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The evening passed without mention of the real errand of our guests.The conversation was allowed to wander at will, during which several
times it drifted into gentle repartee between host and padre, both
artfully avoiding the rock of matchmaking.But the next morning, as if
anxious to begin the day’s work early, Father Norquin, on arising,
inquired for his host, strutted out to the corrals, and, on meeting
him, promptly inquired why, during the previous summer, Don Alejandro
Travino’s mission to obtain the hand of Juana Leal had failed.“That’s so,” assented Uncle Lance, very affably, “Don Alejandro was
here as godfather to his nephew. And this young man with you is Don
Blas, the bear?Well, why did we waste so much time last night talking
about chapels and death when we might have made a match in less time?You priests have everything in your favor as _padrinos_, but you are so
slow that a rival might appear and win the girl while you were drumming
up your courage. I don’t write Spanish myself, but I have boys here on
the ranch who do.One of them, if I remember rightly, wrote the answer
at the request of Juana’s mother. If my memory hasn’t failed me
entirely, the parents objected to being separated from their only
daughter.You know how that is among your people; and I never like to
interfere in family matters. But from what I hear Don Blas has a rival
now. Yes; young Travino failed to press his suit, and a girl will stand
for nearly anything but neglect.But that’s one thing they won’t stand
for, not when there’s a handsome fellow at hand to play the bear. Then
the old lover is easily forgotten for the new.Eh, Father?”
“Ah, Don Lance, I know your reputation as a matchmaker,” replied Father
Norquin, in a rich French accent. “Report says had you not had a hand
in it the match would have been successful.The supposition is that it
only lacked your approval. The daughter of a vaquero refusing a
Travino? Tut, tut, man!”
A hearty guffaw greeted these aspersions. “And so you’ve heard I was a
matchmaker, have you?Of course, you believed it just like any other
old granny. Now, of course, when I’m asked by any of my people to act
as _padrino_, I never refuse any more than you do. I’ve made many a
match and hope to be spared to make several more.But come; they’re
calling us to breakfast, and after that we’ll take a walk over to the
ranch burying ground. It’s less than a half mile—in that point of
encinal yonder.I want to show you what I think would be a nice spot
for our chapel.”
The conversation during breakfast was artfully directed by the host to
avoid the dangerous shoals, though the padre constantly kept an eye on
Juana as she passed back and forth.As we arose from the table and were
passing to the gallery, Uncle Lance nudged the priest, and, poking Don
Blas in the ribs, said: “Isn’t Juana a stunning fine cook? Got up that
breakfast herself.There isn’t an eighteen-year-old girl in Texas who
can make as fine biscuits as she does. But Las Palomas raises just as
fine girls as she does horses and cattle. The rascal who gets her for a
wife can thank his lucky stars.Don Blas, you ought to have me for
_padrino_. Your uncle and the padre here are too poky. Why, if I was
making a match for as fine a girl as Juana is, I’d set the river afire
before I’d let an unfavorable answer discourage me.Now, the padre and
I are going for a short walk, and we’ll leave you here at the house to
work out your own salvation.Don’t pay any attention to the mistress,
and I want to tell you right now, if you expect to win Juana, never
depend on old fogy _padrinos_ like your uncle and Father Norquin.Do a
little hustling for yourself.”
The old ranchero and the priest were gone nearly an hour, and on their
return looked at another site in the rear of the Mexican quarters.It
was a pretty knoll, and as the two joined us where we were repairing a
windmill at the corrals, Father Norquin, in an ecstasy of delight,
said: “Well, my children, the chapel is assured at Las Palomas.Don
Lance wanted to build it over in the encinal, with twice as nice a site
right here in the rancho. We may need the building for a school some
day, and if we should, we don’t want it a mile away. The very idea!And
the master tells me that a chapel has been the wish of his sister for
years. Poor woman—to have such a brother. I must hasten to the house
and thank her.”
No sooner had the padre started than I was called aside by my employer.“Tom,” said he, “you slip around to Tia Inez’s _jacal_ and tell her
that I’m going to send Father Norquin over to see her. Tell her to
stand firm on not letting Juana leave the ranch for the Mission.Tell
her that I’ve promised the padre a chapel for Las Palomas, and rather
than miss it, the priest would consign the whole Travino family to
endless perdition.Tell her to laugh at his scoldings and inform him
that Juana can get a husband without going so far. And that you heard
me say that I was going to give Fidel, the day he married her daughter,
the same number of heifers that all her brothers got.Impress it on Tia
Inez’s mind that it means something to be born to Las Palomas.”
I set out on my errand and he hastened away to overtake the padre
before the latter reached the house.Tia Inez welcomed me, no doubt
anticipating that I was the bearer of some message. When I gave her the
message her eyes beamed with gratitude and she devoutly crossed her
breast invoking the blessing of the saints upon the master.I added a
few words of encouragement of my own—that I understood that when we
quarried the rock for the chapel, there was to be enough extra cut to
build a stone cottage for Juana and Fidel.This was pure invention on
my part, but I felt a very friendly interest in Las Palomas, for I
expected to bring my bride to it as soon as possible. Therefore, if I
could help the present match forward by the use of a little fiction,
why not?Father Norquin’s time was limited at Las Palomas, as he was under
appointment to return to Santa Maria that evening. Therefore it became
an active morning about the ranch.Long before we had finished the
repairs on the windmill, a _mozo_ from the house came out to the
corrals to say I was wanted by the master.Returning with the servant,
I found Uncle Lance and the mistress of the ranch entertaining their
company before a cheerful fire in the sitting-room.On my entrance, my
employer said:—
“Tom, I have sent for you because I want you to go over with the padre
to the _jacal_ of Juana’s parents.Father Norquin here is such an old
granny that he believes I interfered, or the reply of last summer would
have been favorable. Now, Tom, you’re not to open your mouth one way or
the other.The padre will state his errand, and the old couple will
answer him in your presence. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
Don Blas will remain here, and whatever
the answer is, he and I must abide by it.Really, as I have said, I
have no interest in the match, except the welfare of the girl.Go on
now, Father, and let’s see what you can do as a _padrino_.”
As we arose to go, Miss Jean interposed and suggested that, out of
deference to Father Norquin, the old couple be sent for, but her
brother objected.He wanted the parents to make their own answer
beneath their own roof, unembarrassed by any influence.As we left the
room, the old matchmaker accompanied us as far as the gate, where he
halted and said to the padre:—
“Father Norquin, in a case like the present, you will not mind my
saying that your wish is not absolute, and I am sending a witness with
you to see that you issue no peremptory orders on this ranch.And
remember, that this old couple have been over thirty years in my
employ, and temper your words to them as you would to your own parents,
were they living.Juana was born here, which means a great deal, and
with the approval of her parents, she’ll marry the man of her choice,
and no _padrino_, let him be priest or layman, can crack his whip on
the soil of Las Palomas to the contrary.As my guest, you must excuse
me for talking so plain, but my people are as dear to me as your church
is to you.”
As my employer turned and leisurely walked back to the house, Father
Norquin stood stock-still.I was slightly embarrassed myself, but it
was easily to be seen that the padre’s plans had received a severe
shock. I made several starts toward the Mexican quarters before the
priest shook away his hesitations and joined me.That the old
ranchero’s words had agitated him was very evident in his voice and
manner. Several times he stopped me and demanded explanations, finally
raising the question of a rival.I told him all I knew about the
matter; that Fidel, a new vaquero on the ranch, had found favor in
Juana’s eyes, that he was a favorite man with master and mistress, but
what view the girl’s parents took of the matter I was unable to say.This cleared up the situation wonderfully, and the padre brightened as
we neared the _jacal_. Tiburcio was absent, and while awaiting his return, the priest became
amiable and delivered a number of messages from friends and relatives
at the Mission.Tia Inez was somewhat embarrassed at first, but
gradually grew composed, and before the return of her husband all three
of us were chatting like cronies.On the appearance of Tio Tiburcio,
coffee was ordered and the padre told several good stories, over which
we all laughed heartily.Cigarettes were next, and in due time Father
Norquin very good naturedly inquired why an unfavorable answer,
regarding the marriage of their daughter with young Blas Travino, had
been returned the previous summer.The old couple looked at each other
a moment, when the husband turned in his chair, and with a shrug of his
shoulders and a jerk of his head, referred the priest to his wife.Tia
Inez met the padre’s gaze, and in a clear, concise manner, and in her
native tongue, gave her reasons.Father Norquin explained the
prominence of the Travino family and their disappointment over the
refusal, and asked if the decision was final, to which he received an
affirmative reply.Instead of showing any displeasure, he rose to take
his departure, turning in the doorway to say to the old couple:—
“My children, peace and happiness in this life is a priceless blessing.I should be untrue to my trust did I counsel a marriage that would give
a parent a moment of unhappiness.My blessing upon this house and its
dwellers, and upon its sons and daughters as they go forth to homes of
their own.” While he lifted his hand in benediction, the old couple and
myself bowed our heads for a moment, after which the padre and I passed
outside.I was as solemn as an owl, yet inwardly delighted at the turn of
affairs. But Father Norquin had nothing to conceal, while delight was
wreathed all over his rosy countenance.Again and again he stopped me
to make inquiries about Fidel, the new vaquero. That lucky rascal was a
good-looking native, a much larger youth than the aspiring Don Blas,
and I pictured him to the padre as an Adonis.To the question if he was
in the ranch at present, fortune favored me, as Fidel and nearly all
the regular vaqueros were cutting timbers in the encinal that day with
which to build new corrals at one of the outlying tanks.As he would
not return before dark, and I knew the padre was due at Santa Maria
that evening, my description of him made Don Blas a mere pigmy in
comparison.But we finally reached the house, and on our reëntering the
sitting-room, young Travino very courteously arose and stood until
Father Norquin should be seated.But the latter faced his parishioner,
saying:—
“You young simpleton, what did you drag me up here for on a fool’s
errand?I was led to believe that our generous host was the instigator
of the unfavorable answer to your uncle’s negotiations last summer. Now
I have the same answer repeated from the lips of the girl’s parents.Consider the predicament in which you have placed a servant of the
Church. Every law of hospitality has been outraged through your
imbecility. And to complete my humiliation, I have received only
kindness on every hand.The chapel which I have desired for years is
now a certainty, thanks to the master and mistress of Las Palomas. What
apology can I offer for your”—
“Hold on there, Father,” interrupted Uncle Lance.“If you owe this
ranch any apology, save your breath for a more important occasion. Don
Blas is all right; any suitor who would not be jealous over a girl like
Juana is not welcome at Las Palomas.Why, when I was his age I was
suspicious of my sweetheart’s own father, and you should make allowance
for this young man’s years and impetuosity. Sit down, Father, and let’s
have a talk about this chapel—that’s what interests me most right now.You see, within a few days my boys will have all the palisades cut for
the new corrals, and then we can turn our attention to getting out the
rock for the chapel.We have a quarry of nice soft stone all opened up,
and I’ll put a dozen vaqueros to blocking out the rock in a few days.We always have a big stock of _zacahuiste_ grass on hand for thatching
_jacals_, plenty of limestone to burn for the lime, sand in abundance,
and all we lack is the masons. You’ll have to send them out from the
Mission, but I’ll pay them.Oh, I reckon the good Lord loves Las
Palomas, for you see He’s placed everything convenient with which to
build the chapel.”
Father Norquin could not remain seated, but paced the room enumerating
the many little adornments which the mother church would be glad to
supply.Enthusiastic as a child over a promised toy, no other thought
entered the simple padre’s mind, until dinner was announced. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
And all
during the meal, the object of our guest’s mission was entirely lost
sight of, in contemplation of the coming chapel.The padre seemed as
anxious to avoid the subject of matchmaking as his host, while poor Don
Blas sat like a willing sacrifice, unable to say a word. I sympathized
with him, for I knew what it was to meet disappointment.At the
conclusion of the mid-day repast, Father Norquin flew into a great
bustle in preparing to start for Santa Maria, and I was dispatched for
the horses.Our guests and my employer were waiting at the stile when I
led up their mounts, and at final parting the old matchmaker said to
the priest:—
“Now, remember, I expect you to have this chapel completed by Easter
Sunday, when I want you to come out and spend at least two weeks with
us and see that it is finished to suit you, and arrange for the
dedication.Las Palomas will build the chapel, but when our work is
done yours commences. And I want to tell you right now, there’s liable
to be several weddings in it before the mortar gets good and dry.I
have it on pretty good authority that one of my boys and Pierre Vaux’s
eldest girl are just about ready to have you pronounce them man and
wife. No, he’s not of any faith, but she’s a good Catholic.Now, look
here, Father Norquin, if I have to proselyte you to my way of thinking,
it’ll never hurt you any. I was never afraid to do what was right, and
when at Las Palomas you needn’t be afraid either, even if we have to
start a new creed.Well, good-by to both of you.”
We had a windmill to repair that afternoon, some five miles from the
ranch, so that I did not return to the house until evening; but when
all gathered around the supper table that night, Uncle Lance was
throwing bouquets at himself for the crafty manner in which he had
switched the padre from his mission, and yet sent him away delighted.He admitted that he was scared on the appearance of Father Norquin as a
_padrino_, on account of the fact that a priest was usually supreme
among his own people.That he had early come to the conclusion if there
was to be any coercion used in this case, he was determined to get in
his bluff first. But Miss Jean ridiculed the idea that there was any
serious danger.“Goodness me, Lance,” said she, “I could have told you there was no
cause for alarm. In this case between Fidel and Juana, I’ve been a very
liberal chaperon. Oh, well, now, never mind about the particulars.Once, to try his nerve, I gave him a chance, and I happen to know the
rascal kissed her the moment my back was turned.Oh, I think Juana will
stay at Las Palomas.”
