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 re
ached 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 manoeuvre 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 manoeuvre. 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 th
ey 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 manoeuvreabout 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.
The Hero of Panama: A Tale of the Great Canal Page 11