CHAPTER XIV
THE TENTACLES OF THE DEVIL-FISH
Armed with keen knives and axes, they chopped a way through the densejungle growth, finding that it thinned out as they mounted the steepridges that formed the center of the island. Here the going was easier,and in a few hours they had reached the summit of the highest peak. Fromhere they had a wide view of the far flung expanse of waters. To thewest they thought they could descry land, but in every other directionthe ocean stretched unbroken to the horizon.
What claimed their greatest attention, however, was the fact that themountain they were on was evidently of volcanic origin. The sides wereseamed with ridges and gulleys of hardened lava, and when they advanceda little further they found themselves gazing down into a deep crater.There was a sulphurous smell in the air, and near the bottom they couldsee what looked like jets of steam issuing from the rocks. It was notreassuring to learn that they were stranded on a volcanic island, butthey reflected that the volcano, if it had not in centuries destroyedthe island, was not likely to bother them now.
They descended the mountain in a direction that would bring them to thecoast a considerable distance from their cave, as the going was easierin that direction. Eventually they came out on a strip of beach that wasseparated from theirs by a strip of jungle. This beach, however, wasdifferent from theirs. It was backed up by a rocky wall, in which theaction of the waves had hollowed out great caves. When they reached thebeach it was low tide, but they judged that it was probably entirelycovered at flood.
"Let's explore the caves," proposed Dick, and they headed for thelargest of these. It was a great, echoing cavern, from which othersmaller caves opened, where the ocean had eaten out the soft spots inthe stone. In some of these caves lay great pools of water left by thereceding tide, some of them so deep that the boys could not touch bottomeven with the long sticks they carried.
Dick was seated on the edge of one of these pools tying a looseshoelace, while the others had wandered off to explore other caves. Hewas leaning over, intent upon his task, when something cold and slimysuddenly encircled his neck, and he felt himself being drawn toward thewater by an irresistible force. At the same time another snake liketentacle encircled his body, pinning his arms to his sides.
Dick struggled frantically and shouted wildly for the others to come tohis assistance.
They were some distance off, but heard his cries, and rushed to therescue. They arrived not a moment too soon. Dick was just being drawnbeneath the water when they arrived, and took in the situation at aglance.
"A devil-fish has got him" shouted Benton, and without a pause they allleaped into the deadly pool. Their feet landed on something soft andpulpy, and they were surrounded in an instant by a maze of tentaclesfeeling for a grip.
But they were armed with their sharp hatchets and they hackeddesperately at the slimy tentacles, each of which was provided with arow of suckers for fastening upon its prey. The pool was lashed intofoam as the boys cut and slashed at the two big tentacles that heldDick. The octopus fought fiercely, but there were too many against it.No other prey that it had ever seized had stood a chance but thesestrange enemies who wielded flashing steel were evidently in a differentclass. One after another they hacked off the writhing feelers, untilnone appeared above the surface of the water. Then they all climbed outonto the slippery rock, where Dick was seated half dazed by the horrorof his experience.
"That was a close call, old fellow," said Phil. "It's luck we werewithin hailing distance. How did the devil fish get hold of you?"
Dick told him, and then got somewhat shakily to his feet. "I've heardthat an octopus will grow new tentacles in place of those he loses, andI'm going to see that this fellow doesn't have a chance at anythingagain," said Dick.
"What's your idea?" asked Steve.
"Dynamite," replied Dick briefly. "You fellows stay here until I go tocamp and get a stick. I'm feeling all right now."
In due time he arrived with a stick of explosive and a fuse. Bentonshowed him how to set the cap and fuse, and when all was ready theylighted the fuse and dropped the stick into the pool. Then they rushedout onto the sand and awaited developments.
In a few seconds there came a terrific explosion, and a cloud of waterand steam rushed from the cave. After giving the air time to clear, theyreturned to the cave which had been the abode of the octopus. Over thewalls and roof were scattered shreds of flabby flesh, all that remainedof the lurking monster, while not a drop of water remained in the deeppool in which he had lain.
Even Dick could have asked no more complete destruction of his enemy,and they set out for their cave well satisfied with the result of theadventure.
As they neared the cave, Phil stopped short in a listening attitude. Theothers also halted and looked at him inquiringly.
"I thought I heard a rifle shot," said Phil at length. "Did you fellowshear it too?"
"Guess you must be dreaming," chaffed Dick "I didn't hear anything."
"Come out of your trance," jibed Steve.
"Guess it must have been the echo of that dynamite explosion," suggestedTom jocosely. "Who is there on this island to fire off a gun?"
"Of course it doesn't seem likely," returned Phil. "I thought I heardit, but I might have been mistaken."
They bantered him good-naturedly, and Phil finally concluded that hisears might have played him false, and in the pressure of other mattersthe incident was forgotten.
The Radio Boys Under the Sea; or, The Hunt for Sunken Treasure Page 14