CHAPTER XVII
WINTER AT LAS PALOMAS
The winter succeeding the drouth was an unusually mild one, frost and
sleet being unseen at Las Palomas.After the holidays several warm
rains fell, affording fine hunting and assuring enough moisture in the
soil to insure an early spring.The preceding winter had been gloomy,
but this proved to be the most social one since my advent, for within
fifty miles of the ranch no less than two weddings occurred during
Christmas week.As to little neighborhood happenings, we could hear of
half a dozen every time we went to Shepherd’s after the mail.When the native help on the ranch was started at blocking out the stone
for the chapel, Uncle Lance took the hounds and with two of the boys
went down to Wilson’s ranch for a hunt.Gallup went, of course, but
just why he took Scales along, unless with the design of making a match
between one of the younger daughters of this neighboring ranchman and
the Marylander, was not entirely clear.When he wanted to, Scales could
make himself very agreeable, and had it not been for his profligate
disposition, his being taken along on the hunt would have been no
mystery.Every one on the ranch, including the master and mistress,
were cognizant of the fact that for the past year he had maintained a
correspondence with a girl in Florida—the one whose letter and
photograph had been found in the box of oranges.He hardly deserved the
confidence of the roguish girl, for he showed her letters to any one
who cared to read them.I had read every line of the whole
correspondence, and it was plain that Scales had deceived the girl into
believing that he was a prominent ranchman, when in reality the best
that could be said of him was that he was a lovable vagabond.From the
last letter, it was clear that he had promised to marry the girl during
the Christmas week just past, but he had asked for a postponement on
the ground that the drouth had prevented him from selling his beeves.When Uncle Lance made the discovery, during a cow hunt the fall before,
of the correspondence between Scales and the Florida girl, he said to
us around the camp-fire that night: “Well, all I’ve got to say is that
that girl down in Florida is hard up.Why, it’s entirely contrary to a
girl’s nature to want to be wooed by letter. Until the leopard changes
his spots, the good old way, of putting your arm around the girl and
whispering that you love her, will continue to be popular.If I was to
hazard an opinion about that girl, Aaron, I’d say that she was
ambitious to rise above her surroundings.The chances are that she
wants to get away from home, and possibly she’s as much displeased with
the young men in the orange country as I sometimes get with you
dodrotted cow hands.Now, I’m not one of those people who’re always
harping about the youth of his day and generation being so much better
than the present. That’s all humbug.But what does get me is, that you
youngsters don’t profit more by the experience of an old man like me
who’s been married three times.Line upon line and precept upon
precept, I have preached this thing to my boys for the last ten years,
and what has it amounted to? Not a single white bride has ever been
brought to Las Palomas.They can call me a matchmaker if they want to,
but the evidence is to the contrary.” This was on the night after we
passed Shepherd’s, where Scales had received a letter from the Florida
girl.But why he should accompany the hunt now to Remirena, unless the
old ranchero proposed reforming him, was too deep a problem for me.On leaving for Wilson’s, there was the usual bustle; hounds responding
to the horn and horses under saddle champing their bits.I had hoped
that permission to go over to the Frio and San Miguel would be given
John and myself, but my employer’s mind was too absorbed in something
else, and we were overlooked in the hurry to get away.Since the
quarrying of the rock had commenced, my work had been overseeing the
native help, of which we had some fifteen cutting and hauling. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
In
numerous places within a mile of headquarters, a soft porous rock
cropped out.By using a crowbar with a tempered chisel point, the
Mexicans easily channeled the rock into blocks, eighteen by thirty
inches, splitting each stone a foot in thickness, so that when hauled
to the place of use, each piece was ready to lay up in the wall.The
ranch house at headquarters was built out of this rock, and where
permanency was required, it was the best material available, whitening
and apparently becoming firmer with time and exposure.I had not seen my sweetheart in nearly a month, but there I was,
chained to a rock quarry and mule teams. The very idea of Gallup and
the profligate Scales riding to hounds and basking in the society of
charming girls nettled me.The remainder of the ranch outfit was under
Deweese, building the new corrals, so that I never heard my own tongue
spoken except at meals and about the house.My orders included the
cutting of a few hundred rock extra above the needs of the chapel, and
when this got noised among the help, I had to explain that there was
some talk of building a stone cottage, and intimated that it was for
Juana and Fidel.But that lucky rascal was one of the crew cutting
rock, and from some source or other he had learned that I was liable to
need a cottage at Las Palomas in the near future.The fact that I was
acting _segundo_ over the quarrying outfit, was taken advantage of by
Fidel to clear his skirts and charge the extra rock to my matrimonial
expectations.He was a fast workman, and on every stone he split from
the mother ledge, he sang out, “Otro piedra por Don Tomas!” And within
a few minutes’ time some one else would cry out, “Otro cillar por Fidel
y Juana,” or “Otro piedra por padre Norquin.”
A week passed and there was no return of the hunters.We had so
systematized our work at the quarry that my presence was hardly needed,
so every evening I urged Cotton to sound the mistress for permission to
visit our sweethearts.John was a good-natured fellow who could be
easily led or pushed forward, and I had come to look upon Miss Jean as
a ready supporter of any of her brother’s projects.For that reason her
permission was as good as the master’s; but she parried all Cotton’s
hints, pleading the neglect of our work in the absence of her brother.I was disgusted with the monotony of quarry work, and likewise was John
over building corrals, as no cow hand ever enthuses over manual labor,
when an incident occurred which afforded the opportunity desired.The
mistress needed some small article from the store at Shepherd’s, and a
Mexican boy had been sent down on this errand and also to get the mail
of the past two weeks.On the boy’s return, he brought a message from
the merchant, saying that Henry Annear had been accidentally killed by
a horse that day, and that the burial would take place at ten o’clock
the next morning.The news threw the mistress of Las Palomas into a flutter. Her brother
was absent, and she felt a delicacy in consulting Deweese, and very
naturally turned to me for advice.Funerals in the Nueces valley were
so very rare that I advised going, even if the unfortunate man had
stood none too high in our estimation. Annear lived on the divide
between Shepherd’s and the Frio at a ranch called Las Norias.As this
ranch was not over ten miles from the mouth of the San Miguel, the
astute mind can readily see the gleam of my ax in attending.Funerals
were such events that I knew to a certainty that all the countryside
within reach would attend, and the Vaux ranch was not over fifteen
miles distant from Las Norias.Acting on my advice, the mistress
ordered the ambulance to be ready to start by three o’clock the next
morning, and gave every one on the ranch who cared, permission to go
along.All of us took advantage of the offer, except Deweese, who, when
out of hearing of the mistress, excused himself rather profanely. The boy had returned late in the day, but we lost no time in acting on
Miss Jean’s orders.Fortunately the ambulance teams were in hand
hauling rock, but we rushed out several vaqueros to bring in the
_remuda_ which contained our best saddle horses.It was after dark when
they returned with the mounts wanted, and warning Tiburcio that we
would call him at an early hour, every one retired for a few hours’
rest.I would resent the charge that I am selfish or unsympathetic, yet
before falling asleep that night the deplorable accident was entirely
overlooked in the anticipated pleasure of seeing Esther.As it was fully a thirty-five-mile drive we started at daybreak, and to
encourage the mules Quayle and Happersett rode in the lead until
sun-up, when they dropped to the rear with Cotton and myself.We did
not go by way of Shepherd’s, but crossed the river several miles above
the ferry, following an old cotton road made during the war, from the
interior of the state to Matamoras, Mexico.It was some time before the
hour named for the burial when we sighted Las Norias on the divide, and
spurred up the ambulance team, to reach the ranch in time for the
funeral.The services were conducted by a strange minister who happened
to be visiting in Oakville, but what impressed me in particular was the
solicitude of Miss Jean for the widow.She had been frequently
entertained at Las Palomas by its mistress, as the sweetheart of June
Deweese, though since her marriage to Annear a decided coolness had
existed between the two women.But in the present hour of trouble, the
past was forgotten and they mingled their tears like sisters.On our return, which was to be by way of the Vauxes’, I joined those
from the McLeod ranch, while Happersett and Cotton accompanied the
ambulance to the Vaux home.Nearly every one going our way was on
horseback, and when the cavalcade was some distance from Las Norias, my
sweetheart dropped to the rear for a confidential chat and told me that
a lawyer from Corpus Christi, an old friend of the family, had come up
for the purpose of taking the preliminary steps for securing her
freedom, and that she expected to be relieved of the odious tie which
bound her to Oxenford at the May term of court.This was pleasant news
to me, for there would then be no reason for delaying our marriage.Happersett rode down to the San Miguel the next morning to inform
Quayle and myself that the mistress was then on the way to spend the
night with the widow Annear, and that the rest of us were to report at
home the following evening.She had apparently inspected the lines on
the Frio, and, finding everything favorable, turned to other fields. I
was disappointed, for Esther and I had planned to go up to the Vaux
ranch during the visit.Dan suggested that we ride home together by way
of the Vauxes’. But Quayle bitterly refused even to go near the ranch.He felt very sore and revengeful over being jilted by Frances after she
had let him crown her Queen of the ball at the tournament dance. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
So,
agreeing to meet on the divide the next day for the ride back to Las
Palomas, we parted.The next afternoon, on reaching the divide between the Frio and the
home river, Theodore and I scanned the horizon in vain for any
horsemen.We dismounted, and after waiting nearly an hour, descried two
specks to the northward which we knew must be our men. On coming up
they also threw themselves on the ground, and we indulged in a
cigarette while we compared notes.I had nothing to conceal, and
frankly confessed that Esther and I expected to marry during the latter
part of May.Cotton, though, seemed reticent, and though Theodore
cross-questioned him rather severely, was non-committal and dumb as an
oyster; but before we recrossed the Nueces that evening, John and I
having fallen far to the rear of the other two, he admitted to me that
his wedding would occur within a month after Lent.It was to be a
confidence between us, but I advised him to take Uncle Lance into the
secret at once. But on reaching the ranch we learned that the hunting party had not
returned, nor had the mistress.The next morning we resumed our work,
Quayle and Cotton at corral building and I at the rock quarry.The work
had progressed during my absence, and the number of pieces desired was
nearing completion, and with but one team hauling the work-shop was
already congested with cut building stone.By noon the quarry was so
cluttered with blocks that I ordered half the help to take axes and go
to the encinal to cut dry oak wood for burning the lime.With the
remainder of my outfit we cleaned out and sealed off the walls of an
old lime kiln, which had served ever since the first rock buildings
rose on Las Palomas.The oven was cut in the same porous formation, the
interior resembling an immense jug, possibly twelve feet in diameter
and fifteen feet in height to the surface of the ledge.By locating the
kiln near the abrupt wall of an abandoned quarry, ventilation was given
from below by a connecting tunnel some twenty feet in length.Layers of
wood and limestone were placed within until the interior was filled,
when it was fired, and after burning for a few hours the draft was cut
off below and above, and the heat retained until the limestone was
properly burned.Near the middle of the afternoon, the drivers hauling the blocks drove
near the kiln and shouted that the hunters had returned.Scaling off
the burnt rock in the interior and removing the debris made it late
before our job was finished; then one of the vaqueros working on the
outside told us that the ambulance had crossed the river over an hour
before, and was then in the ranch.This was good news, and mounting our
horses we galloped into headquarters and found the corral outfit
already there.Miss Jean soon had our _segundo_ an unwilling prisoner
in a corner, and from his impatient manner and her low tones it was
plain to be seen that her two days’ visit with Mrs. Annear had resulted
in some word for Deweese.Not wishing to intrude, I avoided them in
search of my employer, finding him and Gallup at an outhouse holding a
hound while Scales was taking a few stitches in an ugly cut which the
dog had received from a _javeline_.Paying no attention to the two
boys, I gave him the news, and bluntly informed him that Esther and I
expected to marry in May. “Bully for you, Tom,” said he. “Here, hold this fore foot, and look out
he don’t bite you.So she’ll get her divorce at the May term, and then
all outdoors can’t stand in your way the next time. Now, that means
that you’ll have to get out fully two hundred more of those building
rock, for your cottage will need three rooms.Take another stitch, knot
your thread well, and be quick about it.I tell you the _javeline_ were
pretty fierce; this is the fifth dog we’ve doctored since we returned.”
On freeing the poor hound, we both looked the pack over carefully, and
as no others needed attention, Aaron and Glenn were excused.No sooner
were they out of hearing than I suggested that the order be made for
five hundred stone, as no doubt John Cotton would also need a cottage
shortly after Lent. The old matchmaker beamed with smiles. “Is that
right, Tom?” he inquired.“Of course, you boys tell each other what you
would hardly tell me. And so they have made the riffle at last? Why, of
course they shall have a cottage, and have it so near that I can hear
the baby when it cries. Bully for tow-headed John.Oh, I reckon Las
Palomas is coming to the front this year. Three new cottages and three
new brides is not to be sneezed at!Does your mistress know all this
good news?”
I informed him that I had not seen Miss Jean to speak to since the
funeral, and that Cotton wished his intentions kept a secret.“Of
course,” he said; “that’s just like a sap-headed youth, as if getting
married was anything to be ashamed of. Why, when I was the age of you
boys I’d have felt proud over the fact. Wants it kept a secret, does
he?Well, I’ll tell everybody I meet, and I’ll send word to the ferry
and to every ranch within a hundred miles, that our John Cotton and
Frank Vaux are going to get married in the spring.There’s nothing
disgraceful in matrimony, and I’ll publish this so wide that neither of
them will dare back out.I’ve had my eye on that girl for years, and
now when there’s a prospect of her becoming the wife of one of my boys,
he wants it kept a secret? Well, I don’t think it’ll keep.”
