Chapter 12. Through The Jungle

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_ CHAPTER TWELVE. THROUGH THE JUNGLE

A few days later, in which interval several little boating journeys had been made, the results of which could be seen in Murray's house, which was rapidly beginning to show traces of its being intended for a museum, the morning broke fine and comparatively cool; and just at sunrise Mr Braine came to where Ned and his uncle was seated at their early breakfast, to announce that the preparations settled upon the previous evening had been made.

Murray had finished his meal, but Ned was still engaged in getting ready for a tolerably long fast to mid-day, when a good meal would be prepared.

He was still lingering reluctantly over his breakfast when Frank appeared, and as soon as the two boys were together, Murray drew Mr Braine out into the veranda. "Well," he said; "any fresh news?"

"No," replied Mr Braine; "and in spite of my long experience of the man, I am half-disposed to think that I may be wrong."

"Then you do not think I need stay?"

"Oh no."

"Because I should not like to be out of the way if there was any trouble."

"You need have no fear for to-day. He has been perfectly quiet and interested in some affairs connected with the rajah of the next state. This man has offended him, and I should not feel a bit surprised if war broke out between them."

"I don't care what breaks out so long as you are wrong in your ideas about that affair," said Murray, excitedly. "It worries me so that I hardly like to leave the place to go collecting."

Mr Braine smiled to himself as he saw how genuine Murray's interest was.

"You shall have the earliest information if anything is wrong," he said.

"But why wait for anything to be wrong. Would it not be much better for the ladies to leave this place at once?"

"Much better, of course."

"Then why not make a strong effort, and get them down to Malacca?"

"For the simple reason that no efforts we could make would be half strong enough. The only way would be to try to escape."

"Well, why not try that?"

"Because there is such a thing as failure, my dear fellow, and that would mean placing us all in a ten times worse position than we are in now."

Murray frowned and looked intensely miserable.

"Come," said Mr Braine; "don't let us conjure up what may be imaginary troubles. Call those boys, and be off before the sun gets more power. I tell you that you may go away perfectly contented, for this man moves very slowly, and we shall have ample warning of any danger before it comes."

Murray sighed, and it was in rather a half-hearted manner that he handed his guns and cases to Hamet, who bore them off, and directly after they heard him talking to some one, whose voice told at once, from its peculiar, highly-pitched intonation, that it was Tim Driscol, who the next minute appeared at the door.

"Beg pardon, sor," he said, "but masther says if it's at all convaynient would you--"

"What's the matter?" cried Murray, eagerly, catching the man by the arm.

"Oh, jist nawthing as ye may say, sor. A little out of ordher for want of fresh air, and the masther says if ye wouldn't mind takking me with ye to-day, I might be a bit useful."

Murray turned away with an impatient gesture, and exchanged glances with Mr Braine.

"I'm very sorry, sor," said Tim, quite crest-fallen, for he had been longing intensely to go on the trip. "The masther thought it would do me good, or I wouldn't have asked."

"Oh yes, you can come, my man," said Murray. "Take hold of that bag of cartridges, and go on after Hamet."

"Thank ye, sor," cried the man eagerly; and taking up the bag, and giving the two boys a delighted look, he hurried off.

"Sure, if I stay near him, and he looks at me," said Tim to himself, "he may alter that bit of him that he calls his mind."

As soon as Tim was out of hearing, Murray said excitedly: "There, you will be another man short. I had better give up the expedition."

"Nonsense! go, and I would try and make a discovery of metal if I could, even if it is only tin again. If you could hit upon gold, even if it is only some poor deposit in a stream, it would be worth everything to us now, from making him more friendly to us. Spend a little time over that as well as over the birds."

"Then you would go?"

"Certainly, and at once."

"Ready, boys?" cried Murray, quickly now, for he felt that if he thought much more about the trouble at the doctor's home, he would not be able to go.

"Yes; all ready," cried Frank, presenting himself first. "Let's be off. You are not waiting for us."

"Go on, then. The elephants are standing in front of the rajah's."

The boys needed no second request, but hurried off to find three of the huge, clumsy-looking animals, with their attendants and a party of spearmen, standing bowing their heads and waving their curled-up trunks to and fro. They were fitted with strong basket-work howdahs, and the smallest one was evidently the bearer of the refreshments, its rattan-cane howdah being more roomy and of a rougher make.

