CHAPTER XVII
A MAP-MAKING EXPEDITION
"I consider that we are the two luckiest youngsters in the service,Dick. What do you think about it?"
Henry looked about him at the surrounding country, a combination ofriver scenery, swamp land, tropical jungle and lush savannahs, with anappraising eye.
The two boys stood on the rickety landing near the Captain of the Port'shouse at the mouth of the Estero Balsa, a branch body of watercommunicating with Manzanillo Bay, where the _Denver_ was anchored, andwhere certain members of her officers and crew were engaged in making achart of the coast line, river deltas and numerous lagoons.
It was interesting work for those so engaged, and each day the variousboats of the ship started at an early hour taking lines of soundingsfrom one point to another, measuring angles, plotting positions,sketching in prominent features, or locating reefs and shoals. At nightthey combined their data, and with compass and rule worked over thesmooth copy of the chart which would be sent to the Department atWashington when complete and eventually supplied to each ship of theNavy cruising in these waters.
Having received permission from the Navigating Officer, Dick oftenaccompanied the chart makers on their expeditions, and, always eager tolearn, he proved himself a valuable helper with compass or sextant, intaking angles, both vertical and horizontal, and working them out.
Also at night the _Denver's_ boats were engaged in other and moreexciting work. Owing to various causes there was a systematic smugglinggoing on between the two island republics. Small sailing vessels andmotor launches were suspected of carrying contraband merchandise backand forth across the Bay at night, and organized bands of smugglers madethe passage of the Massacre River from its mouth up to and beyond theSan Domingan town of Dajabon, on its eastern bank, and the Haitianvillage of Ouanaminthe, directly opposite. The customs officers weredoing their best, but they were too few in number to cope with thesituation. In consequence money was being lost to both governments.The United States was administering the customs affairs of San Domingo,and the Navy had to be called in at times to aid in putting a stop tothis illegal traffic.
The presence of the _Denver_ had its salutary effect, and the smugglingby day in the boats had practically ceased, but at night activity wasresumed. Consequently the ship's boats, which during the day wereengaged in the aforesaid work of surveying, became at night a fleet ofarmed patrols with certain definite sectors to cover. Many excitingchases resulted in the overhauling, arrest, and, occasionally,resistance and escape of the venturesome smugglers.
The marines were often detailed for this night work in the patrol boats,and they enjoyed it, for there was always a chance of a lively little"scrap," and that is what marines enlist for--scrapping.
All articles coming across the border were supposed to be entered atDajabon, and after customs dues were adjusted the goods were sent toother points along the only really passable road which led throughCopey, a town at the headwaters of the Estero Balsa, thence to MonteCristi or towns and cities of La Vega Real.
Somewhere in the dense jungle between Dajabon and the office of theCaptain of the Port, where the two boys were now engaged inconversation, were trails unknown to the general public, and thesetrails the smugglers used for their purposes. As charts made by navalofficers usually show but little of the interior terrain it was not theintention of Captain Bentley to include any roads on the map hisofficers were engaged in compiling. However, if Dick and Henrysucceeded in getting information of value it was decided that their workshould be incorporated with the rest. Both boys had studied surveyingwhile at school, and early on the cruise they had secured a volume onMilitary Topography and spent many hours in acquiring a thoroughknowledge of what was needed in a military map. First SergeantDouglass, seeing how they desired to get ahead and only too glad to givethem something to keep them out of mischief (for musics are generallyconceded by all hands to be mischievous), allowed them to have a cavalrysketching case from his storeroom, and with this they became quiteexpert in making position-sketches and road-maps.
In response to Henry's question, Dick finally replied:
"Yes, I think we are lucky, but it's not going to be an easy task,Hank."
"Right you are, Dickie. This country is all swamps and jungle, with fewtrails really leading anywhere. I believe it is going to be a difficultproposition to cover the entire area between this place, Copey andDajabon, in time to be back and meet the steamer in three days."
