CHAPTER XI.
HAND-TO-HAND.
From what Matt could see of the island as the _Grampus_ drifted intothe cove, and from the further observations which he made whilestanding on the rocks and helping Dick, he knew that it could not bevery extensive. Probably it would have covered an acre of ground, ifmeasured in a square, but its surface was vastly greater than that,inasmuch as it consisted of barren hills and valleys.
Matt's intention, when he left the submarine, was to climb to thehighest point and take a look around. He was still worrying about themysterious steamer, and the no less mysterious Japs. From what he hadheard and read of the Japanese, he understood that dogged persistencywas a national trait. If the Sons of the Rising Sun had made up theirminds to destroy the submarine, it would take more than one rebuff todiscourage them. That they were still on the trail of the _Grampus_Matt had not the least doubt, and if they should happen to sight theboat in the cove, and make an attack while the propeller was beingcleared, they would stand a fair show of success.
In looking for the steamer Matt did not intend to confine his gaze toseaward, but to give fully as much attention upstream as below.
He had already selected the hill he was going to climb, and picked outthe narrow valley that would lead him to its base.
A little scrambling over rough ground brought him to the valley.Projecting rocks, weather-stained and wind-worn, rose to right andleft. Flocks of gulls arose out of them, alarmed by his approach, andwinged away across the river.
The valley was not over twenty feet wide, and angled back and forthsharply on its way to the hill. Matt stepped off at a brisk gait, forhe would have to be quick if he finished what he had in mind by thetime Dick and the rest had cleared the propeller and got the boat oncemore in trim.
Matt was not expecting any trouble on the island, and, as usual, it wasthe unexpected that happened.
The flapping of the birds' wings made a noise that drowned the crunchof his footsteps in the gravel. This, it may be, accounted for thesurprise that met him as he rounded a sharp turn, for his approach wasnot heard, and he came suddenly face to face with a creeping savage.The native was nude, save for a short kirtle that hung from his waist,and he was carrying an ugly-looking spear.
It seemed clear that the fellow was creeping up on the boat. Hissurprise was as great as Matt's, and for a brief space both stoodstaring at each other. Then, as Matt's gaze wandered farther on alongthe valley, he saw four other natives, all of whom had been on theirhands and knees and had leaped erect the moment the young motoristpresented himself.
Then it was that Matt lifted his voice and shouted the warning heardby Dick and Glennie. Matt did not finish what he was saying, for asuggestive movement of the native's spear hand made it necessary forhim to take quick action to protect himself.
Like lightning the king of the motor boys leaped forward, and his fistshot out straight from the shoulder. A grunt was jolted from the lipsof the stricken native, and he staggered backward. This caused the handholding the spear to rise quickly, and the spear point caught in Matt'sleather jacket, which was unbuttoned and flying open.
The native fell backward, keeping a convulsive grip on the spear, anddragging Matt down with him. In a twinkling the other four savages hadsurrounded Matt and were menacing him with their spears.
The spear points were of steel, ground to a sharp point. They had agreenish, corroded look, which suggested that they had been poisoned.Judging this to be the case, Matt put forth every effort to avoid beingpricked or scratched by the flourished weapons.
Seizing the handle of the spear held by the man who had fallen, Mattwrenched it away and swept it around his head in a circle. The otherfour savages leaped back to the edge of the circle and continuedtheir hostile demonstrations. The fellow on the ground, who evidentlypossessed a large amount of courage, reached up abruptly and caughthold of the spear.
With exultant shouts, the other four began to close in. Hamperedin using the spear, Matt found it necessary to change his tactics.Releasing the weapon, he laid hold of the native to whom it belonged,grabbed him about the waist, and flung him heavily against the foremostof his companions.
The men were all of short stature, although heavily muscled and ofgreat strength. The human missile launched by Matt overset the first ofthe four advancing Indians, and this man, in his turn, tumbled backwardand knocked down another. The remaining two were between Matt and theend of the valley it would be necessary for him to traverse in order toregain the boat.
Flourishing his fists and shouting an angry command for them to clearhis path, he leaped directly at them. One of them launched his spear.Matt ducked downward, and the weapon whipped over his head, justgrazing his cap.
This unarmed native was the one Matt speedily made up his mind to pass.But again the unexpected happened. As Matt dashed forward a stonegave way under his foot. He sought vainly to recover his balance, andplunged headlong and rolled over and over.
