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Title: The Hero of Panama: A Tale of the Great Canal
Author: F. S. Brereton
Illustrator: W. Rainey
Release date: January 3, 2013 [eBook #41767]
Language: English
Credits: E-text prepared by sp1nd, Mary Meehan, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (http://archive.org)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HERO OF PANAMA: A TALE OF THE GREAT CANAL ***
E-text prepared by sp1nd, Mary Meehan,
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
(http://www.pgdp.net)
from page images generously made available by
Internet Archive
(http://archive.org)
Note: | Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See http://archive.org/details/heroofpanamatale00breriala |
A Tale of the Great Canal
BY CAPTAIN F. S. BRERETON
Author of "Under the Chinese Dragon," "Tom Stapleton, the Boy Scout,""The Great Aeroplane," "Indian and Scout," &c.
ILLUSTRATED BY WILLIAM RAINEY, R.I.
BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED
LONDON GLASGOW AND BOMBAY
1912
JIM RESCUES PHINEAS BARTON
Contents
Chap. | Page | |
I. | A Post of Responsibility | 9 |
II. | En route for New York | 23 |
III. | Jim Partington shows his Mettle | 40 |
IV. | Relating to Phineas Barton | 59 |
V. | The Ways of the Steam Digger | 77 |
VI. | A Shot in the Dark | 95 |
VII. | The Lair of the Robbers | 114 |
VIII. | In Hot Pursuit | 133 |
IX. | Jim becomes a Mechanic | 152 |
X. | Running the Gauntlet | 171 |
XI. | Barely Escaped | 192 |
XII. | An American Undertaking | 215 |
XIII. | Hustle the Order of the Day | 235 |
XIV. | The Runaway Spoil Train | 256 |
XV. | Jaime de Oteros forms Plans | 276 |
XVI. | The Major forms his Parties | 297 |
XVII. | On the Track of Miscreants | 317 |
XVIII. | Rescue by Moonlight | 337 |
XIX. | Jim Meets with a Surprise | 357 |
XX. | Success to the Panama Canal | 375 |
Illustrations
Page | |
Jim rescues Phineas Barton Frontispiece | 46 |
"Stand away from those boats" | 32 |
Jim in a Tight Corner | 118 |
Waiting for the Enemy | 150 |
Attacked by Natives | 212 |
"Jim tugged with all his might" | 262 |
The Rescue of Sadie | 338 |
"It's George, George come back to life!" | 358 |
THE HERO OF PANAMA
CHAPTER I
A Post of Responsibility
It was one of those roasting days in the Caribbean, when, in spite of asteady trade wind, the air felt absolutely motionless, and the sea tookon an oily surface from which the sun flashed in a thousand directions,in rays that seemed to have been lent some added fierceness by thereflection.
Squish! Squelsh! The ground surf, which was hardly perceptible from thecoast, and scarcely so from the deck of a liner, was apparent enoughfrom the old tub which wallowed in it. She rolled in a manner that wassickening to behold, until at times her scupper ports took in water,then a surge of the ocean would take her in a different direction; shewould dive forward, dipping her nose in the oily sea till the hawserwhich had been passed out over her stern, secured to a large anchor,brought her up with a jerk and tumbled her backwards with her stern railawash.
Ugh! It was enough to make a white man groan. Even a nigger would havebeen inclined to grumble. But the Chinamen aboard the tub seemed, ifanything, rather to enjoy this rocking. One of them stood almostamidships, his feet wide apart to preserve his balance, while he grippedthe handle of the pump he was working, and turned it over and over witha monotonous regularity that seemed to match with his surroundings.
The man, who was barefooted, boasted of the very lightest of clothing,and wore his pigtail rolled in a coil at the back of his head. Otherprotection against the roasting sun he had none. Indeed, to look at him,he hardly seemed to need it, while the hot blast which came from theadjacent land passed over him without any apparent effect. Ching Hu wasin his element.
"Nicee place, missee," he sang out after a while. "Plenty nicee andwarmee. Stay long? No? Velly solly."
On he went, turning the handle without a pause, while there crept intohis slanting eyes just a trace of disappointment. He sighed ever sogently, then assumed his accustomed expression. Not the wisest man inall the world could have said whether Ching Hu were happy or otherwise.
Just about ten feet from him, sheltered beneath a narrow awning of dirtycanvas, a girl stood on the deck of the small ship, or, rather, sheoccupied a projection which overhung the water. Had this vessel been aliner, one would have guessed that this projection was the gangway fromwhich the ladder descended towards the water to enable passengers tocome aboard. But here a rapid inspection proved it to be merely aplatform built out from the side, and suspended some eight feet from thesurface of the ocean. From it a clear view of the ship's side was to beobtained, and, in these wonderfully clear waters, of the sandy bottom ofthe lagoon at whose entrance the vessel was moored. And it was upon thelatter, upon the bottom of this heaving ocean, that Sadie Partington'seyes were directed.
"Ching," she called out suddenly, turning towards him, "I think they'llbe coming up right now. Call the boys."
"You sure, missee? Yes? Velly well."
Ching Hu raised his eyebrows quaintly as he asked the question, and onreceiving a nod from the girl, who at once turned to stare into thewater, he raised his voice and called aloud in a sing-song style whichwould have made a stranger laugh. "Tom, Tom!" he shouted. "You comee nowwid Sam. Wanted plenty soon."
A black face popped instantly from the caboose leading to the cabin—abig, round face, the face of a negro of some thirty years of age. Thenthe shoulders came into view, and following them the whole figure of theman. He stood for a moment or two on the topmost step, balancing himselfagainst the edge of the caboose, one hand gripping a plate, while theother vigorously polished it with a cloth. It gave one an opportunity ofthoroughly inspecting this negro, and promptly one was filled with afeeling of pleasure. It was not because Tom was handsome, for he was thereverse of that. Nature had, indeed, liberally provided him with noseand lips, so much so that those two portions of his physiognomy werethe most prominent at first sight. But if his nose were somewhatflattened and decidedly wide, and his lips undoubtedly big andprominent, Tom was possessed of other features which counterbalancedthese detractions. His eyes seemed to attract attention at once. Theyseemed to smile at all and sundry on the instant, and flash a message tothem. They were shining, honest eyes, which looked as if they could donothing else but smile. Then the man's mouth completed his appearance ofjoviality; between the lips a gleaming double row of ivories were alwaysto be seen, for Tom's smile was permanent. The smallest matter wassufficient to increase it, when the negro's ample face would be dividedby a gaping chasm, a six-foot smile that could not be easilybanished—the prelude to a roar of mirth and of deep-toned, spontaneouslaughter. As for the rest of him, Tom was a monster. Six-feet-three inheight, he was broad and thickset, and beside the dainty figure of SadiePartington had the appearance of a veritable elephant.
"What you say, Chinaboy?" he asked, regarding the placid individualworking the pump. "Come plenty soon, eh?"
"Ye-e-s. Missee say now."
"Den dinner be spoiled for sure. Taters boiled to rags ef I wait littleminute. Stew no good ef left on fire for longer dan five minute. Missee,what you say dey doin'? They ain't gwine ter move yet?"
"Call Sam; you know as well as I do that the stew won't be spoiled. Comenow, they're going to signal."
Sadie turned upon the negro with a frown, then again bent her eyestowards the bottom of the sea; for the girl was always ill at ease whenthe divers were working. Somehow or other, since her brothers had takento this particular profession—and she had accompanied them upon theirvarious trips—she had felt impelled to take upon herself the duty ofwatching them at work. She was only eleven now, though tall and old forher age, and for a year past she had almost daily taken her post on thattiny gangway to watch the two figures moving in the water below. Forhours together she would be on the deck of this little boat, careless ofthe sun and heat, superintending the action of the pump and waiting forsignals from the divers. And to Ching Hu, Tom, and the others herveriest nod was law. It was useless to argue with her: Sadie had a wayof stamping her small foot which meant a great deal, and set all the menrunning to do her bidding. It was, therefore, with some show of alacritythat Tom prepared to follow his instructions.
"You Chinaboy," he commanded, grinning at a second Chinaman, whooccupied the little galley down below, "yo make sure not boil de taterstoo much, and sniff dat stew. Not burn um, or, by de poker, Tom make yosmile. Yo comprenez what I say? Eh?"
He grinned one of his most expansive grins, and the Chinaman respondedin a similar manner. He jerked his head in Tom's direction, thrusting itout of the galley door as he did so, and sending his pigtail flying. Hislittle, pig-like eyes rolled while he brandished an enormous woodenspoon. "Ling knowee eberyting," he lisped. "See to dinner fine. Hab destew beautiful."
"Den yo come along, yo Sam, lazy feller," shouted Tom at the pitch ofhis voice. "Whar yo got to, boy? I gives yo de biggest—oh, so yo dare!"he exclaimed, as a negro came from the after gangway, where a smallladder led to some of the men's quarters. "Yo's been sleepin'."
Tom held out an accusing finger, and gripped his comrade by the barearm; for, without shadow of doubt, Sam's eyes were blinking. He had theappearance of a man who has just awakened. But the negro shook his headvigorously.
"Yo let go my arm, Tom, yo big elephant," he said, grinning widely."I'se been down b'low fetchin' a bucket o' coal. What yo want?"
"Missie dar order us both; de boys is comin' up."
Tom still gripped the second negro, and playfully lifted him from offhis feet as if he were merely a child, then he set him down against theship's rail, while the two at once stared into the water. Truly theymight have been described as brothers, so very alike were Tom and Sam inappearance. In fact, had their two heads been alone protruding from awindow even Sadie would have been troubled to distinguish between them;but the similarity ended with the faces. Tom was huge, Sam was barelyfive feet in height, and slim in proportion; but he seemed to haveinherited all the dignity which Tom had missed. Merry enough at alltimes, Sam was inclined to be a trifle pompous, and of a Sunday, when inport, his get-up generally was sufficient to open the eyes of everyonewho beheld him. Now, however, his feet were bare, and he wore but ashirt and loose cotton trousers.
Let us join them at the rail and stare over into the water. Beneath theoily surface a wide stretch of yellowish-white sand was spread out onevery hand, till it became a greenish tinge, and was finally lost in theblurr of the ocean; but directly beneath the ship it sparkled in thesun, while one could easily see the tiniest prominence, the few rocksexisting here and there, and the deep shadow of the ship riding to heranchors. A derrick was rigged out over the rail, close to the platformoccupied by Sadie, and from this was suspended a long wooden ladder,with ponderous weights attached to its lower end. Close at hand, througha sort of stirrup, passed a couple of ropes, while the piping conveyingair to those below ran out over the gangway. It was there, too, that thesmaller signal lines were attached.
As Tom and Sam looked over, their eyes caught the reflection from twometal objects down below, and very soon the latter became apparent asthe helmets of the divers. They could see the two—for there were thatnumber at work—seated on a huge boulder, side by side, while withinsome fifteen feet of them were the broken timbers and debris of what hadonce upon a time been a vessel.
"They've sat like that this past fifteen minutes," explained Sadie."Seems that there's nothing to be found in the wreck. They'll be wantingto be hauled aboard in a minute. There's George moving."
As she spoke, one of the helmets swung slowly backwards, while the eyesinside peered aloft. Then there came a jerk at the life line. Sadieinstantly responded.
"Coming up," she said. "Get a hold of the tackle, boys."
She still kept her place, superintending operations, while Tom and Samtogether gripped the tackle, and, having pulled gently at first, beganto haul lustily. In a little while one of the divers had reached thefoot of the weighted ladder. At once the tackle was slacked off, whileall watched the man slowly ascending from the depths, dipping deeper asthe swell rolled the ship, and coming nearer the surface as she returnedto an even keel. Then, with a squelch, the top of the shining helmetbroke through the surface, the man reached the rail, and was liftedaboard. Sadie proceeded at once to loosen the screws securing the helmetto the rest of the dress, and lifted the huge metal globe from off theshoulders of the seated man.
"What luck, George?" she asked impetuously, staring anxiously into hisface, and noticing how tired the man seemed, and how sallow he was. "Youfound something? It's going to pay?"
"Not if we work a year at it," came the answer in a dull, despondenttone of voice. "Help me to get this dress off, Sadie, my dear. I'mburning in it. I've felt smothered, so hot that I couldn't work downbelow. Jim's coming up at once."
The second diver was, in fact, already being hauled up, and anyone whohappened to have watched the first make his ascent from the depths wouldat once have remarked the difference between the two. For the diver whonow sat on a box on the swaying deck of the small vessel was biggerthan he who was ascending; at the same time his movements had been farless active. The one now nearing the top of the ladder clambered up therungs with the agility of a cat, in spite of the fact that every foot herose made the weights he carried on his back and chest and on his bootsall the heavier. His helmet shot out of the water with a burst, as thevessel rolled heavily, pulling the ladder up, only to throw it back atonce.
"You hold on dar tight, yo, Massa Jim," shouted Tom, as he leaned overthe rail. "Yo tink dis all a beanfeast. Not so when de ship roll somuch. S'pose yo lose de hold. Buzz! Yo go right down to de bottom andstay dere fer good. Huh! Come in."
He gripped the extended hand of the diver, hauled the boy aboard, andpromptly seated him on a second box. Three minutes later the helmet wasoff, and one had an opportunity of contrasting the young fellow who hadappeared with the diver who had first of all ascended.
The latter was a young man of twenty-five perhaps, and, as we have said,was decidedly sallow and unhealthy-looking; in fact, natural good lookswere marred not a little by his complexion. But with the one who hadbeen addressed as Jim it was different. The young fellow was barelyseventeen years of age, and his rosy cheeks displayed the fact thatdiving did not disagree with him. Then, too, his voice was so different.It was crisp and laughing, and anything but despondent; while, when hehad rid himself of his diving weights and of his heavy boots, and wason his feet, one saw that he was of a good height, held himself well,and moved with the quick step that one might have expected from havingseen him clamber from the depths of the ocean. But there was concern inhis face when Sadie called him.
"George don't feel over well, Jim," she called out. "He said a minuteback that he was burning hot; now he's downright shivering."
"Fever," said Jim promptly, taking his brother's hand. "Tom, there, justleave Sam and Ching to haul in the tackle. I want you."
"Sah, what for? De master ill?"
Even his smile was almost gone as he looked at George with eyes whichwere startled and wide open, for the happy-go-lucky Tom, so unused tosorrow or sickness, could tell at a glance that his young employer wasanything but himself.
"Get along and fetch a bed on deck," commanded Jim; "then rig a shelterover it. Best place it right aft; there's more room, and you'll be ableto pull the awnings over better. George'll stay on deck; it's too hotdown below."
Pulling his diving suit off hurriedly, he helped his sister to disrobethe sick man; then, with Tom at George's head and Jim at his feet, theycarried him aft and laid him on the bed already prepared. Sadie at oncetook her seat beside him, armed with a fan, while the negro, Tom,hastened to fetch water from the big canvas sack in which it was placedevery day to cool. A strong dose of quinine was given to the sick man,and thereafter there was little to do but to watch him and tend to hisimmediate needs.
"We'll get up anchor and make right off for Colon," said Jim, as hestood beside his sister, some little distance from the bed. "There'snothing down there to salve, and we're wasting time and money. Betterget back and see if there isn't another job to be had. This salvage workain't paying us at all. We're losing heavily. Guess we'll have to getback on to the land."
Even he was a little despondent as he spoke, for matters had indeed notbeen going well for George, Jim, and Sadie. Americans born, one only ofthe three could remember their mother; for she had died shortly afterSadie's birth. But their father was a constant and pleasant memory tothem all, for he had been with them till six months previously. A diverby profession, Mr. Silas Partington had managed to save a few dollars,and had bought up a salvage plant, with which for a while he had doneexcellent business. Then he had met with a grave misfortune. He andthose whom he employed had worked for weeks at the salving of a sunkensteamer, and had actually brought her to the surface and commenced totow her into shallow water, when an accident had happened. The bulkheadwhich they had bolted across the huge rent made in the ship's side by acollision that had sent her to the bottom had, for some unforeseenreason, blown out. The air which had been forced into the vessel, andwhich had expelled nearly all the water in her, thus bringing her to thesurface, had escaped at once, and down she had gone under the ocean; buton that occasion she had found her bed in a deep hollow, where divingwas impossible.
"It just broke Father," said George, when describing the thing to Jim."He lost heavily. There were weeks of work paid for, besides valuableplant lost. It brought him down to this."
"This" was the purchase of an old vessel, and the seeking of salvagejobs along the Caribbean coast. Silas had brought his children withhim—George because he was already a partner, Jim and Sadie because hecould not afford to keep them on the mainland. The cruise along thecoast of Mexico had proved disastrous, for Silas had been blownoverboard during one of those terrible tornadoes which occasionallysweep the gulf, and George was left to fend for the family—anundertaking he found none too easy. Jobs were few and far between, andthat wretched Caribbean swell, together with a shifting, sandy bottom,made salvage work extremely difficult. The coffers of the Partingtonfamily were, indeed, already very empty, and the time was at hand whenthe ship must be sold to pay wages. And now George was down with fever.
"It's this hole of a place," growled Jim, as he thought the matter outthat evening. "A man can't work off this fever-stricken coast and escapeit. We'll get back to America. Somehow or other we'll manage to getwork."
Early that evening George again was in a high, burning fever, and neededcareful watching; but as the night wore on he quietened down. During thefirst hours of the morning the terrible burning again seized the sickman, and in a moment, as it seemed, he awoke in a frenzy and leaped fromhis bed. Dashing Jim aside as if he were a child, and knocking Sam tothe deck, he leaped over the rail and splashed into the water. In thedim light they watched him striking out for the shore, and as theyfollowed in the dinghy they saw him clamber on to the mud banks andenter the forest. But though Jim searched high and low, and lay off thatpestilential part for a solid week, often repeating his search in theforest, there was never any trace of his brother. The sick man wasutterly swallowed up by the jungle.
"Dead?" asked Sadie sorrowfully, her young cheeks hollowed by thetrouble.
Jim nodded. "Sure," he said, with emphasis. "Dropped in some corner andnever rose again. There's no manner of use searching further. Sadiedear, we've got to get ashore and set up somewhere for ourselves. I'vegot to be father and brother and everything to you."
That, indeed, was the position of affairs. Sadie was too young to lookto her own fortunes, while Jim was none too old. But an American lad canmake as good a struggle as anyone: Jim swore that he would. He had longsince tried to remember friends of his father's, but had given thematter up as hopeless. There were only Ching, Tom, and Sam, all three ofwhom had been employed on the salvage plant, and were old servants.
"Too poor to help us, anyway," he thought. "They'll easily getemployment, and will go their own way. I'll have to hunt out a job inNew York. I'll take anything that'll give me enough to feed and give aroof to Sadie. Besides, there's the boat; there'll be a little left forher when all the wages are paid."
"And I ain't gwine ter be dismissed, not nohow," said Tom, when Jim toldthe jolly negro of his plans. "Me and Sam and Ching's been doin' a jaw.We're a-goin' to hold on to you and missie. We're all a-goin' ter getwork together till you've made a pile fer yerself and can give usemployment. Yo ain't no right ter order us away."
Thus it happened that Jim, having sold the boat and effects at Colon,went aboard a coaster bound for New York, Sadie and Tom and Sam, withthe Chinaman, accompanying him.
"There's five hundred dollars in this bag," he told his sister. "That'llkeep the wolf away till we've had time to look round. Don't you fear,Sadie; we'll land upon something good yet, and, who knows, one of thesedays, perhaps, I'll make that pile that Tom's always talking about. Butguess it'll want a heap of doing."
CHAPTER II
En route for New York
"Wanted, hands to help in building construction down town, New York."
The advertisement caught Jim's eye as soon as he looked at the newspaperwhich happened to be aboard the coaster on which he and Sadie and theothers were voyaging to New York, and fascinated him.
"See here, Sadie," he said. "It'll be just the thing. There must beheaps of jobs which I could do, even though I have no knowledge ofbuilding. Carrying bricks and so on, you know. There will be good wages,and the money will keep us going while I look round. Eh?"
"And perhaps there'll be a firm working in the docks round New York,"ventured the wise Sadie. "Then you'd be able to get a job at diving. Ishouldn't mind there; it isn't as dangerous. This building work wouldgive Tom and Sam and Ching jobs too."
"Sure!" exclaimed Jim, beginning at once to feel less despondent. Notthat this young American was apt to be downcast for long. But we musttell the whole truth concerning him. The heavy responsibilities sosuddenly cast upon his shoulders, and the persistent ill fortune of thefamily, had somewhat upset his nerves, and robbed him of a little ofhis accustomed jollity. Still, with five hundred dollars behind him, andthis advertisement before his eyes, he felt that the far future might beleft to take care of itself; for the immediate prospects werebrightening.
"We'll take the job, the whole lot of us," he said, as they sat on thedeck in the dusk discussing matters. "We'll take a little tenement downin the working quarters. You'll housekeep, Sadie, and we four will goand earn dollars. Gee! There's no frightening me. This thing wasbeginning to get on top of me, and bear me down; but now, not a bit ofit. I'll win out; one of these days I'll own a salvage plant of my own."
It is better to face difficulties brightly and with full courage thantackle them half-heartedly. Jim felt all the stronger for his courage,and paced the deck alone that night with hopes raised, and with fullassurance for the future.
"I'll get a widow woman, or someone respectable like that, to come andhelp Sadie keep house," he said to himself. "It'll be company for herwhile I'm away. And of course there's her education: she'll have to havemore schooling. We've rather forgotten that she's still only a child,for she behaves as if she were grown up."
That was, indeed, one of the pathetic items in the history of Jim'sfamily. His father, Silas, had been pressed as it were into a course ofaction which meant a sudden cessation of all home life for Sadie, andwhich brought the child amongst grown-up men when she should have beenat school, with some of her own sex about her, and playmates to rompwith. Circumstances had, in fact, acted adversely both for Silas andhis daughter.
"But we'll alter all that," Jim told himself. "Heigho! I'm for turningin."
He paced the deck once or twice more, then crept down the companion. Hewas nearing the bottom, when his progress was suddenly arrested by ashout.
"What's that?" he wondered. "Came from right forward."
Curiosity caused him to run nimbly up the steps again. His head was justemerging from the opening when the shout was repeated, while it wastaken up instantly by men above his head, on the bridge of the ship. Atthe same moment there came the tinkle of the engine telegraph.
"Port! Port your helm! Hard a port!" he heard the lookout shout from hispost on the forecastle. "Ship ahead! Port your helm!"
"Hard astern, Mr. Dingle! hard astern!" came in steady but sharp tonesfrom the bridge, then there followed once more the tinkle of thetelegraph. Jim felt the tremble and throb of the engines suddenly diedown; indistinct shouts came to him from somewhere in the interior ofthe coaster. Then the engine throbs recurred furiously, as if the shipwere making a frantic effort. Crash!
He was thrown hard against the combing of the gangway, his head strikingthe woodwork heavily, so that he was partially stunned. That and thesucceeding jar, as the coaster came end on into the bows of anothersteamer, toppled Jim over. He lost his foothold, and rolled down thesteps into the gangway down below. Then he picked himself up, feelingdazed and giddy, and for a moment held tight to a pillar supporting thedeck.
"A collision," he told himself. "A bad one too—full tilt into oneanother. It's shaken the electric light out. Lucky they keep anemergency oil lamp going."
The temptation to dash up on deck was strong within him, and had he beenalone on the vessel, with none to care for, no doubt he would haveobeyed the inclination. But there was Sadie; Jim was her protector. Hedashed at once towards her cabin, and came upon her at the doorway,looking frightened.
"There's been a collision, Sadie, dear," he said, endeavouring to keephis voice quiet. "Guess we may have to move; let me come in and fixyou."
The child was not undressed, fortunately, and Jim at once pushed intothe cabin, groped for one of the cork life preservers which are placedin overhead racks, and adjusted it to her body.
"Now," he said, "bring a warm coat, and leave the other things. Ah,here's Tom!"
"Sah; me here, right enough. You's not hurt, nor missie?"
"Not a scratch, Tom. Just take Sadie right up on deck and stand besideher. That Sam?"
In the dusk outside there was a second figure, and behind that another.The faithful negroes, and Ching Hu, the Chinaman, had rallied at once totheir youthful master.
"Me, in course," cried the little Sam. "Guess this here's a collision.But we ain't got no cause to mind; not at all, not at all, missie."
"Get life belts, put them on, and then go on deck," said Jim shortly."Sadie, take charge of this bag of dollars. I'm going up to see what'shappened."
Conscious that he had done all that was possible, and that Sadie was nowin excellent hands, he turned and made for the companion, directing Tomto take the whole party on deck, and wait for him near the companion.With a few active steps he was there himself, and able to look abouthim. There was a slight sea fog enveloping the ship, through which, ahundred yards away, shone the lights of a steamer. Shouts came from herdeck, while her siren was blowing frantically. On board the craft onwhich he himself stood there was also considerable noise and confusion.A couple of lights were swaying right forward, and running there Jim sawthat a man was being slung over the bows in a rope's end. Right aft,where were quarters for steerage passengers, there was the sound of manyvoices, shouts, and hoarse cries of alarm, and once the shrill shriek ofa woman.
"How'd it happen?" he asked one of the deck hands standing near him.
"How do most of these here things happen, siree?" came the answer. "Thishere fog did it. The lookouts war bright enough; but reckon the twoships jest bumped clean into the same course, and didn't see one anothertill their bows was touchin'. We're holed badly, I'm thinking. You takemy advice, and get hold of your traps."
Jim leaned over the rail, and stared at the man swinging in the rope'send. The lantern he carried showed a huge rent in the bows of the ship,while the sound of rushing water came to his ears.
"Six feet by five, down under the water line, mostly," came from theman. "You'd better be slinging me over a sailcloth or something, or elsethe water'll fill her."
"They'll never do it," thought Jim, staring at the rent. "I've beenenough on board ships to know what this means. I'll get back and seethat Sadie's safe."
He ran back to the companion, where he discovered his friends seated onthe hatchway.
"Tom," he said, "come along below with me. We shall have to take to theboats, and the sooner we've food with us the better. Lead along to thegalley."
"Purser's store, sah; I knows very well. You say we gwine ter leave deship."
"She's holed badly; she's bound to founder, I guess."
"Den de Lor' help us!" groaned Tom. "You listen here, sah. FortySpaniard workmen living aft. Dey play de dickens. Dey fight for deboats. Not like dat at all. Tom say dat dere be trouble."
The mention of the men who had taken passage aft caused Jim some amountof perturbation. He had noticed them as he came aboard, and it wasbecause of their presence on the ship that he had taken passage forhimself and Sadie amidships.
"I'd have gone steerage with her had it not been for those dagoes," hehad told himself. "There's little enough money to spare nowadays forluxuries; but they're a rough crowd, and I wouldn't like Sadie to beamongst them."
It had followed that he and Sadie had taken berths amidships, while Tomand Sam and Ching had, as a natural course, got places aft. Jimrealized, now that Tom reminded him of the fact, that the Spaniards onthe ship might prove a greater danger to them than the foundering of thevessel.
"Guess they're a rough crowd, and likely to lose their heads," he saidaloud. "Let's get some food quick, Tom, and then see what's happening.We'll keep close together."
They ran along the alley way towards the purser's store, and, findingthe door closed, Tom burst it in with a mighty heave from his shoulder.Jim snatched one of the hanging oil lanterns, and together they made ahurried survey of the contents.
"Here's a sack; hold it open, Tom," commanded Jim.
He ran his eyes round the shelves, then, without hesitation, pitchedtins of preserved beef, of milk, and of other foodstuffs into the sack.In little more than a minute it was full to the neck.
"Get ahead," said Jim promptly. "I'll bring along this cask."
He stuffed a metal cup into one pocket, and hoisted a small cask of beeron to his shoulder. Had he been able to make a careful selection hewould have sought for water; but in an emergency beer would do as wellas anything, and already he knew that time was very limited. Indeed theship had already a bad list on her; she leaned so much to one side thatwalking was difficult, while she was down at the head so that his returnto the companion was made uphill. But in a little while the two arrived,panting, at the top of the companion, Tom bearing the lantern with him.
"Holy poker! but dere's the duce of a row aft, massa," sang out Sam,seeing them arrive. "I tink dem men is trying to put out de boats."
"How many are there?" asked Jim quickly.
"Seven, I tink. One just here; the others aft. Not like de noise demscum make."
Jim had never been aboard a vessel under similar circumstances, and hadtherefore never experienced the confusion which follows a collision. Hehad read of such affairs, and had marvelled at the wonderful coolnessand discipline maintained in some cases. Then he had heard of veryopposite results, where men had lost their heads, and where they hadfought, each for his own individual safety, as if they were wild beasts.Remembering the class of individual who had taken passage aboard thiscoaster, he could not help but wonder whether discipline would bemaintained on this occasion. The shouts, the babel of sounds coming fromthe stern, seemed to indicate the opposite.
"See here, Tom," he said, when he had listened for a while. "You andChing will stay right here by this boat, taking care of Sadie. Just givea look to the tackle, swing her out, and put all the grub on board. Bestput Sadie there also. Sam and I'll get along right now to see what'sbeing done. The captain maybe'll want some help. Those fellows alongthere appear to be fighting like demons."
"Den you git along, sah. Me and Sadie'll be all right. Ching Hu, yoChinaboy, jest you hoist dat cask aboard, and mind yo don't let umtumble."
That was the best of the huge negro; he could be depended upon to keephis head, while his devotion to Sadie was without question. Jim felt noqualms as to his sister's security as he dashed forward again, Sam closeat his heels. A minute later he met a little group coming towards himswiftly. It was the captain of the vessel, with his two officers, andsome half-dozen men.
"It's a case with us," Jim heard him say as the group came to a halt.
"She'll be down in half an hour, and that don't give us too much time toget ready. Mr. Jarvis, jest hop down to the engine room and tell 'em allto come up. Quartermaster, guess you'd best make a round of all thecabins; there's time for that, and we want to see that no one's left.You others had best come along with me: we've got to fix those fellowsaft. They tell me they're fighting like rats to get the boats out. We'llhave to stop 'em. Glad I am there's so few women aboard. What about theyoung lady amidships?"
"She's safe, Captain," broke in Jim at once. "I've put her in charge ofone of my negroes and the Chinaman. She's been placed in the boat by thecompanion, and we've got food and drink there also. I'm ready to comealong and help you aft."
There was a lantern swinging in the captain's hand. He lifted it coolly,for there was no trace of flurry about this solid-looking man, andclosely scrutinized Jim's features.
"Gee!" he exclaimed, reaching out to shake his hand. "You're the sort ofchap a skipper's glad to know. You've seen to the safety of the sister,as is only right, and now you come along shoulder to shoulder with us.Guess there'll be bad trouble back there."
"Guess there will," answered Jim. "They're fighting, if one can judge bythe noise."
"Jest like tigers, and they'll take some quelling. Look here; get a holdof anything handy and don't stand no nonsense. We can't afford to takelip from any of those Spaniards. Ef a man shows a knife, lay him flat onthe deck. Come along."
He led the way swiftly along the deck, and the handful of men with himfollowed closely, picking up any likely weapon as they went. Jimpossessed himself of an axe handle. It was long, and moderately heavy,while sufficiently tough to withstand any blow. He swung it up over hisshoulder and took his place beside the captain and his mate. In a minutethey had arrived at the rail from which one overlooked the small waistof the vessel, where the steerage passengers were accommodated. An oillamp hung from the boom, which was housed in its crutches over thewaist, and the feeble rays served to show what was happening. There werea couple of boats on either side of the deck, and about these a seethingmass of men fought. Without knowledge of the sea, having no idea how toswing the boats out, and no order or method, the result of the franticefforts of these foreign workmen had been disastrous in one case atleast. One of the boats hung suspended from the tackles, while its sternwashed in the water below, spars and oars and sails having been tumbledout of it. The other three still hung in their davits, and had beenhoisted by the tackles from the crutches placed between their keels andthe decks. As the captain and his men arrived, some of the men belowwere tugging at the tackles, while others were cutting the canvascovers of the boats adrift with their knives. In one corner of the waistof the ship three women were huddled, two men being engaged in adesperate fight within three feet of them.
"Down below there!" bellowed the captain. "Stand away from those boats."
"STAND AWAY FROM THOSE BOATS"
He might have spoken to a party of dead men for all the effect his wordshad. The frantic individuals down below seemed not to have heard them.They still went on with the work of preparing the boats, though it wasclear to everyone that, what with their eagerness and their utterselfishness, the hoisting out, if left to them, would end only indisaster.
"Down below there, you dogs!" shouted the captain. "Stand away there!Fall in in the centre of the deck."
He repeated his words in Spanish, for a skipper who sails those seassoon acquires a considerable vocabulary; but his orders fell upon deafears only, and all the while time was flying, the ship was settling, themoment when she would founder was drawing dangerously nearer.
"Guess we've got to fix 'em in our own way," said the captain, turningon his little party. "See here, we'll get down this port ladder, beatthe men back from the two boats there, and then tackle the others. Jestkeep close together, and ef there's opposition don't be too gentle. Thisain't the time for gentleness; they'll understand hard knocks when thereain't anything else that'll knock sense into their silly heads."
He led the way promptly, looking in the feeble rays of his own lantern,and that suspended from the boom, a regular commander. With hisclear-cut but anxious features, his peaked beard and short moustaches,this skipper gave one the impression of power, of coolness, and ofcourage. Indeed he was just the sort of man required in such anemergency, for he inspired his followers with confidence, and took hispost at their head as a matter of course. The mate slid down the ladderimmediately on his heels and Jim took the whole flight in one bound.
"Now," said the captain.
"Lummy! Dis someting like, dis am," murmured Sam, his eager little facelooking up into Jim's. The diminutive negro had armed himself with anenormous stake which he had discovered in some odd corner, and heflourished it. There was a little grin on his face, while his sharpteeth flashed. In fact, in one brief moment, the negro, who had alwaysworked so well and so quietly, who had never displayed any pugnacity ortraces of excitement, had become an altered individual. There was asomething about him which seemed to say that fighting was a pursuitwhich pleased him, that he was longing for the fray. But by now thewhole party was gathered in the waist. The captain led them to the portboats, flinging aside all who stood in his path. In fact, to clear theSpaniards into the centre of the deck was no difficult matter. They wereso absorbed in their task that they were taken by surprise. But a momentor two later, when they found a group of resolute-looking men lined upbetween them and the boats, which seemed to be their only hope ofsafety, the frantic people became furious and desperate.
"Two of you men just see that the tackles are free and all ready forhoisting," said the captain, his eye on the passengers. "We've gottrouble to meet here, and when it's over we shall want to get the boatsout precious slippy. Ah, you would, would you?"
In the short space of time which had elapsed since he had come to thewaist the fury of the Spaniards had risen perceptibly. It wanted only amaddened leader now to turn the whole pack upon the captain and his men;and, in a trice, the man made his appearance. A huge fellow, withglittering ear-rings, whipped something from his belt and snarled at thecaptain. Then, with a shout as if he were a maddened beast, he dashedforward, a huge dagger held before him.
"I've got more of that for the likes of you," said the captain, steppingswiftly forward and meeting the man with a terrific blow from his fist.Indeed the Spaniard turned a half-somersault, and landed with a thud onthe deck. But his mates were too desperate to notice his discomfiture;they came at the little band in a mob, and in a moment Jim and hiscomrades were fully engaged. A little active man bent low and ran in atour hero, while the latter caught the glint of something bright in hishand. Crash! The staff with which he had provided himself fell on theSpaniard's head and sent him sprawling. Bang! Sam's ponderous weaponmissed the mark at which it was aimed and struck the deck heavily. Nextinstant the negro was locked in the arms of one of the attackers and wasrolling with him on the decks.
But Jim had no time to watch him, nor opportunity of assisting, for thehorde of men threw themselves on him and his comrades furiously. Onemanaged to come to close quarters with him and struck with his knife;but the blade did not reach his person. A quick leap to one side savedhim. Then the staff swung downwards and the man collapsed.
"A rare blow, lad. A rare one!" shouted the captain. "Boys, we'll bemoving forward."
But the command was easier to give than to obey. Not all the efforts ofthe little party could make an impression. It seemed as if the captainwould be defeated in his efforts to control the boats. But suddenlyothers arrived on the scene. It was the engine hands, headed by anenormous negro. Was it wonderful that Tom should itch to join in thefray? He had seen his mistress into a place of safety and had left Chingto guard her. Then, realizing that instant victory in this strugglecould alone save everyone on board, he had led the engineering staffdown the companion.
"By de poker! not stand quiet and 'low boats to be hoisted out," hebellowed, forcing his way to the front. "Not 'bey de captain and helpwhen de ship sinkin'. By de poker, but dis not go on! Yo, what yodoin'?"
He seized a man who rushed at him, as if he were merely a child, twistedhim round till his feet were in the air, and threw him back at hiscomrades. Then, smiling all the while, he rushed at the attackers,regardless of their knives, striking them down in all directions.
"Hooray! Now, boys," shouted the captain, "that darkie's done it for usfine. Beat 'em back; there's still time to mend matters."
Bunched together, and led by Tom, the little party threw themselves uponthe Spaniards, striking right and left remorselessly. And in the spaceof a few seconds they had borne them back as far as the bulkhead, abovewhich was the poop.
"If some of you men don't drop those knives precious quick I'll knowwhy," commanded the skipper.
"By de poker—yes! Tom know why, yo bet!"
The huge negro strode in front of all, his big fists doubled, his headthrust forward as if he were a bull about to charge. His eye fell uponthe rascal who had begun the attack, and who, meanwhile, had recoveredhis senses. There was a dagger in the villain's hand, and Tom did notfail to see it. In a trice he had pounced upon the man.
"What yo not obey for?" he demanded wrathfully. "Yo not hear de cap'nsay yo to drop all knives? By de poker, but in two seconds yo sorry yoever born! Yo drop that knife."
There was no disobeying such an order. Tom seized the Spaniard, grippedhim with both powerful hands, and shook him till the man's headthreatened to fall from his shoulders. Then he turned and grinned at thecaptain.
"Ready now to do as yo order, Cap'n," he smiled. "S'pose yo say fall inhalf here and half dere, get ready to haul on tackle. Dey ready to do asyo say."
"George, you're a real treasure! You're a brave man, Tom. Jest get 'emranged up in order, and quick with it. Young sir, I'll be obliged efyou'll help him."
He nodded to Jim, left three of the men to stand by him, and at onceturned to the boats. As for the Spaniards, Tom's huge frame and theprowess he had already displayed seemed to cow them. They obeyed hisorders with alacrity, and were soon ranged up in two lines. By thentheir aid was wanted.
"Yo jest get to dem tackles yo in dat row," commanded Tom. "Haul whenyou told. If one ob yo try to get into de boats before I say yo can, mecarve yo into little pieces—so."
He brandished an enormous knife, which he had picked up from the deck,and showed his teeth. The result might have been anticipated, for thepassengers who had been fighting like a pack of beasts but a few momentsbefore were absolutely cowed. They would rather face drowning than theanger of this terrible negro. It followed, therefore, that, now thatthey were helping in the task, the boats were swiftly swung out.
"Put the women aboard this one," said the captain. "We'll lower themwith the boat. The others can go down by a rope ladder; it's smooth,thank goodness, or things would be worse. Now, lads, quick with it; shewon't swim much longer."
Riot and fury had now been replaced by order and calm method. One by onethe boats were lowered, passengers entered, and a crew was placedaboard. Moreover the purser and his men found time to make a raid on thestores, so that each boat was victualled. As for Sadie, she and Chingsat in the boat lowered from amidships, and waited anxiously for herbrother and the others. Presently they came, the captain being the lastto step over the rail. By then the decks forward were awash, while thestern of the vessel was pitched high in the air. Her propeller wasplainly visible, lifted clear of the water.
"She'll plunge in a few moments. Best get clear away," said the captain."The other ship, I hear, is foundering also. We'll have to stand by tillmorning. Is everyone with us?"
The answer had hardly left the mate's lips when there came a cry fromSadie. Her finger shot out, and in a moment all saw the object which hadattracted her attention. It was the figure of a man standing on thesinking steamer. Instantly a groan escaped the captain.
"Couldn't risk going back for him," he said; "he must swim for it."
"But he's disabled; he's the man with a broken arm," sang out Jim. "Hecouldn't swim if you paid him to."
"Can't help it; I've the boat's crew to think of," declared the captain,shaking his head sadly. "That ship's on the point of diving; we're tooclose as it is. If I go nearer we risk the lives of all, your sister'sinto the bargain."
"A fact," cried the mate emphatically. "The skipper's saying only what'strue."
"Ah! I thought she was going then!" shouted one of the crew aboard theboat, seeing the steamer lurch suddenly. "'Tain't more'n a matter ofseconds."
"Then I'll chance being in time; I'm going for him."
Jim tore off his coat, and kicked his shoes away. Before they realizedhis intentions he had stepped on to the gunwale, and had plunged headforemost into the sea.
CHAPTER III
Jim Partington shows his Mettle
"Come back, lad," shouted the captain, as Jim's heels disappearedbeneath the surface of the ocean. Then he rose quickly to his feet, and,gripping the gunwale of the rocking boat with both hands, he staredthrough the gloom at the sinking ship, and at the solitary figure nowclinging to the rail amidships. Indeed the unhappy individual who hadbeen accidentally left on the foundering vessel showed that he was inalmost as frantic a condition as had been the Spanish workmen, whenfighting in the waist for possession of the boats. He was waving the onearm which was uninjured vigorously, and as Jim set out in his directionhe was seen to throw one leg over the rail, to clamber with difficultyupon it, then to sit there holding desperately, and looking as thoughevery movement of the ship would cast him into the water.
"She's a going! Gee! did yer see her lurch then? My, I thought she wasunder!"
The deck hand who had shouted the words threw up his hands in thedirection of the steamer, and turned a pair of startled, staring eyesupon her. There was good reason for his alarming observation, for atthat moment the foundering vessel rolled heavily from side to side, asif she found her position irksome. Then she dipped her nose still deeperinto the ocean, kicking her stern clear of the water till ten feet ofher dripping keel were visible, and until her decks were at such a steepangle that none but an acrobat could have retained his position on them.Indeed the unfortunate individual clinging to the rail was swung fromhis insecure seat, and, falling backwards, crashed on to the deck andslithered down it till one of the bridge pillars arrested his progress.
"Holy poker, but dat near shave, I guess! Massa Jim, what yo doin' datfor? Yo's mad! Yo's goin' to drown yo'self!" shouted Tom, rising to hisfeet so rapidly that his huge bulk set the ship's boat rockingdangerously.
"Drown himself! He's jest committing suicide! I tell you, he's bound togo under," growled the captain, who, if the truth had only been known,felt himself so strongly impelled to leap into the sea and help in thisfoolhardy but gallant effort at rescue that it was only by exercisingthe greatest self-control that he was able to hold himself in check.
"If I wasn't skipper I'd do it," he cried. "But it would be a fool'sgame. Besides, I've got to remember that I'm in charge of thisexpedition."
Meanwhile Jim's head had burst from the surface of the water, and theplucky lad was forcing his way towards the sinking vessel with powerfulstrokes. He gave no heed to the shouts and calls of those behind him,not even when Sadie, beside herself with anxiety, rose from her seat inthe stern of the boat and shrieked to him to return instantly.
"I'll do it, or go under," he told himself grimly. "A sinking ship ain'tgoing to frighten me. Guess a chap couldn't float out there in safetyand see a man drowned before his eyes, especially a man that's unable tofend for himself."
Though the water dripped into his eyes from his hair, and made seeingdifficult, he, too, had observed the terrific lurch which the founderingvessel had just given; and if he had had any doubts as to her truecondition they were instantly set aside by the mass of her sternelevated in such an ungainly manner into the air.
"Aboard there!" he shouted; "jump over into the water. She is goingdown."
Thanks to an oil lantern which still hung amidships, below the bridge,he could see the man for whose rescue he was striving, and as he thrusthis way strenuously through the water he watched the injured passengerpick himself up on hand and knees and struggle towards the rail. Hewedged his feet against a stanchion supporting the latter, and as Jimarrived within a few yards of the vessel, the man was again endeavouringto clamber over the rail.
Then there came, of a sudden, another sluggish lurch. The ship appearedto shiver throughout her framework, and rolled heavily from side toside. A moment later her bows rose rapidly from the ocean in which theyhad been submerged, while the stern regained almost its normal position.It looked, in fact, as if she were making one last gallant effort tofloat upon the surface. But again she rolled heavily from side to side,till her decks were slanting at a sickening angle, greater indeed thanthat to which Jim and his mates had become accustomed when cruising tothe south along the Caribbean coast.
"By de power, but dat terrific, dat 'nough to shake de life out ofanybody," muttered Tom, whose eyes all this while had been staring intothe gloom, endeavouring to follow every movement of his young Americanmaster. Indeed, so acute was the vision of the dusky giant that detailswere visible to him, and to Sam, his diminutive brother, which othersaboard the boat had no idea of. "Lummy, but Tom not like to see dat shipshake herself so! She go down with a bust in one little moment, andden—and den, what happen to Massa Jim?"
The very thought of the disaster which would follow drove the negro intoa condition almost of frenzy. His eyes bulged from their sockets andlooked as though they would tumble from his head. A whimper from Sadieset Tom's honest heart throbbing and palpitating. It was real pain tothe fine fellow to know that his little mistress was in trouble. Thatand his own courageous, impetuous nature made it impossible to stay anylonger inactive in the boat. Every muscle in his body trembled, whilehis breath came quick and deep.
"I's goin' ter help!" he shouted. "Nebber yo fear, missie; soon habMassa Jim back safe and sound."
With that he floundered overboard, causing the boat to rock once moretill her gunwale dipped beneath the oily surface of the ocean, a mass ofwater flooding the interior instantly. His head had hardly bobbed up inview again when there came a sudden exclamation from Sam, and a momentlater the little fellow had slipped away to help his dusky brother inhis gallant task.
"Jemima! But if that don't take it!" bellowed one of the crew of theboat, looking himself as if he were about to follow. "Every mother's sonof 'em'll go down. That ship'll suck 'em under sure. Ain't we goingnearer?"
In his eagerness he seized an oar, banged it into the rowlock, andproceeded to bear upon it; but a stern order from the captain at oncearrested the movement.
"Belay there!" he cried sharply. "I ain't going to risk the lives of allaboard for those in the water. We're too close to that ship by a longway, much too close to my liking. Drop another oar in there, Macdougal,and pull us away a bit. Harvey, jest get to at bailing; she's taken abit of water aboard. Miss Sadie, it's the right thing we're doing. It'llhelp them best in the end."
But there was mutiny in the eye of Macdougal. In the excitement of themoment the eager fellow could not in his own mind differentiate betweenthe safety of those aboard the boat and those who had plunged into thewater.
"What's that?" he growled. "Go farther away! Desert them as is wantingour help! Wall, if I ain't jiggered! We calls ourselves white men,and——"
"Stop!" commanded the skipper sternly. "Get down on that seat and pull,Macdougal. You're a fool, I'm thinking. Jest remember that I'm yourskipper still, and taking orders from no one. I'm working in theinterest of all."
"Aye, aye, sir. Macdougal, get to at it!" growled the mate, scowling atthe sailor, and clenching a pair of brawny fists. Not that this officerwas really angry with Macdougal. In his heart of hearts he ratheradmired the man; but discipline was discipline, and the skipper had manya time proved his own courage and discretion. Still, even his persuasiondid not make of the sailor a willing man; for the moment Macdougal wasobedient, though mutiny and smouldering anger flashed from his eyes.
Meanwhile the sinking vessel had displayed another series of erraticmovements. That sickening roll from side to side had been replaced by agentle pitching fore and aft, and as the seconds fled swiftly by, thepitching had become slowly and almost imperceptibly greater. Then,suddenly, the vessel tossed her bows into the air till her watermarkswere visible to those swimming in the ocean. But it was only for alittle while. The bows came down again with a heave, which sent herforecastle beneath the surface, till she looked as though she were inthe act of plunging to the bottom. Up she came again, displacing a hugemass of water, and raising a wave which spread quickly across the seatill it reached the boat hovering at a distance and rocked it. Shecanted heavily to port, showing the whole of her length of deck, andwith such a violent movement that the passenger aboard was flung clearof the rail right out into the water. Then souse went her bows oncemore, raising the stern like a pinnacle into the gloom which surroundedeverything.
"Yo grip him and get away back, quick as yo can," bellowed Tom, hismouth almost submerged, his powerful arms bearing him swiftly to helpin the rescue. "I's close behind yo, Massa Jim."
But he might have shouted to a log of wood for all the use his wordswere. Jim heard not a syllable of his warning, for his eyes and all hisattention were fixed upon the injured man who had been thrown from thevessel. He reached him in the course of a few seconds, and turning himupon his back supported his head.
"I'm fine," he heard the man say faintly. "This arm of mine don't giveme no more than a dog's chance of swimming. You clear off, young chap.You've the right stuff in you, there ain't a doubt; but I'm fine. Don'tyou get worrying."
The last words were almost cut off by water lapping into his mouth. Thehuge wave raised by the sudden lifting of the vessel caught them both,and for a moment the two were hidden from sight by a mass of surginggreen foam. Jim kicked frantically, bearing himself and the man to thesurface. Something struck hard against his chest, and, gripping at itwith the one hand he had free, he swiftly realized that fortune had beengood to him, for it was a buoy, cast loose by the injured passengerhimself but a little while before, and now swept to hand at a mostopportune moment. He looped his arm over it, and, slipping the otherdeeper down, hugged the man closer, drawing his head well up on to hisown shoulder.
It was as well that he had made this hasty preparation, for, of asudden, the ship beside which they floated soused her bows deep again,and slid farther beneath the surface. She seemed to hesitate, to makeone other effort. There came a loud explosion, accompanied by the soundof splintering and rending wood. Air gushed from a mighty aperture whichhad made its appearance at the point where but a little while before theSpanish passengers had been fighting so frantically; then she plunged toher bed in the ocean. Swift as a dart she shot beneath the surface,leaving in her wake a swirling whirlpool, a twisting vortex into whicheverything—splinters of wood, spars, and human beings—were sucked withalarming swiftness, and with such force that none could resist it. So ithappened that Jim and the passenger once more disappeared from the kenof those who were watching so eagerly.
How frantically Jim kicked; how desperately he clung to the buoy and tothe man at whose rescue he aimed. The swirling water bearing them bothdown beneath the surface of the Caribbean in the wake of the vesselalmost tore them apart in the course of that desperate struggle.
At one moment the pull on the buoy was so intense that he felt as if hisarm would be dragged from its socket. An instant later a recoil of thewaters swept it back against his face with such violence that his jawwas all but broken.
"Done for," he thought. "I can't stand much more of this. My lungs arebursting, my head feels as if it will explode."
The sound of seething, gushing water deafened him at first, but when hehad been a little while immersed the thunderous notes, so distressing amoment ago, seemed to become lessened in intensity. The buzzing wasnow, if anything, rather pleasant, while his mind, acutely active but asecond before, became blissfully content, as if absorbed in payingattention to that curious singing in his ears. But if he himself wereunconscious of other things, nature still urged him to struggle on forexistence. Jim had no idea of the frantic kicks he gave, of the grimforce with which he clung to the man and to the buoy. Then somethingrevived his senses and caused his wandering wits to take notice of hissurroundings. A breeze blew in his face, while someone shouted in hisear. He opened his eyes, and in the gloom that pervaded everything madeout the grinning features of Tom.
"Yo's dere, den; yo's safe," he heard the negro exclaim. "By lummy, butdat extra near squeak, so I tell yo! Let go ob de man. Me take him forde moment. Yo puffed, blowin' like an engine."
Jim was exhausted; his breath was coming in quick, painful gasps. Hecould not spare any for an answer, and, indeed, had so little strengthleft in him that he did not even resent Tom's movement to take theinjured passenger from his care. Instead, he clung to the buoy, fightingfor air, wondering vaguely exactly what had happened.
"Yo hang dere quiet and easy," said Tom, one hand on the buoy and hismuscular arm about the half-drowned man. "Yo puffin' like a grampus now,but in a little bit yo be better, not make such a noise, have plentystrength again. Den take de man and swim back with him. Tom only come tolook on and see dat all well."
It was like the gallant fellow to make light of his own adventure, tostand aside now that he was sure that Jim was safe, so as not to rob himof the honour which would follow. Tom was indeed a very honest negro, aman with a wide, big heart, which held a large corner for Jim and hissister. He grinned in Jim's face, then suddenly turned and looked overhis shoulder.
"By de poker, but here someone else!" he muttered. "Who dar? We's safeand sound. Yo hab no cause to worry."
"And I ain't worryin'," came a well-known voice through the darkness. "Icomed along here jest to see what's happenin'. Is Massa Jim right andwell?"
A growl burst from Tom's lips as he recognized the voice, and at once heturned a pair of blazing eyes upon the culprit who had dared to followhim.
"Dat yo, Sam?" he demanded. "Den what fo yo dare to leave de missie? Yoget back right now, or by de poker, me knock you into twenty cocked hat!What fo yo jump overboard and risk gettin' drowned?"
The question brought a gurgle from the jolly little Sam. He laughedoutright beneath the nose of the irate Tom, and, reaching the buoy,clung to it for a moment or so before he deigned to reply.
"Yo's one great big donkey, yo am, Tom," he roared, shaking withlaughter. "Yo tinks yo de only man allowed to jump into de water; butdat not so. De young massa place yo in charge of de missie, and yo noright to leave. Me knows dat; me comes along right out here to haul yoback. Yo one great big blackguard."
To the astonishment of Tom and Jim the little fellow burst into violentsobs, though his words had conveyed anything but an idea of sorrow. Samshook from the top of his woolly head to his shoeless toes, and set thebuoy rocking. Big tears coursed down his cheeks, though the waterdripping from his hair almost cloaked them, and when he tried to speakagain he gulped at the words and failed to express them. It was, infact, a strange if comical procedure, and for the moment Jim's muddledcondition did not help him to arrive at the meaning. But he grasped thetruth a moment later, for Tom helped him.
"Yo—yo one little rascal, yo!" he heard the huge fellow exclaim, thoughthere was no anger in his voice, no resentment for the words which Samhad hurled at him. Rather there was a strange trembling which denotedfriendly feeling, accompanied by a sudden gripping of hands between thetwo darkies which seemed to say that they were perfectly agreed. ThenJim gathered the full meaning of Sam's tears, of Tom's magnanimousaction. It was joy for his, Jim's, safety that had set Sam howling, andthe tears coursing down his cheeks. It was that same feeling whichinduced Tom to overlook the high-flown language of his small brother andgrip his hand so warmly.
"You're just two great grown-up babies," he laughed across at them. "Youseem to imagine that no one can do anything without you, that I'm like apiece of china, liable to break on the smallest occasion. See here, Tomand Sam, shake hands. Guess you're both of you white right away throughfrom head to toe. I owe you both a heap for coming out after me; butmind what I've said—I ain't a piece of china. Guess I'm old enough andugly enough to look after myself."
Tom grinned back at his young master and hung to the buoy for a while,still clinging to the hand he had offered. Then he dropped it, moved tothe farther side, as if to place himself in a position of safety, andpresently made his reply.
"Sah," he said, "p'raps you old enough, as yo say, p'raps no. Ugly'nough: yes, I tink so. Yo's ugly 'nough to do one ob de stupidest tingsas ever I seed. What fo yo jump into de sea like dat and swim toward aship dat was sinking? S'pose she drag yo down? S'pose yo neber come upagin. Who den take care of missie?"
Even behind his fun there was a deal of truth. Who indeed would be leftto care for the sister? But Jim had come up again, and, feeling better,he promptly made his presence felt.
"Jest swim back quick," he commanded Sam, "and tell 'em we're all right.Tell 'em to come along. We'll hang to the buoy. Now, Tom, set tosplashing with your legs. There'll be sharks about here, and they'reextra fond of darkies."
Tom paled for a moment under his dark skin and looked the reverse ofcomfortable. Then he laughed uproariously, shouted to Sam to hurry hisdeparture, and promptly did as Jim had ordered. For it was as well to becautious: both knew that sharks abounded in that corner of the CaribbeanSea, and some of the brutes might very well be in the vicinity. Theykicked continuously, therefore, till the boat came up with a rush, andthey and the injured man were lifted aboard.
"Young man, you can jest give me a grip of yer hand," cried the skipperof the foundered vessel when all were safely in the boat, stretchingacross to the triumphant Jim. "I guessed when you came up alongside uson the ship, telling me that you had fixed matters for your sister, andwere ready to help us out with the trouble those Spaniards were giving,that you had got stuff behind you—the right sort of stuff, too. Thenyou tackled the hounds in proper style, so that I knew I had a man withme; a man, siree, not jest a boy. But this last thing's better than all.Guess this gentleman owes you a life. Guess he'll be for ever in yourdebt. Young man, I'm pleased to have met you."
It was a glowing tribute to our hero's courage, and he went crimson fromthe top of his dripping head to his stockinged toes as he listened tothe words. Not that anyone could tell, for the gloom shroudedeverything. However, Sadie, sitting beside him, clinging to his arm asif loath to part again with her protector, guessed his pleasure, whileher own courageous little heart felt as if it would burst with pride.
"I'm glad you did it, Jim," she whispered, "though I was terrified. AndTom and Sam were really brave; they are so devoted. Can you believe, Ihad the greatest difficulty to keep Ching with me? He hates swimming, asyou know, but he was very nearly following."
"Brave, honest fellows!" answered Jim with a gulp, for such devotiontouched him. "They are, indeed, true friends to us."
However, he had no time for further conversation; for now that thecaptain had given his decision on events so recent, the mate and crew ofthe boat were determined to make their own voices heard.
"A right proper thing to have done: wish you was my own son," declaredthe former. "Shake, young man. It's a treat to meet one who's a trueAmerican."
"One of the very right sort," growled Macdougal, still trembling withexcitement. "See here, young feller, I've nigh lost a job through you. Iwas for kicking up a rumpus direct against the old man's orders. Chief,I'm main sorry for them words and looks; but there's a time when a manhas to kick. I thought you was funking."
