*III*
*AN INDIAN BOATMAN*
The moment the decision was made Ken felt both sorry and glad. He gotthe excited boys outside away from the critical and anxious proprietor.And Ken decided it was incumbent upon him to adopt a serious andresponsible manner, which he was far from feeling. So he tried to be ascool as Hiram Bent, with a fatherly interest in the two wild boys whowere to accompany him down the Santa Rosa.
"Now, George, steer us around till we find a mozo," said Ken. "Thenwe'll buy an outfit and get started on this trip before you can say JackRobinson."
All the mozos the boys interviewed were eager to get work; however, whenmade acquainted with the nature of the trip they refused point blank.
"Tigre!" exclaimed one.
"Javelin!" exclaimed another.
The big spotted jaguar of the jungle and the wild boar, or peccary, wereheld in much dread by the natives.
"These natives will climb a tree at sight of a tiger or pig," saidGeorge. "For my part I'm afraid of the garrapatoes and the pinilius."
"What 're they?" asked Hal.
"Ticks--jungle ticks. Just wait till you make their acquaintance."
Finally the boys met a _mozo_ named Pepe, who had often rowed a boat forGeorge. Pepe looked sadly in need of a job; still he did not ask for it.George said that Pepe had been one of the best boatmen on the riveruntil _canya_, the fiery white liquor to which the natives wereaddicted, had ruined his reputation. Pepe wore an old sombrero, acotton, shirt and sash, and ragged trousers. He was barefooted. Kennoted the set of his muscular neck, his brawny shoulders and arms, andappreciated the years of rowing that had developed them. But Pepe'shaggard face, deadened eyes, and listless manner gave Ken pause. Still,Ken reflected, there was never any telling what a man might do, ifapproached right. Pepe's dejection excited Ken's sympathy. So Kenclapped him on the shoulder, and, with George acting as interpreter,offered Pepe work for several weeks at three pesos a day. That was morethan treble the _mozo's_ wage. Pepe nearly fell off the canal bridge,where he was sitting, and a light as warm and bright as sunshine flashedinto his face.
"Si, Senor--Si, Senor," he began to jabber, and waved his brown hands.
Ken suspected that Pepe needed a job and a little kind treatment. Hewas sure of it when George said Pepe's wife and children were in want.Somehow Ken conceived a liking for Pepe, and believed he could trusthim. He thought he knew how to deal with poor Pepe. So he gave himmoney, told him to get a change of clothes and a pair of shoes, and cometo the hotel next day.
"He'll spend the money for canya, and not show up to-morrow," saidGeorge.
"I don't know anything about your natives, but that fellow will come,"declared Ken.
It appeared that the whole American colony in Tampico had beenacquainted with Ken Ward's project, and made a business to waylay theboys at each corner. They called the trip a wild-goose chase. Theydeclared it was a dime-novel idea, and could hardly take Ken seriously.They mingled astonishment with amusement and concern. They advised Kennot to go, and declared they would not let him go. Over and over againthe boys were assured of the peril from ticks, bats, boars, crocodiles,snakes, tigers, and fevers.
"That's what I'm taking the trip for," snapped Ken, driven todesperation by all this nagging.
"Well, young man, I admire your nerve," concluded the hotel man. "Ifyou're determined to go, we can't stop you. And there's some things wewould like you to find out for us. How far do tarpon run up the PanucoRiver? Do they spawn up there? How big are the new-born fish? I'llfurnish you with tackle and preserved mullet, for bait. We've alwayswondered about how far tarpon go up into fresh water. Keep your eyeopen for signs of oil. Also look at the timber. And be sure to make amap of the river."
