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Rob Harlow's Adventures: A Story of the Grand Chaco, a fiction by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 36. War |
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_ CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. WAR They had literally climbed a long rapid one morning, and entered a broad reach of the river which resembled a lake in its extent. The water here was smooth, and had a current that was barely perceptible, hence their progress was swift, and as they were rowing round a bend the question arose where they should halt for the midday rest, when suddenly an ejaculation escaped from their guide's lips, and the men ceased pulling, leaving the boat to drift slowly on over the glowing mirror-like surface, which was as if of polished steel. "What is it, Shaddy?" cried Rob quickly. "Are we going wrong?" But as he spoke he caught sight of the reason for the sudden stoppage, for there right in front, ashore and in canoes, were about twenty Indians, standing up and apparently watching them in speechless astonishment. "Indians!" cried Rob. "Yes, my lad, and we've done pretty well to come all these hundreds of miles without hitting upon them before. Don't hurry, Mr Brazier, sir, and don't let them think that we mind 'em, but lay the guns ready, and the ammunition, so that we can give them as good as they send, and mind, if it comes to fighting, every one's to lie down in the boat and keep under cover." "Perhaps there will be no trouble," said Brazier quietly. "They seem to be peaceable enough." "Yes, sir, seem to be; but you can't trust 'em." Just then the Indians ceased staring at the party in the boat, and went on with the pursuit in which they were engaged as the boat swept round the bend. This was shooting at some object in the water, apparently for practice, but in a peculiar way, for the lads saw the men take aim high up in the air, so that their arrows turned far on high and fell with lightning-like rapidity upon certain shiny spots just flush with the surface of the water; and while Rob was wondering the guide whispered,-- "Shooting turtles! They're wonderful clever at it. If they fired straight, the arrows would start off. This way they come down, go through the rough hide, and kill the turtle." Of this they had proof again and again as they rowed slowly on, their course taking them close to one canoe whose owner had gone off from near the shore to recover a turtle that he had shot. This Shaddy tried to obtain, offering something by way of barter, but the man bent down to his paddle with a face full of mistrust, and forced his light vessel toward where his companions had gathered to watch the strangers. "I don't like that," muttered Shaddy in Rob's hearing, and at the same moment Joe whispered,-- "They don't mean to be friends, and we shall have to look out." As he spoke he stretched out his hand for his gun, and began to examine it carefully, a proceeding that was imitated by the others, but in a quiet unostentatious way, so as not to take the attention of the Indians. A few moments' counsel ended in a determination not to try again to make advances, by no means to halt for the midday rest, but to keep steadily on without paying any heed to the Indians, who followed slowly as the oars were plied, and at a respectful distance. "How far does this smooth water go, Naylor?" asked Brazier. "Six or seven miles, sir." "And is there a long rapid at the end?" "Yes, sir, as long as any we have passed." "Where they could take us at a disadvantage?" "Yes, sir," said Shaddy, grimly indeed. "If it's to come to a fight, we had better have it out here in the open, where we can shelter ourselves in the boat." "Then you think it will come to an encounter?" "I'm afraid so, sir, if you must have the truth." "What about your men?" "Oh, they'll fight for their lives if they're driven to it, sir; but the worst of it is, these sort of fellows fight in a cowardly way, either with poisoned arrows or by shooting their arrows up straight in the air so that they come down upon you when you least expect it and can't shelter against them." "A false alarm!" cried Rob joyously, for the Indians had all ceased paddling, and after a minute or two, as if by one consent, turned the heads of their canoes to the shore and went straight away, disappearing at last amongst the trees which overhung the river bank. Shaddy made no reply to the speaker, but, the way being clear, bade his men to row steadily on for another half-hour, when a halt was called, and refreshments served round in the boat, but with orders for them to be hastily eaten. After this the rowing was resumed till the afternoon was far advanced, and the end of the lake-like reach was still apparently far-away. The broad expanse had for a long time past been entirely free from all signs of the Indians, and Rob was congratulating himself upon their escape, when Joe pointed straight back along the broad river-lake to where a canoe suddenly shot round a corner; then another came into view, and another, and another, till there were between thirty and forty visible, each bearing four or five men, and a chill of horror shot through Rob as he felt that this must mean war, and that they would be helpless in the extreme if so large a body of men made a determined attack. "I was afraid of that," said Shaddy quietly, "Strange as they can't leave us alone." "What do you propose doing, Naylor?" said Mr Brazier eagerly. "There ain't no proposing, sir. It's all driving to do what is for the best. We must face 'em." "Why not land and try and find shelter in the woods?" "Because, sir, they'd