CHAPTER XXIX
THE COMING OF THE NATIVES
When Dave awoke, it was with a start. The wind was blowing half a galeand the rain was falling.
"What a change since last night," he murmured to himself, as he sat up."Hello, are you up already?"
"I am," answered Billy Dill. "Thought as how I'd better keep the firea-goin', if it's goin' to storm. This ain't so nice, is it?"
"I should say not, indeed. My, now the wind is rising!"
The others soon roused up, and all gathered under the shelter of somedense tropical trees and vines. Soon the rain was pouring down intorrents, shutting out the landscape on all sides.
"Well, in one way, it's a good thing the _Stormy Petrel_ got out of theharbor," remarked Captain Marshall. "This wind might make her shift, andeither throw her up on the island or on to the reef."
They could do nothing with the fire, and so allowed it to die out, andcrawled still further into the jungle in an endeavor to keep dry. Butthe rain followed them, until each one of the party was about soaked.
"This is another one of the comforts of a Robinson Crusoe life,"remarked Phil. "Soaking wet, and nothing to eat. Oh, don't I wish I wason the bark again and had hold of those mutineers!"
The rain and wind kept up for the best part of that day. There was butlittle thunder and lightning, and at nightfall the storm died away,although the wind still kept up at a lively rate. During the afternoonthey managed to find a turtle in a hollow, and, after turning thecreature over, killed it and cooked it in its own shell. The meal wasnot particularly appetizing, but all were exceedingly hungry and partookof it without a murmur.
"To-morrow we must gather some yams and some plantains, and also do somefishing," said the captain. "We might go hunting, too, but I wouldrather save our ammunition for emergencies."
To keep from taking cold in their wet clothing, all slept close to thecampfire that night, and early in the morning they hung most of theirgarments out in the bright sunshine to dry. Fishing proved good, and theboys and Billy Dill caught over a score of good-sized fish, and alsodiscovered a bed of oysters, which, as Roger declared, "were not halfbad, even if they weren't particularly good." In the meantime thecaptain, who knew not a little about tropical life, tramped around andfound some bread-fruit and some luscious berries, which he declared wereperfectly good to eat.
"This solves the question of food, at least for the present," said Dave."Not a very extensive list of things to eat, but much better thannothing at all."
"What would the boys of Oak Hall say if they could see us?" asked Roger.
"We'll certainly have a tale to tell--if we ever get back to tell it,"returned Phil.
Having nothing in particular to do, they took their time about preparingthe next meal, and, when it was done, it proved to be a regular spread.Some of the fish made particularly good eating, and the berries toppedthe repast off in good style.
"I do not believe that the _Stormy Petrel_ will come back to thisharbor," said Captain Marshall. "And that being so, I think we had besttake ourselves to the other side of the island, to those log huts andshacks you mentioned. That is, most likely, the spot where the nativesland and where ships may stop. We can put up a flag of distress, and,after that, there will be nothing to do but to wait and make the best ofit."
"Shall you leave the rowboats here?" asked Dave.
"We can leave one boat here and row around the island in the other. Wecan carry the craft to some point beyond the reef."
This advice was followed, and beyond the reef line the ocean was foundto be comparatively quiet, despite the storm of the day before. Allentered the rowboat, and the captain and Billy Dill took the oars, andthe voyage to the other side of the island was begun.
By the end of the day they had reached the log houses, and they cleanedout the larger of the two and gave to it as much of a homelikeappearance as possible. Then they set to work to gather all thedriftwood possible, for they had nothing with which to cut firewood. Theboys fell to fishing once more, and Phil began to manufacture a snare,with which he hoped to trap some small animals that had been discoveredat a distance.
Another whole day passed by slowly, and they began to feel a little moresettled, when, in the middle of the afternoon, Billy Dill, who was outin the rowboat trying to catch some big fish, set up a loud shout.
"What is it?" demanded Captain Marshall, who was busily at work breakingup some of the driftwood.
"I see a big canoe comin', loaded with niggers!" announced the oldsailor.
This news brought all to the shore immediately, and they watched theapproach of the canoe with much interest. It was all of twenty-five feetin length and manned by twelve dark-colored men, six on each side. Thenatives in the craft numbered, all told, nineteen, and some of them hadguns, while others had bows and arrows and long spears. Each man hadalso a long and sharp knife stuck in his girdle.