"Funking!" exploded the mate, though the captain sat rigidly in hisplace, making no response. "Him funking! The man you and I have sailedwith these past three years and never known to fail us. You guessed thatthe chief who led us against those Spaniards was funking! Gee! I've amind to smash your head in with this oar."
There was real anger in the voice. The mate was furious, and his hugedoubled fists showed that he was ready for anything; but the skipperquickly quietened him.
"Belay there, Mr. Jarvis," he said in his ordinary tones. "Macdougal's afool, as I've already told him; and if he never knew it before he doesnow. I'm not afraid of anyone's criticisms. There's a motto I'm always abeliever in. It runs: 'By their works shalt thou know them'. Guess I'venever done a thing to allow any man to think I was funking. Macdougalwas too excited to be responsible for his thoughts; it's just the man'sbluntness which has made him tell us so honestly. But take the lesson toheart, Macdougal; keep a clear, steady head always and it'll carry youthrough heaps of difficulties. Watch the men you work with, and get toknow all about them: moments of excitement aren't the times for comingto conclusions. Now let's get on to other matters. How's thatgentleman?"
"Fine," came in shaky tones from the bows of the boat in which therescued passenger had been laid. "Guess I know everything. I've beenlying here these last few minutes wondering whether I was alive or dead,and what had been happening. Is that the skipper?"
"It is, sir."
"Then allow me to say that you've as fine a crew as ever I set eyes on.It wasn't their fault that I was left aboard the ship. The collisionknocked me silly, and guess I lay away there on the decks out of sight;but I never reckoned you'd have men aboard ready to take such risks torescue a passenger. That young chap who swam out for me wellnigh wentdown with the vessel. I held my breath as we went under till I thought Ishould bust. And all the time I could feel him holding tighter to me andkicking. Gee, he's a full-blooded lad! He's got pluck if you like. Andthose coloured men come close after him. When I'm feeling better, guessI'd like to take a grip of their hands."
It was evident that he considered Jim to be one of the crew, and hisgallant action undertaken in the course of duty; but the captainundeceived him.
"That young chap's a passenger like yourself, sir," he said. "And thedarkies are ditto. I allow that you have every reason to want to thankthem; you owe them your life. But let us see to the other vessel; thisaffair has taken her wellnigh out of my head."
The oars were dipped in the water, and the boat was slowly rowed in thedirection of the twinkling lights which showed the position of the othersteamer. She had sheered off to some distance, but as the boatapproached her it became clear that her condition was not so desperateas had been imagined.
"She's listing badly to port and is down at the head. You can tell thateasily," declared the experienced captain. "We'll row right alongsideand I'll go aboard. You come too, Mr. Jarvis, and we'll take that youngman there."
He motioned to Jim, and, having put his helm over, so directing the boatalongside the steamer, he called to one of the hands in the bows to holdto the companion ladder which had been dropped over her side. Castinghis eyes about him, Jim was able to pierce the gloom to some extent, andbecame aware of the fact that a number of small boats were also lyingoff the vessel. In fact there were at least seven of them. Anotherremarkable fact was the silence which pervaded everything. A littlewhile before there had been a deal of shouting, and some amount ofconfusion, no doubt; but now everything was orderly.
"Fine discipline," remarked the skipper. "The chief of this boat got hispassengers away first of all, and then set to work to repair damages.Guess he hadn't mad Spaniards to fight. Come along, please."
He scrambled on to the companion and ran nimbly up the steps. A tall manmet him when he reached the deck, and introduced himself as the captain.
"You're chief of the ship that's foundered?" he asked.
"I am," came the rejoinder. "We were badly holed, and there wasn't achance from the very first. Then we had a horde of mad Spaniards tofight: the hounds lost their heads and struggled for the boats. Afterthat we found, when it was too late to go near the ship, that onepassenger had been left aboard; but we saved him, thanks to the pluck ofa passenger. Now, sir, I'm sorry for this collision. We'll not discussit now; the courts ashore will deal with the evidence. I've come alongto see how you fared."
"And thanks for the kind thought, sir," came the answer. "Reckon thequestion of who's to blame can be dealt with as you say. I congratulateyou on the way you managed to come out of a difficulty. I'd have sentalong; but then, you see, I wasn't sure that we weren't foundering too.There's a hole as big as three rum casks punched in our bows, and youcan see that we've shipped no end of water; but our water-tightbulkheads were closed right away and that's saved us. We've thecarpenters at work this instant, and as soon as they've plugged the gapwith planks and oakum we'll be able to put matters a little moreshipshape. Our pumps are just holding the water now; when the gap isplugged we shall gain on it. I reckon to have my passengers aboard inhalf an hour; you'll bring yours along, and welcome."
Half an hour later, in fact, found Jim and his friends, together withall the passengers and crew of the sunken steamer, aboard; while sometwenty-four hours later the port of Colon had been reached.
"And here we have to start right off again," said Jim, discussingaffairs with his sister. "That five hundred dollars will have to bedrawn upon for clothes and other things, seeing that we lost everythingwith the ship. It'll mean I shall have to be quicker in getting a jobwhen we reach New York. But don't you fear, Sadie; somehow I've a notionthat our fortune is about to improve. Things are looking brighter."
They watched the steamer slowly berthed, and then made for the gangway.Bidding farewell to the skipper and the crew, with whom they had becomemost friendly, they were about to make their way ashore when the manwhom Jim had rescued accosted them.
"I've fixed rooms for you all," he said. "You'll not disappoint me, willyou? I've a house away up on the hill, and there's heaps of room."
"But—but we're going on direct for New York," cried Jim, astonished atthe proposal.
"No doubt, sir; no doubt. But then there don't happen to be a steamerfor a week, and Colon's a bad place to rest in. You'll oblige me bycoming. I ain't had a chance, so far, of thanking you and the others forwhat you did. You'll surely give me a chance to get to know you better.Come and stay for a week till the steamer puts into port."
It may be imagined that Jim eagerly accepted the invitation, and,accompanied by Sadie, Tom, Sam, and Ching, took up his quarters withthis new friend. Not for a moment did he guess that this week's delaywould make a vast change in his future. His eye at the moment was fixedon New York, where he hoped to make that fortune of which he hadlaughingly spoken. He never imagined for one instant that the Isthmus ofPanama would detain him, and that there he would join his compatriots,the Americans, and with them would take his share in that giganticundertaking, the Panama Canal.
CHAPTER IV
Relating to Phineas Barton
Phineas B. Barton was in his own way an extremely pleasant and jollyman, but he required a great deal of knowing. He was moderately tall,clean shaven, as is the typical American of to-day, fairly good-looking,and about forty years of age. When he liked he could be voluble enough,but as a general rule his conversation was chiefly noteworthy by itsabsence; for Phineas was undoubtedly prone to silence and taciturnity.
"It's like this," he explained to Jim; "I'm boss at the present time ofthe foreign labour we employ on the Panama Canal works, and guess I haveto talk most all the day when I'm at work. So a fellow gets used tokeeping his mouth shut at other times, so as to rest his jaw. Gladyou're coming out to my quarters."
He had thanked Jim quietly and with apparently little feeling for hisaction in plunging into the sea to save him when the steamer foundered,and after that had said not a word. But that did not imply that Phineaswas ungrateful. It was not in his nature to employ many words; he haddecided to show his gratitude in other ways. It was for that reason, nodoubt, that he had invited our hero to his house. And, now that thewhole party had disembarked, he proceeded to lead the way.
"Got any traps?" he asked.
"Not a stick," Jim answered. "We're here as we stand up."
"Then transport isn't a difficulty. It's nine miles to my quarters, andthe railway will take us there quick. There's cars going one way or theother most always; come along to the terminus."
Jim and his comrades had no idea of the work which was going on on thisnarrow isthmus of Panama, therefore the reader may imagine that he wasintensely surprised, once he and his friends had left the one-storieddwellings of Colon, to find human beings seething everywhere. Bands oflabourers of every colour were working along the route where the canalwould open into the Caribbean, while heavy smoke and the rattle ofmachinery came from another spot farther on.
"Where we're getting to work to cut our locks," explained Phineas,nursing his broken arm. "It's there that I broke this arm of mine twoweeks ago. I was fool enough to get in the way of a dirt train, and ofcourse, not having eyes itself, it shunted me off the track with a bang.That's why I was on my way back to the States; but guess that holiday'llhave to wait. I'm keen to get back to work."
From the open car in which the party was accommodated he pointed out thevarious features of the isthmus, and in particular the works of thecanal. And gradually Jim gathered the fact that this undertaking uponwhich his country had set its heart was gigantic, to say the least ofit.
"No one knows what we're doing save those who've been here," saidPhineas, a note of pride in his voice. "Back home there's folks readyenough to criticize and shout that things aren't being done right; butthey ought to come right out here before opening their mouths. You'vegot an idea of the canal, of course?"
Jim reddened. To be truthful, his own struggle to make a way in thisworld had occupied most of his attention. He was naturally interested inall that concerned his own country, but even though so near to theisthmus he had never been farther than Colon when the ship put intoport, and whilst there had merely observed rather a large number ofpolicemen, both white and black. Of the huge army of workmen engaged inthe canal enterprise he had not caught a glimpse.
"It's an eye-opener, this," he admitted. "I had no idea there were somany men, or so much machinery, though if I had thought for a little Icould have guessed that there must be a bustle. As to the scheme of thecanal, I haven't more than the vaguest idea."
"And I can't give you much information here. We'll want to get aboard aninspection car and run right through. That'll be a job for to-morrow.We'll have the inspector's car, and run along to the other side. But,see here, this canal's the biggest thing in canals that's ever beenthought of. The Suez Canal don't hold a candle to it. The Kiel Canal isan infant when compared with what this will be when it's finished.There's fifty miles, or thereabouts, of solid dirt between Colon andPanama, and America has decided to get to at that dirt and cut a wayclear through it, a way not only big enough to take ships of to-day,but to take ships of to-morrow, ships that'll make the world open itseyes and exclaim."
The very mention of the work made Jim gasp. He asked for particularspromptly. "It'll take a heap of time, I expect," he said. "Reckon acanal a mile long and fifty feet wide by thirty deep isn't dug in aday."
"Nor hardly in a year. But we're not digging all the way," explainedPhineas. "America has selected what is known as the high-level canal;that is, she's not just digging a track clear through from Atlantic toPacific, a tide-level canal as you might call it, for there aredifficulties against such a scheme. To begin with, there's a tide to bereckoned with at Panama, while this Atlantic end has none; which meansyour water level at the Pacific side is different from that at theAtlantic. Then there's river water to be contended with. This isthmusgets a full share of rain, particularly near the Atlantic, and therivers get packed with water in a matter of a few hours. Well, you'vegot to do something, or that flood will swamp your canal, wash away yourworks, and do other damage."
"Then the high level has fewer difficulties?" asked Jim.
"You may say so, though the job is big enough in all conscience. Shortlyput, it's this. We begin the canal by dredging in Limon Bay, right herebeside Colon, and cut our dirt away, in all for a matter of just overseven miles. Then we build three tiers of double locks, which will takeany vessel, and which will float them up in steps to the 85-foot level.Once up there the ship steams into a huge lake where there's dry landto-day. We get that lake by damming the Chagres River right there beforeus, at Gatun, throwing the water back into a long natural hollow, andwhen the work is finished we shall have a body of water therefour-fifths the size of Lake Geneva. Anyway, it'll allow a steamer toget along under her own power till she arrives at the other end of thelake at Obispo. Even then she uses her own power, though she has to slowdown. She enters what we call the Culebra cut, just nine miles long,where we are burrowing our way through the hills. That's one of thebiggest of our jobs. You'll be interested when you see it. We've a smallarmy of men at work, and rock drills and steam shovels are going allday, while dirt trains travel to and fro more often than electrics inthe New York subway. Then comes a lock at Pedro Miguel, and another atMilaflores, which let our ships down to Pacific level. Way down at thatend we've a lot of dredging to do to clear the below-sea track of thecanal."
Indeed it was no wonder that Phineas found it a matter of impossibilityto describe the gigantic, herculean task which America has undertaken.Moreover, it may be forgiven our hero if he failed, in such a shortspace of time, fully to comprehend what was being done. A canal wasbeing fashioned, that he knew well enough, and now Phineas had given hima rough idea of its direction, and of the methods to be employed toobtain a waterway from one ocean to the other. The rest had necessarilyto be left to the imagination, and to the moment when clear plans of theworks could be studied.
"But you know a bit about it, and that's good for the present," saidPhineas. "I'm not going to give you a bad headache right off by throwingmore particulars at you, though I fancy you'd be interested to know justone or two items."
"And those?" asked Jim, by no means bored with the description. In fact,like any healthy youngster, he was intensely interested in this canal,and was burning with impatience to see all the machinery employed, themethods used by the engineers and their staff to bring about the variousworks. "I'd give something to see the lake," he admitted. "Almost as bigas that of Geneva? Gee! That's a whopper."
"You may say so," agreed Phineas, again a tinge of pride in his voice."There'll be somewhere about 160 square miles of water in that lake, anda fleet will be able to lie to in it. Those locks at Gatun, which are tobe double—one for steamers going up, and the other for ships comingdown—will each give a usable length of 1100 feet, which is a good 300feet longer than any ship yet afloat. They'll be 110 feet wide, and havea minimum depth of 41 feet. Put that all together, and remember thatwhen the gates of the locks are shut, and water allowed to come down,the biggest battleship yet heard of will be lifted solid just about 32feet, and then warped on into another lock as like the last as two peas.In less than an hour we'll raise a ship up to our high-level canal fromthe Atlantic, and we'll do it, sir, as easy as you lift rowing boatsdown on the rivers."
Phineas went hot at the thought of the undertaking, and, looking at him,Jim could see that the man was filled with a huge pride, with atremendous fixity of purpose, the courage and tenacity to push on with alabour which his country had begun, and which the honour of the nationdemanded should be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. And in a littlewhile Jim understood that there was not a white employee engaged on theisthmus who did not dream of the day when the canal would be opened,when their own countrymen, some of whom at this moment were ready todiscount their labours, would be amongst the keenest admirers of thefinished task.
"But guess it's time we thought of the house," said Phineas, dragginghis attention away from the works before him. "I've a shanty way up thehill there, with a housekeeper to look to it for me. She'll take care ofMiss Sadie."
They descended from the car and slowly trudged up the hill. Then Phineasgave them a welcome to his home.
"Looks cool and nice; don't it?" he remarked, as they ascended a flightof steps leading on to a wide veranda. "I can see you looking at mywindows, young man. Well, we don't have any out here. A chap gets tolive without them easily enough. There's just copper gauze right roundthe veranda, and the same over the window openings. Most days it's sohot one doesn't think of their absence. And if a cold spell comes, onecan easily put on something warmer. Now we'll get along in and feed. Ha,Mrs. Jones, that's you again! You didn't think to see me back so soon,till I telephoned from Colon. This is Miss Sadie, and this is Jim, theyoung man who rescued me. We're just hungry, so we'll come right in ifthings are ready, and Tom here, and Sam, and Ching can get round to thekitchen. You'll find 'em useful boys."
The widow who looked to Phineas's affairs was a pleasant woman, and gaveour hero and his sister a real welcome. As to the negroes, though shelooked at them askance at first, she rapidly found them a blessing. ForTom installed himself as butler unasked, while Sam carried dishes to andfro. Ching settled down to the work of washing up the things as if hehad been brought to the isthmus for that very purpose.
"All of which just makes things slide along as if they were oiled," saidPhineas with a glad smile, as he lolled on his veranda afterwards.
"See here, Jim, them boys of yours can go along helping Mrs. Jones whileyou're here; but of course, if they were at work on the canal, theywould have their own quarters along with the other coloured men. Pityyou're not staying. Where do you go after New York?"
It was a leading question, and Jim explained his position frankly.
"I don't complain," he said, "but we certainly have had our share of illfortune. First Father lost his money, then his life. Afterwards mybrother went off his head with fever, and was lost in the forest waydown there below Colon. I've got to find work other than diving."
"You've done a bit of that, then?" asked Phineas.
Jim nodded. "A lot," he said. "But I'm not really skilled."
"You've handled tools and machinery?"
"Many a time; Father made me learn from the very beginning."
"See here!" cried Phineas suddenly; "you're after a job, and look toearn dollars. Well, there are dollars to earn here for a good man. Try aspell on the canal works. We've vacancies almost all the while, for menget tired of the job, while others fall sick. Then there's every sort ofwork, to suit the knowledge of everyone. Of course white men have thepick. They're skilled men, and naturally enough they get posts ofresponsibility. Some drive steam navvies, others rock drills, while someare powder men, and place the charges which we fire every night afterfive. At the locks there's pile driving and concrete laying, with whitemen to run the engines or supervise. As to diving—well, there may besome of that, but it's the land we're chiefly engaged with."
The temptation to accept the proposal right off was strong, and Jimfound it difficult to keep from answering. Then he suddenly asked aquestion.
"There's my sister," he said. "I suppose Tom and the others could easilyget work, and so stay here; but this place hasn't the best ofreputations for health. I must look after her."
"And she'll be as well looked after here as anywhere," said Phineaseagerly. "We're high up out of the valley, the house has lately beenbuilt, while that yarn about the health of the isthmus is old history.We've changed all that. An American army surgeon, with others to helphim, discovered that yellow fever was given by a particular form ofmosquito. Well, he set to work to find where that mosquito lived andbred. Then he formed a sanitary corps, drainage was looked to, scrubcut down, windows barred by copper gauze. And we've fixed that mosquito.Yellow fever is now unheard of on the isthmus, while there's very littlemalarial fever. The canal zone, particularly in these high parts, is ashealthy as New York. Come now."
"I agree to stop if she cares to do so," cried Jim suddenly, for therewas an eagerness about the man before him which captivated him. It wasclear, in fact, that Phineas was anxious that Jim should stay; and sincehe promised work, and stated that no harm could come to Sadie fromresidence there, why, if matters could be arranged, Jim made up his mindhe would stay. Perhaps here he would find the means to cut the firststeps in that flight which was to lead to a revival of his fortunes.
"Then here's a plan," said Phineas. "I'm real glad you'll stay on here,for I want a companion. I lost my wife five years ago, and by rightsshould be living way over there in one of the hotels the AmericanGovernment has built for its employees. But I chose to have a housealone, and at times it's lonesome. You'll stay along with me, andSadie'll have Mrs. Jones to look after her. There's a Government schoola quarter of a mile away, with plenty of boys and girls going. As forthe darkies and the Chinaman, I can't promise anything at present.Depends on the work they have to do; but I've an idea I could make thatfellow Tom extra useful."
Exactly what was in the mind of this American official Jim could notguess. He went to bed that night with a feeling of exultation to whichhe had been a stranger for a long while, for Sadie had taken to Mrs.Jones, and was delighted at the thought of remaining.
"Why trouble to go along to New York?" she asked him, in her wise littleway, when he asked her what she would like. "This place is glorious. Theview from the house is really magnificent, and there's no lonelinessanywhere. Look at the works going on, with thousands of men. Then Mrs.Jones tells me that there are a number of boys and girls, so that I amsure to have companions. You can earn good wages here, Jim, and perhapsrise to a position of responsibility."
"Rise! that I will!" our hero told himself, for he was bubbling overwith enthusiasm. "I've myself alone to look to, and I'll work and makethose in authority over me see that I'm trustworthy. I'll show 'em I'mnot a skulker. Wonder what job I'll get?"
It was at an early hour on the following morning that he was up and out,only to find Phineas abroad before him.
"That you, youngster?" he sang out cheerily, seeing Jim. "I've been downto the office of the Commission doctor, who's fixed this arm for me. Theman who saw to it aboard the ship that brought us in hadn't too muchtime, for there were others who'd been injured by some of thoseSpaniards who'd been fighting. In consequence I had a bit of pain lastnight; but I'm easy now. Let's get some breakfast, then you and I'll beoff."
An hour later found the two down at the point where the dirt trains werealready dumping their contents, and just where the huge Gatun dam was tobe erected, so, standing on an eminence, Jim was able, with the help ofhis friend, to follow in a logical manner the plans of the Americanengineers. For he could look into the long, winding hollow along whichat that moment flowed the tributaries of the Chagres River.
"It's just as clear as daylight," said Phineas, his face aglow, foranything to do with the Panama Canal warmed him, so great was hisenthusiasm. "Away there below us, where you see two rivers comingtogether to form what is known as the Chagres River, you may take itthat the level of the land is just a trifle above that of the sea, andof course the water on this isthmus has found the lowest level possible.It could not get away to the east because of the hill, and west here,where we are, there's another. So that water just flows out betweenthem, the hills themselves forming, as it were, the neck of a bottle.Well, we're just putting a cork into that neck. We're erecting a damacross the valley between these two hills which will be 7700 feet inlength, measured across the top, while its base measurement will be 2060feet."
"Enormous!" exclaimed Jim. "But surely such a tremendous mass is hardlynecessary?"
"What! with 164 miles of water behind it? Young sir, let me tell youthat there'll be a clear depth of water of 80 feet all along this end ofthe lake we're forming. A body of water like that exerts terrificpressure, and to make that dam really secure against a fracture, to makean engineering job of it, as we should say, the dam ought to beconstructed of masonry built right into solid rock. But there ain't norock, more's the pity."
"None?" asked Jim. "Then you won't be able to use masonry?"
"Right, siree! But we're going to fix the business, and reckon, when thedam's finished, nothing'll move it. Listen here, and jest look awaywhere I'm pointing. There's an army of niggers and European spademen atwork along the line the dam's to follow. They're working a trench rightacross, 40 feet down into the soil. Those engines you can see smokingalong there are driving sheet piling of 4-inch timbers 40 feet downbelow the bottom of that trench. When they have finished the job ofpiling, the trench'll be filled chuck up with a puddled core of claythat'll act like a sheet anchor."
"And so hold the dam in position," suggested Jim.
"Just what I thought you'd say. No doubt that puddled core will help tohold the huge mass of earth that we're going to dump around it. Butwe're working that piling in and making the core for another purposealso. With a huge body of water in this hollow there'll be a certainamount of soaking into the subsoil—seepage we call it. It might loosenthe ground underneath our dam, and so cause the thing to burst; but witha 40-foot trench, filled with a puddled core which'll stop any water,and this extra 40 feet of piling—just 80 feet of materialaltogether—we stop that seepage, and at the same time kind of fix atooth into the ground that'll hold the weight of New York city."
The whole thing was gigantic, or, rather, the scheme of it all; for thereader must realize that Jim and his friend were looking down upon anunfinished undertaking. But those smoking engines and the army of menat work were an indication of the enormous labour and skill required inthe erection of this Gatun dam, itself only one item in the numerousworks of the canal, though, to be sure, one of the vastest. In fact,When Jim learned that from base to summit the dam would measure no lessthan 135 feet, and would be 50 feet above the level of the water inGatun Lake, there was no wonder that he gasped.
"It just makes a man scratch his head," laughed Phineas. "And sometimesit makes one inclined to swear, for there's folks in the States whocan't cotton to what we're doing here, and who wonder why there are somany men employed and so much money being spent. They seem to think thatthe canal ought to be finished in a matter of three or four years."
"Then the sooner they come out here and see for themselves what ishappening the better for everyone," cried Jim indignantly. "That damalone will take a vast amount of time, I imagine."
"Then you come along down here, sir, and I'll show you a work that'sjust as gigantic."
Phineas took our hero to the western end of the trench across which thedam would lie, and there caused him more astonishment. For here anotherarmy of labourers was employed in delving, while enormous steam diggerstore huge mouthfuls of earth and rock away from the sides of the cuttingthat was being made to accommodate the double line of three locks which,when America has completed her self-imposed undertaking, will raise thebiggest vessel ever thought of to the surface of the lake above, or willdrop her with equal facility down on to the bosom of the Atlantic.
"There's those steam navvies," observed Phineas, halting in front of oneand surveying it reflectively. "A man who runs a machine like that canearn good dollars, and there's competition for the post. Say, Jim, how'dyou care to try your hand at it?"
The very suggestion caused our hero to hold his breath. It was not thathe was frightened by the mass of machinery; it was merely the novelty ofthe work. He stepped a pace or two nearer before he answered, andwatched closely what happened. A young American, only a few years olderthan himself, sat on a seat beside the gigantic main beam of the digger,his head within a few inches of the flying gear wheels which transmittedmovement, while right beside him, fixed to the base of the steel-girdedbeam, was the engine. One hand was on the throttle, while the otheroperated a lever. Down came the huge bucket attached to the secondarybeam, the chains which supported it clanking over their stout metalpulleys; then the hand operating the lever moved ever so little, thechains tautened, and the hardened-steel cutting lip of the digger bitinto the bank which was being excavated. Deeper and deeper it went.Glug! glug! glug! the machine grunted, while the tip of the main steelgirder, where the hauling chains passed over it, bent downwards ever solittle. A shower of broken earth burst over the edge of the digger, afaint column of dust blew into the air, while the engine gave forthanother discordant glug. Then up came the huge bucket, crammed to thevery top with debris, the whole machine shuddering as the strain wassuddenly taken off it. But the man remained as composed as ever. Hetouched another lever, causing the apparatus to swing round on its axis.Almost instantly a movement from his other hand released the triggerholding the bottom of the huge earth receptacle in place, so that,before the machine had actually finished swinging, the huge mouth ofthis wonderful invention was disgorging its contents into a dirt caralongside.
"Fine!" cried Jim delightedly. "That's a job I should like immensely,but I guess it requires a little training."
"Practice, just practice," smiled Phineas. "See here, Jim; this arm ofmine has started in aching again. How'd you care to stay along here andhave a lesson? That young chap's a friend of mine, so there'll be nodifficulty about the matter."
It may be imagined that Jim eagerly accepted the offer. He was keenenough to accompany Phineas on his promised trip right along the canalworks, but already the sight of all that was happening round about Gatunhad been sufficient for one day, while the huge machine before him andits cool and unruffled operator fascinated him.
"Gee! nothing I'd like better," he cried.
"Then come along." Phineas at once went close up to the machine, and ata signal from him the operator brought it to a rest.
"Howdy?" asked the young fellow. "Getting in at it, Mr. Barton?"
Under the tan which covered face and arms there was a sudden flush ofpride which an ordinary individual might well have passed unnoticed.But Jim was slowly beginning to understand and realize something of thespirit that seemed to pervade every member of the whole staff engaged onthe isthmus. For there was no doubt that the completion of the canal wasa pet object to them one and all, an undertaking the gradual progress ofwhich filled them with an all-absorbing interest. Each mouthful of dirt,for instance, which this steam digger tore from the ground and shot fromits capacious maw into the earth trains was a little more progress,something further attained towards that grand and final completion towhich all were sworn.
"Howdy? Say, Harry boy, this here's Jim. You've heard of that littlebusiness we had on the way to New York?"
The young man nodded, and regarded Jim critically. "Wall?" he askedcurtly.
"He's the lad that came along after me when I was left aboard thefoundering vessel."
The one who had been addressed as Harry dropped his hands from thelevers, swung round on his seat the better to gaze at our hero, and,still with his eyes on Jim, replied to Phineas.
"I read it in the paper," he admitted. "How did it happen?"
Phineas promptly gave him the narrative, Harry meanwhile keeping hiseyes on Jim. Then, when he learned that our hero had decided to stay onthe isthmus, and seek work there, he climbed out of the narrow cabbolted to the side of the digger, dropped lightly to the ground, and,walking straight up to Jim, held out his hand.
"It's men we want here," he said pleasantly. "Guess you're one. Glad toshake hands with an American who's done a good turn for my friendPhineas. What job are you after?"
Jim told him promptly, while he exchanged his handshake vigorously; forhe liked the look of this young American, and took to him instantly.
"I'm not sure yet exactly what job I'll ask for," he answered. "GuessI'm ready to take anything that's going; but I was wondering whetheryou'd give me a lesson on the digger."
"Know anything about engines and suchlike?" asked Harry sharply.
Jim nodded. "Guess I do," he said, with that delightful assurance socommon to the Americans. "I've handled engines of many sorts,particularly those aboard ship; and for some months past I've been doingdiving."
"Git in there," said Harry, motioning to the cab, "I'll larn you to workthis plant inside an hour or two. Then all that's wanted is jest nativegumption, gumption, siree, spelt with a big G, 'cos a man ain't no goodon these here chugging machines unless he can keep his head cool.There's times when the digger pulls through the earth quicker than youcan think, and when, if you didn't cut off steam, you'd overwind andchaw up all the chain gear. Then the lip of the digger may happen to gethold on a rock that wants powder to shift it, and if there's steam stillon, and the engines pulling, you're likely as not to break up some ofthe fixings, and tip the whole concern over on to its nose. Hop rightin; Mr. Barton, I'll see to this here Jim till evening."
CHAPTER V
The Ways of the Steam Digger
To say that Jim could not have been put into better or more capablehands is to tell only the truth. For Harry, the young American operatingthe steam digger, was one of those eager, hard-working fellows whostrive their utmost, who are not satisfied unless they make the verybest of a task, and who, given a machine of great power, cause it toproduce the biggest results possible, consistent with proper management,and who, unlike some, do not curtail its strength, and limit its output.
"You jest hop up there inside with me," he said, wiping the sweat fromhis forehead, and tilting his broad sombrero hat backwards a little."It'll be close quarters, you bet; but when a chap's learning a job hedon't kick at trifles."
Jim obeyed his orders with alacrity. He clambered up into the narrowcab, which was merely a metal framework bolted to the huge, slopingsteel girder which may be termed the backbone of the leviathan digger,and seated himself upon a hard wooden seat barely wide enough for oneperson. Just above his head was a toothed wheel, with another, very muchlarger, engaging with it. Beside him, causing him to start when hetouched it, for it was very hot, were a brace of cylinders, with alever adjacent for operating the throttle. Right overhead was a roof ofsplit and warped boards, which helped to keep away the rays of the sun;for on this isthmus of Panama the heat is fierce at times, and extremelyenervating.
"But, bless you, we don't notice it," said Harry, swarming up after him,and seeing that he had noticed the shelter. "Most all of us wear a bighat. In fact you can say as every white man does. Them dagoes don't;they seem to like the sun, same as the Spaniards. Seen anything of 'em,mate?"
Jim nodded. "Not much," he admitted. "There were a few aboard that ship,and they didn't impress me much. They lost their heads and fought likewild beasts."
"Aye, that's them all over; but they're good 'uns to work once they'reset to at it, and know you won't put up with any nonsense. I don'tsuppose there was ever a part where gangs of them Spaniards works betterthan they do here, and gives so little trouble. Now and agin there's arumpus, and the police has to intervene; but it ain't often. See 'emover there."
Jim had been so occupied with his inspection of the giant digger that hehad hardly had eyes for his surroundings; but as Harry pointed, he swunground in the cab and surveyed the scene. It was remarkable, to say theleast of it. Right behind him lay track on track of metal rails, allrunning direct towards the Atlantic, and the majority of them ondifferent levels. They seemed to hug various gigantic steps, by whichthe sides of the huge trench in which the digger was situated ascendedto level ground. Hundreds of cars were on these rails, with a little,smoking engine at their heads, and a half-closed-in cab behind. Gangs ofEuropean and black labourers were disposed here and there, some breakingup rocks obstructing the tracks, others carrying lengths of double railtrack bolted together in readiness to be placed in position, while yetagain others were engaged in pouring a liquid into trenches at the sideof the cutting. Jim looked puzzled, and Harry laughed outright as hecaught a glimpse of his face.
"Gee! It do amuse me when strangers come along," he cried. "Guess thishere's an eye-opener. Any fellow can tell what we're doing, and whywe're doing it, except the reason for those men and the stuff they'repouring into the trench. Say now, what's it for?"
Jim could not even hazard a guess. It was inexplicable, and seemed,indeed, to be an idiotic proceeding. His face must have shown histhoughts, for Harry burst into a loud guffaw, though, unconsciously,pride again crept into his tones as he answered.
"Guess you ain't the first as thought there was madmen about," he said."But all that stuff being put into the trenches is jest part of thisalmighty scheme. Without it we wouldn't be able to work; for that's agang from the sanitary corps, and guess they're nosing round most everyday. It's their particular job to see as there isn't a place where amosquito can breed, or where water can easily lay. Ef there's a spotmade in purpose to carry away water, same as that 'ere trench, wheresome of it's bound to lay, why, they spreads kerosene along it, and noself-respecting mosquito'll go near that stuff. It's a terror to 'em.Guess this Panama zone, stretching five miles either side of the canalline, fairly gives them insects the pip, it's that unhealthy for 'em. Asfor us, we lives in comfort, and goes on living, which can't be said forothers who was here before us. But jest get a grip of that throttlelever, and don't be skeared. Keep cool all the time, and when I cry'stop', jest jerk it off. She'll come up short jest as ef she was alive,and that's something, seeing as this is a hundred-ton digger. She's ableeasy to cut her way into well over a thousand cubic yards of dirt in aneight-hours day, and can sling some six hundred double horse loads intothem trucks. But we ain't dealin' with horses here. It's machines allthe time, machines, and men, I guess, to drive 'em."
It was grand to hear the fellow talk; unconsciously a glow crept intoJim's face. To think that he, by the movement of his ten fingers, and bythe use of his own brain, could control such work, and then to rememberthat every little task accomplished was setting his country nearer theday of triumph. For triumph it must be: America, in spite of thecroakings of a few, cannot and will not fail. She may experiencesetbacks; but she will prevail in the end. Her native determination andthe grit of her workers will compel her.
"You can jest see how we're moving," said Harry, placing a hand on asecond lever. "This here digger's set up on a truck heavy enough to takeit, with its boiler right away at the tail end of the truck, tocounterbalance the stuff we're lifting. We're on rails, as you can see,with a second track beside us that holds a spoil train, as we calls thetrucks into which we chucks the dirt. Right clear afore us is theground we're digging, and you're jest going to take a bite fer yerself.Watch that digger."
Jim cast his eyes upon the huge bucket with its steel cutting lip placedat the end of a secondary beam slanting downwards from the lower part ofthe main steel girder. Huge chains ran from the upper edge to the tip ofthe girder, and, as Harry gently pushed his lever, the chains ran outclanking, and the bucket descended till it bumped on to the ground. Itwas now at the foot of a broken and steep slope some eight feet inheight, at the summit of which was the first of that series of big stepsascending to the top of the lock cutting, and accommodating rail tracks.Indeed a spoil train was crunching along it as he looked, while on halfa dozen others trains were to be seen. As to the sloping bank itself, itran on directly till it came to a dead end, where an army of men wereengaged in erecting the lake-end wall of the lock. Behind, it dwindledinto other banks, and was lost in the distance.
"Where we started, I guess," said Harry, following his gaze. "First thedredgers got to work, then the steam shovels. You see, we cut deep downin the centre first of all, and then take a step out at either side.Then, while diggers get to work to cut other steps we go deeper again inthe centre. But let's get at this here bank. That bucket's drawn thechains out by its own weight. This here lever controls a brake, and Ican stop the bucket at any point; but it's there, ready for digging.Give her steam, and gently with it. Be ready to cut off if I shout."
Jim moved his lever ever so gently. The proposition was so new to himthat he felt somewhat timid of the results; but Harry was as calm asever. He watched the cutting edge of the bucket dig deep into the bank,while Jim, watching it also, cast an eye upward at the chains where theypassed over the tip of the girder. Chug! chug! chug! they went, whilethe massive beam trembled; but nothing could stop the irresistiblecourse of the digger. The bucket sheared its way upward through thesoil, and in a very little while had accomplished the whole height ofthe bank; then, its work done, it shot upward, causing the machine toshiver and shake.
"Cut her off," cried Harry, and obedient to the word Jim shoved thelever over.
"Now take a grip of this here lever I've been holding, and pull it toyou. Give her steam."
Clank! clank! clank! Jim felt the gears engage as he shifted the lever,and once more opened the throttle of the engine. Now he experienced anew and altogether delightful sensation; for the huge mass of machineryto which the cab was bolted, and which was situated on the front of theheavy truck carrying the whole apparatus, swung round easily, the loadedbucket well in front and overhead. Harry grinned: it amused him to watchthe delight on his pupil's face. But this was not the moment forallowing his attention to become distracted. He kept a careful eye onthe bucket, and, a moment later, just as it began to swing over the dirttruck placed on the side track, he pulled a rope, and with a loudclatter the bottom of the bucket banged open and the dirt fell into thetruck.
"Stop her!" he shouted, and Jim at once closed his throttle. "This isthe boy that works the shutter for us. See here; pull it and give hersteam. Watch those two arms to which the bottom of the bucket arebolted. This here gear just overhead works 'em and closes them over thetrigger. Gee! If you ain't working this here like an old hand. Now watchit. That bucket's closed, and you've always to remember to close itafore you swing the machine back again to its work, 'cos the edge of thebottom comes low down and would foul the truck. That'd mean a bust up.Now, round with her. Stop her; get a hold of the brake lever and let herdrop."
Confused at first, because of the multiplicity of movements, in an hourJim was quite at home with the machine. True, he made errors; forinstance, he forgot that very important movement to close the bucket,and, as a consequence, though he missed the side of the truck he nearlyripped off the head from a negro. But Harry was there to supervise, anda quick movement on his part arrested the machine.
"Hi! What fo you gwine kill me, yo?" shouted the negro, who had beenuntouched, as it happened. "Yo take care ob that great big playting obyours. Not here to dig niggers. Not like hab de head knocked off."
Harry roared. "It's only Joe," he shouted. "He's been as near a blowafore now, and loves to make the most of it. See here, Joe," hebellowed, "I ain't a-goin' to have my machine broken against that 'erehard head of yours. I'll have to be warning the foreman overseer toshunt yer."
That brought a grin from the negro. He showed his teeth, and shook hisfist at Harry; but Jim knew his meaning well enough. The big fellow wasjust like the rest of his people—just a big, strong, healthy baby, whosaw the fun in everything, and, if there were no fun, manufactured itpromptly.
"I's gwine to break yo into little pieces," he said, clambering on tothe cab and poking his face within an inch of Harry's. "Yo say I habhard head? Lummy! Me hab hard fist as well."
"Git out!" shouted Harry, striking at him with the slack end of the ropethat commanded the bucket trigger.
"Who's he?" demanded Joe, nodding at Jim, and suddenly changing theconversation.
"Him? Why, Jim, of course. Saved Mr. Barton."
"Den I knows him."
To Jim's astonishment the negro stretched out a hand and shook hiseagerly. Then he explained the situation. "Know Tom and Sam," he said."Dey down here now, seein' tings. I show dem round. Tom mightyimpressed: he tink yo work de digger better'n Harry."
That brought an exclamation from the latter, while Joe jumped down fromthe machine just in time to escape the swing of the rope. But his wordswere true; close beside the digger were Tom and Sam.
"By de poker, but yo run him well!" shouted Tom. "Me's watched yo dislast half-hour. Seems to Tom as ef yo soon have a job in the diggin'."
To the huge fellow everything that Jim did was well done, everything heattempted was sure to be accomplished; and never for one moment did hetire of watching his hero. But Jim had his lesson to learn, and foranother hour held to the work. By that time he had filled a whole spoiltrain, and had watched another shunted into position.
"Ready to fill like the last," said Harry. "That's the proposition thatjest beat us at first. There wasn't enough trucks nor locomotives tobegin with, and not enough tracks, so these fine diggers wasted halftheir time; but we've fixed it a while since. Soon as a train's loadedit's pulled back, while an empty spoil train crosses the switchesbehind. That comes over another switch just behind the digger, and soright on alongside, the last truck just in position for loading, thefirst 'way ahead. Then, as you've seen for yourself, we move along, afew inches after every dig, filling the trucks as we go."
"And then?" asked Jim. "What happens? Where is the dirt taken? Whounloads the trucks?"
"Gee! You are a chap fer questions. Where does it go? Away up there, atthe far end of the river gully, where the Lake of Gatun'll be, there's asight more dirt than this being taken from the isthmus. Some of that'sbeing dumped at the dam just away over our heads; some of it's beingemptied outside Panama, filling up a swamp through which the canal willrun. Reckon there won't be swamps when we're done. There'll be good hardground, and houses'll be built on a spot where there's fever nowadays.We're using dirt at this end in the same way; but you was asking aboutthe dumping?"
Jim nodded, and looked at the spoil train being hauled away. "The gangsof niggers do it, I guess," he said. "But it must take longer than theloading by a long way; at least that's what one would imagine."
"Jest about seven minutes fer the whole train," smiled Harry. "My davyon it! You ask how? Wall, listen here. I've been here a long while, andin them days when we was fixed badly fer more trucks niggers did see toclearing the spoil trains—and precious bad niggers they was, too, aboutthat time. Yer see, they mostly comes from the West Indian Isles, andsomehow the place didn't seem to suit 'em. They was too slack to workmuch; but guess our officials fixed the trouble. They found it was thefood, and now every nigger employed on the works gets his meals regularat a Commission barracks, and sech meals as gives him strength. But wewas talking of unloading. See that truck 'way in front of the trains,the one just close to the engine? Wall, that's the Lidgerwood apparatus,and guess it beats creation. There's a plough right forward of thetrain, and a wire rope attached to it. When the spoil train has beenbrought to the place where the dirt's to be dumped, niggers or Europeanslet down the truck ends, so's the whole train's one long platform. Theplough then gets pulled from end to end, and shoots the dirt out. Sevenminutes for a whole train, siree! Lightning ain't in it!"
Whistles sounded at this minute, and promptly Harry shut down his leversand leaped from the cab.
"Guess you've done right well fer a first time," he said. "In a dayyou'll be able to get to at it alone. Anyway, you've earned your grub.Come along to the Commission hotel; there's meals there for all whites,and no one can grumble at them."
Wherever he went Jim found something to interest him, so much so thatit was a matter of wonder to him that, though he had often been close tothe isthmus, he had had no idea of the extraordinary bustle taking placethere. It was so extremely surprising to find small towns sprung upwhere he was assured there was but a single native hut before, todiscover buildings so temptingly cool and elegant in appearance, and tolearn that America not only employed labour, but provided quarters,food, and recreation for her employees. And here was another example.Harry took him away from the lock cutting, where one of these days adouble tier of three locks will elevate ships from the Atlantic, andintroduced him to his friends in one of the well-equipped hotels erectedfor the accommodation of white employees. Hundreds of men were streamingup the steps as they arrived, and passing in behind the copper-gauzescreens of the veranda. Jim noticed that all bore much the sameappearance—for the most part clean shaven, with here and there somewearing moustaches and beards. Dressed in rough working clothes, withbroad-brimmed hats, none showed signs of ill health. There was a buzz ofeager conversation as they washed before the meal, and a loud clatterfrom many tongues as they sat at the tables. As to the food, it wasplain, abundant, and well cooked.
"Costs jest fifty cents a day," explained Harry. "If you've finishedwe'll get to the club. We usually go along fer a smoke at dinner-time.'Sides, there's a cable of interest now and agin, and sometimesletters."
A few minutes with Harry at the club served, in fact, to banish anydoubts which Jim may have had as to remaining on the isthmus. For herewas comfort and recreation at the same time, and plenty of men with whomto make friends.
"This here's Jim, him as saved Phineas Barton," Harry told his comrades,and the statement was at once sufficient to rouse interest. Hand-gripswere exchanged with our hero. The news of his presence spread round thehuge room, in which men were smoking or playing dominoes at littletables, and one by one they strolled up.
"You're stayin' here?" asked one, and when Jim nodded, "I'm main glad:Phineas is one of the best, and a chap who could go in for him as youdid must be one of the right kind. What are you going to do?"
"Steam digging, I hope," said Jim. "But of course I'm green yet."
"You'll do. If you've got the grit to face being sucked under by afoundering ship, guess you've the gumption to run one of them diggers.Anyway, I'm glad you're staying. Play yer a game of dominoes one ofthese mornings."
"Say, siree, ken you sing any?" asked another, when he had shaken hands;"'cos there's concerts here sometimes o' nights, and a new hand aerwanted."
"Guess I can do a little," answered Jim, reddening; for here was a find.No one loved a sing-song more than our hero, and, to give him only hisdue, he had an excellent voice, badly trained, or not trained at all, tobe accurate, but pleasing for all that. "When I've put a little togetherI'll buy a banjo," he told his interrogator. "I had one aboard theship, but guess it's deep down below the Caribbean."
"My, that are good news! Say, boys, here's one as can strum on a banjo."
The information was hailed with delight by those present, for a banjoplayer was an acquisition indeed. These skilled white men engaged in thePanama undertaking were as simple as well could be, and longed fornothing more than mild recreation. After an eight-hours day of strenuouswork, and supper at the Commission hotel, it delighted them to gather atone of the clubs and there listen to an impromptu concert. But themidday halt was not the time for dawdling. Already the better part ofthe interval was gone, and very soon the blowing of steam whistlessummoned the workers back to their machines; for nearly every one of thewhite employees in that hotel managed some sort of machine.
"There's a heap of them engaged with the rock drillers," said Harry,"and ef you go along the line to-morrow, towards Panama, and enter thegreat Culebra cut, you'll see and hear 'em at work everywhere. Mostevery night, when the whistles has blown and the men cleared off, you'dthink a battle was being fought over there, for there's dynamite andpowder exploding on every side, and huge rocks jest bounding down intothe trench. Gee! There is a dust up. But I war saying that most everyonewho's white has a machine to mind. Of course there are overseers, andlots of officials. Then there's a small army kept going in the repairshops 'way along over Panama direction, at Gorgona. That's a place aswould open the eyes of people at New York. I tell you, they turn out apower of work there. See that machine down there running along therails? Wall, that's home-made, every stick and rod of it put together atGorgona, and, what's more, it's the invention of one of the employeeshere."
He was bursting with pride, with a legitimate pride. There was noconceit about Harry, but merely a robust belief in all that his comradesdid, and in particular in the brains and muscles at work on this giantundertaking. With a sweep of his hand he pointed to a heavy truck, witha crane-like attachment built on it, running along the rails on one ofthe higher steps of the huge cutting on which he himself was engaged.
"Jest watch it," he invited Jim. "It's a treat to see it handle rails.You see, our rails wants shifting constantly; for as the diggers clearthe dirt they naturally want to get forward or outward, as the case maybe, seeing that we cut our steps away to the side. Anyhow, there's needto swap the rails from place to place and lay new tracks, and that 'eremachine is a track layer, which handles the double lengths of boltedrails as if they was sticks."
Jim was fascinated, indeed, as he watched this new wonder; for wonderthe machine undoubtedly was. As he looked he could realize that gangs ofmen and much time might be needed to shift the lines of rails, and time,he remembered, was an item of which his comrades were sparing. Bustlewas the order of the day, and of every succeeding day, on the isthmus.As to the machine, it swung its arm over a long length of rail, fastenedits clutches upon it, and lifted the double track, ready bolted to itssleepers, into the air. Then it trotted along the rails, and presentlydeposited its burden somewhere else.
"And by the time it's nipped back for another length, and has broughtit, the track gang has got the lengths in line, and has bolted thefishplates to it," explained Harry. "But that digger's waiting for us.Git along, Jim."
Breezy was not the word for this young American. He seemed to enjoyevery minute of his life, and would have made an admirable companion forone subject to depression. However, Jim was not that; our hero wasnaturally inclined to jollity, if at times serious, as became hisposition of responsibility, but with Harry beside him there was nothought of seriousness. They made a laughing, jolly couple on thedigger. The hours flew by, so that Jim was astonished when thefive-o'clock whistles blew.
"How's he shaping?" he heard a voice ask, and, turning, found it wasPhineas Barton, with another white beside him.
"Shaping! Say, ef there's a digger going free he's fit to take it rightoff, he's that careful," cried Harry. "See him at it, Major."
"You jest go along as you was before," he whispered in Jim's ear, as thelatter hopped back into the cab of the digger. "I ain't going to stay upthere alongside of you, 'cos there ain't no need; and you ain't got nocause to feel flustered. The Major's one of the works bosses, and reckonemployment lays with him. He'll know in a jiffy that you're able to dothe work."
To tell the truth our hero felt somewhat scared at the moment, moreeven than he had that morning when taking his place for the first timeon the machine. But he had perfect confidence now in his powers ofcontrol, and, with that assurance to help him, struggled against theunusual feeling of nervousness which had so suddenly attacked him, andlet the bucket of the digger rattle down to the bottom of the bank. Timeafter time he dug his way upwards, and delighted Harry by hismanagement.
"Gee! Ef he ain't got some brass!" the latter exclaimed beneath hisbreath, as the bucket swung out over the spoil train. "He's copying mewith a vengeance. I mind the time when I first started in at thebusiness, and it took me a sight longer to fix the emptying of thatbucket. But this here Jim has kind of tumbled to the knack. He swingsher out, and ain't stopped swinging afore he opens up and lets his dirtdrop. Ef that don't fix the Major, wall he don't deserve to have goodmen."
As a matter of fact the official was a good deal impressed; but he was acautious man, and was not inclined to be taken in by a demonstrationwhich might prove to be somewhat freakish. He told himself that underobservation there are some men who do better than others, only to breakdown on ordinary occasions, lacking the stimulus of a gallery toapplaud. He yet wanted to prove that this would-be employee had a headon his shoulders, and though he had heard the tale of the rescue, hedetermined to see if Jim could show coolness on dry land as well as inthe water. Therefore he strolled across to the head of the spoil train,to find the driver had not yet quitted his post, in fact he was just inthe act of uncoupling from the train, but willingly obeyed an order.Then the official strolled back, to find Jim still busy with the digger,and, waiting a favourable opportunity, waved his arm. What followed madeHarry stand up on his toes with anxiety.
"He's sure to boss it!" he growled. "Gee, if I don't talk to thatdriver! He knows as well as I do that he ought to blow his whistle aforegiving his engine steam to draw out. An old hand wouldn't be caught, butmost like Jim'll bungle it. He'll get his bucket opened over the train,and the moving cars will catch it."
That, it was evident, was the intention of the Major. He was applying atest which might well strain the cuteness of a raw hand; and, as ithappened, it was only watchfulness which saved Jim. Up came his bucket,a mass of dirt tumbling from its edge, and round spun the machine,swinging the bucket over the trucks. In a moment the bottom would fallopen. Harry could see him handling the rope which freed the trigger.Then he gave a sigh of satisfaction, for Jim had observed the movement.His hand left the rope, the bucket stopped in its swing, there was thegrinding sound of moving gears, and promptly the massive beam returnedon its axis.
"That train's moving," he shouted. "I might have had a jam up."
"You might, and no mistake," said Phineas, coming up to the side of thecab. "You jest fixed the business nicely. Reckon if there had been abust-up the Major deserved to have to pay for the damage. Say, Major,here's a hand wanting a job."
"Bring him to the office to-morrow; I'll take him," was the shortreply. "Usual terms; he can get on to a digger way up by Culebra."
Before Jim could thank him the official had departed, leaving our herostill seated in the cab.
"You kin git down off that machine and eat a supper feeling you'veearned it," exclaimed Harry, coming up to him and gripping his hand."I'm main sorry though that you're to work at Culebra, 'cos it wouldhave been nice to meet of an evening."
"And no reason why you shouldn't," cried Phineas. "See here, Harry,Jim's to live with me. He and his sister will have quarters at thehouse, the two niggers and the Chinaman also. It's an exception, I know,but there it is. Of course he'll get his dinner and supper way up atCulebra; but he'll take breakfast with me, and of an evening he'll comedown to the club here. Guess you'll hear more of him."
That the arrangement was likely to prove satisfactory seemed certain,and it may be imagined that Jim was filled with glee. He sat inPhineas's parlour that night, behind the screen of copper gauze, withhis mind full of the morrow, wondering what Culebra would be like, andwhether the men working there could be half so pleasant as those he hadalready met.
CHAPTER VI
A Shot in the Dark
Folks in the Panama zone do not keep late hours as a rule, for workbegins at an early hour, and he who would be fresh and ready must seekhis bed early. However, Jim and his friends were not to find repose onthis, almost their first night ashore, as readily as they imagined.Indeed they were to meet with an adventure which was startling, to saythe least of it. They were seated in the parlour, Jim and Phineas,discussing their work, while Sadie had retired for the night. Tom andSam were engaged in an animated conversation in the back regions, and,no doubt, were themselves preparing to turn in. Not one had an idea thata stranger was prowling about outside the house.
"Thought I heard someone about," Jim had remarked, some few minutesearlier, but Phineas had shaken his head emphatically.
"Imagination!" he cried. "There's no one comes around here atnighttimes. You see, this house lies away from the others, and up thehill. Unless a friend's coming up to smoke a pipe with me, there's noone this way of an evening; they don't fancy the climb. Sit down again,Jim. How much do you think you're going to earn on that digger?"
Jim threw himself into his chair again, let his head drop back, andclosed his eyes. He already had an inkling of what he would earn. Thethought had brought him vast pleasure; for there was enough to pay forhis own and Sadie's keep.
"Three dollars, fifty cents, less fifty cents a day for food," he said,after a while.
"Put it at four dollars fifty," said Phineas. "Four dollars fifty cents,less fifteen cents for your dinner. T'other meals you take here. Soyou'll net four dollars twenty-five a day, and free quarters."
"One moment," exclaimed Jim. "Free quarters! No, Mr. Phineas. You mustallow me to pay my way. I couldn't stop with you without making somesort of contribution to the expenses of the house."
"Just as I should have thought," said Phineas, smiling at him. "Any chapwith a little pride would want to pay his way: but these quarters arefree. The Commission gives you so much a day, and free quarters. If Ichoose to have a companion, he don't have a call to pay for the rooms heuses; so that's wiped off. Then as to food: if you pay twenty-five centsa day for yourself, thirty for Sadie, seeing that she's only small,making fifty-five, and another ten for general expenses, there'll benothing more to be said. How's that?"
Jim thought it was extremely fair, as indeed it was, and at once agreed.The arrangement would allow of his putting by some twenty dollars aweek, and at the end of a year he told himself that that would mount toa nice little sum. But again he heard a sound outside, and rose to hisfeet.
"I'm sure I heard a footstep," he exclaimed. "There!"
Phineas was doubtful, still he went to the door with him, and emerged onto the balcony. There was no one to be seen, and it was so dark that hadthere been anyone they would have escaped detection. They retired again,therefore, to the parlour, unaware of the figure skulking close down atthe foot of the veranda. The man—for a man it undoubtedly was—rose tohis feet stealthily, and stood there listening for a while, till heheard voices coming from the parlour. Then he clambered on to theveranda by way of the steps, and crept towards the square patch of lightwhich indicated the gauze-covered window of the parlour. Slowly heraised his head till he was able to look into the room. As he did so,the lamplight flickering through fell upon his head and shoulders sothat one could get some impression of his appearance. Decidedly short instature, the man's face was swarthy, while the eyes seemed to be smalland unusually bright, quite a feature of the face, in fact. He wore along, flowing, black moustache, while his chin was covered with astubbly growth a week old; but there was something about the face whichimmediately attracted one's attention more than any other feature. Itwas the mouth. The lips were parted in something resembling a snarl,showing a set of irregular white teeth, which with the lamplight shiningon them looked cruel. A Spaniard one would have said at once. More thanthat, his features were familiar. Little did Jim guess that the ruffianstaring in upon him was one of those who had fought for the boats in thewaist of the foundering ship on which he had been voyaging to New York,and that he himself had incurred the man's hatred by a blow which, nowthat the matter was over, he could not remember having given. But one'sactions in the heat of a contest often pass utterly unnoticed andunremembered. Jim had no idea now that this same man had dashed at himwith a drawn knife, and that he had floored him with a straight blowfrom his fist between the eyes. However, if he had no recollection theruffian had.
"The very one," he told himself, with a hiss of anger, as he peeped inat the two unconscious men. "See the pup. He sits there chatting as ifhe had no fear, and as if he expected a Spaniard to forget. But I am notone of those; a blow for a blow, I say. I meant to thrust my knifebetween his ribs aboard the ship; now I will put lead into him. It willbe more certain."
His hand went unconsciously to his face, and for a few moments he lethis fingers play very gently about his nose, for that was the organ onwhich Jim's fist had descended with such suddenness and weight. Even nowit was decidedly tender, and pained the man as he touched it. Thatcaused his sinister, bright, little eyes to light up fiercely, while thelips curled farther back from his cruel, irregular teeth as the fingersof the other hand fell upon the butt of a revolver tucked into his belt.
"A blow for a blow; if not with the knife, then with the bullet. He whostrikes a Spaniard must reckon with the consequences, andafterwards—pouff! there will be no afterwards. The bullet will endeverything."
Slowly he drew the weapon, and pulled the hammer back with his thumbtill it clicked into position.
"What was that?" asked Jim, hearing the sound distinctly. Even Phineasheard it this time, and stood to his feet.
"Perhaps one of the boys is outside; perhaps your Tom, or Sam," he saidswiftly. "Certainly there is someone; we'll go and see."
He went towards the door, while Jim rose from his chair and movedtowards him. It was an opportunity of which the Spaniard took thefullest advantage.
"Now or never," he told himself. "If they come out, my chance is gone."
He lifted the weapon till it was on a level with his face. Then hedirected it through the gauze window at Jim, and, pressing heavily onthe trigger, finally released it. Click!
An oath escaped him, for the weapon had missed fire, while the two menwithin the room had already reached the door. He pulled again, till thehammer swung upward. Bang! There was a deafening report, a neat littlehole was torn in the gauze, while the leaden messenger he had dischargedstruck the doorpost, an inch above our hero's head, with a thud whichcaused him to start. As for the Spaniard, he did not wait to see whatsuccess he had had. He turned on his heel and fled down the steps of theveranda, and out into the night.
"Gee! A shot! There was someone outside then!"
Phineas swung round swiftly to stare at Jim. The latter nodded curtly.
"Yes," he agreed. "A shot. There's the bullet."
He took the lamp from the table and held it up towards the doorpost.
"Just an inch above my head," he smiled. "I heard the thing bang intothe woodwork, and felt the wind of the shot. Close, Mr. Phineas!"
"But—but who fired it? Why? Where from?"
There were a thousand questions he wished to ask, and only the lastcould Jim answer. He took his friend to the copper gauze stretchingacross the window, which was otherwise devoid of covering, for no glasswas employed, and again with the help of the lamp showed him a neatlittle round hole punched through the gauze.