The arrangements were soon finished, and Murray mounted into the howdah of the first elephant, followed by Hamet and one of the rajah's men; the second elephant was devoted to the two boys and Tim, who took his place in the most solemn manner.

"Be on your guard for the branches," said Mr Braine. "They stretch so across the way, that on a tall elephant you have to mind, or you may be swept off."

With these parting words of warning, he gave the word, the mahouts touched their mounts' heads with an iron crook, and the party moved off, passing with its rather large guard of spearmen right by the doctor's and the merchant's houses, where the ladies stood in the verandas, and waved them a farewell.

"Want the tiger's skin?" shouted Frank to Amy. "You shall have it, if we get one."

She nodded laughingly, and said something; but they were too distant to hear the words, and directly after, the long regular shuffling gait of the elephants had taken them out of sight.

"We are not going near tigers, are we?" said Ned, rather excitedly.

"Of course we are. You can't go anywhere here without going near tigers, and if you don't go near them, they come near you. Wait a few minutes till we are well out of the village, and then you'll see the sort of place our road is.--Won't he, Tim?"

"Indade he will, sor. It's a beautiful road, with a wall on each side, or a hedge, if you like to call it so, as fresh and green as a country one, only a dale more scratchy."

Their way took them past the clump of trees in which the rajah's house was hidden, and the boys looked eagerly between the trunks, but the growth was too dense for them to see anything, even from their elevated perch, as the elephants went swinging by with the spearmen, some now in front and some behind.

"Like it?" cried Frank.

"Yes, I think so," replied Ned.

"Don't feel sea-sick, do you?"

"How can one feel sea-sick, when there is no sea--no boat."

"But you do feel a little giddy with the motion; don't you?"

"I did," replied Ned; "but it is going off fast, and I am beginning to like it."

"Yes, it's all right as long as the forest isn't too dense, and the elephant holes too deep."

"What are elephant holes?"

"Oh, wait a few minutes and you'll soon see that.--Won't he, Tim?"

"That he will, sor, and here we are."

For they had left the village behind, crossed the rice and fruit grounds, and there, all at once, without any preparation in the way of bushes or outstanding trees, was the jungle, with its huge growth rising up like a green wall shutting in some strange territory. It was even more formidable looking than the walls that shut in the river, and as Ned looked to right and left in search of the entrance to the way they were to take, he quite realised how dangerous it was for the poor folk who worked in their rice-fields close up to the black jungle and its lurking creatures.

"There you are," said Frank. "Now then, you must keep your eyes open for snakes and your ears for tigers. Your uncle will shoot if he gets a chance; won't he?"

"I don't know," replied Ned. "I don't think he is well, he has been so quiet lately; but I should hardly believe he would let anything go by."

"Nor I. He's such a shot," said Frank. "My father is pretty good, but Mr Murray is twice as sure. But we shall see no tigers going through a wood like this. The worst of it is, they can see you."

For as he was speaking, the first elephant had gone, as it were, straight into the solid green wall of verdure, and disappeared.

"Now then, Trousers," cried Frank.

"What do you call the mahout Trousers for?" asked Ned.

"I didn't. I was speaking to old India-rubber here."

"Well, why do you call him Trousers?"

"Because elephants always look to me like a big body and two pairs of trousers. Now then, look out for canes and scratches."

For the elephant they were on shuffled into the narrow track, whose sides and roof brushed the great cane howdah, and in a few moments they had passed from the glaring sunshine into the hot dank gloom of the forest, where the swishing noise of the abundant growth, forced aside and trampled down by the huge animals, was for a time the only sound.

"I say, he on the look-out, or out you'll go. We're getting into the wet now."

Frank's words were uttered just in time to make Ned seize hold of the side of the howdah, for the elephant they were on began to lurch and roll, as its legs sank deep in the soft mud and water which filled a series of holes in the track, and the driver turned round to them and smiled.

"Tell him to guide the elephant better," said Ned, as this rocking motion went on. "He is letting it put its feet in all these holes."

Frank laughed.

"It's all right," he said; "they always do that. The holes are the old footprints of other elephants, or their own, when they came along here before, and they get deeper and deeper, and full of mud and water. Elephants always keep to the old footprints, because they believe they are safe."

