CHAPTER THREE.
JOSE APPEARS--INTELLIGENCE OF OUR FATHER--HIS ARRIVAL--CATCHING THEMANATEE--SEARCH FOR A BOAT--JOSE'S TREACHEROUS DESIGN FRUSTRATED BY ANANACONDA.
We had already spent a week at our retreat, and no opportunity had asyet occurred of making our escape. So far as we could tell, we mightlive on where we were for many months without being discovered, if wecould provide ourselves with food. That, of course, was a veryimportant point. We might kill animals enough to supply ourselves withmeat; but we required flour and vegetables, and our small stock of teaand sugar was diminishing. We had also made Marian's hut tolerablycomfortable, and the rest of the party were content to sleep in the openair. Thoroughly trusting our faithful Camo, we consulted him as to thepossibility of obtaining fresh supplies from home, especially of suchthings as Marian chiefly required. He answered that he would doeverything we wished, but he again warned us of the danger we mightincur of being discovered.
"Oh, do not let any risk be run for me!" exclaimed Marian. "I wouldinfinitely rather go without any luxuries, than feel that our friendshad to incur any danger to obtain them. All I wish to ascertain is, howpoor papa is getting on."
"We will wait, at all events," said Uncle Paul. "If we find that novessel approaches the coast, we must try and obtain a boat from theshore. It will not be safe, however, to go off in her without an amplestock of provisions and water, as some days may pass before we succeedin getting on board a vessel to carry us to the mainland or to one ofthe islands."
Our chief object for the present was, therefore, according to UnclePaul's advice, to obtain the provisions he thought necessary; whileevery day, as before, Camo and the other natives went out to watch forthe approach of those who might be sent in search of us.
One evening one of the two men came back reporting that all was safe,but Camo had not returned. Arthur and I had gone some little distancefrom our retreat, with our guns, when we caught sight of a person amongthe trees stealing towards us. We were convinced, by the cautious wayin which he approached, that it was not Camo. We accordingly concealedourselves; for had we retreated, the stranger would probably haveobserved us. As he drew nearer to us, we were convinced, by the way helooked about in every direction, that he by some means or other knew wehad taken refuge in the neighbourhood. When he stopped at length, ashort distance off, we recognised one of my father's servants--ahalf-caste named Jose. He was not a man in whom we had ever placed muchconfidence, though he was an industrious, hardworking fellow; and wewere, therefore, doubtful whether we should speak to him, or endeavourto keep concealed. Still, we were both anxious to gain tidings fromhome; and we thought it probable that my father had sent him with amessage for us. It was evident, indeed, that he must have knownwhereabouts to find us, or he would not have come so directly towardsour hiding-place. Arthur put his mouth to my ear, and whispered--
"It will be better to show ourselves; and we must afterwards keep awatch on the man, to prevent him from going off and giving informationto our enemies."
I, of course, agreed to this proposal; so, stepping out from behind thetree where we had been hidden, we faced Jose, and asked him whether hehad brought any message from my father. He seemed in no way astonishedat seeing us, but replied that he was glad to find we had not left theisland, as he had been sent expressly by my father to try and meet withus. He had been, he said, searching for us for some days; and at lengthcatching sight of Camo, he knew that we were not likely to be far off.My father himself, he said, was in considerable apprehension of beingdenounced to the Inquisition, as he had received it warning from DoctorAntonio, and had thought it prudent in consequence to hide himself.
"Will he not join us?" asked Arthur eagerly. "He will be safer where weare than anywhere else."
"He does not know where to find you, senors; but if you will show meyour place of concealment, I will try and find him, and bring him toyou."
Arthur looked at me, on hearing this, with an expression that showed hedoubted the truth of what Jose said. "It will be better not to show anydistrust," he whispered; "at the same time, it might be hazardous tolead Jose to our retreat."
"What are we to do, then?" I asked.
"We will tell him to go and find your father, and conduct him to thisspot: if he comes, we need no longer have any doubts about Jose'sfidelity."
I thought Arthur's idea a good one, though we should have liked toconsult Uncle Paul on the subject.
Arthur asked Jose how long it would take to bring our father to the spotwhere we then were. He replied, "Certainly not before noon of nextday;" and we accordingly agreed to meet him at that hour.
