THE NEW ALLY.
The amazement which so nearly overwhelmed Fred Ashman during the few
minutes succeeding the surrender of Ziffak, was shared in all its
entirety, when the two presented themselves before the astounded
explorers in the canoe.
In fact, Jared Long came within a hair of shooting the Hercules, before
the situation could be explained to him. Even then he refused for
awhile to believe the astonishing story, but declared that some
infernal trickery was afoot. Finally, however, he and the Professor
and Bippo and Pedros realized that the most powerful enemy had become
their ally.
Ziffak showed a strange talkativeness after joining the company.
Seating himself on the ground where all were now veiled in shadow, he
answered the questions that were rained upon him, until most of the
information given in the preceding chapter was told to the wondering
listeners.
The account of the dreadful reception that awaited their predecessors
three years before, would have deterred such brave men as the explorers
from pushing further, but for the fact that they had secured an
all-powerful friend at court. Believing that he could pave the way for
a friendly reception, they were eager to visit what seemed to them an
enchanted land.
There was some uneasiness over Waggaman and Burkhardt, who, it could be
easily seen, would at the most do nothing more than disguise their
enmity under the guise of friendship, holding themselves ready for some
treachery that would bring about the death of the visitors.
The conversation lasted a long time, and was ended by the natural
question put to Ziffak as to what should be the next step.
From what he had already stated, it was evident they were not yet
through with the Aryks. Despite their frightful repulse, they would
hold the Murhapas in greater dread than the whites; and, well aware of
the penalty of allowing them to pass above the rapids, would never
cease their efforts to prevent such a disaster. It followed,
therefore, that something must be done to spike their guns, and Ziffak
was the only one who could do it.
The whites were not surprised, when he offered to return to the point
down the river, where he had left his canoe, recross to the other side,
and make known to the Aryks that it was his wish that the explorers
should be molested no further.
The announcement would be a surprise indeed to them, but there was none
who would dare question the authority of such a source.
During the absorbingly interesting conversation, Ziffak stated that his
object in coming from the other side was to reach the camp of the
whites at the same time that an attack was made by the Aryks who so
cunningly used the floating logs and trees as a screen to hide their
approach. He preferred his course to that of accompanying them.
It will thus be seen, that, although the act of Fred Ashman in passing
down the Xingu seemed like a mistake, yet it was the most providential
thing that could have occurred.
Having made known his plan, the burly chieftain set about carrying it
out with characteristic promptness. Without saying good-bye, he rose
to his feet, and walking rapidly off, soon disappeared in the direction
of the spot where took place his encounter with the puma and his
meeting with Fred Ashman.
He had not been gone long, when those left in camp caught sight of the
little boat skimming swiftly across the Xingu below them. The
preliminaries of the singular movement in their favor was going on
according to programme.
But, with the departure of Ziffak, something like a distrust of his
friendship entered the minds of the three whites. Bippo and Pedros
were so overcome by what they had seen that they were unable to
comprehend what it all meant. They kept their places in the boat and
listened and wondered in silence.
The Professor hoped for the best, though he admitted that there was
something inexplainable in the business. He had spent hours in
examining the strange fish of the Upper Xingu, in inspecting the
remarkable plants, which he saw for the first time, and in studying the
zoology and mineralogy of the region. He had been delighted and
puzzled, over and over again, but all of these problems combined failed
to astonish him as did the action of Ziffak and the story he told.
Ashman was the most hopeful of all. He had been with the native more
than the rest, and was given the opportunity to study him closely. He
was confident that he read the workings of his mind aright, and that
the fellow would be their friend to the end.
Jared Long, the New Englander, was equally positive in the other
direction. He maintained that since the leopard cannot change his
spots, no savage showing such relentless hatred of the white race as
did Ziffak, could be transformed into a friend for no other reason than
that he had been made a prisoner.
He insisted further that, if he succeeded in helping them through to
the Murhapa village, it would be only with the purpose of securing a
more complete revenge. Such a powerful tribe as his need feel no
misgiving in allowing a small party to enter their town; for, after
that was done, they would be so completely at their mercy that there
was no possibility of any explorer ever living to tell the tale.
He especially dwelt upon the undoubted influence possessed by Waggaman
and Burkhardt. They would never consent to yield the influence they
had held so long, nor could they be induced to share it with any of
their own countrymen.
Grimcke and Ashman laughed at his fears, but strive as much as they
chose, they could not help being affected more or less by his
pessimistic views.
However, the brave fellow declared that he would accompany them on the
hazardous journey, and stick by them to the end. If they could not
survive, they would fall together.
By this time the night was far along. A careful scrutiny of the other
bank failed to reveal anything of their enemies, though all believed
there were plenty of them along the shore.
Ashman proposed, that now, since they were entirely screened by the
projecting shadow of the wood, they should cautiously push their way up
the bank, as near as possible to the rapids, so as to lessen the
distance that was to be passed on the morrow. There could be no
objection to this, and adjusting themselves in the usual manner in the
large canoe, they began the ascent of the river.
Naturally they would have kept close to the shore to escape, so far as
they could, the force of the current, and the main object now was to
prevent their movements being seen by the vigilant Aryks across the
stream, who might resume hostilities before Ziffak could make his
wishes known to them.
Our friends did not forget that a large body of these warriors had
passed the Xingu above the rapids to reach the bank along which the
craft was now stealing its way; but they had received such treatment
that the survivors hurried from the vicinity.
Still there was a probability that after rallying from their repulse,
more of them had swam across and were at that moment on the western
shore, on the watch for just such a movement as was under way.
If this should prove the case, it could not be expected that Ziffak
could interfere in time to prevent another sanguinary conflict; but
that might come about, even if the explorers remained where they had
stopped until daylight. If the Aryks were prepared to attack them
while on the move, they could do so with equal effect while they were
not in motion.
The increasing roar of the rapids was a great disadvantage, for it
drowned all inferior noises and compelled our friends to depend on
their eyesight alone to discover the approach of danger.
There was an involuntary shudder on the part of all, when they came
opposite the scene of the desperate fight, and they hastened past
without exchanging a word.
They had not much further to go when they found themselves, for the
time, at the end of their voyage. It was impossible to ascend further,
because of the rapids, which tossed the canoe about as though it were
an eggshell.
A halt was therefore made, and, at the moment this took place, all
observed that day was breaking, the light rapidly increasing in the
direction of the Aryk village.
"_Just what I told you_!" exclaimed Jared Long, as the simultaneous
discovery was made by all, that the forest around them was swarming
with the vengeful savages, eager for another and bloodier joust at arms.