CHAPTER XXIX
FOUND!
Dave Fearless pulled farther away the bushes that still half-screenedthe native. The man sat up, and spoke some words feebly. Dave shook hishead. The man sank back dejectedly, knowing now that Dave could notunderstand him.
Dave saw that the man was hurt and helpless. He tried to find out how.The outcast's face expressed some relief as Dave gently lifted one armand then the other. Then the outcast pointed to one lower limb.
Dave moved this. The man winced. Dave's face grew serious.
"His left leg is broken," said Dave. "Too bad!"
Dave found that the man's kneebone was completely shattered. He seemedto have had a terrible fall. As Dave proceeded with his ministrationsgently, the man pointed to the cliff.
"Fell over there, eh?" translated Dave, nodding as the man went on withexpressive gestures. "Pursued by many, many. Yes, I see. You want togo farther? That way? The island out there? My man, I don't think youwill stand much moving."
Dave spent an hour bathing the injured limb and setting it in splints.It was a crude surgical operation and must have pained the suffererintensely, but the very fact of kindly attention and treatment seemed tocheer up the poor fellow.
"I've certainly got a new and great responsibility on my hands," thoughtDave. "What am I going to do now? If he is recaptured, he willprobably be sacrificed. If he is left here alone, he will starve anddie of neglect. Yes," said Dave firmly, "black or white, friend or foe,the poor fellow relies on my sympathy. He is going to get it, too, tothe fullest extent. I won't desert him."
Dave busied himself looking for food. He hoped that Daley or the othertwo men might show up. He was near the sea. The _Swallow_ might happenby.
"Well, you're a persistent sort of a fellow," commented Dave, as theoutcast for the twentieth time or more pointed to the island he hadfirst indicated in the same pleading way. "What do you want to go therefor?"
The outcast put his finger in the sand and traced a boat there.
"Ah, some kind of a craft on that island," guessed Dave. "Do you meanthat? All right, I'll investigate."
Dave disrobed and swam to the island the man had pointed out.
He went all over it, and finally, among a thick clump of reeds, he cameacross a canoe. "Good!" cried Dave, feeling that he had been wellrewarded for his care to the sufferer. "Why, it's a splendid littlecraft, paddles and all. The man must have brought it here and hiddenit. He made for this spot when pursued."
When Dave got back to his patient with the canoe, the latter could notconceal his satisfaction and delight.
He motioned Dave to drag the canoe close up to him, which Dave did. Hereached over into the bow and pulled out a bag made of skin.
This he handed to Dave with a free, hearty gesture, indicating that itwas a gift.
Dave opened the bag. His pulses beat pretty high. His hopes grewimmensely.
"More of the gold--the same gold, part of the treasure!" he exclaimed,with glowing eyes. "I was surely right. This man knows all about thetreasure."
Dave looked at the outcast speculatively. He wondered how he could makehim indicate more. He, too, began tracing in the sand. It was anintricate and laborious task. At the end of an hour Dave lookedtriumphant.
"It's plain as day!" he cried, preparing the canoe for a voyage. "Theman indicates that this gold is a mere sample of what he can produce.It is hidden on an island west. He pokes dots in the outline he draws,as if it is full of caves. He is angry at the treachery of theWindjammers. He will have nothing further to do with them. If I willcure him up, he will take me to the treasure. If I will stay his friendand carry him away from his enemies, he will give up all the gold--allof it. Oh! a famous bargain. Well, I simply must find the _Swallow_now."
Dave got afloat. He put some soft grasses in the bottom of the canoeand made the invalid comfortable.
They got out to sea, and the youth progressed with some skill, for itwas not his first experience with the paddles.
During the ensuing ten hours Dave did not see any craft afloat or personashore. He kept going north.
"Somewhere along the coast I am bound to run across the _Swallow_," heconfidently told himself.
Dave was utterly worn out as dusk began to come down over land and sea.He did not cease his paddling, however, tired as he was. Some distanceaway he had made out a familiar landmark.
The shades of night were falling as Dave drove the canoe past thenatural curtain of vines that hid the cave for which he was making.
"Oh, see!"
He dropped the paddles and sat like one transfixed. A glorious picturewas outlined by a cheerful camp-fire ashore.
It showed animated figures preparing an evening meal--comfort, goodcheer, homelikeness.
But most of all, the radiant flare showed the stanch dear old steamer,the _Swallow_, in a safe harbor and in friendly hands.