CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.
THE END OF THE QUEST.
It was hard work to be dull and low-spirited in the midst of thebeautiful scene which greeted Rob as he stepped out and followed Shaddydown to the fire. The clearing was one mass of glorious colour, the skygorgeous with the sunrise tints, and the river flushed with orange, blueand gold. Birds sang, piped, and shrieked loudly, butterflies werebeginning to flutter about, and a loud chattering from the nearest treeroused Rob to the fact that the puma had been following him, for itsuddenly made three or four leaps in the direction of the sounds, andthen crouched down to gaze at a party of monkeys, which were leapingabout, scolding, shrieking and chattering angrily at the enemy watchingtheir movements. Directly after, though, the puma returned to Rob'sside, uttering a sound strongly suggestive of the domestic cat.
"Going to have a dip, Mr Rob, sir?" said Shaddy. And then--"I'd bevery careful, sir; you know how full of biting varmin the river is.Look sharp; breakfast's ready, and as soon as we've done we'll go andfind Mr Brazier."
"Try to," cried the boy sadly.
"Find him, Mr Rob, sir. Bah! who's going to say die on a lovelymorning in a lovely place like this?"
Rob thought of his companion's words as he turned down to the edge ofthe water and bathed, with the puma sitting near watching him,apparently with wonder. Then, refreshed and invigorated, he hastenedback to where there was the appetising odour of roasting meat, while thepuma returned to the remains of its last night's feast.
Half an hour after, armed with rough spear, bow and arrows, and a bigpackage of roasted meat, consisting of deer legs, and the best parts ofthe iguana which Shaddy had taken out and begun cooking while Rob stillslept, they were threading their way amongst the trees once more, withthe puma somewhere behind them, for they could hear it utter a curiouscry from time to time, though they never once caught sight of it in thedense growth.
"Feel as if I was right, don't you, my lad?" said Shaddy, as theytramped on. "Couldn't have got through the trees like this without restand food."
"You were quite right," replied Rob. "Where are you making for?"
"The place I showed you last night. I think we'll start from there."
It was a long time before they reached the spot, and examined itcarefully, to find more traces of Mr Brazier having been there andstopping. So they shouted and whistled again and again, but there wasno response, and trying to pick up the trail they started again--nowutterly baffled and ready to return, now gathering fresh hope onsuddenly coming upon a scrap of orchid or a bunch of woodland flowers,which had been carefully gathered and thrown down, apparently by someone wearied out. Then Rob uttered a cry of excitement, for he stumbledsuddenly upon a spot which was comparatively open, so that the sunshinepenetrated. It was no doubt the work of a hurricane, for great treeslay prostrate, decaying fast, and fresh flowery growths had sprung up.Birds and insects were plentiful, and the spot looked lovely after thegloom of the forest shades. Here was the crushed-down growth where hethey sought had lain down to sleep, unless it was the resting-place ofan Indian.
Rob suggested it and Shaddy replied angrily:
"Look here, youngster, if ever you want a nickname call yourself WetBlanket. What a fellow you are for making the worst of everything!Some one lay down to rest here, didn't he?"
"Yes, I think so."
"And I'm sure. Now look at the places where the flowers have beensnapped off. I know what you're saying to yourself: `wild beast orIndian!' Now, I ask you, sir, as a young English gent who has been toschool and can read and write, do wild beasts and Indians go aboutpicking flowers or collecting anything that isn't good to eat?"
"Ah, Shaddy," said Rob sadly, "you beat me at arguing. I'm afraid tohope that we shall find him alive, but you're quite right, and I willtry and believe."
"Bravo, Mr Rob, sir! Three cheers for that! Never fear, we'll findhim alive yet; weak and done up, but keeping himself going. He hasfound bits of fruit and nuts, and when he couldn't find them there'ssomething in the tops of tender grasses. Cheer up, sir! Now then,let's give a big shout here."
Shaddy set the example, and at the tremendous yell he sent forth therewas a rush of wings from one of the trees a short distance away, whereall had been perfectly still the moment before; and as a flock of birdshidden by the leaves dashed off, quite a little shower of fruit wasdropped by them among the leaves.
"There, sir--that was food," cried Shaddy; "and a gentleman who knowsall about such things, as Mr Brazier does, would find them and keephimself going. Now it's your turn. Shout, sir."
Rob uttered as loud a cry as he could, and then twice over imitated theAustralian "cooee," following it up with a shrill piercing note from alittle silver whistle; but the only response was the cry of an _ara_,one of the great scarlet and blue long-tailed macaws, whose harsh shriekcame softened from the distance.