After that I felt more comfortable over my own confession.Before we
were called to supper every one in the house, including the Mexicans
about headquarters, knew that Cotton and I were soon to be married.And
all during the evening the same subject was revived at every lull in
the conversation, though Deweese kept constantly intruding the corral
building and making inquiries after the hunt.“What difference does it
make if we hunted or not?” replied Uncle Lance to his foreman with some
little feeling. “Suppose we did only hunt every third or fourth day?Those Wilson folks have a way of entertaining friends which makes
riding after hounds seem commonplace. Why, the girls had Glenn and
Aaron on the go until old man Nate and myself could hardly get them out
on a hunt at all.And when they did, provided the girls were along,
they managed to get separated, and along about dusk they’d come
slouching in by pairs, looking as innocent as turtle-doves.Not that
those Wilson girls can’t ride, for I never saw a better horsewoman than
Susie—the one who took such a shine to Scales.”
I noticed Miss Jean cast a reproving glance at her brother on his
connecting the name of Susie Wilson with that of his vagabond employee.The mistress was a puritan in morals. That Scales fell far below her
ideal there was no doubt, and the brother knew too well not to differ
with her on this subject.When all the boys had retired except Cotton
and me, the brother and sister became frank with each other. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
“Well, now, you must not blame me if Miss Susie was attentive to
Aaron,” said the old matchmaker, in conciliation, pacing the room.“He
was from Las Palomas and their guest, and I see no harm in the girls
being courteous and polite. Susie was just as nice as pie to me, and I
hope you don’t think I don’t entertain the highest regard for Nate
Wilson’s family.Suppose one of the girls did smile a little too much
on Aaron, was that my fault?Now, mind you, I never said a word one way
or the other, but I’ll bet every cow on Las Palomas that Aaron Scales,
vagabond that he is, can get Susie Wilson for the asking.I know your
standard of morals, but you must make allowance for others who look
upon things differently from you and me. You remember Katharine Vedder
who married Carey Troup at the close of the war. There’s a similar case
for you.Katharine married Troup just because he was so wicked, at
least that was the reason she gave, and she and you were old
run-togethers. And you remember too that getting married was the
turning-point in Carey Troup’s life.Who knows but Aaron might sober
down if he was to marry? Just because a man has sown a few wild oats in
his youth, does that condemn him for all time? You want to be more
liberal.Give me the man who has stood the fire tests of life in
preference to one who has never been tempted.”
“Now, Lance, you know you had a motive in taking Aaron down to
Wilson’s,” said the sister, reprovingly.“Don’t get the idea that I
can’t read you like an open book. Your argument is as good as an
admission of your object in going to Ramirena.Ever since Scales got up
that flirtation with Suzanne Vaux last summer, it was easy to see that
Aaron was a favorite with you. Why don’t you take Happersett around and
introduce him to some nice girls?Honest, Lance, I wouldn’t give poor
old Dan for the big beef corral full of rascals like Scales. Look how
he trifled with that silly girl in Florida.”
Instead of continuing the argument, the wily ranchero changed the
subject.“The trouble with Dan is he’s too old. When a fellow begins to get a
little gray around the edges, he gets so foxy that you couldn’t bait
him into a matrimonial trap with sweet grapes.But, Sis, what’s the
matter with your keeping an eye open for a girl for Dan, if he’s such a
favorite with you? If I had half the interest in him that you profess,
I certainly wouldn’t ask any one to help.It wouldn’t surprise me if
the boys take to marrying freely after John and Tom bring their brides
to Las Palomas. Now that Mrs. Annear is a widow, there’s the same old
chance for June.If Glenn don’t make the riffle with Miss Jule, he
ought to be shot on general principles. And I don’t know, little
sister, if you and I were both to oppose it, that we could prevent that
rascal of an Aaron from marrying into the Wilson family.You have no
idea what a case Susie and Scales scared up during our ten days’ hunt. That only leaves Dan and Theodore. But what’s the use of counting the
chickens so soon? You go to bed, for I’m going to send to the Mission
to-morrow after the masons.There’s no use in my turning in, for I
won’t sleep a wink to-night, thinking all this over.”
CHAPTER XVIII
AN INDIAN SCARE
Near the close of January, ’79, the Nueces valley was stirred by an
Indian scare.I had a distinct recollection of two similar scares in my
boyhood on the San Antonio River, in which I never caught a glimpse of
the noble red man. But whether the rumors were groundless or not, Las
Palomas set her house in order.The worst thing we had to fear was the
loss of our saddle stock, as they were gentle and could be easily run
off and corralled on the range by stretching lariats.At this time the
ranch had some ten _remudas_ including nearly five hundred saddle
horses, some of them ranging ten or fifteen miles from the ranch, and
on receipt of the first rumor, every _remuda_ was brought in home and
put under a general herd, night and day.“These Indian scares,” said Uncle Lance, “are just about as regular as
drouths. When I first settled here, the Indians hunted up and down this
valley every few years, but they never molested anything.Why, I got
well acquainted with several bucks, and used to swap rawhide with them
for buckskin. Game was so abundant then that there was no temptation to
kill cattle or steal horses. But the rascals seem to be getting worse
ever since.The last scare was just ten years ago next month, and kept
us all guessing. The renegades were Kickapoos and came down the Frio
from out west.One Sunday morning they surprised two of Waugh’s
vaqueros while the latter were dressing a wild hog which they had
killed. The Mexicans had only one horse and one gun between them. One
of them took the horse and the other took the carbine.Not daring to
follow the one with the gun for fear of ambuscade, the Indians gave
chase to the vaquero on horseback, whom they easily captured.After
stripping him of all his clothing, they tied his hands with thongs, and
pinned the poor devil to a tree with spear thrusts through the back. “The other Mexican made his escape in the chaparral, and got back to
the ranch.As it happened, there was only a man or two at Waugh’s place
at the time, and no attempt was made to follow the Indians, who, after
killing the vaquero, went on west to Altita Creek—the one which puts
into the Nueces from the north, just about twenty miles above the
Ganso.Waugh had a sheep camp on the head of Altito, and there the
Kickapoos killed two of his _pastors_ and robbed the camp.From that
creek on westward, their course was marked with murders and horse
stealing, but the country was so sparsely settled that little or no
resistance could be offered, and the redskins escaped without
punishment.At that time they were armed with bow and arrow and spears,
but I have it on good authority that all these western tribes now have
firearms.The very name of Indians scares women and children, and if
they should come down this river, we must keep in the open and avoid
ambush, as that is an Indian’s forte.”
All the women and children at the outlying ranchitas were brought into
headquarters, the men being left to look after the houses and their
stock and flocks.In the interim, Father Norquin and the masons had
arrived and the chapel was daily taking shape. But the rumors of the
Indian raid thickened.Reports came in of shepherds shot with their
flocks over near Espontos Lake and along the Leona River, and Las
Palomas took on the air of an armed camp.Though we never ceased to
ride the range wherever duty called, we went always in squads of four
or five. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
Don
Mateo Gonzales of Santa Maria sent his regrets, as did likewise Don
Alejandro Travino of the Mission, but the other invited guests came
early and stayed late.The women and children of the outlying ranchitas
had not yet returned to their homes, and with our invited guests made
an assembly of nearly a hundred and fifty persons.Unexpectedly, and
within two hours of the appointed time for the service to commence, a
cavalcade was sighted approaching the ranch from the west.As they
turned in towards headquarters, some one recognized the horses, and a
shout of welcome greeted our ranger guests of over two weeks before.Uncle Lance met them as if they had been expected, and invited the
lieutenant and his men to dismount and remain a few days as guests of
Las Palomas.When they urged the importance of continuing on their
journey to report to the governor, the host replied:—
“Lieutenant Barr, that don’t go here.Fall out of your saddles and
borrow all the razors and white shirts on the ranch, for we need you
for the dedication of a chapel to-day, and for a wedding and infare for
to-morrow.We don’t see you along this river as often as we’d like to,
and when you do happen along in time for a peaceful duty, you can’t get
away so easily.If you have any special report to make to your
superiors, why, write her out, and I’ll send a vaquero with it to
Oakville this afternoon, and it’ll go north on the stage to-morrow.But, lieutenant, you mustn’t think you can ride right past Las Palomas
when you’re not under emergency orders. Now, fall off those horses and
spruce up a little, for I intend to introduce you to some as nice girls
as you ever met.You may want to quit rangering some day, and I may
need a man about your size, and I’m getting tired of single ones.”
Lieutenant Barr surrendered.Saddles were stripped from horses, packs
were unlashed from mules, and every animal was sent to our _remudas_
under herd.The accoutrements were stacked inside the gate like
haycocks, with slickers thrown over them; the carbines were thrown on
the gallery, and from every nail, peg, or hook on the wall belts and
six-shooters hung in groups.These rangers were just ordinary looking
men, and might have been mistaken for an outfit of cow hands. In age
they ranged from a smiling youth of twenty to grizzled men of forty,
yet in every countenance was written a resolute determination.All the
razors on the ranch were brought into immediate use, while every
presentable shirt, collar, and tie in the house was unearthed and
placed at their disposal.While arranging hasty toilets, the men
informed us that when they reached Espontos Lake the redskins had left,
and that they had trailed them south until the Indians had crossed the
Rio Grande into Mexico several days in advance of their arrival.The
usual number of isolated sheepherders killed, and of horses stolen,
were the features of the raid. The guests had been arriving all morning.The Booths had reached the
ranch the night before, and the last to put in an appearance was the
contingent from the Frio and San Miguel.Before the appearance of the
rangers, they had been sighted across the river, and they rode up with
Pierre Vaux, like a captain of the Old Guard, in the lead. “Ah, Don Lance,” he cried, “vat you tink? Dey say Don Pierre no ride
fas’ goin’ to church.Dese youngsters laff all time and say I never get
here unless de dogs is ’long. Sacré! Act all time lak I vas von ol’
man._Humbre_, keep away from dis horse; he allow nobody but me to lay
von han’ on him—keep away, I tol’ you!”
I helped the girls to dismount, Miss Jean kissing them right and left,
and bustling them off into the house to tidy up as fast as possible;
for the hour was almost at hand.On catching sight of Mrs. Annear,
fresh and charming in her widow’s weeds, Uncle Lance brushed Don Pierre
aside and cordially greeted her.Vaqueros took the horses, and as I
strolled up the pathway with Esther, I noticed an upper window full of
ranger faces peering down on the girls.Before this last contingent had
had time to spruce up, Pasquale’s eldest boy rode around all the
_jacals_, ringing a small handbell to summon the population to the
dedication.Outside of our home crowd, we had forty white guests, not
including the two Booth children and the priests. As fast as the
rangers were made presentable, the master and mistress introduced them
to all the girls present.Of course, there were a few who could not be
enticed near a woman, but Quayle and Happersett, like kindred spirits,
took the backward ones under their wing, and the procession started for
the chapel.The audience was typical of the Texas frontier at the close of the
’70’s. Two priests of European birth conducted the services. Pioneer
cowmen of various nationalities and their families intermingled and
occupied central seats.By the side of his host, a veteran of ’36, when
Mexican rule was driven from the land, sat Lieutenant Barr, then
engaged in accomplishing a second redemption of the state from crime
and lawlessless.Lovable and esteemed men were present, who had
followed the fortunes of war until the Southern flag, to which they had
rallied, went down in defeat.The younger generation of men were
stalwart in physique, while the girls were modest in their rustic
beauty.Sitting on the cement floor on three sides of us were the
natives of the ranch, civilized but with little improvement over their
Aztec ancestors. The dedicatory exercises were brief and simple.Every one was invited
to remain for the celebration of the first mass in the newly
consecrated building.Many who were not communicants accepted, but
noticing the mistress and my sweetheart taking their leave, I joined
them and assisted in arranging the tables so that all our guests could
be seated at two sittings.At the conclusion of the services, dinner
was waiting, and Father Norquin and Mr. Nate Wilson were asked to carve
at one table, while the young friar and Lieutenant Barr, in a similar
capacity, officiated at the other.There was so much volunteer help in
the kitchen that I was soon excused, and joined the younger people on
the gallery.As to whom Cotton and Gallup were monopolizing there was
no doubt, but I had a curiosity to notice what Scales would do when
placed between two fires.But not for nothing had he cultivated the
acquaintance of a sandy-mustached young ranger, who was at that moment
entertaining Suzanne Vaux in an alcove at the farther end of the
veranda.Aaron, when returning from the chapel with Susie Wilson, had
succeeded in getting no nearer the house than a clump of oak trees
which sheltered an old rustic settee.And when the young folks were
called in to dinner, the vagabond Scales and Miss Wilson of Ramirena
had to be called the second time. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
In seating the younger generation, Miss Jean showed her finesse.Nearly
all the rangers had dined at the first tables, but the widow Annear
waited for the second one—why, only a privileged few of us could guess.Artfully and with seeming unconsciousness on the part of every one,
Deweese was placed beside the charming widow, though I had a suspicion
that June was the only innocent party in the company.Captain Byler and
I were carving at the same table at which our foreman and the widow
were seated, and, being in the secret, I noted step by step the
progress of the widow, and the signs of gradual surrender of the
corporal _segundo_.I had a distinct recollection of having once
smashed some earnest resolves, and of having capitulated under similar
circumstances, and now being happily in love, I secretly wished success
to the little god Cupid in the case in hand.And all during the
afternoon and evening, it was clearly apparent to any one who cared to
notice that success was very likely. The evening was a memorable one at Las Palomas.Never before in my
knowledge had the ranch had so many and such amiable guests. The
rangers took kindly to our hospitality, and Father Norquin waddled
about, God-blessing every one, old and young, frivolous and sedate.Owing to the nature of the services of the day, the evening was spent
in conversation among the elders, while the younger element promenaded
the spacious gallery, or occupied alcoves, nooks, and corners about the
grounds.On retiring for the night, the men yielded the house to the
women guests, sleeping on the upper and lower verandas, while the
ranger contingent, scorning beds or shelter, unrolled their blankets
under the spreading live-oaks in the yard.But the real interest centred in the marriage of Fidel and Juana, which
took place at six o’clock the following evening. Every one, including
the native element, repaired to the new chapel to attend the wedding.Uncle Lance and his sister had rivaled each other as to whether man or
maid should have the better outfit. Fidel was physically far above the
average of the natives, slightly bow-legged, stolid, and the coolest
person in the church.The bride was in quite a flutter, but having been
coached and rehearsed daily by her mistress, managed to get through the
ordeal. The young priest performed the ceremony, using his own native
tongue, the rich, silvery accents of Spanish.At the conclusion of the
service, every one congratulated the happy couple, the women and girls
in tears, the sterner sex without demonstration of feeling.When we
were outside the chapel, and waiting for our sweethearts to dry their
tears and join us, Uncle Lance came swaggering’ over to John Cotton and
me, and, slapping us both on the back, said:—
“Boys, that rascal of a Fidel has a splendid nerve.Did you notice how
he faced the guns without a tremor; never batted an eye but took his
medicine like a little man. I hope both of you boys will show equally
good nerve when your turn comes.Why, I doubt if there was a ranger in
the whole squad, unless it was that red-headed rascal who kissed the
bride, who would have stood the test like that vaquero—without a
shiver. And it’s something you can’t get used to.Now, as you all know,
I’ve been married three times. The first two times I was as cool as
most, but the third whirl I trembled all over.Quavers ran through me,
my tongue was palsied, my teeth chattered, my knees knocked together,
and I felt like a man that was sent for and couldn’t go. Now, mind you,
it was the third time and I was only forty-five.”
