*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 unfortunatecomrades. Pepe got into his without much difficulty. George, however,in climbing up, on about the fifth attempt swung over too hard androlled off on the other side. The thump he made when he dropped jarredthe whole loft. From the various growls out of the darkness itdeveloped that the loft was full of sleepers, who were not pleased atthis invasion. Then Hal's cot collapsed, and went down with a crash.And Hal sat on the flattened thing and laughed.
"Mucho malo," Pepe said, and he laughed, too. Then he had to get outand put up Hal's trestle bed. Hal once again went to climbing up theframework, and this time, with Pepe's aid, managed to surmount it.
"George, what does Pepe mean by _mucho malo_?" asked Hal.
"Bad--very much bad," replied George.
"Nix--tell him nix. This is fine," said Hal.
"Boys, if you don't want to sleep yourselves, shut up so the rest of uscan," ordered Ken.
He liked the sense of humor and the good fighting spirit of the boys,and fancied they were the best attributes in comrades on a wild trip.For a long time he heard a kind of shuddering sound, which he imaginedwas Hal's cot quivering as the boy laughed. Then absolute quietprevailed, the boys slept, and Ken felt himself drifting.
When he awakened the sun was shining through the holes in the thatchedroof. Pepe was up, and the other native sleepers were gone. Ken and theboys descended from their perches without any tumbles, had a breakfastthat was palatable--although even George could not name what theyate--and then were ready for the day.
Valles consisted of a few stone houses and many thatched huts of bambooand palm. There was only one street, and it was full of pigs, dogs, andbuzzards. The inhabitants manifested a kindly interest and curiosity,which changed to consternation when they learned of the boys' project.Pepe questioned many natives, and all he could learn about the SantaRosa was that there was an impassable waterfall some few kilometersbelow Valles. Ken gritted his teeth and said they would have to getpast it. Pepe did not encounter a man who had ever heard of theheadwaters of the Panuco River. There were only a few fields undercultivation around Valles, and they were inclosed by impenetrablejungle. It seemed useless to try to find out anything about the river.But Pepe's advisers in the village told enough about _tigre_ and_javelin_ to make Hal's hair stand on end, and George turn pale, and Kenhimself wish they had not come. It all gave Ken both a thrill and ashock.
There was not much conversation among the boys on the drive back to thestation. However, sight of the boat, which had come by freight, stirredKen with renewed spirit, and through him that was communicated to theothers.
The hardest task, so far, developed in the matter of transporting boatand supplies out to the river. Ken had hoped to get a handcar and haulthe outfit on the track down to where the bridge crossed the Santa Rosa.But there was no hand-car. Then came the staggering information thatthere was no wagon which would carry the boat, and then worse still inthe fact that there was no road. This discouraged Ken; nevertheless hehad not the least idea of giving up. He sent Pepe out to tell thenatives there must be some way to get the outfit to the river.
Finally Pepe found a fellow who had a cart. This fellow claimed he knewa trail that went to a point from which it would be easy to carry theboat to the river. Ken had Pepe hire the man at once.
"Bring on your old cart," said the irrepressible Hal.
That cart turned out to be a remarkable vehicle. It consisted of anarrow body between enormously high wheels. A trio of little mules washitched to it. The driver willingly agreed to haul the boat and outfitfor one _peso_, but when he drove up to the platform to be surrounded byneighbors, he suddenly discovered that he could not possibly accommodatethe boys. Patiently Pepe tried to persuade him. No, the thing wasimpossible. He made no excuses, but he looked mysterious.
"George, tell Pepe to offer him five pesos," said Ken.
Pepe came out bluntly with the inducement, and the driver began tosweat. From the look of his eyes Ken fancied he had not earned so muchmoney in a year. Still he was cunning, and his whispering neighborslent him support. He had the only cart in the village, and evidently itseemed that fortune had come to knock at least once at his door. Heshook his head.
Ken held up both hands with fingers spread. "Ten pesos," he said.
The driver, like a crazy man, began to jabber his consent.
The boys lifted the boat upon the cart, and tied it fast in front sothat the stern would not sag. Then they packed the rest of the outfitinside.
Ken was surprised to see how easily the little mules trotted off withsuch a big load. At the edge of the jungle he looked back toward thestation. The motley crowd of natives were watching, making excitedgestures, and all talking at once. The driver drove into a narrowtrail, which closed behind him. Pepe led on foot, brushing aside thethick foliage. Ken drew a breath of relief
as he passed into the coolshade. The sun was very hot. Hal and George brought up the rear,talking fast.
The trail was lined and overgrown with slender trees, standing veryclose, making dense shade. Many birds, some of beautiful coloring,flitted in the branches. In about an hour the driver entered a littleclearing where there were several thatched huts. Ken heard the puffingof an engine, and, looking through the trees, he saw the railroad andknew they had arrived at the pumping-station and the bridge over theSanta Rosa.
Pepe lost no time in rounding up six natives to carry the boat. Theydid not seem anxious to oblige Pepe, although they plainly wanted themoney he offered. The trouble was the boat, at which they lookedaskance. As in the case with the driver, however, the weight andclinking of added silver overcame their reluctance. They easily liftedthe boat upon their shoulders. And as they entered the trail, making astrange procession in the close-bordering foliage, they encountered twonatives, who jumped and ran, yelling: "La diable! La diable!"
"What ails those gazabos?" asked Hal.
"They're scared," replied George. "They thought the boat was thedevil."
If Ken needed any more than had already come to him about the wildnessof the Santa Rosa, he had it in the frightened cries and bewilderment ofthese natives. They had never seen a boat. The Santa Rosa was abeautiful wild river upon which boats were unknown. Ken had not hopedfor so much. And now that the die was cast he faced the trip withtingling gladness.
"George and Hal, you stay behind to watch the outfit. Pepe and I willcarry what we can and follow the boat. I'll send back after you," saidKen.
Then as he followed Pepe and the natives down the trail there was a deepsatisfaction within him. He heard the soft rush of water over stonesand the mourning of turtledoves. He rounded a little hill to comeabruptly upon the dense green mass of river foliage. Giantcypress-trees, bearded with gray moss, fringed the banks. Through thedark green of leaves Ken caught sight of light-green water. Birds roseall about him. There were rustlings in the thick underbrush and the whirof ducks. The natives penetrated the dark shade and came out to anopen, grassy point.
The Santa Rosa, glistening, green, swift, murmured at Ken's feet. Thenatives dropped the boat into the water, and with Pepe went back for therest of the outfit. Ken looked up the shady lane of the river andthought of the moment when he had crossed the bridge in the train.Then, as much as he had longed to be there, he had not dared to hope it.And here he was! How strange it was, just then, to see a large blackduck with white-crested wings sweep by as swift as the wind! Ken hadseen that wild fowl, or one of his kind, and it had haunted him.