Before he could get up all the natives were upon him. It looked, justat that moment, as though nothing could save him. Yet he did not giveup. Rising to his knees, he caught the ankles of one of his foes andjerked his feet out from under him.
A fierce order in an unknown tongue was given, and four figures sprangwith murderous celerity to obey it. At that juncture--a criticaljuncture for Motor Matt--the sharp, incisive note of a revolver rangout. One of the savages, with a cry of pain, stepped backward, droppedhis spear, and clasped his right wrist with his left hand.
There followed another shot, accompanied by a sound of running feet inthe shingle and the loud voice of Glennie:
"Get away from there, you scoundrels! I'll give you a taste of moremetal if you don't clear out."
The second bullet had done no harm, but the natives, not knowing howmany men were following Glennie, whirled and made off, one of thempicking up the fallen spear as he went.
"Are you hurt, King?" panted Glennie, coming to a breathless haltbeside Matt.
"Not at all, Glennie," Matt answered; "but I had a tight squeak of it."
"Shall we chase those rascals?"
"No," was the answer as Matt regained his feet; "we'll make tracks backto the _Grampus_, and thank our lucky stars that we got out of this aswell as we did. There may be a lot more of the Indians hiding among therocks, and I've a notion that their spear points are poisoned. We'llnot give them a chance to dig their spears into us, if we can help it."
Watching behind cautiously, Matt and Glennie immediately set out ontheir return to the boat.
"I didn't think there was a human being anywhere near the island, apartfrom ourselves," said Matt. "When those rascals came face to face withme the surprise was mutual--and far from pleasant, so far as I wasconcerned. Did you hear me yell?"
"That's what brought me ashore," said Glennie. "Ferral was bound tocome; but I told him he had better carry out orders regarding the shipand let me go. This six-shooter carried the day."
"And saved my life," added Matt. "I'll not forget that, Mr. Glennie."
A flush of pleasure ran through Glennie's face.
"Bosh!" he exclaimed. "You'd have done the same for me, if ourpositions had been reversed."
By that time they were at the place where it was necessary for themto leave the valley and pick their way through the scattered bowldersto the shore of the cove. While they were climbing the rocks, Carlsuddenly thrust his head out from behind one of them.
"Hoop-a-la!" he cried joyfully. "Id vas Matt, himseluf! My olt bard,Modor Matt, alife und kicking like alvays! Matt, der sighdt oof youmakes me so habby as I can'd dell!"
"Same here, old ship!" chimed in the voice of Dick, as he showedhimself beside Carl.
Dick was armed with an old harpoon, and Carl carried a hatchet.
"You're a nice pair, I must say!" cried Matt. "The last order I gaveinstructed you to clear the propeller and sink the _Grampus_."
"The propeller is cleared, matey," said Dick; "but you wouldn't catchCarl and me going to the bott
om of the cove in the _Grampus_ untilwe had found out what became of you. We heard a couple of shots, andnothing could keep us from coming ashore, after that. Who did you mixup with?"
"Five savages. I don't know whether they live on the island, or whetherthey came from the river bank. Anyhow, I came front to front with them,and they were creeping in the direction of the boat."
"Den dey knowed der poat vas in der cove!" said Carl, casting acautious look behind, in the direction of the valley. "Vas dere more asfife, Matt?"
"I don't know. Five are all I saw. We'd better get away from here assoon as we can, though, and get up the river to Para."
A moment later the boys reached the shore of the cove and found Speakeunloosening the cables.
"All right, Matt?" called Speake.
"Yes; but in a tearing hurry," Matt answered. "Is the _Grampus_ readyfor sea?"
"She's as fit as a fiddle! Clackett is putting the stuff below backwhere it belongs, and we just dumped that load o' rock off the bow."
Matt, Dick, Carl, and Glennie dropped on the submarine's deck. In shortorder the cables were hauled aboard, coiled, and stowed, and Speakeleaped from the rocks and was caught and steadied by Matt as he camedown.
Matt got into the tower and signaled the engine room. The motor gotbusy, and the cheerful splash of the propeller was heard. Slowly the_Grampus_ picked her way out of the cove, those on her deck watchingthe receding rocks for some sign of the savages. But they saw none.
Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under The Amazon Page 11