"He stood outside there and stared in at us," he said, putting theevents as he guessed them. "He cocked his pistol, and we heard thenoise. Then he fired as we got to the door. Queer, isn't it, Mr.Phineas?"
"Queer! It's downright, cold-blooded attempt at murder!" shoutedPhineas. "Call those boys."
But there was no need to summon them. Tom and Sam were already at thedoor, while Ching was in the passage, a swaying lantern in his hand.
"What dat?" asked Tom, his eyes beginning to bulge. "Someone fire ashot. Tom not like dat at all; he tink someone try to kill him."
"Boys," said Phineas, keeping perfectly cool, "some scoundrel came tothe window of the parlour and fired at Jim here. He missed him by aninch. We must follow and take the fellow, whoever he may be; it may bethe work of a lunatic. Bring along that lamp, Ching."
"One moment!" cried Jim. "Best leave someone here in case the fellowreturns. Tom, you look after the house. I can trust you to frightenanyone away. Sam and Ching will come with us. Sam, we want you to openthose eyes of yours extra wide: that fellow must be followed. Now, arewe ready? But first, has anyone seen a stranger about here to-day?"
"Seed a nasty-lookin' Spaniard, I did," admitted Sam, his eyes shiningbright and eager in the lamplight. "Him one of de crowd working on decanal I tink; but me recognize him. Same man aboard de steamer, sah; yoknock him down when he come for yo wid a knife. Yo go bang, squelch! Himflop over on to him back, den creep away growling out, and sayin' tingsbeneath him breath. Him nasty fellow altogether."
"Then there is the motive for the crime," declared Phineas at once."There is never any telling what some of these Southerners will do. Nodoubt, in the course of the fight aboard the ship, you knocked him down,though from the look of your face you evidently don't remember thematter. See here, Jim; let Tom go with you. I forgot that I have abroken arm, and am more likely to delay you; but I'll telephone down tothe police headquarters in Colon, and put them on the watch. I supposeyou'll follow?"
Jim nodded promptly. "At once," he said with decision. "If I passed thematter now, he would make a second attempt, and I don't much fancy that.Sam's a splendid tracker, and if there's a mark he will be able to findit. Then come along, boys. Ching, bring the lamp; perhaps there'sanother we can have?"
It took but a few minutes to discover another lamp, then the party setout. Meanwhile the diminutive Sam, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm,had been moving swiftly about the house outside.
"Seen de footmarks, sah," he said, as Jim came out to join him, with Tomand Ching in close attendance. "Look, sah: he come up to de house byhere, and hide under de veranda. Den he creep on to it. Dere de muddyboots make a mark. He stand at de window and shoot bang right through.Plenty more mark outside. Soon find de villain."
It had rained that evening, soon after the whistles had sounded for themen to cease work, and, since this side of the isthmus gets more than afair share of wet weather, the ground is generally somewhat soft. Infact, it was just the place a criminal should not have selected, for itgave opportunities of tracking even to amateurs. But Sam was no amateur.
"When I live down south, often track de nigger," he explained to Ching;whereat the lanky, thin Chinaman wagged his head, shaking his pigtailfrom side to side.
"Ob course not so easy, not at all, siree," added Sam, an air ofimportance about him. "Specially when dere so many mens about. But yosee, yo China boy; me soon come up wid dis fellow, and den skin umalive, cook um, see?"
He gritted his sharp teeth together, and in the lamplight lookedparticularly fierce. Indeed the jolly little fellow seemed to betransformed by the work so unexpectedly placed before him. He wasdesperately serious now, and eager to proceed with the quest.
"By de poker, but yo talk a heap!" exclaimed Tom, taking the lamp fromChing. "Now yo, Sam, yo get to work quick. Me help, but not jaw; time tochatter when de man found."
"Den yo follow here. See dis! He shoot through de window and den run. Hejump from the veranda and come all ob a heap, so he did. Ha! Yo can seedat, eh? Eben a big, fat nigger same as you, Tom, can see dat?"
Tom wisely ignored the remark. He followed Sam's indicating finger,noticed that the dirt marks on the veranda were widely splayed out, asfrom the feet of a man who was in a hurry, and again saw them, togetherwith a long, curling impression on the soil at the foot of the veranda,showing where the criminal's feet had slipped. Nor was that all. Onecould detect the spot where his hands had met the earth, together with adeeper mark where the muzzle of the revolver he had used had burieditself in the clay.
"Him sure enough, de blackguard!" growled Tom. "Now den."
Sam led them away from the house at a rattling pace, that caused Jim tomarvel. But the little fellow was no fool at the art of tracking, whilehis eyes, usually so slothful in appearance, were now evidently verysharp and observant. And if our hero thought at times that he was beingled on a wild-goose chase, Sam was always able to demonstrate that suchwas not the case at all.
"Yo tink me not on de track?" he asked, after a while, when they pausedto gather their breath. "Well, den, see here. De same marks all dewhile. Him run like a hare; him wonder if him followed. Soon we come tode house where him hide. Den look out for fireworks. Him shoot like mad.Sam know de sort ob fellow."
The mere suggestion caused our hero to stop and think a little. That adastardly attempt had been made to kill him he was now sure, and therehad crept into his memory, as he followed Sam, the incident aboard theship which seemed to have been the cause of this attempt on his life. Herecollected that a brutal-looking Spaniard, some forty years of age, hadrushed at him, and had been sent reeling backward. Then the man haddrawn a knife, and had come on again furiously. Jim now brought to hismind his own behaviour. In the heat and turmoil of the contest, when itseemed that the Spaniards would prove too strong for the captain'sparty, and before the lusty Tom had put in an appearance, the man hadrushed furiously forward, and he (Jim) had met him with a terrible blowof his fist. He had seen the ruffian fly backwards and tumble on hisback; then the arrival of Tom, and the forward movement of the wholeparty had occupied all his thoughts, to the neglect of an incident whichseemed to be done with.
"And Sam thinks he'll shoot again. Shouldn't wonder," he said tohimself. "Still, there's no reason why I should funk following him. Hehas to be apprehended, for otherwise he might try to shoot someone elsewho had a hand in that fight. Get along, Sam," he called out cheerily."If there are fireworks we must deal with them. I'm game to tackle thefellow again."
Tom looked round at him severely. "Yo's got to go extra careful, sah,so yo hab," he said. "Dis fellow not care wheder yo white man; no, notone little piece. He shoot yo down like a dog. Yo leab him to Tom."
"To a big hulking fellow like you! I like that," laughed Jim. "You'dcertainly be shot. You couldn't escape a bullet. But we'll see. If he'sto be found, we'll take him, however many bullets he may let off."
They pushed on again in wake of Sam, and followed the tracks at ajog-trot. They led in the direction of Colon, and when near theoutskirts of the town, turned towards a hut lying to one side of theroad.
"Him dere fo shore," declared Sam, pointing. "You find him in de hut.But mind what Sam say. Dis Spaniard not like to be taken. He shoot ateberyone. Him blaze away widout looking to see who it am. Sah, better yostay away back here. Tom and Sam and Ching soon finish de hash of datruffian."
It was comical and somewhat pathetic to watch their care of Jim, for Tomand the Chinaman both joined with Sam in requesting our hero to remainat a distance. But Jim was not the lad to shelter himself behind thefigures of such faithful fellows. Rather was he the one to place himselfin the van, to take all risks himself, so that those who obeyed hisorders should not be the ones to suffer. Besides, a leader should lead.
"Boys," he said, as if he had not heard them, "we'll surround that hut.Tom at the front, Sam at the back, Ching on the far side, and I willmake for the window through which a light is shining. By the way, bestdouse our lamps. They would show our position. And, another thing, ifthat fellow rushes at us, or begins to fire, knock him down flat. Don'tbe too easy with him. I've heard of these wild Spaniards before. Ofcourse they're not all the same as this one. Indeed, Mr. Barton tells methat they are well-behaved as a rule. But this man seems to have a beein his bonnet, or he wouldn't think so much of that blow I gave him.Anyway, if he rushes, knock him flat. Savvy?"
Ching grinned. The slothful-looking Chinaman enjoyed the thought of aknockout blow, for this Oriental had been now so long resident in theStates of America that he had actually acquired some knowledge of theart of boxing. He grinned widely, and began to wrap his swinging pigtailabout the top of his head. Sam's eyes bulged widely open; he lookedpositively ferocious, and stared at the hut as if he wished the contesthad already begun. But Tom only laughed inaudibly, and rubbed the palmsof his big hands together.
"By de poker, but if him come up agin dat, him not know wheder him manor monkey," he said, doubling an enormous fist. "Massa Jim, yo not tall'nough to look in at de window. Better leave dat to Tom. Yo go to defront; plenty chance of fightin' dere."
It was only another attempt of the big negro to place our hero out ofdanger, and Jim promptly scouted the suggestion.
"You'll go to your stations right off," he commanded. "If I whistle, youcan come along and join me. The first thing to be done is to see if thefellow is in there."
"Dat sartin; I know him dere. I ready to swear it," declared Sam.
"Then come along."
Without more ado Jim led the way, and presently, when they were within astone's throw of the hut, they separated, each to seek the position towhich he had been appointed. Jim himself stole on tiptoe towards thewindow of the hut, and, having arrived at it, lifted his head inch byinch, and, pulling off his cap, stared into the room. Then he bobbeddown again, and had circumstances permitted of it he would certainlyhave whistled; for there were five men assembled in the hut, and one ofthe number was undoubtedly the man for whom he and his friends had setout, the one, in fact, who had that very evening attempted to kill him.In a flash he recognized the ruffian. Then his eye ran swiftly round thecircle grouped about a rough plank table, on which bottles and glasseswere to be seen, and promptly the faces struck him as likenesses ofthose he had observed the evening before on a slip presented to allworking on the canal. It was a police notification, and had been sent toPhineas so that, in appointing European labourers, he might beware ofemploying those whose portraits appeared. And Jim brought to memory thewords beneath the portraits.
"The police of the canal zone are in search of a number of men, amongstthem the above. It has come to their knowledge that a band of Europeanthieves has gathered in the neighbourhood, and several robberies ofCommission stores prove their arrival here. Any who recognize the aboveshould at once give notice of their whereabouts. From foreign officialsources we are informed that at least one of the men is a dangerouscriminal, wanted for acts of violence to the person."
"Phew!" Jim went hot all over. He recollected that Phineas had spoken tohim of these men, and had explained to him that it was not until aftertheir arrival on the isthmus that the police received a warning fromforeign parts.
"No doubt the fellows had made their last haunt too hot for them," heexplained, "so, hearing from their comrades that America had brought aheap of valuable stores here, and that where there are workmen theremust also be, often enough, large sums of money with which to pay theirwages, these rogues came along to the isthmus, took posts with the gangsof labourers, and then laid their plans to rob. One of our pay officeswas broken into and rifled a month ago. That put the police on the quivive. Then came a robbery at the far end of the canal. The culpritswere not discovered, but immediately afterwards the police received thisinformation from abroad, together with photographs."
"Which they publish here for the information of canal officials," saidJim.
"Jest so," agreed Phineas. "And I suppose these rascals got to know thattheir game was ended. Somehow they have means of their own of gettinginformation. Anyway, they disappeared, and weren't missed from amongstthe armies we employ. Reckon some of them got aboard that ship that youand I took passage in. If that's so, they're back right here now,waiting for another steamer."
If the whole truth had been known, the gang of desperadoes of whom theCommission police had obtained information had indeed found the zonealready too hot for them. They were a band consisting sometimes of fivemembers, sometimes of more or less. And for a long while now theirattention had been particularly turned to ports near to the Gulf ofMexico. Appearing to be but Spanish workmen, they escaped often enoughthe attention of police officers, and had done so at Colon. There theyhad contrived to burgle two of the pay offices, and, as Phineas hadrightly surmised, had sailed on the very steamer on which he and Jim hadtaken passage. There, having come into contact with our hero, they hadmet with a misfortune, which had brought them back to the isthmus.
"Just showing that it's here we're meant to do our work," had said theleader of these rascals, a scowling individual boasting the name ofJaime de Oteros, "See here, friends; the police of the zone are lookingfor us amongst the labour gangs. We've dollars saved in plenty, and noneed to work; supposing we find some quiet place near at hand, and taketoll of another pay office."
"And first of all pay back the scores we owe," the rascal who had sorecently fired at Jim growled. "I've sworn to give back what I was givenaboard that ship, and since I believe the young pup who was so free withhis fists is staying on here, why, I'll finish him. Eh?"
His suggestion had met with the hearty approval of all. There was not aman in the gang who would not do the same; for to these lawless fellowsa blow received demanded repayment. As to the risk, that was nothing.They were accustomed to the feeling that their arrest was aimed at. Iftheft could pass without actual discovery, then a shot in the night, andthe death of a white official, would equally escape detection.
"Five of them." Jim counted them off on his fingers as he again raisedhis head. He squinted in through the corner of the window, and inspectedeach one of the gang separately. And now he recognized them not alonefrom the leaflet which he had seen, but from amongst the faces of theSpaniards who had been aboard the steamer. Of an evening he had oftenstood at the rail above and looked down into the waist of the vessel,watching the dusky faces of the Spaniards, and scenting the rank odourof the cigarettes they smoked. Features which then had made no greatimpression on him, but which had, unconsciously as it were, been tuckedaway within his memory, now struck him as familiar. Little by little herecollected exactly where he had seen each man, and what he had beendoing, so that within the space of a few minutes he was sure that everyone of them had been aboard the steamer.
"And are now wanted by the police here," he thought, "while the fellowsitting at the far end of the table is wanted more than them all, seeingthat he has attempted murder. But how to do it? There are five, and allprobably carry arms."
A second glance at the men persuaded him that there was little doubt onthe last matter; for the leader of these ruffians had placed his weaponon the plank table before him, while a second was cleaning his revolverwith a piece of dirty rag. A third wore a belt, as could be clearlyseen, since he had discarded his coat, and carried both a revolver and ahuge knife attached to it.
"Ugly fellows to deal with, I guess," thought Jim. "The question isthis: ought we to attempt a rush? or ought we to set a watch on thehouse and send for the police?"
Obviously, with only three to help him, the last suggestion was the oneto follow, and having pondered the matter for a little while Jim came toa decision. Peeping in at the window again, he watched the men as theyrolled and lit cigarettes, or filled their glasses from the bottles onthe table, then he crept away to Sam, and with him went to join Tom. Asignal brought Ching to them promptly.
"Come away over here," said Jim softly. "I want to talk."
He led them into a thick belt of bush which had escaped the billhooks ofthe Commission sanitary corps, for the reason that it stood on highground, and then came to a halt.
"Wall?" asked Tom, his face indistinguishable in the darkness, but histones eager. "He's right there, I reckon. He only wants taking?"
"He's there; but for the moment we can't easily take him. Listen here,"said Jim. Then he explained that there were five men in the hut, andthat if he were right in his surmise, and his eyes had not misinformedhim, they were a gang of criminals of whom the police were in search.
"And all armed," he added. "I thought at first that we might rush them;but even supposing they were not armed, one or more might escape. So Iguessed the best plan would be to send off for the police, while wewatch the place. Say, Sam, you could find the office in Colon?"
The little fellow nodded and gave a grunt of assent.
"Easy as cuttin' chips," he said. "What den?"
"Run there as fast as your legs will carry you, and tell them that wehave located the gang of men whose portraits they have been circulatingamongst the canal officials. Tell them of the attempt made to shoot meto-night, and warn them to come along cautiously. Get right off. We'llstand round the place till you come along."
Sam set down his lantern at once and disappeared in the darkness, makinghardly a sound as he went. Then Jim led the others back towards the hut.
"We'll take the same places," he said. "Of course, if they separate weshall have to follow; but I rather think they live here. If that's so weshall have them."
Waiting till both Tom and Ching had taken up their positions he crepttowards the hut, and, having reached the window, raised his head andpeeped in. None of the men had moved. The ruffian who had been handlinghis revolver was still cleaning it with the dirty rag, while the man whohad come that evening to the house which Phineas occupied, and haddeliberately fired through the gauze window, was staring moodily at theempty glass before him. The others were engaged in an eagerconversation, carried on in low tones. Jim put his ear as close aspossible, for though he knew only a few words of Spanish it waspossible that English was the language employed. Then he heard a sudden,startled cry, and, looking in, saw that the rascal at whose arrest heaimed had risen to his feet. The man was staring hard at the window, andin a flash Jim realized that his own presence had been discovered. Heducked swiftly, and as he did so there came the report of a pistol. Aninstant later a bullet smashed the glass just overhead, smothering himwith debris. Then a babel of cries came from the hut, the door wasdragged open, and in a trice five men had thrown themselves upon him.
CHAPTER VII
The Lair of the Robbers
There are times in a man's life when he has no spare moments in which tothink, and this occasion may be said to have been one of those urgentperiods in that of our hero. For he had no time to do more than move ayard from the window of the little hut located so close to Colon whenthe door was flung open, and the five ruffians within burst from theircover. Jim had hardly shaken the dust and debris of the shattered paneof glass from his eyes when one of the men was on him. It was Jaime deOteros, the leader of the gang, a dark, forbidding-looking fellow, asagile as a cat, and a desperado accustomed to scenes of violence.
"A spy! a spy!" he bellowed, catching sight of Jim; for the lamp withinthe cottage cast its rays through the window and illumined his figure."Kill him! Down with him to the ground! Stamp on him!"
Quick as thought a blade flashed from his belt, and while Jim was stillalmost blinded by the dust which was clinging to his eyes, the manstruck savagely at him. An instant later a sharp cry escaped from Jim'slips, while he staggered back against the hut; for the dagger hadpenetrated his left arm, high up near the shoulder.
"Wounded! This is serious. I am in a hole." The thoughts came to himlike a flash, while the urgency of the situation seemed to help to clearhis eyes. He could now see the villain who had attacked him quiteplainly, while, owing to his position close to the wall of the dwelling,his own figure was in the dusk. And it was that fact alone which savedhis life; for had the rascal standing so close to him been sure of hisbearings that formidable blade would have descended again. Jim caughtthe glint of the lamplight on it, and, stung by the pain in his shoulderand by the danger of his position, he struck out fiercely with hisclenched fist, and as fortune would have it caught the rascal neatlybeneath the chin.
Crash! The man staggered backwards, breathing deeply, and a second latercannoned into one of his comrades who was hurrying forward to supporthim. He gave a low growl of rage, pulled himself together, and flunghimself on Jim again furiously.
"Dog of a spy! You struck me. Police or not, I will kill you."
There was a snarl in his tones, while the man's whole person bristledwith anger. But Jaime de Oteros was not the ruffian to miss a chance, orspoil his own opportunities, because he was in a passion. Beneath hissmouldering rage the rascal kept a level head, and, watching Jim as wellas the darkness would allow him, threw himself forward with startlingswiftness. Bang! Crash! That terrible knife blade just missed its mark,and passing over our hero's shoulder buried its point deeply in thewoodwork of the hut, so deeply, in fact, that Jaime had to pull hard torelease it. That effort again helped Jim; indeed it gave him anopportunity he was quick to pounce upon. For out shot his right fistagain, and, striking square between the eyes, it sent Jaime hurtlingbackwards.
"Keep off! I warn you that any further violence will lead to severepunishment." Jim gasped the words, for the suddenness of the attack hadtaken his breath away. But he was by no means cowed, and, being one ofthose sharp, shrewd lads of which America is so justly proud, hepromptly decided to make use of the few seconds respite allowed byJaime's downfall. It was a case where force could not greatly avail him,he told himself, as he stood at bay before the desperadoes, his backclose to the wall; but bluff might help him.
"I warn you," he said again. "Drop your knives and stand here againstthe hut with your arms up. If not, I'll whistle to my men to shoot.Yes," he said sternly, "my men, you are surrounded. Jaime de Oteros, thegame is up."
As if to support his statement there came a call at that instant, whilemen could be heard hurrying towards the scene of the conflict. As forthe band of rascals, Jaime had, to be sure, been the first to encounterJim, but his comrades had been quick to support him. They would havethrown themselves on the young fellow before this had there been space;but the hut protected him in rear, while Jaime's swinging limbs keptthem at a distance in other directions. The lamp within the hut threwits sickly beams on the figures of the rascals, showing their featuresplainly, and letting Jim recognize at once the ruffian who had, earlieron in the evening, fired at him so deliberately.
"Come, hands up!" he repeated sharply. "The man who is found with armson him when my men come on the scene will wish that he had never seenus."
"Massa Jim, Massa Jim! what dat happenin'?" came through the darkness atthis moment. "I heard shots; dere was shoutin'. What fo, I want toknow?"
"It's that nigger of his," suddenly exclaimed one of the ruffians,hearing Tom. "It's a blind, a big bluff! Down with him! Gee! Standaside, and see me shoot him!"
Shouts came from all five now, and as if by common impulse they castthemselves in Jim's direction. And if he had remained in his oldposition there is little doubt but that the gang would quickly havecrushed the life out of his body; but Jim was fully alive on thiseventful night. There was no drowsiness about him, as may be imagined,seeing the danger in which he stood. The lamplight showed him thestaring faces of the villains in front of him, and their changingexpressions immediately after Tom had called. He saw their hands divedown for knife or revolver, and quick as thought he darted to one side;but, quick as he was, one of the gang was too swift for him. A hand fellon his shoulder, fingers closed on his coat, while the ruffian madefrantic efforts to detain him.
"He is here! Here!" he shouted. "I have the slippery dog! Quick, one ofyou, slit his throat, and have done with it!"
"Take that! Back with you! Tom, Tom!" Jim shouted for the negro, and asecond later struck at the rascal with both fists, sending himstaggering backwards; but the blows, sturdy and strong though theywere, could not keep off the other desperadoes. They closed round ourhero in an instant, and there began at once a conflict the severity ofwhich can hardly be described. The sallow rascal, who had sodeliberately attempted to murder him that same night, thrust hiscomrades aside in his own anxiety to complete the work in which he hadso signally failed, and, raising his arm, fired his revolver atpoint-blank range. However, close shots are not always the ones to kill.The struggling men at the rascal's elbow disturbed his aim, while thebullet buried itself harmlessly in the wall of the tumbledown dwellingclose to which the conflict was taking place. Then Jim did a cleverthing. He had dodged swiftly to avoid the shot; but an instant later hedarted forward, swung his right fist into the villain's ribs with suchforce that the breath was driven out of his body, and immediatelyafterwards wrenched the smoking weapon from his hand. It was his turnnow, and right well he took advantage of the opportunity.
"Hands up!" he commanded again, levelling the muzzle at Jaime deOteros's head. "Hands up instantly!"
They fell back from him as if he were infected with the plague, and thesame uncertain, flickering lamplight which had helped our hero beforenow showed hesitation in their scowling faces; but it was only for themoment. Let it be remembered that this gang was composed of men who hadbeen in many a scuffle and come out of them successfully, that one andall were unscrupulous, and would as soon and as easily kill a man astake the life of a fly. Was it wonderful that, seeing one youth aloneopposed to them, they regained some measure of courage? Jaime's lipsreceded from his teeth in an ugly snarl, and, as if shot from a gun, hedarted at Jim, ducked beneath the levelled muzzle, and closed with him.
"Now you shall pay with your life, dog of a policeman!" he growled."This to end our quarrel."
He gripped Jim's right arm as if with a vice, pushing it upward. Thenthe fingers of his left hand fell upon his chin and forced it backwards.
"Strike with your knife! Strike, fool!" he shouted to one of hiscomrades. "He is helpless."
And helpless, in fact, Jim was, for a second villain had gripped himfrom behind. He was just like a sheep held for the slaughter, and thoughhe struggled frantically he could make no impression on those who heldhim; but Tom could. The lusty negro was not the one to be frightened bya gang of double the strength, and coming upon the scene at this momenthe fell upon the men with the ferocity of a tiger. His first chargescattered them, setting Jim free; then a dive to one side allowed him togrip one of the rascals. In a trice he had him swinging at his fullarm's length above his head.
"By de poker, but dis fun!" he shouted, waving the man to and fro as ifhe were merely a package. "Yo's tried to kill Massa Jim, heh? Yo go dereden." He swished round as if he were poised on a pivot, his arms wentback, and in an instant he had thrown his burden against the wall of thehut. That done, he dashed forward on the heels of Jim, and helped thelatter to secure Jaime de Oteros. As for the others, they melted awayinto the darkness, and the last that was heard of them was the sound oftheir quickly moving feet. But Ching reported that he had encounteredone of the rascals. Indeed, a minute later he came into the narrowcircle of light dragging one of the wretches with him, and giggling withsuppressed amusement.
"Him not see Ching," he explained with a guffaw. "Him comee runnin' everso fast. But Ching knowe him not a good man, and send him silly wid ablow from dis stick. Oh, him hab a velly bad head to-mollow. Him sovelly solly him meet Ching."
"And him sorrier still when him come before de police bosses," exclaimedTom, gripping the arm of the leader of the gang so firmly that the manhowled. "What fo you make that to-do?" asked Tom, shaking Jaime as if hewere a rat. "Yo no cause to complain. Me hold yo tight, eh? Me hold yotighter still if yo not stop dat blather. By de poker, but dis fine,Massa Jim! We've caught jest three of de ruffians, and see dem hanged,strung up by de neck, dance tattoo in de air. Eh? Dat good for rascals."
Again he shook the unfortunate Jaime till the ruffian's teeth chatteredtogether, while the man was unable to retain his feet. That he was cowedby the size and strength of his captor there was no doubt, for he madeno effort to retaliate or to escape. Instead, he hung listless, hisknife fallen at his feet, his left hand clutching at the fingers whichcompressed his other arm with such painful tenacity.
"Put him there in the hut," said Jim, beginning now to breathe a littlemore easily. "Ching, take your captive in too. Tom will watch him; ifthey attempt an escape——"
JIM IN A TIGHT CORNER
"Ha, ha! I like to see dat," cried the lusty negro, lifting Jaime fromhis feet as if he were a child and beginning to carry him within thehut. "By de poker, but I hope him will try to 'scape. Den yo see; Tomsmash um into a jelly. Tom make mincemeat of dis bag ob bones. Yo see;Tom lob to kill um."
He swung the ruffian round till their faces were close together, and,bending closer, bared his teeth and glared at the unfortunate fellowtill Jaime recoiled; for, when he liked, Tom could adopt the expressionof a demon.
"There; see him safely in the hut, and watch the two of them," criedJim, smiling even at such a moment, for he could not help but contrastTom's unusual exhibition of ferocity with his usual self. It was aneye-opener even to him to see this mild-mannered negro so transformed;and Jim, knowing the faithful fellow so well, realized that all hisanger and ferocity were assumed.
"Just to scare the ruffian," he thought, "and very thoroughly he hasdone it, I guess. Now, let's see this other fellow."
He and Ching between them rolled the man whom Tom had cast against thehut on to his back, and then carried him within the dwelling, where thelamp gave them an opportunity of inspecting him.
"Bad luck!" cried Jim at once. "Neither of our prisoners is the one Iwished above all to capture. Still, we have accounted for three, and thepolice will deal with the others. How long will it take them to arrive?"
"Anoder hour, sah," came from Tom immediately. "Me know de road. Deyhere about den. But no need to worry; dese blackguard son ob guns nottry any little game. Tom make himself happy."
To prove his coolness he dragged a pipe from his coat, filled it withloose chippings which he carried in a pocket, and, stepping to the lamp,held the bowl of the pipe over the flame. Then he puffed big clouds ofsmoke into the air contained within the hovel, which, to be sure,already reeked with the nauseous fumes of the cigarettes the gang ofruffians had been smoking. Later Tom sat himself comfortably in a chair,crossed one leg over the other, folded his arms, and regarded hisprisoners with an air of severity which caused them to cower, thoughJim, looking up at him, could distinguish the old twinkle in the negro'seyes.
"By lummy! But s'pose we not wait fo de police," suggested Tom, removinghis pipe from his capacious mouth, and baring his fine white teeth inthe process. He leered at the two cowering men, and then looked round atour hero. "S'pose save de time and labour ob de police, sah. Hang umnow. Plenty room in here, and dat beam jest in nice position. Gee! Fineting to watch dis scum dance de tatoo in de air. S'pose we get to widit."
There was an amiable smile on his lips now. He popped the pipe backbetween his teeth, causing the latter to fasten upon the stem with aclick, and stared up at the blackened roof of the cottage. "Him bear deweight ob both together, sah," he laughed. "But not be too fast. One attime plenty much, so as have heap to laugh at. I'm gwine ter commencewid dis blackguard."
He glowered upon Jaime de Oteros, the hardened villain who had led thegang, and who, if the information of the Commission police were correct,had more than once robbed his victims with unusual violence. "Himbiggest of de blackguards," said Tom reflectively. "Him gwine ter danceon air fust of de lot."
He rose from his seat, laid his pipe on the table, and approached hisprisoner. And Jaime shrunk before him. From being a well-nurtured man, arascal who, by means of his depredations had been enabled to live on thefat of the land and batten on other people's riches, the wretch, whenpunishment faced him, shrivelled visibly, till his very stature seemedto be dwarfed, his cheeks shrunken and hollow, and his rounded limbs buthalf their former size. He grovelled upon the floor, whining for mercy.
"Stop!" cried Jim at once, thinking that Tom's fun had gone far enough."We will wait for the police, and let them do as they like. But it jestabout shows you the cravens these fellows are. Under the same sort ofcircumstances this Jaime would not hesitate to bully his prisoners, Iguess; even to hang them outright. However, it is not our job to givepunishment; we'll leave that to the judges. Sit down and watch them."
"Watch dem! By lummy! but dat not necessary; not at all, sah," came theanswer from the negro. "Yo dere, yo blackguard. Yo go very careful, orTom do as him say, massa or no massa. Yo sabbey?"
He scowled at his prisoners till they crouched still lower, and then,turning to Jim, leered again at him, cocking one eye wide open, whilethe other closed. He was actually grinning, but the next instant, whenhe reseated himself, and again pulled at his pipe, the eyes whichregarded the rascals cowering against the wall were savage.
"Now," said Jim, "lend a hand here, Ching. This fellow is badly knockedabout. Bruised all over and stunned I should say: not dead."
The Chinaman wrapped his pigtail round his head, and secured it inposition with a pointed piece of stick which he carried about his personfor that very purpose. Then he bent over the man whom Tom had dealt soharshly with, and, chuckling all the while, proceeded to examine himminutely.
"Not one little bone ob him brokee, sah," he said. "But plenty fineupset. Got de headachee velly badly. To-mollow, when him wake up, oh himso velly ill. Him groan ever so much. Him giddy and velly sick, and himwish eber so much him neber been a rascal, and neber met dat great bignigger dere. Him tink him one big black debil. Him hate Tom."
"He! he! he! Ho! ho! ho!" came in uproarious tones from the huge negroseated at the table, smoking so comfortably. Then Tom suddenly becamevery serious.
"Yo Chinee boy," he cried, "yo son ob yellow gun, yo listen here. Tomnot like serve a man same as dat always. Him very gentle as a rule. But,by de poker, when a villain try to shoot and cut de throat of Massa Jim,den time to do tings! Not time to talk. Dat come afterwards. De man deresorry in course dat he met me; but dat altogether his fault, I guess.He shouldn't hab laid a hand on de young massa. Now yo dere, in decorner, what yo squintin' outer de door for? You tink get away. By depoker, show you dat! Beat you into squash and jelly!"
He switched the conversation round to his prisoner, for Jaime wasstaring out through the door of the hut, as if he had intentions ofmaking a dash for liberty. But Tom's voice brought him to his senses.The man—a Spaniard by his appearance, but one evidently long departedfrom his own country, and well able to speak and understandEnglish—shrivelled up into his corner, while into his black, beady eyesthere came a hopeless expression, the expression to be met with on theface of a condemned criminal who knows he is past relief. It seemedevident, too, that Jaime was in that position, for a little while after,while Jim was bathing the face of the man who lay unconscious on thefloor, a force of Colon police arrived, and quickly took affairs intotheir own hands. A smart officer entered the hut without ceremony.
"Huh!" he exclaimed, when he had taken a swift glance round. "Thewatchin' ended in a ruction, that's evident. Who's that?"
He stepped to the table, leaned both hands on it, and stared into thecorner where the prisoners cowered. Tom coolly removed his pipe frombetween his lips, nodded to the officer, and then turned on Jaime.
"Dat?" he asked, pointing with the stem of his pipe. "Oh, dat a verybrave prisoner dat try to kill Massa Jim, and now very sorry! Stand updere, yo in de corner. Stand up, or, by lummy, Tom want to know what fo!
"Now den," continued Tom, when the wretch had risen to his feet,shivering with fright. "Who am yo?"
"That don't matter one single brass pin ter me," ejaculated the officersuddenly, his colour heightening, his voice taking on a tone ofexultation. "Reckon it's my business to know who every criminal is.Jaime de Oteros, you're badly wanted. Guess there's a score of chargesup against you. Boys, jest come in here."
He put his fingers to his lips and sent forth a shrill whistle, whichinstantly brought a couple of policemen into the hut.
"Handcuffs for 'em both," said the officer shortly. "Search 'em forweapons. Now then, siree?"
He turned on Jim serenely, and extended a hand. "Tell me all about it.Of course the darkie you sent along got to work and poured a whole heapof stuff into my ear as we ran here. Guess I know who you are, where youcome from, and the very first day you ever had measles. There ain't manyyoung chaps around same as Massa Jim."
There was a broad smile on his face, and the grip he gave our hero wasunusually cordial. "Gee!" he went on; "a real good coloured servant is athing to be proud of. Reckon you've two. You're jest about lucky. Thoseboys think all the world of you, and I've been too long amongst them notto have learned that there's always a good reason when things are likethat. You've got to be extra good and plucky and all that. But let's getto business. What happened?"
Jim told him abruptly. "It was precious near a case with me," he smiled."This fellow Jaime did his best to kill me. That's a reminder; he stuckhis knife through my shoulder."
Strange to say he had forgotten the matter, and till now had had butlittle pain. But now he recollected, and, slipping off his jacket,exposed his arm high up near the shoulder. The officer at once inspectedthe wound, while Tom, and Sam, who had now arrived upon the scene, bentover him anxiously.
"Not enough to stop you enjoying a single meal," declared the officer."Little more than skin deep, and made by a knife that had cleaned itselfas it passed through your clothing. A dressing put there right away willfix the matter for good. Thomas," he sang out. Then, as another manappeared, dressed in Commission uniform: "see here, my lad, we want thatfirst-aid case of yours. Get to work at this gentleman's shoulder. Now,sir," he went on, "you can continue the tale while Thomas is busy. Thesefellows tried to murder you. You had surrounded the place, I understand,and had sent Sam there back into Colon. Wall, now, what next?"
In a few words Jim described how one of the rascals had detected him ashe looked in through the window. How the ruffian, the same who had firedat him earlier in the evening, had again narrowly missed striking himwith a bullet, and how the whole five had then thrown themselves on him.
"Here's the result of it all," he ended. "I should have been killed butfor Tom. But he arrived just in the nick of time. We took threeprisoners between us; two have managed to get away."
"And that man who fired at you?" asked the officer.
"He is one of the two escaped."
"Then there's a chase before us. You'll come right along to the office,sir, where we can talk matters over. Wait while I see these rascalshandcuffed to my men. But let me congratulate you and your men, sir. Youdid as well as any police could have done, and you showed no end ofpluck. Boys, get to with those prisoners. Four of you can carry the manwho's insensible. Two each to the others will be enough. Bring 'emalong, boys. This is a fine evening for the police of Colon."
That the capture of three of these notorious ruffians was indeed amatter for congratulation was brought still more forcibly to Jim's mindsome little time later; for, having trudged into Colon, the whole partyentered the offices of the Police Commissioner there, and came face toface with that gentleman. He had been hurriedly aroused, and had at onceturned out of his bed to learn what had happened. His eyes lit up with asmile as the officer who had gone to the scene of the capture introducedJim.
"Very glad to meet you, sir," said the Commissioner. "Now tell me allabout it. This, of course, will be only a preliminary enquiry; I shallremand the prisoners to the cells, and their case will be taken later.Then, of course, I shall require your evidence, and that of your men.Please state who you are?"
"James Partington, sir; from New York."
"Lately arrived, eh?"
"No, sir. Been cruising in the Caribbean with a salvage plant. Then tooka passage to New York. There was a collision, and a number of Spaniardsaboard the ship fought for the boats. I—er—I helped the——"
"Pardon, I recollect. Shake hands, sir."
The officer leaned over his desk and gripped Jim's fingers, while a mostfriendly smile played across his lips. "Of course, I recollect," hesaid. "The matter was published in the paper. Seen the article?"
Jim shook his head. "I haven't had much time," he said. "There have beenso many things to do since I arrived in the zone."
"Then your ears will burn, my lad. The man who wrote that account putthe plain truth forward. He had interviewed the captain and his men. Mr.James Partington seems to have been the hero of the occasion."
He laughed outright, seeing Jim flush to the roots of his hair, and thenbecame serious again.
"There, forgive my chaff," he said. "But you behaved handsomely, Mr.Partington. Now tell me how this other matter cropped up."
Jim told him in as few words as possible. "You see," he said lamely, "Icouldn't very well help myself. I stayed on in the zone, and Mr. PhineasB. Barton promised to obtain work for me. I had a turn with one of thesteam diggers, and it was arranged that I should be appointed to workone. I went back to Mr. Barton's quarters this evening——"
"Last night, you mean," interrupted the officer with a smile. "It is now2.30 in the morning."
Jim was startled. The hours had simply flown, and he could hardlyrealize that so much time had elapsed since he set off from hisquarters. "I had no idea," he murmured. "But yesterday evening, to beaccurate, I was sitting in the parlour with Mr. Barton when a man shotat me through the gauze window."
"At you? How do you know that?" The question came like a pistol shot.
"I guess it. I am not absolutely sure. I may be wrong, but you will hearmy reasons. We set out in pursuit. Sam there," and he nodded to thelittle negro who was following the interrogation with shining eyes andwide-open ears—"Sam tracked the fellow. He took us to a hut in which alight was burning. We surrounded it. I went to the window, andrecognized one of the men as a Spaniard who had been aboard the ship,and whom I had knocked down in the fight. He had, apparently, justjoined his fellows. There were five in all."
"Points to his being the man who shot at you, and to you being the oneat whom he fired. To-morrow we'll settle it. Sam there will follow thetracks if he can."
It was amusing to see the little negro's eyes open wide. There was anexpression almost of a feeling of injury about them.
"What dat, sah?" he demanded. "Sam not able to follow track? I like dat,I do. Sam start tracking when him so high." And he placed a hand acouple of feet from the floor, much to the amusement of all. "Sam larnto track way down in de south. Dat rubbish villain leave heap of mark.Plenty soft ground. To-morrow—to-day, sah, I tink, 'cos it's pastmidnight—to-day Sam pick up de mark and tell you plenty quick who it amand what happened."
"Then that'll fix the matter. What next?" asked the officer.
"I recognized one of the gang as a man whose photograph had beenpublished; in fact, I recognized them all. I remembered the name, Jaimede Oteros. Then I reckoned we had made a find and that you would like tohear. I sent Sam away, and—and there you are."
"Pardon, there we are certainly not yet awhile. I was asleep at thetime. Kindly proceed, sir."
Jim answered the officer's encouraging smile by giving him an account ofthe fight, while the eager Tom burst in with an interruption from timeto time.
"Me wanted to hang um quick," he explained. "But Massa Jim angry, scowlat Tom, say tings beneath him breath."
It was pure invention; Jim swung round upon the negro with flashingeyes. But who could be angry with Tom? The fellow's face was wreathed insmiles. His merry features were divided by a wide seven-foot rift,extending from ear to ear, and displayed a double set of teeth whichwould have been a paying advertisement for a dentist.
"The long and the short of it is this, sir," said the officer. "You andyour very eager friends have done the police a great service, for whichwe are deeply grateful. Now, I will take formal evidence of identity,and send the prisoners to the cells. I advise that you all go back toyour quarters by a roundabout route, so as not to spoil tracks. I willsend a couple of men to the hut to keep people away. At eight o'clock Iwill call upon you, when we will go into the question of the tracks anddiscuss what is to be done. The escape of those two rascals means achase. We cannot afford to lose them now that we have captured three."
He leaned over and shook hands with Jim. Then, with a pleasant nod, hebanished the party to bed. Taking the lamp, Sam lit it and led the way,and very soon they were back at their quarters, there to meet withPhineas's eager questions. At eight o'clock that morning, when Jimimagined that he had hardly enjoyed half an hour's sleep, the PoliceCommissioner appeared, and very soon it became evident that the canalworks would not see our hero yet awhile. In fact, there was anotheradventure before him.
"We're going to follow those rascals," said the officer. "I'd like youto come along, for you can recognize them. Of course it'll be dangerous.The fellows are armed; I'm not disguising that from you. Are you game tocome?"
Was Jim game? He laughed at the officer's caution.
"See here, sir," he said with a smile, "guess I'm not one of the police,and thief catching isn't in my work, but I've a personal stake here. Ifthis man ain't apprehended I stand to be shot at any time. Besides,every American citizen wants to help the police. It's a duty; of courseI'm game."
CHAPTER VIII
In Hot Pursuit
"From information received, a small steam launch put out from the Bay ofLimon at the first streak of dawn, and steamed towards the east," saidMajor Pelton, the police officer who had interrogated Jim at night,putting on his most official voice for the occasion. "It was not hired;it was seized by a couple of men. They found the boat lying alongsidethe staging, ready to take a party out to a hulk we have lying off thecoast. They stole her."
"Proof positive that they are the men we are after," ventured Jim,throwing himself back in the well of the little motor launch in which heand his comrades found themselves.
"It's sartin'," came from Sam, his eyes shining brightly, as was usualwhen he was at all excited.
"Precisely; proof positive, as you say. The useful Sam tracked the man'ssteps to your quarters from that hut. Then back again, and finally,after a detour in some scrub, where no doubt he remained hidden with hiscomrade, straight down to Port Limon. We are on the right track; but itwill be difficult to adhere to it."
The officer glanced round at the occupants of the launch, and foundlittle to encourage him. True, provided his party could come up withthe escaped criminals, it was highly probable that they would be taken;for the handsome launch with which the American Canal Commission hadprovided its Colon people carried, besides the officer and Jim, threemembers of the Colon police force, fully armed, as well as Tom, Sam, andChing.
"You had better bring them all along," the Major had said, whendiscussing the matter. "Tom is a lusty fellow, and evidently full ofpluck, while Sam is a first-class tracker. Some of those negroes onegets from the southern States are extremely quick and skilful, and he isamongst them. Ching, you say, is a good cook."
"Cookee fo ebelybody, sah; make de stew, boil de kettle. Plenty goodcookee Ching makee," had been the response of the wily Chinee when heheard of the proposition.
So it turned out that all the friends were together again, armed withrifles on this occasion, and aboard a fine motor launch.
"Thirty horse-power, gasolene motor," explained the Major. "There's notanother craft in these waters which can outstrip her. In fact, if onlywe can trace those ruffians, we shall have them nicely. Now, sir, you'vehad to do with motors; can you manage for us?"
Fortunately a gasolene motor was one of those things which had alwaysattracted our hero from the first moment he had been able to comprehendits action; and it chanced, seeing that much of his time had been spentin seaports, or closely adjacent thereto, he had had many opportunitiesof studying the marine variety. Immediately he put foot aboard thislaunch he had stooped over the half-covered-in engine, and had examinedit with a friendly and observant eye.
"Yes," he responded instantly, his eye brightening; "yes, Major, I canrun her, I guess. Thirty horse-power! I reckon we shall move alongquick. What about gasolene store?"
"Ample aboard. Her tanks are full; I saw to that at the first moment.She has been handed over to us fully equipped, with rations aboardsufficient for a week. I had only to collect men and ammunition. Now,sir."
Jim had already started his engine, and at the word he pushed over hisgear lever, retarded the engine a little, and sent the boat gentlyheading out to sea.
"Due east," said the Major.
"Due east it is, sir," responded Jim promptly.
"And run up alongside any boat you may see in our course. We must makeevery enquiry."
It was a sensible plan to pursue, for all that the party was sure of wasthe fact that the miscreants they were in search of had steamed out tosea from the Bay of Limon, and had taken an easterly course. Beyond thatfact there was nothing to direct them. Nor were they fortunate inobtaining information till late that afternoon, when they sighted acoaster lazily sailing parallel with the low-lying, muddy shore.
"Have I seed anything of a steam launch hereabouts?" repeated theskipper, a typical Yankee, waddling to the rail of his boat as thelaunch came alongside. "See here, siree, I observed a launch jest sichas you ask fer steaming easy along the coast twenty mile back of this.She was kinder heading in to find a port. There's lagoons way longthere, and, mebbe she's got right into one of 'em. You don't happen tobe wantin' the folks aboard?"
He cocked his eye in a knowing wink, and regarded the uniform of thepoliceman.
"I reckon not," he continued garrulously. "But ef you was—only ef youactually was wantin' 'em—why, I'd get peepin' in at every little hollowwith that 'ere queer craft of yourn. Say, what are she? Gasolene?"
The Major nodded. "Thirty horse-power," he said. "Runs well."
"Jest a daisy! Wish I was aboard her instead of this old scow. But I'mtoo old fer the game. Slow and steady's my motto. Goody to yer."
He helped to push the launch away from the side of his vessel with along pole, and then stood watching her as she went away through thewater, leaving a long, white trail behind her. As for Jim and hisfriends, they ran in closer to the shore, and, since the light wouldsoon be failing, speeded up their engine and pushed ahead at a pacewhich was decidedly smart.
"Six or seven knots faster than the steam launch can make," said theMajor. "If only we can sight the spot where they have put in beforedarkness comes, we ought to make short work of them to-morrow. In anycase we must discover some sort of haven in which to lie to-night."
But, search as they might, it was already dusk before Tom's sharp eyeshit upon an opening on the flat, dismal coast.
"Fresh water come down dere," he cried, after a while, staringcoastward. "Water blue and clean, not same as dis hereabouts. By lummy,but dere a riber in dere, where we can lie fo to-night. Den boil dekettle, cook de meal, hab little sing-song."
"I don't think so," exclaimed Jim at once. "If we make a port there'llbe no singing, especially from a noisy fellow such as you are. But Ibelieve he's right, Major; the water does seem clearer here. Probably astream running into the sea."
"Then we'll explore. We can't venture farther along in any case, and itwill be dark even now before we enter unless we hurry. Push her along,my lad; but go easy as we get close in."
Thanks to the fact that the gasolene launch drew but a couple of feet ofwater, there was no need for extreme caution; and, besides, the coastthereabouts was practically free of rocks. Still, there was mud, mud inabundance, and were the launch to run hard upon it she would stick inthat position, so arresting further pursuit.
"Easy now!" commanded the Major, after a while, when the land was closeat hand, and a thick fringe of tropical vegetation within close range."There's the river entrance; narrow enough in all conscience. Take heralong to the centre, Jim, and be ready to reverse if I give the order."
He went clambering along past his men till he sat right forward, thediminutive Sam joining him there, as if he thought he needed help. Infact, but for the little fellow's sharp eyes they would certainly havebrought the expedition to an abrupt conclusion, for a huge sunken treeblocked a goodly portion of the river channel just at its exit into thesea.
"Hold dere!" shouted Sam, raising both hands. "Back um! Yo see dat snagdown dar, sah? Him rip de bottom out ob us quick as noting. Break um up,send de boat to Davy Jones, and all ob us to the sharks or crocodiles.Back um, Massa Jim!"
"He's right! I can see it now—a huge tree," sang out the Major. "That'svery awkward. Seems to prove that we are on the wrong track."
"'Spose yo gib Sam de painter, den swim or wade ashore. Easy pull delaunch right up to de tree, den see wheder we can get past um. If toomuch in de way, den put Tom oberboard. Him lift de tree away. Ifcrocodile dere, no matter; Tom very good to eat."
The little man grinned at the big negro, while the latter shook anenormous fist at him, and bared his teeth in just that same manner ashad had such effect upon Jaime de Oteros. But Sam recked little of thesignal.
"Yo one big, hulkin' nigger, yo," he grinned. "Yo eat wonderful nice andtasty."
Meanwhile Jim had been careful to reverse his engine, and lay with hismachinery out of gear, awaiting further orders.
"Steady ahead! just a few revolutions!" commanded the Major. "Enough!That has brought us right up to the tree. Now, can one pass by it?"
The dusk was already falling outside, while here, beneath the treeswhich clung in luxuriant profusion to the banks on either side of theentrance to the river, it was already so dark that a white man wastroubled. Neither the Major, nor Jim, nor the policemen, could detectmuch of their surroundings, but in the case of Sam it might have beenbrilliant daytime. He peered over the edge of the launch, then floppedfull length on to the tiny deck she carried forward, and, pushinghimself over the side, finally gripped the tree with one hand, hisweight suspended between the latter and the launch. A startled cry camefrom him, a cry which brought Tom labouring up beside him.
"Yo hurt yoself?" he demanded abruptly. "Hi, yo, Sam, what de matter?"
"Massa Jim, we got um! We bottled dem men up fine and safe. Dey good ashanged. Dey jest as well might be dancin' on thin air at dis veryinstant."
Sam ignored the huge negro—in fact ignored everyone aboard save Jim—inhis anxiety to make a report direct to his master. "Yo see here," hecalled out, turning slightly so as to be able to look aft, and stillclinging half to the launch and half to the fallen tree. "Yo come alongand look fo yoself. Tom, yo great big elephant, yo git along to oneside. There ain't no sorter room for a person when yo's hereabouts."
There was an air of suppressed excitement about the little fellow whichcaused Jim to leave his engine and hasten forward.
"Well?" he demanded curiously. "You've found something? What is it?"
"Reckon dem 'ere blackguard run in here full tilt, I do. Dey come whopup agin de tree, and precious nigh upset. Dere's a dent right here bigenough to put de hand in. Stop a minute. Sam soon say if dey passed."
Without waiting for his master, he slipped into the water, to discoverit deep enough almost to submerge him. But Sam was more like a fishthan anything. He struck out for the tree, reached it, and clambereddown towards that portion which seemed to have sunk deepest. In thegloom they saw him stretching out a hand to the opposite bank. Hegripped a branch hanging conveniently overhead, and then swung in thewater.
"Dey come right along plump in here," he sang out "Den dey sheer off,and steam in alongside. Jest room enough. See here, Massa Jim, plentyspace to swing de legs. Plenty room to float de launch; but I make extrysure. Yo see in one little bit."
They heard him splash down into the stream, while there came to theirears the swish of the branch suddenly relieved of his weight. Then thefitful rays played upon the splashes as the negro breasted the water andswam upstream. Presently the swish of his strokes ceased, and his voicewas heard again, some little distance inland.
"Yo kin jest steer to de right ob dat stump, yo can, Massa Jim. Plentywater. Reckon dem scum come along right in here. We hab um. Dere biglagoon way along a little furder."
Thus it proved when the party had forced the boat past the obstructionguarding the river exit. Jim pushed his lever over a very little, andsent his propeller whirling just for so long as would give the launchway against the sluggish stream. As he did so Tom leaned his ponderousfigure over the stem, causing it to dip violently, and, gripping thetree, directed the boat into clear water. A few more revolutions sentthe launch through, and in time brought her abreast of Sam. They foundthe little fellow poised on a branch overhanging the water, for all theworld as if he were a monkey, and from that position he dropped like acat on to the deck of the launch.
"What's this about a lagoon?" asked the Major eagerly. "You couldn't seeit, surely?"
Sam made no answer for the moment. He took the officer's hand and ledhim right forward. Then, while Tom clung to a branch to steady thevessel, his smaller comrade bade the Major lie on the deck.
"Not see um if stand up," he explained. "Dem leaves and branches in deway; but Sam see um when he swim. Easy as talkin'. Dere's a young moonto-night, and now that we's right under de trees it's easy 'nough tolook out into de open. Dere: ain't dat a lagoon? Gee! Ef I don't tinkso!"
It was laughable to watch his eagerness, while Sam's curious language,often enough sprinkled with long and difficult words, of the meaning ofwhich he had not the remotest idea, was sufficient to make anyone notmorose by nature die of laughing. But in any case he had made nomistake. As the Major stooped, so getting beneath the line ofoverhanging trees and branches, he saw as if from a tunnel awidespreading space filled by water, on the rippling surface of whichthe moonbeams played. Here and there a patch of rushes reared theirheads into the air, while the far distance was hidden behind a cloudy,wet mist which smothered everything.
"And you are sure that those rascals are here?" he asked.
"Sure! Guess so, boss. Dere ain't no room for a mistake. Dem critterscomed right in here. I see dere marks on de tree trunk, and den on thebank ob de stream. Dey stepped ashore, I tink, just where we are, den goaboard agin. Dey here; Sam sure as eggs."
"Then, if there is no other exit from the lagoon, we have got them!"came the exultant answer. "We have only to bar the stream, and then setout in search; for, after all, none but a madman would leave the lagoonfor the forest. Just hereabouts it is intensely thick, to say nothing ofthe fever which haunts it. Then, too, savage natives are known to exist,though some of them are friendly. I think, Jim, that we may almost saythat we have them. What luck to have pitched upon the very spot theymade for!"
"Let us suppose then that they are here, sir," said Jim thoughtfully, ashe cut his engine down till it did little more than just turn round."What is the next movement? To try and find them in that lagoon would beto set oneself the task of discovering a needle in a haystack. There isno chance, even with a bright moon, unless they happened to steam outinto the centre. It seems to me that for to-night at least we have cometo the end of our efforts."
"Quite so; I agree. We'll haul in somewhere and tie up. We shall all beglad of food and drink. Now, where is a likely place?"
"Right here, I should say," declared Jim briskly. "In the first place,we're in a sort of tunnel, which, therefore, is not easy to discover.Then we lie right in the track those men would take if they were makingout to sea. In fact, it's a blockade; we've bottled them so long as weoccupy this channel."
It was not a matter which admitted of discussion, seeing that thesuggestion was so full of common sense. The Major swiftly realized thatfact, and promptly agreed to act upon it.
"Couldn't do better," he said. "Now, see here, boys, we've got to takesome precautions. In the first place, we want food cooked, and thatmeans lighting a fire; for no cooking can be done aboard this craft. Itwouldn't be safe with our tanks filled with gasolene. Suppose we pitchour camp right away in amongst the trees, where a fire couldn't beeasily seen; then we'll tie the launch up right across the stream.She'll reach from bank to bank easily. A man can keep watch aboard herwhile the rest of the party turn in; how's that, Jim?"
"The very thing, I guess. Say, Major, I'm real hungry; don't mind howsoon I sit down to a feed. See here, Ching; jest you and Tom collectthose kettles and things, and take off into the trees. Sam, get alongwith them, and make sure you've chosen a spot where there's plenty ofthick stuff about. Supposing we walk along to the edge of the lagoon,Major. By the time we've had a good look round they'll have the boatmoored in position and the fire going. There's just a chance that wemight have the luck to catch a sight of those two slippery fellows. It'salmost as light as day out there, and they might be still moving."
Swinging themselves ashore the two made their way along the edge of thestream slowly and carefully. Indeed, a good deal of care and of agilitywas required, for the bank was lined by a tangled mass of vegetationwhich often enough obstructed their path; but as both had encounteredthe same before, they had brought with them long cutting knives withwhich to sever the creepers. Underfoot they found the ground firm andeven stony in places, while to their right the land seemed to riseabruptly. As to the lagoon, when once they were free of the long,tunnel-like archway of trees leading to the sea, they came intouninterrupted view of the huge expanse of water, for the moon was nowwell up, and flooded the scene.
"It's so bright that if we were to catch a sight of those rascals we'dbe right off after them," said the Major. "But they know their wayabout. I have had information that this gang, with a few in addition whohave left them for one reason or another, have visited many places alongthis coast. It seems that they came from the States; but they know thiscoast, and knowing it they will have met with lagoons and forestsbefore. They will be just as careful to keep out of our view when thereis light enough to see, as we are careful to hide up our fire at night;but I fancy we shall have them. Quick pursuit is one of the things theyhave not been accustomed to."
They stared out across the lagoon for some little while, noticing thetufts of reeds which cropped up here and there, and the white mist inthe far distance. Then they turned their faces towards the spot they hadleft, and felt their way back towards the camp.
"We'll take a couple of grains of quinine apiece to-night," said theMajor, halting for a breathing spell by the way. "No white man who comesout to a tropical country can afford to neglect that precaution. Evenin the canal zone, where we have reduced the occurrence of malarialfever to an extraordinary figure, we still insist that all employeesshould take quinine regularly. And out away here it's far morenecessary. That mist we've been watching spells malaria, fever thatsticks to a man's bones till he's old, even though he gets safe home,and lives in comfort and warmth. Besides, listen to the hum of themosquitoes; any fool could tell that these parts weren't healthy for awhite man."
Jim agreed with him abruptly. He was thinking of his brother, andwishing at that moment that he had been a little more careful to takeprecautions; but George had been one of those lusty, healthy fellows,never sick or sorry, who had laughed at fever and scoffed atprecautions. And see what it had brought him to.
"My brother might have been alive now if only he had taken his quinine,"said Jim. "You heard about him, Major?"
"I did. As one of the police at Colon his loss was reported to me as amatter of course. It was bad luck, lad; where did he go ashore?"
"Miles away along this coast. I hunted high and low, as far as a man canhunt a jungle. Reckon he died in the undergrowth."
"Or fell into a swamp, lad. He died, that's sure enough; but come along.There's the fire, and a good meal waiting for us. Gee! we've beengetting along; this is better progress than I had dared to hope for."
Skilfully the Major drew Jim's attention from the tragedy which hadfallen upon his young life, and very soon had him seated beside aroaring fire, and dipping his spoon into a steaming cauldron of stewwhich the wily Chinee had provided. In fact, it was a stew which hadbeen prepared ashore in the Major's house, and merely required heating.
"Plenty ob dat fo all, I guess," observed Tom, as he served out helpingsall round, smacking his big lips as the savoury odour filled hisnostrils. "By gum, but dis night air make a fellow hungry. Yo Sam, yosit right along down dar, and I help yo. Not trust a little nigger sameas yo to help hisself: eat too much. Little man, but plenty big tomach."
