CHAPTER XXIII
Terrible Cries of Savages
"Oh, why did we have to wander so far away!" moaned Joe, rapidlylosing his nerve. "We should have known better than to try topenetrate this endless jungle."
Bob was equally touched, but he resolved to keep up hope. There was nouse in tamely submitting to fear so soon. One more search might bringthem to the river, and then it would be easy to find the boats.
"We'll come out all right," he said, "although I'll admit we're in atight fix."
The youths rested for nearly a half-hour. Then their strength--and tosome extent their hope--restored, they again took up the task offinding the right trail.
Back and forth they hiked, confident that at last they would happenupon it. But search as they did, their efforts were in vain. Thecruel Brazilian jungle was not to be conquered by man.
At last, satisfied that nothing could be gained by continuing suchefforts, Joe moved that they take one of the other trails in the hopethat it would lead them to the river.
"All right," said Bob. "No use trying to find the one we followed whenrunning from the jaguar."
Joe had reloaded his rifle, and Bob had placed his hunting knife readyfor instant use. They were taking no chances on meeting someformidable jungle beast.
The path that they now followed was wider than the others andconsequently was more likely to lead to some definite spot. Butneither of the chums was sure that they were heading for the river. Itmight lead them fifty miles away, for all they knew. Still they hikedon.
"Do you know," remarked Bob, when another hour had passed, "that I'mbeginning to think that these trails were not cut by wild animals!They're too closely defined. Now take this one, for example. See howwide it is? And look over there. The vegetation's been _cut_ by amachete."
Joe grew suddenly pale. He clutched his rifle tighter.
"You mean--savages?" he demanded, at the same time looking sharplyabout.
"I may be wrong," Bob said quietly, "but that is my opinion. And aswe're about in the region inhabited by the savage tribe that ProfessorBigelow was searching for, it seems that these paths could have beencut by them. What do you think?"
"I'm all too afraid that you're right," was the reply. "And we'll haveto be very careful from now on. At the slightest unfamiliar soundwe'll have to hide."
Bob groaned.
"If I only had my rifle," he cried. "Or if I had brought my revolverit wouldn't be quite as bad."
But there was no use regretting something that could not be helped,and Bob and Joe resolved to meet conditions as they were. Perhaps ifit should happen that Indians discovered them, it would be best not touse their weapons except in self-defense. If the natives' good willcould be gained, it would not only help them but be of benefit toProfessor Bigelow also.
All the remainder of that afternoon the youths tramped on up thetrail, hoping to burst at last upon the river. They were tired anddownhearted when finally they stopped by a small spring of cool water.Experience had taught them that in the great majority of cases thesejungle springs were ideal drinking places and that only a very fewwere poisoned. So they drank freely of the refreshing liquid and feltmuch better for it.
"Better stop here for the night, hadn't we?" asked Bob, taking in thesurrounding country.
"Yes," his friend replied. "There's a good place to sleep," pointingto a large hollow in the ground.
A little later darkness fell suddenly, and with it came the usualchill of the atmosphere. Joe had some matches in a small waterproofbox, and he took them out and ignited the dry branches of an uprootedtree. The fire blazed lively up into the black reaches of the jungle,giving off heat that was welcomed by the two chums as they sat closetogether.
Before retiring, they took account of their weapons and ammunition.Joe's rifle was the only firearm in their possession, but both boyshad a large supply of cartridges that should last a long time. Withcautious use they might make them satisfy their needs for severaldays. But after that? Still there was no use worrying about thefuture. They could let it take care of itself. At present they weresafe.
"I'll take the first guard," said Bob, half an hour later. "You turnin and get several hours' sleep. I'll call you when the night's halfover."
Joe grudgingly consented. He had intended to stand watch first.
Bob heaped the fire up high and had a good supply of fuel ready tokeep it blazing constantly.
But when ten minutes had passed he smothered it down to half the sizeit had been. It was not wise to keep it too high, for though it was asure protection from wild animals, it might attract the attention ofhostile Indians.
"Have to prevent that at any cost," the young man thought.
Bob sat moodily fingering his rifle, gazing into the dark depths ofthe jungle. From afar came a terrorizing howl of some beast that hadfallen victim of a stronger enemy. Shortly later there came anotherhowl of different origin. Then another, another, until the wholejungle rang with fiendish cries.
It was enough to frighten anyone, and Bob stared rather fearfullyinto the surrounding forest, wondering what tragedies were going on atthat moment.
"Probably scores of creatures being killed," he thought, shiftinguneasily.
Nothing happened throughout his watch, and he at last moved over andtapped Joe on the back. The latter jumped to his feet as if shot, andgazed fearfully about, as if expecting to see a band of cannibals rushin on them. But a moment later he smiled sheepishly.
"Guess I was dreaming," he said, taking his position on a log.
