CHAPTER XXV
Reunion at Last
The chief was puzzled by the actions of Bob and Joe, and the boysrealized it, but there was no use trying to explain. It would takemore than signs to convey the idea that more whites were near theriver.
"Suppose we try to get him to go with us," suggested Joe. "Think hewill?"
"Hard to say. We'll find out."
The youths beckoned the Indian to come with them, and they weresurprised to find that he did so without hesitation.
"He probably intends to do anything we ask from now on," said Bob."Our ability to kill wild beasts with fire was too much for him. Maybehe thinks he'll die like the tapir if he refuses."
There was a narrow trail along the bank of the stream, and Bob led theway down it, followed by Joe and the chief. The boys intended to makeas much time as possible, for they wished to reach the river as soonas they could. How far away it was, they did not know. Perhaps a largenumber of miles.
"If we can just keep the chief with us everything will turn out fine,"said Bob.
All the rest of that day they trudged on, keeping their rifle readyfor any savage jungle beast that might show itself. The Indian keptwith them tirelessly, and many times he proved of valuable assistancein pointing out the easiest course through the underbrush.
Along toward evening they stopped at a large open space that wasdevoid of vegetation.
"Better stay here for the night, hadn't we?" asked Joe.
"Yes," Bob replied. "You stay here and build a fire while the chiefand I go in search of game. Don't think you'll be in any danger. We'llbe back in a short time."
Bob and the Indian started out down the bank of the stream, confidentthat they would see game sooner or later.
They had not far to go.
At a sharp bend in the trail a small animal, the name of which Bobdid not know, darted out and made for the water.
But it did not get there.
Bang! came the report of the rifle, and the bullet sped straight. Thecreature fell dead at once.
This time the Indian did not show signs of fear, for he knew what wasto come. Instead he looked at Bob with awe and wonder in his eyes.
Back at the clearing they found that Joe had started a large fire. Thewarmth of it felt good as the chill of the fast-approaching nightfell.
"You did have some luck, didn't you?" observed Joe. "Wonder if it'llbe good eating."
"Hope so."
The animal was skinned with Bob's hunting knife and placed over thefire to bake. Then the three sat together to witness the falling ofnight. As usual it came suddenly, and they huddled closer to the fire.
In time the animal was thoroughly baked, and then they began the meal.
Suddenly the chief got up and dashed through the jungle out of sight,leaving the youths to wonder at this sudden departure.
"Think he's gone?" asked Joe, trying to catch sight of the Indianthrough the dense vegetation.
"Doesn't seem possible that he'd desert us as abruptly as this,"replied Bob. "He seemed to be all our friend."
The youths waited silently, almost convinced that the man had left forgood.
But a moment later he emerged from the jungle as suddenly as he haddisappeared. In his arms were several varieties of what was evidentlywild fruit.
He ran toward the boys with a smile as he glanced first at the roastedanimal and then at the fruit he was carrying. When he reached the firehe deposited the stuff near, and then sat down to eat.
"A welcome addition to the meal," said Bob joyfully. "Takes thesesavages to know what all the vast forest contains that's nourishing."
Nevertheless the young men were careful to see that the Indian atefirst before they sampled any of the wild fruit.
"Take no chances," remarked Joe. "Ten to one he means no harm, butit's best to be on the safe side."
The chief ate of everything, however, and then the boys followedsuit. They found that all of the fruit was delicious, with flavorsthat they had never before tasted.
There were large, round melons, like a cross between a watermelon anda cantaloup. There were bulbs resembling potatoes, bunches of smallbright-colored berries, and wild bananas.
It was a meal unlike any that the boys had ever eaten. They felt likesavages themselves, and were delighted that soon they would come tothe river.
"Won't it be wonderful to see our party again?" asked Joe, deeplytouched.
"Sure will," Bob replied. "But we don't want to be too sure thateverything will turn out all right. Something else may turn up that'snot expected."
After the feast the three sat in silence, watching the moon floatsilently and majestically over the great jungle.
At last Joe turned to put more fuel on the fire.
"Hadn't some of us better turn in?" he asked. "We've had a tough timeof it today and need rest."
Bob agreed, and they set about arranging watches.
"I'll be the first guard," announced Joe. "You and the chief curl upby the fire and get some sleep. I'll call you in a few hours. We'dbetter not disturb the Indian tonight."
Thus it was arranged, and Joe sat idly beside the fire, his rifle nearby.
His watch passed without incident, and at last he tapped Bob on theback. They changed positions, Joe retiring and Bob keeping a lookoutfor intruders.
Despite the fact that Bob had a strange feeling that something wouldhappen, the night passed peacefully, although the youth was confidentthat wild animals were just beyond the zone of firelight.
In the morning Joe and the Indian were up early, preparing to hike on.The former still did not know where the boys were going or what theirpurpose was, but he showed no signs of hesitation.