He held the huge cauldron in one hand, and with the fingers of the otherpressed his small companion to the ground as if he were as weak as ababy. Then, despite his own words, he gave him a liberal helping, and,having done the same for Ching, sat himself down beside the cauldron.
"So as to see dat dat feller Sam don't play one ob him tricks," helaughed. "By de poker, 'spose him try, den shob him into the pot andcook um."
In the firelight his round, rolling eyes gleamed white. Tom looked avery terrible person for the moment. But he could never preserve anappearance of ferocity for long; his usual smile was soon wreathing hisface, particularly when he had taken the first mouthful of stew.
"By lummy, but dat extry good!" he observed. "Hab more, yo fellows?"
In turn he offered it to them all, then helped himself again liberally.In fact, it was not until the last spoonful of gravy had been finishedthat the party turned to their pipes. Nor was there much difference tobe found between the variety of tobacco loved by the British tar orsoldier and that favoured in particular by these American policemen. Jimwatched them as they cut the cake with their knives and rammed thebroken weed into the bowls; then columns of smoke rose amid thebranches, while the scent of navy shag made the air redolent.
"And now for the orders," said the Major, when the men had had time fora long smoke. "Sam has been keeping an eye on the water all this time.We must relieve him, though he has hardly been doing duty in theordinary sense of watchman. Let me see. There are three of my own men,three of yours, making six, and our two selves, eight altogether;suppose we watch in couples. You with one of my men for two hours, thenTom and a second policeman, Sam afterwards with the third, and I last ofall with our friend Ching. How's that? Two hours each, four watchesaltogether, and a good sleep for all of us. It is now eight o'clock, thelast spell takes us up to four o'clock in the morning; it'll be light bythen. Since Ching will be on duty from two o'clock he can employ himselfwith our breakfast. By half-past four we shall be able to get the enginegoing and be under weigh. Now, Jim, get to your duty. One aboard thelaunch, and the second patrolling as far as the lagoon. Pipes not to belit unless well amongst the trees. No one to call loudly to anotherunless there be need. Boys, you've blankets here; turn in."
Ashes were knocked out of pipe stems, and the men at once rolledthemselves in their blankets. Then Jim and the comrade who was to watchwith him shouldered their rifles, and with pouches filled withammunition, attached to the belts round their waists, marched towardsthe stream.
"You get aboard," said Jim. "I'll make along to the lagoon. When an hourhas passed I'll come and take your place."
He wended his way through the jungle, and presently was on the bank ofthe lagoon, admiring its broad expanse of rippling water, which lookedso solemn and so beautiful beneath the silvery rays of the moon. Indeed,it was an enchanting scene, and had our hero been of a romantic turn ofmind he might well have been excused for giving free rein to his fancy.But Jim was a hard, practical-minded fellow, with the world before him,and his way to make in it. It is not then to be wondered at that hismind strayed from the scene before him to the canal zone, to thegigantic undertaking America had determined on, to the host of workmenlabouring there, and to the many problems which confronted them,problems undreamed of by Jim till yesterday, undreamed of now bythousands of Americans, yet problems, for all that, demanding theanxious thought and effort of the Commission staff, in whose able andpainstaking hands lay the enormous enterprise. In his mind's eye Jim sawthat hundred-ton steam digger again. He fancied himself in the driver'sseat, with Harry watching every movement critically, and coaching hisyoung pupil. His hands seemed to fall quite naturally on the levers, andthen the hiss of steam came to his ears, just as it had done when heworked the enormous engine.
"Was it all imagination?" To tell the truth he was getting not a littledrowsy, but that peculiar hiss was so realistic that——"Gee!" herecovered from his brown study suddenly, and opened his eyes very wide.For there was reality in that hissing steam. He could actually hear it,not over loud, but without doubt steam or gas escaping from some narroworifice. Moreover the sound came from the lagoon; yes, from the lagoonstraight before him. A moment later a long, black shape stole into viewfrom behind a mass of reed some few yards away, then lay still on thewater. Silhouetted against the rippling surface he could make out thedusky outlines of a launch, her funnel amidships, the hood of the cabwhich sheltered passengers when a sea was running, and the little maston which her flag drooped. And there were figures—two of them. Theystood sharply displayed against the light, perched on the deck of thelaunch, surveying their surroundings.
"Those villains; then they are here without a doubt. Gee, if they try tomake out through the opening!"
Jim crouched a trifle lower under the trees beneath which he had takenhis station, and watched the launch and her passengers. And steadily, ashe watched, the boat drew nearer and nearer.
"Searching for the exit," he thought. "Then they mean to come out. Theywant to get to sea again, feeling sure that on such a bright night theywill be able to find their way. They'll just jump into the trap we'velaid for them."
It did indeed look as if fate would play into the hands of those whohad set out to take these rascals, and, if Jim had but known what waspassing in their minds, he would have learned that a crafty plan wasabout to be put into execution.
"Of course those police are after us, and quick too," one of the tworuffians had said to the other. "They've steamed along the coast, and nodoubt have spoken some skipper who saw us. If they fail to find usto-night they'll get along farther to-morrow, and if we're along thereeast of this the chances are that we shall be taken. But we know a gamebetter than that; we'll slip clear of this, steam back towards Colon,run inshore just clear of the port, and sink the launch in deep water.There won't be much of a job in getting a passage to New York; how'sthat?"
It was just one of those plans which, by its very boldness, would mean,provided nothing unforeseen happened, security for those who followedit; for, while all eyes would be searching for them along the coast eastof Colon, the rascals themselves would be securely aboard a ship enroute for New York. But Jim and his friends were to have a say in thematter. Our hero stole back through the trees, gave the warning to hisfellow watcher, and then awakened his comrades.
"S-s-s-he!" he whispered, as he touched the Major's shoulder. "The birdsare there, on the lagoon. They are searching for the opening. With alittle care we shall have them."
It seemed in fact almost a foregone conclusion, this capture of therascals. For, when all were gathered close to the launch, while two ofthe men lay with loaded rifles on her deck, the hiss of steam was heardmost distinctly. Presently a long, black shape put in an appearance,till all could see it stealing slowly down towards them. Instantly fourof the weapons were trained on the men aboard, while the Major, with Jimand Tom to help him, crouched beside the bank, ready to spring on boardthe stranger. It was a time of intense excitement, because even nowthere might come a hitch, something might happen to alarm the ruffians.
CHAPTER IX
Jim becomes a Mechanic
"See here, Jim," whispered the Major, as he and our hero, with Tombeside them, huddled close to the bank of the stream which gave exitfrom the lagoon, "when she comes abreast of us you and I will jumpaboard. There are branches in plenty overhead from which we can swingourselves. We leave Tom to get a grip of the launch itself, and pull herin to the side; got that?"
The big negro wagged his head knowingly from side to side. "Got um safeand sound, sah," he whispered hoarsely. "Tom grip de launch, lift herouter de water if you wants. Lummy! But dis goin' to be a bean feast!"
"S-s-sshe, man! Stay here. Jim, I'll go a little farther up, just a fewfeet, and pick my branch. You had better do the same; there won't bemuch time to waste."
"Supposing she doesn't come in; supposing those men discover us, smell arat, eh?"
Jim asked the question anxiously, and detained the Major on the point ofleaving.
"Then we'll be after them quick."
"Will the men fire on them?"
"No; I've given them orders not to do so unless opposition isoffered. I never like shooting into men before they open fire. But we'reright this time; those fellows are going to jump into the net we havespread for them."
WAITING FOR THE ENEMY
He moved off at once, while Jim stepped a few paces from the spot wherethe bulky figure of Tom was reclining, and, searching above his head,quickly found a branch strong enough to support his weight. He held toit, and lifted his feet from the ground, making assurance doubly sure.By then the strange launch was heading direct for the opening of thenarrow tunnel in which the pursuers were secreted. Jim could hear thesplash of her tiny propeller; for the launch was running light, and theblades often rose clear of the water. Then suddenly the noise ceasedabsolutely, the low, clock-like tick of her engines could no longer beheard, while the moonrays playing upon the ripples at her stern aloneshowed that she was in motion.
"Coming! In a second I shall have to jump. Reckon we shall have to bepretty slippy with those fellows, for they have arms and are likely touse them."
For some reason or other our hero felt not the slightest trace ofexcitement on this occasion. No doubt the experiences he had alreadygone through had helped not a little to steady his nerves, while theoverwhelming force of the party he accompanied seemed to argue thatthere could be now but little prospect of danger; but he was to learnthat it is the least-expected thing that happens. For hardly had thewords left his lips when the propeller of the launch was heard againthrashing the water frantically, while the ripple ahead suddenly diedout altogether, leaving the surface of the lagoon shimmering placidlybeneath the soft rays which flooded every portion of it. Then there camea shout, a startled cry from the deck of the launch, a man stood up tohis full height forward, his figure silhouetted blackly against thewater. A second later he had dived down again, there was another shout,then flames suddenly roared from the funnel, while a glow whichilluminated the rear of the vessel showed that the door of the furnacehad been thrown open.
Jim rubbed his eyes; the sudden change in the movement of progression ofthe launch amazed him. He could hardly believe that she was retreating,that those agitated ripples now spreading from her stern right forwardbeyond the bows meant that she was departing. It was the whirr of herengine and the splashing of her propeller as it churned the waterviolently which brought the true facts clearly to his mind.
"They're off," he shouted; "we must follow. Quick, on to the launch!"
He dashed along the bank of the stream, calling loudly to the men, andarriving opposite to their own vessel, swiftly cast adrift the ropewhich had been passed from her stern to a tree growing close down to thewater. With a spring he was aboard, and, tumbling at once into the well,he searched in the darkness for the starting handle. But howeverconvenient a gasolene motor may be on ordinary occasions, the factcannot be denied that there are at times difficulties in connection withthem. For instance, it was always a practice of Jim's to shut off hispetrol supply when the engine was not running; for otherwise there wasrisk of leakage through the carburettor, and leakage of such a volatileand inflammable fluid aboard a boat spells danger for those who man her.Then, too, it happened that this engine trusted to drip lubricators forher supply of oil, and though she might reasonably be expected to runsatisfactorily for a while without that supply, still, in the excitingtime before him, Jim might easily forget to turn up his lubricators, andsuch neglect spelt failure for his party. After all, this was decidedlyone of those cases where it would be better to follow his usual routine,and thereby make sure that the engine had everything in its favour.
"I'll have her running in double-quick time," he shouted. "Get thatpainter cast off, Major; and, see here, can't you manage to push heralong until I have got the engine going?"
"Guess I'se got one mighty big pole here," called Tom, an instant later,whilst the launch heaved and rolled as the ponderous fellow moved about."You get right along wid dat engine, Massa Jim. I'se gwine astern topole her."
Once more the launch rolled and heaved as Tom made his way rapidly aft.Then his pole plunged into the water, one of the policemen pushed thebows out from the bank, and, casting his eye upward for one briefinstant, Jim saw that they were moving. Meanwhile he had found thegasolene tap and turned it, while the fingers of his other hand asrapidly lifted the six lubricators which fed the engine with that fluidso vital to her.
"Ready?" asked the Major tersely, his voice hard and cold, as if suddendisappointment had changed it. "Get her going quick, my lad, or thosefellows will get clear away from us. Already they are steaming right outinto the lagoon."
It was true enough; for, casting his eye ahead, Jim could see, throughthe dark tunnel formed by the overhanging branches of the trees, a wideexpanse of shimmering water, across which sped the boat that bore themen in pursuit of whom they had come. There was a white wash at herstern, while sparks and flames shot from her funnel. That and the glowwhich surrounded her, coming from her opened furnace door, showedclearly that the rascals aboard her were fully prepared for flight, witha hot fire burning and roaring in their furnace, and a head of steamwhich would drive their boat faster perhaps than she had ever travelled.
"Got it! Now we'll be moving."
With the fingers of one hand Jim had held the float of his carburettorlifted, thereby making sure that the engine would obtain a free supplyof fuel; while with the other hand he had discovered the startinghandle. It was a simple matter to slip it on to the shaft and turn ittill the clutches engaged. Then he bent his back to the work, switchedhis magneto into circuit and sent the engine twirling round. Poof! poof!poof! Three of the cylinders fired, but the crank ceased turning. Jimlifted his float again, adjusted the handle, and made another effort atstarting. Gur-r-rr! bizz! she was off. The rhythmical hum of themachinery told his practised ear at once that the engine was runningbeautifully.
He dropped the starting handle on to the floorboards and stepped brisklyacross to his levers.
"Ready?" he asked steadily.
"Let her have it," came from the Major, who, meanwhile, had takenpossession of the wheel. "Let her have it all you know, Jim, for we've along way to make up. Those rascals have obtained a splendid start."
Jim promptly dropped his fingers on the quadrant where throttle andignition levers lay, and jerked both of them up a few notches. He couldfeel the thrust of the propeller now, and could hear the wash of thewater as the launch pushed her way through it. Then suddenly the vesselcleared the dark tunnel in which she had been lying, and a glorioustropical moon shone down upon her, rendering every figure aboarddistinctly visible, while, better than all, the rays flooded the enginewell and made Jim's task all the easier.
"Faster!" commanded the Major sharply, and at the word Jim jerked hislevers some few notches higher, till the engine buzzed more loudly thanbefore, while the floorboards took on a trembling vibration to which, asa general rule, they were unaccustomed.
"More! We must move faster if we are to catch them," cried the Major,something akin to entreaty in his voice. "Can't you make her do a littlemore, my lad? We mustn't let those rascals slip through our fingers."
Jim nodded curtly; he disliked racing his engine as a general rule, forcommon sense told him that such a course if persisted in might well leadto disaster. But these were exceptional circumstances, and, if race herhe must, he determined that no precaution on his part should be relaxedso that the motor might come through the ordeal satisfactorily. Oncemore, therefore, he jerked his levers upwards till the throttle was wideopen, while the ignition was advanced to the fullest extent. And how themotor roared! Compactly built and beautifully designed, it could not beexpected to revolve at such extraordinary speed and give out its fullpower without some sign of remonstrance. It answered the persistentgoadings of its grim young driver with a tremulous roar, while theplanks under foot now shook and rattled ominously. Indeed the wholevessel vibrated, while the bows lifted out of the water, thrusting ahuge wave to either side. The surface of the lagoon, hitherto so placid,was now churned to milky foam at the stern of the vessel, while a whitewash trailed aft, glimmering in the moonlight.
"Full out, sir," reported Jim to the Major. "How are we doing?"
"Fine, fine, my boy. We'll have 'em yet, if only you can keep her at it;but can she last? Can she keep up this pace much longer?"
"Guess she's got to," laughed Jim, a note of excitement in his voice, inspite of his apparent coolness and unconcern. "Guess she's got to, sir;I'll keep her at it all I know."
He craned his head to one side, and for the space of a minute fixed hiseyes upon the black shape ahead which they were following. A column offlame and showers of sparks were being vomited from the funnel, whilstthe ruddy hue that had surrounded the escaping launch had nowdisappeared entirely.
"Closed his furnace; that means that he's got steam up tobursting-point," thought Jim. "But we're gaining on him sure. In half anhour, if all goes well, we'll be alongside."
He let his glance rest for a few seconds on the figures of the policemenhuddled in the cab of the launch beside the Major. He even caught thereflection of the moonlight in Sam's big rolling eyes. Then he turnedhis glance to either side, watching the widespreading bow wave as itswept out over the lagoon. He followed the ripples, and, turning, gazedastern. It came as a shock to him almost to discover two figures therecrouching on the little deck aft of the engine well. One was huge andmassive, and bore aloft a long, straight pole, while the second satcrouched on his haunches, as motionless as a statue. It was Ching. TheChinaman sat playing with the end of his pigtail, and giggled as Jimlooked into his eyes.
"Velly fine! Dis allee lightee, sah; you catch him plenty quick," hegurgled.
"Den hang um," simpered Tom, his eyes rolling. "Dem scum not stand dechance of a dog, I tell yo. Massa Jim, yo make um buzz right along likedis; and den, by lummy, yo see what we do to um. Nobble dem rascalsprecious quick. Kill um; wring de neck of de villains."
Jim scowled at the negro, for such threats vexed him. Then, seeing thebroad smile on Tom's face, he laughed outright.
"Jest like you, Tom, always threatening. I don't believe you'd actuallyhurt a fly unless you were forced to. But have a care, my lad; thisboat's over-loaded, and if I hear too much from you I'll give Chingorders to send you overboard. Get lower, man; your big body meets thewind and keeps us from moving forward."
The mere suggestion that he might be tossed overboard caused thesimple-minded Tom to open his big eyes wide in consternation. His hugejaw drooped; then, hearing his young master's merry laugh, the thicklips split asunder, and a loud guffaw came from the negro.
"Wat dat?" he demanded. "Yo ask dis man here to throw Tom overboard? Byde poker, but if dis Chinaboy breathe one little word, me smash um. Tomnasty fellow to deal with when him angry."
But Jim had other matters to attend to rather than to listen to thenegro's sayings. Indeed he had already turned his back upon the two mencrouching astern, and was bending over the engine. Fumbling at the lockof a cupboard, he pulled the door open and extracted a heavy object fromwithin. His finger pressed a button, and instantly a flood of light camefrom the electric torch he had secured. For five minutes he busiedhimself with the motor. Carefully adjusting the drips from thelubricator, he set them to give a more liberal supply than was usual.Then he lifted the board which covered the tail shaft bearing, andsqueezed down the grease cup secured there. A finger laid on the top ofthe bearing assured him that it was running cool, while the sameprecaution in regard to the cylinders disclosed the fact that the waterpump was working as it should do. In fact, in spite of the tremendouspace at which the motor was revolving, there was as yet no sign offailure, nothing to point to an immediate breakdown, nothing, in fact,to lead him to suppose that the chase would have to be abandoned.
"Then I can begin to take a little interest in those rascals," hethought, "Ah, we're nearer, we're overhauling them without a shadow ofdoubt! I give them a quarter of an hour's more freedom."
It did indeed seem as though the pursuit was entering upon its laststage, for the black shape ahead was decidedly nearer—so near, in fact,that one could make out the various features of the launch as well asthe two fugitives crouching beside their engine. Tongues of flame andbroad showers of sparks still belched from the funnel, while at onemoment, when she steamed into the dense shadow cast by some tall treesgrowing upon the tail end of a group of small islands which studded thelagoon, the funnel itself was seen to be glowing hot. Indeed, while thelaunch herself was blotted out in the darkness, the glowing funnelremained the one conspicuous object.
"I'm going to give 'em a shot," called out the Major, casting a glanceat Jim over his shoulder. "You see, I don't know the ins and outs ofthis lagoon, and those fellows might yet escape us if they happen tohave had time to do a little exploration. See here, Tomkins, send a balla foot or two ahead of them; and if that does not bring them to a stop,put one right through her funnel. You can do it without fear of hittingone of the men."
"Sure! I'd back myself nine times out of ten to bring off a shot likethat. I'll just wait till we're out of the shadow."
Anxious eyes flitted from the dark shape fleeting through the waters ofthe lagoon to the long, bony fingers of the policeman. He stepped to thefront of the cab, leaned forward with his elbows on the deck, andclicked the bolt of his rifle open. Then he dropped the weapon intoposition, and there was a tense silence aboard as Tomkins squinted alonghis sights. A second later the report came, for the policeman was tooold a hand with his weapon to hesitate. While he shot the emptycartridge out and slipped in a fresh one all eyes went to the boatahead, and no doubt the bullet which Tomkins had dispatched had passedbut a few feet in front of her, conveying a message and a warning; butthe effect it had was entirely nil. The launch held on her course asthough there was no such thing as a pursuing vessel with arms aboardable to reach the miscreants who were escaping.
"Guess they've got to have it then," growled Tomkins. "This time I'llput one through the funnel, and there ain't a doubt that it'll send thembobbing."
As cool as an icicle, the man stretched himself out again, half on thedeck and half in the cab of the launch. Once more his eyes went down tothe sights, and on this occasion the pause he made was long, so long, infact, that when the rifle belched forth a stream of fire the suddennessof the report startled his comrades. Then they fixed their eyes upon thelaunch steaming ahead of them.
"Didn't I tell you! Got it sure, plump through the centre, and a barefoot above their heads," cried Tomkins, dropping his rifle. "See there,the flames tell you what happened."
His finger shot out instantly, and drew the attention of all to thefunnel. Flames and sparks were still belching from the opening above,but that was not all, for low down now, but a bare foot above the headsof the two men crouching beside the engine, the sheet-iron tube waspunctured, and a thin stream of fire was issuing from the hole. Clank!The sound of the furnace door being dragged violently open came clearlyto the ears of the pursuers, in spite of the hum of their own motor,while that same red glow which had once before enveloped the launchagain surrounded her. It was the only answer the rascals aboard made toTomkins's shot, that and a dense column of smoke which now shot up,mingling with the flames and smoke from the funnel.
"Their last kick," cried the Major. "That shot tells them that we meanbusiness. Tomkins, my lad, just give 'em another. Say, Jim, how's themotor running?"
"Fine! fine! Couldn't be doing better. Sing out when you want me to cuther down a little."
To all appearances the end of an exciting chase was already in sight,for there was no doubt that now Jim and his party were running two feetfor the one covered by the escaping launch. But they had wily men todeal with, and that fact was impressed upon them within the space of afew seconds, for hardly had the third shot rung out when the launch infront ran into another long shadow by one of the islands, her form beinginstantly blotted out by the blackness.
There came the clang of the furnace door as it was kicked into place byone of the rascals, and then all that could be seen was the glowingfunnel. Even that did not remain long in evidence, for suddenly itswerved to the right, making off at a sharp angle to the course whichthe launch had been pursuing. Then it disappeared from sight, as if thevessel had gone beneath the water.
"Steady! Stop her!" commanded the Major, swinging his wheel over. "We'llrun on a little till we're out of the shadow. Then perhaps we shall beable to see where those fellows have got to. Queer! Seems to me thatthey know the road. They must have steered direct for the tail end ofthese islands."
Jim jerked throttle and ignition levers back as the orders came to hisears, and threw his lever into neutral position. But the launch had beenploughing along at a speed of some twenty knots, and the way on hercarried her swiftly forward. Dense shadow enveloped her, and for a whilethere was not one aboard the launch but wondered whether the vesselwould dash herself upon a rock, since the course was being followedblindly. The Major had swung his wheel just where he guessed thefugitives had done likewise, and that movement still found the boat indense shadow. A second or two later she shot out into open water, andonce more the moon's rays flooded her from stem to stern.
"Gone! Not a sign of them! This is the queerest thing I have ever——"
"Stop! I can see them!" shouted Jim, interrupting the Major. "Theysteamed straight between two of the islands, and there they are beyond.Push ahead, Major? Our best way is to run right round this island, andso take up their course again. Ain't that land ahead?"
"Land fo shore! Massa Jim right," sang out Sam, who seemed to have thesharpest eyes of the whole party. "Dem villains know de way; dey beenhere before. Sam say dey heading for anoder opening."
Whatever was the nature of the evolution practised by the fugitives, theMajor, as leader of the party, did not hesitate to follow Jim's advice.
"Forward!" he roared, glancing over his shoulder. "Rocks or no rocks,I'll chance rounding the island. Send her ahead, Jim. Give her fullpower again."
Bizz! Gurr! How the motor roared as our hero jerked his levers back intotheir old position. As for that commanding the gears, it was already inposition, while the propeller was churning the water into white foam.The launch shot ahead as if propelled from a gun, and in a trice wasrounding the island on the far side of which the fugitives had takentheir course. A minute later she was again in open water, while rightacross her path stretched a dark, unbroken line, the edge of which wasobscured in deep shadow. It was the margin of the lagoon, without adoubt, while it was equally certain that those whom Jim and his partysought to capture had chosen some point along it on which to land.Either that or their explorations had discovered some exit, for whichthey were at that very instant racing madly.
"Artful dogs!" cried the Major, wrath in his voice. "They stole a nicemarch on us by that movement, and gained many yards. Don't fire,Tomkins. You might hit one of them in this uncertain light, and thatwould defeat my special object. I want to capture the two alive andstrong, or not at all."
"See dat? Massa Jim, dere an openin' ober dere. Dose scum race for um!"shouted Sam a moment later, stretching one black arm out in front, andpointing eagerly. "Me see de light shinin' on de water ob a stream, andde launch just about to enter. Steady, sah! Not do to dash right in atdis pace. P'raps smash de launch, run ashore, or pile her up on amudbank. S'pose we take it easy."
"Steady! Stop her again!" commanded the Major, his eyes fixed on theretreating launch. "Sam is right. Those gentlemen have discovered achannel leading out of the lagoon, and have made for it at their fastestpace. That shows that they have been there before. Look at them; theyhave sent their boat in without attempting to slow down. Steady, Jim!Let her push ahead slowly; those rascals are a long way from making goodtheir escape. I'll follow them even if it takes me miles into theinterior."
Had the Major but known it, there was every prospect of this pursuitcarrying him and his party many miles beyond the margin of the lagoon,for the band of ruffians who had so lately attracted his attention, andon the catching of two of which he was now bent, had not confined theirthieving attentions to the various settlements along the coast. They hadeven exploited the peoples of the interior of the unsettled regionslying adjacent to the canal zone. There were wide areas of tracklessforest, of jungle, and of swamp, which to this day are unexplored andunknown by the white man. That deadly malarial fever, more than attackby unfriendly natives, has kept the white man at a distance. Only alongthe immediate line of the coast has trading been done in some of thedistricts, and even then the results have not been always satisfactory.
"It's a queer place," said Phineas Barton, when describing the isthmusto our hero. "Here along the canal zone you have civilization. Uncle Samhas come in with his dollars and his men, and has worked with an energywhich, one of these days, when the facts are known, will surprise theworld. As I tell you, you've civilization right here. But jest step outof the canal zone, and what do you find? Savages, sir. Wild men, armedwith spears and bows and poisoned arrows. Yes, sir, poisoned arrows thatwill kill a man inside thirty minutes, even if they only happen to havejust broken the skin. And they tell me that 'way along in the jungle,where the fever's that bad that a white man don't dare to go, there aregangs of tall natives that won't allow a stranger to put so much as hisnose into their territory."
It is all true enough, and is, indeed, one of the curious features ofthe Isthmus of Panama. There, where one of these days, when America hascompleted her gigantic task, a mighty canal will stretch from coast tocoast, bearing the commerce of the nations to and fro between Pacificand Atlantic Oceans, there lie side by side the modern dwellings and thecivilization which an enormous undertaking of this description mustinevitably produce, and a condition of savagery unchanged since theMiddle Ages. Even Spain, with her huge capacity for conquest, failed topenetrate into many of the wide areas of jungle adjacent to Panama andColon. Doubtless her gallant sons made the attempt; but history recordsthe fact that the fierce tribes within drove them back, murdering thoseupon whom they could lay their hands, and showing such courage andferocity that further attempts were not embarked upon. Moreover, themalarial fever, which haunts these jungles in its most virulent form,was deterrent enough, without thought of the natives.
Still, there were some who had contrived to open up negotiations withthe tribes. There are men who will risk anything for a handsome profit,and the gang of rascals we are dealing with had seen in these tribes anopportunity of enriching themselves. They tempted the natives with theoffer of guns and powder, and already the bartering of those weapons hadgiven them access to a part which would have brought inevitabledestruction, had they entered on any other pretext. Cheap guns andpowder were to be obtained, and in return the natives willingly partedwith huge quantities of precious stones and gold. Sam was perfectlyright when he suggested that the man aboard the steam launch had visitedthe lagoon and its surroundings before.
"I's sure of that," he cried, bending forward and peering into thegloom. "Dem scum know ebery foot of de way, for dey steam hard ahead fora place dat no one else can see."
"Know it or not, we're going on after them," growled the Major. "Wherethey can run we can follow. But steady with her, Jim. This chase is notgoing to be finished yet awhile, and we shall do better now that thereis no longer a chance of catching them on the lagoon. Take it easy.After all, they can't go on for ever; some time or other the stream theyare making for will fail them, and then they must take to the jungle orfall into our hands. Steady with her! Slow but sure must be our motto."
"Steady it is, sir!" cried Jim. "But say, I can see a line of waterrunning out of the lagoon. Those fellows are steering straight aheadinto it."
All eyes aboard followed the movements of the fleeing launch, andwatched as she crossed in the gleam of the moonlight the last few yardsof open lagoon. They saw her shoot across the dark line which till amoment before had seemed unbroken; she sped on up the stream to whichJim had called their attention, then once again she was lost to sight.The blackness swallowed her; there was not even a glowing funnel to showher whereabouts.
"Forward!" cried the Major hoarsely. "But see here, Jim, send one ofyour men right up into the bows, for there's no knowing what may happen.We may run into a mudbank, and if we have a man forward with a pole wecan get pushed off in a twinkling."
The launch heaved and shook as the huge Tom rose to his feet. As agileas a cat, in spite of his size, the ponderous fellow went crawlingalong, past Jim and his motor, past the Major and his man, and finallyestablished himself right forward in the bows.
"Come a mudbank and Tom push de launch off quick," he called. "But habno fear. Me able to see much better right away here; dere no mudbanksin dis stream, sah. All open water; plenty room for eberyone."
By now Jim and his friends had reached the very edge of the lagoon, andwere able to make out their surroundings more distinctly. The brightmoon above helped them wonderfully; thanks to the light it shed, and tothe fact that the stream ahead was wide, and branches could not reachacross it, they could discern the path which they were to follow. Not astump, not a single object, broke the shimmering surface of the water. Abright lane stretched before them, with a deep black shadow on eitherhand.
"Give her steam," commanded the Major, forgetting that the launch whichhe and the others manned was of the gasolene variety. "Send her ahead,Jim. We've a clear road, way up there ahead, and we'll take it. Boys, beon the lookout for trouble; those rascals are not the only ones we arelikely to come across in such an out-of-the-way part."
Jim jerked his levers forward promptly; the motor buzzed and roared,while the propeller bit into the water, and, taking a grip of the fluid,shot the launch forward. She swept on gallantly into the unknown, hercommander and crew careless of the consequences and determined to dotheir duty whatever happened.
CHAPTER X
Running the Gauntlet
There was tense silence aboard the launch from the moment when she hadplunged from the placid waters of the lagoon on to the brightly litsurface of the stream which the two fugitives had followed. For half anhour scarcely a word was spoken, while all eyes searched the path ahead,and peered vainly into the deep, impenetrable shadows on either hand.But at length Tom broke the trying silence, a sharp exclamation comingfrom the bows, where he was stationed.
"By lummy," he called, "but dat precious queer. Minute ago dere a brightlane ob water ahead; now noding, jest noding, all dark and black. MassaMajor, yo ain't gwine ter steam ahead like dis all de while! S'pose derea big rock ahead. S'pose de water come to an end. Dat be very awkward."
"Steady," called out the Major. "Guess it is queer, as Tom says; for aminute ago I could have sworn that this stream ran on clear and unbrokena good mile ahead. Now, it's suddenly blocked out. Perhaps there's abend 'way there in front."
"I'm sure," answered Jim promptly. "If we run on gently we shall findthat the stream opens up again before we get to that patch of darkness.Gee! Guess I'm right; it was a bend."
Meanwhile he had slowed down his motor; and it was fortunate he had doneso, for as the launch covered the intervening space lying betweenherself and the dense shadow, to which Tom had drawn attention, it wasnoticed by all that the fairway had narrowed considerably. At the bend,when she was gliding slowly forward, the banks came together veryabruptly, leaving a stream of water between them which was but a fewfeet wide. And while the rays from the moon fell upon the surface forsome dozen boat-lengths ahead, beyond that point the distance wasshrouded in darkness, the jungle cut off the rays as if with a shutter,casting a dense shadow on every side. Instantly the Major issued hisorders.
"Stop her," he cried in low tones. "This is a teaser. I don't much careabout going on through that narrow lane; for if there were folks roundhere to attack us, we might have a job to get out again. Chances are wecouldn't turn the boat, and that would mean reversing all the way. Whatdo you say, Jim? It's a teaser, ain't it?"
But for the moment our hero was engaged with his engine. He threw outhis lever at the Major's orders, and then pushed it right forward, tillthe propeller was reversing. Having brought the boat to a standstill, heleft the motor running gently, and clambered forward till he was besidethe officer.
"Guess it'd be better to stay right here," he said shortly. "I quiteagree that if we went along that narrow lane we might be placingourselves in a difficulty. We might find ourselves in a regular bottle,with only a narrow neck from which to make our escape. Best lie heretill morning, when we shall see where we are, and what sort of a placethat stream leads to."
"Den boil de kettle an' hot up de food," sang out Ching, who was stillhuddled at the stern of the vessel. "Plenty hungry and thirsty, MassJim, an if havvy food to eat, den de time slippy along velly quickly."
The Major nodded his head vigorously. "You are a man in a hundred, Jim,"he said, giving vent to a laugh. "'Pon my word, when I am next sent offon an expedition I shall make it a point that you come along with yourservants. A more useful lot I never hit upon. Gee! Of course we'rehungry. Jest get to with it, Ching."
"Drop de anchor, eh!" demanded Tom, standing to his full height forward,and holding the pole erect in the air. Indeed, for the moment he looked,with the moon playing upon him, for all the world like a dusky sentry,keeping guard over all on the launch and her surroundings. Then he setthe pole down with a clatter, there came to the ear the clank and chinkof a chain being dragged across the boarding. Tom lifted the launch'sanchor from its rests, and held it out at arm's length, as if it were afeather.
"Drop um in?" he asked, poising it above the water. "Wat you say, sir?"
"Let her go," cried the Major. "When she's fast, haul in the slack, andlet me know what depth we've got. Reckon this is as good a place to liein as we could have, for we're well in midstream, and those rascalscould not easily reach us from the banks. But of course they could sendtheir bullets whizzing amongst us, and that's a risk we shall have tolaugh at. What's the time, Jim?"
"Want's half an hour of midnight, sir. Guess we might have a feed, andthen turn in."
The arrangement was one to be recommended, and the Major fell in with itinstantly. Jim stopped his motor, shut off the gasolene and oil, andmade a careful inspection of the machinery with the help of his electrictorch. Ten minutes later Ching announced that hot coffee was ready, and,rising from the petroleum stove situated as far forward from the motoras was possible, and over which he had been bending, proceeded to dealout the beverage to each member of the expedition. Sam followed him witha tin of biscuits, while the ponderous and good-natured Tom thrust hisarm over the shoulder of his diminutive comrade, offering squares ofcheese which he had cut ready, and had placed upon the lid of the box toserve as a tray.
"Guess better eat as much as you can," he laughed, opening his cavernousmouth. "S'pose dose scum come along fine and early; den hab noting toeat, but p'raps plenty bullet. Den very sorry yo not fill up to-night."
In any case he availed himself of his own advice, and sat on the edge ofthe well devouring enormous mouthfuls. As to the others, each ateaccording to his appetite, and we record but the truth when we say thatin no case did that fail them. Their rush across the lagoon in the wakeof the fugitives, the excitement of the chase generally, and thefreshness of the night had given them all a feeling of briskness, andwith that feeling came undoubted hunger. Besides, it might be necessaryto push on without a pause, once there was light enough with which tosee, then he who had not partaken of a full supper might regret thefact, and might have many hours to wait before an opportunity occurredof taking food.
"Jest you turn in and take a sleep, Jim," said the Major, when the mealwas finished. "It's just midnight now, and between two and three in themorning we shall have light. I'll take the watch till then, and Tom mayas well be along with me. That big chap somehow seems to make one feelquite secure and safe."
Within five minutes silence once more reigned over the launch, while themoon peeped down upon a number of figures huddled in the well. TheChinaman lay bunched in a little ball right aft, which he seemed to haveappointed as his own particular quarters, while Sam lay curled up like afaithful dog at his master's feet. The Major sat beside the engine, arifle barrel resting against his shoulder, and Tom was perched on therail, his big eyes searching every shadow, a smile of serene happinesson his face. And at length the morning came. While the moon still hunglow in the sky, prepared to disappear altogether, a rosy hue lit up thedense banks of green on either hand, and, falling upon the tree trunks,brought them into prominence. Swiftly the light increased in strengthtill the banks beneath the trees were visible. The surface of the watergleamed white and cold, and every feature of the launch stood outdistinctly. It was time to move. The Major rose from his seat and peeredinto the narrow channel through which he had not dared to take his menduring the darkness. He was on the point of issuing an order when at aspot a little to the right, still hidden somewhat by the lack of light,a puff of white smoke was seen to burst. Flame ringed it in the centre,while the smoke itself rose and spread in wide billows. Somethingthudded heavily against the side of the launch, while an instant later adeafening report broke the morning silence, and reverberated along theforest.
"Eugh!" cried Tom in alarm, his eyes prominent. "Yo hear dat, massa? Demscum do as I say and start in right early. Tom not like de bulletssinging and humming about his head."
As if the Major could have failed to hear! He started violently as thereport swept across the water, and then clambered across into the cab.Jim and the others were already on their feet, while the crafty Chinghad uncurled himself, and now lay full length upon his face, a rifle athis shoulder.
"Do dat again and me fire fo sure," he cried. "Mass Jim, you call out ifdis Chinaboy to send dem a bullet."
But Jim had other matters to attend to, for he realized that any instantit might be necessary to set the launch in motion. He crawled along intothe engine well, and with the light now to help him, had his motorrunning within the space of a few seconds.
"One of you boys get that anchor lifted," commanded the Major, his eyesfixed upon the spot from which the shot had come. "Tomkins, just fixyour sights 'way over at that corner, and if there's another shot, send'em a bullet. You needn't be careless either; this time they're askingfor a lesson."
The words had hardly left his lips when another shot rang out from thebank, the smoke blowing up again into the cool morning air. It wasfollowed by another and another, till from some twenty places smokeobscured the bank and the forest. As to the missiles, they flew, hummed,and screamed overhead, some dropping into the water beyond, othersthudding against the far bank, while a few, just a few only, struck thelaunch, making her wooden sides rumble. Not a man aboard was hit, thoughmany escaped narrowly.
"Precious near every time," cried Jim, reddening under the excitement,and finding it extremely difficult to refrain from bobbing. "Gee! Ideclare that one of those bullets went within an inch of my arm whileanother struck the top of the cylinder here, and—hi! look at this!" heshouted.
That last bullet had, in fact, done real damage; for it happened to be abig one, discharged from a huge muzzle-loader, sold to the man who hadfired the weapon by men who palmed it off as of the latest construction.Almost as big as a pigeon's egg, the mass of lead had struck thecylinder heavily, and with disasterous results. A column of water wasspurting upward from the rent made in the copper cooling jacket.
"Done any damage? Not harmed the engine, I hope?" said the Major,looking across at Jim, and then at Tom, who meanwhile was tugging at theanchor chain. "I hear her running; that sounds hopeful."
Jim did not answer for the moment. At the first hasty inspection heimagined that the missile must have made a rent in the copper jacket andalso cracked the cylinder casting itself. But a close survey of thedamage showed him that the worst had not happened. The motor was heavilybuilt, and no doubt the casting had been strong enough and thick enoughto stand up to the blow. As to the water jacket, the damage was serious,but could be remedied. He could make a temporary repair inside half anhour, if given the opportunity, some sheet copper, and a soldering lamp.But for the present the rent must remain; the water must continue topump up into the air.
"We'll get along in spite of the damage, Major," he sang out cheerily."But I shall want a man along here to bail. Ching, jest you hop in herewith me and bring some sort of a pannikin."
"Got um! By de poker, but I tink dat anchor fixed down below beneath arock," shouted Tom at this instant, lurching back on the for'ard deckand just saving a fall into the well. "Dat ting stick like wax, and Tomnot move um at fust. Hi, by lummy, you ober dere, yo do dat again andTom say someting to yo. He skin yo alibe. He roast de flesh on yo bonesand eat you."
Jim grinned; even in the midst of such excitement the huge negro amusedhim, so that he was forced to laugh. Indeed the antics Tom indulged inwere enough to cause a shout of merriment. It seemed that a bullet,fired at him a second earlier, just as he was hauling up the anchor, hadstruck him on the back of the hand; and though it had done nothing morethan break the skin, it had caused a great deal of pain. It was that,and the suddenness of it all, which had roused the ire of the negro.
"You black son ob gun yo!" he bellowed, shaking a huge fist towards thebank from which the shot had come. "Me break yo into little pieces,smash yo into fine jelly."
"Hop right down off that deck, and see that you've placed the anchor outof harm's way," commanded the Major sharply. "Bullets are bad enough,but when they ricochet from an anchor they give very nasty wounds. Ah!"
He had hardly finished speaking when there came another rollingdischarge from the bank, followed by the rush of the bullets, and thenby a dull thud. The officer commanding the expedition fell forward inthe cab, struck his forehead against the edge, and subsided in a heap onthe floor. Instantly one of his men bent over him.
"Knocked silly, sir," he said, addressing Jim. "What's to be done?"
He looked at his two companions and awaited their answer. But one ofthem was busily engaged. Tomkins crouched in the well, his rifle to hisshoulder and a perfect stream of fire issuing from the muzzle. Indeed,no one could have handled a magazine rifle better. But he came to theend of his supply of cartridges within a minute, and faced roundquickly.
"What's that?" he demanded anxiously. "The Major hit? Say, this is bad!"
"Knocked silly; not killed," explained his comrade, shooting a cartridgeinto his own barrel. "What's to be done?"
Tomkins cast a sympathetic glance at the Major, and then across at theriver bank. A second later his eyes strayed to Jim's figure, and for afew moments he watched the young fellow as he tended to his engine, andwith Ching's help placed a board padded with oiled cotton waste over therent in the cooling jacket.
"See here," he cried abruptly. "The Major's down. Guess that youngfellow had best take his place. He knows how to work this concern, andhe ain't no fool by a long way. Get to at it."
He took it for granted that Jim would accept the post of commander, andpromptly turned towards the bank again, his magazine alreadyreplenished.
Meanwhile it may be wondered who had caused the whole commotion, whowere the miscreants who had so suddenly and treacherously fired into thelaunch.
Five minutes almost had passed since the first shot came, when the bankswere hardly visible. But the dawn comes quickly in the tropics. The daywas full upon them now, and, looking up, Jim could perceive the mass oftangled undergrowth beneath the forest trees, while right by the edge ofthe water were a number of dusky figures. If he could have had anyreasonable doubt that they were natives Tomkins speedily helped him to adecision. For the man was a first-class marksman, and now that the lightwas strong enough he began to make good use of his rifle. As Jim staredat the bank, one of the dusky figures turned and scrambled towards thejungle. But it seemed that the man had already been hit; for suddenly heswerved and almost tumbled. Then he faced round again, and stoodunsteadily leaning on his weapon. The next instant a terrible shoutescaped him; the native, for a dusky individual it was without question,dropped his weapon and thrust both arms high into the air. Then heseemed to crumple up entirely, and, falling forward, rolled with a loudsplash into the river. Within a second a comrade had followed him to thesame destination, dispatched thither by the policeman's unerring rifle.
Bang! Bang! From a long length of the bank splashes of smoke came, andonce more bullets sped towards the launch. Jim heard their thudding, andeven noted the various queer sounds they made, the dull blow of onestriking her broadside, the cheep of another which merely grazed herrail, and then the nasty screaming of a missile which hit the anchorchain, and, being deflected in its course, rose almost vertically, andlater on brought a shower of leaves from the trees beyond. But that wasnot all. Two bullets at least passed with a peculiar whizz, and went oninto the jungle on the other bank, as if they had been driven withgreater force than all the rest.
"Revolvers!" exclaimed our hero at once. "Tomkins, I think there weretwo revolver shots then. Eh?"
The man nodded; he had hardly time to speak.
"Guess so," he said abruptly. "Revolvers—those villains we're after.They've set a whole crowd on to us."
"Then the sooner we are out of their reach the better. See here," criedJim; "try to find out where those particular ruffians have got to andpepper them. Sam, get to the wheel; we'll make over to the far bank;that'll bother them."
The motor buzzed and roared as he switched his levers forward, while thewater pump gathered such power from the momentum that the pressurewithin the jackets increased wonderfully. Ching, despite all his effortsand all his cunning, could no longer seal that rent made by the bullet.True, he reduced the leakage wonderfully; but from all round the margina spray of hot water swept broadcast, quickly drenching our hero to theskin. It was a trifle, however: Jim congratulated himself that he wasnot likely to be scalded.
"With a motor on a car ashore it would be different," he told himself,as he put the launch in motion. "Here the temperature cannot very wellrise too high. She takes in her supply direct from the river, and pumpsit right through the jackets and out again. Swing her over, Sam. Seehere, Tomkins, I'm going straight for the far bank, and will swing roundin a circle when I get near. We'll bring up end on, beneath a tree ifpossible; then we shall present less of a mark. Ah! Good shooting!That'll make 'em careful."
As yet he had had no time in which to reckon the odds opposed to them,nor the imminence of the danger in which the expedition stood. Minormatters occupied his attention, those and vague queries as to how heshould proceed. He noted with satisfaction that Tomkins and his twocomrades were making excellent practice. At least half a dozen of theenemy had already fallen.
"Round with her, right round, Sam," he commanded, when the launch wasnear the bank. "Steady! Back her! How's that for a tree?"
With Sam aiding him at the wheel, and he himself controlling the pace ofthe launch, Jim soon manœuvred her beneath a tree which swept itsbranches right into the water. Then he threw his lever out, slowed themotor, and crawled into the cab. With Tom's help he laid the Major onhis back and carefully searched for a wound. And very soon they cameupon the result of the bullet. There was a huge, discoloured bump on thetop of his head, while an ugly graze crossed the forehead. For the rest,he was breathing deeply and regularly, while the pupils were equal.
"Bullet knock de sense clean out ob him head," explained Tom, as if hewere completely conversant with the matter. "Knock de Massa Major silly.To-morrow, when he wake up and come to himself, he hold de hands to himhead. Oh, how him ache! Him feel more silly den dan he look now. But,Massa Jim, dis a bit ob hot stuff. Dis quite all right. Once de funbegin Tom like it hot and plenty. Yo bide little bit; soon dem debilfire away all dere powder and ball. Den time to make a move; den Tom habsometing more to say about de wound. Yo see dat!" and he held out abruised and swollen hand for Jim's inspection; "scum of a black niggerdo dat. Yo see. Tom not forget when de time come."
Really the big fellow was too much for Jim. Grave though the situationwas, he was forced to laugh again. For Tom did not stop at threats; hiswords lost all their impressiveness without the gestures. And thelatter, terribly fierce though they were—for when he bared his teeth ina snarl no one could look more like a demon than Tom—were instantlybanished and forgotten by the fellow's well-known merry smile. Tom'ssix-foot smile was too catching. His comical face never failed to drawlaughter from his audience.
"If you stand up and expose your ugly head like that you won't be leftwhen the powder has been done with!" exclaimed Jim severely, suppressinghis mirth. "Now, listen to this: Tom will watch up stream, Ching willkeep a lookout in the downward direction, while Sam will hop ashore.Don't go more than a few feet away, lad," he warned the little negro."Just enough to keep us from being surprised, and to allow you to rejoininstantly. Say, Tomkins, supposing we give over firing?"
A flushed face turned towards him, while the policeman regarded our heroas if he thought him demented.
"Let 'em go on shootin' and not answer!" he gasped. "Why, of all——"
"It's like this," explained Jim curtly. "All the time you fire they knowwhere we're lying. I don't say we're likely to get bad wounds at thisdistance, for most of the weapons yonder are gas barrels, I reckon, buta revolver bullet might hit by accident, and then it'd be a case withone of us."
There was indecision on Tomkins's face for the space of a few seconds.To tell the truth, though an excellent fellow, he was one who boastedunusual independence, both in word and act, and while it was a fact thathe had suggested that Jim should take the Major's place, he had taken itfor granted that orders from our hero would not be very frequent, andthat he would mainly direct by managing his motor, and seeing that acourse was steered. And here he was fighting the vessel. There wassomething approaching a scowl on Tomkins's face as the thought flashedacross his brain. He swung round to look at the enemy. But a secondlater he was glancing up at Jim once more, his weapon idle beside him.
"You're a conjuror, I guess," he said abruptly. "I'd forgotten thoserevolvers. I thought your suggestion was a bad one; then, blessed if oneof them rascals didn't drop in a shot. Look there! He winged me!"
He grinned as he held out a finger of his left hand for inspection.
"That's what I got for being foolish. You're right, sir," he said withdecision. "What next?"
"See that you don't touch the branches overhead. They'd see them movingfrom the far side. Sam there? Come aboard. Now," he went on, when thenegro had dropped into the well of the launch, "not a sound from anyone.They won't hear the motor while she is running light. We'll run downstream under the trees, and then make a break into the open. Ahundred-yards start will allow us to laugh at all their weapons."
There was agreement on all the faces about him. Tomkins nodded verydecidedly, showing that the plan met with his approval.
"Then lie out there right forward, Tom," said Jim, lowering his tones."Those long arms of yours will do as fenders. Push us off if we get toonear to a tree. But don't touch 'em if you can help it. Get on to thatwheel, Sam; I'm moving off at once."
He threw in his lever and set the propeller turning very slowly, but thelaunch felt the effect instantly. She was already heading in the rightdirection, and at once began to glide away beneath the leafy covering.It happened, too, that she was able to pursue this course for more thana hundred yards before a break in the bank, where there had been aspecies of landslide, and where the trees receded sharply, caused her tocome into the open.
"Take her clear into the centre, and then head her for the lagoon," saidJim, calling gently to Sam. "Tom, slip back into the cab. All hands keeptheir heads as low as possible. Don't fire a shot unless there's actualneed, and if there's trouble, let every man who has no other specialduty pepper those rascals for all they're worth. Over with her."
Bizz! gurr! gurr! The motor roared at his bidding, while the propellerlashed the shallow water into foam. Ching grabbed at the covering placedover the rent in the water jacket, and then turned his face from theengine. For, though there was nothing there to harm one, still the sprayforced in all directions by the pump was disagreeable, to say the leastof it, and made seeing almost impossible! Bizz! Gurr! the launch shotdown the last few yards of the dark lane beneath the trees. Sam, his eyefixed on the opening, swung his wheel right over, while Jim nudged hislevers a trifle higher. The planks at his feet had started to ditheragain, and practice told him that the vessel must be moving. But theywere not shaking and vibrating to such an extent as to make standingupon them uncomfortable. There was no need for such an exhibition ofhaste yet awhile.
"Might bust the jacket altogether," Jim told himself. "Might have a badbreakdown. Better get along as we are. I can squeeze a little more outof her if there's occasion. Ah, here she goes round into the open!"
Turning abruptly, as Sam swung the wheel over, the launch canted on herheel till a stream of water swamped far up the rail-less deck astern.The bows lifted from the surface in spite of Tom's enormous weight,while a big bow wave collected beneath her cutwater, and, gathering insize as the propeller shot the boat forward, was presently spreadingacross the surface of the river, and washing heavily against the nearestbank. Straight as a dart the vessel was directed to the point that Jimhad mentioned. She cut obliquely across the stream, and, almost beforethose aboard could have believed it possible, was heeling again to theswerve of her rudder.
"Done them brown. Cut out below them, and left 'em well behind. Boys!"cried Tomkins, beside himself with delight, "I 'low as we've somethingto thank the chief for. He's done a cute thing; he's stolen a real marchon them blackguards."
"Not know so much, siree," answered Tom from his post in the cab, wherehe had retired at Jim's orders. "Massa Jim all right, don't you fear. Heknow right well what him up to; but what yo say to dat, and to dat? Dembullets buzz too close fo Tom's likin'."
That the passage of the launch had been observed there could not now bea shadow of doubt, for the far side of the river had already displayedseveral patches of smoke, billowing from the rifles of the enemy. ButTomkins laughed at the idea that they could prove harmful.
"Jest you squat right down here at my feet, darkie," he laughed. "Thenyou won't have no cause to get wonderin' whether a bullet's comingalong. Fer me, I guess as we're well out of a ruction that looked at onetime likely to get too hot fer anything. You ain't got sich a thing as alight along of you?"
Tom grunted. It annoyed the big fellow to have a recommendation to placehimself in safety. His eyes gleamed white in the morning light; hissharp teeth gritted together.
"Yo policeman," he said, as he extracted his pipe from his pocket, andstill leaned on the edge of the cab, within full view of those on thebank of the river, "yo Tomkins, yo ain't the only one as wants a smoke.By gum, but Tom like a draw too, 'specially early in de mornin', whendere a chance of gettin' a bullet. Yo sit right there and wait. Matchesain't so plentiful in this locality."
He stuffed his pipe methodically and slowly. Then he put the stembetween his teeth and, slowly again, struck one of his matches. He wason the point of offering the light to the policeman when a suddenexclamation came from Sam.
"Look dar!" he shouted. "Not tink dat good for dis here party. Tings isall changed round. Dey's chasin' us instead of we bein' after dem. MassaJim, dis am a bit of a conundrum."
Conundrum or not, the situation was sufficiently serious. Even Tomkinswent red and hot as he realized to the full the gravity of this newmovement. For the motor launch was not the only one on the river. Thelaunch on which the two ruffians had escaped from Colon, and which theythemselves had chased in the late hours of the previous night, was nowchasing them, but under altered circumstances. There were fifty darkfigures swarming over her decks.
"Right straight down the centre!" cried Jim, waving to Sam. "You hold ondead straight unless I give you an order. I think we shall just clearher."
But would they? That was the question. The steam launch which haddisappeared so mysteriously on the previous night had suddenly dartedout from the opposite bank of the river, her decks crowded with men.Moreover, she was fully prepared for a speedy journey, for steam washissing and whistling from her escape. There was a white wave under herfoot, a spreading surf behind her, while the course she followedpromised to bring her alongside Jim's vessel before the latter couldmake her way down the long stretch of water that led to the lagoon.Indeed it looked very much as if the stranger would intercept theirpassage, and then—what was the prospect?
"Boys," called out Jim after a minute, during which time he had pushedhis throttle and ignition levers as far forward as was possible, "seehere, boys, there may be a tussle before us. Get to work right now withyour rifles. Give it to 'em hot. We may be able to scare 'em."
Pip! Pop! The sharp reports of the Government rifles punctuated thesemi-silence which followed, while screams of rage came from the crowdeddecks of the enemy. Pip! Pop! Tomkins and his friends splashed theirbullets in the centre of the throng, and sent more than one of the duskywarriors rolling. Meanwhile, under Jim's guiding hand, the motor launchsped faster towards the lagoon, till her whole frame shivered andvibrated. In such acute cases a second's space of time will change thecomplexion of matters entirely, will advance the fortunes of one partyagainst those of the other. And here there was an illustration of thefact. Jim's engine raced madly, while the propeller took a firm grip ofthe water. The vessel bounded forward at a pace which easilyoutdistanced that of the steam launch. Very soon it became apparent thatJim and his friends would slip past the launch that was steaming fromthe opposite bank to intercept them.
"Keep at it with those rifles, boys!" he shouted, delighted at the turnmatters had taken, and, heedless of the spray of water which gushed inall directions from the rent in the cooling jacket of the motor. "Keepdown their fire, and if you catch a sight of those rascals, pepper themproperly. Hooray! We'll best 'em yet."
"Run past dem as if they was lame and walking," sang out Tom, bubblingover with excitement. "Den turn and gib dem what fo. Yo tink dat goodadvice, massa. Yo do as I say; den we knock dem into little pieces. Tomable to find de blackguard dat fired dat shot; den smash um to a jelly."
But seconds bring great changes in the fortunes of parties, as we havealready observed, and now, having smiled upon Jim and his comrades,Dame Fortune—a fickle dame at any time—turned her face from them. Thatrent in the water jacket, the spray which the pump forced past the plugwhich Ching held in position, proved the undoing of the party. Therhythmical buzz of the engine suddenly ceased. The explosions camehaltingly, while the revolutions lessened sensibly, so much so as toreduce the speed of the boat. Then Jim's practised ear told him that theignition had given out, that the vital spark, without which the motorwas useless and now deficient, had been cut off, and thus the motor hadbeen sent adrift. Let us express the matter in proper terms—the flow ofwater had smothered the magneto, and the current was shorted; no longerdid it flow uninterrupted and insulated to the cylinders. It expendedits force elsewhere, sent sparks flashing about the magneto, and in theshort space of a minute entirely stopped the motor. But the steam launchmade no pause in her progress. She pushed on towards the stranded boatswiftly, while a shriek of delight and triumph burst from the horde ofnatives crowding her decks.
CHAPTER XI
Barely Escaped
Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visiblefor a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motordesperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention tothe enemy. Tall and thin, each one of the natives was almost naked.Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at adistance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on thecheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity. For the rest,these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about theirpersons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.
But when events are moving fast, and disaster stares one in the face,details and trifles escape attention. Jim and his comrades had theirsafety to think of, so that it is not wonderful that they failed toobserve too closely the appearance of their dusky enemies. But howeverurgent the position, none could fail to see the short spears, with longnarrow blades attached to them, which each dusky warrior carried. Half adozen at least were gripped in each left hand, while the right held asingle one in readiness to discharge it. As for the gun, the cheap gasbarrels with which these wretched natives had been supplied, they werewithout exception muzzle loaders; and now that events were moving sofast and so furiously there was hardly time to load. A few of the menhandled their ramrods, but the rest had discarded their weapons andstood prancing upon the deck of the launch, causing her to heave androll dangerously, and prepared to throw their spears the instant theycame within range of Jim and his party. It was not until that momentthat our hero realized that if their fortunes were desperate they wereat least lucky in one particular.
"Gee, ain't I glad!" he exclaimed. "From what Phineas told me I quiteexpected them to be armed with bows and arrows—the latter poisonous.Tomkins, you and your men had best concentrate your force aft of thelaunch, where the engine is. I caught a glimpse of those rascals there;and though I don't suppose that the death of one or both would cause thegang to sheer off, yet it might do so, and in any case if we could putthem out of action there would be no white man to lead the natives."
"Right, sir, right," came from Tomkins instantly, while he and his twocomrades promptly moved to the back of the cab, from which point theycould best command that portion of the launch upon which they wereinstructed to concentrate their fire.