When it came to getting the boat shipped the boys met with moreobstacles. But for the friendly offices of a Texan, an employee of therailroad, they would never have been able to convince the nativeshipping agent that a boat was merchandise. The Texan arranged thematter and got Ken a freight bill. He took an entirely different viewof Ken's enterprise, compared with that of other Americans, and in acool, drawling voice, which somehow reminded Ken of Jim Williams, hesaid:
"Shore you-all will have the time of your lives. I worked at Valles fora year. That jungle is full of game. I killed three big tigers.You-all want to look out for those big yellow devils. One in everythree will jump for a man. There's nothing but shoot, then. And thewild pigs are bad. They put me up a tree more than once. I don't knowmuch about the Santa Rosa. Its source is above Micas Falls. Never heardwhere it goes. I know it's full of crocodiles and rapids. Never saw aboat or a canoe at Valles. And say--there are big black snakes in thejungle. Look out for them, too. Shore you-all have sport a-comin'."
Ken thanked the Texan, and as he went on up-street, for all his soberthoughtfulness, he was as eager as Hal or George. However, his positionas their guardian would not permit any show of extravagant enthusiasm.
Ken bought blankets, cooking utensils, and supplies for three weeks.There was not such a thing as a tent in Tampico. The best the boyscould get for a shelter was a long strip of canvas nine feet wide.
"That 'll keep off the wet," said Ken, "but it won't keep out themosquitoes and things."
"Couldn't keep 'em out if we had six tents," replied George.
The remainder of that day the boys were busy packing the outfit.
Pepe presented himself at the hotel next morning an entirely differentperson. He was clean-shaven, and no longer disheveled. He wore a newsombrero, a white cotton shirt, a red sash, and blue trousers. Heearned a small bundle, a pair of shoes, and a long _machete_. Thedignity with which he approached before all the other _mozos_ was notlost upon Ken Ward. A sharp scrutiny satisfied him that Pepe had notbeen drinking. Ken gave him several errands to do. Then he ordered theoutfit taken to the station in Pepe's charge.
The boys went down early in the afternoon. It was the time when the_mozos_ were returning from the day's tarpon-fishing on the river, andthey, with the _cargodores_, streamed to and fro on the platform. Pepewas there standing guard over Ken's outfit. He had lost his fame amonghis old associates, and for long had been an outsider. Here he was incharge of a pile of fine guns, fishing-tackle, baggage, and supplies--acollection representing a fortune to him and his simple class. He hadbeen trusted with it. It was under his eye. All his old associatespassed by to see him there. That was a great time for Pepe. He lookedbright, alert, and supremely happy. It would have fared ill withthieves or loafers who would have made themselves free with any of thearticles under his watchful eye.
The train pulled out of Tampico at five o'clock, and Hal's "We're off!"was expressive.
The railroad lay along the river-bank, and the broad Panuco was ripplingwith the incoming tide. If Ken and Hal had not already found George tobe invaluable as a companion in this strange country they would havediscovered it then. For George could translate Pepe's talk, and explainmuch that otherwise would have been dark to the brothers. Wild ducksdotted the green surface, and spurts showed where playful _ravalo_ werebreaking water. Great green-backed tarpon rolled their silver sidesagainst the little waves. White cranes and blue herons stood likestatues upon the reedy bars. Low down over the opposite bank of theriver a long line of wild geese winged its way toward a shimmeringlagoon. And against the gold and crimson of the sunset sky a flight ofwild fowl stood out in bold black relief. The train crossed the TamesiRiver and began to draw away from the Panuco. On the right, widemarshes, gleaming purple in the darkening light, led the eye far beyondto endless pale lagoons. Birds of many kinds skimmed the weedy flats.George pointed out a flock of aigrets, the beautiful wild fowl with thepriceless plumes. Then there was a string of pink flamingoes, tall,grotesque, wading along with waddling stride, feeding with heads underwater.
"Great!" exclaimed Ken Ward.
"It's all so different from Arizona," said Hal.
