Dave Porter in the South Seas/Chapter 29
CHAPTER XXIX
THE COMING OF THE NATIVES
When Dave awoke, it was with a start. The wind was blowing half a gale and the rain was falling.
"What a change since last night," he murmured to himself, as he sat up. "Hello, are you up already?"
"I am," answered Billy Dill. "Thought as how I'd better keep the fire a-goin', if it's goin' to storm. This ain't so nice, is it?"
"I should say not, indeed. My, now the wind is rising!"
The others soon roused up, and all gathered under the shelter of some dense tropical trees and vines. Soon the rain was pouring down in torrents, shutting out the landscape on all sides.
"Well, in one way, it's a good thing the Stormy Petrel got out of the harbor," remarked Captain Marshall. "This wind might make her shift, and either throw her up on the island or on to the reef."
They could do nothing with the fire, and so allowed it to die out, and crawled still further into the jungle in an endeavor to keep dry. But the rain followed them, until each one of the party was about soaked.
"This is another one of the comforts of a Robin son Crusoe life," remarked Phil. "Soaking wet, and nothing to eat. Oh, don't I wish I was on the bark again and had hold of those mutineers!"
The rain and wind kept up for the best part of that day. There was but little thunder and lightning, and at nightfall the storm died away, although the wind still kept up at a lively rate. During the afternoon they managed to find a turtle in a hollow, and, after turning the creature over, killed ifand cooked it in its own shell. The meal was not particularly appetizing, but all were exceedingly hungry and partook of it without a murmur.
"To-morrow we must gather some yams and some plantains, and also do some fishing," said the captain. "We might go hunting, too, but I would rather save our ammunition for emergencies."
To keep from taking cold in their wet clothing, all slept close to the campfire that night, and early in the morning they hung most of their garments out in the bright sunshine to dry. Fishing proved good, and the boys and Billy Dill caught over a score of good-sized fish, and also discovered a bed of oysters, which, as Roger declared, "were not half bad, even if they weren't particularly good." In the meantime the captain, who knew not a little about tropical life, tramped around and found some bread-fruit and some luscious berries, which he declared were perfectly good to eat.
"This solves the question of food, at least for the present," said Dave. "Not a very extensive list of things to eat, but much better than nothing at all."
"What would the boys of Oak Hall say if they could see us!" asked Roger.
"We'll certainly have a tale to tell—if we ever get back to tell it," returned Phil.
Having nothing in particular to do, they took their time about preparing the next meal, and, when it was done, it proved to be a regular spread. Some of the fish made particularly good eating, and the berries topped the repast off in good style.
"I do not believe that the Stormy Petrel will come back to this harbor," said Captain Marshall. "And that being so, I think we had best take ourselves to the other side of the island, to those log huts and shacks you mentioned. That is, most likely, the spot where the natives land and where ships may stop. We can put up a flag of distress, and, after that, there will be nothing to do but to wait and make the best of it."
"Shall you leave the rowboats here?" asked Dave.
"We can leave one boat here and row around the island in the other. We can carry the craft to some point beyond the reef."
This advice was followed, and beyond the reef line the ocean was found to be comparatively quiet, despite the storm of the day before. All entered the rowboat, and the captain and Billy Dill took the oars, and the voyage to the other side of the island was begun.
By the end of the day they had reached the log houses, and they cleaned out the larger of the two and gave to it as much of a homelike appearance as possible. Then they set to work to gather all the driftwood possible, for they had nothing with which to cut firewood. The boys fell to fishing once more, and Phil began to manufacture a snare, with which he hoped to trap some small animals that had been discovered at a distance.
Another whole day passed by slowly, and they began to feel a little more settled, when, in the middle of the afternoon, Billy Dill, who was out in the rowboat trying to catch some big fish, set up a loud shout.
"What is it?" demanded Captain Marshall, who was busily at work breaking up some of the drift wood.
"I see a big canoe comin', loaded with niggers!" announced the old sailor.
This news brought all to the shore immediately, and they watched the approach of the canoe with much interest. It was all of twenty-five feet in length and manned by twelve dark-colored men, six on each side. The natives in the craft numbered, all told, nineteen, and some of them had guns, while others had bows and arrows and long spears. Each man had also a long and sharp knife stuck in his girdle.