What a night that was!The contents of the warehouse had been shifted,
native musicians had come up from Santa Maria, and every one about the
home ranch who could strum a guitar was pressed into service.The
storeroom was given over to the natives, and after honoring the
occasion with their presence as patrons, the master and mistress, after
the opening dance, withdrew in company with their guests. The night had
then barely commenced.Claiming two guitarists, we soon had our guests
waltzing on veranda, hall, and spacious dining-room to the music of my
fiddle. Several of the rangers could play, and by taking turns every
one had a joyous time, including the two priests.Among the Mexicans
the dancing continued until daybreak. Shortly after midnight our guests
retired, and the next morning found all, including the priests,
preparing to take their departure.As was customary, we rode a short
distance with our guests, bidding them again to Las Palomas and
receiving similar invitations in return. With the exception of Captain
Byler, the rangers were the last to take their leave.When the mules
were packed and their mounts saddled, the old ranchero extended them a
welcome whenever they came that way again. “Well, now, Mr. Lovelace,” said Lieutenant Barr, “you had better not
press that invitation too far.The good time we have had with you
discounts rangering for the State of Texas. Rest assured, sir, that we
will not soon forget the hospitality of Las Palomas, nor its ability to
entertain.Push on with the packs, boys, and I’ll take leave of the
mistress in behalf of you all, and overtake the squad before it reaches
the river.”
CHAPTER XIX
HORSE BRANDS
Before gathering the fillies and mares that spring, and while riding
the range, locating our horse stock, Pasquale brought in word late one
evening that a _ladino_ stallion had killed the regular one, and was
then in possession of the _manada_.The fight between the outlaw and
the ranch stallion had evidently occurred above the mouth of the Ganso
and several miles to the north of the home river, for he had
accidentally found the carcass of the dead horse at a small lake and,
recognizing the animal by his color, had immediately scoured the
country in search of the band.He had finally located the _manada_,
many miles off their range; but at sight of the vaquero the _ladino_
usurper had deserted the mares, halting, however, out of gunshot, yet
following at a safe distance as Pasquale drifted them back.Leaving the
_manada_ on their former range, Pasquale had ridden into the ranch and
reported.It was then too late in the day to start against the
interloper, as the range was fully twenty-five miles away, and we were
delayed the next morning in getting up speedy saddle horses from
distant and various _remudas_, and did not get away from the ranch
until after dinner.But then we started, taking the usual pack mules,
and provisioned for a week’s outing. Included in the party was Captain Frank Byler, the regular home crowd,
and three Mexicans.With an extra saddle horse for each, we rode away
merrily to declare war on the _ladino_ stallion. “This is the third
time since I’ve been ranching here,” said Uncle Lance to Captain Frank,
as we rode along, “that I’ve had stallions killed.There always have
been bands of wild horses, west here between the Leona and Nueces
rivers and around Espontos Lake. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
Now that country is settling up, the
people walk down the bands and the stallions escape, and in drifting
about find our range.They’re wiry rascals, and our old stallions don’t
stand any more show with them than a fat hog would with a _javaline_.That’s why I take as much pride in killing one as I do a rattlesnake.”
We made camp early that evening on the home river, opposite the range
of the _manada_.Sending out Pasquale to locate the band and watch them
until dark, Uncle Lance outlined his idea of circling the band and
bagging the outlaw in the uncertain light of dawn.Pasquale reported on
his return after dark that the _manada_ were contentedly feeding on
their accustomed range within three miles of camp.Pasquale had watched
the band for an hour, and described the _ladino_ stallion as a
cinnamon-colored coyote, splendidly proportioned and unusually large
for a mustang.Naturally, in expectation of the coming sport, the horses became the
topic around the camp-fire that night. Every man present was a born
horseman, and there was a generous rivalry for the honor in telling
horse stories.Aaron Scales joined the group at a fortunate time to
introduce an incident from his own experience, and, raking out a coal
of fire for his pipe, began:—
“The first ranch I ever worked on,” said he, “was located on the
Navidad in Lavaca County.It was quite a new country then, rather
broken and timbered in places and full of bear and wolves. Our outfit
was working some cattle before the general round-up in the spring.We
wanted to move one brand to another range as soon as the grass would
permit, and we were gathering them for that purpose. We had some ninety
saddle horses with us to do the work,—sufficient to mount fifteen men.One night we camped in a favorite spot, and as we had no cattle to hold
that night, all the horses were thrown loose, with the usual precaution
of hobbling, except two or three on picket.All but about ten head wore
the bracelets, and those ten were pals, their pardners wearing the
hemp.Early in the evening, probably nine o’clock, with a bright fire
burning, and the boys spreading down their beds for the night, suddenly
the horses were heard running, and the next moment they hobbled into
camp like a school of porpoise, trampling over the beds and crowding up
to the fire and the wagon.They almost knocked down some of the boys,
so sudden was their entrance. Then they set up a terrible nickering for
mates.The boys went amongst them, and horses that were timid and shy
almost caressed their riders, trembling in limb and muscle the while
through fear, like a leaf.We concluded a bear had scented the camp,
and in approaching it had circled round, and run amuck our saddle
horses. Every horse by instinct is afraid of a bear, but more
particularly a range-raised one.It’s the same instinct that makes it
impossible to ride or drive a range-raised horse over a rattlesnake.Well, after the boys had petted their mounts and quieted their fears,
they were still reluctant to leave camp, but stood around for several
hours, evidently feeling more secure in our presence.Now and then one
of the free ones would graze out a little distance, cautiously sniff
the air, then trot back to the others.We built up a big fire to scare
away any bear or wolves that might he in the vicinity, but the horses
stayed like invited guests, perfectly contented as long as we would pet
them and talk to them.Some of the boys crawled under the wagon, hoping
to get a little sleep, rather than spread their bed where a horse could
stampede over it. Near midnight we took ropes and saddle blankets and
drove them several hundred yards from camp.The rest of the night we
slept with one eye open, expecting every moment to hear them take
fright and return.They didn’t, but at daylight every horse was within
five hundred yards of the wagon, and when we unhobbled them and broke
camp that morning, we had to throw riders in the lead to hold them
back.”
On the conclusion of Scales’s experience, there was no lack of
volunteers to take up the thread, though an unwritten law forbade
interruptions.Our employer was among the group, and out of deference
to our guest, the boys remained silent.Uncle Lance finally regaled us
with an account of a fight between range stallions which he had once
witnessed, and on its conclusion Theodore Quayle took his turn.“The man I was working for once moved nearly a thousand head of mixed
range stock, of which about three hundred were young mules, from the
San Saba to the Concho River.It was a dry country and we were
compelled to follow the McKavett and Fort Chadbourne trail. We had
timed our drives so that we reached creeks once a day at least,
sometimes oftener. It was the latter part of summer, and was unusually
hot and drouthy.There was one drive of twenty-five miles ahead that
the owner knew of without water, and we had planned this drive so as to
reach it at noon, drive halfway, make a dry camp over night, and reach
the pools by noon the next day.Imagine our chagrin on reaching the
watering place to find the stream dry. We lost several hours riding up
and down the _arroyo_ in the hope of finding relief for the men, if not
for the stock. It had been dusty for weeks.The cook had a little water
in his keg, but only enough for drinking purposes. It was twenty miles
yet to the Concho, and make it before night we must. Turning back was
farther than going ahead, and the afternoon was fearfully hot.The heat
waves looked like a sea of fire. The first part of the afternoon drive
was a gradual ascent for fifteen miles, and then came a narrow plateau
of a divide.As we reached this mesa, a sorrier-looking lot of men,
horses, and mules can hardly be imagined. We had already traveled over
forty miles without water for the stock, and five more lay between us
and the coveted river.“The heat was oppressive to the men, but the herd suffered most from
the fine alkali dust which enveloped them. Their eyebrows and nostrils
were whitened with this fine powder, while all colors merged into one.On reaching this divide, we could see the cotton-woods that outlined
the stream ahead.Before we had fully crossed this watershed and begun
the descent, the mules would trot along beside the riders in the lead,
even permitting us to lay our hands on their backs.It was getting late
in the day before the first friendly breeze of the afternoon blew
softly in our faces. Then, Great Scott! what a change came over man and
herd. The mules in front threw up their heads and broke into a grand
chorus.Those that were strung out took up the refrain and trotted
forward. The horses set up a rival concert in a higher key. They had
scented the water five miles off. “All hands except one man on each side now rode in the lead.Every once
in a while, some enthusiastic mule would break through the line of
horsemen, and would have to be brought back. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
Every time we came to an
elevation where we could catch the breeze, the grand horse and mule
concert would break out anew.At the last elevation between us and the
water, several mules broke through, and before they could be brought
back the whole herd had broken into a run which was impossible to
check. We opened out then and let them go.“The Concho was barely running, but had long, deep pools here and
there, into which horses and mules plunged, dropped down, rolled over,
and then got up to nicker and bray.The young mules did everything but
drink, while the horses were crazy with delight. When the wagon came up
we went into camp and left them to play out their hands.There was no
herding to do that night, as the water would hold them as readily as a
hundred men.”
“Well, I’m going to hunt my blankets,” said Uncle Lance, rising. “You
understand, Captain, that you are to sleep with me to-night.Davy
Crockett once said that the politest man he ever met in Washington
simply set out the decanter and glasses, and then walked over and
looked out of the window while he took a drink.Now I want to be
equally polite and don’t want to hurry you to sleep, but whenever you
get tired of yarning, you’ll find the bed with me in it to the windward
of that live-oak tree top over yonder.”
Captain Frank showed no inclination to accept the invitation just then,
but assured his host that he would join him later.An hour or two
passed by. “Haven’t you fellows gone to bed yet?” came an inquiry from out of a
fallen tree top beyond the fire in a voice which we all recognized. “All right, boys, sit up all night and tell fool stories if you want
to.But remember, I’ll have the last rascal of you in the saddle an
hour before daybreak. I have little sympathy for a man who won’t sleep
when he has a good chance.So if you don’t turn in at all it will be
all right, but you’ll be routed out at three in the morning, and the
man who requires a second calling will get a bucket of water in his
face.”