destroy our boat and follow us and shoot us down like so many wild beasts. Our only hope is to keep on as long as we can, and if the chance comes take to the rapid and get on it. They mightn't care about venturing in their light boats. But we shall see." There was a very stern look in Brazier's countenance, a look that seemed to have been reflected from that of the old sailor, as weapons were once more examined. "I don't like fighting, boys," he said, "but if we are driven to it, we must defend our lives." Then turning to Shaddy, "Can't you depend upon your men to help us, Naylor?" he said. "I'm going to depend upon 'em to row, sir," said the old sailor sternly. "We can kill quite enough people without their help. They're the engines, sir, to take us out of danger, while we keep the enemy at a distance." Meanwhile the boat was being steadily propelled toward the end of the lake-like enlargement of the river, where a few low hills rose, showing where the rapids would be which they had to surmount; but it soon became evident that the light canoes would be alongside before the exit from the lake could be reached, and Rob said so. "Yes, sir, you're quite right, unless we can scare them off," said the guide, who had been busy making a rough barricade in the stern by piling boxes and barrels one upon another, leaving openings through which they could fire, saying, "It isn't strength we want so much as shelter to baulk their aim, for they're terribly clever with their bows and arrows, Mr Rob, sir." But very little was said in those anxious minutes, with the little party, after their many struggles with nature, now called upon to prepare to face man in his savage form. "Feel frightened, Joe?" whispered Rob as the two boys lay together by a couple of loopholes, well sheltered beneath the awning. "Shall you laugh at me if I say yes?" "Not likely, when I own to it too. I say, I wish they'd leave us alone." "Look here, Mr Brazier, sir," said the old sailor just then, after admonishing his men to pull their best, "I'm going to ask you to let me manage this." "No," said Brazier sternly; "I wish to avoid all the bloodshed possible." "So do I, sir--specially ours," said Shaddy drily; "and mine would be the way." "Quick, then: explain," said Brazier, as the boys listened eagerly. "Make haste, for the enemy are very near." "Soon done," said Shaddy, "only what I proposed, sir: you folk keep me supplied with guns, and I'll try 'em with gentle measures first, and rough ones after. I'm a tidy shot, eh, Mr Jovanni?" "Yes, excellent," said the lad. "Very well, then, you shall try to stop them," replied Brazier, "but I warn you that if I am not satisfied I shall take the lead myself." "All right, sir, but don't you make the mistake of giving up and trusting these people! That means death for all of us. _They must be beaten off_." There was something very startling in Shaddy's tones as he uttered these words, and Brazier looked at him wonderingly. "We shall have to come back this way, so why not retreat at once with the stream?" "Because we don't come back this way, sir; that's all. Didn't the lads tell you? I'm going to take you into the big river another way." "I say, look out!" cried Rob excitedly, as he saw the water flashing behind at the rapid dip of the Indians' paddles and noticed the stolid look in the heavy round faces of the men astern, who sat ready with their bows and arrows, the spears of the paddlers projecting from the front. Almost directly after the intentions of the Indians were shown not to be peaceful, for a straggling flight of arrows came whistling through the air, several of the missiles falling just astern, some in front, but for the most part striking the boat and sticking in the awning and the shelter made astern. "Any one hurt?" shouted Shaddy sternly, and receiving an answer in the negative, he muttered as he thrust the double gun he held through an opening,-- "That's because they're on the move and we're on the move. If we'd been standing still, and them too, every shot would have told. Look out; they're going to fire again. My turn first. Pull, my lads; don't you mind me." As the words left his lips he fired at intervals of about a quarter of a minute both barrels of the fowling-piece; and at the flash of fire, followed by smoke curling up slowly and hiding the boat, the Indians stopped paddling and sat watching. "That has beaten them off," cried Rob eagerly. "Was it blank cartridge, Shaddy?" "Yes, my lad. Next's going to be number six if they come on after us." The men pulled hard and increased the distance between them and the canoes rapidly, while the travellers' hopes grew high. But all of a sudden there was a yell, paddles splashed again, and satisfied of the harmlessness of the fire and smoke, the Indians took up the pursuit again. "Oh, very well, if you will be hurt," said Shaddy, "it's your fault, not mine," and he thrust the barrels once more through the opening in the barrier of boxes. "How long will it take us to reach the next rapid, Naylor?" asked Brazier excitedly. "Half 'hour, sir, but we must beat 'em off before we can land, or they'll stick us so full of arrows, we shall look like hedgehogs. Hi! sit and lie close, every one. Look out! Arrows!" But the flight was not discharged until the Indians had gained a good deal more ground. Then the whistling was heard, accompanied or followed by sharp raps, but again, in answer to Shaddy's inquiry, there came a cheery "No!" "Now then," he said, "let's see what they say to us, sir, and how far the charge will scatter and carry." As he spoke he took careful aim a little to his right and fired quite low, changed the position