"You, Tom and Sam, fire on the natives," shouted Jim. "I'm going to helpyou. Ching, get hold of some of that clean cotton waste and wipe up allround this magneto. Dry every part you can, and don't forget those plugson top of the cylinders."
He had already pointed out the ignition plugs to the Chinaman, forthey, like the rest of the engine, had been heavily sprayed with water.Then he seized a rifle, jerked the magazine open as the Major hadinstructed him when they first set out on the expedition, and levelledhis sights upon the advancing natives.
By now the latter were dangerously near, and already clouds of spearswere flying. It looked as if within a few seconds the steam launch wouldbe right alongside, and the black demons aboard her hurling themselvesupon the decks of the motor. But suddenly there came a high-pitchedshriek amidst the howls of the enemy, and to the relief of all in Jim'sparty the course of the other vessel was abruptly altered. She shot awayobliquely to the left, while one of the white men who had been manningthe wheel was seen to tumble backwards.
"A grand shot," shouted Jim. "Now is our time to get this motor running.Out of the way, Ching, and let me get to her. We'll see how she'll runwithout water in her jackets."
The idea had suddenly flashed into his brain, and he proceeded promptlyto put it into execution. But, first of all, now that he had a shortbreathing space, it was necessary to supervise the work that Ching hadbeen doing.
"It'll take 'em a good five minutes to round up and get back here withinrange," he told himself, glancing across at the enemy. "That splendidshot and the fall of their steersman have caused no end of confusion,and now is the time to best them."
Laying his rifle down hurriedly, he bent over the magneto and seized ahandful of dry cotton waste.
"Me mop up all de water," grinned Ching, looking the coolest personaboard the launch. Indeed, there seemed to be little doubt that he wasactually the least concerned of all the party, for his inexpressivefeatures had not changed in the slightest. There was not so much as atinge of red in his sallow cheeks, sure indication of some excitement.His almond eyes—all aslant, as is common to this Eastern race—regardedJim, the useless motor, and the howling band of natives steaming acrossthe water with the same tranquillity. "Wipey all de water up, Mass Jim,"he repeated. "Now, s'pose you start him. He go velly nicely p'laps. Denrun away from dem rascals, and Ching put de kettle on, hab someting toeat, 'cos Ching hungry, velly."
"Get out of this!" cried Jim irritably. "Breakfast, man! Why, if wedon't get out of this in the next few minutes there won't be one of usleft to take a bite!"
He pushed the Chinaman to one side, and rapidly ran over his ignitionsystem. Ching had done his work with that painstaking thoroughness forwhich the Chinaman is noted, and though hollows and crevices in andabout the motor still held pools of water, the vital parts were dry.
"Then I'll try it," he said. "Those beggars have managed to turn ratherquicker than I had imagined; but if I can only get her going within aminute we ought to be able to escape them. Ah! here come their bulletsagain, boys; get in at them with your rifles."
All the while he had been troubled with the want of one small article.To keep the water out of his motor he must plug the opening which ledfrom the vessel's side direct to the pump. For the rest, it was an easymatter, there being a tap which would drain all the jackets within thespace of but a few seconds. But that alone was insufficient; with thewater port still open, the pump would drive a column of fluid throughthe jackets, and the ignition would be again drenched.
"A cork! a cork!" he cried. "Something with which to fill this port."
He leant over the side of the vessel and pointed out the opening toChing. And the wily, cunning Chinee immediately came to his assistance.
"A cork, sah; I's got the velly thing. You wantee someting to push indere. Ching hab plenty fine cork."
He moved with exasperating slowness across the engine well, and rummagedin a locker in which his cooking utensils were stored. There came thecharacteristic sound of a bung being extracted from a bottle, and thenChing came back again, still slowly, still unconcernedly, still withthat unruffled countenance.
"He, he, he! him come out of the vinegar bottle," he giggled. "Him onevelly fine cork, Mass Jim. But yo gib him back when yo finished? Eh?Velly fine cork dat."
Jim snatched it from his hand without ceremony, in fact with abrusqueness altogether foreign to him. Then he leaned over the side ofthe launch and gave a shout of triumph when he discovered that Ching hadsupplied him with an article which fitted nicely. He rammed it homeforcibly, driving his fist through the water against the cork. Then hebounded to the engine, jerked the starting handle into position, andsent the motor whirling. Bizz! She was off. The engine went away with anencouraging roar, while but a few ounces of water escaped from the rentin her jacket.
"Wipe it up," he commanded Ching. "And guess you'd better keep clear ofthe magneto and plugs and suchlike. If you touched them you'd get ashock that would knock you endways. Gee! Ain't she buzzing! Hooray!we'll best them."
Sam was already at the steering wheel of the launch, watching his masterout of the corner of his big eyes, and paying some attention to theenemy. Indeed he would not have been human had he failed to cast morethan one anxious look in their direction. Sam was not the same stolid,supernaturally unemotional individual as the Chinaman. He had nerves;excitement told on the little fellow.
"Dey almighty near, sah," he sang out. "Dat motor goin'? den, fo'goodness sake, put de gear in, push on, get away from dem demon."
"Dodge 'em; swing her about. Put out their aim," Jim called to him, andat once pushed his gear lever home. Then, like the practical young manhe was, he reached over to his lubricators and sent them dripping at apace which, while they would not flood the engine and overlubricate her,would still supply a more abundant amount than usual, and so in ameasure serve to counteract the want of water cooling.
"She's bound to run hotter," Jim told himself, "and as a permanentarrangement the thing wouldn't do; but for the time being it's got to.Round with her, Sam."
The launch meanwhile had floated quietly on the surface of the river,and, owing to the fact that her propeller was stationary, being thrownout of gear by the failure of the engine, she had lost steerage way, andhad drifted completely round. She was heading upstream when Jim set herpropeller thrashing the water again, and for a while she raced away fromthe other vessel, the manœuvre drawing shrill yells of rage from thenatives. But Sam had her in hand. The fine little fellow had not beenwith Jim and his father all this time without learning how to steer alaunch, and at once, with a glance over his shoulder, he sent his wheelround, causing the boat to flop over and heel till her rail was almostunder the surface. Round she spun on her keel, and within thehalf-minute was heading direct for the enemy. A growl broke from Tomkinsas he laid his cheek once more down on the butt of his rifle.
"This time guess we'll make hay with 'em," he shouted. "Don't you be intoo much of a hurry, sir. You can make rings all round 'em and stillkeep out of range. Dare say their bullets'll reach right enough, butthey won't strike hard enough to hurt more'n a fly. It's the spears I'mfrightened of."
And everyone else, too; for the natives aboard the oncoming launch hadagain discarded their firearms, and were now standing, spear in handready poised, waiting for the moment when they might cast them. Sam gaveevery dusky warrior a start when he headed the launch direct for them.It looked as if he were bent on a collision; but a minute later, wheneffective range for the spear throwers had almost been reached, he puthis wheel over again, and shot the launch away at a right angle. Then afigure aboard the enemy was seen to rise erect beside her steering gear,and within the space of a few seconds she paid off in the same directionas Jim's craft had taken—on a course, in fact, which would bring thetwo boats alongside very shortly. Either that or they must run hard intothe bank.
"Right round with her again; dodge them!" shouted Jim, his heart in hismouth. "Then take her up stream a little. We have the legs of them, andif only we can shake them clear for a while we shall get past them."
That was the difficulty. The enemy remained all the while between themand the lagoon, and in that direction safety lay. Even a swift boat suchas the motor launch had proved herself to be could not slip by easily,unless she risked running so close into the other as to place her crewin danger of those terrible spears; but Sam seemed fully to haverealized the difficulty, and at Jim's command he brought the boatheeling round again. Hardly three lengths separated the combatants whenhe swung the wheel again, and, driven by her fast-rotating propeller,the launch shot obliquely up the stream, leaving the other headinghelplessly for the bank. Tom roared with delight, brandishing his rifleoverhead, while Ching giggled and simpered as if he looked upon thething as a glorious joke. But Jim's face was set and stern. He had beenso close when the vessel turned that he had been able to look into theeyes of the natives; and the ferocity of their appearance, theirterrible shrieks and howls, and the cloud of spears which they haddischarged brought realistically to him the depth of their danger.Within a foot of his hand a spear stood quivering, the blade sunk deeplyin the woodwork. It needed but a glance to tell him that the weapon wascapable of dealing death to anyone. However, they were out of range now,and the time had come to practise a further manœuvre. Jim waved hishand in Sam's direction.
"Over," he shouted. "Let her rip for the lagoon."
Meanwhile the course of the other launch had been hurriedly arrested;for the ruffian aboard her was a clever skipper, and handled the craftwith decision. The waters churned into white foam beneath her rudder,and before Jim and his friend had completed their slanting run upstreamthe rascal had his boat running rapidly astern in an effort to interceptthem.
"Gee, he'll do it, too!" shouted Tomkins. "Say, sir, we'll have tocharge them. But that would mean the end of everything for them and forus."
Jim shook his head emphatically. "You're asking for a funeral," he saidbluntly. "We've got to dodge 'em, even if we play at the game for therest of the morning. Steady there, Sam; do anything rather than let themget within close range of us. Boys, if only you could pick off thatrascal who commands them we would soon make an end of the others."
But the man aboard the other boat proved to be as crafty as he wascapable. True, they had obtained a clear view of him on one occasion, atleast, when he had dashed for the steering gear of his vessel. But now agaudily painted native occupied that responsible position, while theSpaniard himself lay out of sight in the engine well, but near enoughto prompt him. The rim of his hat could be seen on occasion as heglanced across at Jim and his party. As for our hero, seeing that thecourse was blocked, and that for the moment their escape was cut off, hecoolly threw his lever out of gear and slowed down his engine. Then hereversed his propellor for a while until the launch had come to astandstill.
"Two can play at this sort of game," he told himself. "We'll wait andsee what that fellow proposes to do; but listen here, Tomkins, and youother fellows. Next time we attempt a rush we have to make a bigimpression on these natives. We'll get them end on, if we can, and thentry them with volleys. We want to make every shot tell, and that hasn'tbeen the case up to the present. A moving target isn't too easy to hitfrom a launch when she's heaving and rolling."
"Lummy! Look dere! By de poker, dere more of de scum. Yo see dem blacksons ob guns coming right away dere? Dey likely to be very troublesome."
It taxed the perception of all to decide where this new arrival couldhave come from; for up till that moment the banks on either hand hadseemed to be untenanted. Not a shot had come from them for quite awhile, and all imagined that every native taking part in this sudden andunprovoked attack upon Jim and his comrades was embarked aboard theother launch. And here, as Tom had brought to their notice, was anotherboat, steering out from a bank to join her consort. It was a long,dark-coloured craft, with sides protruding some little distance out ofthe water, a stem erected high into the air, and bearing upon it ahideous carving, while astern there was a platform perched up on thepost, and squatted upon it a painted and feathered savage, whosesteering oar controlled the course of the vessel. As for her crew, aswarm of natives filled her from end to end; those in advance standingready, spear in hand, to join in the engagement, while the remainder,situated aft, squatted on the floor and churned the water with theirpaddles. In a little while she had come alongside the steamer, which nowrested across the centre of the stream.
"They'll talk for a bit now, I guess," growled Tomkins. "Then, like asnot, they'll make a dash for it. This here business ain't going to beended without a rare lot of bloodletting. It's that launch that's thebother. She ain't as quick as we are, but she's swift enough to turn andstop us now that she's got a position downstream. If only we had half adozen more men aboard here! I wouldn't funk, then, running aboard her.We'd show 'em who was going ter be master."
The man's eyes were set and shining. There was a good deal of the bulldog about Tomkins, and one had only to glance at him to feel satisfiedthat when the crisis came the American could be trusted.
"As ef we was goin' down before a lot of black chaps same as they are!"he growled. "But you can't get away from numbers. It's the crowd thattells, and ef we lets 'em get close enough ter get their teethfixed—gee, it'll be a case! Funerals ain't in it. I for one ain't goin'ter drop into the hands of sich rascals. I'll clear out all I can, andthen——"
His eyes were bent on his rifle, while his fingers—strong, brownfingers—played with the lock.
Gurr! Jim switched the conversation in another direction by throwing hisgear in. "They're moving," he said. "Best get steerage way on the boat.See here, boys, we've a heap of room upstream, and if they don'tseparate directly I shall run up gently. We've always enough water toturn in, and if only we can once fool the launch, and get by her, Idon't care a row of chips for the other craft. I'll run her down in awinking. Ah, they're coming along! Swing her over, Sam. There's nohurry: we'll see if the movement won't make them part company."
But the steamer and the huge war canoe held together. In fact, ropes hadbeen passed from one to the other, and the launch provided the power.But men were stationed ready to cast off the bonds between them, so thateach craft could go separately. Jim's sudden movement produced nothingmore than a howl, while the steamer swung gently over towards him.
"That'll suit me as well as anything," he cried. "Let 'em hold together.I'll tempt them across towards this bank, then double and be away beforethey can cut the canoe adrift. How's that?"
The enemy answered the question. For, of a sudden, the ropes were castoff, the canoe lay to in the centre of the stream, while the launchsteamed to intercept the other. It was a crafty move on the part of therascal who commanded the natives; for now he could rush at Jim. If hefailed to come to grips with him, and the latter attempted to slipdownstream, there was a formidable obstacle which was by no means to besneered at because she had no motor aboard. There were lusty arms to plythe paddles, and when the backs of the natives were bent to the workthey could make their craft slip through the water at a pace which hadto be witnessed to be believed.
"Round we go, upstream for the moment," called Jim to the negro at thewheel. "Easy does it: I'm only letting my motor out a little. We'll makethings hum before we have finished. She's coming along too. Well, we'llmake a race of it to the far side of the river."
All the time he was attempting to get the enemy so near one bank that,in the race across to the other, the launch propelled by aninternal-combustion motor, which had already proved herself far thespeedier, would outstrip the other by so much that it would be safe tohead downstream and sweep past her without risking those formidablespears. But always there was the crafty ruffian aboard the steamer to bereckoned with. He turned as Jim's craft ran direct across to the farbank, and followed swiftly. Then, as the motor launch approached closeto the far bank, the rascal coolly stopped his engine. When Sam swunghis boat round again the enemy had actually gained. A direct runupstream would almost allow him to meet the motor launch.
"Gee, he's got us there!" cried Jim, disappointment in his voice. "Ithought we were going to do the trick nicely. But wait a little: we'llbe more successful on the second occasion. Run her slick across, Sam,"he called. "I'm going to try and trick him."
There is little doubt that had the enemy desired it he could almost havearrested their progress on this occasion, or forced Jim and his party tochange their course. But the commander of the steamer had his own ideasas to how to accomplish his purpose. Ching simpered when he discoveredthe truth of the matter, but had the good sense to mention his fears toour hero.
"Oh, him one velly clever person!" he giggled. "Yo see what him up to,Mass Jim. All de time him run across alongside ob us him slippey nearerand nearer. Presently him so close dat de black man able to dig derespears in."
Jim shivered in spite of the heat, for the sun was now streaming downupon the contestants. Then he looked closely at the enemy, and realizedthat Ching had given him valuable information. For though the steamerwas cutting across the river on an apparently parallel course to hisown, yet all the while her steersman was jerking his helm over, bringingher by degrees closer to Jim and his party. It was a difficulty whichneeded to be faced promptly, and Jim's lips were hard set together as hemade his plans to meet it. Very gradually he slowed down his motor,keeping a keen eye all the while upon the stern of the steamer, wherewhite foam showed how her propeller was working.
"I don't know that his game won't suit me very well after all," he saidto himself. "So long as he actually doesn't come within spear range ofus we are all right, and my aim all the while is to get him dead on aline with us. Once there he can't catch us by suddenly swerving off fromhis course, as was nearly the case this last time. Sam, boy," he calledout, "when I shout, bring her clear round and face her back on hertracks right away for the other side. Tomkins, you can get your menready for a little bit of quick business."
For the past five minutes not a shot had left the rifles of hiscomrades, though an occasional ball came from the deck of the steamer.It was remarkable that the rascal there made no attempt to use hisrevolver; but perhaps he had run out of ammunition, and in any case themanagement of the craft occupied all his attention. As to the men underJim's command, all wore a grim determined expression. Even Ching seemedto take some definite interest in the adventure, and, though one couldnot be quite sure of the matter, those slanting, almond eyes bore justthe merest trace of anxiety. Otherwise, there was tense excitement onboard, for by now each man had realized the nature of the manœuvreabout to be attempted, and the narrow margin which must necessarily liebetween themselves and safety. It was Tomkins who put in an encouragingword.
"Jest you get in at it, pard," he said, moistening the palms of hishands preparatory to gripping his rifle. "You ain't got no cause to fearthat we won't fight. When the ruction comes you can count on us, everyblessed mother's son of us; and, see here, siree, ef you don't happen tobring off this trick, and there's a chance of them chaps driving us upinto a corner, jest round her and go baldheaded for 'em. I'm gettingsick of this here runnin'."
His two comrades nodded curtly to show that this statement met withtheir full approval, while Tom, the noble fellow, who always seemed tocarry his young master's interests uppermost in his mind, stepped acrossto the rear edge of the cab and leaned over towards the motor.
"We ain't gwine to knuckle down to dem black niggers," he said in avoice which was meant to be a confidential whisper, but which as anactual fact was a deep-chested roar that wellnigh drowned the noise ofthe engine. "Yo ain't got no cause to fear, 'cos this here boy and allde odders wants to get back right along home again. We ain't a-goin' tolet scum like this stan' in de way. Nebber. We's gwine to do as wewants. Sam, jest see that you're nippy."
Tom gave his master one of his most expansive smiles; then, as if torelieve his overwrought feelings, he swung round and glowered upon theharmless but extremely energetic Sam. Indeed, if the fortunes of the daywere due to some extent to those who had wielded rifles, they were nonethe less the work of Jim and Sam and Ching between them, while at thisvery critical moment they may rightly be said to have rested in thehands of our hero and the little negro only.
Jim glanced swiftly across at the steamer. By now she was almost abreastof them, and if only he had but known it her commander was on the pointof bringing his scheme to a termination by a rapid movement. He imaginedthat the slowing down of the launch was due again to further trouble ofher motor. It was distinctly an opportunity to be snatched at, and, witha promptness which did him credit, he caused his steersman to swing hishelm over. In an instant the steamer had changed her course and washeading for the broadside of the other vessel.
"Now," shouted Jim excitedly. "Right round with her. Let her rip. We'vegot 'em nicely."
It is one of the advantages of a gasolene motor, that the engine iscapable of instant acceleration. A second before it had been purringgently, whilst the propeller was barely turning; but now the machinerygave out a sudden roar, while every plank and strut aboard shivered andvibrated. Under her keel the blades of her propeller churned the streaminto milky foam, while the craft itself gathered way promptly. Once moreshe rolled heavily as Sam swung his wheel. Then she came round on herformer course as if she were a living thing that understood, and was infull sympathy with the work expected of her. She bounded forward,raising her bows clear of the water, and by the time she had reachedmidstream had gained five lengths on the steamer.
"Edge her down, Sam; edge her down," urged Jim, giving hasty directionsto his steersman. "Be ready to bring her over. That will be the time foryou, Tomkins, and the others with the rifles."
It hardly needs the telling that the din from those aboard the steamerwas now bewildering and deafening. But a few short seconds before thegame had seemed entirely in their hands; it looked as though they wouldbe aboard the other craft in a twinkling. Now they were hopelessly leftbehind; every instant made their failure more certain. Puffs of smokeburst from the crowded decks, while the huge bullets discharged from thegas barrels owned by the natives splashed all round Jim and his friends.Then there was a roar of anger as the launch turned once more on herheel, exposing her bottom boards right down to the keel as she rolled tothe movement. A cloud of useless spears filled the air, while right aftof the steamer a figure sprang on to the stern deck waving both arms andshouting furiously. Tomkins's eye fell upon the man, and he gripped hardto the rail of the vessel to steady himself whilst she was rolling. Thendown came his rifle, the weapon cracked forth a bullet, and the figurebeyond collapsed across the engine and was hidden from view in the depthof the well which housed it. There were others amongst the natives whomet with their deserts about the same moment; while, as if to put thequestion of the steamer's further utility entirely beyond discussion,there came suddenly from the neighbourhood of her funnel a thick columnof hissing steam which rose in clouds over the river.
"I guess I'd had to shoot him," declared Tomkins grimly; "and well hedeserved it. Say, sir, you needn't think no more of that steamer, forshe's put clean out of the running. Reckon a bullet found her boiler andplugged a hole clean through it."
Whatever the cause of that cloud of escaping steam the effect was tobring the launch to a standstill. Indeed the position of affairs seemedto have become suddenly reversed. A little while before it had beenJim's motor which was hors de combat. He and his friends were strandedand helpless on the water. Now the situation was pleasantly reversed. AsTomkins had said, the steamer was out of the running.
"Dead straight ahead for them," called Jim, his eye fixed upon the hugewar canoe hovering farther down the stream. "If they swerve, swing overtowards them, and, when within a couple or more lengths, cut off in theother direction. Don't forget to keep them a spear throw from us."
"And meanwhile pepper 'em with the rifles, eh?" asked Tomkins, grinningover his shoulder, and wearing now a very different expression to thegrim, determined look he had shown but a short while before. "Pepper 'emnicely, eh, so as to give 'em a taste of what's coming?"
But Jim shook his head decidedly. "There's been enough bloodlettin'already," he said, using the very words which the policeman had employedalready. "We've done well with these other fellows, and have shot thetwo rascals for whom we came in this direction. These ignorant nativesdon't know any better. Guess we'll give 'em a chance."
A flush of vexation rose to Tomkins's face as he heard his suggestionscouted. He turned with shining eyes upon our hero, and doubtless, hadthe incident happened some few hours before, would have blurted out aprotest. But Jim's manly form, his stern, set face, and his coolnessdisarmed the policeman and smoothed down his ruffled temper. Herecollected that it was to our hero's guidance that the party, so far,owed in great measure its security. The young fellow had done rightwell, as his worst enemy must needs admit. Then why should he, Tomkins,step in to disturb him? True, Jim was not his lawful commander; but thenhe himself had placed the lad in that position of responsibility, whilea sense of discipline urged him to support one who filled the post ofofficer.
"Dash it all, man," he growled, "play the game! Don't he deserve it?"
"Right, sir," he said pleasantly, turning to Jim. "You've shown us acool head so far, and, gee! if I don't think you'll pull us through thisbusiness. Not a trigger will we draw on those darkies till you give theword, or till there's actual reason to teach them a lesson. Now, sonny,you ain't got no need to glare at me as if I'd stolen yer last dollar. Iain't done nothing to hurt your master."
It was Tom to whom he addressed himself on this last occasion, for thewatchful negro had overheard the words which had passed between Jim andthe policeman. Incensed at Tomkins's seeming disloyalty, and alwayseager to protect our hero, Tom was on the verge of indignation. His big,broad face, which had lost its happy smile since the beginning of theaction, now wore an expression akin to anger. His sharp, white teethwere gritted together, while he leaned toward the policeman as if hewould do him an injury. But in an instant his manner changed. Tom couldnot be resentful for more than a moment; besides, there were otherpressing matters to engage his attention.
"Yo hab a care, yo policeman," he cried; "me smash dem niggers easy. Ifme commence on yo, knock de stuffing out ob yo altogether, make yoterrible ill and shaky. Savvy dat? Den put dem in yo pipe and smokedem."
But Tomkins had already turned away from him with a grin and a shrug ofhis shoulders, while Jim silenced the negro peremptorily.
"Get a grip of that pole," he cried, nodding to the one that Tom hadused on the previous evening, "just in case they happen to come withinclose distance of us. I hope they won't. We ought to run slick pastthem."
And that, in fact, seemed to be the most likely termination of thematter, though it was a little disconcerting to notice that the huge warcanoe still lay stationary in the very centre of the river. So far ithad not been necessary for Sam to swerve the launch in the slightest,and now, as before, she was running head on towards the enemy. In aminute it would be necessary to cut away to one side or the other, thechoice resting entirely with Sam, the negro. Deliberately he swung hiswheel to the right, and shot the launch obliquely across the river. Atthe very same instant the man squatting upon the high platform right aftof the canoe shouted, and some fifty paddles plunged into the water.With incredible speed the native craft made off, and shot forward at anangle which would bring her alongside the launch. In spite of thelatter's speed it became evident, with startling suddenness, that shecould not escape contact with the enemy. It was Sam who decided thecourse of Jim's party. He bent over his steering wheel till he seemed tohug it. Then he twisted it to the left abruptly.
"Down under with you all!" shouted Jim. "We shall strike her. Tom, getyour pole ready." But the negro's services were not required, for thecollision and all that followed was ended with startling swiftness. Thebows of the launch swung round till they pointed but a few feet ahead ofthe canoe. Then they came round a little more, while a terrible shoutburst from the enemy. There was a gentle shock as the launch struck thestem post of the huge native craft, spears rattled upon her deck, andthen they were passed. As for the canoe, the collision had driven her toone side just as she had seemed on the point of running along in closecompany with the launch. She was now some twenty yards in rear, her crewpaddling hopelessly. That she had very nearly run aboard Jim's boatthere could be no doubt, for one of the warriors had actually managed toleap forward and reach her. Tom discovered him clinging to the railamidships, his mouth wide open to hold his spears.
"Oh, dat yo, my frien'!" he laughed, peering over at him. "You hab afree ride all fo' noding. But goodbye now. Sorry to lose yo: we a bit ina hurry."
The burly fellow pushed his pole beneath the man, and by sheer strengthlifted him clear out of the water. He held him there for a little while,casting choice expressions at him, then he cast him back into the water,as if the native were some species of fish for which Tom had no usewhatever.
"Lucky him swim so well," he laughed. "Tom almost sorry he not kill um.Not so sure dat blackguard not de one who shoot and hit him hand."
"Nonsense!" cried Jim. "Nothing of the sort. That man was aboard thesteamer. Stand out of the way, Tom! I think we may take it easily."
There was, in fact, no longer any reason for haste; therefore Jim sloweddown his motor. They cruised slowly across the lagoon, and lay close toits exit. There, with the help of the kit of tools carried aboard, anda strip of tinned iron cut from a biscuit box, our hero effected atemporary repair to the water jacket, soldering the patch into position.It was a triumphant crew which returned to Colon, for the Major washimself again, and their duty was accomplished.
CHAPTER XII
An American Undertaking
"I never did meet such a fellow as you, Jim Partington," cried PhineasBarton, when our hero and his comrades turned up at the house situatedabove the huge dam of Gatun, in progress of building. "No, never before.You get introduced to me after a likely enough adventure. Perhaps Iought to say that I was introduced to you; reckon anyway our meeting wasas strange as one might imagine, and there was no end of excitement init. You behaved like a plucky young beggar."
Jim went very red at once. "I thought we weren't to hear anything moreabout that," he said bluntly. "That was our agreement."
But Phineas only grinned at him. "Agreement or no agreement," he saidseriously, "there are times when a chap has just got to sit down andlisten. Reckon that time is here now, and you're the chap. I was saying,when you interrupted me—ahem!—that you were a beggar for adventures.You come to my house, do one day's solid work, and then get gallivantingoff with an exploration party. Of course, being fired at in themeanwhile and the ruction you had with those rascals down at the hutabove Colon is nothing—just a kind of act between supper andbreakfast, as it were. Now there's this launch expedition, and there'sTomkins—a surly sort of fellow, who don't often open his mouth, andthen not always to be pleasant; there's this policeman, with the Major,his commanding officer, singing your praises down at the club, till theboys are jest jumping to get a grip at you. Time supper's ended to-nightyou've got to come right along there with me; and, jest remember this,they ain't got an agreement with you."
Jim was horrified at the suggestion. Though he was American born, andwas blessed with an American's average allowance of assurance, the ladwas undoubtedly modest when his own actions were in question. He wouldhave given anything to escape from what promised to be an ordeal, andmade numerous excuses. But Phineas bore him off in spite of all of them,and Tom and Sam and Ching fell in as a bodyguard in rear, in case hisprotégé should attempt to escape.
"It's not what you owe to yourself," he said, with a laugh, "but whatyou owe to the boys. Remember that they're working here all day, withlittle chance of getting news but what comes to them at the club. We'resteadygoing stagers here on the canal, and it isn't often that a chaplike you turns up. When he does he's got to stand the ruction, and guessthat's what you've got to do. Don't I jest wish you and I could changeplaces."
Jim agreed with him heartily, though, as a matter of fact, when he cameto face what in his imagination would be an ordeal, he discovered it tobe but the pleasantest ceremony. Quiet, earnest men crowded round himto shake his hand; then he was bidden to sit at a table in the centre ofhis new comrades.
"Yer see," said Harry, who regarded our hero with an envious expression,"that 'ere Tomkins ain't the man to talk, while the Major's much toobusy; besides, guess his head's much too sore for chatting. You jest getright in at it, and give us the yarn from start to finish."
ATTACKED BY NATIVES
Jim did as he was bidden, describing every incident, and drawing a growlfrom many of his audience when he came to that part of his narrativewhich dealt with the injury to the engine; for it can well be imaginedthat amongst those white employees on the huge canal a goodly numberwere, if not actually engineers by profession, certainly most stronglyimbued with a leaning towards it. All may have been said to have hadmechanical knowledge, since there were few who did not run a steamnavvy, a rock drill, a rail-laying plant, or a lifting derrick of somedescription.
"Gee whiz! That's hot!" exclaimed one of them, interrupting for amoment. "One of those muzzle-loading gas barrels chucked a shot right atyour motor, did it? And knocked a hole clean through the water jacket?My, that must have been awkward! Reckon the water pumped up mosteverywhere, and swamped the ignition. Tell us jest how yer fixed it."
Jim described exactly what had happened, how he had plugged the waterentrance to the pump of his motor, and drained the jackets dry. "It wasa near thing," he admitted, with a grin. "I thought I should never getgoing again; but we mopped the water from the magneto, and reckon wefixed it just in time. Of course I gave her plenty of oil, and all thetime I was scared that the motor would become overheated."
"Excuse me, sir," said one of the audience, suddenly pressing forwardand disclosing himself as one of the officials. "All the time you werefixing this motor, shots were flying, and I understand that there was aboatload of dark-skinned gentlemen thirsting for the lives of yourselfand your comrades, and not forgetting to let you know it either. Reckonmany a man would have been too upset to think of extra lubrication,though everyone here who knows a gasolene motor realizes well enoughthat it was extra lubrication, and that alone, which saved your enginefrom overheating."
He looked round at the assembled audience enquiringly, and was rewardedwith many a sharp nod of approval.
"You've got it, siree," cried one of them. "You've jest put your fingeron the very point I was about to ask."
"It's as clear as daylight," went on the official, "our young friendhere saved the whole party by keeping his head well screwed down and hiswits about him. If that motor had overheated, as any self-respectingengine might well have been expected to do under the circumstances, youwere all goners. All dead, sir. Wiped out clean by those natives."
There came a grunt of acquiescence from the audience, while Jim went redto the roots of his hair.
"You don't happen to have got fixed on a special job yet awhile?" askedthe official pointedly.
"I'm to take a steam digger away up by Culebra."
"And you wouldn't change, supposing I was to come forward with an offer?See here," said the official eagerly, "I'm from the machine shops 'wayover at Gorgona. You've heard of them?"
Everyone in the canal zone had heard of these immense shops to which theofficial alluded, for there a great amount of engineering work wasundertaken. In such a colossal task as this building of a canal betweenPanama and Colon, between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the readerwill readily comprehend that an enormous number of locomotives, steamdiggers, and machinery of every sort and description was in constantoperation, and that, like machinery all the world over, such implementsbreak down on occasion and require repair. The works at Gorgona copedwith all such matters, and was staffed by such keen engineers that theyeven did not stop at repairs of whatever description. There, in thosesheds, engines were constructed, from the smallest bolt down to theheaviest crank shaft, according to the designs produced at the drawingoffices at Gorgona. The workers on the canal had long since discoveredthat special machines were often required to deal with the special jobsthey had in progress. And clever heads at Gorgona invented means tosatisfy them. Witness the ingenious rail layer, without which the taskof delving would have been much delayed; witness that other cleverarrangement which did in seven minutes the work of a hundred men, andswept the dirt clear from a whole line of earth wagons.
"You've heard of those shops 'way over at Gorgona?" asked the officialagain.
"I have," Jim admitted. "I'm longing to see them."
"Then you shall, I promise. But, see here, about this job. A good mandeserves a proper place for his knowledge and his energies; down there,at Gorgona, we've just turned out a gasolene rock driller that'll knockthe other steam-driven concerns into the shade. I'm looking for a man torun it, one used to gasolene motors. Say, if I apply for you, sir, willyou take the work?"
Jim looked round the circle before he replied, and almost smiled at theexpression he caught on Harry's face. The genial fellow who had givenhim a day's instruction in the working of a hundred-ton steam digger didnot look best pleased; but that was to be put down to his own keenness,to the keenness which he inherited in common with every white manlabouring on the canal. For in Harry's eyes it was the machine which hehimself ran which was helping the progress of the canal; it was theenormous mouthfuls of dirt which his digger tore from the soil thatplaced the undertaking nearer completion. And every man he coached inthe task was something approaching a traitor if he abandoned thatparticular machine for another. Then, of a sudden, his face took onanother expression.
"You ain't got no cause to think of me, young 'un," he said pleasantly."I don't deny as I'd have liked to see you running a digger, 'cos it'sme as taught you; but, then, I don't forget that you've shown that youknow one of these gasolene motors right away from the piston to thecrank shaft. You close with the offer if you like it; there'll be moredollars in it, I reckon."
He addressed the last remark to the official, who nodded acquiescence.
"Special work, special pay," he replied curtly. "We want a man, and wemust be prepared to spend dollars on him. I offer a dollar more thandigger rates. What's the answer?"
"Of course he takes it!" burst in Phineas eagerly. "It ain't in humannature to refuse advancement, and of course Jim'll take that motor. Doyou want him yet awhile?"
"In a couple of weeks perhaps. We're not quite ready."
"Then I accept, with many thanks," said Jim, his heart beating fast withpleasure at such rapid progress; for here was advancement, here was paywhich made his own future and that of Sadie all the brighter. "In twoweeks' time; and in the meanwhile perhaps you'll allow me to see themachine and get an idea of its construction."
"You can come along whenever you like and handle the concern. It'llknock spots out of those steam drills," declared the official.
"And now, as this here business interview seems to have come to an end,supposing we get to with a song," cried one of the audience. "Didn't Ihear tell as you could play a banjo, Jim, and sing a tune when you wasaxed?"
"I've done so before; I can try," answered our hero, breathing morefreely now that his ordeal was over. "I'll buy a banjo as soon as I can;then I'll let you see what I can do."
"You'll get right away in at it, siree," said the man severely, grinningat his comrades. "See here, there's a banjo I brought along with me fromthe States. Not that I can tune on it; I allow as I've tried, but, gee!the performance was enough to make a cat laugh. The boys passed aresolution axing me to give over at once, and fer that reason theinstrument's been lying idle in my quarters this three months past. Getin at it, siree."
He produced a stained and somewhat battered instrument from behind hischair and passed it to Jim. Now Jim was by no means a poorinstrumentalist, and in addition was one of those fortunate individualsgifted with a fair voice. Thousands of men have found before this thatthe power to sing and entertain their fellows is the key to popularity,and Jim was no exception. It had been his fortune to live as a ruleamongst small communities, where any form of entertainment wasappreciated, and none more than a song. It followed, therefore, thathere again, as in the case of the gasolene motor, he had had experience,and seeing that his audience were determined to hear him, he settleddown to the work without more ado. A fine young fellow he looked, too,seated in their midst, the banjo in correct position as he leant overit, touching the strings and tightening them till his keen ear wassatisfied. Burnt a deep brown by the hot sun of those parts, his hairsomewhat dishevelled, and his clothing by no means improved by theadventures through which he had passed, Jim had a rugged, healthy,out-of-doors appearance which was most attractive. That he was by nomeans a weakling was at once apparent, for he filled his clothing well,and presented a fine pair of broad shoulders. When he lifted his faceand glanced round at his audience, smiling in his own serene, inimitablemanner, there was not one who did not know in his heart that our herowas a stanch and jolly individual, free from side and that stupidconceit which spoils some young men of his age, but full of go andenergy as became an American; ready when his work was done, and onlythen, to enjoy himself as much as possible and help to give enjoyment toothers.
"See here," laughed Jim, looking round the circle of men, all of whomhad their eyes on him, for there was no little curiosity to see how hewould accomplish the task; "if I break down, you must forgive me, for,gee! it's like being in a cage with a whole crowd watching."
Down went the head over the banjo again, while his fingers played on thestrings; and at once, by the notes which issued, it became apparent thathere was no novice. Jim struck up a gay tune, and in a little while hadgiven his audience the first verse of a jaunty song, to which there wasan equally jaunty chorus; so that before the evening had passed therafters above were ringing to the sound made by a hundred or more lustyvoices.
"Fine, jest fine!" cried one of the men.
"Gee! If he don't take it!" shouted Harry.
"I'm shaking hands with myself," declared the official who had offeredhim a post at Gorgona. "You men down here needn't think that you'regoing to have young Partington all to yourselves. A fortnight to-dayhe'll be a Gorgona man, when we'll send you invitations to ourconcerts."
There was a shout at that, a shout denoting some displeasure. PhineasBarton rose from his chair, his fractured arm swathed and bandaged andslung before him, and regarded the official triumphantly. "Not a bit ofit, siree," he said. "Jim's my lodger. Don't matter whether he worksalong here at Gatun or way over there at Culebra or Gorgona, he jestcomes home every night of the week. The Commission's jest got to passhim a free ticket, and ef he's in a concert, why, guess it'll be here,and the folks at Gorgona will be the ones to be invited."
There was a roar of laughter at the sally, and Jim was called upon for asecond song. Modestly enough he gave it too; for such open praise as hadbeen bestowed upon him is not always good for a lad of his age, andmight well be expected to turn the heads of many. Our hero had hisfailings without doubt, and we should not be recording truly if we didnot allow the fact, but a swelled head was not one of the ailments hewas wont to suffer from. So far his friends and acquaintances had neverknown Jim Partington to be too big for the boots he stood up in.
"Which is jest one of the things that made me take to him right awayfrom the first," said Phineas, when discussing the matter that sameevening with the police officer who had been in command of the launchexpedition. "He ain't bumptious, Major. He's jest a lively young fellow,full of sense and grit, and I tell you, if there's one lad here in thezone who's made up his mind to make a job of the canal, it's Jim. He'sfixed it that he's going to rise in the world, and if nothing unforeseenhappens we shall find him well up the ladder one of these days, andmaking a fine living."
They called Jim over to them, where they were seated at a small table inone corner, and at once the Major gripped our hero's hand, while heacknowledged that he felt wonderfully better. His head was heavilybandaged, for the bullet which had struck him had caused a nasty gash inthe scalp.
"Not that it did any great harm," laughed the Major. "They tell me thatthere was tremendous swelling at first, but the blood which escaped fromthe wound brought that down wonderfully; but I admit that at first Ifelt that my head was as big as a pumpkin. How's your own wound?"
Jim had forgotten all about it, though on his arrival that morning hehad taken the precaution to have it dressed. But it was alreadypartially healed, and caused him not the slightest inconvenience.
"I think I had the best of the matter altogether," he answered, "forthough up there on the river I was unable to distinguish the man whobegan all this business by firing at me, yet both were hit, and I fancypretty badly."
"You can count them as almost wiped out completely," agreed the Major."But I have serious news to give you regarding the other three. Duringour absence Jaime de Oteros and his comrades broke out of prison andmade good their escape. The scoundrels are once more free to carry onany form of rascality. Of course I have sent trackers after them; butthe latest news is that they have disappeared into the bush, and pursuitthere is almost hopeless. I own I'm vexed, for there is never anyknowing what such men may be up to. A Spaniard with a grudge to work offis always a dangerous individual."
The information of the escape of the prisoners was indeed of the mostserious moment, and Jim and his friends were yet to learn the truth ofthe words that the Major had spoken. For Jaime de Oteros had indeed agrudge, and with all the unreasonableness of men of his violentdisposition he had already determined in his own mind that our hero Jimwas the cause of all his troubles. He brushed aside the fact that one ofhis ruffianly comrades had most deliberately attempted murder, and thatthe effort made to capture the offender was but a natural reprisal. Thateffort had led to the discovery of the gang and its break-up, and inJaime's eyes our hero was the culprit. He swore as he lay in prison totake vengeance upon him, while he did not forget his animosity towardsthe police officials.
"I tell you," he cried fiercely, once he had contrived to break out ofthe prison, "I don't move away from these parts till I've killed thatyoung pup, while as to these others, these Americans, I'll do them aninjury, see if I don't. I'll wreck some of the work they're doing; breakup the job they're so precious proud of."
Meanwhile Jim had many other things to think of, and very promptlyforgot all about the miscreants. He sauntered back to the house withPhineas, and on the following morning boarded a motor-driveninspector's car running on the isthmian railway.
"We'll just hop along first to Gorgona," said Phineas. "And on the waywe'll take a look at the valley of the Chagres River. You've got tounderstand that right here at Gatun, where we're building the dam, andwhere the river escapes between the hills which block this end of thevalley, we shall have the end of the lake we're going to form. For themost part the valley is nice and broad, running pretty nigh north andsouth. This track we're on will be covered with water, so that gangs ofmen are already at work fixing the track elsewhere on higher ground. ButI want to speak of this valley. It runs clear south to Obispo, wherethere is hilly ground dividing it from the valley of the Rio Grande, andthere, at Culebra, which is on the hill, we're up against one of thebiggest jobs of this undertaking. You see, it's like this: from Gatun toObispo we follow a route running almost due south, with the ChagresRiver alongside us all the way; but at Obispo, which I ought to havesaid is just twenty-six miles from the head of Limon Bay, the ChagresRiver changes its course very abruptly, and if followed towards itssource is found to be confined within a narrow valley through which itruns with greater speed, and in a north-easterly direction. Now, seehere, to figure this matter out correctly let's stand up in this car.There's the track running way ahead of us through the Chagres valley ina direction I described as southerly, though to be correct it issouth-westerly. Dead behind us is Limon Bay; right ahead is Panama. I'vegiven you an idea of the works we're carrying out at this end—firstdredging Limon Bay for 4-1/2 miles, then canal cutting for say another 4miles. There you get three tiers of double locks, and the Gatun damthat's going to fill in the end of this valley, and give us a lake whichwill spread over an area of no fewer than 164 square miles, and whichwill fill the valley right away up to Obispo, where the Chagres River,coming from a higher elevation, will pour into it."
"And then," demanded Jim, beginning, now that he was actually in thevalley, to obtain a better conception of the plan of this huge Americanundertaking. "I can see how you will bring your ships to the Gatunlocks, and how you will float them into the lake. I take it that therewill be water enough for them to steam up to Obispo. After that, youstill have to reach Panama."
"Gee! I should say we had. But listen here. Taking this line, withPanama dead south-west of us, we come at Obispo to a point where thedesigners of the canal had two alternatives. The first was to cut upnorth-west, still following the Chagres valley where it has become verynarrow, and so round by a devious route to Panama. That meant sharpbends in the canal, which ain't good when you've got big ships to dealwith, and besides a probable increase in the cost and in the timerequired to complete the undertaking."
"And the second?" demanded Jim.
"The second alternative was to cut clear through the dividing ridgewhich runs up at Obispo some 300 feet above sea level. Following thatroute for 9 miles in the direction of Panama you come to the alluvialplain of the Rio Grande, and from thence to the sea in another 6 miles.Forty-one miles from shore to shore you can call it, and, with thedredging we have to do at either end, a grand total of 50 miles. Butwe'll leave this Culebra cutting till we reach it. Sonny, you can getright along with the car."
Jim would have been a very extraordinary mortal if he had not beenvastly interested in all that he saw from his seat in the rail motorcar. To begin with, it was a delightfully bright day, with a clear skyoverhead and a warm sun suspended in it. Hills lay on either hand, theirsteep sides clothed with luxuriant verdure, while farther away was adark background of jungle, that forbidding tropical growth with which hehad now become familiar. On his right flowed the Chagres River, windinghither and thither, and receiving presently a tributary, the RioTrinidad. Along the line there were gangs of men at work here and therelaying the new tracks for the railway, while, when they had progressedon their journey, and were nearer Obispo, his keen eyes discovered othersubjects for observation. There were a number of broken-down trucksbeside the railway, which were almost covered by vegetation, while nearat hand on the banks of the river a huge, unwieldy boat seemed to havetaken root, and, like the trucks, was surrounded by tropical growth.
"Queer, ain't they?" remarked Phineas. "Guess you're wondering what theyare."
"Reckon it's plant brought out here at the very beginning of this work,and scrapped because it was found to be unsatisfactory."
"Wrong," declared Phineas promptly. "Young man, those trucks were madeby the Frenchmen. That boat is a dredger which was laid up before youwere born, and was built by the same people."
The information caused our hero to open his eyes very wide, for he, likemany another individual, had never heard of the French nation inconnection with the isthmus of Panama; or if he had, had entirelyforgotten the matter. But to a man like Phineas, with all his keennessin the work in which he was taking no unimportant part, it was notremarkable that French efforts on the isthmus were a matter ofhistorical interest to him.
"A man likes to know the ins and outs of the whole affair," he observedslowly, as they trundled along on the car. "There's thousands, I shouldsay, who don't even know why we have decided to build this canal, andthousands more who don't rightly guess what we're going to do with itwhen it's finished. But Columbus, when he discovered the Bay of Limonround about the year 1497, thought that he had found a short cut acrossto the East Indies. He didn't cotton to the fact that the isthmusstretches unbroken between the two Americas, and only came to believethat fact when his boats came to a dead end in the bay he haddiscovered. Cortés sought for a waterway at Mexico, while others huntedround for a channel along the River St. Lawrence, and all with the oneidea of making a short passage to the East Indies.
"Then the Straits of Magellan were discovered, while some of those boldSpaniards clambered across the isthmus and set eyes upon the PacificOcean. You know what happened? Guess they built and launched ships atPanama, and the conquest of Peru was undertaken, and following it goldand jewels in plenty were brought by mule train from the Pacific to theAtlantic, across from Panama to Colon. So great was the traffic thateven in the days of Charles V of Spain the question of an isthmian canalwas mooted; for, recollect, Spain drew riches from the Indies as well asfrom Peru. And now we come to the nineteenth century. America badlywanted an isthmian crossing which would bring her western ports closerto those on the east, and vice versa. A railway seemed to be the onlyfeasible method, and we tackled the job splendidly. That railway wascompleted in 1855, in spite of an awful climate, and guess it filled thepurpose nicely. Just hereabouts came our war, North against South, and,as you can readily understand, there wasn't much chance of canalbuilding.
"Now we come to the Frenchmen, to Ferdinand de Lesseps," said Phineas,pointing out another group of derelict trucks to our hero. "You want tobear in mind that the question of an isthmian canal was always in theair, always attracting the attention of engineering people. Well, deLesseps had just completed the Suez Canal, connecting the east with thewest, and guess he cast his eye round for new fields to conquer. Hefloated a company in France, and raised a large sum of money. Then hebought out the Isthmian Railway for twenty-five and a half milliondollars. You see, he knew that a railway was wanted to carry his plant,and I guess that the fact of having that railway made him decide tobuild his canal across where we are working. But there wasmismanagement. De Lesseps, like many another man, had been spoiled bysuccess, and had lost his usual good judgment. His expenses were awful,and finally, when the money ran out, his company abandoned theundertaking. In eight years he had spent more than three times theamount for the Suez Canal, and had got through some three hundredmillion dollars. He and his staff left behind them the trucks you see,besides a large amount of other machinery. At this day there's many aFrench locomotive pulling our dirt trains right here in the Culebracutting, while his folks set their mark on the soil. They, too, startedto cut through at Culebra, and in those eight years did real honestwork. But shortage of money ended their labours, and, as I've said,they've left behind these marks of their presence, with rows and rows ofgraves over at Ancon; for fever played fearful havoc with the workmen.Yes, it was that which gave America her warning, and set our medicalfolk at work to tidy up this zone and sweep it clear of mosquitoes andfever."
It was all very interesting, and Jim listened most attentively, though,to be sure, every now and then his mind was distracted for a briefinstant by some new object to right or left of the line; while from thevery beginning the desire to ask one question and to receive informationin reply had been present.
"That tale of the French is new to me," he said, "and I hadn't thefaintest idea that a canal had been previously attempted. You've saidthat Spain desired one by means of which to reach the East Indies andso save the long trip round by the Straits of Magellan; how does Americastand when all's finished?"
The fingers of Phineas's only usable hand were clenched instantly. Wasit likely that a man such as he, who had counted the cost of theundertaking, and knew something of its vastness, would not also havecounted the gain?
"What do we get when all's ended?" he cried eagerly. "Guess for that yourequire a map by rights, though I can tell you something from memory. Tobegin with, take New York as our important eastern port, and SanFrancisco as that on the west coast. Of course I know that we have aninter-oceanic railway. But if goods in bulk were shipped, the boat wouldhave to steam right away south, round by Cape Horn and the Straits ofMagellan. The Oregon, one of our best battleships, was lying away up inthe Pacific when our war with Spain began. She had to steam more than13,000 miles to reach Key West, and guess a ship wants overhauling aftersuch a long journey, putting aside the risks she ran of capture enroute, owing to her isolation. Well now, this isthmian canal will knockthe better part of 9000 miles off the route from New York to SanFrancisco. The English doing business with our firms in that port willhave a journey less by 6000 miles, while New York will be closer to theports of South America by a good 5000 miles. It'll be a shorter journeyfrom Japan or Australia to New York than it is to-day to Liverpool,while there's scarcely a trip from east to west that won't be helped bythis canal we're building. Just think of it, Jim! Where this trolley'srunning there'll be, one of these days, deep water, with bigger shipsfloating in it than you can dream of now. You and I will have helped tobring about that matter. When we're old we'll be able to tell theyoungsters all about it; for America will know then that she ownssomething valuable. Her people will have had time to grasp its fullsignificance, and guess then the question will not be, as now, 'Where isthe Panama Canal? What are our folks doing?' but 'How was America'sgreat triumph accomplished?' My! Ain't I been gassing? Why, there'sGorgona. Hollo, sonny! Pull her up."
They descended from the car promptly, and made for the huge sheds whereone portion of the engineering staff undertook the upkeep of themachinery engaged along the whole line of the canal. The friendlyofficial was waiting for them, and very soon Jim's eyes were bulgingwide with delight at the sight of the motor drill he was to manage.
CHAPTER XIII
Hustle the Order of the Day
Never in the whole course of his short existence had Jim come upon sucha busy scene as he encountered, when Phineas Barton at length contrivedto drag the eager young fellow away from the engineering shops atGorgona.
"My!" cried Phineas, simulating a snort of indignation; "I never didcome across such a curious chap in all my born days. I began to thinkthat you'd stick in the place, grow to it as the saying is. But there, Idon't blame any youngster for liking a big works same as this. There'sso much to see, huge lathes and planing machines running and doing theirwork as if they were alive and thinking things out. Steam-hammersthudding down on masses of red-hot metal, giving a blow that would cracka house and smash it to pieces, or one that would as easily fracture anut. Then there are the furnaces and the foundry: guess all that'sinteresting. But you've got more to see; it's time we made way up forCulebra. Look here, boy, set her going, and mind you watch the spoiltrains."
The precaution and the warning were necessary, for the double track ofthe Panama railway at this point was much occupied by the long trains ofcars filled with earth coming from the trench that was being cutthrough the high ground just ahead. It was not until they actuallyreached the neighbourhood of Culebra, which may be said to occupy aplace in the centre of the gigantic cut, that Jim gathered a fullimpression of the work, or the reason for so many freight cars. But itwas true enough that the driver of the motor truck had to keep his witsabout him to escape collision; for every three minutes a spoil traincame along, dragged perhaps by a locomotive made at Gorgona, or by oneimported by the French, and of Belgian manufacture. Every three minutes,on the average, a train came puffing down the incline from Culebra, andnothing was allowed to delay it. In consequence, the motor inspectioncar on which Phineas and his young friend were journeying was compelledat times to beat a hasty retreat, or to go ahead at full power before anadvancing empty train—returning from the great dam at Gatun, where ithad deposited its load—till it arrived at a point where a switch waslocated. There was nearly always a man there, and promptly the car wassidetracked.
"It's the only way to do the business," explained Phineas. "The gettingaway of those spoil trains means the success of our working. If theydon't get clear, so as to be back at the earliest moment, there's goingto be any number of steam diggers thrown out of work; for it's no useshovelling dirt if there aren't cars to load the stuff in. If there's abreakdown with one of the cars, guess the whole labour force is pushedon to it, so as to get the lines clear. Telephone wires run up and downthe line, and a breakdown is at once reported. But we're just enteringthe cut, and in a little while you'll be able to see and understandeverything."
To be accurate, it took our hero quite a little while to grasp thesignificance of all that he saw, for the Culebra cut extends throughnine miles of rocky soil, and at the period of his inspection it hadalready bitten deep into the hilly ground which barred the onwardprogress of the canal at Obispo. One ought to say, in an endeavour togive facts accurately, that this mass of material forms the southernboundary of the huge Chagres valley which, when the works are completed,will be flooded with water. It bars all exit there, though by turningsharply to the left one may follow the course of the river through anarrow, ascending valley. However, the scheme of the undertakingrequired that there should be no sharp bends, and in consequence thehost of workers were toiling to cut a gigantic trench, of great widthand enormous depth, right through this hilly ground. What Jim saw wassomewhat similar to the works below Gatun, at the Colon end of thecanal, but vastly magnified. There were the same terraces, with tracksof rails laid, bearing an endless procession of spoil trains and numbersof steam diggers. There was the same pilot cut in the very centre, fromwhich the terraces ascended step by step, as if they were portions ofanother Egyptian pyramid. But there comparisons ceased. This huge ditchextended for nine miles, and throughout its length presented an army oftoilers, any number of dirt trains, and a constant succession of whitesteam billows, at various elevations, pointing to the places where thehundred-ton diggers were at work.
"You have to get right on the spot to see what's happening," saidPhineas, looking proudly about him. "You can see for yourself now thatit means everything to us to get rid of the dirt as quickly as possible,and everything to have spare trains ready to fill the place of thosetaking the spoil away. This concern is simply a question of dirt, and ofhow rapidly we can shift it. If I was the President of the Republic ofthe United States himself I should have to look lively all the same, anddodge about so as not to get in the way of the dirt trains. But we'llget out here and climb; I'll show you a thing or two."
He chuckled at the prospect before him, for to expatiate on the canalworks to a keen young fellow, such as Jim undoubtedly was, was theheight of enjoyment to the energetic official. Their car was switched onto a side track at once, and, descending from it, the two clambered upthe scarped side of the trench till they were on the summit of the rockyground. Then it was possible to obtain a bird's-eye view of the wholecut, and to appreciate its vastness. Jim noticed that the path he hadclambered by shelved rather gently, while elsewhere the bank of thetrench was steeply scarped, and at once drew Phineas's attention to thematter.
"You don't miss much, siree," came the answer. "We've come face upagainst more than one tough job 'way up here at Culebra, and thequestion of the slope of our banks is one. You see, this trench will bemighty deep, and if we were to cut the sides perpendicular they wouldsoon fall in. Most of the stuff's rock, of course, but it's queer rockat that. It's soft, weathers quickly, and becomes easily friable whenwater has got to it. So we've had to spread the banks wide, and make theslope easy, except where the rock's harder and allows a steeper slope.Now, guess we're near about the centre of the cut. You've seen what'shappening to the north. Dirt trains run down the incline, enter thetracks of the Panama Railway, and run 26 miles to the dam at Gatun.South of us the tracks fall to the plain of the Rio Grande, and thespoil trains run down and dump their stuff on either side of the linethe canal will take. You've got to remember that this trench is 'way upabove tide level; so at the end of the cut, at Pedro Miguel, there is tobe a lock, or, rather, a double lock—one for a vessel going north andone for a ship coming south. A matter of a mile farther along there isanother lock—the Milaflores lock—double, like the last, but with twotiers. It will let our ships down into the Pacific. But you've got toremember that there is a tide in that ocean, so the lift of theMilaflores lower lock will be variable. Now, lad, come and see the rockdrills."
They descended into the bottom of the trench again, Phineas explainingthat when it was completed there would be a bottom width of 200 feet,ample to allow the passing of two enormous ships.
"Guess it's the narrowest part of the canal," he said, "though no onewould call it narrow; but it's through hard rock, which is some excuse,and then this narrowest part happens to be dead straight. North of usthe cut widens at the bottom to 300 feet, while elsewhere, outside thecut, the minimum width is 500 feet. You've got to bear in mind that I'mtalking of bottom widths. Recollect that the banks slope outwards fairlygently, and you can appreciate the fact that the surface width of thecanal stream will make a stranger open his eyes. Ah, here's a drill!This is the sort of thing you'll be doing."
To the novice the machine to which Phineas had drawn attention wasindeed somewhat curious. It looked for all the world like an overgrownmotor car, constructed by an amateur engineer in his own workshop, andout of any parts he happened to have by him; for it ran on four ironwheels with flat tyres, and bore at the back the conventional boiler andsmokestack. In front it carried a post, erected to some height, andstayed with two stout metal rods from the rear. The remainder of themachine consisted of the engine and driving gear which operated thedrills.
"It'll get through solid rock at a pace that will make you stare,"declared Phineas, "though our friend at Gorgona believes that this newmodel that you're to run will do even better. But you can see whathappens; these drills get to work where the diggers will follow. Theydrill right down, 30 feet perhaps, and then get along to another site.The powder men then come along, put their shot in position, place theirfuse, wire it so that a current can be sent along to the fuse, and thenget along to another drill hole. At sunset, when all the men havecleared, the shots are fired, and next morning there's loose dirt enoughto keep the diggers busy. Guess you'll be put to work with one of thesedrillers, so as to learn a bit. You can't expect to handle a machineunless you know what's required of you."