Captain Frank and several of us rose expecting to take the hint of our
employer, when our good intentions were arrested by a query from Dan
Happersett, “Did any of you ever walk down a wild horse?” None of us
had, and we turned back and reseated ourselves in the group.“I had a little whirl of it once when I was a youngster,” said Dan,
“except we didn’t walk. It was well known that there were several bands
of wild horses ranging in the southwest corner of Tom Green County.Those who had seen them described one band as numbering forty to fifty
head with a fine chestnut stallion as a leader.Their range was well
located when water was plentiful, but during certain months of the year
the shallow lagoons where they watered dried up, and they were
compelled to leave.It was when they were forced to go to other waters
that glimpses of them were to be had, and then only at a distance of
one or two miles. There was an outfit made up one spring to go out to
their range and walk these horses down.This season of the year was
selected, as the lagoons would be full of water and the horses would be
naturally reduced in flesh and strength after the winter, as well as
weak and thin blooded from their first taste of grass.We took along
two wagons, one loaded with grain for our mounts. These saddle horses
had been eating grain for months before we started and their flesh was
firm and solid.“We headed for the lagoons, which were known to a few of our party, and
when we came within ten miles of the water holes, we saw fresh signs of
a band—places where they had apparently grazed within a week.But it
was the second day before we caught sight of the wild horses, and too
late in the day to give them chase. They were watering at a large lake
south of our camp, and we did not disturb them.We watched them until
nightfall, and that night we planned to give them chase at daybreak. Four of us were to do the riding by turns, and imaginary stations were
allotted to the four quarters of our camp.If they refused to leave
their range and circled, we could send them at least a hundred and
fifty miles the first day, ourselves riding possibly a hundred, and
this riding would be divided among four horses, with plenty of fresh
ones at camp for a change.“Being the lightest rider in the party, it was decided that I was to
give them the first chase. We had a crafty plainsman for our captain,
and long before daylight he and I rode out and waited for the first
peep of day.Before the sun had risen, we sighted the wild herd within
a mile of the place where darkness had settled over them the night
previous.With a few parting instructions from our captain, I rode
leisurely between them and the lake where they had watered the evening
before. At first sight of me they took fright and ran to a slight
elevation.There they halted a moment, craning their necks and sniffing
the air. This was my first fair view of the chestnut stallion. He
refused to break into a gallop, and even stopped before the rest,
turning defiantly on this intruder of his domain.From the course I was
riding, every moment I was expecting them to catch the wind of me. Suddenly they scented me, knew me for an enemy, and with the stallion
in the lead they were off to the south. “It was an exciting ride that morning.Without a halt they ran twenty
miles to the south, then turned to the left and there halted on an
elevation; but a shot in the air told them that all was not well and
they moved on.For an hour and a half they kept their course to the
east, and at last turned to the north. This was, as we had calculated,
about their range. In another hour at the farthest, a new rider with a
fresh horse would take up the running.My horse was still fresh and
enjoying the chase, when on a swell of the plain I made out the rider
who was to relieve me; and though it was early yet in the day the
mustangs had covered sixty miles to my forty.When I saw my relief
locate the band, I turned and rode leisurely to camp.When the last two
riders came into camp that night, they reported having left the herd at
a new lake, to which the mustang had led them, some fifteen miles from
our camp to the westward.“Each day for the following week was a repetition of the first with
varying incident. But each day it was plain to be seen that they were
fagging fast.Toward the evening of the eighth day, the rider dared not
crowd them for fear of their splitting into small bands, a thing to be
avoided.On the ninth day two riders took them at a time, pushing them
unmercifully but preventing them from splitting, and in the evening of
this day they could be turned at the will of the riders.It was then
agreed that after a half day’s chase on the morrow, they could be
handled with ease. By noon next day, we had driven them within a mile
of our camp. “They were tired out and we turned them into an impromptu corral made
of wagons and ropes.All but the chestnut stallion. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
The only unpleasant episode of the sale was a difference between
Theodore Quayle and my employer.Quayle had cultivated the friendship
of the drover until the latter had partially promised him a job with
the herd, in case there was no objection.But when Uncle Lance learned
that Theodore expected to accompany the horses, he took Captain Frank
to task for attempting to entice away his men.The drover entered a
strong disclaimer, maintaining that he had promised Quayle a place only
in case it was satisfactory to all concerned; further, that in trail
work with horses he preferred Mexican vaqueros, and had only made the
conditional promise as a favor to the young man.Uncle Lance accepted
the explanation and apologized to the drover, but fell on Theodore
Quayle and cruelly upbraided him for forsaking the ranch without cause
or reason.Theodore was speechless with humiliation, but no sooner were
the hasty words spoken than my employer saw that he had grievously hurt
another’s feelings, and humbly craved Quayle’s pardon. The incident passed and was apparently forgotten.The herd started
north on the trail on the twenty-fifth of March, Quayle stayed on at
Las Palomas, and we resumed our regular spring work on the ranch.While
gathering the mares and fillies, we had cut out all the geldings four
years old and upward to the number of nearly two hundred, and now our
usual routine of horse breaking commenced.The masons had completed
their work on all three of the cottages and returned to the Mission,
but the carpenter yet remained to finish up the woodwork.Fidel and
Juana had begun housekeeping in their little home, and the cosy warmth
which radiated from it made me impatient to see my cottage finished.Through the mistress, arrangements had been made for the front rooms in
both John’s cottage and mine to be floored instead of cemented.Some two weeks before Easter Sunday, Cotton returned from the Frio,
where he had been making a call on his intended.Uncle Lance at once
questioned him to know if they had set the day, and was informed that
the marriage would occur within ten days after Lent, and that he
expected first to make a hurried trip to San Antonio for a wedding
outfit.“That’s all right, John,” said the old ranchero approvingly, “and I
expect Quirk might as well go with you. You can both draw every cent
due you, and take your time, as wages will go right on the same as if
you were working.There will not be much to do except the usual horse
breaking and a little repairing about the ranch.It’s quite likely I
shan’t be able to spare Tom in the early summer, for if no cattle
buyers come along soon, I’m going to send June to the coast and let him
sniff around for one.I’d like the best in the world to sell about
three thousand beeves, and we never had fatter ones than we have
to-day. If we can make a sale, it’ll keep us busy all the fore part of
the summer.So both you fellows knock off any day you want to and go up
to the city. And go horseback, for this ranch don’t give Bethel &
Oxenford’s stages any more of its money.”
With this encouragement, we decided to start for the city the next
morning.But that evening I concluded to give a certain roan gelding a
final ride before turning him over to the vaqueros.He was a vicious
rascal, and after trying a hundred manoeuvres to unhorse me, reared and
fell backward, and before I could free my foot from the stirrup, caught
my left ankle, fracturing several of the small bones in the joint.That
settled my going anywhere on horseback for a month, as the next morning
I could not touch my foot to the ground. John did not like to go alone,
and the mistress insisted that Theodore was well entitled to a
vacation.The master consented, each was paid the wages due him, and
catching up their own private horses, the old cronies started off to
San Antonio.They expected to make Mr. Booth’s ranch in a little over
half a day, and from there a sixty-mile ride would put them in the
city. After the departure of the boys the dull routine of ranch work went
heavily forward.The horse breaking continued, vaqueros rode the range
looking after the calf crop, while I had to content myself with nursing
a crippled foot and hobbling about on crutches.Had I been able to ride
a horse, it is quite possible that a ranch on the San Miguel would have
had me as its guest; but I must needs content myself with lying around
the house, visiting with Juana, or watching the carpenter finishing the
cottages.I tried several times to interest my mistress in a scheme to
invite my sweetheart over for a week or two, but she put me off on one
pretext and another until I was vexed at her lack of enthusiasm.But
truth compels me to do that good woman justice, and I am now satisfied
that my vexation was due to my own peevishness over my condition and
not to neglect on her part.And just then she was taking such an
absorbing interest in June and the widow, and likewise so sisterly a
concern for Dan Happersett, that it was little wonder she could give me
no special attention when I was soon to be married.It was the bird in
the bush that charmed Miss Jean. Towards the close of March a number of showers fell, and we had a week
of damp, cloudy weather.This was unfortunate, as it called nearly
every man from the horse breaking to ride the range and look after the
young calves.One of the worst enemies of a newly born calf is screw
worms, which flourish in wet weather, and prove fatal unless removed;
for no young calf withstands the pest over a few days.Clear dry
weather was the best preventive against screw worms, but until the
present damp spell abated every man in the ranch was in the saddle from
sunrise to sunset.In the midst of this emergency work a beef buyer by the name of Wayne
Orahood reached the ranch. He was representing the lessees of a
steamship company plying between New Orleans and Texas coast points.The merchant at the ferry had advised Orahood to visit Las Palomas, but
on his arrival about noon there was not a white man on the ranch to
show him the cattle.I knew the anxiety of my employer to dispose of
his matured beeves, and as the buyer was impatient there was nothing to
do but get up horses and ride the range with him.Miss Jean was anxious
to have the stock shown, and in spite of my lameness I ordered saddle
horses for both of us.Unable to wear a boot and still hobbling on
crutches, I managed to Indian mount an old horse, my left foot still
too inflamed to rest in the stirrup.From the ranch we rode for the
encinal ridges and sandy lands to the southeast, where the fallow-weed
still throve in rank profusion, and where our heaviest steers were
liable to range.By riding far from the watering points we encountered
the older cattle, and within an hour after leaving the ranch I was
showing some of the largest beeves on Las Palomas. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
How that beef buyer did ride!Scarcely giving the cattle a passing
look, he kept me leading the way from place to place where our salable
stock was to be encountered.Avoiding the ranchitos and wells, where
the cows and younger cattle were to be found, we circled the extreme
outskirts of our range, only occasionally halting, and then but for a
single glance over some prime beeves.We turned westward from the
encinal at a gallop, passing about midway between Santa Maria and the
home ranch. Thence we pushed on for the hills around the head of the
Ganso.Not once in the entire ride did we encounter any one but a
Mexican vaquero, and there was no relief for my foot in meeting him!Several times I had an inclination to ask Mr. Orahood to remember my
sore ankle, and on striking the broken country I suggested we ride
slower, as many of our oldest beeves ranged through these hills.This
suggestion enabled me to ease up and to show our best cattle to
advantage until the sun set. We were then twenty-five miles from the
ranch. But neither distance nor approaching darkness checked Wayne
Orahood’s enthusiasm.A dozen times he remarked, “We’ll look at a few
more cattle, son, and then ride in home.” We did finally turn homeward,
and at a leisurely gait, but not until it was too dark to see cattle,
and it was several hours after darkness when we sighted the lamps at
headquarters, and finished the last lap in our afternoon’s sixty-mile
ride.My employer and Mr. Orahood had met before, and greeted each other with
a rugged cordiality common among cowmen.The others had eaten their
supper; but while the buyer and I satisfied the inner man, Uncle Lance
sat with us at the table and sparred with Orahood in repartee, or asked
regarding mutual friends, artfully avoiding any mention of cattle.But
after we had finished Mr. Orahood spoke of his mission, admitted
deprecatingly that he had taken a little ride south and west that
afternoon, and if it was not too much trouble he would like to look
over our beeves on the north of the Nueces in the morning.He showed no
enthusiasm, but acknowledged that he was buying for shipment, and
thought that another month’s good grass ought to put our steers in fair
condition.I noticed Uncle Lance clouding up over the buyer’s lack of
appreciation, but he controlled himself, and when Mr. Orahood expressed
a wish to retire, my employer said to his guest, as with candle in hand
the two stood in parting:—
“Well, now, Wayne, that’s too bad about the cattle being so thin.I’ve
been working my horse stock lately, and didn’t get any chance to ride
the range until this wet spell. But since the screw worms got so bad,
being short-handed, I had to get out and rustle myself or we’d lost a
lot of calves.Of course, I have noticed a steer now and then, and have
been sorry to find them so spring-poor. Actually, Wayne, if we were
expecting company, we’d have to send to the ferry and get a piece of
bacon, as I haven’t seen a hoof fit to kill.That roast beef which you
had for supper—well, that was sent us by a neighbor who has fat cows. About a year ago now, water was awful scarce with us, and a few old
cows died up and down this valley. I suppose you didn’t hear of it,
living so far away.Heretofore, every time we had a drouth there was
such a volunteer growth of fallow-weed that the cattle got mud fat
following every dry spell.Still I’ll show you a few cattle among the
guajio brush and sand hills on the divide in the morning and see what
you think of them.But of course, if they lack flesh, in case you are
buying for shipment I shan’t expect you to bid on them.”
The old ranchero and the buyer rode away early the next morning, and
did not return until near the middle of the afternoon, having already
agreed on a sale.I was asked to write in duplicate the terms and
conditions.In substance, Las Palomas ranch agreed to deliver at
Rockport on the coast, on the twentieth of May, and for each of the
following three months, twelve hundred and fifty beeves, four years old
and upward.The consideration was $27.50 per head, payable on delivery. I knew my employer had oversold his holdings, but there would be no
trouble in making up the five thousand head, as all our neighbors would
gladly turn in cattle to fill the contract.The buyer was working on
commission, and the larger the quantity he could contract for, the
better he was suited.After the agreement had been signed in duplicate,
Mr. Orahood smilingly admitted that ours were the best beeves he had
bought that spring.“I knew it,” said Uncle Lance; “you don’t suppose
I’ve been ranching in this valley over forty years without knowing a
fat steer when I see one. Tom, send a _muchacho_ after a bundle of
mint.Wayne, you haven’t got a lick of sense in riding—I’m as tired as
a dog.”
The buyer returned to Shepherd’s the next morning.The horse breaking
was almost completed, except allotting them into _remudas_, assigning
bell mares, and putting each band under herd for a week or ten days.The weather was fairing off, relieving the strain of riding the range,
and the ranch once more relaxed into its languid existence.By a
peculiar coincidence, Easter Sunday occurred on April the 13th that
year, it being also the sixty-sixth birthday of the ranchero.Miss Jean
usually gave a little home dinner on her brother’s birthday, and had
planned one for this occasion, which was but a few days distant.In the
mail which had been sent for on Saturday before Easter, a letter had
come from John Cotton to his employer, saying he would start home in a
few days, and wanted Father Norquin sent for, as the wedding would take
place on the nineteenth of the month.He also mentioned the fact that
Theodore expected to spend a day or two with the Booths returning, but
he would ride directly down to the Vaux ranch, and possibly the two
would reach home about the same time.I doubt if Uncle Lance ever enjoyed a happier birthday than this one. There was every reason why he should enjoy it. For a man of his age,
his years rested lightly. The ranch had never been more prosperous.Even the drouth of the year before had not proved an ill wind; for the
damage then sustained had been made up by conditions resulting in one
of the largest sales of cattle in the history of the ranch.A chapel
and three new cottages had been built without loss of time and at very
little expense. A number of children had been born to the soil, while
the natives were as loyal to their master as subjects in the days of
feudalism.There was but one thing lacking to fill the cup to
overflowing—the ranchero was childless. Possessed with a love of the
land so deep as to be almost his religion, he felt the need of an heir.“Birthdays to a man of my years,” said Uncle Lance, over Easter dinner,
“are food for reflection. When one nears the limit of his allotted
days, and looks back over his career, there is little that satisfies.Financial success is a poor equivalent for other things. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
But here I am
preaching when I ought to be rejoicing. Some one get John’s letter and
read it again. Let’s see, the nineteenth falls on Saturday. Lucky day
for Las Palomas!Well, we’ll have the padre here, and if he says
barbecue a beef, down goes the fattest one on the ranch. This is the
year in which we expect to press our luck. I begin to feel it in my old
bones that the turning-point has come.When Father Norquin arrives, I
think I’ll have him preach us a sermon on the evils of single life. But
then it’s hardly necessary, for most of you boys have got your eye on
some girl right now.Well, hasten the day, every rascal of you, and
you’ll find a cottage ready at a month’s notice.”