"But he could make them go on the hard ground."

Frank said something to the driver, who smiled as he replied.

"I told him what you said, and he says nobody could make an elephant step out of them. Look back; the other one is doing just the same."

That was plain enough, and Ned now turned his eyes on Tim, who was seated cross-legged in the hind corner of the howdah, with his arms resting on the edge.

"Ye'll soon get used to it, sor," he said, smiling. "Shakes ye up wondherful though at first. They're great onaisy pigs to ride. Would either of you gentlemen object to my shmoking my pipe?"

"Oh no, smoke away, Tim, but don't make a noise with the match."

"Nivver fear," was the reply; and the man began to prepare his bamboo-pipe, while Ned gazed wonderingly at the narrow view of the dense growth on either side, and the way in which the trees were laced together over their heads by rattan-canes and other creepers, whose leafage helped the spreading boughs far overhead to shut out the faintest ray of sunshine. In front, the way was blocked by the hind-quarters of the elephant Murray was on; behind, the smaller elephant with the provisions shut in the track, so that the spearmen who followed could only at intervals be seen, and the gloom grew deeper as _suck_, _suck_, the elephants drew their great limbs from the track holes, or plunged them in, sending a gush of mud and water flying out on either side.

"Is the forest all like this?" said Ned at last.

"The jungle is."

"But are there no other paths?"

"Not that I know of."

"Then how do the animals get about?"

"Oh, some use these tracks, but the tigers and bears creep along under and through the trees and bushes. They can go anywhere. We couldn't, without the men cut a way for us."

_Skrit_, _skrat_, _skrat_! went Tim's match loudly, and the elephant uttered a tremendous squeal, plunged forward, and ran its head against the hind-quarters of the one in front, which trumpeted shrilly, and catching the panic rushed on; the store elephant following, in spite of the mahouts, who strove hard to check them in their headlong course, but in vain.

"Down, down!" shouted Frank. "Hold tight."

His advice was needed, for the plunging and rolling of the great frightened animals was terrible, and for a while they tore on along the narrow track with the mud and water flying, and the growth from the sides and roof threatening to drag the occupants of the howdahs from their seats.

At the end of about a mile, the first elephant was checked, and of necessity the second and third had to stand, which they did with their heads pressed against the other's tail.

"Any one hurt?" cried Murray, looking back.

"No, all right--all right," cried the boys.

"What was it scared your elephant?"

"Oh murther, don't tell him, Masther Frank," whispered Tim, who then desperately told the truth.

"It's all right, sor. I sthruck a match to light me pipe. That's all."

"Well then, don't do it again."

"No, sor."

"Go on slowly now," cried Murray, and progress was again made.

"An' I should think we would go slowly," muttered Tim. "I belave I haven't a whole bone left, and what's more, I didn't light me pipe."

"And you must not now," cried Frank, laughing. "Oh, I did get such a switch from one of those canes.--How did you get on?"

"Something nearly pulled me out of the howdah," replied Ned, "and I'm a bit scratched."

"Bit scratched, sor? Look at me," cried Tim, showing his bleeding hands. "These baskets, if ye are to have a ride in 'em, ought to have a lid to shut down."

The elephants uttered a low sigh now and then, as they shuffled and splashed along the muddy track, whose gloomy monotony was so wearisome that Ned turned at last to his companion.

"I say," he cried, "is it all going to be like this?"

Frank laughed.

"Oh no; only for a few miles. Then we shall get to some open ground."

"You've been along here before, then?"

"Oh yes, twice; but till you get through the jungle it is very dreary."

Ned sat swaying and giving with the movements of the elephant, thinking what a terrible journey it would be for any one who had to walk, and looking back from time to time at the spearmen behind, who seemed to get along lightly enough, when he caught sight of one. Several, however, had climbed on to the rear elephant, while two had hold of the ropes of the one he rode.

All at once, just as if seen through a tunnel, there was a patch of light, and soon after the party emerged into an opening of a few acres in extent, where the sun had full power, and the growth of orchid and flowering tree lit up the scene with glowing colour. Here they heard the cries of birds, and were just in time to catch sight of the metallic green, gold, and purple of half a dozen peacocks before they hurried out of sight among the trees.

Murray obtained a few specimens of parrot and sunbird here, though, in their half-hour's halt before the leading elephant was started, and once more plunged into the continuation of the green leafy tunnel, which by contrast seemed darker than the first part.