The following morning, in fact, found our hero dressed in his workingclothes, assisting a man in the management of one of the rock drills. Hehad risen at the first streak of dawn, and after breakfasting, hadclambered aboard an empty dirt train making for Culebra.
"Yer know how to fire a furnace?" asked the man who was to instruct him."Ay, that's good; I heard tell as I wasn't to have no greenhorn. Ain'tyou a pal o' Harry's?"
There might have been only one Harry amidst the huge army of whiteemployees; but Jim knew who was meant, and nodded promptly.
"And you're the chap as went off into the swamps, across a lagoon, alongwith the Police Major, ain't you?"
"Yes," responded our hero shortly.
"Huh! You and I is going to be pals. Harry's been blabbing. You don'thappen to have brought that 'ere banjo along with you?"
Jim had not, but promised to do so if this new friend liked.
"Why, in course we like," cried Hundley, for that was the man's name."Seems that you're to live 'way down there at Gatun, so the boys alongover there will get you of an evening; but you'll feed with us midday. Itell you, Jim, there's times when a man feels dull out here,particularly if he's had a go of fever, same as I have. It takes thelife out of a fellow, and ef he ain't brightened he gets to moping.That's why I'm precious keen on music; a song soothes a man. There'sheaps like me up at the club; jest steady, quiet workers, sticking likewax to the job, 'cos the most of us can't settle to pack and leave tillwe've seen the canal completed."
There it was again! Right along the fifty miles of works Jim had comeacross the same expressions. It mattered not whether a man drove a steamdigger or a dirt train, whether he were official or labouring employee,if he were American, as all were, the canal seemed to have driven itselfinto his brain; the undertaking had become a pet child, a work to beaccomplished whatever happened, an exacting friend not to be cast asideor deserted till all was ended and a triumph accomplished. But Jim hadheard the request, and promptly acceded.
"I'll bring the banjo along one of these days right enough," he smiled."Perhaps you'll make a trip down to Gatun and hear one of our concerts.They tell me there's to be one within a few days."
Hundley eagerly accepted the invitation, and then proceeded to instructour hero. As to the latter, he found no great difficulty inunderstanding the work, and, indeed, in taking charge of the machine.For here it was not quite as it was with a hundred-ton digger, when thelip of the huge shovel might in some unexpected moment cut its waybeneath a mass of rock, and be brought up short with a jerk capable ofdoing great damage. The rock drill, on the other hand, pounded away, theengine revolving the drill, while the crew of the machine saw that thegears were thrown out when necessary, and an extra length added to thedrill. If the hardened-steel point of the instrument happened tocatch—as was sometimes the case—and held up the engine, then steam hadto be cut off quickly, the drill reversed and lifted, so as to allow itto begin afresh.
"You never know what's goin' to happen," explained Hundley; "but mosttimes things is clear and straightforward. You lengthen the drill tillyou've run down about 30 feet: that means eight hours' solid work—aday's full work, Jim. You don't see the real result till the nextmorning; but my, how those dynamite shots do rip the place about! Forinstance, jest here where we're sinkin' the drill we're yards from theedge of the step we're working on. Well now, that shot'll be rammedhome, and the hole plugged over it. Something's got to go when dynamiteis exploded, and sense there's all this weight of stuff to the outsideof the terrace, and the shot is 30 feet deep, the outer lip gives way,and jest this boring results in tons of rock and dirt being brokenadrift. It's when you see the huge mass of loose stuff next morning thatyou realize that you ain't been doin' nothin'."
At the end of a week Jim was placed in entire charge of a rock drill,while a negro was allocated to the machine to help him. Then, somewhatlater than the official had intimated, the motor driller was completed,and our hero was drafted to the Gorgona works for some days, to practisewith the implement and get thoroughly accustomed to it. It was a proudday when he occupied the driving seat, threw out his clutch, and set thegears in mesh. Then, the engine buzzing swiftly, and a light cloud ofsteam coming from the nozzle of the radiator—for, like all rapidlymoving motor engines designed for stationary work, the water quicklyheated—he set the whole affair in motion, and trundled along thehighroad towards the cut.
"If you don't make a tale of this machine I shall be surprised," saidthe official, as he bade him farewell. "This motor should get throughthe rock very quickly, quicker a great deal than the steam-driven ones.But go steady along the road; steering ain't so easy."
Easy or not, Jim managed his steed with skill, and soon had the affairon one of the terraces. He had already had a certain part allotted tohim, and within an hour of his departure from the works had set hisfirst drill in position. Nor was it long before he realized that thedesire of the staff at Gorgona was to be more than realized; for thedrill bit its path into the rock swiftly, more so than in the case ofthe slower revolving steam drills, while there were fewer sudden stops.That first day he accomplished two bore holes, giving four hours to eachoperation. His cheeks were flushed with pleasure when he reportedprogress to the official.
"And the engine?" asked the latter. "She ran well?"
"Couldn't have gone better," declared Jim. "She gives off ample power,and there is plenty of water for cooling. That machine easily saves theextra dollar wages you offered."
"And will pay us handsomely to repeat it, for then there will be moredirt for the diggers to deal with, and the more there is the sooner thecut will be finished. We can always manage to get extra diggers."
That the innovation was a success was soon apparent to all, and many atime did officials come from the far end of the canal works to watch Jimat work, and to marvel at the swiftness with which his machine opened away through the rock. It was three months later before anything happenedto disturb our hero, and during all that time he continued at his work,coming from Gatun in the early hours, usually aboard an empty spoiltrain, but sometimes by means of one of the many motor trolley carswhich were placed at the disposal of inspectors. At the dinner hour hewent off to one of the Commission hotels, and there had a meal, andoften enough sang for the men to the banjo which he had since purchased.When the whistles blew at sundown he pulled on his jacket, placed amackintosh over his shoulders if it happened to be raining, which wasfrequently the case, and sought for a conveyance back to Gatun. Andoften enough these return journeys were made on the engine hauling aloaded spoil trail.
As for Tom and Sam, the two negroes had received posts at the verybeginning, the little negro working with the sanitary corps and the hugeTom being made into a black policeman.
"He's got a way with the darkies," explained Phineas, when announcingthe appointment, "and I've noticed that they're mighty civil to him. Yousee, the majority of our coloured gentry come from the West Indies, and,though they are likely enough boys, they are not quite so bright, Ithink, as are the negroes from the States. Anyway, Tom has a way withthem, and don't stand any sauce; while, when things are all right, he'sready to pass the time of day with all, and throw 'em a smile. Gee, howhe does laugh! I never saw a negro with a bigger smile, nor a merrier."
It may be wondered what had happened to the worthy and patient Ching.The Chinaman was far too good a cook to have his talents wasted in thecanal zone, and from the very beginning was installed in that capacityat Phineas Barton's quarters, thus relieving the lady who had formerlydone the work. The change, indeed, was all for the best, for now Sadiereceived more attention.
Three months almost to a day from the date when Jim had begun to run themotor drill the machinery got out of order.
"One of the big ends of a piston flew off," he reported to the official,when the latter arrived. "Before I could stop her running the piston rodhad banged a hole through the crank case, and I rather expect it hasdamaged the crank shaft."
It was an unavoidable accident, and meant that the machine must undergorepair.
"You'll have to be posted to another job meanwhile, Jim," said theofficial. "Of course I know that this is none of your doing. We shall beable to see exactly what was the cause of the accident to that pistonrod when we've taken the engine down. Perhaps one of the big end boltssheered. Or there may have been a little carelessness when erecting, anda cotter pin omitted. But I don't think that: my staff is too careful tomake errors of that sort. How'd you like to run one of the inspectionmotor trolleys? They were asking me for a man this morning; for one ofthe drivers is down with fever. You'd be able to take on the work atonce, since you understand motors. Of course there isn't any timetableto follow. You just run up and down as you're wanted, and all you've gotto learn really is where the switches and points are; so as to be ableto sidetrack the car out of the way of the dirt trains."
So long as it was work in connection with machinery Jim was bound to bepleased, and accepted the work willingly. The next day he boarded theinspection car at Gatun, and within half an hour had made himselffamiliar with the levers and other parts. Then he was telephoned for toa spot near Gorgona, and ran the car along the rails at a smart pace.Twice on the way there he had to stop, reverse his car, and run back toa siding, there to wait on an idle track till a dirt train had passed.
"You'll get to know most every switch in a couple of days," said thenegro who was in charge of this particular point, "and sometimes yo'llbe mighty glad that you did come to know 'em. Them spoil trains don'talways give too much time, particularly when there's a big load andthey're coming down the incline from way up by Culebra."
The truth of the statement was brought to our hero's mind very swiftly;for on the following morning, having run out on the tracks ahead of anempty spoil train, and passed a passenger train at one of the stations,he was slowly running up the incline into the Culebra cut when he hearda commotion in front of him. At once he brought his car to a standstillbeside one of the points.
"Specks there's been a breakdown, or something of that sort," said theman in charge, coming to the side of the car. "The track's clearenough, but I guess there'll be a dirt train along most any minute. Areyou for runnin' in over the points out of the way?"
At that moment Jim caught sight of something coming towards him.Suddenly there appeared over the brow of the incline the rear end of adirt train, and a glance told him that it was loaded. A man was racingalong beside one of the cars, somewhere about the centre of the train,and was endeavouring to brake the wheels with a stout piece of timber.Jim saw the timber suddenly flicked to one side, the man was thrownheavily, then, to his horror, there appeared a whole length of loadedcars racing down towards him, with nothing to stop the mad rush, noteven an engine.
"Gee, she's broken away from the loco!" shouted the man at the points."She's runnin' fast now, but in a while she'll be fair racing. Time shegets here, which'll be within the minute, she'll be doing sixty miles anhour. She'll run clear way down to Gatun. Come right in over thepoints."
He ran to open the switch, so that Jim could reach safety, while ourhero accelerated his engine in preparation for the movement. Then asudden thought came to his mind. He recollected the passenger trainwhich was coming on behind him.
"Man," he shouted, "there's a passenger coming 'way behind us! The carswere filled with people when I passed. She's ahead of the dirt trains,and of course does not expect to have a full spoil train running down onthis line. She'll be smashed into a jelly."
"So'll you if you don't come right in," cried the man, waving to Jimfrantically.
But he had a lad of pluck to deal with. Jim realized that betweenhimself and the oncoming passenger train, now some six miles awayperhaps, there lay a margin of safety for himself, if only he could runfast enough before the derelict spoil train racing towards him. But thatmargin might allow him to warn the driver of the passenger train. Hetook the risk instantly, shouted to the pointsman, and began to back hiscar. Fortunately it was one of those in which the reverse gear appliedto all speeds, and, since there was no steering to be done, he was ableto proceed at a furious pace.
"Get to the telephone," he bellowed to the man as he went away. "Warnthem down the line."
Then began an exciting race between his car and the spoil train; for thelatter was composed of many long, heavy trucks, all laden to the brimwith rock debris, consequently the smallest incline was sufficient toset them in motion if not properly braked. Now, when the whole line hadbroken adrift from its engine, and had run on to the Culebra incline,the weight told every instant. The pace soon became appalling, thetrucks bounding and scrunching along the tracks, shaking violently,throwing their contents on either side, threatening to upset at everycurve, gained upon Jim's car at every second.
"I'll have to jump if I can't get clear ahead," he told himself. "But ifI can only keep my distance for a while the incline soon lessens, whenthe pace of the runaway will get slower. But that man was right; she'scoasting so fast, and has so much weight aboard, that the impetus willtake her best part of the way to Gatun."
Once more it was necessary for Jim to do as he had done aboard the motorlaunch. His ignition and throttle levers were pushed to the farthestnotch. He was getting every ounce of power out of his car, desperatelystriving to keep ahead. But still the train gained. They came to acurve, our hero leading the runaway by some fifty yards, and bothrunning on the tracks at terrific speed. Suddenly the inside wheels ofthe inspection car lifted. Jim felt she was about to turn turtle andpromptly threw himself on to the edge of the car, endeavouring to weighher down. Over canted the car till it seemed that she must capsize. Jimgave a jerk with all his strength, and slowly she settled down on to herinside wheels again, clattering and jangling on the iron track as shedid so. Then he glanced back at the dirt train racing so madly afterhim.
"She'll be over," he thought. "She'll never manage to get round thatbend at such a pace."
But weight steadies a freight car, and on this occasion the leadingtrucks at least managed to negotiate the curve without sustainingdamage. The long train, looking like a black, vindictive snake, swunground the bend, with terrific velocity, and came on after himrelentlessly. Then, as the last truck but one reached the bend, therewas a sudden commotion. The dirt it contained heaved spasmodically andsplashed up over the side; it seemed to rise up at the after end in ahuge heap, and was followed by the tail of the truck. The whole thingcanted up on its head, then swayed outwards, and, turning on its side,crashed on to the track running along beside it. There was a roar, amedley of sounds, while the actual site of the upset was obscured by ahuge cloud of dust.
"That'll do it," thought our hero. "If we have any luck, that upsettingtruck will pull the rest of the cars off the road, and bring the wholetrain to a standstill."
But he was counting his chickens before they were hatched. The cloud ofdust blew aside swiftly, and, when he was able to see again, there wasthe line of cars, nearer by now, leaping madly along, trailing behindthem the broken end of the one which had overturned. Right behind, theother portion, together with the greater portion of the last truck ofall, was heaped in a confused mass on the second track of rails,disclosing its underframe and its two sets of bogie wheels to the sky.
"That passenger train must be only a couple of miles from us now," saidJim, as he desperately jerked at his levers, in the endeavour to forcehis car more swiftly along the track. "If I can keep ahead for half thatdistance I shall manage something, for then the incline lessens. Justhere she's going faster if anything. If only I could send this car alongquicker!"
He gazed anxiously over his shoulder, in the direction in which he wasflying, and was relieved to discover that the rails were clear. Then hetook a careful look at the line of cars bounding after him. There was nodoubt that the train was nearer. The leading car was within two hundredyards of him, and a minute's inspection told him clearly that thedistance between them was lessening very rapidly; for the runaway nowseemed to have taken the bit between her teeth with a vengeance. Despitethe weight of earth and rock in the cars they were swaying and leapinghorribly, causing their springs to oscillate as they had, perhaps, neverdone before. The wheels on the leading bogie seemed to be as much offthe iron tracks as on them, and at every little curve the expanse ofdaylight on the inner side beneath the trucks increased in proportions,showing how centrifugal force was pulling the heavy mass andendeavouring to upset it. It was an uncanny sight, but yet, for allthat, a fascinating one. Jim watched it helplessly, almost spellbound,conscious that the few moments now before him were critical ones. Heunconsciously set to work to calculate how long it would take, at thepresent rate of comparative progression of his own car and the runawaytrain, for the inevitable collision to occur. Then, seeing the heavingbogies of the trucks, he leaned over the side of his own car and watchedthe metal wheels. They clattered and thundered on the rails, the spokeswere indistinguishable, having the appearance of disks. But at the bendsthis was altered. The car tipped bodily, the inner wheels left thetracks, and at once their momentum lessened. Then, though he could notsee the individual spokes, the disk-like appearance was broken, tellinghim plainly, even if his eyes had not been sufficiently keen to actuallysee the fact, that the wheels and the track had parted company.
"Ah!" It was almost a groan that escaped him. In the few minutes inwhich he had been engaged in examining his own wheels the runaway trainhad gained on him by leaps and bounds. He could now hear the roar of itswheels above the rumble and clatter of his own, that and the buzz of themotor so busy beneath the bonnet. He cast his eye on either side, as ifto seek safety there, and watched the fleeting banks of the ChagresRiver, bushes and trees, and abandoned French trucks speeding past. Agang of workmen came into view, and he caught just a glimpse of themwaving their shovels. Their shouts came to his ears as the merestechoes. Then something else forced itself upon his attention. It was thefigure of a white man, standing prominent upon a little knoll beside therails, and armed with a megaphone. He had the instrument to his mouth,and thundered his warning in Jim's ears.
"Jump!" he shouted. "Jump! She'll be up within a jiffy!"
Within a jiffy! In almost less time than that; there were but two yardsnow between the small inspection car and the line of loaded trucks. Jimcould see the individual pieces of broken rock amongst the dirt, couldwatch the fantastic manner in which they were dancing. He looked abouthim, standing up and gripping the side of the car. Then away in front,along the clear tracks. He thought of the passenger train, andremembered that he alone stood between it and destruction.
"I'll stick to this ship whatever happens," he told himself stubbornly."If the train strikes me and breaks up the car, the wreck may throw itoff the rails. Better that than allow it to run clear on into thepassenger train. Ah! Here it is."
Crash! The buffers of the leading truck struck the motor inspection caron her leading spring dumb irons, and the buffet sent her hurtling alongthe track, while the shock of the blow caused Jim to double up over thesplashboard. But the wheels did not leave the tracks. Nothing seemed tohave been broken. The dumb irons were bent out of shape, that was all.
"Jump, yer fool!" came floating across the air to Jim's ear, while thefigure of the man with the megaphone danced fantastically, arms wavingviolently in all directions.
But Jim would not jump; he had long since made up his mind to stick tohis gun, to remain in this car whatever happened; for the safety of thepassenger train depended on him. True, a telephone message might havereached the driver; but then it might not have done so. He recollectedthat at the switch where this mad chase had first begun there was notelephone station closely adjacent. It would be necessary for the manthere to run to the nearest one. That would take time, while his ownflight down the tracks had endured for only a few minutes, though, tospeak the truth, those minutes felt like hours to our hero.
Bang! The cars struck him again, causing the one on which he rode towobble and swerve horribly; the wheels roared and flashed sparks as theflanges bit at the rails. The bonnet that covered the engine, crinkledup like a concertina; but the car held the track. Jim was still secure,while the second buffet had sent him well ahead. Better than all, herealized that he was now beyond the steeper part of the incline, whilehis engine was still pulling, urging the car backward. If only he couldincrease the pace, if only he could add to the distance which separatedhim from that long line of trucks bounding after him so ruthlessly. Thena groan escaped him; for along the Chagres valley, where, perhaps, inthe year 1915 a huge lake will have blotted out the site of the railwayalong which he flew, and where fleets of huge ships may well be lying,there came the distinct, shrill screech of a whistle. Jim swung round inan agony of terror. He looked along the winding track and his eyes litupon an object. It was the passenger train, loaded with human freight,standing in the way of destruction.
CHAPTER XIV
The Runaway Spoil Train
Barely a mile of the double track of the Panama railway stretchedbetween the inspection car, on which Jim was racing for his life, andthe oncoming passenger train. Glancing over his shoulder he could seethe smoke billowing from the locomotive and the escape steam blowing outbetween her leading wheels. Behind him there was the scrunch, thegrinding roar, of the long line of steel wheels carrying the runawayspoil train. He kneeled on his driving seat and looked first one way andthen the other, hesitating what to do. The rush of air, as he torealong, sent his broad-brimmed hat flying, and set his hair streaking outbehind him. His eyes were prominent, there was desperation written onhis face; but never once did he think of taking the advice which themegaphone man flung at him.
"Jump for it! No! I won't!" he declared stubbornly to himself. "I'llstick here till there's no chance left; then I'll bring this machine upsharp, and leave her as a buffer between the spoil train and the onebearing passengers. Not that she'll be of much use. That heavy line ofcars will punch her out of the way as if she were as light as a bag; butsomething might happen. The frame of this car might lift the leadingwheels of the spoil train from the tracks and wreck her."
There was an exhaust whistle attached to his car, and he set it soundingat once, though all the time his eyes drifted from passenger train tospoil train, from one side of the track to the other. Suddenly therecame into view round a gentle bend a mass of discarded machinery. Heremembered calling Phineas's attention to it some weeks before. Brokentrucks, which had once conveyed dirt from the cut at Culebra for theFrench workers, had been run from the main track on to a siding andabandoned there to the weather, and to the advance of tropicalvegetation, that, in a sinister, creeping manner all its own, stole uponall neglected things and places in this canal zone, and wrapped them inits clinging embrace, covering and hiding them from sight, as if ashamedof the work which man had once accomplished. Jim remembered the spot,and that it was one of the unattended switching stations rarelyused—for here the tracks of the railway were less encumbered with spoiltrains—yet a post for all that where the driver of an inspection carmight halt, might descend and pull over the lever, and so direct his carinto the siding.
"I'll do it," he told himself. "If only I can get there soon enough toallow me to reach the lever."
He measured the distance between himself and the pursuing spoil train,and noted that it had increased. His lusty little engine, rattling awaybeneath its crumpled bonnet, was pulling the car along at a fine pace.True, the velocity was not so great as it had been when descending thefirst part of the incline, that leading out of the Culebra cut; butthen the swift rush of the spoil train was also lessened. The want offall in the rails was telling on her progress, though, to be sure, shewas hurtling along at a speed approximating to fifty miles an hour; butthe bump she had given to Jim's car had had a wonderful effect. It hadshot the light framework forward, and, with luck, Jim determined toincrease the start thus obtained.
"But it'll be touch and go," he told himself, his eye now directed tothe switching station, just beyond which the mass of derelict Frenchcars lay. "There's one thing in my favour: the points open from thisdirection. If it had been otherwise I could have done nothing, for, evenif I had attempted to throw the point against the spoil train, the paceshe is making would carry her across the gap. Why don't that fellow onthe passenger engine shut off steam and reverse? Ain't he seen what'shappening?"
He scowled in the direction of the approaching passenger train, andknelt still higher, shaking his fists in that direction. It seemed thatthe man must be blind, that his attention must be in another direction;for already the line of coaches was within five hundred yards of thepoints which had attracted Jim's attention, and he realized that shewould reach the spot almost as soon as the spoil train would.
"'Cos she's closer," he growled. "If he don't shut off steam, anything Imay be able to do will be useless. He'll cross the switch and come headon to the collision."
A minute later he saw a man's figure swing out from the cab of thelocomotive on which his eyes were glued, while a hand was waved in hisdirection. Then a jet of steam and smoke burst from the funnel, whilewhite clouds billowed from the neighbourhood of the cylinders. Eventhough it was broad daylight, Jim saw sparks and flashes as the wheelsof the locomotive were locked and skated along the rails.
"He's seen it; he knows!" he shouted. "But he ain't got time to stop herand reverse away from this spoil train. If that switch don't workthere's bound to be a bad collision."
There was no doubt as to that point. The driver and fireman aboard thelocomotive recognized their danger promptly, and, like the bold fellowsthey were, stuck to their posts.
"Brakes hard!" shouted the former, jerking his steam lever over, andbringing the other hand down on that which commanded the reverse. "Hard,man! As hard as you can fix 'em! Be ready to put 'em off the momentshe's come to a standstill. This is going to be a case with us, Ireckon. That spoil train's doing fifty miles an hour if she's doing one.We can't get clear away from her, onless——"
He blew his whistle frantically, and once more leaned out far from hiscab, waving to the solitary figure aboard the flying inspection car.
"Onless what?" demanded the fireman brusquely, his eyes showingprominently in his blackened face, his breath coming fast after hisefforts; for both hand and vacuum brakes had been applied.
"Onless that 'ere fellow aboard the inspection car manages to reach thepoints in time and switch 'em over. Guess he's tryin' for it; but thereain't much space between him and the spoil train. There's goin' ter bean almighty smash."
Thus it appeared to all; for by now men, invisible before, had appearedat different points, and were surveying the scene, holding their breathat the thought of what was about to happen.
"Best get along to the telephone and send 'way up to Gorgona for theambulance staff," said one of these onlookers. "That 'ere passengertrain ain't got a chance of gettin' clear away. She ain't got the roomnor the time. Fust the spoil train'll run clear over the inspection car,and grind it and the chap aboard to powder. Then she'll barge into thepassenger, and, shucks! there'll be an unholy upset. Get to thetelephone, do yer hear!"
He shouted angrily at his comrade, overwrought by excitement, and thenset off to run towards the points for which Jim was making. As for thelatter, by strenuous efforts, by jagging at his levers, he had contrivedto get his engine to run a little faster, and had undoubtedly increasedhis lead over the spoil train. He was now, perhaps, a long hundred yardsin advance.
"Not enough," he told himself. "Going at this pace it'll take time tostop, though the brakes aboard this car are splendid. I know what I'lldo. Keep her running till I'm within fifty yards, then throw her out ofgear, jam on the brakes, and jump for it just opposite the switch. I'llperhaps be able to roll up to it in time to pull that train over."
It was the only method to employ, without doubt, though the risk wouldnot be light. For, while a motor car on good hard ground can be broughtto a standstill within fifty yards when going at a great pace, whenshod with steel wheels and running on a metal track the results aredifferent. Jim's steed lacked weight for the work. Though he might lockhis wheels, they would skate along the tracks, and reduce his paceslowly. The leap he contemplated must be made from a rapidly moving car.That might result in disaster.
"Better a smash like that than have people aboard the train killed bythe dozen," he told himself. "Those points are two hundred yards off; ina hundred I set to at it."
He cast a swift glance towards the passenger train, which was nowretreating, and then one at the spoil train. He measured the distancebetween himself and the latter nicely. Then he dropped his toe on theclutch pedal, and his hand on the speed lever. Click! Out shot thegears, while the engine raced and roared away as if it were possessed.But Jim paid no attention to it. He let it continue racing, and at oncejammed on his brakes. It made his heart rise into his mouth when henoticed with what suddenness the spoil train had recovered the intervalbetween them. She was advancing upon him with leaps and bounds. Itseemed as if he were not moving. With an effort he took his eyes fromthe rushing trucks, and fixed them upon the points he hoped to be ableto operate. They were close at hand. His glance was caught by theoperating lever. The moment for action had arrived, while still his carprogressed at a pace which would have made the boldest hesitate to leapfrom it. But Jim made no pause, more honour to him. He left his seat,placed one hand on the side of the car, and vaulted into space. Theground at the side of the track struck the soles of his feet as if witha hammer, doubling his knees up and jerking his frame forward. Theimpetus which the moving car had imparted to his body sent him rollingforward. He curled up like a rabbit struck by the sportsman at fullpace, and rolled over and over. Then with a violent effort he arrestedhis forward movement. With hands torn, and every portion of his bodyjarred and shaken, he brought his mad onward rush to a standstill, and,recovering from the giddiness which had assailed him, found that he wasclose to the all-important lever governing the points. With a shout Jimthrew himself upon it, tugged with all his might, and jerked the pointsover.
"JIM TUGGED WITH ALL HIS MIGHT"
Meanwhile the thunder of the spoil train had grown louder. The scrunchof steel tyres on the rails, and the grinding of the flanges of thewheels against the edges of the track drowned every other sound, eventhe singing which Jim's tumble had brought to his ears. The runaway,with all its impetus and weight rushing forward to destroy all thathappened to be in its path, was within a yard of the points when ourhero threw his weight on the lever. The leading wheels struck the pointswith violence, and Jim, watching eagerly, saw the rims mount up over thecrossway. Then the bogie frame jerked and swung to the right, while thefour wheels obeyed the direction of the points and ran towards theside track. But it was when the first half of the leading car hadpassed the points that the commotion came. The dead weight of thecontents—projected a moment earlier directly forward—were of a suddenwrenched to one side. The strain was tremendous. Something was bound togive way under it, or the car would capsize.
As it happened, the wreck was brought about by a combination ofmovements. The front bogie of the truck collapsed, the wheels being tornfrom their axles. At the same moment the huge mass capsized, flingingits load of rock and dirt broadcast across the track. The noise wassimply deafening, while a huge dust cloud obscured the actual scene ofthe upset from those who were looking on. But Jim could see. As he clungto the lever he watched the first truck come to grief in an instant.After that he himself was overwhelmed in the catastrophe; for theremaining trucks piled themselves up on the stricken leader. The secondbroke its coupling and mounted on the first; while the third, deflectedto one side, shot past Jim as if it were some gigantic dart, and swepthim and the lever away into space. The remainder smashed themselves intomatchwood, all save five in rear, which, with retarded impetus, foundonly a bank of fallen dirt and rock that broke the collision and leftthem shaking on the track. When the onlookers raced to the spot, and thepeople aboard the passenger train joined them, there was not a sight ofthe young fellow who had controlled the inspection car and had saved adisastrous collision.
"Guess he's buried ten feet deep beneath all that dirt and stuff," saidone of the men, gazing at the ruin. "I seed him run to the lever. Run,did I say? He jest rolled, that's what he did. He war just in time,though, and then, gee! there war a ruction. I've seen a bust-up on arailway afore, but bless me if this wasn't the wildest I ever seed. Didyer get to the telephone?"
His comrade reassured him promptly.
"I rung 'em up at Gorgona," he answered. "There's a dirt train comingalong with the ambulance and Commission doctor aboard, besides awrecking derrick. That young chap saved a heap of lives you'd reckon?"
It was in the nature of a question, and the answer came from the firstspeaker speedily.
"Lives! a full trainload, man. I seed his game from the beginning, andguess it war the only manœuvre that was worth trying. It was a racefor the points, and the man aboard the inspection car won by a shorthead. He hadn't more'n a second or two to spare once he got a grip ofthe lever; but I reckon he's paid his own life for the work. He war aplucked 'un—a right down real plucked 'un!"
He stared fiercely into the eyes of the other man, as if he challengedhim to deny the statement; but there were none who had seen this finedisplay of courage who had aught but enthusiasm for it. There was nodissentient voice; the thing was too plain and palpable.
"Some of you men get searching round to see if you can find a trace ofthat young fellow," cried one of the Commission officials who happenedto come running up at this moment. "If he's under this dirt he'll besmothered while we're talking."
Every second brought more helpers for the task, and very soon there werea hundred men round the wreck of the spoil train; for the driver ofthe passenger train had stopped his reverse movement as soon as hesaw that all danger for his own charge had gone. Then he had steamedforward till within a foot of the inspection car which Jim had driven.The latter, thanks to the fact that the brake was jammed hard on, cameto a halt some thirty yards beyond the points, and stood there with itsengine roaring. But the fireman quickly shut off the ignition.Passengers poured from the coaches—for it happened that a number ofofficials were making a trip to the far end of the Culebra cut toinspect progress—and at once hastened to the side of the wreck. Butsearch as they might there was no trace of the lad who had saved so manylives by his gallantry and resourcefulness.
"Come here and tell me what you think of this," suddenly said one of theofficials, drawing his comrades after him to the tail end of the train,to the shattered remains of the two trucks which had overturned at abend, and which had been trailing and clattering along the track in wakeof the spoil train. He invited their inspection of the couplings whichhad bound the last of the cars to the locomotive. There came a whistleof surprise from one of his friends, while something like a shout ofindignation escaped another.
"Well?" demanded the first of the officials. "What's your opinion?"
"That this was no accident. This train broke away from her loco. whenshe was on the incline because some rascal had cut through thecouplings. That, sir, 's my opinion," answered the one he addressed,with severity.
There was agreement from all, so that, at the first examination, andbefore having had an opportunity of questioning those who had been incharge of the spoil train, it became evident that there had been foulplay, that some piece of rascality had been practised.
"But who could think of such a thing? There's never been any sort ofmean game played on us before this. Whose work is it?" demanded one ofthe officials hotly.
"That's a question neither you nor I can answer," instantly respondedanother. "But my advice is that we say not a word. There are but six ofus who know about the matter. Let us report to the chief, and leave himto deal with it. For if there is some rascal about, the fact that hiswork is discovered will warn him. If he thinks he has hoodwinkedeveryone there will be a better opportunity of discovering him."
The advice was sound, without question, so that, beyond arranging to getpossession of the coupling, which showed that it had fractured oppositea fine saw cut, the party of officials preserved silence for the moment.Meanwhile American hustle had brought crowds of helpers to the spot. Alocomotive had steamed down from Gorgona, pushing a wrecking derrickbefore it, and within thirty minutes this was at work, with a crew ofwilling helpers. A gang of Italian spademen was brought up from theother direction, and these began to remove the rock and dirt. As to Jim,not a trace of him was found till three of the overturned and wreckedtrucks had been dragged clear by the wrecking derrick. It was then thatthe actual site of the lever which operated the points was come upon,the most likely spot at which to discover his body.
"We'll go specially easy here," said the official who was directingoperations. "Though one expects that the man is killed, and smothered byall this dirt, yet you never can say in an accident of this sort. I'veknown a life saved most miraculously."
The hook at the end of the huge chain run over the top of the derrickwas attached to the forward bogie of the overturned car, then the wholething was lifted. Underneath was found a mass of dirt and rock which theimpetus of the car had tossed forward. At the back, just beneath theedge of the truck, where it had thrust its way a foot into the ground,one of the workers caught sight of an arm with the fingers of the handprotruding from the debris. "Hold hard!" he shouted. "He's here. Bestwait till we've tried to pull him out. The car might swing on that chainand crush him."
They kept the end of the wrecked truck suspended while willing handssought for our hero. A man crept in under the truck, swept the earthaway, and passed the listless figure of the young car driver out intothe open. Jim was at once placed on a stretcher, while the Commissionsurgeon bent over him, dropping a finger on his pulse. He found itbeating, very slowly to be sure, but beating without doubt, while a deepbruise across the forehead suggested what had happened. A rapidinspection of his patient, in fact, convinced the surgeon that there wasno serious damage.
"Badly stunned, I guess," he said. "I can't find that any bones arebroken, and though I thought at first that his skull must be injured,everything points to my fears being groundless. Put him in theambulance, boys, and let's get him back to hospital."
An hour later our hero was safely between the sheets, with a nursesuperintending his comfort. By the time that Phineas arrived on thescene he was conscious, though hardly fit for an interview; but on thefollowing morning he was almost himself, and chafed under the nurse'srestraint till the surgeon gave him permission to get up.
"As if I was a baby," he growled. "I suppose I fell on my head, and thatknocked me silly. But it's nothing; I haven't more than the smallestheadache now."
"Just because you're lucky, young fellow," quizzed the surgeon. "Let mesay this: the tumble you had was enough to knock you silly, and I daresay that if you hadn't had something particular to do you would havegone off at once. But your grit made you hold on to your senses. Thatcar, when it overturned, as near as possible smashed your head into theearth beneath it. You'll never be nearer a call while you're workinghere on the canal. Low diet, sister, and see that he keeps quiet."
Jim glowered on the surgeon and made a grimace. "Low diet indeed! Why,he felt awful hungry."
But no amount of entreaty could influence the nurse, and, indeed, itbecame apparent to even our hero himself that the course of procedurewas correct. For that evening he was not so well, though a long,refreshing sleep put him to rights.
"And now you can hear something about the commotion the whole thing'scaused," said Phineas, as he put Jim into a chair in his parlour, andordered him with severity to retain his seat. "Orders are that you keepquiet, else back you go right off to the hospital. Young man, there wereforty-two souls aboard that passenger train, and I reckon you saved 'em.Of course, there are plenty of wise heads that tell us that the driver,when he'd stopped his train, should have turned all the passengers out.Quite so, sir; but then it takes time to do that. You might not haveopened the points, and the spoil train would have been into them beforethe people could climb down out of the cars. So the general feeling isthat everyone did his best, except the villain who cut that couplinghalf through. They've told you about it?"
Jim nodded slowly. "Who could have done such a miserable and wickedthing?" he asked. "Not one of the white employees."
"It don't bear thinking about," said Phineas sharply. "No one can evenguess who was the rascal. Leave the matter to the police; they're makingquiet enquiries. But there's to be a testimonial, Jim, a presentationone evening at the club, and a sing-song afterwards."
"What? More!" Jim groaned. "Let them take this testimonial as presented.I'll come along to the sing-song."
"And there's to be promotion for a certain young fellow we know,"proceeded Phineas, ignoring his remarks utterly. "One of the bosses of asection down by Milaflores locks got his thumb jammed in a gear wheel aweek back, and the chief has been looking round to replace him. You'vebeen selected."
Jim's eyes enlarged and brightened at once. He was such a newcomer tothe canal zone that promotion had seemed out of the question for a longtime to come. He told himself many a time that he was content to work onas he was and wait like the rest for advancement.
"The wages are really good," he had said to Sadie, "and after I've paideverything there is quite a nice little sum over at the end of the week.I'm putting it by against a rainy day."
And here was promotion! By now he had learned the scale of wages andsalaries that were paid all along the canal. Such matters were laid downdefinitely, and were decidedly on the liberal side. With a flush of joyhe realized that, as chief of a section, he would be in receipt of justdouble the amount he had had when working the rock drill.
"And of course there'll be compensation for the accident, just the sameas in the case of any other employee," added Phineas, trying to appearas if he had not noticed the tears of joy which had risen to Jim's eyes.For who is there of his age, imbued with the same keenness, with greaterresponsibilities on his young shoulders than falls to the lot of theaverage lad, who would not have gulped a little and felt unmanned bysuch glorious news? Consider the circumstances of our hero's life forsome little time past. It had been a struggle against what had at timesseemed like persistent bad fortune. First his father ruined, then thewhole family compelled to leave their home and drift on the Caribbean.The loss of his father and then of his brother had come like final blowswhich, as it were, drove the lessons of his misfortunes home to Jim. Andthere was Sadie, at once a comfort and an anxiety. Jim alone stoodbetween her and charity.
"There'll be compensation for the accident," continued Phineas, "andreward from the Commissioners for saving that train of passenger cars.You've got to remember that it is cheaper any day to smash up a spoiltrain than it is to wreck one carrying people. One costs a heap more toerect than the other. So there you saved America a nice little sum. Ineedn't say that if the people aboard had been killed, compensationwould have amounted to a big figure. So the Commission has receivedpowers from Washington to pay over 500 dollars. I rather think that'llmake a nice little nest egg against the day you get married."
Phineas roared with laughter as he caught a glimpse of Jim's face afterthose last words. Indignation and contempt were written on the flushedfeatures. Then our hero joined in the merriment. "Gee! If there ever wasa lucky dog, it's me!" he cried. "Just fancy getting a reward for such ajob! As for the nest egg and marrying, I've better things to do withthat money. I'll invest it, so that Sadie shall have something if I'munlucky enough next time not to escape under similar circumstances.Bein' married can wait till this canal's finished. Guess I've enough todo here. I'm going to stay right here till the works are opened and I'vesailed in a ship from Pacific to Atlantic."
Phineas smiled, and, leaning across, gripped his young friend's hand andshook it hard. Open admiration for the pluck which our hero haddisplayed, now on more than one occasion, was transparent in the eyes ofthis American official. But there was more. Jim had caught that strangeinfection which seemed to have taken the place of the deadly yellowfever. It was like that pestilence, too, in this, that it waswonderfully catching, wonderfully quick to spread, and inflicted itselfupon all and sundry, once they had settled down in the zone. But therethe simile between this infection and that of the loathsome yellow feverended. That keenness for the work, that determination to relax noenergy, but to see what many thought a hopeless undertaking safely andsurely accomplished, had, in the few months since he came to the canalzone, fastened itself upon Jim, till there was none more eager all alongthe line between the Pacific and the Atlantic.
"Yes," he repeated, "I'll stay right here till the canal's opened. Bythen that nest egg ought to be of respectable proportions."
A week later there was a vast gathering at the clubhouse, when one ofthe chief officials of the canal works presented Jim with a fine goldwatch and chain to the accompaniment of thunderous applause from theassembled employees. At the same time the reward sent or sanctioned bythe Government at Washington was handed over to him. A merry concertfollowed, and then the meeting broke up. It was to be Jim's last eveningin the neighbourhood of Gatun.
"Of course you'll have to live in one of the hotels at Ancon," saidPhineas, when discussing the matter, "for it is too long a journey fromthere to this part to make every day. It would interfere with your work.You can come along weekends, and welcome. Sadie'll stop right here; Iwon't hear of her leaving."
The arrangement fell in with our hero's wishes, for there was no doubtbut that his sister was in excellent hands. She had taken a liking toPhineas's housekeeper, and was happy amongst her playmates at theCommission school close at hand. Jim left her, therefore, in the care ofhis friend, and was soon established in his quarters in a vastCommission hotel at Ancon, within easy distance of Milaflores, the partwhere he was to be chief of a section of workers. He found that thelatter were composed for the most part of Italians, though there were afew other European nationalities, as well as some negroes.
"You'll have plans given you and so get to know what the work is," saidhis immediate superior. "Of course what we're doing here is getting outfoundations for the two tiers of double locks. You'll have a couple ofsteam diggers to operate, besides a concrete mill; for we're puttingtons of concrete into our foundations. A young chap like you don't wantto drive. Though it's as well to remember that foreigners same as theseain't got the same spirit that our men have. They don't care so much forthe building of the canal as for the dollars they earn, but if you takethem the right way you can get a power of work out of them."
The advice given was, as Jim found, excellent, and with his sunny natureand his own obvious preference for hard work, in place of idleness, hesoon became popular with his section, and conducted it for some weeksto the satisfaction of those above him. Nor did he find the work lessinteresting. The huge concrete mill was, in itself, enough to rivetattention, though there was a sameness about its movements which was aptto become monotonous when compared with the varied, lifelike motions ofthe steam diggers. Rubble and cement were loaded into its enormoushopper by the gangs of workmen, and ever there was a mass of semi-fluidconcrete issuing from the far side, ready mixed for the foundations ofthe locks which, when the hour arrives, will carry the biggest ships theworld is capable of building. On Saturday afternoon, when the whistlesblew earlier than on weekdays, Jim would return to his hotel, wash andchange, and take the first available car down the tracks to Gatun. Aconcert at the club was usually arranged for Saturday night, while onSunday he went to the nearest church with Phineas and Sadie, and thenreturned in the evening to Ancon.
"Strange that we should never be able to get any information about thatrunaway spoil train," said Phineas, on one of the occasions when Jimwent over to Gatun. "There's never been a word about it. The police havefailed to fathom what is at this day still a mystery. But there's arascal at work somewhere. There's been a severe fire down Colon way,sleepers near pitched a passenger train from the rails opposite the damthere, while one night, when the works were deserted, someone took thebrakes off a hundred-ton steam digger, and sent her running down thetracks. She smashed herself to pieces, besides wrecking a dozen cars."
The news was serious, in fact, and pointed unmistakably to a criminalsomewhere on the canal, someone with a grudge against the undertaking,or against the officials. It made Jim think instantly of Jaime deOteros, though why he could not imagine. But he was soon to know; littletime was to pass before he was to come face to face with the miscreant.
CHAPTER XV
Jaime de Oteros forms Plans
If ever there were a rascal it was Jaime de Oteros, the Spaniard, who,if his past history were but fully known, had left his own nativecountry, now many years ago, a fugitive from justice. Armed withsufficient money to obtain an entrance into the United States ofAmerica, he had quickly re-embarked upon the course he had beenfollowing, and with the gang he had contrived to gather about him hadcommitted many burglaries. Then, the police being hot on his track, hehad left the country, and had begun operations again in southernAmerica.
"That is our information about the man," said the police major, as hewas discussing the matter with Phineas and Jim one Saturday evening,when the latter was over at Gatun for the usual weekend stay. "Therascal knew that the police in New York State were making anxious searchfor him, and with his usual astuteness—for the man is astute without adoubt, and is, indeed, well educated—he slipped away before the netclosed round him. Later we hear of him at various ports along theMexican Gulf, and then in the canal zone. Tom brings us news of greatimportance."
The big negro stood before them, looking magnificent in his policeuniform, and with an air of authority about him which was entirely new,and which caused Jim to struggle hard to hide his mirth; for he knew Tomso well. Severity did not match well with the huge negro's jolly nature.
"I'se seed dis scum ob a man," he declared to them all, rolling hiseyes. "Yo tink Tom make one big mistake. Not 'tall; noding of de sort.Me sartin sure. Him come out ob a house in Colon. Same man, butdifferent. No beard, face clean shaved; but scowl all de same. Tom knowde blackguard when he see um."
"But," said Phineas, "if you knew him why did you not arrest him? Thereis a warrant out for his apprehension."
"And me try; but dat Spaniard dog quick, quicker'n Tom. Him slip backinto de house and clear out ob de back door. Not dere two second later,"declared the negro. "And not dere agin when me and Sam go some hoursafter. Not come all de time dat we hide up and watch. Him vanish intothin air."
It was a pretty figure of speech for the negro, and brought a huge smileto his jolly countenance. "Vanish right slick away into de mist," headded, as if to give more weight to his words.
"And has not been seen by anyone else, before or since," said the Major,his face become very serious. "But I believe Tom is right. Who elsecould be the author of these many affairs along the line of canalworks?"
He looked closely at Phineas, and from him turned to Jim and then toTom. There was indecision on all the faces, though in the hearts of eachone there was not the smallest doubt that Jaime de Oteros was theinstigator, even if he did not actually carry out the work. The matterwas serious, very serious, without a doubt.
"It isn't as if there were one isolated case," said the Major. "Therehave been many, and though so far the running away of spoil trains, theupsetting of wagons, and so forth has not resulted in the killing of ouremployees, it will do so, perhaps, next time, if we do not take steps toput an end to such matters. The difficulty is to know where to begin. Wehave men engaged in watching every mile of the track, but they do notall know this ruffian, though we have circulated his photograph;besides, he has altered his appearance. He is the most elusive criminalI have ever had dealings with, and at the same time one of the boldest.But a feeling of revenge cannot alone cause him to stay on here in thecanal zone, and risk arrest."
If only the Major could have known it, there was a good deal more thanthe desire to pay off an old score to keep Jaime de Oteros in thatlocality. The Spaniard had now put in at many a port along that part ofthe world, and had discovered that the canal zone offered fineropportunities to a man such as he was than any other place.
"Just because there's always money in plenty there," he told the fourcompanions he now had, for he had gathered two recruits to take theplace of those who had been lost on the launch. "It is like this, mates.Here, on the canal, nearly every soul is at work during the hours ofdaylight, and though the police have little to do, and therefore plentyof time to watch for people such as us, yet the fact that there is solittle crime in the zone puts them off their guard. I'm tired of playingoff that score. Reckon I'm near even with the lot of them; but there'sstill a little to do. There's that young fellow who ran the engineaboard the launch, and who was the first to come upon our gang and splitit up. He's got to suffer."
He looked round at the ruffians assembled about him, and read approvalin their eyes.
"A grudge is a grudge," said one of them fiercely, dropping his hand tothe weapon he carried in his belt. "Where I came from an injury done wasnever paid for till a knife thrust had been given. This young fellowmust suffer. How? What is the plan?"
Jaime shrugged his shoulders expressively, and shook his head. "That'sfor the future," he said quickly. "I'm thinking it out. I've an idea, afine idea."
Into his eyes there came a savage flash which boded ill for our hero,while the brows contracted and the lips slipped back from his sharpteeth. At that moment Jaime de Oteros, in place of the polished,smooth-spoken man he could pretend so well to be, was actually himself,a villain who knew not the name of conscience, who would stop atnothing, whose savage disposition was capable of carrying out anyatrocity. Then he smiled suddenly at his comrades, a crafty smile whichwas meant to convey a great deal.
"Let it rest for the moment, this idea of mine," he said. "What we'vegot to talk about is this cash. There's money due within a day or two,money for the payment of the hands engaged on the canal. Well, we'vemade one haul already; we can make another, and then clear for good.This zone will be too hot to hold us once the work's finished. Now, letme hear the report. A good general never enters upon an engagementbefore he has made full arrangements to get clear off in case of thingsgoing wrong. Well, things will go wrong here—not for us, but for theofficials. They'll be real mad, and will do all they know to follow. Letme hear what has happened."
There was a snivel of delight on the face of the rascal who had formerlyspoken, and who now responded to his chief's invitation.
"I was to see what sort of a boat there was ready to put out fromColon," he said. "I found one that was rather likely. The old pirate shebelongs to has been here all his life, and what he don't know of thesurroundings ain't worth knowing. He's ready to clear from the harbour,with two of his sons and two others he'll hire, the instant we want himto do so. Reckon it'll be nigh about sundown when the time for movingcomes."
Jaime nodded curtly. "About that," he agreed, "Well?"
"This old pirate likes fishing. He'll watch for a fire signal way upover Gatun, and then he'll clear right off with his boat. Of coursehe'll do it secretly, but not too secretly. People'll be allowed tocatch a glimpse of men getting aboard, and of the boat putting out.She'll disappear."
"Ah!" Jaime rubbed his hands together, and then began to roll acigarette with the nimblest of fingers. A smile broke out over his face,and for the moment the man looked almost handsome. "She'll disappear,"he giggled. "Yes, where? I begin to follow the move."
"Where? That's for the police to decide. Ef they was to ask me at thetime I couldn't place a guess. But that old pirate knows a cove, quitehandy to Colon, where, once a man's lowered his topsail, he can lay hidwith his boat from all save those who care to come right into the cove.Our man says he'll do a bit of fishing. He'll pass his time with thatand sleeping, while the police steam right on, searching for the boatthat left Colon so secretly. Ef they ain't bamboozled, wall, call me aDutchman."
There was a roar of merriment from the five ruffians. They lay back intheir chairs, and closed their eyes, as if thereby to help themselves toimagine the spectacle of the Commission Police racing across the sea ona wild-goose chase. Indeed it was one of the enjoyments of theirparticular thieving profession to set the police at naught, and makethem look foolish by their own astuteness. And here was an astute plan.
"It licks creation," laughed Jaime, bringing a fist down with a crash onto the table, and exposing a hand burned brown by the sun, and on thefingers of which more than one ring glittered. "This old man of yourswill fool them nicely for us, and while the police are away on the sea,we shall cut off in a different direction. That brings us to the secondreport. You see I have to be very careful. Time was when I saw to allthese matters myself; but hereabouts I'm known, and badly wanted. Inspite of shaving off my beard I might easily be recognized, as by thatnigger. Gee! Ef he comes up agin me again I'll give him reasons to mindhis manners. Now, what about the horses?"
He turned to another of his comrades, to the second of the two newrecruits he had gathered to his band, and looked inquisitively at him.The man was ready with his answer, and blurted it out eagerly, like aschoolboy who longs to make his own voice heard before all others.
"Horses," said the fellow, a dusky South American, whose swarthyfeatures were deeply lined and pitted. "Trust me to pick the right sortwhen they're wanted. You told me to seek mounts strong enough to carryus across a rough country, and fix a rate to be paid for 'em. I went alittle better. There ain't many cattle in this place, so that one hasn'tto look far. But along over there," and he jerked his head over his leftshoulder, "there's a biggish farm, where there's a dozen mounts. We'llwant six, I guess, five for ourselves, and one for the dollars."
"Seven," corrected Jaime suddenly. "Seven, my comrade."
All looked at him curiously. Their chief was not wont to make mistakes,but here it looked as if he were miscalculating. However, Jaime smiledserenely back at them. "Seven horses without doubt," he said quietly,blowing a cloud of smoke from his lips, and cutting it asunder with awave of his ringed fingers. "Precisely that number."
"I don't follow; six is the figure I put it at," came the answer."Unless——" and at the thought the rascal's face lit up with glee,"unless you reckon the dollars'll be too many for one bag."
But the leader of the band shook his head, and smiled ambiguously."Seven horses will be required," he said slowly. "Tell us more of thebusiness. You arranged the payment?"
"I fixed the business in a different manner. I scouted round a little,and soon found that, at nighttime, there were but one man and a womanabout the place. The stables are well away from the house, and easy toget at. I fixed that there wouldn't be any payment."
There was a cunning expression about his face as he looked round at hiscomrades, while the lines about his eyes were sunken deeper. Jaimerewarded him with a loud "Bravo!" "You begin well with us, comrade," hesaid eagerly. "The report is a good one. But one little matter occurs tome: this farm is near the works, eh? It is connected by telephone?"
The other rascal at once relieved him of the doubt. "It lies packed awayin a hollow, just on the edge of the zone," he said. "The folks ain'tnever seen a telephone."
"Then that matter is agreed upon. We can now begin to decide what eachone of us is to do. I'll tell you right now what I had intended. To callaway attention from the place where the money's banked we decided tocause an upset pretty adjacent. Well, now, the Culebra cutting seemed tobe the most likely spot of all. I've been thinking and planning. Aruction there could be heard way up and down the line, and would setpeople running. The point was, how to cause that ruction."
There was more than passing interest on the faces of his followers. Intheir opinion this leader of theirs was a fine fellow, a cunning man,one whom it was an honour to follow. They awaited the details of hisplan with eagerness, not to say anxiety.
"And how did you fix it?" asked one of the men, proceeding to light hiscigarette by means of the candle burning before him. "Another train letloose? A shot under the wheels of a passenger coach? A dozen diggerssent scuttling?"
There was a snigger on his face, quickly copied by the others. Jaimeshowed his pleasure by smiling broadly. After all, it was one of hispleasures in life to have the praise and high opinion of his following.He pulled at his cigarette thoughtfully, and then proceeded with hisplan.
"We've played too many of those games already," he said, with a shortlaugh. "The officials of the canal are always on the lookout. But theplan I fastened on to would have taken their breath away, if it didn'tmanage to deprive some of them of the same for good and always. I'd beenwatching those rock drills, and the powder men laying their shots. Itseemed to me that once the shots were wired, and connected to the firingcables, a man had only to get to the firing-point and operate theigniter. I got asking questions. I've done a bit on electricity worksbefore now, and I soon saw that the thing was possible. With a littleluck I could fire their shots for them."
The faces about him showed doubt and a lack of comprehension, for Jaimewas far more intelligent than any of the other members of his rascallyband. "What was the object of firing those shots?" they askedthemselves. But their leader soon explained the matter.
"It is like this," he said suavely, as if describing an everyday matter:"the shots are laid ready for firing, and when the works are cleared theman who operates the igniter gets to work and explodes them, one by oneor in batches, according to the wiring. Well, now, if the place iscleared of workers, there's no damage done, though rocks and dirt flyout in all directions. But if there was an accident—if, for instance, Ihappened to meddle with the igniter before the works werecleared—there'd be a tremendous ruction, and that's what we'rewanting."
The diabolical nature of his suggestion dawned only slowly upon theminds of his following; but when it did so, when they fully comprehendedhis meaning, their faces flushed with enthusiasm. Each of the five hadworked on the canal, and had seen those dynamite shots fired. Tons ofearth and rock spouted in all directions. That they had witnessed. Toremain in the neighbourhood meant certain death for many, injury for nota few, and a commotion which the officials and workers had so far neverexperienced. There was joy on their faces. They banged the table withtheir fists, and stretched across to grasp the rascally palm of theirleader; but Jaime silenced them with uplifted hand.
"It sounded right, I grant," he said between the puffs of smoke; "butthere was a fly in the ointment. The igniter is kept under lock and key.The place is guarded. These canny Americans know that those shots meandanger, and they don't run risks. If I tried the game, the chances are Ishould be disturbed or taken in the act of trying. So I wiped it out; Istarted in to think out another plan, something noisy, something thatwould draw all officials to the spot, away from the place where themoney is lying. And at last I fixed it. One of you men will changeplaces with a hand at Pedro Miguel, where they're building in theirfoundations for one of the big locks at the end of the Culebra cutting.You'll work with the rest till the whistles go at sundown, and then,when the coast is clear, you'll sneak back to the workings. I'll giveyou the rest of the plan later on; but you'll be the one to create amost almighty ruction, you'll be the one to draw off every official, andwhile they're busy we others'll get to work at the money. It'll be eighto'clock before we can meet at this farm, and an hour later will take usinto the bush. Next morning we'll be right away in the swamps, withfriends about us, while the police will be following the old fellow, whowill put to sea the previous evening."
They sat in silence for a while, Jaime regarding each one of his band inturn, scrutinizing their faces closely, as if seeking for something inparticular. Then he fastened upon one of them, and stretched across togrip his hand.
"Juan is a brave man," he said impressively; "he will take the post ofwhich I have spoken. To him falls the honour of creating such a troublethat those who go for the dollars may be able to take them easily. It isa post worth the having."
The rascal greedily accepted it He was one of Jaime's old hands, and hadcomplete confidence in his chief. Moreover, he had now helped him in somany risky operations that fear did not enter into his calculations.Why should it, indeed, seeing that all others would be in ignorance? Theplot was being hatched in secrecy. None would know that anything was tohappen until the moment arrived. The hard-working officials of the canalwould be unable to recover from their astonishment before he and hisfriends were gone. Juan drank deeply from the cup before him, andreplenished the vessel from a stone jar standing on the table.
"It is settled; whatever the plan, it is accomplished," he said with thegreatest assurance.
"Then we have merely to arrange the parts for the others. Miguel sees tothe horses. Our friend Alfonso, who made the arrangement with theboatman, will be with Miguel, and will light a flare above Gatun atseven in the evening, or sooner if he discovers that there is acommotion. The two will then go to the farm, take the horses, and ridetowards Ancon. There is a spot at the bottom of a rocky hill, where theroad sweeps sharply round into the valley. My friends, we have all beenthere before. It is there that we will meet when the work is finished.Pedro and myself will take the money, then Pedro will carry it to thehorses. But I ought to have said that Alfonso and Miguel will not ridetowards Ancon with all the horses. They will leave three at the back ofGatun, at a spot we can arrange upon. There Pedro will take the moneyand load it on one of the horses. He will wait for me; I shall come, andthen we will ride to the place of meeting."
There were inquisitive glances thrown at the man by his comrades. Thequestion of the seventh horse again occurred to them. Jaime smiled whenhe remarked their curiosity, and busily employed himself in rolling acigarette. It pleased him to watch his comrades as they endeavoured tofathom his purpose.
"You ride to join Pedro after a while then?" queried the rascal Juan."What keeps you? Ah, I see it! A private grudge—that young fellow."
Jaime nodded easily, and smiled openly upon them all. "I have still somework to accomplish," he said slowly. "You would not ask me to leave thisplace allowing something to remain unfinished? Think for a moment. Wewere comfortable and content here till that young dog pried into oursecrets. And what resulted? Three of us were arrested, and should havebeen hanged perhaps by now had we not broken out of prison. Two of ourcomrades were followed, and, though they were not killed, we have hadnews that they were badly wounded. In addition, our game here wasspoiled for the time being. The officials locked their money up tighterthan ever, so that we had to move elsewhere in order to earn a living.But that is all changed now; we are getting even with the fellows.Already we have caused them much trouble, and now we will skin them ofevery dollar, damage their works, and give this young dog such a lessonthat he will never interfere again. Good! It is fine to feel that theday of reckoning has come at last. Juan, pass the bottle. With planslike these to act upon a man requires a fillip."