The morning following Easter opened bright and clear, while on every
hand were the signs of spring.A vaquero was dispatched to the Mission
to summon the padre, carrying both a letter and the compliments of the
ranch.Among the jobs outlined for the week was the repairing of a
well, the walls of which had caved in, choking a valuable water supply
with débris.This morning Deweese took a few men and went to the well,
to raise the piping and make the necessary repairs, curbing being the
most important.But while the foreman and Santiago Ortez were standing
on a temporary platform some thirty feet down, a sudden and unexpected
cave-in occurred above them.Deweese saw the danger, called to his
companion, and, in a flash laid hold of a rope with which materials
were being lowered.The foreman’s warning to his companion reached the
helpers above, and Deweese was hastily windlassed to the surface, but
the unfortunate vaquero was caught by the falling debris, he and the
platform being carried down into the water beneath.The body of Ortez
was recovered late that evening, a coffin was made during the night,
and the next morning the unfortunate man was laid in his narrow home. The accident threw a gloom over the ranch.Yet no one dreamt that a
second disaster was at hand. But the middle of the week passed without
the return of either of the absent boys.Foul play began to be
suspected, and meanwhile Father Norquin arrived, fully expecting to
solemnize within a few days the marriage of one of the missing men.Aaron Scales was dispatched to the Vaux ranch, and returned the next
morning by daybreak with the information that neither Quayle nor Cotton
had been seen on the Frio recently.A vaquero was sent to the Booth
ranch, who brought back the intelligence that neither of the missing
boys had been seen since they passed northward some two weeks before.Father Norquin, as deeply affected as any one, returned to the Mission,
unable to offer a word of consolation. Several days passed without
tidings.As the days lengthened into a week, the master, as deeply
mortified over the incident as if the two had been his own sons, let
his suspicion fall on Quayle. And at last when light was thrown on the
mystery, the old ranchero’s intuition proved correct.My injured foot improved slowly, and before I was able to resume my
duties on the ranch, I rode over one day to the San Miguel for a short
visit.Tony Hunter had been down to Oakville a few days before my
arrival, and while there had met Clint Dansdale, who was well
acquainted with Quayle and Cotton.Clint, it appeared, had been in San
Antonio and met our missing men, and the three had spent a week in the
city chumming together.As Dansdale was also on horseback, the trio
agreed to start home the same time, traveling in company until their
ways separated. Cotton had told Dansdale what business had brought him
to the city, and received the latter’s congratulations.The boys had
decided to leave for home on the ninth, and on the morning of the day
set forth, moneyless but rich in trinkets and toggery. But some where
about forty miles south of San Antonio they met a trail herd of cattle
from the Aransas River.Some trouble had occurred between the foreman
and his men the day before, and that morning several of the latter had
taken French leave. On meeting the travelers, the trail boss, being
short-handed, had offered all three of them a berth.Quayle had
accepted without a question. The other two had stayed all night with
the herd, Dansdale attempting to dissuade Cotton, and Quayle, on the
other hand, persuading him to go with the cattle. In the end Quayle’s
persuasions won.Dansdale admitted that the opportunity appealed
strongly to him, but he refused the trail foreman’s blandishments and
returned to his ranch, while the two Las Palomas lads accompanied the
herd, neither one knowing or caring where they were going.When I returned home and reported this to my employer, he was visibly
affected. “So that explains all,” said he, “and my surmises regarding
Theodore were correct.I have no particular right to charge him with
ingratitude, and yet this ranch was as much his home as mine. He had
the same to eat, drink, and wear as I had, with none of the concern,
and yet he deserted me.I never spoke harshly to him but once, and now
I wish I had let him go with Captain Byler. That would have saved me
Cotton and the present disgrace to Las Palomas.I ought to have known
that a good honest boy like John would be putty in the hands of a
fellow like Theodore. But it’s just like a fool boy to throw away his
chances in life. They still sell their birthright for a mess of
pottage.And there stands the empty cottage to remind me that I have
something to learn. Old as I am, my temper will sometimes get away from
me. Tom, you are my next hope, and I am almost afraid some unseen
obstacle will arise as this one did.Does Frances know the facts?” I
answered that Hunter had kept the facts to himself, not even
acquainting his own people with them, so that aside from myself he was
the first to know the particulars.After pacing the room for a time in
meditation, Uncle Lance finally halted and asked me if Scales would be
a capable messenger to carry the news to the Vaux family. I admitted
that he was the most tactful man on the ranch.Aaron was summoned,
given the particulars, and commanded to use the best diplomacy at his
command in transmitting the facts, and to withhold nothing; to express
to the ranchman and his family the deep humiliation every one at Las
Palomas felt over the actions of John Cotton.Years afterward I met Quayle at a trail town in the north. In the
limited time at our command, the old days we spent together in the
Nueces valley occupied most of our conversation.Unmentioned by me, his
desertion of Las Palomas was introduced by himself, and in attempting
to apologize for his actions, he said:—
“Quirk, that was the only dirty act I was ever guilty of. I never want
to meet the people the trick was practiced on.Leaving Las Palomas was
as much my privilege as going there was. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
But I was unfortunate enough
to incur a few debts while living there that nothing but personal
revenge could ever repay.Had it been any other man than Lance
Lovelace, he or I would have died the morning Captain Byler’s horse
herd started from the Nueces River. But he was an old man, and my hand
was held and my tongue was silent.You know the tricks of a certain
girl who, with her foot on my neck, stretched forth a welcoming hand to
a rival.Tom, I have lived to pay her my last obligation in a revenge
so sweet that if I die an outcast on the roadside, all accounts are
square.”
CHAPTER XXI
INTERLOCUTORY PROCEEDINGS
A big summer’s work lay before us.When Uncle Lance realized the
permanent loss of three men from the working force of Las Palomas, he
rallied to the situation.The ranch would have to run a double outfit
the greater portion of the summer, and men would have to be secured to
fill our ranks.White men who were willing to isolate themselves on a
frontier ranch were scarce; but the natives, when properly treated,
were serviceable and, where bred to the occupation and inclined to
domesticity, made ideal vaqueros.My injured foot improved slowly, and
as soon as I was able to ride, it fell to me to secure the extra help
needed.The desertion of Quayle and Cotton had shaken my employer’s
confidence to a noticeable degree, and in giving me my orders to secure
vaqueros, he said:—
“Tom, you take a good horse and go down the Tarancalous and engage five
vaqueros.Satisfy yourself that the men are fit for the work, and hire
every one by the year. If any of them are in debt, a hundred dollars is
my limit of advance money to free them.And hire no man who has not a
family, for I’m losing confidence every minute in single ones,
especially if they are white. We have a few empty _jacals_, and the
more children that I see running naked about the ranch, the better it
suits me.I’ll never get my money back in building that Cotton cottage
until I see a mother, even though she is a Mexican, standing in the
door with a baby in her arms.The older I get, the more I see my
mistake in depending on the white element.”
I was gone some three days in securing the needed help.It was a
delicate errand, for no ranchero liked to see people leave his lands,
and it was only where I found men unemployed that I applied for and
secured them.We sent wagons from Las Palomas after their few effects,
and had all the families contentedly housed, either about headquarters
or at the outlying ranchitas, before the first contingent of beeves was
gathered.But the attempt to induce any of the new families to occupy
the stone cottage proved futile, as they were superstitious.There was
a belief among the natives, which no persuasion could remove, regarding
houses that were built for others and never occupied.The new building
was tendered to Tio Tiburcio and his wife, instead of their own
palisaded _jacal_, but it remained tenantless—an eyesore to its
builder. Near the latter end of April, a contract was let for two new tanks on
the Ganso grant of land.Had it not been for the sale of beef, which
would require our time the greater portion of the summer, it was my
employer’s intention to have built these reservoirs with the ranch
help.But with the amount of work we had in sight, it was decided to
let the contract to parties who made it their business and were
outfitted for the purpose.Accordingly in company with the contractor,
Uncle Lance and myself spent the last few days of the month laying off
and planning the reservoir sites on two small tributaries which formed
the Ganso.We were planning to locate these tanks several miles above
the juncture of the small rivulets, and as far apart as possible.Then
the first rainfall which would make running water, would assure us a
year’s supply on the extreme southwestern portion of our range.The
contractor had a big outfit of oxen and mules, and the conditions
called for one of the reservoirs to be completed before June 15th. Thus, if rains fell when they were expected, one receptacle at least
would be in readiness.When returning one evening from starting the work, we found Tony Hunter
a guest of the ranch. He had come over for the special purpose of
seeing me, but as the matter was not entirely under my control, my
employer was brought into the consultation.In the docket for the May
term of court, the divorce proceedings between Esther and Jack Oxenford
would come up for a hearing at Oakville on the seventh of the month. Hunter was anxious, if possible, to have all his friends present at the
trial.But dates were getting a little close, for our first contingent
of beeves was due on the coast on the twentieth, and to gather and
drive them would require not less than ten days.A cross-bill had been
filed by Oxenford’s attorney at the last hour, and a fight was going to
be made to prevent the decree from issuing.The judge was a hold-over
from the reconstruction régime, having secured his appointment through
the influence of congressional friends, one of whom was the uncle of
the junior stage man.Unless the statutory grounds were clear, there
was a doubt expressed by Esther’s attorney whether the court would
grant the decree.But that was the least of Hunter’s fears, for in his
eyes the man who would willfully abuse a woman had no rights, in court
or out.Tony, however, had enemies; for he and Oxenford had had a
personal altercation, and since the separation the Martin family had
taken the side of Jack’s employer and severed all connections with the
ranch.That the mail contractors had the village of Oakville under
their control, all agreed, as we had tested that on our return from
Fort Worth the spring before.In all the circumstances, though Hunter
had no misgivings as to the ultimate result, yet being a witness and
accused of being the main instigator in the case, he felt that he
ought, as a matter of precaution, to have a friend or two with him.“Well, now, Tony,” said my employer, “this is crowding the mourners
just a trifle, but Las Palomas was never called on in a good cause but
she could lend a man or two, even if they had to get up from the dinner
table and go hungry.I don’t suppose the trial will last over a day or
two at the furthest, and even if it did, the boys could ride home in
the night. In our first bunch and in half a day, we’ll gather every
beef in two rodeos and start that evening.Steamships won’t wait, and
if we were a day behind time, they might want to hold out demurrage on
us. If it wasn’t for that, the boys could stay a week and you would be
welcome to them.Of course, Tom will want to go, and about the next
best man I could suggest would be June. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
I’d like the best in the world
to go myself, but you see how I’m situated, getting these cattle off
and a new tank building at the same time.Now, you boys make your own
arrangements among yourselves, and this ranch stands ready to back up
anything you say or do.”
Tony remained overnight, and we made arrangements to meet him, either
at Shepherd’s the evening before or in Oakville on the morning of the
trial.Owing to the behavior of Quayle and Cotton, none of us had
attended the celebration of San Jacinto Day at the ferry.Nor had any
one from the Vaux or McLeod ranches, for while they did not understand
the situation, it was obvious that something was wrong, and they had
remained away as did Las Palomas.But several of Hunter’s friends from
the San Miguel had been present, as likewise had Oxenford, and reports
came back to the ranch of the latter’s conduct and of certain threats
he had made when he found there was no one present to resent them.The
next morning, before starting home, Tony said to our _segundo_ and
myself;—
“Then I’ll depend on you two, and I may have a few other friends who
will want to attend. I don’t need very many for a coward like Jack
Oxenford.He is perfectly capable of abusing an unprotected woman, or
an old man if he had a crowd of friends behind to sick him on. Oh, he’s
a cur all right; for when I told him that he was whelped under a house,
he never resented it.He loves me all right, or has good cause to. Why,
I bent the cylinder pin of a new six-shooter over his head when he had
a gun on him, and he forgot to use it.I don’t expect any trouble, but
if you don’t look a sneaking cur right in the eye, he may slip up
behind and bite you.”