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At Tamos, twelve miles out of Tampico, the train entered the jungle.Thereafter the boys could see nothing but the impenetrable green wallsthat lined the track. At dusk the train reached a station called LasPalmas, and then began to ascend the first step of the mountain. Theascent was steep, and, when it was accomplished, Ken looked down anddecided that step of the mountain was between two and three thousandfeet high. The moon was in its first quarter, and Ken, studying thistropical moon, found it large, radiant, and a wonderful green-gold. Itshed a soft luminous glow down upon the sleeping, tangled web of jungle.It was new and strange to Ken, so vastly different from barren desert oriron-ribbed canon, and it thrilled him with nameless charm.
The train once more entered jungle walls, and as the boys could not seeanything out of the windows they lay back in their seats and waited forthe ride to end. They were due at Valles at ten o'clock, and theimpatient Hal complained that they would never get there. At length asharp whistle from the engine caused Pepe to turn to the boys with asmile.
"Valles," he said.
With rattle and clank the train came to a halt. Ken sent George andPepe out, and he and Hal hurriedly handed the luggage through the openwindow. When the last piece had been passed into Pepe's big hands theboys made a rush for the door, and jumped off as the train started.
"Say, but it's dark," said Hal.
As the train with its lights passed out of sight Ken found himself inwhat seemed a pitchy blackness. He could not see the boys. And he felta little cold sinking of his heart at the thought of such black nightson an unknown jungle river.
IV
AT THE JUNGLE RIVER
Presently, as Ken's eyes became accustomed to the change, the darknessgave place to pale moonlight. A crowd of chattering natives, with widesombreros on their heads and blankets over their shoulders, moved roundthe little stone station. Visitors were rare in Valles, as wasmanifested by the curiosity aroused by the boys and the pile of luggage.
"Ask Pepe to find some kind of lodging for the night," said Ken toGeorge.
Pepe began to question the natives, and soon was lost in the crowd.Awhile after, as Ken was making up his mind they might have to camp onthe station platform, a queer low 'bus drawn by six little mules creakedup. Pepe jumped off the seat beside the driver, and began to stow theluggage away in the 'bus. Then the boys piled in behind, and were soonbowling along a white moonlit road. The soft voices of natives greetedtheir passing.
Valles appeared to be about a mile from the station, and as they enteredthe village Ken made out rows of thatched huts, and here and there amore pretentious habitation of stone. At length the driver haltedbefore a rambling house, partly stone and partly thatch. There were nolights; in fact, Ken did not see a light in the village. George toldthe boys to take what luggage each could carry and follow the guide.Inside the house it was as dark as a dungeon. The boys bumped intothings and fell over each other trying to keep close to the barefootedand mysterious guide. Finally they climbed to a kind of loft, where themoonlight streamed in at the open sides.
"What do you think of this?" panted Hal, who had struggled with a heavyload of luggage. Pepe and the guide went down to fetch up the remainderof the outfit. Ken thought it best to stand still until he knew justwhere he was. But Hal and George began moving about in the loft. Itwas very large and gloomy, and seemed open, yet full of objects. Haljostled into something which creaked and fell with a crash. Thenfollowed a yell, a jabbering of a frightened native, and a scufflingabout.
"Hal, what 'd you do?" called Ken, severely.
"You can search me," replied Hal Ward. "One thing--I busted my shin."
"He knocked over a bed with some one sleeping in it," said George.
Pepe arrived in the loft then and soon soothed the injured feelings ofthe native who had been so rudely disturbed. He then led the boys totheir cots, which were no more than heavy strips of canvas stretchedover tall frameworks. They appeared to be enormously high for beds.Ken's was as high as his head, and Ken was tall for his age.
"Say, I'll never get up into this thing," burst out Hal. "These peoplemust be afraid to sleep near the floor. George, why are these cots sohigh?"
"I reckon to keep the pigs and dogs and all that from sleeping with thenatives," answered George. "Besides, the higher you sleep in Mexico thefarther you get from creeping, crawling things."
Ken had been of half a mind to sleep on the floor, but George's remarkhad persuaded him to risk the lofty cot. It was most awkward to climbinto. Ken tried several times without success, and once he just escapeda fall. By dint of muscle and a good vault he finally landed in thecenter of his canvas. From there he listened to his more