Far into the night they sat discussing their rascally movements, and thefollowing day found all but Jaime abroad and active. That veryafternoon, in fact, Alfonso brought them information that a ship hadcome into Colon bearing specie for the officials, money with which topay America's army of workmen.
"I watched it unloaded," said the rascal, glee on his face. "There wereboxes of silver and a huge mass of notes; for of course wages are paidin paper. All the better for us, my friends. Paper is easy to carry, andis still valuable. They can publish the numbers of the stolen notes asmuch as they like, but still we can get value for them."
"And the destination of these boxes?" asked Jaime anxiously.
Alfonso told him with pride. He had followed the consignment, and hadseen it deposited at the door of one of the official offices. He hadseen it carried in, and drew a plan of the building.
"Then to-night," said Jaime, pulling at the inevitable cigarette. "Juanhas already gone across to Pedro Miguel. And you—you have made fullarrangements with the boatman?"
"Full and complete; there will be no hitch to-night," cried Alfonso,banging the table.
A stranger happening to take rail at Colon on this day would have beenutterly astounded had he been informed that there was to be a commotionthat very evening. For the trip along the whole length of the PanamaRailway would have shown him armies of men and officials engagedmethodically with their work. The busy scene of smoking steam diggers,of rock drills, and hustling spoil trains would have resolved itselffinally, when his eye was at last accustomed to the vastness of it all,into a scene of order and method, into a gigantic undertaking whichoccupied the wits and strength of all whom he saw. He would at lasthave appreciated the fact that those vast works at Gatun, and between itand Limon Bay, had a direct connection with that enormous cutting whichoccupied the time of such an army of delvers at Culebra, though twentyodd miles separated the two, and that throughout the length of thePanama zone, stretching from north to south of the isthmus, the workundertaken by any one man had some special relation to that appointed toanother. Moreover, that, in spite of distances, in spite of the factthat the undertaking seemed to be progressing piecemeal at widelyseparated intervals, yet each and every part was a portion of the whole,a necessary portion, where the work in hand was conducted with a hustleand method truly American, and with a swing which augured for success.But of commotion there was not a sign. That traveller could not possiblyhave guessed that the evening had a disaster in store for the people whoworked beneath his eye.
It was precisely half-past five on this special evening when a terribleexplosion shook every one of the wooden buildings at Ancon, and causedthe verandas at Gorgona to shake as if they would tumble. A vast flameseemed to leap into the air, there came a thunderous report, that wentechoing down the Chagres valley, and then dust and debris obscured thesky in the direction of Pedro Miguel. The serene face of this portion ofthe zone, lit a second or so before by a wonderful moon, was obscured asif by the work of a volcano.
Instantly men poured out from the Commission hotels, and stood in thestreet of Ancon and the nearest settlement, asking what had happened.
"Guess it's the dynamite store gone off suddenly," cried one, his handsdeep in his pockets, a pipe in his mouth. "Hope none of the boys ain'thurt, nor the works neither. It's been a bad blow-up anyway."
It was an hour later before details filtered through, then, all alongthe line, it was learned that an attempt had been made to wreck thefoundation of the lock at Pedro Miguel.
"Another of them anarchistic attempts," growled one of the men. "Guessthis is too almighty queer fer anything. Here's spoil trains been sentrunnin' down from the cut, and the same with diggers. Sleepers andsuchlike laid on the rails in order to throw passenger trains off themetals, fires, and what not. This is the limit."
"It's one of the most serious difficulties we have had to face, boys,"said one of the canal officials, coming upon the group of men at thatmoment. "I've just come along from the dock at Pedro Miguel, and thereisn't a doubt that some rascal endeavoured to blow the whole place topieces. It's Jim Partington's section, and he'd left everything safe andsound. There wasn't a rock drill working there, and hasn't been thisthree weeks past. Consequently there weren't any dynamite shots; but aman was seen creeping down that way soon after sundown. Guess he'd fixedto place his bomb right in the trench where the foundations are beinglaid; but something went wrong with it. He was blown to pieces; therewere only scraps of him to be found."
There was a grunt of satisfaction at the news; the men felt that such afate was only just retribution.
"But what damage has been done, boss?" asked one of the men anxiously,as if the success of the canal depended on the answer.
"None; in fact the explosion seems to have helped us. Young JimPartington tells me he was making a requisition for a rock drill thiscoming week, as there was a heap of stuff to break down before thediggers could get at it. Well, he's saved the trouble. That explosionbrought tons of stuff away, and now there's hardly need for a rockdrill. Of course you've got to remember that it's dark 'way over there,and a man can't fix exactly what may have happened. But we made a quick,and, I believe, thorough survey of the place, and I should say that I'vetold you everything. This blessed cur who has been worrying us theseweeks past has come by his deserts at last."
There was, in fact, not the smallest doubt that the rascally plot ofJaime and his followers had failed at the very beginning. Juan, who hadaccepted the post of honour, had disappeared from the scene swiftly andterribly. He had been hoist by his own petard, and, as the official hadstated, there was little left to show that he had actually existed.
But still there was Jaime to reckon with, Jaime de Oteros and hisfellows, and the reader need feel little surprise when he hears that,later on in the evening, there was another disturbance. It wasdiscovered that the pay offices had been burgled, and that a vast sum ofmoney had been removed. Then came an urgent telephone message to Ancon.The instrument at the club rang loudly and continuously, causing one ofthe men to go to it instantly. Jim, who had just returned from aninspection of his section, where the explosion had taken place, sat at atable near at hand, and, though there was no reason why the telephoneshould be calling him more than any other, he watched his comrade andlistened.
"What's that? Say, who are you?" he heard the man demand. Then hesuddenly looked over his shoulder, and if ever a man bore a startledexpression it was this one. "Say, Jim, there," he called out, "they'reringing you from Gatun. It's Phineas Barton; there's trouble down thereas well."
Jim was beside him in a moment, the receiver to his ear; and at once herecognized Phineas's voice, but strangely altered.
"Yes?" he asked as coolly as he could, though something set his heartthumping. "It's Jim at this end."
"Then come right along without waitin'. We've trouble down this end.Bring a shooter; I'll tell you about it when you arrive. The PoliceMajor is here waiting."
It was serious news, whatever it was, for Phineas's voice proved it. Jimcrammed his hat on to his head, raced back to his quarters and snatcheda mackintosh, a revolver, and a spare shirt, and then ran down to therailway. He found a motor inspection car awaiting him, with a couple ofpolicemen in it, one of whom was Tomkins.
"You kin get along with it," said the latter curtly, addressing thedriver. "And we ain't nervous, so let her go as fast as you're able.Jim, there's a regular upset from end to end of the zone, and I'mbeginning to get through with it. That explosion was a blind, meant tooccupy our attention while those rascals, for there's more than one of'em, robbed the pay office. But that ain't all. They were up to someother sort of mischief down Gatun way, and the Major 'phoned through tous to come along that second. We were to bring you, too; so it seemsthat you've something to do with the business."
Let the reader imagine how Jim fretted upon that quick journey. Hewondered why he should have been called, and how the matter couldspecially interest him. A thousand ideas flashed through his busy mind,and were banished as unsatisfactory. It was not until the motor racedinto Gatun, and he caught a glimpse of Phineas's face, that he realizedthat the matter must be particularly serious. His friend took him by thehand and held it.
"Jim," he said, and his voice broke ever so little, "those scoundrelsdeserve hanging. We were right in thinking that Jaime de Oteros had todo with the business, and I guess he'd made up his mind to get even withyou for finding the gang and getting it broken. He settled to blow upyour section, then he broke into the pay office, and last of all, to payyou out properly, the ruffian slank down to my quarters. Sadie wasindoors, of course——"
Jim staggered backwards. He had never even thought of Sadie inconnection with this disaster. The fear that she had been injured,perhaps killed, caused his cheek to pale even beneath the deep tan withwhich it was covered.
"Get on," he said a moment later, pulling himself together with aneffort. "Sadie was indoors. Yes. That villain——"
"That villain had fixed to abduct her. We were all outside, watchin' foranother explosion. This Jaime, or one of his men, slipped in at theback, seized the girl, and got clear off with her. Lad, it's a real badbusiness."
Jim held to the rails of the station. His head swam; he felt giddy,while the beating of his heart was almost painful. He was utterlyunmanned for the moment. He, Jim Partington, who had faced so manydangers smiling, was utterly prostrated by the news imparted to him.Then, like the brave fellow he was, he threw off the feeling of weaknesswith a sharp shrug of his shoulders, and in a moment became his oldself, cool and self-possessed, as he asked shrewd questions shortly andsharply.
"You will follow, of course?" he asked the Major.
"You can guess so. This time nothing shall turn me back."
"Then I can come?"
"Glad indeed to have you, my boy. We'll move the instant we getinformation. I've men making enquiries down at the port, while yournegro, Sam, has gone off with a lantern. Better start on the right trackthan start early. Let's get in and have some supper."
It was one of the most anxious meals Jim had ever attended. He was eagerto set out in search of his sister, but realized all the time that awrong start might be productive of great delay and failure.
"But Sam will hit their marks if anyone can," he told himself. "ThenI'll follow wherever the tracks lead. Sadie shall not stay in that man'shands an instant longer than I can help it. And if I catch that Jaimeand his fellows——!"
His fingers came together; his two hands were clenched beneath thetable. At that precise moment good-natured Jim felt that he was capableof anything.
CHAPTER XVI
The Major forms his Parties
Never before, perhaps, had the telephone system in the Panama Canal zonebeen so busily employed as on the night of Sadie's abduction. The bellof the instrument in Phineas's quarters seemed to ring withoutcessation, while the Police Major had his ear glued to the receiver bythe ten minutes together.
"A crafty set of dogs," he declared, after one of these longconversations with his office at Colon. "They laid their plans mostelaborately, and made every preparation to throw dust in our eyes. Thatexplosion way over at Pedro Miguel wasn't the only little bit ofby-play. It seems that they engaged a boatman to steal away from Colonthis evening, and give us the impression that they were aboard; but thathuge negro Tom put a spoke in their wheel. He happened to be in Colon,and reported to the office at once that he had seen a fire signal up byGatun, way behind this house."
"And guessed it was meant for someone down by the sea?" asked Phineas,rising from his seat at the receipt of such important information."Major, this Jim and his servants have done good service to our peoplehere. I'm glad that Tom has shown himself such an excellent constable."
"He's one of the exceptions one finds amongst big men," declared theMajor. "He's sharp, as sharp as a needle, for all his smiles andeasy-going manner. He spotted this flare way back behind us, and lookedwell about him. He reported, a matter of two hours ago, that a boat hadput off with some four men in her. Two of the crew at least he knew tobe loafers about the streets of Colon, and one was the owner, a man ofbad repute. Still, the fourth might have been one of the rascals we areafter. So I sent out a steam launch, and her report has just reachedme."
"Well?" demanded Phineas shortly, while Jim leaned forward anxiously."It wasn't one of the rascals; it was a blind, as you've intimated."
The Police Major nodded promptly. "Number two of the schemes of thoserascals has failed. My people have just returned, and the sergeant has'phoned me the news. He overhauled this boat and went aboard her. Thefourth individual was another well-known character from Colon, while theowner of the craft, thinking perhaps that he would get into trouble, andhoping to set matters right for himself, admitted that he had arrangedto slip off when a fire signal was lighted. The sergeant left him outthere to go where he liked, and steamed back as fast as his engine wouldcarry him. This time the pursuit will hardly be by way of the Atlantic."
"But perhaps by way of Panama, on to the Pacific," suggested Phineas.
"Or into the bush; that's where I imagine they may have gone," said Jim."It seems to me that we have every reason to suspect that that is thecourse they will have followed."
His two companions in the room looked steadily at him. Before now theyhad known our hero to give common-sense solutions when there was adifficulty, and all through, since the moment when they had first knownhim, he had proved himself to be possessed of a level head, of thatsharpness and shrewdness for which the American is notorious. It wastherefore with a feeling of interest that they waited for him to speak.
"Every reason to think they've gone into the bush," repeated the Major."I own that I have thought of the matter; but then, we all know thebush. It isn't everyone who would willingly make a journey through it;for fever frightens them, and besides, once you get a little distancefrom the zone, there are natives. There aren't many men who can tell usmuch about the latter. Of course it's part of my business to have foundout something; and I have ascertained that while some are friendlyenough, there are others who could not be trusted. They would kill awhite man for the clothes he stood up in. Then why do you consider thatthey have gone by way of the bush?"
Jim stood up and walked the room backwards and forwards. Nerves were notthings that he had much acquaintance with, but the reader can wellexcuse him if on this occasion he was fidgety. In fact, it was as muchas he could do to keep quiet. He longed to rush off and make some sortof effort. It was only his solid good sense that restrained him, thegood sense that showed him clearly how a false start, pursuit along awrong line, might throw the game entirely into the hands of themiscreants who had abducted Sadie. It was for her sake that he stayedin the room, fidgeting at the delay, but waiting, waiting for somedefinite information to show him where the tracks of the fugitives led.And in his own mind he had traced those tracks.
"It seems clear to me, though of course I may be entirely wrong," hesaid as he paced the room. "But those fellows have been proved to havehad dealing with the natives. The last time we chatted about the matteryou, Major, told us that you had certain information that they had beenselling guns, powder, and spirit to the natives along the coast. Thensee how those fellows we chased across the lagoon made friends with theinhabitants of that part. It's perfectly plain that they had beentrading over there. That being the case, and perhaps because the policehave been careful to watch the various launches down at Port Limon,these men decided not to fly by way of the ocean. They thought that thebush offered better chances; but their destination is the same. They aremaking for those parts where we did our fighting, and once they havejoined that tribe they imagine they will be safe."
The argument seemed to be clear enough, and for a while the Major stoodby the telephone thinking deeply. And the more Jim's suggestionsfiltered through his mind, the more sure did he feel that there wassomething substantial about them. At length he almost took it forgranted that the course outlined by our hero was actually the one whichthe miscreants were following. Then the question arose: how could thepolice best deal with the matter?
"See here, Jim," he said, after a while. "I believe you've just hit theright nail on the head. Let us suppose that these men have gone by theway of the bush, with the idea of joining hands with that tribe. Whatcourse do you advise for those who follow?"
Jim gave his answer promptly. In fact, as the others admitted, therecould be little doubt as to the procedure to be adopted; but alldepended on one particular.
"How many men will you employ?" asked Jim.
"As many as are wanted. A dozen of my own men for certain, and I can geta draft from the force of marines who are garrisoning the canal."
"Then I say that we ought to go in two parties. I with others will takehorses and push on through the bush, where Sam will be able to lead us;the second party should make round by sea, cross the lagoon, and joinhands with us there. We shall, in that way, be able to take them betweenus, and if one party is attacked first of all, it has the knowledge thatthe other will come to support it."
The Major at once went to the telephone, and rang up his office. Theplan suggested seemed to him to be one of such common sense that itneeded little argument to convince him. Therefore, within ten minutes,the officials down at Colon were making preparations.
"Meanwhile, those who are to follow by way of the bush had better bemaking preparations," said Phineas, who was nothing if not practical."What have you to say, Major?"
"Just this, that I shall support you in every way. I shall command theparty which goes by sea, and Jim here had better take the other. Tom andSam can go with him, as well as Tomkins and four or five otherconstables. You see, we can't send many round that way, for horses arescarce hereabouts. Theirs must be in every sense a cutting-outexpedition. I take it that Jim made his suggestion with that in view.What he wants to do is to rescue his sister. After that he will assistus if possible, once he has made sure the girl is in safety."
"Then let us set to work with food and other things," cried Phineas."Look here, Jim, I can see that you're just fidgeting. Come along withme; it'll settle you a little to have something to do."
They went off to the kitchen promptly, and with Ching to help themquickly filled a sack with eatables. Meanwhile the Major again hadrecourse to the telephone, had detailed the four men who were toaccompany Jim, and had asked for rations, arms, and ammunition.
"Not forgetting quinine," he told Jim and Phineas when they returned."If you'll take my advice you'll make every man of the expedition, whiteor black, swallow two grains daily, just as a precaution. You can't betoo careful, especially if it happens to rain, as is probable."
It was wonderful how quickly all their preparations were completed; somuch so that when, an hour later, the diminutive Sam returned, Jim andhis whole party were collected at Phineas's quarters. The four policemenhad come up with ten horses all ready saddled and bridled.
"And we're lucky to have them," declared the Major. "I'm giving you tenmounts, so that, although there will be only nine of you, you will havea beast to carry blankets and ammunition. The men will carry their ownrations, which will last for almost a week. By then you will have tofend for yourselves if you do not happen to reach us; but you shouldmanage that. The spot where our action took place is barely forty milesdistant. Of course, when you rescue the girl, you will put her on thespare horse. Now let us interview Sam."
The little fellow was ushered into the room, still carrying his lantern.Sam's face was sternly set, while his whole expression showed eagernessand determination. Indeed the little negro would have done anything forSadie and for our hero. He put the lantern down on the floor and pulledoff the sack which covered his shoulders.
"Got um!" he cried jubilantly. "Dem fellers tink dey fool de lot ob usnicely; but Sam tink otherwise. He get on de track ob one ob de men atonce, just as once before. Any fool able to follow; Sam manage himblindfold. Him take Sadie way along at the back of Gatun, den him cometo a spot where horses waitin'. Dere are three. Sam count 'em. Dey ridealong towards Ancon, and me run all de way, followin'. Dere dey meet twooders, and strike right off for de bush. I come back runnin'; time wewas after dem scum."
They gave the little fellow meat and drink instantly, for he wasexhausted after his efforts. Then the whole party mounted, Phineasriding beside Jim, and just as the light was breaking they canteredover the edge of the canal zone and plunged into the bush.
"Sam'll go ahead," said Jim promptly, reining back his mount. "Tomkinsand I will ride next; then, some twenty yards behind us, Tom and Ching,with two of the constables. Phineas, you take the rear with the last ofthe police, and ride within twenty yards of the main party. By dividingup like that we stand a better chance in case they try to surprise us.Now, Sam, we want to get ahead as fast as possible. The moon went downearly last night, and though it will have helped those rascals at thebeginning, they will have been forced to camp after a time. If, as Iimagine, they believe that we are not likely to follow through the bush,in fact that they have covered their trail, and sent us off after thatboat, they are not likely to push along very fast. That will be ouropportunity; by making the pace we may come up with them."
Sam was like a dog as he followed. There was not the smallest doubt thatthe little fellow was gifted with the most wonderful power ofobservation, and with it that of deduction. For now that the sun was up,and the light strong, he led the party at a trot, never even requiringto climb out of his saddle. Dressed in tattered garments, which werestill drenched with the rain that had fallen upon him during theprevious night, the diminutive negro looked wonderfully woebegone; butthat was from behind. One must not always judge by the condition of aman's garments; for seen from the front the little fellow was evidentlyvery much alive. That same intent expression was on his face, while hispiercing eyes were glued to the track. It was half an hour later when hethrew up his hand and slid from his saddle.
"Camp here, dem scum," he announced as Jim rode up. "Four ob de rascal,and missie. Yo not tink so? Den see here; dem's her footmarks."
The most unbelieving person would have been convinced, for the groundbore undoubted witness to what had happened. It was thickly marked byhorses, while near at hand the animals had been tied to the branch of atree hanging close to the earth. A little camp had been formed within afew yards, and in and amongst the bootmarks of Jaime de Oteros and hisfellows were the smaller shoe impressions of Sadie. Jim glowered uponthem; his lips came firmly together, and with the impetuosity of youth,which brooks no restraint, he set his party in motion again. But whenanother two hours had passed Sam declared that the fugitives were stillfar ahead.
"Yo watch de hollows de horses make," he said to Jim, inviting him tojoin him on the ground. "It rain hard for ten minutes two hours ago, yoremember."
Our hero had not failed to recollect the fact. It was one of thoselittle cloudbursts so often experienced in the neighbourhood. A sharp,heavy shower had fallen, and then the clouds had cleared away as if bymagic, leaving a fine sky, with the sun floating in it.
"But how can you say from that shower that they are still far ahead?" heasked the little negro.
Sam screwed up his eyes before he answered, and then bent over one ofthe hoof impressions.
"Dere's water here, in de hole," he said. "Suppose no hole, den nowater. Run 'way along de ground. Ebery one of dese marks here when datshower come, and de water fill um. Yo not tink dat? Den look here; dishorse go close under a tree, where de sun not manage to reach. What nowdo you tink?"
Jim was wonderfully troubled. He had often read and heard of the ways oftrackers, and had imagined the art not so difficult; but here was aposer. Jim showed him the hoofmarks of one of the beasts ridden by thefugitives, pointing out that they lay beneath the shadow of a tree, andasked him wherein lay evidence that the fugitives were far ahead. It wasa conundrum; he shook his head impatiently.
"Read it for me, Sam," he said, "and quick about it. How far behind themdo you reckon we are?"
"Tree, four hour p'raps. I tell like dis; dese marks here two hour ago,when de rain fall. Dat sartin'; but yo look at de water in de holes.Where de sun able to reach it it almost gone, sucked up into de sky. Dattake little time, longer dan two hour. Under de tree de holes full to detop, 'cos dey dere like de oders when de rain fall, and de sun not ableto reach 'em. Dose men travelling quick."
"Then so will we. Forward," commanded Jim.
"Better go slow and sure than fast and knock up the horses," cautionedPhineas, riding up beside him. "Jim, if you'll take my advice, you'llset a steady pace, and keep going at it for the hour together; then givethe animals a rest for ten minutes. In the end we'll cover the groundquicker than those rascals, supposing them to be riding on directwithout halting."
It was undoubtedly good advice, and our hero took it. He found it hardto curb his impatience, for he was eager to rescue Sadie from suchwretches. But he was sensible enough to recognize good advice when itwas given, and promptly issued his orders.
"See here, Tomkins," he called out. "You come along with the main party.I'll go ahead with Sam, and one of your men can take your place. Then,in case there's need to change our plans, I shall be right at the headand able to stop the party."
They pushed on after that at a steady pace, covering ground which forthe most part was only thinly studded with bush, and stretched out flatand level before them; but some five miles ahead a range of hills andbroken ground cropped up before them, hiding the country beyond.
"Perhaps we shall be able to catch a sight of those rascals from thetop," thought Jim, as he rode along in a brown study. "In any casethere's much to be thankful for. That rainstorm has softened the groundand made it easy to follow; a little more this afternoon, or when thenight falls, would give us a fine line for to-morrow."
Some two hours later they emerged at the top of the hilly ground, stillon the tracks of the fugitives, and at a sign from Sam dropped fromtheir horses.
"Stop here," he said at once, raising a warning hand. "Not show up abovede skyline, else p'raps dem scum see us. Yo wait little while for me tosquint all round; but not t'ink I be able to see um. De bush down derevery dense."
It was precisely as he had said, for as Jim laid himself flat in atangled mass of brier on the summit of the ridge, and wormed his wayforward till he was able to obtain a clear view beyond, he saw that thecountry down below was green with jungle. A vast sea of waving treetopslay below him, broken only here and there where rocky ground effectivelyopposed the irresistible march of creepers and verdure. The sight was,in fact, most beautiful, for the leaves shimmered and displayed athousand different shades of green beneath the sun's rays, while, faroff to the left, there came the gleam and scintillation of light fallingon water.
"De lagoon," declared Sam without hesitation, tossing a finger to thefront. "Not able to see de entrance, ob course, 'cos it too far away,and trees hide um; and not able to see where de riber lie for de samereason. But dat de lagoon. Sam stake him hat on it."
"And those men we are after?" asked Jim, his eyes searching every footof the huge green vista.
"Dey down dar somewhere. Not see um wid all dose trees; but dere fo'sure. To-morrow we come up with them."
Our hero lay for a while gazing all round and thinking deeply. The sightof the lagoon shimmering and flashing beneath the sun had reminded himof those natives with whom the two rascals they had formerly followedhad struck up an acquaintance. Jim remembered that it was more than asimple acquaintance, for it had since been proved that Jaime de Oterosand his gang of evildoers had for long carried on an illicit trade inguns and spirit with the tribe in that neighbourhood. Obviously theywere making in that direction to join hands with them, and, once there,how was Sadie to be recovered?
"It will be harder than I imagined," he told himself despondently. "Oncethese men reach the natives with their prisoner, nothing but a battleroyal and the defeat of the tribe can save her. If only I were nearenough to come upon them before they could reach their friends."
Again he lay silent and thinking, till Sam looked at his young masterwondering. "Not good lie here and stare," he said. "Dat not de way tosave de missie. S'pose we make right way down de hill and get into thejungle. Dey down dere, I say. To-morrow dey come up wid the black men wefight wid way ober by de lagoon."
"And once there Sadie is almost lost to us," cried Jim, a tone ofbitterness in his voice. "See here, Sam, I'm going to make a big effort.Tell me, can those fellows travel once the night falls? Can they push ontowards those natives?"
"Dat not easy," came the answer. "Sam not tink dey try to do so. Forwhy? I tell yo. What fo' need hurry when dey tink no one follow? Backaway near de canal dey ride fast, 'cos p'rhaps someone discober wheredey gone, and follow quick; but dey seen no one to-day. Dat I sure ob,'cos dere tracks have never stopped fo' once; so dey t'ink dey got heapsob time and all de jungle to demselves. Why den hurry, and bash de headagainst a tree in de darkness? Dat not good enough fo' anyone; dat alltommy nonsense."
"Then I shall do it."
Jim stretched his head farther from between the brambles and stared downinto the jungle beneath, as if he were trying to penetrate it to thetree roots. As for Sam, the little fellow started, and looked queerly athis master, as if he half thought that anxiety and excitement hadunhinged his mind; but Jim returned his gaze coolly, and once morerepeated the statement.
"Then I shall do it," he said. "Listen here, Sam, and tell me what youthink of the idea. You admit that these men will camp for to-night,satisfied that they are not followed, and that they can easily reachtheir native friends to-morrow. Once there, you can see that Sadie willbe surrounded, and that rescue will be almost impossible. Well now, I'mgoing to push along through that jungle as quickly as horses can takeme, and as quickly as the undergrowth will allow. This evening, theinstant night falls, I shall go on on foot, taking the lantern. There'snot much danger of the light being seen with all those trees about, andthere is a good chance of being able to come up with the fugitives. If Ido, I'll snatch my sister away, and return towards our party, who willmount and ride at the first dawn."
The little negro gasped as he heard the plan outlined. It was not thatthe danger of such an attempt staggered him; it was the shrewdness ofthe suggestion. He pinched himself as punishment for not having producedit himself, and turned upon his master with a flash in his eye whichshowed his pleasure.
"By lummy, dat fine!" he cried. "Dat de only way to do um. S'pose demscum camp as I say—I shore dey do it. But s'pose dey don't, and rideright on, den no harm done; but if dey camp, den yo have de one chanceof savin' missie. Ob course I hab to go with yo; yo not able to followde trail widout Sam. And Tom extry strong, and able to creep along rightwell, in spite of his size; besides, he able to carry missie once wehave managed to rescue her. Den Ching know de ways ob de jungle; hemighty fine fighter. Him——"
Jim stopped the garrulous little fellow with a movement of his hand.Suddenly his finger shot out from the brambles, and he pointed towardsthe huge sea of waving palms and forest trees, all thickly clad ingreen. But it was not the jungle to which he drew Sam's attention; itwas a wide patch of yellowish-white that cropped up amidst the greensome miles away, direct in the line of the lagoon.
"Watch that spot," he ordered curtly. "I saw something moving, but thedistance is too great for me. What do you see?"
Eagerly he awaited the answer, but it was more than a minute before thenegro ventured to open his mouth. He plucked Jim by the sleeve and drewhim backward, sliding through the briers himself as if he were a snake.
"Dat extry lucky," he suddenly whispered, when they had withdrawn fromthe skyline, and as if he were afraid someone beyond would overhear him."Dat special fortunate, I tell yo. Fo' down dere on dat patch am de menswe follow. Yo see de little game, eh? Not see um? Den I gib yo derereason. Dem scum now well away from de canal, and ride hard all dewhile. Dey say to demselbes: 'Stop little bit here, let de hosses hab arest while watch de hill. If police follow, den sure to come by de wayof de tracks we leab. Good! We see um come ober de hill. If dey come, wemount and push along; if not, take him easy, ride 'way on a little, andden sleep."
"Then we will take good care not to show ourselves; but advance wemust," cried Jim. "See here, Sam, find a way over for us where we canpass without anyone being able to see us. If necessary I'll push on witha small party afoot and leave the horses to come later; but I'd rathertake the whole lot on their mounts, because then we shall be able to getnearer to those ruffians. Look around and choose a likely spot."
He crept back to the party, while the negro stole off along the ridge,keeping well away from the skyline. In ten minutes he was back withthem, his face shining under the sun, a hopeful smile on his lips.
"Come 'long, and lead de hosses," he whispered. "Sam make along de sideob de hill and find a place where we can slip to de bottom; but notride. Ground very rough and full ob stones and holes."
They followed him in silence, each man leading his own horse, while thehuge Tom led also the beast which carried their blankets and ammunition.And a very business-like party they looked as they filed away amongstthe bushes; for each one carried a rifle slung across his shoulders, themuzzle sticking up well above his head, while a pouch attached to thebelt about his waist was filled with cartridges. Khaki clothing waschiefly worn, for since the British introduced the colour many nationshave adopted it for their uniforms. Water bottles were slung to thebelts, and every member of the band was provided with a revolver.
"Best take 'em," said the Major, just before the expedition started. "Igrant that a rifle is useful most anywhere; but there are times when itis apt to get into the way, and in case such a time should turn up you'dbetter carry shooters."
"Halt! Not come too fast," said Sam suddenly, when he and Jim hadarrived at a rocky crevice which broke its way into the side of thehill. "Plenty hole-and-corner 'way in here, and mind yo go very careful.Yo Chinaboy, don't yo smile as if yo was clever'n anyone; yo hab a badfall if yo not extry cautious."
A grim smile lit the usually saturnine face of Tomkins, the surlypoliceman; and indeed anyone could have been excused for merriment. ForSam's importance, his high-flown language, to which we cannot hereventure to give outlet, and the quick way in which he flashed round uponthe harmless Chinaman, was most amusing. However, Tom quickly silencedthe little fellow.
"Yo leab dis Chinaboy alone," he cried, looking fiercely at Sam, butshowing his teeth in a grinning smile for all that. "Yo look to yoself,little man. If dere holes way in dere, p'raps yo fall into one; den lostfo' good. No Sam to be found. All de boys call out hooray! Yo get along,young feller."
That set Tomkins grinning more than ever. To do the man but commonjustice, he was an excellent fellow at heart, though his taciturnity andthe shortness and crispness of his remarks made people consider him tobe surly. No one saw the humour of the thing sooner than he did, and noone was more ready to smile. He turned upon the two negroes a scowlwhich would have scared them, had they not been accustomed to theconstable,
"See here, you two sons of guns," he cried, "there'll be something badhappenin' ef we have more of your lip. Get in at it; we ain't here tolisten to darkies chatterin' as if they was monkeys."
Sam glowered upon the man, and looked as if he would be glad to do himan injury; but Tom gave vent to a roar, and, dragging his horses afterhim, stood to his full height within a foot of Tomkins. It looked for amoment as if there was to be a fracas, for the two men, white and black,glared at one another furiously; but no one could expect the jovial Tomto wear such an expression for long. He burst out laughing, and,swinging round, placed himself side by side with Tomkins.
"Oh, yo heard dat?" he called out. "He tink us like monkeys. Den yo say,Massa Jim, who de most handsomest, Tom or Tomkins."
But Jim was in no mood for jesting. He sent the huge Tom to the rearwith an impatient movement of his hand, and then bade Sam push forward.A moment later he was following, holding his horse by the bridle. Forthe next half-hour silence again settled down upon the party, though inplace of the sound of their voices there came the slither of hoofs onrocks, the crash of boulders falling, and now and again a suddenexclamation as a man just saved his animal from falling; for the gullywhich Sam had found and selected was rough, to say the least of it.Probably in the wet weather it was nothing but a watercourse. Now itdisplayed huge holes where the rains had washed the soil away, whileevery few feet the members of the party had to negotiate boulders,sometimes causing their animals to squeeze round them, and at othershaving to urge them over the obstruction. Finally they all arrived atthe bottom, where they were thickly surrounded by jungle.
"Forward," said Jim at once, seeing the whole party mounted. "I supposethe first thing is to get back on the track, and then ride for thatyellowish-white patch where we saw figures moving. Perhaps we'll getthere before those rascals leave; if not, we can but follow."
Some three hours later, after making but slow progress through a junglewhich was very dense in parts, and after having crossed a stream, thebed of which was soft and boggy, they came to the rocky part where novegetation had succeeded in growing. It was almost dark then, andexperience told them that within a few minutes it would be impossible tosee more than a foot or two before them; for in jungle countries, evenunder a brilliant moon, the shadows beneath the trees are of thedensest. No light can penetrate those thick masses of leaves and thethousands of gaily flowered creepers which cling to the branches. Hereand there, perhaps, where the leaves give back from one another, orwhere a veteran of the forest has fallen to the ground, some few rayswill filter through, making the trunks beneath look strangely ghostly,but for the most part there is dense darkness, the kind of darknesswhich one can almost feel.
"Here we camp for the night," said Jim, slipping from his saddle."Tomkins, I am going ahead with the two negroes and the Chinaman. Ileave Mr. Barton in charge of the whole party remaining; but of course,if there is fighting, you will handle your men. See here, I'm going totry to come up to the camp those fellows will have formed and snatchaway their prisoner. Whatever happens, ride at the first streak of lightand follow our tracks; we'll take good care to make them clear and open.Tom shall blaze the trees as we pass."
Some fifteen minutes later, having meanwhile partaken of a hurried meal,Jim, with Sam and Tom and Ching, slipped away from the little camp wheretheir friends were lying. For a minute, perhaps, the gleam of the lampthat Sam carried remained visible; then the jungle swallowed iteffectually, so that presently our hero had disappeared entirely. He wasgone on an expedition which might bring success or failure, and which inany case meant danger for him and his little party.
CHAPTER XVII
On the Track of Miscreants
To those who have had no experience of the jungle, who happen never tohave passed a night in such tropical forests as those which clothe theground about the Isthmus of Panama, the deadly silence that pervadeseverything is perhaps the most noticeable feature of all. It is almostterrifying in its intensity, and with dense darkness to help it is aptto awe even the boldest. And when, as happens so often, that silence issuddenly and most unexpectedly broken by the call of some prowling wildbeast, when a sharp hissing sound and a rustling amongst the fallenleaves near at hand tells of a creeping snake, then indeed the nervestingle, the novice feels a strange sensation about the roots of hishair, while perspiration gathers thickly on his forehead. Yes, thebravest are awed. Even the old hand, the experienced hunter, holds hisbreath and halts to listen, his senses all alert, ready to defend hislife against danger.
So it was with Jim and his friends. One only was accustomed to thejungle; and for a while, after diving into its darkness, they wereoverawed by its deathly silence at one moment, and at another moment bythe weird calls which came to their ears. The lamplight shining onTom's face demonstrated the fact that he was trying to smile; but it wasan uneasy and an unnatural movement.
"By de poker," he gasped, "but not like dis at all! De leaves whispermurder. De branches ob de trees call out and say: 'Take care'. Tom allob a shiber."
"He, he, he! Yo not like him, dis forest," grinned Ching, though, totell the truth, the Chinaman's slanting eyes were moving restlessly fromside to side, in a manner which denoted fear. "Yo hold de hand ob disChinaboy; den feel braver. No harm come when Ching near. Yo come alongwid me, Tom."
His bantering tones caused the huge negro to change his smile for ascowl. He stretched out a hand and slowly doubled up the fingers, asmuch as to say that he could with pleasure take the Chinaman in one handand crush the life out of him. He began to exclaim, but Jim cut himshort. Our hero brushed the sweat from his forehead, and swung roundupon the two.
"Silence, you babies!" he exclaimed. "A sound travels far in the jungle,and who can say how near we are to those villains we are searching for?Silence! Follow in single file, and take care that you do not tread onfallen branches and twigs. I have often heard it stated that the snap ofa broken twig can be heard as plainly as the report of a pistol. Guessit's true, too."
"But dere no fear jest now, Massa Jim," interrupted Sam, his little eyestwinkling in the light of the lamp which dangled from his finger."Still, all de same, dat lubber ob a Tom better take care and keep himmouth shut. Him never can speak soft; him shout and bawl. Him a great,big, hulkin' bull, I reckon."
That brought the big negro to the point of explosion. After all, it wasan event of every day for these three faithful fellows, who had clung sowell to Jim, to banter one another, and for that bantering to turnmostly against Tom. It was the fate of the ponderous fellow often to bethe butt of his comrades, to provide them with a ready cause for wit athis expense, and always with the certainty that Tom would swallow thebait and lash himself into a pretended fit of anger, in which hethreatened terrible things, gesticulated, and roared, and often enoughshook his huge fists and bared his fine white teeth in a manner whichwould have disturbed the courage of a bold man, but which, with Chingand Sam, who knew him so well, or with our hero, merely resulted inroars of laughter and in further banter. However, this was not the timefor such fun and frolic, and Jim put a stop to the noise promptly.
"Come," he said; "guess we've got Sadie to think about. That's betterthan badgering one another."
At once there came a serious look across the faces of his followers.Their eyes shone more brightly, while Tom gave vent to an exclamation,striking himself across his broad chest at the same moment. "I's oughtter be kicked," he said indignantly. "Yo see, Tom not say anoder wordtill missie found. But den, ha! yo take care, Tom smash dem rascals.Knock 'em all into cocked hat; make jelly and jam ob dem."
All his pretended ferocity was turned upon the rascals who had abductedSadie; and to look at him as he spoke there was no doubt, rememberingthe huge negro's prowess in former scuffles, that he would be as good ashis word. But Sam was already moving ahead, and Jim fell in immediatelybehind him. With the Chinaman as third man, and Tom bringing up therear, the party pressed on as rapidly as possible through the forest.Nor did Sam seem to find any difficulty in holding to the track. Hissharp eyes were bent for ever on the ground, while his lamp swung thisway and that, lighting the hoofmarks made by the horses of Jaime deOteros's party. And as they went, Tom, armed with a heavy knife, blazedthe trees to the left, to afford a guide to those who were to follow. Itwas half an hour before the silence amongst them was broken; then Samcame to a sudden stop, and drew Jim towards him.
"Dey get off de hosses here," he whispered. "Jungle growing so low, deycouldn't sit in the saddle any longer. Now, yo watch extry close, and Ishow yo what happen. Here one, two, three, yes four ob de scum. Four obde villain, sah, and here am anoder mark. Dat missie; yo see how smallit am? Den I's sure dat missie. She walk between de rascal; two go infront, each leading a hoss. No; one ob dem hab two hosses. Den missie;she not hab a hoss. Den two oder blackguard, one wid two hosses."
It seemed clear enough to Sam, though for Jim the reading of theseelusive signs was a somewhat different matter; but by dint of followingSam's indicating finger, and with the help of a little imagination, hewas able to make out the various signs. Indeed, once the whole had beenshown him he began to wonder how it was that he himself had failed tolight upon them at once. However, a couple of hundred yards farther on,when they came to a halt once more, he was again at as much of a loss asbefore, and was glad to have Sam's help to read what the ground beneaththe jungle had written upon it.
"Six hosses," he said. "One for each of the four men, one for Sadie, anda spare."
"For de swag," suggested Sam. "Dey's robbed de people ober at Ancon."
Jim remembered the fact, though till that moment he had lost sight ofit; for all his interest was, very naturally, centred in Sadie. In hiseyes that was the maximum offence Jaime and his rascals had committed.
"We'd best go very quietly now," he whispered to his companions. "Ifthey have dismounted, as the marks show, and if the jungle continues toget thicker, as we can tell for ourselves is the case, why, guessthey'll soon come to a halt and camp. That'll be our chance."
"Halt any time," answered Sam, stopping for a moment and facing roundwith brightly shining eyes. "Dey camp when dey find de right spot. Notcare to lie out here in de jungle. Dat not do; p'raps some beast comealong and gib trouble. Dey wait till dey find an open place, den spreadde blanket, boil de kettle, eat, and sleep. Sam know; him libed in ajungle country before now."
He was filled with assurance, fortunately for Jim and his comrades, forotherwise there was no doubt that without a guide they would have lostthe track and themselves many times before this. Seeing the difficultyof making a straight path through this trackless forest, it becameevident to Jim before long that Jaime and his comrades, like Sam, musthave had experience of the jungle. Indeed, had he but been aware of it,the ruffian who commanded the rascally band was an excellent leader inmore ways than one. Putting aside his vindictive and cruel nature, whichseemed natural to him, the man was exceedingly clever and cunning, as hehad proved to the police of many a port along the Gulf of Mexico. But hewas as accustomed to the wilds as to a city, and had indeed during thepast two years found that safety, complete security from arrest in fact,lay in the jungle. He had made himself at home in it, had discovered theways of trackers, and, thanks to his own hardiness, had so far defiedfever. He was, then, just the man to lead a band across the isthmus, andthe straight line which his trail had held all along showed that nonovice was at the head of affairs. But in one particular he failed.Jaime had been too successful; he had for so long successfullyhoodwinked the police, and had robbed with such little interference,owing to his wonderful astuteness, that he had become too sure ofhimself, and, as a natural consequence, had become careless. At thisvery moment he imagined that no one was in pursuit. He had waited onthat open patch of ground where Jim's comrades were at this momentencamped, and had kept a watch on the top of the ridge. The fact that hehad seen no one crossing it had convinced him that all was well, thatthe scheme of the boatman who was to put to sea from Colon had again putthe police on a false track. And at once he had neglected furtherprecautions.
"We'll jest run ahead through the jungle," he told his followers, "tillwe've put a good belt of it between us and the ridge. Then guess we'lltake a fine sleep, and so be fresh by the time we come to the end of thejourney. Gee! What a commotion there'll have been 'way down by Ancon!That explosion fairly shook the whole isthmus; but why Juan never camealong is more than I can say, onless he was captured."
"Or blown sky-high with his bomb," ventured one of his fellows.
"Blown up by his own bomb! Don't you think it," came from Jaime. "Juanis too clever by half to do a thing like that. Most like he foundhimself cornered, and unable to come to our meeting place; so he's lyinghid up somewhere, and when he gets the chance will make across to joinus. See here, boys, we'll take a fine rest when we get to those natives.We'll lie up for a month, till things get blown over a little, and untilpeople have begun to forget that dollar notes were taken; then we'll getaboard the launch, steam out from the lagoon, and take one of thepassing traders. There won't be no difficulty about that. Guess we'rearmed, and the folks aboard the traders don't carry a weapon. Once we'vegot a boat, we'll sail to the nearest port, tranship to New Orleans, andfrom there to France. Paris will take every dollar we have, even thoughthe numbers of the bills have been published. In six months' time weshall have enough to make a tidy sum for each of us when the stuff'sdivided."
He led his little following through the forest till they arrived at anopen, rocky space, where the blackened ground showed that a fire hadbeen made on a former occasion. Indeed it was a spot which Jaime knewwell, for he had travelled this route many times now. Here saddles weretaken from the horses, while the beasts were given a drink at a tinystream which trickled from the rocks; then they were tethered to longropes, which would allow them to graze. Sadie was not treated unkindly.Indeed, hardened villain though he was, Jaime had some pity for thechild. He had her placed near the fire, and saw to it himself that foodand drink were given her.
"You'd best get settled down in one of the blankets and take a sleep,"he advised. "I ain't goin' to put any ropes on you, and I'll tell youwhy. If you were to try to make off into the jungle, you'd just getlost, and there's wild things in the forest that would scare the lifeout of you; so be sensible, and take a sleep."
Sadie was, in fact, far too frightened by her surroundings to venture tomove. To speak the truth, the trying scenes through which she had passedhad practically unnerved her, though the child had plenty of courage;but she was a sensible child too, and saw the futility of attemptingescape at this moment.
As to Jim and his little band, they had no idea where the party theywere in pursuit of had camped, if, indeed, they had camped at all. Theypressed on slowly through the jungle, Sam leading with the lantern, andTom bringing up the rear, slashing a tree every few paces as he passed.It was perhaps an hour later before the little negro came to a suddenhalt, and lifted his head in the air.
"Smell hosses!" he whispered, snuffing at the breeze for all the worldas if he were a dog. "Sartin sure I smell hosses!"
Promptly his hand went to the lamp and extinguished it. Jim heard thecatch click to, and found himself in utter darkness. But though he heldhis head erect, and sniffed with all his power, he could detect nothingbut the strong, aromatic scent of some tropical creeper clinging to thetrees near at hand, and supporting from the finest tendrils somemagnificent blossoms.
"Horses? You're sure?" he asked.
"Sartin sure," came the confidant whisper. "Listen to dat!"
Through the silence of the forest there came of a sudden a dull cough,and then a loud neigh. It was followed by a second, and then, faintly toJim's ears, but with startling loudness to Sam's, there came the soundof stamping.
"I'se tell yo' all about it," whispered the little negro. "One ob dehosses restless; de flies trouble him. He cough fust ob all, den heneigh. Now he stampin'. Dat all simple, simple as A B C. But him veryclose; too close. S'pose dem scum hab seen de lantern."
They crouched in the jungle in death-like silence for the space of tenminutes, fearful lest what Sam had suggested were the case; but thoughthey listened there came no other sound than the stamp of the restlesshorse which had first attracted their attention—that and an occasionalcough from the same animal. As to Sam's statement that he could smellhorses, a statement which must have been true, and which had undoubtedlysaved Jim and his party from blundering into the enemy's camp, our herocould not even now detect the characteristic smell. Nor could Ching norTom.
"But dem dere all de same," whispered Sam, chuckling at the recollectionof his own sharpness, "and precious near too. What yo do, sah? Wait hereand listen."
"No; I shall creep forward at once. We'll all go, for if we were todivide we might never find one another. Wasn't there a moon when westarted?"
Sam took his young master by the sleeve and pulled his arm towards theright, to a spot where the trees gave back from one another, and a longghostly stream of pure white light broke in from above and bathed thetree trunks.
"What dat say?" he asked. "Yo can see fo' yoself dat dere's a moon; butdown here dark as a ditch, black as de hat. Out in de open splendidlight; see to read if yo like to."
"Then we may be able to see them. Lead along, Sam; clear the groundbefore you as much as you can."
They set forward again, this time on hands and knees, and slowly, inchby inch, approached the clearing where Jaime had made his camp. Not thatthey could see it yet; but Sam proclaimed the fact that they were nearerwith his usual assurance.
"Tell dat by the sniff ob de hosses," he said shortly; "anyone can saydat fo' sure. In ten minute yo see dese scum, and den know what to do."
True enough, that number of minutes brought the whole party to the edgeof the jungle, though as to their knowing how to act, that was a verydifferent matter. Jim stared out into the open, and saw there fivefigures, huddled within a few feet of one another, wrapped from head tofoot in blankets. Farther away were the horses, half-hidden in theshadow cast by the far edge of the jungle, while to one side was a pileof bags and kit, amongst which were the saddles. And little by little,as the scene unfolded itself to our hero, and from gazing at the wholehe was able to concentrate his attention on each individual item, he wasable to decide which of the five figures was that of his sister.
"She lies to this side of what has been a fire," he told himself, "whilethose rascals are on the far side. That is in our favour at any rate;but to reach her will be a bother. How's it to be done?"
Once more his eyes passed round the clearing. They went from the figureof Sadie to those of the band of ruffians, and from the latter to theirsaddles and other possessions. Then they passed to the horses, and soround the edge of the clearing till he found himself leaning far outfrom the undergrowth and staring into the faces of his own followers.There was Sam's, his eyes twinkling as ever in the moonlight, everyfeature denoting eagerness, while the broad line across the forehead,and beneath the tattered peak of his dirty cap, seemed to show that he,too, was puzzling his brains as to how to act. And there was Ching'sOriental countenance next to Sam's, the slant-like eyes gazing upon thescene as if it were one of the most ordinary, as if he could see nothingbefore him to arouse unusual interest, nothing to disturb his accustomedequanimity. The man was actually toying with the end of his pigtail, asif he could find nothing better to do. But who could really read thosefeatures? Not Jim, nor Sam, nor Tom; not even a European accustomed toChina and its natives. The face was inscrutable; those blank, immobilefeatures hid a mind which, for all its seeming somnolence, was workingfiercely, relentlessly, and shrewdly to provide a solution for thisdifficulty. For Ching was possessed of a doglike faithfulness; he wouldgladly have given his life for that of "the missie" or for that of hismaster. And Tom—what did his expression show? The thick lips weremoving as Jim looked, while the alæ of his wide nostrils were dilatedwidely, pulsating as if with excitement. The usually merry, childishface was set with an expression so severe that our hero was astonished.It brought a gulp to his throat as he suddenly realized to the full whathe had known now for so long, that these three men were such truecomrades. Then back went his eyes to the figure of his sister.
"I'll risk it," he whispered to himself. "I'll creep out there and bringher back with me. But supposing they awake, supposing Jaime or one ofthe others suddenly sits up and lets drive with a shooter?"
His hand dropped to the butt of his own weapon, and for a while hecrouched in silence. Across his mind there flashed a scheme which mighthelp. There were the horses; he could send Sam or Ching across to themand cut them adrift. He could make it appear that an attack was to takeplace from that quarter. Then he banished the idea just as swiftly.
"Wouldn't do," he told himself; "they'd sit there in the centre andshoot. They would still be close to Sadie, and could hit anyone whoattempted to reach her. It's got to be done in some other manner."
He did not forget that Jaime and his comrades had already a reputationas marksmen. Now that he and his fellows had actually reached the gang,and were so near to success, Jim swore that he would not ruin everythingby acting hastily. Better, far better, sit there for a while than act onthe spur of the moment and lose his own life and that of his helpers inplace of effecting a rescue. It was Ching who came forward with acunning suggestion.
"Not move now, Massa Jim," he whispered. "Dey not dead fast asleepee. Yowaitee little while, den creep in, and Ching come along wid yo. We goround to de top side ob de clearing, and creep along de hollow. All openhere; but dere, shut in; keep away de bullet."
Jim stared in the direction indicated, and made out by the shadows thata hollow ran across the rocky ground from the northern side, till itactually reached the edge of the tiny camp which harboured the sleepers.In fact, though he was ignorant of it at the moment, this was thewatercourse which, beginning still farther to the north, at the foot ofsome rough rocks, carried a stream right across to the southern side ofthe clearing. Instantly he decided to follow the advice given.
"See here," he said, calling his three comrades round about him tilltheir heads were as close as possible. "Ching has given good advice. Ishall go across to the far side in the course of an hour. That should begiving them long enough to get dead sleepy."
"Dey sleep like pig den," agreed Ching. "Not wakee so easy."
"Then I shall creep along that channel, and Ching with me. You two, Tomand Sam, will lie just here, where you can see everything, and will beready to shoot if there's trouble. But I hope there won't be that; weought to be able to retire up that gully without disturbing the gang. Ifthey do rouse, we shall still have a good chance, for the sides of thechannel will protect and hide us. So bear this in mind, even if theysuddenly get up, don't shoot unless you see that they have discovered usin the gully. Then pepper them for all you are worth."
"Golly," exclaimed Tom, his eyes wide open with amazement, "dat a realfine business! But what yo do supposin' dey discober yo?"
"I shall creep back along the watercourse or gully, whatever it happensto be, while Ching will fire at the ruffians. Then we will all comealong here. Don't forget that, once we are hidden in the jungle, silenceis most required. A noise would bring bullets."
The three heads nodded vigorously, while muttered exclamations came fromthe negroes. Then Sam asked a question.
"Yo and Ching creep along way ober dere. Dat right," he said. "Yo wakede missie, and go back extry quick. Dat right also. What Ching do?"
Jim was ready with his answer, and flashed it at them. "Ching goes for aspecial reason," he said. "I happen to have had a report from the policemajor before I left Gatun. You will remember that a huge number ofAmerican notes were stolen. They were tied in bundles, and wrapped inwaterproof paper, then the bundles were locked in boxes. Jaime and hisvillains broke the boxes and carried away the bundles. If those twoobjects out there are not the very ones we are talking of, why, call mea donkey."
Out went his finger and he pointed to the piled-up saddles and otherarticles which the gang had brought with them in their flight. The moonfell clearly on them all, giving every item a sharp outline; but it felldarkly on two of them, for the simple reason that they were covered inblack material. Without doubt the bundles were those containing thenotes filched from the Commission offices, notes which Jaime and hisrascals hoped to convert into silver dollars one of these days, and soprocure a fortune. Tom gasped, Sam's eyes looked as though they wouldfall from his head, while the Chinaman gave vent to a sniggering giggle.
"Yo am velly cleber, Mass Jim," said Tom simply. "Dem bundles de swagfo' sure, and, by lummy! me see what yo up to. Yo goin'——"
"Ching is going right now to bring 'em along with us," declared Jim inan excited whisper. "If we can take Sadie from 'em, why we'll rob therascals of their booty also, I guess. And, gee! won't they be mad whenthey discover what's happened. But, boys, see here. Our job is to getaway and leave them none the wiser. We want to clear off through theforest back to our people, for you may be sure that Jaime and his menwill be mad when they learn how they've been fooled. So silence isimportant, and you'll see to it."
As if by common consent they ceased whispering to one another, and forthe better part of an hour lay still in the jungle, only their headsprotruding. And during all that time not one of the blanketed figureslying in the open moved so much as an inch, though there was anoccasional snort or a gentle stamping from the horses.
"Guess it's time," said Jim suddenly. "Those fellows haven't moved aneyelash since we watched, and there's not a doubt but that they'reproperly wearied and worn out by all that they've been doin'. Tom andSam, you know what's wanted. Give us a whistle as we come back, and thenbe ready to make off through the forest."
They wasted no more words. Jim went off at once on hands and knees, and,discarding the shelter of the undergrowth, made his way just within themargin of the clearing. After him came Ching, his pigtail gathered intoa round coil beneath the billycock hat that he always insisted onwearing, and which, indeed, has for long been a favourite with theChinaman. Otherwise the man was dressed in his native costume; for here,again, the wily Chinee shows his astuteness. Indeed, John Chinaman hasproved to himself that his own clothing is infinitely more comfortablethan European when he is located in a hot climate, and he adheres to itrigidly. Not a sound did the man make as he crept along, while Jim couldnot have been accused of want of caution. He carefully set aside allsticks and stones, and all fallen leaves, and never moved unless he weresure that the path was clear before him. All the time, too, he keptswinging his eyes round to the centre of the clearing. It seemed agesbefore he and his companion reached the northern side; but at last theywere at the point where their attempt at rescue was to begin in earnest.At their feet lay a pool of water, and from it a gully some four feetdeep ran right out into the open.
"Couldn't be better," whispered Jim. "We can get along on hands andknees, or wade through the water; but I hope there's little of thelatter, as the splashing might be heard. Don't forget, Ching; once Ihave my sister, you snatch the bundles."
He waited to see the Chinaman nod, and then at once pressed on into thegully. Within a few seconds he had an agreeable surprise. Only a tinystream was trickling down the very centre, insufficient, in fact, tocause any splashing, though the size of the gully itself, its smoothlyworn walls showing so clearly in the moonlight, demonstrated the factthat when the rains fell, and the wet season was in progress, a torrentwent gushing along the channel. But now it was almost empty, while themoon rays, falling obliquely upon one bank, cast a shadow more thanhalfway across the gully.
"Step along here," whispered Jim, pulling the Chinaman on to the sidewhich lay in the shadow. "And one more warning. Supposing those mensuddenly wake, and look around for us. Just lie as still as a mouseuntil you are sure they have spotted us in this channel. Then it'll betime for shooters."
Once more the Chinaman nodded, and the moonlight falling on his face atthat moment showed our hero, if he had had any doubts, that here he hada most excellent ally. For the same expressionless features gazed athim. There was not so much as the smallest trace of fear or excitementabout Ching, the Chinaman.
"Forward!" Jim whispered the word, and promptly proceeded along the edgeof the channel. Bending low, so that he was altogether hidden, he haltedevery ten paces, to glance across at the motionless figures of therobbers; but there was not a movement from them till he was within somefifteen feet of his sister. Then, suddenly, one of the figures rolledover. A moment later the man was sitting up, still swathed in hisblanket. He leaned his weight on one hand, and cast his eyes in a widecircle round the clearing. A horse stamped heavily, and coughed, and atthe sound the man slowly shook the blanket from him. Jim watched as hedropped the covering and climbed sleepily to his feet. The fellow gazedat the moon, and then, as if the soft, silvery light had affected himpeculiarly, stretched out his arms widely, rose on his toes, and yawnedloudly. At that a second figure moved. The man rolled over; then, toJim's relief, he snuggled down into his blanket, as anyone does who hasbeen disturbed, and who desires to rest further. In a moment he was asmotionless as formerly.
"Gee! Jaime of all people," said Jim suddenly, beneath his breath."That's bad for our business. I thought I recognized the rascal."
His hand went to his revolver, for he was tempted to use it; then hesank still lower into the gully. For Jaime it was who had risen; therascally leader of the band stretched himself and yawned again in themoonlight. He drew something from a pocket, and, to his disgust, Jim sawthat he was rolling a cigarette. Indeed the Spaniard was never awake buthe was smoking. The habit had grown upon him so that now once hisfingers were idle they always slipped into his pocket. It was a marvelto watch how nimbly they plucked the shreds of leaf, how they rolled thewhole to a correct length and thickness, and how rapidly a cigarette wascompleted. In less than a minute now there was one between his lips.Jaime stepped slowly across to the blackened ashes of the fire, stirredthem with his foot, and selected a brand from the very centre. It didnot even glow red, but he managed to obtain a light from it. Then ahorse coughed suddenly, and once more Jaime swung round.
"Flies at them," Jim heard him declare. "Nothing more; there's no onebut ourselves hereabouts."
He strolled to and fro for some ten minutes, while Jim's impatience grewalmost unbearable; then he stood regarding the bundled blanket beneathwhich Sadie was sleeping. A moment later he stepped across to the twoparcels which contained the stolen notes, and a gleam of triumph sweptacross his bearded features.