"Not right yet, Mr Rob, sir," said Shaddy, quietly; "but we're notgoing to despair, boy. I aren't a religious man your way, but after myfashion I trust in God and take the rough with the smooth. What is tobe will be, so don't let's kick against it. We've got our duty to do,my lad, and that's to keep on trying. Now then, what do you say to abit of a snack?"
"No, no--not yet, Shaddy; let's go on."
"Right, my lad."
They started again, and pressed on through the breathless heat of thewoods, but without finding further sign of any one having passed thatway; and at last Shaddy stopped short on the banks of a running stream,which impeded farther progress, and whose waters offered refreshingdraughts to those who were getting in sore need.
"We're off his track, Mr Rob. He's not likely to have crossed a riverlike this; but welcome it is, for it shows us the way back just when Iwas getting a bit muddled."
"How does it?" said Rob, wonderingly.
"Because it must flow into the big river somewhere below our camp."
"Then you have seen no traces of him lately?"
"Nothing, my lad, since we left that open patch where the birds flew outof the trees."
"Then we must go back at once, Shaddy."
"Not until we've trimmed the lamps again, my lad. Sit down on that oldtrunk--No, don't; I daresay it's full of stinging ants and things, andperhaps there's a snake or two. We'll sit on this root and have a goodfeed, and then take up our track again."
Rob seated himself sadly down, while the guide unpacked his store ofmeat wrapped in green leaves; and the boy felt annoyed with himself forhis want of forethought on seeing how carefully his companion put backand bound up some of the best, nodding, as he caught Rob's eyes fixedupon him.
"For Mr Brazier," he said. "He'll be glad enough of a bit o' meat whenwe find him."
They began eating directly, washing down the savoury roast with handfulsof clear water scooped up from the stream which bubbled and foamed by inits rocky bed.
"Well, now look at that!" cried Shaddy the next minute, as with onetremendous bound the puma alighted just before them, and stood lookingat Rob and lashing its tail. "Why, he must have come after us all thetime. Trust an animal for smelling meat."
Rob shared his portion with the great cat, which also crunched up thebones. Then once more they began their search, taking up their owntrail backward, and with no little difficulty following it to theopening, from whence they kept on making casts, till night was once moreapproaching. They tramped back to the hut just in time to save theirfire; but they had nothing to cook, the remains of the iguana being toofar gone, and their meal consisted of nuts and water; though the pumafeasted well.
The next morning they were off again soon after daylight, afterbreakfasting off fish secured by Shaddy as soon as it was light, while acouple more were roasted and taken with them.
This time they tried a fresh direction, trusting more to chance; and asthey toiled on Shaddy grew more and more serious while forcing his waythrough the trees, and his manner was softer and gentler to hiscompanion, who rarely spoke now save to the puma, which grew h
ourly moreconfident, and kept close at Rob's heels, giving his leg a rub wheneverhe stopped short to glance about him through the solemn shadows of theforest.
For this was the third day of their search, and it was impossible tohelp feeling that it was the very last upon which they could cling tohope.
It passed as the others had done--in one weary tramp and struggle, butwithout a single sign of the lost one to give them encouragement toproceed; and at last, when they were bound to return if they intended tosleep again in camp, Shaddy said suddenly:
"God help him, my lad: we've done all we can. Let's get back now. Imay think out something fresh by to-morrow morning. I can't do anythingto-night, for my head's like my legs--dead beat out."
Rob answered with a sigh, for his heart was very heavy now; and as hiscompanion stood calculating for a few minutes which way they should go,he waited, and then followed behind him without a word.
They were a little earlier this time, but the sun had gone down beforethey got out of the forest at the extreme corner on the right of theirhut; and as they trudged back the puma made two dashes at prey unseen bythe travellers, but without success, returning after each cautious crawland final bound to walk quietly along behind Rob, who, in a dull, heavy,unthinking way, reached back to touch the beast, which responded with afriendly pressure and rub of its head against the extended hand.
And as they crept slowly on, with the trees crowding round them as if tohinder their progress, and the darkness of the umbrageous foliageseeming to press down upon their heads, their journey was made withgreater difficulty than ever; for the spirit or energy had gone out ofShaddy, who tramped on as if he were asleep.
It struck Rob once that this was the case, and he increased his own rateso as to try and get ahead of his companion, but as soon as he drewclose up his comrade stopped.
"Like to go first, my lad?"
"No, no," said Rob hurriedly. "Are you sure of the road?"
"No, my lad, because there isn't one. I'm only pretty sure that we arein the right direction."
It proved that he was correct when in due time they stood out in theclearing, with the darkness falling fast; and then Shaddy said suddenly,and as if with an effort:
"Come, Mr Rob, sir, we mustn't give up. Let's have some food, or weshall be done. No deer meat to-night, no iguana. Get the fire goingwhile I go and try for a fish; there'll just be time."