"Let's not count up the obstacles, though, Hank. We will meet them asthey come in the best way we can. We are handicapped by being obligedto do the work secretly. Captain Bentley impressed that upon me. Youknow, since we were so lucky in the Culebra and Sanchez affairs he hascome to regard us as older than we are and capable of a man's work, andwith a man's reasoning powers and discretion. I'm not so sure of itmyself; but it certainly is up to us to make good now that theopportunity has come our way."
"Tell me just how we happened to get here, Dick. I've been so busygetting things together since you sprung the surprise this morning thatI've not had time to question you."
"Well, it was this way! Last night I was out in the steamer on patrolwork. Mr. Gardiner was in command. About midnight one of the lookoutsthought he spotted a motor boat moving in from the west. We gave chase,but as often happens it was a false alarm and the lookout was conjuringthings from being so anxious to see something.
"Well, after it quieted down, Mr. Gardiner began talking about thechart, and how it would aid the ships to be stationed here later on insearching out smugglers. Then he said it was too bad the trails betweenthe coast line, Dajabon and Copey couldn't be sketched in on the map,particularly as one of the ship's boats was to get the data of theMassacre River the following day. With that, and all the trails inbetween, the map would be of much greater value, he thought. Thetrouble was, they didn't have enough officers to do the additional workand get through in time, for we are expecting orders to leave here mostany day now."
"I reckon you didn't let that opening get by you, Dick," Henry remarked.
"You just bet I didn't. I said that I thought you and I could do it ifthe Captain would allow us, and told him how much we'd like to try it."
"What did he say?"
"Well, he said, 'Maybe you could,' and he mentioned that First SergeantDouglass had shown him one of the road maps we made together, lastwinter while at Culebra, and then the subject was dropped. But thismorning Top told me the skipper wished to see me in the cabin at once,and when I reported Mr. Gardiner was in there, and the Captain told mewhat was wanted, and that I might go ashore and try my luck. He said Ishould have to go on what was ostensibly a hunting trip, and that Ishould probably get into trouble with the authorities if they discoveredwhat I was up to."
"Did you ask if I might come along?"
"Of course! I told him we had worked together on road sketches andshowed him that one we made of the road from Playa Brava to the oldnaval station. He seemed satisfied with the work, but then he began todoubt if it were wise to let two kids such as we are go on such anerrand."
"He surely put enough restrictions on us," said Henry.
"Oh, not so many, Hank, and they are all wise provisions."
"But why is it necessary that we should return each night to this place?Why can't we stay where we happen to be when night comes, then continueour work next day right where we left off?"
"The Old Man wants to be sure we are all right. Each night I will makeup a report and send it in to him, and also all our data up to thattime, by the boat making the trip here on the high tide. Then, too,they are nearly through their work anyway, and orders for us to move onare daily expected. The next reason is, that by making our headquartershere we won't have to move our camping outfit or our rations, and thisplace is centrally located, so that each day we can cover newterritory."
"I hadn't thought about all those things," said Henry thou
ghtfully, "butI reckon the Old Man is right, after all."
"Well, now that you are satisfied, let's get our gear up to the palatialhut assigned for our use by Senor el Capitan del Puerto, fix thingsshipshape, and make our plans for to-morrow."
This was done, and in the vacant, earthen-floored shack they unstrappedtheir cots, arranged their bedding, hung mosquito bunk-nets, and afterbuilding a fire, cooked their evening meal. It seemed to the two boysas though fried hen-fruit, baked spuds, crisped bacon, ship's punk andsteaming java,[#] never tasted so delicious. Nor did the coffee makeany difference to such healthy bodies and minds, when a little laterthey crawled under their white nets and blue-gray blankets, and went tosleep.
[#] Sailor and marine slang for fried eggs, baked potatoes, crispedbacon, ship's bread and steaming coffee.
Though advised against doing so by the native owner, they left bothdoors to their domicile wide open to admit the night breezes. In mosttropical countries, the natives, of the poorer classes especially, closeevery door and window at night, so as to prevent the slightest breath offresh air from striking them, and it is for this reason, undoubtedly,that during times of epidemic, the fatality among the natives insemi-civilized places is so great.