By degrees the way of progression grew so wearisome that Ned turned to his companions to find both fast asleep, and he turned again to gaze before him at the hind-quarters of his uncle's elephant, feeling sour and ill-used and heartily sick of the tedious ride.

But all his ill-humour faded away an hour later when the elephants passed out of the tunnel once more into an undulating paradise of tree and flower, rising gradually higher and higher to hills that appeared to be of a lovely blue; and as if roused by the glow of the sun, both Frank and Tim started up.

"Oh, here we are, then, at last," cried the latter. "Then, I suppose, the first thing is something to eat."

He was quite right, for about a mile farther on toward the hills, the elephants were halted close to a stream, over whose glancing water a huge tree of the fig tribe spread its gigantic branches, and offered a most tempting refuge from the sun.

The elephants were tethered, and the rajah's men rapidly unloaded the pannier they had brought, to spread a tempting meal beneath the tree; and this being ended, the first elephant was again brought into use to bear Murray, the two boys, and Tim, on toward the hills shooting and exploring.

This part of the expedition was so beautiful, and the specimens shot so satisfactory, that the wearisome nature of the journey out was forgotten, and that back, which had hung before Ned like a cloud, was no longer thought of.

He said something in respect to it as they walked on beside the elephant, carrying a spare gun and ammunition, and Frank laughed:

"It was tiring, but we had not had any dinner then, and that makes all the difference. I say, Mr Murray, suppose a tiger came now, what should you do?"

"Fire at it, of course."

"With small shot? Oh! I say, hadn't you better load your rifle? I'll carry it."

"Yes; it would be wise," replied Murray. "You'll promise to give it me if there is a chance."

"Of course." And the rifle was handed out of the howdah by Tim, loaded, and shouldered by Frank as they once more went on, getting now on to higher ground, where the rugged incline of the gully down which the stream whose course they followed ran, induced Murray to begin examining the stones that lay loose on one side of the little river's rocky bed.

Then there was another tramp onward, and a couple more specimens fell to the naturalist's gun.

"That's as many as we shall care to skin to-night, Ned," he said. "Let's see now if we can't discover some metal."

"Whoo-hoo!" shouted Tim, from up in the howdah. "Look sor, look! shoot! There he is!"

They followed Tim's pointing hand, to see, about a couple of hundred yards away, in an open spot where a gully ran up into a patch of forest, a full-grown tiger, whose stripes showed out clearly in the sunshine, as, with head erect and tail lashing his sides, he watched the approaching party; but before Murray could seize the rifle, the lithe animal gave a couple of leaps and had disappeared.

"Gone!" ejaculated Murray. "It would be no use to try to hunt him up, without beaters."

So the search for minerals was commenced again, with no further result than the discovery of a little tin, specimens of which were thrown up to Tim, and another halt was made.

By this time the sun was beginning to descend, and after a little hesitation, for the place was full of attractions, Murray said unwillingly, "I suppose we must go back now."

"Too soon yet, uncle," said Ned. "I should like to have a shot at something."

"Another time, my lad," said Murray. "We have been longer than I thought, and we have all that dreary ride back through the jungle. It will be dark before we get back. Yes; let's turn now at once," he continued, displaying a little anxiety as he thought of his conversation with Mr Braine that morning, and wondered that he could have so forgotten himself in his favourite pursuit as to have ignored the position of those at the village.

The lads acquiesced at once, and they mounted the elephant to look wonderingly from one to the other now, as they noted how anxious Murray had become, and impatient in his orders to Hamet to tell the driver to hurry the elephant along.

"What's the matter with your uncle?" whispered Frank at last. "Does he want something to eat?"

"I don't know," replied Ned. "I can't quite make him out. He was all right coming, and thought of nothing but the shooting; now he's all in a fidget. There!"

This was in consequence of Hamet reporting that the driver said he could get the elephant along no faster, as the road was so bad and stony.

Murray threw himself back impatiently, and sat gazing straight before them, while the elephant nodded and shuffled slowly along.

"For suppose," thought Murray, "anything should happen while I am away, I should never forgive myself. I wish now I had not come." _

Read next: Chapter 13. Two Hours Late

Read previous: Chapter 11. The White Hen

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