of his piece, and fired again a little to his left. The smoke hung so heavily for a minute or two that there was quite a screen between them, beyond which shouts, savage yells, and cries of pain could be heard, while upon rowing beyond the smoke and into full view of the fleet of canoes the fugitives could see that the paddling had again ceased, and men were standing up gesticulating, while others were evidently in great pain from the stinging shots. "Now you know that we can bite as well as bark," growled Shaddy, "and if you'll all take my advice you'll go back home and leave us alone, because if you don't I shall use buckshot, and some of you mayn't be able to handle a paddle again." The babble of voices sounded strange as the oars dipped fast, and for a time they were allowed to pursue their way in peace, but at last it was seen that the wounded had all been transferred to certain of the canoes, and with a fierce yell the Indians came on again, with paddles beating, and the water splashing; while another flight of arrows whistled about the travellers, fortunately without hurting a soul. "I shall have to give them a stronger dose this time," said Shaddy. "I'll try swan shot first," and inserting a couple of cartridges loaded with heavy pellets, he took careful aim, and fired twice. This time there were loud shrieks mingled with the fierce, defiant cries, and as the smoke was left behind it was plain to see that there was consternation in the little fleet, and for some time they did not pursue. "What are you two about?" said Shaddy suddenly as he caught sight of Rob and Joe making some preparation. "Wait a minute, and you'll see," said Rob, and he went on with his task, which was the preparation of something in the fashion of a torpedo, for about a pound of powder had been transferred from their keg to a small tin canister, in whose lid they drove a hole, and passed through it a slow match, made by rubbing a strip of rag with moistened gunpowder, which dried up at once in the hot evening sunshine. At the bottom of the canister a charge of shot had been placed, and upon trying it in a bucket the tin floated with about an inch of its top out of water. "Now," said Rob when he had finished, Brazier nodding his head in approval--"it's quite calm, and when the enemy comes on again I'm going to stick a wax match in the hole with the end touching the slow match, set light to it, and let it float down towards the Indians. The wax match will burn nearly a minute, and I want them to paddle up round it to see what the floating light means, and then if we're in luck it will go off bang and give them a startler." "And suppose it goes off while you are lighting it, and gives you a startler, and sends us all to the bottom, how then?" "Oh, we must risk that," said Rob coolly. "I'm willing, if Mr Brazier is," said the old sailor quietly. "Rob will be careful," said Brazier, and they waited with the contrivance ready, but all hoping that Shaddy's last shots had produced the desired effect. It was a vain hope, for once more the canoes tore on to make up for lost ground, and at last, when Brazier and Shaddy made ready to fire at the enemy, Rob gave the word for the men to cease rowing, and as the boat steadied he told Joe to light a match and lowered the canister into the water. "Be careful, Rob," cried Mr Brazier. "See that there is no powder loose." "Be quick, my lad, or they'll be on to us." _Crack_! went the match, and as it blazed up it was applied to one stuck upright in the top of the canister. This blazed in turn, and the flame flickered a little and threatened to go out as the nearly submerged tin glided away with the stream; but directly after the flame burned up steadily, and as Rob gave the word to row once more the dangerous contrivance was left behind. A minute later they had the satisfaction of seeing the canoes gather round the tiny light and their occupants cease rowing as they sat evidently wondering what was the meaning of the fire burning in the midst of the water--a perfect novelty to them. "No go!" said Shaddy suddenly. "Match has gone out." "Burned out," said Brazier. "All the same, sir, and hasn't started the touch-rag. Wish it had answered, because it was clever and would have given the beggars a good lesson not to meddle with respectable people. Here, we shall have to fire, sir. They're coming on again." But they were not, for the whole fleet was gathered about the canister, which, unseen by the occupants of the boat, was emitting a sputtering little fire as the touch-rag burned slowly; and the wonder of this going on from a round, silvery-looking object just above the surface of the water kept the ignorant enemy at a respectable distance. "Pull, my lads," shouted Shaddy. "We may get into a better place if we reach the next rapid." As he spoke there was a deafening roar, a column of water rose in the air, and a dull concussion struck the boat, while a cloud of smoke hung over the group of canoes, and, lifting, showed half of them to be swamped, and dozens of the Indians swimming about trying to reach the boats which floated still. As far as the little party could make out, no one had been hurt, but the consternation was terrible. No further efforts were made in pursuit, and for the next half-hour the boat was rowed on and reached the rapid before the enemy was seen again. "Now then," said Brazier, as the rough, swift water of the river was once more reached, "shall we wait to give them another lesson or go on?" "Go on," said Shaddy firmly. "They may not follow us up now. Mind, I only hope that; but we shall see." _ |
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