"Now we can see what we're about, Mas'r Harry," said Tom cheerfully.
"Look, there's the first peep of where the sun's coming, and if we'd
been boxing the compass all night we couldn't have been trundling more
south-easter than we are. Hooroar, Miss Lilla, keep up your sperrits,
and we shall soon be all right."
Lilla smiled a response, and, cheered by the bright day, we made good
progress during the next two hours before the mules began to flag, when,
letting them graze, we made a short and hasty meal ourselves, each eye
scanning the forest round for enemies, such as we knew might spring up
at any moment.
An hour's rest taken of necessity, and then we were once more journeying
on, hopeful that we might soon strike upon one of the tributaries of the
great stream fed by the eternal snow of the mountains; but hours went
by, and no sign of river appeared, till suddenly, Tom, who was in
advance, said softly:
"Here's water somewhere, not far off, Mas'r Landell, for my mule's
cocking his nose up, and sniffing at a fine rate."
There was no doubt of its being the case, for no sooner had Tom's beast
given evidence of its power of scent, than similar manifestations
followed from the others; and now, instead of nagging and labouring
along, the hot and wearied beasts broke into a trot, and had to be
restrained as they tugged at the bridles.
The character of the undergrowth now, too, began to indicate moisture,
and that floods sometimes swept along the low flat jungle, where we with
some difficulty forced our way; and at last, almost overcome by the heat
and excitement, we came suddenly upon one of the broad sluggish streams
that intersect the vast forest lands, and go to form the vast water
system of the Orinoco. The stream, in spite of its sombre current and
the desolation of its muddy banks, whispered to us hope and escape from
the pursuit that might be now even pressing upon our heels.
My uncle and I hurried forward to scan the bank, ready to shoot at any
noxious reptile that might show fight. But we were not called upon to
fire; for though a couple of large crocodiles scuttled off into the
water, and once or twice there was a sharp rustling amongst the reeds,
we were unmolested; and bringing forward our weaker companions, we made
a temporary halt.
Now it is quite possible that, had I been a naturalist, I might have
called the horrible reptiles that abounded in these muddy streams by
some other name than crocodile; but even now, after consulting various
authorities, I am not quite satisfied as to the proper term. The
English of the district always called them crocodiles, and to me they
certainly seemed to differ from the alligator or cayman, whose
acquaintance I afterwards made amongst the lagoons of the Southern
United States.
But to return to our position on the river bank.
We knew that there was no time to be lost; and having cut a few stout
bamboos, we inflated the four skins we had, but not without some
difficulty, as they required soaking, and the tying up of one or two
failing places.
Our little raft was at length made, and, provided with a couple of
poles, afforded easy means of escape for three--at a pinch for four.
And now came the arrangements for the gold.
It seemed cruel, but, situated as we were, what else could we do? I did
not like the plan, but could see no alternative; so with Tom's aid the
mules were unloaded, and we led the poor brutes into the leafy screen,
so that Lilla and her mother might not be witnesses of how they were to
be offered up for our safety.
For our plan was this--to slay the poor beasts, and with their inflated
skins to try and make a raft that should bear Tom, myself, and the gold.
My heart failed me as the faithful brutes, that had brought us thus far,
turned their great soft eyes up to mine, and for a few minutes I
hesitated, trying to think out some other plan for our escape, when a
warning cry from my uncle brought Tom and myself back to the river bank,
where we could see, half a mile higher up the stream, a couple of
canoes, each containing two Indians, who were lazily paddling down
towards where we were.
At first we took them for enemies, and gave ourselves up for lost; and I
was about to beg of my uncle to risk flight with Lilla and my aunt upon
the little raft, while I and Tom covered their escape with our guns; but
the distance being lessened each moment, we could make out that these
men belonged to one of the inoffensive fishing tribes who lived upon the
rivers and their banks; and a new thought struck me--one which I
directly communicated to my uncle.
"Keep strict guard," I then said, "and mind this--a loud whistle shall
bring us directly back to your help. Come, Tom--bring your gun, man!"
The next minute Tom and I were upon the raft, dragging ourselves slowly
upstream by means of the bushes that overhung the river, till we found
that the Indians could see our coming, when we began to paddle the best
way we could out towards the middle.
As I expected, the Indians first stopped, and then made as if to turn
round and flee, raising their paddles for a fierce dash, when--
"Now, Tom!" I exclaimed; and, standing up together, we presented our
guns as if about to fire.
"Ah! they're like the crows at home," muttered Tom; "they know what a
gun is."
Tom was right; for the poor fellows uttered a wail of misery, held up
their paddles, and then suffered their canoes to drift helplessly
towards us.
"Quick, Tom!" I now exclaimed; "lay down your gun; and try and fight
against this stream, or we shall lose them after all."
Tom seized the bamboo pole, and by rapid beating of the water contrived
to keep the raft stationary till the Indians were nearly abreast, when,
pointing to the bank from which we had come, and still menacing them
with my gun, I made the poor timid creatures slowly precede us, and tow
us as well, to where my uncle was anxiously watching.
Upon landing, the poor fellows crouched before us, and laid their
foreheads upon the muddy grass; when, after trying to reassure them, my
uncle, who knew a little of their barbarous tongue, explained that we
only wanted their canoes; when, overjoyed at escaping with their lives,
the poor abject creatures eagerly forced the paddles into our hands.
"Tell them, Uncle, that we don't want their fishing-gear," I said; when
there was a fresh demonstration of joy, and Tom threw out their rough
lines and nets on to the grass.
"They may as well help us load, Mas'r Harry, mayn't they?" said Tom--a
proposition I at once agreed to.
In a very short space of time the gold was all placed in one canoe while
we tethered the other by a short rope to the raft: this boat contained
the provisions and ammunition, and in this Tom and I were to go, towing
the gold canoe and the raft, upon which more convenient place my uncle,
armed and watchful while we paddled, was to sit with Lilla and my aunt.
It was nearly dark when our arrangements were at an end; and thankful
that, so far, we had been uninterrupted, I drew the raft close in,
secured it to our canoe, and Tom took his place, paddle in hand. My
uncle made a couple of good easy seats for Lilla and my aunt, and then
took his place beside them; and now nothing was wanted but for me to
take a paddle beside Tom, when he exclaimed:
"This here stuff makes the canoe all hang to the starn, Mas'r Harry.
Tell you what, I'll go in that canoe for the present, and get the
freight shifted, and then join you again."
I nodded acquiescence, and then turned to the poor miserable creatures
whom we seemed to be robbing, and who now stood, dejected of aspect,
watching us.
"What shall I give them?" I thought. "A gun--a knife or two? Pish!
how absurd! Here--here!" I exclaimed, catching the two nearest savages
by the hand and hastily drawing them into the brake, when the others
followed. "One apiece for you, my good fellows, and you gain by the
exchange."
They could not understand my word; but as I pointed to the animals
tethered in the gloom, and then placed the bridle of a mule in each of
the four men's hands, their joy seemed unbounded, and, with a nod and a
smile, I was turning to depart, eager to continue our flight, when a
wild cry from the raft seemed to fix me to the spot.