Bob readily sympathized with his chum, for the day had been astrenuous one, and their endurance had been taxed severely.
"We'll surely find a way out tomorrow," Bob said, curling up in thehollow.
"Hope so," was the reply.
Joe's watch was also devoid of incident, and late the next morning hecalled the other youth from his slumber.
They were obliged to begin the day without any breakfast, althoughthey were extremely hungry. They could have shot some small animal,but Bob thought it wise to wait until noon.
"By that time," he said hopefully, "maybe we'll have found theriver--or something else."
They followed the same trail until Joe stopped and looked about.
"We're not getting any place as things are," he said. "Seems to me theriver should be over in that direction."
"I think so too," agreed Bob. "There should be plenty of branch pathsthat would take us over there."
They found one before another five minutes had passed, and turned ontoits narrow surface.
"The world's greatest jungle," mused Bob, shaking his head.
"Sure is a whopper," the other agreed. "Wonderful. I had no idea itwould have such a wide variety of plants, and that it could be sodense."
All that morning the boys spent in vainly searching for the river. Thetrail that they had turned onto continued, but where it would lead tothey did not know. It might have gradually circled several miles outof the way.
During that desperate search the chums saw a large number of all typesof wild animals, although none happened to be dangerous. Monkeyscrowded thickly down to the lowest boughs, small gnawing creaturesdarted across the path, brightly colored birds flew swiftly overhead.Occasionally the boys could get a glimpse of a snake slinking throughthe underbrush. It was a wonderful menagerie and could have beenenjoyed to the full had they not been in such a terrible plight.
"Do you know," remarked Bob, his eyes on a small creature, "I believethese animals are used to seeing people."
Joe looked around inquiringly.
"Now take that small furred creature that just passed," Bob continued."Did you notice how wary it seemed? One glance at us was enough tosend it running back at full speed. They never did that before. Nowhere's what I think: we're in a country inhabited either by rubbergatherers or Indians. Why rubber gatherers would be so far fromcivilization I don't know, unless----"
"I don't think they would be," interrupted Joe. "We didn't come acros
sany boat that they might have come in. And of course they wouldn'thave come all these hundreds of miles by land."
"Then it's Indians. Savages, cannibals, maybe, for all we know. It'stheir bows and arrows that have scared these wild animals out oftheir wits."
The youths knew not what to make of the situation. There could easilybe Indians in this region, for Professor Bigelow was almost sure theywere near the strange savage tribe that Otari told about. But how thenatives would treat these two lone whites was a mystery. If thereshould be a battle the youths knew that their rifle could be reliedupon only as long as the supply of cartridges lasted. Then they wouldbe compelled to surrender.
"I have a plan," stated Joe, several minutes later. "If anythingshould happen that we are discovered by savages, it might be best toact extremely exhausted, as if we couldn't stand up a minute longer.We could even fall in our tracks before they quite get sight of us.The chances are they would sympathize with us and take us into theirvillage."
"Then what?"
"We could gain their friendship and have them lead us to the river."
"Fine!" cried Bob Holton, his hope renewed. "Takes you to think ofsome plan to get us out of danger. Most likely we could carry it out,for these savages are only grown children when it comes to catchingon to anything unusual. But we'd have to be very careful and keep aclose watch for any treachery."
Along toward noon the youths began to look for game. They were by nowfuriously hungry and felt as if they could devour almost any creaturethat would fall at the report of their rifle.
They did not have to wait long before a large duck-like bird flew overand perched on a tree bough, not twenty feet away. Joe handed hisrifle to his chum.
"Take a shot at it," urged Joe. "We may not see another chance asgood."
Bob aimed carefully and fired just as the bird prepared to takeflight. A moment later feathers flew and the creature fluttered to theground.
"Hurrah!" cried Joe. "Now we eat!"
A fire was built of dead wood in the vicinity, and the young hunters'quarry was placed over the flames to bake. Before long a deliciousodor filled the clearing, and the youths prepared a feast fit for aking.
"Roast duck! Think of that!" cried Joe.
The bird tasted good, despite the fact that it was rather tough. Boband Joe ate heartily, until only a small portion was left. Then theystretched themselves on the soft grass for a short rest.
"I feel like getting some sleep," remarked Joe. "But of course----"
He stopped suddenly and strained his ears to listen.
Bob looked inquiringly but remained quiet.
A moment later there came a long, weird chant that cut through thethin jungle air with remarkable clearness. It was repeated severaltimes, always nearer. Never before had the youths heard anything likeit, and they were intensely bewildered.
Bob looked inquiringly at his friend, but the latter could give noexplanation.
"Beyond me," he muttered.
Again the cry came, and then the boys jumped to their feet in horror.
"Savages!" cried Bob excitedly. "Indians--wild Indians. They're comingthis way!"