Sometime before dawn the boys were awakened by the sound of agonizingcries and the rush of many feet across the hard-packed floor of theirhut. Almost at the same instant they sat up, and reached for theirautomatics. Then they listened, but all was silent, except for thecreaking of night insects or the gentle stirring of the palm leaves ontheir thatched roof. Inside the room was inky darkness, nor was thelight outside much brighter.
"Did you hear that, Hank?" questioned Dick, softly, not quite daring tomake any further move until he knew where his companion might be anduntil he understood a little more of the situation.
"I reckon I heard it right enough, Dick; but what was it?"
"I haven't any idea. I heard a yell and someone running and suddenlyfound myself awake and sitting up."
"Same here, Dick, but I thought it was you chasing something or someone.It looks a little funny, doesn't it?"
"Keep quiet a minute, Hank; I believe they are still in here. I hearsomeone moving."
Silence followed the caution while they listened intently. Then came adeep-drawn sigh from the center of the hut, and the sound as of a heavybody being dragged across the floor.
"Who's there?" challenged Dick. "If you move again I'll fire."
Once again absolute silence, which was finally broken by a series ofsharp staccato taps. Dick immediately recognized the private call Henryand he used in their practise at telegraphy and sound signalling. Hiscompanion was rapping on a match-box with some kind of an instrument.If the person or persons in the room understood English then anyconversation would inform them of the action to be taken against them.Dick grinned delightedly to himself at Henry's quick way to secret andsafe cooeperation. As the light sounds shuttled back and forth it wasevident to what a state of expertness these two young marines haddrilled themselves.
"Look out, I will turn on my flash-light. Be ready to shoot. Do youunderstand?" came Henry's message.
"It is dangerous. Let me do it, and you shoot," cautioned Dick.
"No! You are the better shot. I think he is near the door, and if Iflash the light you can get him better than I can. Stand by right afterI sound 'preparatory.' Stand by!"
The safety catch on Dick's automatic hardly made a sound as he pushed itdown with his thumb and peered into the darkness near the door. Theweapon was already loaded, so that but a slight pressure on the triggerwould bring its deafening response. Breathlessly he waited. The nextmoment came the rattle of the match-box as once again Henry struck itwith sharp emphasis:
One rap--two short raps--one rap--one rap!
Then the room was lit by the electric torch from Henry's side of thehut. There was a wild rush of many feet, loud squeals filled the air,and out of the open doorway raced and scrambled an enormous razor-backpig with a litter of squealing, frantic piggies at her heels.
The sudden transition from the serious to the comical was so great thatboth Dick and Henry burst into a roar of hysterical laughter, and bothmade a solemn pact never to relate this part of their adventures to aliving soul. After this, sleep being out of the question and the graydawn already lightening the eastern horizon, they prepared their morningmeal and made ready for an early start.
From previous tests each of the boys knew the exact stretch of groundcovered in one of his strides[#] and Dick's stride being sixty inches,even though he was a six-footer, and five feet being a most convenientmultiple, it was to be his duty to keep account of the distances betweenobservation points or stations. For this purpose he carried aninstrument used in checking off the number of coal bags hoisted on boardduring coaling ship, and with each step taken with his left foot herecorded it by pressing on the lever with his thumb. The tally was sosmall it could be carried unobserved in the palm of the hand. Besidesthe tally Dick carried a small pocket note-book, conveniently ruled, inwhich he entered his data and from which, on their return, they would beable to make a very comprehensive sketch of their travels.
[#] A pace is the distance between footsteps; a stride the distancebetween the spot where one foot strikes the ground and the nextsucceeding fall of the same foot; a stride is therefore the equivalentof two paces.
Henry was provided with a small prismatic compass by means of which heread the angles from each selected point to the next station. Withthese simple instruments they could accomplish their work and arouse nosuspicion, at least in the minds of any ordinary native with whom theywere liable to come in contact.
There was but one trail for them to follow from their point ofdeparture, and it led to the town of Copey. To follow this trail thefirst day and plot in the cross trails between it and the Massacre Riveron the following days was their intention, and as the sun rose in a softpink cloud of color, with shotguns under their arms, game bags overtheir shoulders, and the heavy Colt's forty-fives strapped to theirright thighs, the young surveyors started out on their quest with aneagerness born of youth and enthusiasm.