"But will you not take me to your hiding-place?" he asked. "I am hungryand weary, and require rest and refreshment."
I was much disposed to do as the man requested, but I waited to hearwhat Arthur would say before replying.
"We regret that we cannot take you there at present," said Arthur;"others are concerned as well as ourselves. Do you go back and findyour master, and tell him that we are well, and shall be rejoiced to seehim."
Jose looked somewhat disappointed.
"Come," said Arthur, "we will accompany you a part of the way. Here aretwo birds which we have shot; they will help to support you and SenorDennis till you reach this to-morrow."
Still Jose lingered, evidently wishing to learn the way to our retreat;but Arthur had a determined manner about him, and Jose was at lengthcompelled to turn back, whereupon we accompanied him.
We walked on for about half a mile through the forest, but wereunwilling to go further, for fear of losing our way. At length we badeJose goodbye, and hurried back, occasionally looking behind us toascertain whether he was following. It was dark by the time we reachedour retreat. Camo had just before come in, and, strange to say, had notseen anything of Jose. Uncle Paul approved of what we had done, butexpressed his doubts as to whether Jose was honest.
"We shall know to-morrow," he observed. "If he is accompanied by yourfather, all may be right; but if not, we must take care that he does notdiscover our retreat. Having themselves failed to find us, the officersof the Inquisition are very likely to have bribed him; and they maypossibly have let your father escape their clutches, for the sake ofcatching us all in one net."
So impressed was Uncle Paul with this idea, that he proposed we shouldmove further south, to some other safe place of concealment. ConsultingCamo on the subject, the Indian replied that we could not hope to find asafer retreat than our present one, and suggested that he and hiscompanions should be on the watch, some distance in advance of the spotto which we had told Jose to bring my father; promising that, should hebe accompanied by strangers, they would immediately hasten to inform us,so that we might have time to escape.
I earnestly hoped that my father would come; for, though he might runthe risk of sacrificing his property, that would be far better thanhaving to act the part of a hypocrite, or being shut up in the dungeonsof the Inquisition.
The night seemed very long; and I could scarcely go to sleep forthinking of what might happen on the morrow. At the hour appointed,Arthur and I went to the spot agreed on; Camo and the other nativeshaving some time before set out to watch for Jose's approach. We waitedanxiously; the hour for the meeting had arrived. At length we caughtsight of two persons coming through the forest. My heart bounded withjoy; my father was one of them, and Jose was his companion. Arthur andI hurried towards them, and were soon welcoming my father. He lookedpale and ill, but expressed his thankfulness at having escaped; so we atonce accompanied him to our retreat, followed by Jose.
He was, as might be expected, very much cast down, and anxious about thefuture; but Uncle Paul did his utmost to raise his spirits, bidding himtrust in God, and reminding him that everything would be ordered for thebest. Our plans for the future were then discussed, as our father waseager to get off as soon as possible. As we spoke in English, Josecould not understand what was said; but he observed everything that tookplace wit
h a look which I did not like--indeed, neither Arthur nor Iwere yet satisfied that he was acting an honest part.
The means of obtaining provisions for the voyage next occupied ourattention. Camo suggested that we should try and catch a cowfish, theflesh of which, when cut up into strips and dried in the sun, could bepreserved for a considerable time, and would prove more serviceable thanany other food we were likely to obtain. He offered at once to go downto the river and look out for one. Arthur, Tim, and I accompanied himand the two other natives. Tim had an axe, while we had our guns, andthe natives had provided themselves with lances, to which long lineswere attached. Camo took his post on the lower branch of a tree whichprojected over the water, while we stationed ourselves at some littledistance, ready to render him assistance, if required; and we waitedthus for some time, looking up and down the stream in the hope of seeinga cowfish come within reach of his lance.
The creature of which we were in search is amphibious, and suckles itsyoung like the whale. It is frequently found in pairs with its young,browsing on the marine plants, and sometimes on shore in the cocoanutgroves. It is properly called the "manatee," or seacow; measuresfifteen feet in length, has two fin-like arms, is covered with hair, andoften weighs twelve hundred pounds. I had never seen one, but Camo haddescribed it to us as we were on our way to the river.