"Do you think they will be friendly?" asked Dave, in a low tone.
"I hope so," answered the captain. "They have nothing to gain by beingotherwise."
When the natives discovered the whites, they stopped rowing and set upan animated jabbering among themselves. They looked around, thinking aship must be close by, and, finding none, were much astonished.
"Hello!" called out Captain Marshall, waving a welcome. "Glad to seeyou!"
To this the natives did not answer. But the canoe was sent closer andfinally beached, and the majority of the black men leaped ashore, eachcarrying his weapons with him.
"How do you do?" went on the captain, extending his hand and smiling."Glad to see you. Can anybody speak English?"
At the question, one of the natives, a short, thickset fellow with apeculiarly flat nose, came to the front and shook hands.
"Soko speak Inglees," he said, and grinned. "Soko once on Inglees ship."
"I am glad to know you, Soko," replied the captain. "I am CaptainMarshall, of the ship _Stormy Petrel_. What island is this?"
"Dis Yam-kolo Island," answered Soko, still grinning. "How you come disway? Where he ship?"
"Some rascals have stolen my ship. She is a fine-looking bark. She washere a few days ago. Have you seen her?"
"No see ship, no--no ship, so many days," and the native held up fourfingers, all stumpy and not overly clean. "Steal ship on you? Big thief,yes!"
"You are right. Where do you come from?"
"Come from Waponu. Dat on Sobago Island."
"Yes, I have heard of the place." The captain turned to the others. "Itis a native village some ten miles from the town for which the _StormyPetrel_ was bound," he explained.
"Then perhaps they can take us to Sobago," said Dave, eagerly.
"Perhaps they can," answered the captain. "But it must be a long trip insuch a canoe as that."
"Tell me," said Dave, to the native. "Do you come here often?"
"Sometime, not many time," answered Soko, still grinning. He wasevidently of a sunny disposition.
"Did you ever come here with a man named Dunston Porter?"
At this question the native shrugged his shoulders and looked perplexed.
"I mean this man," went on the youth, and, taking the native by thehand, led him into the hut and up to the map on the wall. Instantly theface of Soko brightened.
"Yes, Soko know," he said. "Dat man come, so many time here----" He heldup three fingers. "Look in ground, dig, not can find much, no. Go backto Sobago, so." And he made a dejected face, at which Roger and Phil hadto laugh.
"He means Mr. Porter didn't locate the treasure," said the senator'sson.
"Is that man in Sobago now?" went on Dave, paying no attention to hischum's remark.
"Yes, him at big town, Nanpi!"
"Good I Then I would like to get to Nanpi just as soon as I can," criedDave, enthusiastically. "Will you take me there? I can pay you well," headded, for he still had his money belt and cash with him.
"Yes, can take to Nanpi," answered the native.
After that he explained that he
and his companions had come to theisland to hunt for some rare birds and for turtles. They were quitewilling to return to Sobago Island immediately, if paid for so doing. Abargain was struck, and it was decided that the voyage should be begunin the morning. In the meantime all hands were to catch some fish andcook them, and also gather in a supply of other eatables. The nativeshad a number of hollow reeds with them, and these were filled with freshwater, just previous to setting out. It was calculated that, weatherpermitting, the distance would be covered in three days.
"These fellows know how to handle their big canoes very well," explainedCaptain Marshall. "They go out hundreds of miles, and sometimes weatherthe worst of storms. Occasionally, of course, they get swept away, butnot often. They sail altogether by the sun and stars, and can strikealmost as straight a course as if they were using a compass."
Dave questioned Soko further about Dunston Porter, but could learnlittle, outside of the fact that the man was a treasure hunter and hadpaid very well for what was done for him. Soko added, however, that hethought the man expected to remain at Sobago for some time.
The boys could sleep but little that night, so anxious were theyconcerning the trip before them. They were up at dawn, but, early as itwas, found the natives ahead of them. A hasty breakfast was had by all,the things to be taken along were packed in the bow and stern of thecanoe, and shortly after sunrise the craft was pushed from the shore,whites and natives scrambled in, and the start from the lonely islandwas made.
Dave Porter in the South Seas; or, The Strange Cruise of the Stormy Petrel Page 32