"Do you think they will be friendly?" asked Dave, in a low tone.
"I hope so," answered the captain. "They have nothing to gain by being otherwise."
When the natives discovered the whites, they stopped rowing and set up an animated jabbering among themselves. They looked around, thinking a ship must be close by, and, finding none, were much astonished.
"Hello!" called out Captain Marshall, waving a welcome. "Glad to see you!"
To this the natives did not answer. But the canoe was sent closer and finally beached, and the majority of the black men leaped ashore, each carrying his weapons with him.
"How do you do?" went on the captain, extending his hand and smiling. "Glad to see you. Can anybody speak English?"
At the question, one of the natives, a short, thick set fellow with a peculiarly flat nose, came to the front and shook hands.
"Soko speak Inglees," he said, and grinned. "Soko once on Inglees ship."
"I am glad to know you, Soko," replied the captain. "I am Captain Marshall, of the ship Stormy Petrel. What island is this?"
"Dis Yam-kolo Island," answered Soko, still grinning. "How you come dis way? Where he ship?"
"Some rascals have stolen my ship. She is a fine-looking bark. She was here a few days ago. Have you seen her?"
"No see ship, no—no ship, so many days," and the native held up four fingers, all stumpy and not overly clean. "Steal ship on you? Big thief, yes!"
"You are right. Where do you come from?"
"Come from Waponu. Dat on Sobago Island."
"Yes, I have heard of the place." The captain turned to the others. "It is a native village some ten miles from the town for which the Stormy Petrel was bound," he explained.
"Then perhaps they can take us to Sobago," said Dave, eagerly.
"Perhaps they can," answered the captain. "But it must be a long trip in such a canoe as that."
"Tell me," said Dave, to the native. "Do you come here often?"
"Sometime, not many time," answered Soko, still grinning. He was evidently of a sunny disposition.
"Did you ever come here with a man named Dunston Porter?"
At this question the native shrugged his shoulders and looked perplexed.
"I mean this man," went on the youth, and, taking the native by the hand, led him into the hut and up to the map on the wall. Instantly the face of Soko brightened.
"Yes, Soko know," he said. "Dat man come, so many time here" He held up three fingers. "Look in ground, dig, not can find much, no. Go back to Sobago, so." And he made a dejected face, at which Roger and Phil had to laugh.
"He means Mr. Porter didn't locate the treasure," said the senator's son.
"Is that man in Sobago now?" went on Dave, paying no attention to his chum's remark.
"Yes, him at big town, Nanpi!"
"Good! Then I would like to get to Nanpi just as soon as I can," cried Dave, enthusiastically. "Will you take me there? I can pay you well," he added, for he still had his money belt and cash with him.
"Yes, can take to Nanpi," answered the native.
After that he explained that he and his companions had come to the island to hunt for some rare birds and for turtles. They were quite willing to return to Sobago Island immediately, if paid for so doing. A bargain was struck, and it was decided that the voyage should be begun in the morning. In the meantime all hands were to catch some fish and cook them, and also gather in a supply of other eatables. The natives had a num ber of hollow reeds with them, and these were filled with fresh water, just previous to setting out. It was calculated that, weather permitting, the dis tance would be covered in three days.
"These fellows know how to handle their big canoes very well," explained Captain Marshall. "They go out hundreds of miles, and sometimes weather the worst of storms. Occasionally, of course, they get swept away, but not often. They sail altogether by the sun and stars, and can strike almost as straight a course as if they were using a compass."
Dave questioned Soko further about Dunston Porter, but could learn little, outside of the fact that the man was a treasure hunter and had paid very well for what was done for him. Soko added, however, that he thought the man expected to remain at Sobago for some time.
The boys could sleep but little that night, so anxious were they concerning the trip before them. They were up at dawn, but, early as it was, found the natives ahead of them. A hasty breakfast was had by all, the things to be taken along were packed in the bow and stern of the canoe, and shortly after sunrise the craft was pushed from the shore, whites and natives scrambled in, and the start from the lonely island was made.