after they were brought into the open air, and
were able to receive each a revolver from Quambo's grip-sack. Then
the return journey was at once commenced.
They reached the beach in safety, and half the party were at once
rowed off to the vessel. Fred, Frank, and Quambo remained behind
with two men--one being the Yankee skipper himself. This was the
most anxious time of all for Fred and Frank, and the longest too,
apparently.
Do what Fred would, he could not keep that Yankee skipper's tongue
silent.
To be sure he talked in a kind of half whisper, but the night was so
terribly still that even this could be heard a good long way off.
"What I'm terribly vexed about," was one of the skipper's remarks,
"is that I didn't have it out wi' that rascal, King Ota."
"Hush, hush!" whispered Frank. "Not so loud please, captain."
"The skunk," he continued, "to truss us all up like fowls."
Fred lost his temper now. "Look here, sir," he said, "I'm in command
here, and if you say another word I'll gag you--there!"
"I say, youngster," whispered the Yankee in a kind of wheedling tone,
"gag me with a lump o' baccy. I'd give ten years of my sinful life
for a chew."
In spite of the extreme danger they were in Fred could not keep from
smiling.
But Quambo stuck a big lump of tobacco in the skipper's hand, and he
was silent after this. "Hist!" It was the voice of the guide again.
He had clutched Fred's arm and was pointing away to the woods.
Fred could hear nothing for a time. At last, however, a confused
noise of tom-tom beating, couch blowing, and yelling, was borne to
his ears on the night breeze. It was only too evident that the
escape of the prisoners had already been discovered, that the whole
island was alarmed, and that the savages had found their trail.
Again and again Fred flashed his light towards the _Island Queen_, to
induce the speedy return of the boat. But seawards all was silent.
And every minute the shouting and yelling in the woods drew nearer
and nearer.
Both Frank and Fred did feel fear now. They stood almost face to
face with a terrible death, knowing well too that if caught alive
they would be put to the torture.
Nearer and nearer! Would the boat never come?
At last, oh, joy! a black spot suddenly appeared among the surf, and
they made a dash towards it.
None too soon, for hardly had they left the shore ere the whole beach
was lined by the howling savages. Spears whirled past them in the
darkness, and shots were returned from the boat.
Fred presently heard a dull thud close beside him in the boat.
"Oh!" groaned the Yankee skipper. "That's got me. Poor Silas is to
be sewed up at last."
"Has the spear hit you?" said Frank anxiously.
"Gone clean through and through me. Oh, don't attempt to draw it
out! Blood will flow in bucketfuls if you do. No, let me just
collect my thoughts and try to pray a bit. Oh! ain't got nary a
cigar about you, 'ave you?"
Meanwhile the boat was speeding across the water towards the _Island
Queen_.
"Oh, be careful now!" cried Silas. "I tell you I'm pinned clean
through the body on to the gunwale of the boat."
Fred showed his light. The spear certainly appeared to be sticking
right through Silas like a pin through a moth. But more minute
investigation showed it had only gone through his jacket and shirt,
grazing his skin.
"Oh," he said coolly, "well shiver me if I didn't think I was a gone
coon!"
In less than ten minutes after, all were on board, the sails were
filled, and the _Island Queen_ was standing rapidly out to sea.