"Riches!" he growled. "The finest haul we have ever made. If things goon like this America'll find it'll cost her a heap more to build thatcanal than she looked for. Helloo! That horse again. It's flies forsure."
The same beast stamped again, and whinnied. Jim could see its legsmoving. It swayed to one side, and bumped into the next animal, causingthe latter to kick and squeal angrily, while the one who had caused thecommotion responded with a savage bite which caused the other poor beastto squeal again still louder. The noise and commotion set Jaime off intheir direction. Jim watched him as he sauntered down towards thehorses, and waited till he had reached them.
"Ready?" he asked, swinging swiftly round upon the Chinaman. "Thenforward. Seize the bundles; I will take Sadie."
In an instant he had crept from the gully, and with Ching close behindhim slid at once towards his sister.
CHAPTER XVIII
Rescue by Moonlight
"Golly! Him must be mad! Yo see him? Yo see de master come out ob dehollow den? By de poker, but him scared right clean off him head. Sam, Itells yo him mad. Him blind; him eberyting yo like to think ob."
The huge negro Tom gripped at the ground on which he lay with his strongfingers, and writhed beneath the covering of undergrowth. His staringeyes passed from the crawling figure of Jim to that of the Chinaman, andthen slid away to regard the horses on the far side of the clearing.Back they came to Sam's face, as he lay beside him, and there theyrested eagerly, as if seeking some consolation. But the little negro wasjust as scared as Tom. He, too, had watched the figure of Jaime deOteros rise from its blanket, he had kept his eyes on the robber chiefas he stretched and yawned beneath the moon, and more than once Sam'shand had slid down to his revolver. Then he had stared at the man as hestrolled away towards the horses.
"Now," he told himself, "am the time for Massa Jim." And then a secondlater: "No. Not do now. Dat scum turn and see um; then not hab time tocreep away. Hab to rush, and dat spoil eberyting. Yo stop still andshut yo ugly mouth," he exclaimed, turning angrily upon his comrade. Forthe over eager and less crafty Tom was grunting and groaning as if hewere in pain, and Sam was fearful that the sounds might betray them. "Yolie still dere and wait till yo's told to speak," he commanded. "Littlebit more, and yo wake ebery one of de rascal; den see Massa Jim cut topieces. Fine dat, eh? yo great big silly."
Tom nearly exploded with anxiety for his young master and indignation atSam's words. He stifled his groans with difficulty, and, so as to holdhimself in as it were, and keep control over his feelings, he dug hisfingers deep into the ground, and tugged heavily. Meanwhile Jim had notbeen idle. With an eye always on the horses, and the figure strollinground them, he stepped briskly across from the gully, his back bentdouble, his figure close to the ground. It seemed an age before hereached the blanketed figure which he believed to be Sadie, though as amatter of fact only a few seconds had passed. He was in the act ofstretching out his hand to touch her when Ching suddenly arrested themovement.
"No, no, no," he whispered urgently. "Not missie; look at de boot."
Jim did so, and the sight staggered him. He went pale for the instant;for the boot was large, and bore a spur at the heel. It obviouslybelonged to one of the miscreants, and distance had deceived him as tothe size of this figure. Hurriedly he looked at the others. One turned,the one nearest to him, rolled over on its side, and then suddenly satup. The blanket fell back from the head and shoulders, and then, to hisdelight, there was Sadie, her long hair streaming about her shoulders.
"Sadie, Sadie," he whispered ever so gently, and to his surprise,instead of showing astonishment, his sister merely smiled at him, shookoff the remainder of the blanket and stood up. "Come," whispered Jim."Come with me."
He beckoned to her, and, stepping swiftly across to where she stood,took her by the arm. Within a minute he was hurrying her into the gullywhich had allowed him and the Chinaman to approach so close to the groupwithout danger of being seen.
THE RESCUE OF SADIE
"Jim, I knew you'd come," whispered Sadie bravely, clinging to herbrother as if he alone stood between her and the miscreants who hadtaken her from Gatun. "Ever since that horrid Spaniard came to Mr.Phineas's quarters and forced me to accompany him, I guessed that youwould follow and rescue me. But, oh——"
She was beginning to sob, now that the greatest part of the dangerseemed to have passed. Her voice trembled; but Jim silenced her firmlyand kindly.
"Hush!" he said. "Not a sound, lest they hear us. Guess we've friendsclose at hand, and in a little while we shall be with them. Stop here amoment; we must wait for Ching."
He peeped out of the gully and watched the Chinaman bending over thebundles that contained the precious notes which Jaime and his comradeshad stolen. Then he found it hard to repress a shout of warning; for thefigure which he had taken for that of Sadie, the man wearing the bootwith the spurred heel moved. Then the man sat up suddenly, and rubbedhis eyes. A moment later he was regarding the Chinaman's back,endeavouring, no doubt, in his half-awake state, to determine who itcould be. As for Ching, he seemed to have forgotten all about the gangof desperadoes. Jim could have kicked him for being so irritatinglyslow, and to all appearances careless; but he could not read thethoughts passing through the Chinaman's brain, nor guess what it wasthat delayed him. A moment later, however, he became aware of the factthat if his follower were to carry out the orders given him he must bearaway from the enemy's camp more than had been arranged for. For the twodark-coloured bundles were wound about with rope, through which a chainhad been passed, and the latter had been locked to an iron bar passingacross the top of a form of pack saddle. As Jim looked he saw Ching whipout a knife, and deliberately set to work to sever the strands of rope.But by then the man behind him was fully awake. He started to his feetwith an exclamation, that caused Ching to swing round on the instant. Asecond later a shot rang out, and our hero saw his follower staggerbackwards and tumble across the bundles.
"Stay here; don't move an inch," he commanded Sadie. "I'm going back tohelp him."
But whatever help he could have given would have been useless to theChinaman by the time Jim could have arrived; for the rascal who hadfired followed up his attack by rushing towards the fallen Chinaman. Jimsaw him bend down swiftly, and then, just as swiftly, he went reelingto one side; for Ching had risen. Like a greyhound set loose he sprangupon his enemy, and the moon shining down upon the whole scene flashedupon something in his hand. Ching had used his formidable knife. TheChinaman, it appeared later, when he was able to give his tale, hadmerely feigned to be hit. He had waited for the man to come closer, andthen had stabbed him. Now he finished the work he had begun with aswiftness which was appalling. He was close to his man in an instant,showing an agility of which Jim had never suspected him capable before,and quick as a flash the knife went home, sending the robber thudding tothe ground.
"Back! Run!" shouted Jim, for there was now no need to keep silent."Back here, and let us get to cover quick!"
"I coming, allee lighty," came the laconic answer. Ching swung the twobundles across his shoulder, bearing the pack saddle with them, and ranswiftly across to the channel; but as he ran the two remaining figuresbeside the blackened ashes of the fire sprang to their feet, and shotsrang out loudly. There came a loud thud as one of the bullets struck thepack saddle, then Ching was out of range.
"Allee lighty, Massa Jim," he sang out coolly. "Ching here; him follow."
And our hero waited for no further information. He took his sister bythe arm and hurried her along the gully.
"Bend low," he urged her as they came to the end. "Then run into thejungle; I shall be just behind you."
In a moment or two they were speeding across the open, across the rockyground which intervened between themselves and the forest, and with agasp of relief Jim felt that the branches and leaves had closed overthem.
"You there?" he demanded of the Chinaman.
"Allee lighty, massa," came the laconic repetition.
"Then lead the way; you know it."
He gripped Ching by the end of his pigtail, for the Chinaman handed himthat article promptly, realizing, perhaps, that it was well suited forthe purpose; then, holding Sadie with the other hand, he followed closeon Ching's heels. In that order they came within a few minutes to thespot where Tom and Sam were lying.
"Missie! De Lord be praised!" exclaimed the former with a sob of relief,taking the child in his arms in his delight at her deliverance. Then heswung her up on to his shoulder in preparation for the flight which mustnow commence. As for Sam, though none the less demonstrative where Sadiewas concerned, he knew well enough that the safety of the party dependedin no small measure on him.
"Massa Jim," he called gently. "Dis way; yo come 'long o' Sam. Him habde lantern all ready lighted, and hidden way ober here. Yo come right'way at once, before dem debil see yo. Dey makin' dickens of ahullabaloo."
Jaime and his comrades were indeed creating an abundance of noise, andfor a while amused themselves by blazing away with their weapons intothe forest. And, as fortune would have it, the leader of the gang wentwithin an ace of being slain by one of his own following; for it will beremembered that a fit of restlessness had caused Jamie de Oteros to risefrom his blanket and go down towards the horses. The crack of hiscomrade's revolver had set him running back towards the camp, and it wasat that critical moment that a second follower, springing to his feet,and as yet not fully awake, nor alive to the circumstances of thematter, took him for an enemy and fired point-blank at him. With a shoutJaime reached the man, and floored him without hesitation; but beingunable to trace at the moment what had actually happened, or where thosewho had intruded in the camp had disappeared, he joined his fellows infiring wildly in every direction. Then, with an angry shout, he stoppedthe fusillade.
"This won't help us," he exclaimed. "Let us decide what has happened.Ah, Pedro is killed! Strange, he often had an idea that a man would stabhim. I saw a man dressed as a Chinaman strike at him."
"It was a Chinaman," declared Miguel. "I saw him distinctly. I fireddirect at him, but the bullet drilled a hole through the pack saddle."
"Pack saddle, man! Pack saddle!" shouted Jaime, a horrible suspicioncrossing his mind. "What do you mean?"
Miguel felt frightened for the first time for many a day. Jaime gloweredat him and toyed with his revolver, as if he would willingly shoot himif his answer were not satisfactory; then he blurted out the truth."Why, the pack saddle with the two bundles of notes chained to it," hesaid sullenly. "The Chinaman stole them."
"And you let him go free! Gurr!"
Jaime stamped in his anger. He kicked the ground as if it had done himsome injury. Then he stepped across to the spot where the five figureshad been stretched when Jim and his friends first looked into theclearing.
"The girl?" he demanded. "She has gone too? With the Chinaman?"
"With another man. I just caught a glimpse of him; he was standing inthe centre of the hollow that carries the stream."
Slowly the matter dawned on Jaime in its true light. He came to see thatthis attack was not what he had at first suspected—a sudden raid madeby natives living in the forest, a raid led by some stray Chinaman, whohad taken service with them. It was an organized raid, an attack made bythose men from Colon. In a flash he realized that his carefully laidschemes had come to naught, that his track through the forest had beendiscovered, and that already his enemies were about him. The thoughtsent the blood flying from his swarthy face till the skin looked ashengrey and lifeless. He growled out violent exclamations beneath hisbreath, and for a while paced to and fro restlessly. Then—for custom isso strong that few can resist it—the fingers of his right hand divedinto his pocket, and within a moment he was rolling a cigarette.
"I see this," he said at last, when the weed was lighted, and he hadpuffed some clouds of smoke into the air; "the men who just now tookthe girl away, and stole our money, were not strong enough to captureour whole party. We were but four, so that we may argue that theirnumbers were no greater. It follows that if we get on their track andpursue we may find ourselves the stronger party, and so may retake ourpossessions. I will tell you something. I feared some sort of trouble,and before we set out on this journey I forwarded a warning to ourfriends the natives. I asked them to come towards the zone, so as tomeet us. They will not be far away; to-morrow we may meet them. Thenthey will pick up the tracks of these rascals and follow. To-morrow willbe soon enough, for none but a native can pass through the forestswiftly in the darkness. Besides, these men who attacked us will betired; and, also, they have the girl with them."
In the course of a life which had been evilly spent almost from thebeginning Jaime de Oteros had met with much good fortune. On thisoccasion he seemed to be in luck's way as much as ever. For those twoshots fired in the clearing had reached the ears of the party of nativeswaiting his arrival, and to his huge relief they put in an appearancewithin some twenty minutes of Jim's retreat into the jungle.
"Get the lamps lighted at once," commanded Jaime, beckoning the nativechief to come to him, and addressing him as if he—Jaime himself—wereking of the race. "Now, my friend, let us have the best trackers, andput them on the trail of these people. There must be no delay; take careof that. I'll give fifty guns, with powder and bullets, if we retakethe girl and the booty these rascals stole from us."
The promise of such a rich reward caused the chiefs eyes to dilate, andat once he set his men to accomplish the task before them. Within thespace of a few minutes the sharp eyes of the natives had discovered thetrack made by Jim and Ching as they escaped with Sadie. Swiftly it waslearned that two others were of the party—one a small man, and a secondof abnormal proportions. Then the chase began in earnest, Jaime and hiscomrades following the party, while three of the natives came behindwith the horses. So rapidly, in fact, did the trackers amongst the tribewho had come to Jaime's help pick up the trail left by our hero, thatbut a couple of miles separated the two parties. Indeed, within half anhour of Jim's entering camp, and being greeted by Phineas and theothers, Tomkins reported that he had seen a lamp swinging in the forest.Sam declared within the minute that he could hear men moving, whilehardly had the words left his lips when a number of men burst into themoonlit opening. There came at once a sharp fusillade, while bulletsspluttered about the heads of Jim and his comrades. Then Tomkinsshouted, and without a second's hesitation threw himself face downwardon the ground, and jerked his rifle into position.
"Get down close, every mother's son of you," he called out, while thelock of his weapon clicked sharply. The butt came to his shoulder, hischeek fell upon it, and then a stream of flame issued from the muzzle.Nor were his comrades slow to follow his example. Before the enemy werehalfway towards them all the members of the party save Jim and Sadiewere using their rifles.
"They'll never face a fire like that," called out our hero, standing tohis full height and watching the horde of natives rushing forward. "Keeppeppering them. I will look for some spot where we can get shelter."
He took his sister with him, and clambered towards the centre of therocky elevation which cropped up in the middle of the clearing; then heshouted again.
"Mr. Phineas," he called out.
"Aye, aye," came back the cheerful answer. "We drove 'em off easy. Guessthey've left a few kicking the dust down there."
Jim had, in fact, seen the swarm of natives, with three white menamongst them, suddenly turn tail and run, and his watchful eye had alsoobserved the figures lying prone not far from the edge of the forest.But he had some intelligence of his own to communicate, and shouted backto Phineas.
"Bring the whole party right away up here," he said. "There are bouldershereabouts which will shelter us and help to keep off their bullets.Make a run for it; bring all our baggage."
He left Sadie in a large hollow on the summit of the eminence, andreturned to his comrades. By then bullets were coming thick from thedepths of the jungle, and here and there queer little jets of dustspurted up from the ground, while there was a strange whistling in theair. But our hero had been under fire before, and took not the smallestnotice of the missiles. He reached the camping ground which he and hisfriends had been occupying but a short while before, and at oncesnatched up the two black bundles which contained the store of noteswhich Jaime and his rascals had stolen. Then, waiting to see that theothers were already running up the hill, he followed swiftly, the hugeTom bearing a case of ammunition just before him. Two minutes later allwere under cover.
"What now?" said Phineas, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "I neverdid come across such a fellow as you are, Jim. Always getting intoscrapes, and dragging your friends into them with you. But what now?Here we are under cover, and I ain't so sorry. But there must have beenfifty of those natives down below, as well as the three white men. Jaimeand his crew, I suppose?"
"Jaime for sure, and sorry he'll be that he ventured to follow,"answered Jim curtly. "I tell you straight, that fellow has been no endof a bother to me. And now, to add to all the mischief he's done, hedeliberately fires at Sadie. Luckily the bullet just missed her. Butthere you are! I say he'll live to be sorry. I'll teach him a lessonthis time that he won't forget."
They were big words, spoken in a moment of intense vexation; but bigwords for all that, as Jim was the first to acknowledge when his temperhad cooled a little. Here was his slender little party surrounded, andthe enemy were by no means to be laughed at; for Jaime and his comradeshad been busy on those occasions when they had been away from the Panamazone. They had done a big trade in rifles, or, rather, in obsoletemuzzle loaders, with which almost every one of the natives accompanyingthem was armed; while the latter began to prove already that, obsoletethough their weapons might be, they could at that range make finepractice with them. Indeed, every second now a ball struck the bouldersbehind which Jim and his friends were crouching, while before manyminutes had passed the shots came from almost the entire circle ofjungle. The party who had come to rescue Sadie was, in fact, practicallysurrounded.
"Which don't say as they're goin' to take us," growled Tomkins, who wasendowed with splendid pluck. "Now that we've got this shelter, and eachman has selected a spot from which to fire, I guess we'll give a goodaccount of ourselves. But what are the orders?"
He appealed as if by custom to our hero, and Jim answered promptly.
"We lie just as we are," he said. "I see that each one has taken up aposition, and the only alteration I can suggest is that the fourpolicemen separate and place themselves between the others. They areused to rows more than we are, and will be able to give advice. For therest, reckon we'll sit tight."
"Sit tight!" echoed Phineas, somewhat at a loss.
"Just lie as we are, and never give them a shot back unless a manexposes himself. When'll the moon go down?"
It was a question of some importance, and our hero breathed more freelywhen he heard that the morning would come and still find the moon in thesky.
"Then we shall have light right through," he said in tones of relief."Don't forget; not a shot unless you see a man. Just lie still undercover. Ching, guess you could manage to light a fire and get some grubcooking."
The Chinaman smiled on them all. Cooking, after all, was his forte, notfighting, though he was no laggard where that was concerned, havingalready shown that he possessed courage. He rose from his proneposition, re-arranged his pigtail, and set about the preparation of ameal for the whole party with just the same calmness and method as hewas wont to employ in Phineas's kitchen. Within five minutes he hadcollected sufficient driftwood to make a fire, and had laid it at thebottom of a little hollow. In double that time he had a billy slung overthe flames, so that very soon a most appetizing steam pervaded theplace. Then he wagged his head in a manner all his own and declared thatthe meal was ready.
"And we for it," said Jim, rising from the position he had taken besideTomkins. "See here, Ching. Dish out an allowance for each man, and bringit to him. It won't do to leave our stations. We'll grub right where welie, and so be ready."
It was a wise precaution to take, for none could say when the enemywould attempt a second rush. Meanwhile bullets streamed from the jungle,now from this point, and then from that, a splash of flame lighting upthe dense shadows for an instant. But of late the firing had become farless rapid, while the characteristic crack of the Mausers which Jaimeand his rascals employed had ceased altogether.
"Simply showing that they are otherwise engaged," said Jim, discussingthe affair with Phineas and Tomkins. "They are, no doubt, hunting for alikely spot from which to make a charge; and to my mind there's one spotabove all others which they are likely to select. Look away over here.This rocky eminence runs on into the jungle, so that a band dashing outthere would not have to come uphill. It's level ground all the way.Again, it happens to be a shorter cut from the jungle, and will give usless time to put in our shots. That's my opinion."
Tomkins surveyed his surroundings in silence for some little while, ashe ate his steaming rations methodically and unconsciously. He showednot the smallest trace of alarm, though he must have known, betterperhaps than any of the others, how desperate were the fortunes of theparty. But the man had such a reputation for brusqueness and straightspeaking that Jim felt sure that if he disagreed with what he had justexpressed as his opinion, Tomkins would promptly say so, and that withthe utmost bluntness.
"Guess you'd better make a change in the posts we're filling," he saidat last. "Ef there's a rush, it'll come from 'way over there whereyou've been pointin'. That bein' so, better fix it to pour in a firethat'll choke 'em. There won't be too much time, and it'll want to bemagazines, and shooters to follow if they get within distance. Pity wecouldn't place a mine to blow 'em to blazes, or have a gun to shootdirect at the varmint. But guess our rifles'll make hay with 'em; theboys here'll make them niggers sit up lively."
He relapsed into a moody silence, and went on eating his meal, his eyesroving along the edge of the jungle; but he was ready as soon as Jimcalled him. Our hero placed the four police behind a mass of bouldersfacing the part from which attack was feared, and then stationed Tom andSam and Ching behind them.
"You'll just lie here with Mr. Phineas," he said, "and if there's a rushyou will be ready to come to the help of the one who's most attacked.You can see that the policemen are three yards good from one another, sothat it may well happen that one will be more pressed than his comrades.For the rest, you'll keep an eye all round, and look after Sadie."
Very quietly the men moved into their positions, crouching low as theywent, so that the enemy might not see them. Then, each man havingselected a niche through which he could fire, and Jim also havingdiscovered one for himself in their centre, all lay absolutely still,awaiting developments.
"Look out for trouble, boys," sang out our hero a good half-hour later."Their bullets are beginning to come along again, and I should say thatwe guessed right when we decided their rush would come from over in thisdirection. Do you hear that? A Mauser for sure, and there's another andanother. That shows where the leaders are."
Tomkins, who lay next him, gave vent to a hoarse chuckle. "That 'ereJaime thinks he's a fine dog, he do," he called back. "See what troublehe took to throw us off the scent from the beginning. Now he'smanœuvring a rush, and telling us just where we may expect it becausehe must go and blaze with his own rifle. Ah! That was a man; I saw himcome from the jungle direct before us. Gee! The game's beginning."
The words had hardly left his lips when a couple of dark figures leapedfrom the cover, brandishing weapons over their heads. An instant latertwenty dusky natives had joined them, while in their centre were thefigures of three white men plainly distinguishable under the moonlight.There came a loud shout across the clearing; then, as if shot from thesame gun, every one of the figures bounded towards the spot where Jimand his friends were lying.
"Magazines," growled Tomkins, dropping his cheek on to the butt of hisweapon. "Let 'em have it."
"Fire!" shouted Jim.
Bang! His own rifle was the first to discharge a missile; but the othersfollowed swiftly, and within the minute five men were engaged in sendinga shower of bullets at the enemy. Never before had Jim worked soenergetically. No sooner was the trigger pressed than his hand grippedthe bolt and threw it open. Click! The empty case flew back over hisshoulder, while another rose from the magazine as if by magic to replaceit. Bang! He pushed the lever home, and down went his eye to the sightsso quickly that it never seemed to have left them. As for the enemy,they came forward at an astounding pace, without pause or hesitation. Inspite of the number which fell out of their ranks and went crashing tothe ground, the remainder came on steadily. Then a second partyfollowed, as if to reinforce their comrades. Phineas gave a shoutinstantly.
"Get along into the firing line, boys," he called to Ching and Sam andTom. "I'll stop back here and make sure that none are trying to comefrom behind. Then I'll join you."
"You can go now, Mr. Phineas," came in a quiet voice from close besidehim, and, looking down, he saw Sadie, her cheeks pale perhaps, but hereyes and her lips steady. "Go," she said. "I will watch behind you, andwill call if there is need."
Phineas gripped her hand promptly, and ran forward. By then his ownlittle party had joined Jim's, and were aiding them with their rifles.Indeed the rattle of the weapons was deafening, while anyone could seethat the enemy were suffering. But the natives hardly seemed to knowwhat fear was, while Jaime and his fellow robbers showed splendid pluck.Nothing stopped them. They leaped over the bodies of their fallencomrades, and came racing forward, their eyes blazing, their weaponsbrandished over their heads. In an incredibly short space of time theywere within ten yards of the spot where the defenders lay.
"Time for revolvers," shouted Jim. "Up on your feet—revolvers andclubbed rifles!"
The scene which followed was almost too rapid for description, for theleaders of the attacking party threw themselves on Jim and his men witha ferocity and a quickness which were appalling. Revolvers snapped onevery hand, while two of the policemen clubbed their rifles and dealtswinging blows. It was left to the huge Tom to relieve the situation.Rifle in hand, he sprang over the intervening boulders and launchedhimself upon the attackers with a howl of rage. His huge mouth wasopened wide, displaying a set of formidable teeth, while his musculararms swept the rifle round in huge circles, laying the enemy low for allthe world as if it were a scythe. Then he pursued his old and favouritetactics. He hurled the weapon at one of the white men, and, leapingforward, gripped Jaime round the waist. The rascal was whirling in theair in a second, and within the space of three had been thrown into thecentre of his supporters.
"Bravo, Tom, bravo!" shouted Jim, rushing to join him, with Ching andSam close at hand.
The enemy were more terrified by Tom's presence and appearance than byall the bullets. They turned as Jim came forward and fled for theirlives, dragging Jaime with them. A minute later the defenders werebehind their boulders once more, breathing heavily, while the fusilladeof musket balls had again opened from the fringe of the jungle. Stillthe enemy were not beaten. As the dawn came they showed at the edge ofthe forest, and with shouts of triumph announced that they had receivedreinforcements. Indeed, within a few minutes Jim saw that at least ahundred men were crouching just within the shadow. Then there cameanother shock, which set his heart palpitating.
"More of the varmint," suddenly announced Tomkins, swinging round andpointing to a spot behind the party, where, up till now, they had seenno enemy. "Gee, if there ain't two hundred against us!"
He dashed across the hollow, threw himself on his face, and levelled hisrifle. But he never pulled the trigger: Jim stopped him peremptorily. Asingle figure suddenly pushed to the front of this second mob ofnatives, and advanced a few paces bearing a white flag. He waved it andshouted. Then, followed by his men, he came running towards Jim and hisfellows.
CHAPTER XIX
Jim Meets with a Surprise
It was an exciting and an anxious moment for Jim and his comrades asthey saw the strangers bounding towards them, and for one brief instantour hero hesitated, wondering whether he ought to respect the white flagwhich the leader of this new band bore. He had already arrestedTomkins's intention of firing on them, and now peremptorily restrainedthe others.
"Stop!" he shouted. "Not a shot. I believe they are friends. Why, as Ilive, if that isn't a white man at their head!"
But the light just now was not so good as it had been. The moon waswaning, and the dawn half broken. In consequence, though the partyanxiously watching the strangers from the rocky eminence could make outtheir numbers, and each individual member of the band, they coulddistinguish nothing more than that. Phineas drew in a deep breath. Hehad learned to trust Jim's judgment, but on this occasion he fearedgreatly that he was making a gigantic error.
"Gee!" he cried in anxious tones. "Supposing they are enemies like therest. They will cut us to pieces. Get ready to shoot, you men."
"By de poker, but if dey not friends, den Tom talk to them same as hetalk wid de oders," growled the negro. "But me tink Massa Jim right;Massa Jim neber make mistake."
It was like the huge fellow to support his young master, of whom he hadan absurdly high opinion; but Sam and Ching were just as emphatic.
"Not need fear rumpus any longer," said the former, dropping the butt ofhis weapon to the ground. "Massa Jim know what him talking about. Noflies on him anyway."
"He, he, he! Velly nice for dis party," lisped the Chinaman. "A minuteago me tink soon hab ebelyting ober. Soon be chopped to little pieces,same as Ching chop de meat for de stew. But now ebelyting jolly. Yo seeprecious soon. Ching knowee well dat dat a white man. Him seen himbefore; him know de movement of him legs. Him and Ching great friendssome time ago."
Could it be true? Even Jim, as he anxiously watched the approachingband, and with no little doubt as to their friendly intentions, couldnot fail to observe that the leader, who in the dim light had theappearance of being a white man, certainly walked in a manner with whichhe was familiar. The swift fling of the legs reminded him of someone;but whom? Where had he known that someone? That was the question. Lessthan a minute later he was staggering backwards as if someone had struckhim a heavy blow. As for the strangers, there was now no doubt that awhite man led them. A tall, thin young man, with somewhat cadaverouscast of countenance, halted within ten paces of the party, still wavinghis white banner, and gave vent to a cry of astonishment, a cry whichJim echoed. Then Sadie, half-hidden behind the men of her party, pushedher way resolutely through them, ran forward, and gazed at the man. Inan instant she had thrown herself upon him.
"Jim!" she screamed; "it's George, George come back to life! Georgealive, when we thought he was dead in the jungle."
"IT'S GEORGE, GEORGE COME BACK TO LIFE!"
The meeting staggered our hero. He could hardly believe that it could behis brother, he whom they had lost in the jungle now so long ago. Eventhe strong grip which George gave him failed to convince.
"How's it happened?" demanded Jim. "We settled that you were dead, thatthe fever had killed you, and that you had fallen in some hollow in thejungle. Who are all these men here? How is it that you have turned upright away at the very instant when help is wanted? My head is all of awhirl: I guess I'm getting silly."
"Then you needn't blame yourself," came George's answer. "Reckon you'dbe a strange fellow if you weren't a little bit overcome by my turningup after you'd given me over for dead. But, see here, Jim; I'm your ownbrother George right enough, though how it comes that I am still aliveand kicking is a long story. As to how I arrived here on time, that'smuch simpler. The natives I have been living with are at daggers drawnwith a tribe over by the lagoon, and have been greatly troubled becausesome beggarly European rascals have been selling guns and powder tothem. For three months past I've been a kind of king amongst them, andof course I've taken steps to have that other tribe watched. Well, weheard that an expedition was coming this way. We shadowed the nativesthrough the forest, and then heard a shot. Later we followed again, andthen there was heavy firing. I made out your party from the edge of thejungle, and I reckoned that I would help. Of course I couldn't tell whowas in the right. I only knew that the natives who are enemies of ourswere attacking a small party, and so I decided to help the weaker side.Here we are, seventy of us in all, and quite sufficient to make shortwork of those fellows. Now tell me all about the bother."
As rapidly as possible Jim told him how Jaime and his rascally comradeshad abducted Sadie, and how he had followed.
"It's a precious long yarn, like yours," he laughed, gripping George'shand for the twentieth time, for even now he found it hard to believethat this good news was actually and really true. "But, to begin with, Itook a job on the Panama Canal."
"Won a job is truer, I guess," interrupted Phineas, who was beaming onour young hero and his long-lost brother. "Won a job on the PanamaCanal, sir. Let me tell you that this young Jim of yours has done mightywell since you took it into your head to clear off into the jungle. Tobegin with, he started right off for New York; for he had to find a jobsomewhere. Then there was a collision. The ship foundered, and I wasleft aboard her when the crew took to the boats. Jim there swam out andsaved me. Give you my word, the risk he ran makes my hair stand on endeven nowadays. Of course I was grateful. After all, life's pleasantto a man working on the canal; there's a real interest in it. Ioffered to get our young friend a job, and house his sister. That's howthe business started. He won the job, siree; won it outright and by asfine a show of grit as ever you could come across."
George's sallow, fever-haunted face brightened at the words: hestretched forward a hand to grip his brother's, and then to take that ofPhineas.
"It's the one thing that has troubled me ever since I was lost in theforest," he said feelingly. "There was always Sadie, and what hadhappened to her. I knew that Jim and the boys would stick to her andsupport her; but the willingness to do so doesn't make it alwayspossible. Guess I owe you a lot, Mr. Phineas, and Jim's my own brother.I always knew he had grit."
"See here," burst in Phineas, who seemed to have suddenly found a loosetongue, "you don't owe me a cent's worth. I'll get ahead with this yarn,for this young Jim ain't likely to give it all. And ef I wasn't to tellevery word, there's Tom and Sam and Ching would soon see that the newsreached you. Eh, boys?"
In the fading moonlight Tom gave an expansive, seven-foot grin, andwagged his head. Sam's little eyes twinkled brightly, while the Chinamanundid his pigtail, and coiled it again, glancing from one to the other."If you not guess dat Mass Jim play de game, den you velly stupid, sah,"he said. "But you know him from de days when we were all on de salvageboat. Massa Jim a demon to work, and never know what it am to fear."
"Listen to this," went on Phineas, wagging a finger at the three, tosilence them. "There were a number of Spaniards aboard the boat thatfoundered. They fought for the boats, and Jim and Tom had a stand-upfight with them, supporting the captain and crew thoroughly. Well, Jimhere knocked a rascal down, who, it turned out, was one of a gang ofruffians who had been infesting ports along the Gulf of Mexico, and whoof late had been carrying on their evil practices on the canal zone.This rascal was brought back to Colon with the others, and the gangbegan operations again. But this particular man imagined he had a grudgeagainst Jim. He deliberately fired at him one night when in my quarters.Of course we followed, that is, Jim and his boys did. They tracked thefellow to a house where the gang were situated, and as a result, whenthe police arrived, three of the gang were taken, though not until Jimhad nearly lost his life. Two got away, and the police followed rightaway along the coast, across a lagoon to the jungle 'way ahead of us.There was a fight between themselves and the native tribe these rascalshad taken refuge with, while the two men were killed or severelywounded. Back comes Jim, takes on a special job on the works, and thengets mixed up with the remainder of the gang. They play all sorts oftricks, and finally rob the Commission offices, and, as a special markof their hatred to Jim, abduct Sadie. There we are, siree. Right down tothe present moment. Jim and the boys went off this very evening, creptup to the gang, and brought away the girl and the plunder. You've seenwhat followed."
The sallow face of the man who had so suddenly joined the party lit upagain, while he regarded his brother in a manner somewhat different fromthat he had been accustomed to aboard the salvage boat. For then Jim hadappeared as only a boy to George. But now it was as a man that hisbrother found him, a young, strenuous, self-possessed man, who, withouta shadow of doubt, had been winning the golden opinion of those withwhom he had come in contact. In place of being stranded by his pastmisfortunes, and finding life a struggle, George had now learned thatJim was prospering, that he had won a lucrative job on the canal works,and later, when Phineas was able to speak further with him, that therewere many amongst the officials who predicted that our hero would risehigh, and would, when he was a little older, fill a position ofresponsibility.
"And so you rescued Sadie, and took their plunder from them!" gaspedGeorge. "That's a good beginning, and those bodies lying out there showthat your party has done well in the attack. Now let me give a littlefurther information. Guess those rascals you followed across the lagoonwere wounded only, for our tribe have had certain news that two whitemen were with their enemies. Guess they've come along with this secondparty, and have now joined hands with the men you tracked to this spot.Who's leader here?"
Phineas jerked his head in Jim's direction, while Tomkins, who had stoodnear at hand all the while, grinned ever so little.
"Young, ain't he?" he asked, in his usually blunt manner. "But thereain't no flies on him, siree. He's shown us how to move, has MisterJim."
"Then what do you propose? Stay here and build up a barricade of stones,or attack the enemy boldly?" asked George.
Jim did not answer for the moment. He knew that even now that his partyhad been so well reinforced it was smaller in numbers than the enemy. Tomarch out across the open would certainly lead to great loss, for mostof the natives with Jaime and his ruffians were armed with firelocks. Onthe other hand, there was not much to be gained by staying in theirpresent position, for that would carry them no nearer to safety.Unless——
To the surprise of all he suddenly struck his thigh with the palm of hishand, and gave a shout of triumph. He was in the very act of tellingthose who stood around what plan he suggested, when a rifle snapped fromthe forest, and a bullet whistled just overhead. Then a storm of ballscame swishing out over the open, and were followed by the appearance ofthe enemy. They swarmed from the shadows, massed in one corner, andthen, to the thunderous beat of native drums came racing forward.
"Back to your places," shouted Jim. "Fire as soon as you are inposition. George, how many of your men are armed with guns?"
"Thirty at the most; they trust to spears and a long curling knife."
"One more question; did those rascals see you join us?"
"Certain to have done so," answered George. "But whether they have acorrect idea of our numbers is an altogether different matter."
"Then line up all the men without guns at the back of the firing party.When I give the word, lead them out against the enemy; we must drivethem back whatever happens."
The ten minutes which followed were full of movement, and were, in fact,more than strenuous; for Jaime was desperate. He was furious to havebeen worsted so easily, and, reviewing the whole affair, it made himtremble with rage when he recollected that all his carefully made planshad come to naught. The greatest blow of all was that the treasure whichhe had stolen had been taken from him, and that by four men alone,simply because he himself had relaxed his usual caution. It wastherefore with shouts of rage that he led the enemy. Dashing forward atthe head of some hundred and fifty of them, he urged them on in spite ofthe bullets which hissed through their ranks. He himself seemed to beara charmed life; for though Tomkins made more than one effort, he failedsignally to bring the robber chief to the ground. Always his bulletstruck the man on one or other side, or him who was following.
"Thunder!" shouted the policeman at last, angry at his want of success."That's the fifth time I've drawn a bead on him and missed. See if Idon't do it this time. It's the only thing that'll save us."
He leant his cheek against the butt of his rifle with more than usualcare, and pulled steadily on his trigger. Then he jerked the weaponbackward with an exclamation of disgust, and rapidly pushed a charge ofcartridges into his emptied magazine; for Jaime was still untouched. Thebullet intended for him had struck one of his white followers, and thosewho watched saw the man pitch forward with arms and legs outspread, andcome with a thud to the ground. Nor did he move a muscle afterwards. Bythen Jaime and those with him were within twenty yards of the eminence.
"Ready?" asked Jim, placing himself beside George at the head of hisnatives, while the ever-watchful Tom came sidling up to him, his riflegripped in his enormous hands. "Then charge!"
George shouted. A man amongst the natives blew on a horn, while anotherbeat a drum. Then some forty of them launched themselves past the firingline, and fell upon the charging enemy furiously. At once it becameevident that the fight was to be one to a finish. The men who hadfollowed George had without doubt the greatest hatred for those others,and for that reason fought with a ferocity which was terrible. Shouts ofconsternation came from the enemy at their sudden appearance. Men inrear turned and fled, while those in the van came to a halt. Jaimeturned and beckoned to them. In the short space at his disposal hethreatened his followers. Then he and those with him were overwhelmed.In one brief minute the rush of Jaime and his supporters was convertedinto a mad retreat, with a band of dusky men in rear of them slashingand cutting desperately. As for Jim and George, they were carriedforward by the natives, and, with the lusty Tom beside them, thrusttheir way far in amongst the flying enemy, striking right and left withtheir rifles. Nor was Tom satisfied with that. The negro was possessedof enormous strength, and nothing could resist him. He dashed far beyondhis comrades, discarding his rifle. His ponderous fists shot out inevery direction, flooring the enemy; then, catching sight of Jaimestruggling amidst the natives, and possessed, it seemed, with the sameterror which had suddenly assailed them, Tom leapt at him, covering theground in enormous bounds, and easily clearing a path before him. In atrice he was level with the robber, and though the latter turned andendeavoured to bring a weapon to bear on the negro, the gallant Tom wastoo quick for him. He had him by the collar in an instant, the fingersof his right hand encircled the back of the neck, causing the wretch todrop his revolver and shriek. Then, just as had happened earlier on, theman was swung like a bale into the air, and was whirled above the headsof the others.
"By de poker, but dis time yo not get 'way!" bellowed Tom, mad withexcitement. "Yo not get back to dem scum to lead dem against MissieSadie. See here, me break yo neck if yo move. Me crush ebery bone in yobody. Yo hear dat? Den keep quiet or me pound yo to a jelly."
The miserable fellow was not able to move so much as a finger, so firmlydid Tom grip him; and if he imagined that his comrades would help him,he was much mistaken. For they were terrified, and fled back to theforest with George's men hanging on behind them. Indeed, in five minutesthere was not a trace of the enemy, save the numerous bodies which layin the open. There was only Jaime de Oteros, a prisoner now, cringingat the feet of our hero, and looking askance at the panting men abouthim.
"Now, sah," said Tom, drawing in a deep breath, "not want dis scum anylonger. Suppose we hang um straight off and so save heap ob trouble."
"Tie him up fast, and set a watch over him," commanded Jim promptly."Now, George, I'm ready to give you my plan for the future. I was aboutto do so when the enemy charged. But, first, are they likely to leaveus?"
George shook his head promptly, then exchanged a few words with one ofthe natives who was evidently of some importance. "They will stay therein the forest," he said at last. "They have the great advantage ofpossessing rifles, and guess they still far outnumber us. So they'll liethere in hiding, and pepper us whenever we show a finger. If we go outto attack them, they will break up and move away; but if we attempt tomake for Colon, they will hang on our flanks and kill us little bylittle."
"Then we'll keep them hanging about in the forest. See here, George,"said our hero eagerly. "This party of mine was to be merely a sort ofcutting-out expedition. We rode hard in order to come up with thisruffian Jaime, and rescue Sadie. The main party was to steam to thelagoon, and there attack the natives. They were then to endeavour tojoin hands with us. Seems to me we have an excellent chance of acombined movement. We stay here, and make pretence that we dare notmove. Meanwhile you send off a couple or more men to our other party.When could they reach us?"
"To-morrow morning, perhaps a little earlier. Gee, this is a good plan!The head of the lagoon is only a bare twenty miles from us. My men couldreach the spot by late this afternoon. Your other party would marchright off, and, allowing for the difficulties of getting through thejungle, could be here even earlier than I said. It's a fine move; fine,and will be just the thing to put an end to this matter."
"And your men could start at once, and leave without the enemy being thewiser?"
Once more George appealed to the native chief, and presently returned tohis brother. "They shall go at once. We will send two parties,consisting of three men each. They will slip away from this spot withoutanyone seeing them, and will each bear the same message. They will marchback with your people, and will crawl in here to let us know of theirarrival."
Jim called Phineas and Tomkins to him, and discussed the plan with themfor a few moments. Then, as all agreed with it, George nodded to thenative. Almost instantly six men stood forward from amongst the seatedthrong, their eyes shining in the sunlight, for by now broad day wasupon them. A few guttural words were spoken, then, one by one, thenatives wormed their way from the eminence. Jim could hardly havebelieved it possible that men could leave the spot without watching eyesdiscovering them; but he had never watched such natives as these before,nor seen how it was possible to take advantage of hollows and boulders.
"Gone!" said George, at length, giving vent to a sigh of satisfaction."Now I suppose we can settle down to the ordinary life of those who arebesieged?"
"Which reminds one of breakfast. Ching!" shouted our hero. "Breakfastfor our party, and slippy with it," he commanded, when the Chinaman hadput in an appearance. "I suppose your natives will fend for themselves,George?"
"They are almost vegetarians," came the answer, "and each man carriessufficient with him to appease a hearty appetite and to slake histhirst. That's the best of their diet. It supplies food and drink at thesame moment. And talking of vegetarians reminds me of myself; youremember I was down with fever?"
"And dived overboard when delirious," Jim nodded.
"And swam like a maniac till I reached the jungle. Well, I must haveraced through it for a couple of miles or more before I came to a stop.At last I dropped down in the very middle of a camp formed by thesenatives. I was dead beat, raving with fever, and as weak as a child. Byall accounts, too, guess I had hardly a shred of clothing left on me,and my skin was torn by brambles. By good luck, anyway, I had stumbledamongst natives who had met white men before, and had no particulardislike for them. In fact, they have an absurdly high idea of them. Theytreated me like a brother. They looked upon me from the first as if Iwere a great chief, and fed me with fruits taken in the forest. And itseems that fever is not unknown amongst them. You see, they don'tinhabit the swamp lands, so they do not often come in contact withmalaria. Guess they ain't acclimatized to fever the same as othernatives who live on the lagoons; in consequence they get attackswhenever they come down to the water, and have learned how to treattheir patients. I mended slowly. For weeks I couldn't walk, and had tobe carried on a form of stretcher; but I shook off the fever. Lifebecame altogether more pleasant, and though, of course, I was longing toget back to settled parts, so as to rejoin you and Sadie, yet, while Iwas tied by weakness, I admit that I found life pleasant, and kinderhosts I could not have wished for. At last I was about strong enough totravel, and had already arranged for an escort to take me to Colon whenthis affair turned up. Gee! It's the strangest thing that ever happened.To think that in place of discovering you in New York, or somewhere inthe States, you should have run up against me out in this jungle!"
They chatted for long over their breakfast, Jim learning every detail ofhis brother's life, while George gathered a good deal of what hadhappened at Colon. But from Phineas he heard fuller particulars.
"You can't expect the lad to talk about himself," he told George. "It'sdead against his modest nature. But he's done fine. He's shown real gritfrom the beginning, and alongside of it a determination to get on and acommon sense that was bound to win advancement. He's earning good wages.Jim is well enough off at this moment to offer you a home, and cansupport you till you also are earning wages. Mark this too: if we comeout of this soundly, and Jim gets back to Colon with those dollars, theCommission will have heaps of praise and thanks to give. Shouldn'twonder if it resulted in further advancement. I know he's young; butguess that don't matter. America's a go-ahead country. She don't reckona man to be a Solomon just because he's old and wears hair on his face,no more than she reckons that a youngster without a line on his lip isclear out of sense. She judges a man by what he does, and gives herfavours without thought of years and appearance. Well, here's Jim youngenough we'll allow; but he's done things. His name's known better thanthe Police Major's from end to end of the canal works. He's come outtrumps on every occasion, and if he wins home now I say it'll be atriumph."
Let the reader imagine George's amazement at all he heard, for he hadalways looked upon Jim as too young for serious consideration. And herehe was, a man in effect, though hardly come to that station in point ofyears; but a man for all that, and already occupying a fine position. Itafforded food for thought, and for long George sat sucking the stem ofthe pipe which Tomkins had generously loaned to him. And all the whilebullets flickered from the jungle; they clipped corners from theboulders, smashed heavily against trees on the far side of the clearing,or sent spurts of dust into the sunlit air. It was an occupation, infact, to watch the result of the enemies' efforts, and to speculate onthe effect of the next shot. But it was an occupation also which was aptto become monotonous. Men fell asleep, in spite of the bullets, and onlywakened now and again when the thumping of a native drum warned of apossible rush; but though the enemy massed at times, and seemed on thepoint of charging, they never actually came into the open. Theycontented themselves with more or less continuous firing.
"Which don't hurt a fly, and only makes a chap hungry," said Tomkins, ashe lay on his back in the shelter cast by a boulder. "But guess we shallwant to be careful once the darkness comes. If there's a bright moonit'll be right enough; if not, there'll be ructions."
The hours dragged by slowly, and at length evening arrived. Jim lookedoverhead anxiously, and noted that thick banks of clouds were floatingin the sky, while the moon would not rise for two hours.
"It'll be dark in an hour," he said, stretching himself beside Phineasand his brother. "I've been talking to Tomkins, and he agrees with methat the most dangerous time will be before the moon rises, which meansthat the enemy may attack immediately night comes. Have either of you asuggestion to offer?"
"Just this," answered George. "As soon as it is sufficiently dark we'llsend my fellows into the jungle across there. They'll be back withinfive minutes with as much firewood as we want. Then we'll lay a pilesome twenty yards from our position, and so all round this eminence.Once in position we'll set fire to them, and the glow should last tillthe moon helps us."
The scheme found approval with Jim and Phineas at once, so that, as soonas it was dark enough, George sent a dozen of his natives creeping intothe forest. They were back within a few minutes, and at once othershelped them to place the wood they had brought in piles all round theeminence. The last match was being lighted when the silence of theforest was suddenly broken by the beating of a drum. And then a horde ofnatives launched themselves into the clearing.
CHAPTER XX
Success to the Panama Canal
Even in the machinery shops at Gorgona Jim had never listened to such adin as came from the charging enemy as they burst from the cover of theforest; for a dozen native drums were being thumped, horns were sounded,while each individual shouted and shrieked at the pitch of his lungs. Itseemed, indeed, as if Jaime's followers imagined that the racket wouldscare the defenders and help them towards victory. The giant Tom,standing over the captive, saw his eyes scintillate, while Jaime halfrose to his feet; but in a moment he was cowering again. Not because Tomscowled at him, and stretched forth a hand, but because the nativeplaced to guard him flourished his long knife before the prisoner'sface.
"So, yo know what to expect if yo try to escape," said Tom. "I leave yowid dis friend while I go to teach those scum manners. Yo move onelittle piece, and see how nicely he cut yo to tiny bits."
He indicated the native with a wave of his hand, then went off to thefiring line, swinging his rifle as if it were a toy and weighed but afew ounces. Meanwhile the defenders had opened fire upon the enemy.
"Steady does it, boys," sang out Tomkins, who was a tower of strengthto Jim and his friends. "Use your magazines, but see that every shottells. It don't do to fire and miss every time. Let each bullet find itsman. It'll bring them to a halt sooner than anything."
But there are limits to the powers of such a small force as Jimcommanded; for though George's natives who were armed with guns blazedat the enemy, it was clear that they missed their aim more often thannot. Then, too, the light was tricky. The flickering flames cast by thecircle of fires served to show the figures of the enemy; but here andthere were black shadows, and the rifles had to catch their men as theyraced across the lighted parts. In consequence the host of attackerssoon approached the eminence on which the defenders had taken theirstand. They were abreast of the fires in two minutes, and, at a shoutfrom Jim, George prepared to launch his second party of natives at them.
"Wait till they have almost reached us," cried Jim; "then let them go.Call to the others who are firing with their guns to join in the charge.This time every man will have to be employed."
The situation was indeed very critical, for the enemy had advanced infull strength, while the fitful light had helped them. In the space of afew seconds the leaders were within a yard of the boulders behind whichTomkins and his party were lying, and rifle practice was no longerpossible. George shouted. His natives gave vent to a hoarse bellow,while the man with the drum thumped it madly. Then some seventy blackfigures leaped over the boulders, and there began a hand-to-handcontest, the ferocity of which can hardly be described. The twobodies of men, attackers and attacked, swayed this way and that. Some ofthe enemy even managed to leap over the boulders and gain the innercircle, only to be shot down instantly by Jim and his friends. Then,when matters had become desperate, and the din was deafening, shoutswere heard from a distance. Sam dashed up to Jim, his face working withexcitement, his eyes blazing.
"Friends comin', sah," he bellowed. "I see dem run from de forest. Deycharging from behind; dey policemen."
Whoever they were, the rear ranks of the enemy quickly discovered theirpresence, and turned to face them. Then across the clearing there camethe sound of cheering. A loud command rang out, and in a trice a strongbody of men had hurled themselves against the enemy. Not a shot wasfired; for to have done so would have been to have risked shooting Jimand his party. But long, gleaming bayonets were at the ends of therifles, and the strange weapon played havoc with the natives. The shoutsof those in rear reached their comrades in front, and caused them toturn away. Then, for some five minutes, the enemy were caught betweentwo forces, George's natives using their knives with terrible purpose. Afew moments later and those of the enemy who were left turned tail andfled to the forest, pursued by volleys.
Have you ever heard excited men cheer, men who had hardly expected to bealive at that moment? That is how Jim and his men cheered. They set thejungle ringing, they dashed out into the open and wrung the hands ofthe Police Major and his party, and then they sat down and roared at theantics of George's natives; for the latter were filled with triumph.Undoubtedly they had fought most bravely, and had proved the salvationof Jim and his tiny party; but in doing so they had gained their end.They had broken the power of the tribe which had threatened to molestthem, and which had been so plentifully supplied with muskets by Jaimeand his men. George's hosts had broken their power for evil, and hadthemselves now become possessed of the weapons; for the enemy had castthem to the ground as they fled.
"Gee! What a sight!" cried the Major, as he surveyed the scene, now thatthe moon had risen and lighted the clearing. "There's a heap of menkilled, and I'm told that amongst them are four white men. But Jaimeisn't there. The scoundrel who led the robbers, and caused all thistrouble, has had his usual good fortune, and managed to get away."
Jim smiled, and winked in Tom's direction. Then he nodded to Ching, andat the signals the two fine fellows darted away to the back of the camp.
"Major," said our hero a moment later, as he saw Tom and Chingreturning, "allow me, first of all, to present you with a prisoner. Heis Tom's capture, and was snatched from the midst of his men. Allow meto introduce Jaime de Oteros."
His pluck evaporated, all his assurance gone, Jaime stood with Tom'sgrip on him as if he feared that the next moment would be his last. Hisknees knocked together, his lips trembled, while his shifty eyes lookedaskance at the negro.
"Dere you am, sah," cried Tom, lifting his prisoner by the arm as if hewere a toy. "Dis am de scum dat cause all de trouble, dat dare tocapture missie."
For a full minute the Major regarded Jaime; then he spoke quietly.
"Jim," he said, "it's you who should have the post of policesuperintendent, for this is a most important capture. Tom, too, has donefinely; finely, I say. But in capturing this man you give us theopportunity of bringing him to his deserts, and so making absolutelysure that no other people shall be victimized. More than that, perhaps,you give the Commissioners a chance through him to recover the money hehas stolen."
Jim signalled to Ching, and at once the Chinaman approached the party,his pigtail swinging out behind him. On his broad shoulders two blackbundles were supported, and these he dumped upon the ground at theMajor's feet without the smallest ceremony. Indeed he might have beenhandling merely a parcel of clothing.
"Why! What are these? Where's that description?"
The police officer dived into an inner pocket, but Jim saved him thetrouble of referring to the description of the missing property. "Seehere, Major," he said, "Ching and I had a bit of fine fortune. When wecrept into Jaime's camp to rescue my sister we brought away at the samemoment these two packages. We knew the dollars stolen were wrapped inblack waterproof paper, and we guessed clean off that these were they.Since then I have opened both in Mr. Phineas's presence. There ain't adoubt as to what they contain."
The Major could have hugged our hero. His delight was more than evident.The sight of the recovered treasure took his breath away, and sent himspluttering and coughing. Then he began to laugh. He rocked from side toside, holding his flanks, till the tears ran down his cheeks. And Tomjoined in with him. The huge negro's face broadened, his mouth expandedtill it was a veritable cavern, then he bellowed with laughing, shakingin every limb, and almost knocking the breath out of his prisoner'sbody.
"Gee! It do take eberyting, don't it, Major, sah?" he shouted, when atlength he could control himself. "Here am dis scum dat cause all detrouble. Him ride off from de canal works tinking he made fools of allob us. But he hab to reckon wid very wise people. Massa Jim dere tostand in him way, and yo too, sah, I reckon. See what happen. All himfriends killed, and, lummy, dat a good t'ing for 'em. Missie am takenfrom de ruffian, and den, on top of all, he lose ebery one of dedollars. Oh, dat too sweet altogether! Him should be very happy now, forwhen him hanged he hab nothing to lose but him life, and dat ain't worthcountin'."
The huge fellow went off into another loud guffaw till Jim stopped him.As for the Major, he had now become more serious. Warmly hecongratulated Jim and his comrades on their prowess, while George camein for a particular friendly greeting.
"Guess there'll be shouts when we get back to the canal works," he saidat length; "and the sooner we go the better. Are your party too tiredto march in the morning?"
"They'd rather set out soon than stay here much longer," came theanswer. "We've still some hours before morning, and if you and your menwill settle matters here, and see to the burial of those who have beenkilled, my party will take a sleep, which will put them on nicely. Itwill be the first time many of us have closed our eyes since we partedfrom Colon."
A little while later a number of figures were snoring in their blankets,while the natives whom George had brought aided the Major's party.Wounded men were attended to. Palanquins were made for those amongsttheir number who were unable to walk; and fortunately there were onlythree in the Major's party, while Jim's had come through the ordealscathless. As to the men who had suffered damage amongst George'snatives, arrangements were made for them to stay in the clearing tilltheir comrades returned. At an early hour on the following morning thewhole party set out for Colon, a dozen of the police going by way of thelagoon, where they would pick up the long launch which had brought them,while the rest—Jim and the Major amongst the party—rode through theforest. About noon on the following day they reached the summit of aridge overlooking Gatun, and at once cheered loudly.
"Ain't it a sight for sore eyes?" cried Phineas, his face shining in thesunlight. "You'd hardly expect to see men 'way over there, working as iftime was pressing. But see 'em. Gangs at the dam, gangs on the railway,and hundreds hidden from sight in the valley, or 'way up at Culebra.And watch the smoke from the diggers, the locos, and the drillers! It'sgood to think that it's all American, and that things are goingsmoothly."
"Thanks to the fact that a rascal has been captured," ventured thePolice Major. "Don't forget that, please. The best of energies may bebrought to naught if there is a rascal secretly at work attempting towreck matters. Things were getting to look bad when our prisoner madehis last little effort. But Jim has seen to that. Say, lad, was it asection you were bossing?"
Our hero coloured and admitted the fact as if he ought to be ashamed ofhis advancement.
"Ah, well," went on the Major, smiling slyly, "guess there's otherbillets going! But there's Gatun: I'll send the sergeant along withJaime to the station, and then we four will ride to Ancon. There I canreport, and hand over the dollars."
Need the reader wonder that the return of the party caused a hugesensation? Indeed the excitement nearly caused a stoppage of work alongthe zone, a matter almost without precedent. For the hustle andperseverance of the white employees is something out of the ordinary.The fever to press on with an undertaking in which their own personalhonour becomes, sooner or later, helplessly involved will hear of nodelay, and thrusts aside all obstacles. But the news 'phoned up and downthe zone was really too entrancing. Jim's name was soon on every man'slips, while even stolid officials cheered when they heard that the gangof robbers was destroyed, the leader captured, and the dollarsrecovered. Besides, Sadie was back again, and that caused the utmostsatisfaction, her abduction having roused the anger of the workers. Aweek later found Jim promoted to a still more responsible position,while a reward in money was handed to him, and to his three trustyservants. With the help of Phineas and other people George obtained apost amongst the employees, and should you happen to call in at theisthmus, there you will find him and his brother, as eager as theircomrades.
For strenuous work is the order of the day, and every day, along thefifty miles of works. Let Americans not forget it. Let those who can,pay a visit to their kith and kin slaving at the vast project theircountry has commenced on, and bear in mind that the spirit of doggedcourage, of common sense and energy, which won advancement for the heroof this narrative, is possessed by one and all of the workers. For thoseothers, the more numerous body, who for business reasons and others areunable to visit Panama or Colon, we say, let them obtain the fullestinformation as to the giant canal which is building there. The day iscoming, is indeed getting very near at hand, when America will achieve atriumph, and when it will behove each and every citizen to know everydetail, so that the boys and girls of the race, the future citizens ofAmerica, always eager for knowledge, may be told how the triumph wasaccomplished, how thousands laboured and slaved for years far from thesight of their fellows, and how by dint of superhuman effort, byastuteness and most praise-worthy perseverance, they brought their taskto a successful termination. For ourselves we long for the day when wemay board a steamer and voyage on her decks from the Atlantic up throughthe giant locks of Gatun to that vast lake which will extend to Obispo,and from thence steam through the cutting at Culebra, finally descendingthrough the locks at Pedro Miguel and at Milaflores to Pacific level. Welook forward to that great day, knowing that none will admire more thanwe shall the work which Jim and thousands of others will have helped toaccomplish. As for Jim himself, we wish him all prosperity. He is a trueAmerican. Idleness he does not know, while a strenuous life attractshim. Our hero is made of the stuff which forces difficulty and dangeraside cheerfully, and which points without hesitation the road tosuccess.
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