At length we caught sight of a dark object coming slowly up the stream;its head, as it approached, greatly resembling that of a cow, while itshairy body was raised considerably above the water. We knew from Camo'smovements that he also had observed it. The question was whether or notit would pass near enough to him to allow him to strike it with hislance. As it drew nearer, we saw that it had a young one by its side.Now, greatly to our disappointment, it floated off to the opposite sideof the stream, and we feared that it would be lost. It suddenly turnedagain, however, while its young one disappeared beneath it. For sometime it remained almost stationary, then, unconscious of its danger,floated directly under where Camo stood. At that instant his long lanceflew from his hand, and buried itself deep in the animal's back. Theother natives, who had been watching eagerly, now sprang forward andhurled their lances, fixing them firmly, one in its neck, and anothertowards its tail. The creature, finding itself wounded, began to plungeviolently, but made no other effort to escape. It seemed, however, asif the light lances would be unable to hold it. Arthur and I on thismade our way as close to the water as we could; and when we got thecreature clearly in sight, Arthur fired, and sent a bullet through itshead. Its struggles instantly ceased, and without much difficulty wedrew it up to the only part of the bank in the neighbourhood where wecould land it. It was quite dead, but even then it required our unitedstrength to drag it on shore. The young one followed, and tried toclimb up the bank, when Tim despatched it with a blow of his axe. Itseemed a cruel deed, but necessity, in such a case, has no law, and wewere thankful to have obtained such an ample supply of meat.
We at once set to work to cut up the creature, under Camo's directions,and soon had loaded ourselves with as much meat as we could carry.Leaving one of the natives to guard the carcass from the birds of prey,or any animals which might come to feed on it, we hastened back to ourretreat, and then returned for a further quantity. Uncle Paul wasdelighted at our success; and we immediately set to work to cut the meatinto thin strips, which we hung up in the sun. In the evening we cookeda portion of the young manatee for supper, and we all agreed that ittasted like the most delicate pork.
We had now a supply of meat sufficient to last us for several days; andwe hoped, with the aid of some cocoanuts, yams, plantains, bananas, andother fruits, to secure an ample supply of provisions for the longestvoyage we were likely to take. Our hope was that we should quickly geton board a vessel. If not, Uncle Paul proposed that we should steer forTobago, which we might expect to reach in a couple of days. Our chiefdifficulty was to obtain a boat; and Uncle Paul and Arthur agreed to setout to the south in search of one. Dressed in duck trousers, and withbroad-brimmed hats on their heads, they would probably be taken forEnglish sailors, and would not be interfered with. They hoped to hire aboat without difficulty; if not, they intended to run off with one, andto send back more than her value to the owner. Under the circumstances,they considered that they would be justified in so doing; though I amvery sure that we must never do what is wrong for the sake of gaining anadvantage of any sort.
I may be excused, however, from discussing here the morality of theirintended act. The world certainly would not have blamed them; but, as Inow write in my old age, I have learned that there is a rule far abovethe world's laws, and that says, "Do no wrong, or be guilty of anyappearance of wrong, however important may seem the object to begained." But this is a digression.
Camo and the two other natives agreed to accompany our uncle and Arthur.The latter took his gun with him, but I retained mine.
They had been gone for some hours, when Tim and I agreed to go out intothe woods and kill some birds for supper, whilst our father--who had notyet recovered from the fatigue of his journey, and was, besides, sorelydistressed at the thought of all his hopes being destroyed--remained inthe retreat with Marian. Jose undertook to stop and prepare the meat,which was to be packed up tightly in small bundles, and covered overwith leaves.
Tim and I took our way westward. I scarcely know what made us go inthat direction; for before we left the camp we had intended to proceedto the river, and had said so in Jose's hearing. We had gone somedistance, however, when we caught sight of a small deer known as the"mangrove stag." The creature did not perceive us, and we followed itfor a considerable distance before I could get a favourable shot. Atlength, when we were little more than fifty yards off, I fired, and,greatly to my satisfaction, brought it to the ground. Tim havingquickly despatched it, next skinned and cut it up; then loadingourselves with as much of the flesh as we could carry, we set off toreturn to the camp.