"We want to see the river today," remarked Bob, as they again took upthe trail.
"I think we will," the other youth returned. "We made good timeyesterday, and if the luck continues, we will today."
All morning they tramped without a stop. They were tired andexhausted, but did not wish to lose time until necessary.
About noon they came to another clearing, and Bob moved that they stopfor the noon meal.
The chief and Joe went into the jungle a short distance away to gatherwild fruit, which alone was to serve as their meal.
In a short time they returned with a bountiful supply, and then thefeast began.
"Several new additions to our menu today," remarked Bob, as he noticedthat there were cocoanuts, roots like carrots, and a plant resemblingcane.
The three ate heartily of everything, and then they started on.
"Stream's getting wider," observed Bob, several hours later.
"Yes," returned Joe. "The river shouldn't be very far away."
He had scarcely uttered the words when they rounded a sharp curve andfound themselves at the junction with the river.
For a moment the youths could hardly believe their eyes. Here at lastwas the thing they had been searching for all these days--the thingthat would lead them to their fathers and the others of the party.Never had anything looked so good to them.
"At last!" breathed Joe, too delighted for words. "Now let's hurry onup to the boats."
"How do you know we should go up?" demanded Bob. "They could be easilyfarther downstream as well."
"I know it," was the response. "But it seems to me that I rememberpassing this stream several hours before we stopped."
"All right. Let's go."
They had to search quite a while before a path was found that followedthe river.
"If we keep up this good time, we'll surely see the boats today--ifthey're there to see," said Bob, as he led the way up the trail.
Notwithstanding this, they hiked on constantly for the remainder ofthe afternoon without coming to the explorers' boats.
"Perhaps if we fire rifle shots it will attract their attention," saidJoe, and he sent out three shots, repeating at intervals.
"What's that?" said Joe, raising a hand for silence.
"Thought I heard an answering report,
" he said. "But maybe---- Yes,there it is again. And there."
Two shots had sounded from afar, and at once the boys responded withJoe's rifle.
"Now let's move on upstream," said Bob. "If we can meet them halfwayit will be all the better."
The youths again followed the trail, the Indian chief close behindthem. They realized that the answering reports had come from afar andthat it would take no little hiking to get to them.
About every five minutes Joe raised the rifle and fired, each timereceiving an answering shot.
Finally, after an hour's constant traveling, they heard a crashingsound in the jungle not far ahead, and they were on the alert at once.
A moment later Mr. Lewis and Mr. Holton emerged and looked about.
Their eyes fell on Bob and Joe, and the men rushed forward in intenserelief and thankfulness.
"Boys!" cried Mr. Holton, almost unable to believe his own eyes.
The next instant they were stammering out words of thanksgiving atfinding their sons alive and apparently none the worse for theirexperience.
"We didn't see how you could possibly escape tragedy," said Mr. Lewisgravely. "Getting lost in the vast Amazon jungle is a serious thing,especially when you have no food of any kind with you."
"All the time we were in doubt as to how we'd come out," said Bob."Worst part of it was that we were afraid to hike far for fear ofgetting farther away from the river, but we knew we couldn't get anyplace sitting down."
"Tell us all about it," urged Mr. Holton, and the youths related theirexperience from start to finish. They told of shooting the jaguar, ofthe necessary abandoning of Bob's rifle, and of the flight thatfollowed. And at last of coming across the strange tribe of Indiansthat was probably the one Professor Bigelow had been searching for.
"A fearful experience," breathed Mr. Lewis, when the youths hadfinished. "Not many could have had such good luck. If you hadn't comeacross the Indians, your fate would probably have been sealed by now."
"But wait," hesitated Joe, with a sudden recollection. "Here's thechief of the tribe we got in with. We finally got him to come withus."
He glanced around, but the Indian was nowhere in sight.
"Strange," mused Bob. "He was here a few minutes ago. Could he haveleft?"
He called loudly, but it was unnecessary. The man had only steppedbehind a bush, undecided as to whether to come in sight of the otherwhites, and at once left his place of concealment and walked outwarily.
Bob and Joe beckoned for him to move up to them. At first he wasuncertain, but finally concluded that it would be safe to venturenearer.
The boys introduced him as best they could by signs, and although itwas rather awkward, they felt that much of his uncertainty vanishedbefore the cordial attitude of Mr. Lewis and Mr. Holton.
"Now we must get to the boats," Joe's father said. "Professor Bigelowwill be worried about us, if he is not by now."
They hiked on up the river, the chief following.
"Won't the old boy be surprised when he finds that Professor Bigelowcan talk with him!" smiled Joe, as they rounded a long bend.
"That isn't a strong enough word," laughed Mr. Holton. "Still," hehesitated, "we don't want to be too sure that this Indian is from thetribe that the professor was searching for."
The boats were several miles distant, and it would require severalhours' traveling to get to them. But the whites were all overlyanxious and made good time.
