CHAPTER XXV
THE CAPTIVES
"Mr. Daley, you are a brave man."
"Glad of the compliment, Dave Fearless. I hope I deserve it."
"You certainly do," asserted Dave warmly. "But where are Jones andLewis?"
Daley, who had flushed with pleasure at the handsome compliment bestowedby the young friend he was learning to like and respect, scowled andmuttered angrily at this allusion to the companions who had beencaptured with them by the natives on the cape bluff.
"They're cowards, that's what they are," cried Daley angrily, "themiserable villains."
"Well, I hope they got away safely, anyhow," said Dave simply.
"They don't deserve it," growled Daley. "Now then, lad, so far so good.But what next?"
"That's so," remarked Dave Fearless. "What next, indeed?"
It was the second day after their capture. Dave and Daley were in aqueer environment, to explain which it is necessary to go back to thehour when they were discovered on the cape bluff by the natives.
Their great joy at the discovery of the _Swallow_ so near at hand offthe island coast, had been quickly shadowed.
As Dave's anxious friends had seen through the spyglass from the deck ofthe steamer, the arrival of a large body of natives had put an end tothe freedom of the young ocean diver and his companions. All four weresurrounded and bound.
While some of the savages went on with their fetich ceremonies on thebluff to cast an evil spell on the _Swallow_, the others marched thecaptives to the native town.
There they were placed in a wretched hut, without any roof. The hutfilled a cavity in the ground. About a dozen natives squatted on thesurrounding level, and were thus enabled to keep the captives constantlyin sight.
The rest of that day and the next passed in this irksome confinement.The prisoners were given food and water, but the great vigilance oftheir guards was not relaxed.
There was not the least opportunity afforded to escape.
When night came again, Daley and the others went to sleep. They hadbecome disheartened. Dave, however, never gave up. Escape wasconstantly in his mind. His chance came at midnight.
Dave did not know it then, but Stoodles and Bob Vilett were responsiblefor the opportunity afforded.
Of a sudden, Dave caught the sounds of great commotion in the center ofthe native village, from which their prison place was quite remote.
Some men came running by, shouting loudly to the guards. Dave wasamazed to see the last two of these spring to their feet in greatexcitement. They babbled like frightened monkeys. Then, with franticyells, they dashed away towards the village.
It took Dave Fearless less than a minute to arouse his sleepingcompanions. It took less than another minute to show them that a goldenopportunity for escape was presented.
It had not been a question of getting rid of their bonds at any time.These had grown loose from their twisting about during the day. It wasthe work of but a moment to cast them to the ground.
"There is not a single guard left," said Dave. "Something great andexciting is evidently happening at the native village. Work fast, men.We must get out of the enclosure some way quick as we can. Then a dashfor the timber yonder."
Daley braced himself against the side wall of the enclosure. Davemounted to his shoulders. As soon as he got safely over on the solidground, Dave secured some poles. These he slanted down into the prisonplace. The others scrambled up them with agility and had soon joinedhim.
"What's that?" demanded Daley suddenly. "There it is again. No, gone.Something like a big fireball. The trees shut it out. Now then,Fearless, lead the way."
Daley had caught a momentary glimpse of the balloon Bob Vilett had sentaloft. Had Dave seen this, it might have suggested the near proximityof friends from the _Swallow_ and have changed his plans.
As it was, he, like his companions, had only one thought in view--to getto a safe distance before the guards might return, discover theirabsence, and arouse the tribe to a general pursuit.
The refugees were most fortunate in their movements for the next fewhours. Dave had struck out due west. They soon passed all signs ofhabitations.
It was two o'clock in the morning when they halted. The others lay downon the ground. Dave rested a few minutes. Then he arose and walked ashort distance from the spot.
He was intent on studying their surroundings and learning what prospectlay beyond a sharp rise just in their course to the west.
The moon shone brightly, but by spells clouds occasionally crossed thesky. Dave had to wait for these fitful illuminations to pick hiscourse.
Near to the top of the rise Dave halted, studied a slight glare, andthen started on again with caution.
"A fire," he said. "Yes, I can smell smoke. Natives around a camp-fire?I guess that much. I must hurry back to the others and make back tracksdouble-quick."
Dave hastened along fast and recklessly. The sure proximity of enemieshad startled him.
"What's this?" he gasped suddenly, lost his footing, took a header, andplunged into complete darkness.