After making arrangements to turn in two hundred beeves on our second
contingent, and send a man with them to the coast, Hunter returned
home.There was no special programme for the interim until gathering
the beeves commenced, yet on a big ranch like Las Palomas there is
always work.While Deweese finished curbing the well in which Ortez
lost his life, I sawed off and cut new threads on all the rods and
piping belonging to that particular windmill.With a tireless energy
for one of his years, Uncle Lance rode the range, until he could have
told at a distance one half his holdings of cattle by flesh marks
alone.A few days before the date set for the trial, Enrique brought in
word one evening that an outfit of strange men were encamped north of
the river on the Ganso Tract.The vaquero was unable to make out their
business, but was satisfied they were not there for pleasure, so my
employer and I made an early start the next morning to see who the
campers were.On the extreme northwestern corner of our range, fully
twenty-five miles from headquarters, we met them and found they were a
corps of engineers, running a preliminary survey for a railroad.They
were in the employ of the International and Great Northern Company,
which was then contemplating extending their line to some point on the
Rio Grande.While there was nothing definite in this prior survey, it
sounded a note of warning; for the course they were running would carry
the line up the Ganso on the south side of the river, passing between
the new tanks, and leaving our range through a sag in the hills on the
south end of the grant.The engineer in charge very courteously
informed my employer that he was under instructions to run, from San
Antonio to different points on the river, three separate lines during
the present summer.He also informed us that the other two preliminary
surveys would be run farther west, and there was a possibility that the
Las Palomas lands would be missed entirely, a prospect that was very
gratifying to Uncle Lance.“Tom,” said he, as we rode away, “I’ve been dreading this very thing
for years. It was my wish that I would never live to see the necessity
of fencing our lands, and to-day a railroad survey is being run across
Las Palomas.I had hoped that when I died, this valley would be an open
range and as primitive as the day of my coming to it. Here a railroad
threatens our peace, and the signs are on every hand that we’ll have to
fence to protect ourselves.But let it come, for we can’t stop it. If
I’m spared, within the next year, I’ll secure every tract of land for
sale adjoining the ranch if it costs me a dollar an acre.Then if it
comes to the pinch, Las Palomas will have, for all time, land and to
spare.You haven’t noticed the changes in the country, but nearly all
this chaparral has grown up, and the timber is twice as heavy along the
river as when I first settled here.I hate the sight even of a
necessity like a windmill, and God knows we have no need of a railroad.To a ranch that doesn’t sell fat beeves over once in ten years,
transportation is the least of its troubles.”
About dusk on the evening of the day preceding the trial, June Deweese
and I rode into Shepherd’s, expecting to remain overnight.Shortly
after our arrival, Tony Hunter hastily came in and informed us that he
had been unable to get hotel accommodations for his wife and Esther in
Oakville, and had it not been that they had old friends in the village,
all of them would have had to return to the ferry for the night.These
friends of the McLeod family told Hunter that the stage people had
coerced the two hotels into refusing them, and had otherwise prejudiced
the community in Oxenford’s favor.Hunter had learned also that the
junior member of the stage firm had collected a crowd of hangers-on,
and being liberal in the use of money, had convinced the rabble of the
village that he was an innocent and injured party.The attorney for
Esther had arrived, and had cautioned every one interested on their
side of the case to be reserved and careful under every circumstance,
as they had a bitter fight on their hands.The next morning all three of us rode into the village. Court had been
in session over a week, and the sheriff had sworn in several deputies
to preserve the peace, as there was considerable bitterness between
litigants outside the divorce case.These under-sheriffs made it a
point to see that every one put aside his arms on reaching the town,
and tried as far as lay in their power to maintain the peace.During
the early days of the reconstruction regime, before opening the term
the presiding judge had frequently called on the state for a company of
Texas Rangers to preserve order and enforce the mandates of the court.But in ’79 there seemed little occasion for such a display of force,
and a few fearless officers were considered sufficient. On reaching the
village, we rode to the house where the women were awaiting us.Fortunately there was ample corral room at the stable, so we were
independent of hostelries and liveries. Mrs. Hunter was the very
reverse of her husband, being a timid woman, while poor Esther was very
nervous under the dread of the coming trial.But we cheered them with
our presence, and by the time court opened, they had recovered their
composure. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
Our party numbered four women and five men.Esther lacked several
summers of being as old as her sister, while I was by five years the
youngest of the men, and naturally looked to my elders for leadership.Having left our arms at the house, we entered the court-room in as
decorous and well-behaved a manner as if it had been a house of worship
and this a Sabbath morning.A peculiar stillness pervaded the room,
which could have been mistaken as an omen of peace, or the tension
similar to the lull before a battle.Personally I was composed, but as
I allowed my eyes from time to time to rest upon Esther, she had never
seemed so near and dear to me as in that opening hour of court.She
looked very pale, and moved by the subtle power of love, I vowed that
should any harm come to or any insulting word be spoken of her, my
vengeance would be sure and swift. Court convened, and the case was called.As might have been expected,
the judge held that under the pleadings it was not a jury case. The
panel was accordingly excused for the day, and joined those curiously
inclined in the main body of the room.The complaining witnesses were
called, and under direct examination the essential facts were brought
forth, laying the foundation for a legal separation. The plaintiff was
the last witness to testify.As she told her simple story, a hushed
silence fell over the room, every spectator, from the judge on the
bench to the sheriff, being eager to catch every syllable of the
recital.But as in duty bound to a client, the attorney for the
defendant, a young man who had come from San Antonio to conduct the
case, opened a sharp cross-questioning.As the examination proceeded,
an altercation between the attorneys was prevented only by the presence
of the sheriff and deputies.Before the inquiry progressed, the
attorney for the plaintiff apologized to the court, pleading
extenuating circumstances in the offense offered to his client.Under
his teachings, he informed the court, the purity of womanhood was above
suspicion, and no man who wished to be acknowledged as a gentleman
among his equals would impugn or question the statement of a lady.The
witness on the stand was more to him than an ordinary client, as her
father and himself had been young men together, had volunteered under
the same flag, his friend offering up his life in its defense, and he
spared to carry home the news of an unmarked grave on a Southern
battle-field.It was a privilege to him to offer his assistance and
counsel to-day to a daughter of an old comrade, and any one who had the
temerity to offer an affront to this witness would be held to a
personal account for his conduct.The first day was consumed in taking testimony. The defense introduced
much evidence in rebuttal. Without regard to the truth or their oaths,
a line of witnesses were introduced who contradicted every essential
point of the plaintiff’s case.When the credibility of their testimony
was attacked, they sought refuge in the technicalities of the law, and
were supported by rulings of the presiding judge.When Oxenford took
the stand in his own behalf, there were not a dozen persons present who
believed the perjured statements which fell from his lips.Yet when his
testimony was subjected to a rigid cross-questioning, every attempt to
reach the truth precipitated a controversy between attorneys as bitter
as it was personal.That the defendant at the bar had escaped
prosecution for swindling the government out of large sums of money for
a mail service never performed was well known to every one present,
including the judge, yet he was allowed to testify against the
character of a woman pure as a child, while his own past was protected
from exposure by rulings from the bench.When the evidence was all in, court adjourned until the following day.That evening our trio, after escorting the women to the home of their
friend, visited every drinking resort, hotel, and public house in the
village, meeting groups of Oxenford’s witnesses, even himself as he
dispensed good cheer to his henchmen.But no one dared to say a
discourteous word, and after amusing ourselves by a few games of
billiards, we mounted our horses and returned to Shepherd’s for the
night.As we rode along leisurely, all three of us admitted misgivings
as to the result, for it was clear that the court had favored the
defense. Yet we had a belief that the statutory grounds were
sufficient, and on that our hopes hung.The next morning found our party in court at the opening hour.The
entire forenoon was occupied by the attorney for the plaintiff in
reviewing the evidence, analyzing and weighing every particle, showing
an insight into human motives which proved him a master in his
profession.After the noon recess, the young lawyer from the city
addressed the court for two hours, his remarks running from bombast to
flights of oratory, and from eulogies upon his client to praise of the
unimpeachable credibility of the witnesses for the defense.In
concluding, the older lawyer prefaced his remarks by alluding to the
divine intent in the institution of marriage, and contending that of
the two, women were morally the better.In showing the influence of the
stronger upon the weaker sex, he asserted that it was in the power of
the man to lift the woman or to sink her into despair.In his
peroration he rose to the occasion, and amid breathless silence, facing
the court, who quailed before him, demanded whether this was a temple
of justice.Replying to his own interrogatory, he dipped his brush in
the sunshine of life, and sketched a throne with womanhood enshrined
upon it.While chivalry existed among men, it mattered little, he said,
as to the decrees of courts, for in that higher tribunal, human hearts,
woman would remain forever in control.At his conclusion, women were
hysterical, and men were aroused from their usual languor by the
eloquence of the speaker.Had the judge rendered an adverse decision at
that moment, he would have needed protection; for to the men of the
South it was innate to be chivalrous to womanhood.But the court was
cautious, and after announcing that he would take the case under
advisement until morning, adjourned for the day. All during the evening men stood about in small groups and discussed
the trial.The consensus of opinion was favorable to the plaintiff. But
in order to offset public opinion, Oxenford and a squad of followers
made the rounds of the public places, offering to wager any sum of
money that the decree would not be granted.Since feeling was running
rather high, our little party avoided the other faction, and as we were
under the necessity of riding out to the ferry for accommodation,
concluded to start earlier than the evening before.After saddling, we
rode around the square, and at the invitation of Deweese dismounted
before a public house for a drink and a cigar before starting. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
We were
aware that the town was against us, and to maintain a bold front was a
matter of necessity.Unbuckling our belts in compliance with the
sheriff’s orders, we hung our six-shooters on the pommels of our
saddles and entered the bar-room. Other customers were being waited on,
and several minutes passed before we were served.The place was rather
crowded, and as we were being waited on, a rabble of roughs surged
through a rear door, led by Jack Oxenford.He walked up to within two
feet of me where I stood at the counter, and apparently addressing the
barkeeper, as we were charging our glasses, said in a defiant tone:—
“I’ll bet a thousand dollars Judge Thornton refuses to grant a
separation between my wife and me.”
The words flashed through me like an electric shock, and understanding
the motive, I turned on the speaker and with the palm of my hand dealt
him a slap in the face that sent him staggering back into the arms of
his friends.Never before or since have I felt the desire to take human
life which possessed me at that instant.With no means of defense in my
possession but a penknife, I backed away from him, he doing the like,
and both keeping close to the bar, which was about twenty feet long.In
one hand I gripped the open-bladed pocket knife, and, with the other
behind my back, retreated to my end of the counter as did Oxenford to
his, never taking our eyes off each other.On reaching his end of the
bar, I noticed the barkeeper going through motions that looked like
passing him a gun, and in the same instant some friend behind me laid
the butt of a pistol in my hand behind my back.Dropping the knife, I
shifted the six-shooter to my right hand, and, advancing on the object
of my hate, fired in such rapid succession that I was unable to tell
even whether my fire was being returned.When my gun was empty, the
intervening clouds of smoke prevented any view of my adversary; but my
lust for his life was only intensified when, on turning to my friends,
I saw Deweese supporting Hunter in his arms.Knowing that one or the
other had given me the pistol, I begged them for another to finish my
work. But at that moment the smoke arose sufficiently to reveal my
enemy crippling down at the farther end of the bar, a smoking pistol in
his hand.As Oxenford sank to the floor, several of his friends ran to
his side, and Deweese, noticing the movement, rallied the wounded man
in his arms.Shaking him until his eyes opened, June, exultingly as a
savage, cried, “Tony, for God’s sake stand up just a moment longer. Yonder he lies. Let me carry you over so you can watch the cur die.”
Turning to me he continued: “Tom, you’ve got your man.Run for your
life; don’t let them get you.”