We had made some progress on our way home, though with our load we movedbut slowly--when we caught sight of Jose in the distance, runningrapidly among the trees of the forest. At the same moment an objectappeared directly in front of Jose sufficient to fill us with horror.It was a huge snake. Jose apparently had not seen it; for the nextinstant the creature seized him, and began to wind its folds around hisbody. He uttered a dreadful shriek of terror, not knowing that anyonewas near. Tim and I rushed forward; he with his axe in his hand, I witha stick I had picked up--for I was afraid, should I fire, of killing theman. Jose had never been a favourite with Tim; indeed, he had suspectedhim from the first; and the man's appearance at that spot showed prettyclearly that Tim was right in his opinion. He now, however, dashed upto the huge snake in the most gallant way, and struck it a violent blowon the tail, almost severing the end. Still the monster kept firm holdof the terrified Jose, whose fearful shrieks were each instant becomingfainter as the creature pressed his body tighter and tighter in itsencircling folds.
"Do you, Master Guy, batter away at its tail, while I take its head,"cried Tim; and springing towards the neck of the monster, just as it wason the point of seizing Jose's head in its mouth, he struck it a blowwith his axe which well-nigh cut it through. Still it kept hold of thewretched man; till Tim repeating his blow, it rolled over to the groundwith its victim, who, covered with its blood, presented a horriblespectacle as he lay gasping for breath. The blows had paralysed theserpent; and now, seizing Jose by the shoulders, we dragged him out frombetween its relaxed folds. We had expected to find every bone in hisbody broken, but, except that his breath had nearly been squeezed out ofhim, he did not appear to have suffered much. The anaconda, however, wesaw from the movements of its body, still retained sufficient vitalityto be mischievous.
"We must finish off this gentleman before we attend to Master Jose,"cried Tim. "If he comes to life again, he will be after taking us allthree down his ugly mouth, like so many pills, at a gulp."
"I suspect the gash you gave him must have somewhat s
poiled hisdigestion, though, Tim," I observed.
"Arrah, then, I will be after giving him another, to make sure,"exclaimed my companion, severing the snake's head at a blow. "There!now I've done for him!" he cried, triumphantly holding up its head.
We measured the anaconda, which was fully thirty feet long; and Timhaving cut it open with his axe, we found the body of a young deer, andthree pacas, each larger than a hare, perfectly entire, showing that thecreature had only just swallowed them. Its appearance was most hideous,the creature being very broad in the middle, and tapering abruptly atboth ends. It had probably come up a small stream which ran into themain river, and which passed at no great distance from the spot where ithad attacked Jose.
I was not before aware that anacondas of any size were to be found inTrinidad; indeed, Camo had told us that he had never seen one, and thatat all events they were very rare.
We now turned our attention to Jose, who had not yet recovered from histerror. He sat moaning on the ground, and feeling his limbs, as ifstill uncertain whether or not they were broken. We at length got himon his legs, and taking him to the water, washed off the serpent'sblood, which abundantly besprinkled his face and shoulders.
"And now, Jose, tell me, where were you going when the serpent stoppedyou?" I asked, when he had recovered sufficiently to speak.
"Oh, don't ask me, Senor Guy! I will go back with you, and remainfaithful to the end of my days."
I thought it best not to put further questions to the man, intending toleave it to my father to do so; but I strongly suspected that had notthe anaconda put a stop to his proceedings, we should not have seen himagain. Indeed, I may say that I was certain he was on his way to giveinformation to the Inquisition of our place of concealment.
Assisting him along, we reached our sylvan home just as darkness set in.My father looked sternly at Jose, and asked where he had been going.The wretched man, falling on his knees, then acknowledged his intendedtreachery, and, begging my father to forgive him, said he would befaithful in future.
"I will trust you thus far," said my father: "you must never leave thisretreat while we remain here."
Jose made no answer, but, sitting down on the ground, groaned as if ingreat pain. Indeed, the anaconda had given him a greater squeeze thanwe had at first supposed.
"You may depend on it, your honour, that I will keep an eye on ourfriend here," said Tim, glancing at Jose. "If it had not been for thebig serpent, he would have been after getting those `Inquisitive'gentlemen down upon us. I will make my shillelagh and his headwonderfully well acquainted, however, if I catch him trying to boltagain."
After this discovery of the intended treachery of our servant, we feltmore anxious than ever to escape from the island; and we eagerly lookedfor the return of Uncle Paul and Arthur, with the boat we hoped theywould find.