CHAPTER XXVII
THE JOURNEY TO THE MOUNTAIN
By noon of the day following the Rover expedition was on its wayto the mountain said to be so rich in gold. The students fromYale went with them.
"It's like a romance, this search after your father," said Chesterto Dick. "I hope you find him. You can rest assured that ourparty will do all we can for you. Specimen hunting is all wellenough, but man hunting is far more interesting."
"I would like to go on a regular hunt for big game some day," saidTom. He had already mentioned Mortimer Blaze to the Yalestudents.
"Yes, that's nice--if you are a crack shot, like Sanders. Hecan knock the spots from a playing card at a hundred yards."
"Maybe he's a Western boy," laughed Sam.
"He is. His father owns a big cattle ranch there, and Sanderslearned to shoot while rounding up cattle. He's a tip-topfellow."
They had passed over a small plain and were now working along aseries of rough rocks overgrown with scrub brush and creepingvines full of thorns. The thorns stuck everybody but Cujo, whoknew exactly how to avoid them.
"Ise dun got scratched in 'steen thousand places," groaned Aleck."Dis am worse dan a bramble bush twice ober, by golly!"
For two days the united expeditions kept on their way up themountain side, which sloped gradually at its base, the steeperportion still being several days' journey distant.
During these days they shot several wild animals including abeautiful antelope, while Sam caught a monkey. But the monkey bitthe boy in the shoulder, and Sam was glad enough to get rid of themischievous creature.
On the afternoon of the second day Cujo, who was slightly inadvance of the others, called a halt.
"Two men ahead ob us, up um mountain," he said. "Cujo Vink one ofdern King Susko."
"I hope it is!" cried Dick quickly.
The discovery was talked over for a few minutes, and it wasdecided that Cujo should go ahead, accompanied by Randolph Roverand Dick. The others were to remain on guard for anything whichmight turn up.
Dick felt his heart beat rapidly as he advanced with his uncle andthe African guide through the tangle of thorns and over the roughrocks. He felt that by getting closer to King Susko, he was alsogetting closer to the mystery which surrounded his father'sdisappearance.
"Dar him am!" whispered Cujo, presently. "See, da is gwine upinto a big hole in de side ob de mountain?"
"Can you make out if it is Susko or not?"
"Not fo' certain, Massah Dick. But him belong to de Burnwo tribe,an' de udder man too."
"If they are all alone it will be an easy matter to capture them,"said Randolph Rover. "All told, we are twelve to two."
"They have disappeared into the cave." Cried Dick a minute later."Come on, and we'll soon know something worth knowing, I feelcertain of it."
Cujo now asked that he be allowed to proceed alone, to makecertain that no others of the Burnwo tribe were in the vicinity.
"We must be werry careful," he said. "Burnwos kill eberybody wotda find around here if not dare people."
"Evidently they want to keep the whole mountain of gold tothemselves," observed Dick. "All right, Cujo, do as you thinkbest--I know we can rely upon you."
After this they proceeded with more care than ever-along a rockyedge covered with loose stones. To one side was the mountain, tothe other a sheer descent of several hundred feet, and thefootpath was not over a yard wide.
"A tumble here would be a serious matter," said Randolph Rover."Take good care, Dick, that you don't step on a rolling stone."
But the ledge was passed in safety, and in fifteen minutes morethey were close to the opening is the side of the mountain. Itwas an irregular hole about ten feet wide and twice as high. Thea rocks overhead stuck out for several yards, and from these hungnumerous vines, forming a sort of Japanese curtain over theopening.
While the two Rovers waited behind a convenient rock, Cujo crawledforward on his hand and knees into the cave. They waited for tenminutes, just then it seemed an hour, but he did not reappear.
"He is taking his time," whispered Dick.
"Perhaps something has happened to him," returned Randolph Rover."I do not like this oppressive silence. Have your pistol readyfor use. We may need our weapons."
"I've had my pistol ready all along," answered the boy, exhibitingthe weapon. "That encounter with the lion taught me a lesson. IfCujo--What's that?"
Dick broke off short, for a sound on the rocks above the caveentrance had reached his ears. Both gazed in the direction, butcould see nothing.
"What alarmed you?" asked Randolph Rover hurriedly.
"I heard a rustling in the bushes up there perhaps, though, it wasonly a bird or some small animal."
"I can see nothing, Dick."
"Neither can I; but I am certain--Out of sight, Uncle Randolph,quick!"
Dick caught his uncle by the arm, and both threw themselves flatbehind the rocks. Scarcely had they gone down than two spearscame whizzing forward, one hitting the rocks and the other sailingover their heads and burying itself in a tree trunk several yardsaway. They caught a glance of two natives on the rocks over them,but with the launching of the spears the Africans disappeared.