At last, after passing through a thick grove of palms, they sightedthe boats in the distance.
Professor Bigelow came running up at once, a broad smile ofthankfulness on his bronzed, scholarly face. He gave the boys awelcome almost as warm as that of Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis. The crew,too, took part in the reception and muttered words of joy at seeingBob and Joe alive and unharmed. Even the Indians who had previouslyattempted desertion joined in, outwardly at least.
"But look here, Professor," said Bob. "We've found the savage tribeyou were searching for and have brought you the chief."
"What!"
For answer Bob motioned for the Indian, who was standing several scorefeet down the path, to come closer. He grudgingly did so, and theprofessor was taken completely aback in surprise and joy. His eyesopened wide, and it was some time before he could regain hiscomposure.
"How can I ever thank you enough?" he muttered, his eyes on the soberIndian. "We might have searched for days and days and then not foundthe tribe."
He turned to the chief and said something that the others did notunderstand. At once the savage's face lightened, and he beganchattering so rapidly that the professor had to put up a hand forsilence.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not that familiar with his language," laughed theprofessor. "I think, though, that if he'll talk slowly I may be ableto understand him. Luckily he's from the same tribe that Otari toldabout."
Again Professor Bigelow turned to the Indian and this time asked himto talk more slowly.
He did, and a long conversation followed. It was broken and awkward,but in the end the professor gained a large amount of information.There was a smile on his face as he turned to the others.
"He says he will tell me all I want to know about his people if I willgo with him to his settlement. His people will treat us all right. Idon't think there is cause to worry about that. What do you thinkabout going?"
"All right with me," returned Mr. Holton. "That was one purpose forcoming up here, you know. And the chances are that we'll find anabundance of fauna in those remote forests. I'm all for it."
"Fine," burst out Professor Bigelow. "Then we'll go at once. Butfirst," he hesitated, "we'll have to decide who will go and who willstay with the boats."
"Why not take the boats with us?" suggested Joe. "The stream that Boband I followed to the river is deep, even if it isn't wide. I think wecan easily paddle through."
The others gave their approval at once, and they moved on up to theboats.
They decided to get a lunch first, however, for all were tired afterthe day's strain. The chief was in no special hurry to get back to thevillage, as he had often left on long hunting trips alone.
Soon after the meal the provisions that had been taken out were packedin the boats, and then all climbed in.
"Now let's make time," urged Mr. Lewis, and the crew paddled themupstream.
The afternoon was rapidly wearing away, and before long it would benight.
At last Mr. Holton called to the crew to stop the boats.
"It's unsafe to paddle farther," he said. "Suppose we turn up intothat little bay over there."
The suggestion was carried out. Then they made camp.
"Hope nothing happens tonight," said Bob, as he prepared to turn infor the night.
"I'm with you there," his chum returned. "Somehow I've had enoughthrills for a while."
But he had no way of knowing how soon action would present itself in abig way.
The next morning they were up early, preparing to resume the journeyshortly after breakfast. The chief of the strange tribe told ProfessorBigelow that they should reach his village late that day, if allturned out well.
"I'm not especially anxious to get back among those wild men," Bobsaid aside to his chum. "But we must do all we can to help ProfessorBigelow."
Late that afternoon the chief said something to the anthropologist andpointed to a clearly defined trail that wound away through the heavyvegetation.
"He says that here is where we leave the boats and head for hisvillage," the scientist told the others in animated tones.
"Fine!" exclaimed Mr. Lewis, also delighted that the journey had cometo an end. "There's a place that will act as a harbor," pointing to agroove in the shore.
He directed the crew to paddle the boats to land, and as soon as thiswas done all climbed out and made the crafts fast to staunch trees.
Professor Bigelow turned to the savage and conversed for severalminutes. Then he moved to the boats.
"The village isn't far away," he said. "It will
be safe to leave ourprovisions here for the time being."
As a precaution, however, and also because the naturalists wished tosecure new specimens, they carried their rifles and a good supply ofammunition.
The chief led the way along the path, the others close at his heels.The path was so well cut that they had no trouble in walking alongbriskly. A half-hour, the Indian said through Professor Bigelow, wouldbe all the time required to get to the village.
Suddenly the explorers heard a faint screaming and shouting that camefrom the village, and at once the chief began chattering nervously.
Professor Bigelow gave a groan and translated to the others.
"He says that probably a fight is taking place between his tribe andanother," said the scientist.
"What!" cried Mr. Holton excitedly. "Then that means that we whitesmay have to use our rifles after all. Ask him if the other tribe isusing poisoned arrows."
The savage nodded in affirmation when the question was put before him,and the whites tightened their grips on their weapons.
"I guess this means that we're in for some excitement," Bob confidedto his chum, as the party again followed the trail.
Ten minutes later they parted the foliage and came abruptly withinfull view of the village. All uttered cries of consternation at thefuriousness of the battle that was taking place between the two savagetribes.