Rob tramped heavily to the fire, and the guide went to the tree where hehad hung the line, baited it from the remains of the food, and strodedown to his favourite spot for fishing; while Rob busied himself rakingthe fire together with a half-burned branch, and then, as it began tosmoke, piled on it the partly-burned brands, and upon them the piecesindustriously heaped together.
The blaze began to creep up and lick the twigs and branches as the bluesmoke rose. Then the fire increased to a ruddy glow; and feeling chillyafter the heat to which he had been exposed, Rob sat listlessly downgazing at the increasing flames, which lit up his sun-browned face as hethought and thought of his boyish comrade, then of Mr Brazier, and atlast of himself.
They were sad thoughts, for he felt that he should never see home again,that he would be the next to be struck down by some savage beast, bittenby a poisonous snake, or lost in the forest, where he would be too weakto find his way back. And as he thought he wondered what Shaddy woulddo when he was gone--whether he would be picked up by some passing boat,or live on in a kind of Robinson Crusoe life to a good old age.
Rob started involuntarily as he reached this point, for somethingtouched him; and turning sharply, he found that the puma was rubbing itshead against his shoulder, the beautiful creature uttering its peculiarpurring sound as Rob threw an arm round its neck and began to caress it,ready as he was out there to cling to anything in his weariness anddesolation.
He was thus occupied when the puma started away, for there was a stepbehind him.
"Tired, my lad? Only got one, but he's a fine fellow," said Shaddy, whorapidly chopped off the head and a good-sized piece of the tail of afine dorado.
"Not so very; only low-spirited."
"Not you, my lad: hungry's the word. That's what's the matter with me.Here, I say, squire, if you're anything of a cat you'll like fish," hecontinued, as he threw the head, tail, and other portions of the fishtoward the puma, which hesitated for a few moments and then secured andbore them off.
Meanwhile, to help his companion more than from any desire for food, Robhad risen and cut some big palm leaves, laid them down, and then raked ahole in the heap of embers ready for the fish.
"That's better," said Shaddy, as he lifted the great parcel he had madeof the fish; and depositing his load in the embers, he took the roughbranch they used for a rake and poker in one, and covered the packetdeeply.
"There, Mr Rob, sir; that's the best thing for our low spirits. Weshall be better after that physic."
"Hush!" cried Rob excitedly.
"Eh! What? Did you hear something?"
"Yes: a faint cry."
"No!"
"But I did. And look at the puma: he heard it too. Didn't you see itstart and leave the fish?"
"Yes, but I thought I startled it. He's very suspicious of me, and Idon't suppose we shall ever be good friends."
"No, it was not that," whispered Rob, whose voice trembled as if he werealarmed.
"Then it was some beast in the forest. There they are, any number ofthem. Frog perhaps, or an owl: they make very queer sounds."
Rob shook his head.
"I say, don't look so scared, my lad, just as if you were going to beill. I tell you what it was: one of those howling spider monkeys at adistance."
"There again!" cried Rob, starting up,--an example followed by theguide, who was impressed by the peculiar faint cry; and as Rob seizedhis companion's arm, the latter said, with a slight suggestion ofnervousness in his tone:
"Now, what beast could that be? But there, one never gets used to allthe cries in the forest. Here, what's the matter? Where are you going,my lad?"
"To see--to see," gasped Rob.
"Not alone, Mr Rob, sir. I don't think it is, but it may be somedangerous creature, and I don't want you to come to trouble. Got enoughwithout. Hah! there it goes again."
For there was the same peculiar smothered cry, apparently from the edgeof the forest, close to where they had raised their hut.
"Come along quickly," whispered Rob, in a faint, panting voice.
"Yes, but steady, my lad. Let's try and see, our way. We don't want tobe taken by surprise. Get ready an arrow, and I may as well have myknife."
"No: come on; don't you know what it was? It was close here somewhere.Can't you tell?"
"No, my lad, nor you neither. I've been a little longer in the woodsthan you."
"How can you be so dull?" cried Rob. "Now, quick: it must have beensomewhere here. I heard `Help' as plainly as could be."
"What?"
Just then the cry arose again, not fifty yards away; and unmistakablythat word was uttered in a faint, piteous tone:
"Help!"--and again, "Help!"
The pair sprang forward together, crashing recklessly among the branchesin the direction of the sound; but as they reached the place from whenceit seemed to have come all was still, and there was no response to theircries.
"All a mistake, my lad," said Shaddy. "We're done up, and fancied it."
"Fancied? No, it was Mr Brazier," cried Rob excitedly. "I'm sure ofit; and--Yes, yes, quick; this way. Here he lies!"