Passing out of the house during the excitement, I was in my saddle in
an instant, riding like a fiend for Shepherd’s.The sun was nearly an
hour high, and with a good horse under me, I covered the ten miles to
the ferry in less than an hour.Portions of the route were sheltered by
timber along the river, but once as I crossed a rise opposite a large
bend, I sighted a posse in pursuit several miles to the rear.On
reaching Shepherd’s, fortunately for me a single horse stood at the
hitch-rack. The merchant and owner of the horse came to the door as I
dashed up, and never offering a word of explanation, I changed horses.Luckily the owner of the horse was Red Earnest, a friend of mine, and
feeling that they would not have long to wait for explanations, I shook
out the reins and gave him the rowel.I knew the country, and soon left
the river road, taking an air-line course for Las Palomas, which I
reached within two hours after nightfall.In few and profane words, I
explained the situation to my employer, and asked for a horse that
would put the Rio Grande behind me before morning. A number were on
picket near by, and several of the boys ran for the best mounts
available.A purse was forced into my pocket, well filled with gold. Meanwhile I had in my possession an extra six-shooter, and now that I
had a moment’s time to notice it, recognized the gun as belonging to
Tony Hunter.Filling the empty chambers, and waving a farewell to my
friends, I passed out by the rear and reached the saddle shed, where a
well-known horse was being saddled by dexterous hands.Once on his
back, I soon passed the eighty miles between me and the Rio Grande,
which I swam on my horse the next morning within an hour after sunrise. CHAPTER XXII
SUNSET
Of my exile of over two years in Mexico, little need be said.By easy
stages, I reached the haciendas on the Rio San Juan where we had
received the cows in the summer of ’77. The reception extended me was
all one could ask, but cooled when it appeared that my errand was one
of refuge and not of business.I concealed my offense, and was given
employment as corporal _segundo_ over a squad of vaqueros.But while
the hacienda to which I was attached was larger than Las Palomas, with
greater holdings in live-stock, yet my life there was one of penal
servitude.I strove to blot out past memories in the innocent pleasures
of my associates, mingling in all the social festivities, dancing with
the dark-eyed señoritas and gambling at every _fiesta_.Yet in the
midst of the dissipation, there was ever present to my mind the thought
of a girl, likewise living a life of loneliness at the mouth of the San
Miguel. During my banishment, but twice did any word or message reach me from
the Nueces valley.Within a few months after my locating on the Rio San
Juan, Enrique Lopez, a trusted vaquero from Las Palomas, came to the
hacienda, apparently seeking employment.Recognizing me at a glance, at
the first opportunity he slipped me a letter unsigned and in an unknown
hand.After reading it I breathed easier, for both Hunter and Oxenford
had recovered, the former having been shot through the upper lobe of a
lung, while the latter had sustained three wounds, one of which
resulted in the loss of an arm.The judge had reserved his decision
until the recovery of both men was assured, but before the final
adjournment of court, refused the decree.I had had misgivings that
this would be the result, and the message warned me to remain away, as
the stage company was still offering a reward for my arrest.Enrique
loitered around the camp several days, and on being refused employment,
made inquiry for a ranch in the south and rode away in the darkness of
evening.But we had had several little chats together, in which the
rascal delivered many oral messages, one of which he swore by all the
saints had been intrusted to him by my own sweetheart while visiting at
the ranch.But Enrique was capable of enriching any oral message, and I
was compelled to read between the lines; yet I hope the saints, to whom
he daily prayed, will blot out any untruthful embellishments.The second message was given me by Frank Nancrede, early in January,
’81. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
As was his custom, he was buying saddle horses at Las Palomas
during the winter for trail purposes, when he learned of my whereabouts
in Mexico.Deweese had given him directions where I could be found, and
as the Rio San Juan country was noted for good horses, Nancrede and a
companion rode directly from the Nueces valley to the hacienda where I
was employed.They were on the lookout for a thousand saddle horses,
and after buying two hundred from the ranch where I was employed,
secured my services as interpreter in buying the remainder.We were
less than a month in securing the number wanted, and I accompanied the
herd to the Rio Grande on its way to Texas.Nancrede offered me every
encouragement to leave Mexico, assuring me that Bethel & Oxenford had
lost their mail contract between San Antonio and Brownsville, and were
now operating in other sections of the state.He was unable to give me
the particulars, but frauds had been discovered in Star Route lines,
and the government had revoked nearly all the mail contracts in
southern Texas.The trail boss promised me a job with any of their
herds, and assured me that a cow hand of my abilities would never want
a situation in the north.I was anxious to go with him, and would have
done so, but felt a compunction which I did not care to broach to him,
for I was satisfied he would not understand.The summer passed, during which I made it a point to meet other drovers
from Texas who were buying horses and cattle. From several sources the
report of Nancrede, that the stage line south from San Antonio was now
in new hands, was confirmed.One drover assured me that a national
scandal had grown out of the Star Route contracts, and several
officials in high authority had been arraigned for conspiracy to
defraud.He further asserted that the new contractor was now carrying
the mail for ten per cent, of what was formerly allowed to Bethel &
Oxenford, and making money at the reduced rate.This news was
encouraging, and after an exile of over two years and a half, I
recrossed the Rio Grande on the same horse on which I had entered.Carefully avoiding ranches where I was known, two short rides put me in
Las Palomas, reaching headquarters after nightfall, where, in
seclusion, I spent a restless day and night.A few new faces were about the ranch, but the old friends bade me a
welcome and assured me that my fears were groundless. During the brief
time at my disposal, Miss Jean entertained me with numerous disclosures
regarding my old sweetheart.The one that both pleased and interested
me was that she was contented and happy, and that her resignation was
due to religious faith.According to my hostess’s story, a camp meeting
had been held at Shepherd’s during the fall after my banishment, by a
sect calling themselves Predestinarians.I have since learned that a
belief in a predetermined state is entertained by a great many good
people, and I admit it seems as if fate had ordained that Esther McLeod
and I should never wed.But it was a great satisfaction to know that
she felt resigned and could draw solace from a spiritual source, even
though the same was denied to me.During the last meeting between
Esther and Miss Jean, but a few weeks before, the former had confessed
that there was now no hope of our ever marrying.As I had not seen my parents for several years, I continued my journey
to my old home on the San Antonio River. Leaving Las Palomas after
nightfall, I passed the McLeod ranch after midnight.Halting my horse
to rest, I reviewed the past, and the best reasoning at my command
showed nothing encouraging on the horizon.That Esther had sought
consolation from a spiritual source did not discourage me; for, under
my observation, where it had been put to the test, the love of man and
wife overrode it.But to expect this contented girl to renounce her
faith and become my wife, was expecting her to share with me nothing,
unless it was the chance of a felon’s cell, and I remounted my horse
and rode away under a starry sky, somewhat of a fatalist myself.But I
derived contentment from my decision, and on reaching home no one could
have told that I had loved and lost.My parents were delighted to see
me after my extended absence, my sisters were growing fast into
womanhood, and I was bidden the welcome of a prodigal son.During this
visit a new avenue in life opened before me, and through the influence
of my eldest brother I secured a situation with a drover and followed
the cattle trail until the occupation became a lost one.My last visit
to Las Palomas was during the winter of 1894-95. It lacked but a few
months of twenty years since my advent in the Nueces valley.After the
death of Oxenford by small-pox, I had been a frequent visitor at the
ranch, business of one nature and another calling me there.But in this
last visit, the wonderful changes which two decades had wrought in the
country visibly impressed me, and I detected a note of decay in the old
ranch.A railroad had been built, passing within ten miles of the
western boundary line of the Ganso grant. The Las Palomas range had
been fenced, several large tracts of land being added after my severing
active connections with the ranch.Even the cattle, in spite of all the
efforts made for their improvement, were not so good as in the old days
of the open range, or before there was a strand of wire between the
Nueces and Rio Grande rivers.But the alterations in the country were
nothing compared to the changes in my old master and mistress. Uncle
Lance was nearing his eighty-second birthday, physically feeble, but
mentally as active as the first morning of our long acquaintance.Miss
Jean, over twenty years the junior of the ranchero, had mellowed into a
ripeness consistent with her days, and in all my aimless wanderings I
never saw a brother and sister of their ages more devoted to, or
dependent on each other.On the occasion of this past visit, I was in the employ of a live-stock
commission firm.A member of our house expected to attend the cattle
convention at Forth Worth in the near future, and I had been sent into
the range sections to note the conditions of stock and solicit for my
employers.The spring before, our firm had placed sixty thousand cattle
for customers. Demand continued, and the house had inquiry sufficient
to justify them in sending me out to secure, of all ages, not less than
a hundred thousand steer cattle.And thus once more I found myself a
guest of Las Palomos. “Don’t talk cattle to me,” said Uncle Lance, when I mentioned my
business; “go to June—he’ll give you the ages and numbers.And whatever
you do, Tom, don’t oversell us, for wire fences have cut us off, until
it seems like old friends don’t want to neighbor any more.In the days
of the open range, I used to sell every hoof I had a chance to, but
since then things have changed.Why, only last year a jury indicted a
young man below here on the river for mavericking a yearling, and sent
him to Huntsville for five years. | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
That’s a fair sample of these modern
days.There isn’t a cowman in Texas to-day who amounts to a pinch of
snuff, but got his start the same way, but if a poor fellow looks out
of the corner of his eye now at a critter, they imagine he wants to
steal it.Oh, I know them; and the bigger rustlers they were themselves
on the open range, the bitterer their persecution of the man who
follows their example.”
June Deweese was then the active manager of the ranch, and after
securing a classification of their salable stock, I made out a
memorandum and secured authority in writing, to sell their holdings at
prevailing prices for Nueces river cattle.The remainder of the day was
spent with my old friends in a social visit, and as we delved into the
musty past, the old man’s love of the land and his matchmaking
instincts constantly cropped out.“Tom,” said he, in answer to a remark of mine, “I was an awful fool to
think my experience could be of any use to you boys. Every last rascal
of you went off on the trail and left me here with a big ranch to
handle.Gallup was no better than the rest, for he kept Jule Wilson
waiting until now she’s an old maid. Sis, here, always called Scales a
vagabond, but I still believe something could have been made of him
with a little encouragement.But when the exodus of the cattle to the
north was at its height, he went off with a trail herd just like the
rest of you.Then he followed the trail towns as a gambler, saved
money, and after the cattle driving ended, married an adventuress, and
that’s the end of him.The lack of a market was one of the great
drawbacks to ranching, but when the trail took every hoof we could
breed and every horse we could spare, it also took my boys.Tom, when
you get old, you’ll understand that all is vanity and vexation of
spirit. But I am perfectly resigned now. In my will, Las Palomas and
everything I have goes to Jean.She can dispose of it as she sees fit,
and if I knew she was going to leave it to Father Norquin or his
successor, my finger wouldn’t be raised to stop it.I spent a lifetime
of hard work acquiring this land, and now that there is no one to care
for the old ranch, I wash my hands of it.”
Knowing the lifetime of self-sacrifice in securing the land of Las
Palomas, I sympathized with the old ranchero in his despondency.“I never blamed you much, Tom,” he resumed after a silence; “but
there’s something about cattle life which I can’t explain. It seems to
disqualify a man for ever making a good citizen afterward.He roams and
runs around, wasting his youth, and gets so foxy he never marries.”
“But June and the widow made the riffle finally,” I protested. “Yes, they did, and that’s something to the good, but they never had
any children.Waited ten years after Annear was killed, and then got
married. That was one of Jean’s matches. Tom, you must go over and see
Juana before you go. There was a match that I made.Just think of it,
they have eight children, and Fidel is prouder over them than I ever
was of this ranch. The natives have never disappointed me, but the
Caucasian seems to be played out.”
I remained overnight at the ranch.After supper, sitting in his chair
before a cheerful fire, Uncle Lance dozed off to sleep, leaving his
sister and myself to entertain each other. I had little to say of my
past, and the future was not encouraging, except there was always work
to do.But Miss Jean unfolded like the pages of an absorbing chronicle,
and gave me the history of my old acquaintances in the valley. Only a
few of the girls had married.Frances Vaux, after flirting away her
youth, had taken the veil in one of the orders in her church.My old
sweetheart was contentedly living a life of seclusion on the ranch on
which she was born, apparently happy, but still interested in any word
of me in my wanderings.The young men of my acquaintance, except where
married, were scattered wide, the whereabouts of nearly all of them
unknown. Tony Hunter had held the McLeod estate together, and it had
prospered exceedingly under his management.My old friend, Red Earnest,
who outrode me in the relay race at the tournament in June, ’77, was
married and serving in the Customs Service on the Rio Grande as a
mounted river guard.The next morning, I made the round of the Mexican quarters, greeting my
old friends, before taking my leave and starting for the railroad.The
cottage which had been built for Esther and me stood vacant and
windowless, being used only for a storehouse for _zacahuiste_.As I
rode away, the sight oppressed me; it brought back the June time of my
youth, even the hour and instant in which our paths separated.On
reaching the last swell of ground, several miles from the ranch, which
would give me a glimpse of headquarters, I halted my horse in a
farewell view.The sleepy old ranch cosily nestled among the encinal
oaks revived a hundred memories, some sad, some happy, many of which | Adams, Andy - A Texas Matchmaker |
Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
[Illustration: "_Biff, come this way!Quick!_"]
A BIFF BREWSTER
MYSTERY ADVENTURE
BRAZILIAN
GOLD MINE
MYSTERY
By ANDY ADAMS
GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS
NEW YORK
(c) GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC., 1960
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Contents
CHAPTER PAGE
I Up the Amazon 1
II The Clutching Hand 8
III The Hidden Boathouse 16
IV The Safari Starts 25
V The Spotted Terror 40
VI Into the Quicksand 50
VII The Deadly Coils 58
VIII A Traitor Strikes 67
IX The Shrunken Heads 76
X Trapped by the Head-Hunters 85
XI A Sudden Surprise 95
XII Between Two Fires 103
XIII The River of Death 110
XIV The Devil's Gateway 119
XV Fabulous El Dorado 128
XVI Surrounded!137
XVII The Man of Gold 147
XVIII Urubu Again 156
XIX Partners in Crime 164
XX The Tables Turn 173
BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY
CHAPTER I
Up the Amazon
"Guard this letter as you would your life!"Mr. Stannart spoke in a low, tense tone as he glanced around the waiting
room at Idlewild Airport. Biff Brewster felt a sudden surge of
excitement when he took the envelope that the gray-haired man handed
him.The envelope was tightly sealed, and it was addressed to Biff's father,
Thomas Brewster, at the Hotel Jacares in Manaus, Brazil. In the upper
corner was the return address of the Ajax Mining Corporation in New York
City.Gregg Stannart was the president of the company, and Mr. Brewster
was its chief field engineer. "Since you are flying to Brazil to join your father," Mr. Stannart
continued, "I decided to have you deliver this letter personally, rather
than take the risk of its falling into the wrong hands. "He paused, gave Biff a keen, steady glance, and asked, "Did your father
tell you why he was going to the headwaters of the Amazon River? ""He wrote that he was going on a jungle safari," replied Biff, "and he
invited me to fly to Brazil and join him, as a birthday present." Biff was thinking back to his birthday party at the Brewster home in
Indianapolis less than a week ago.His mother had brought in a cake with
sixteen lighted candles that Biff had blown out with a single puff, to
the delight of the twins, Ted and Monica, who were five years younger
than Biff.But the big surprise was when Biff's mother had given him the
birthday letter from his dad.Next had come the excitement of packing, when it dawned on Biff that
nearly all his birthday presents were clothes and equipment he could use
on a tropical trip.Then Biff had flown to New York where Mr. Stannart
had met him to put him on the plane for Brazil. "Your father is bound on a highly important and secret mission for our
company," Mr. Stannart confided now. "He is going far up the Rio Negro,
which joins the Amazon just below the city of Manaus. The party
_supposedly_ will be looking for sites for rubber plantations."Mr. Stannart paused, then said solemnly, "Your father will be looking
for gold--a fabulous gold mine about which we have secret information. But here in New York," he went on, "we have just discovered that there
has been a leak in that information.We have learned that certain people
would do anything to stop your father and get to the mine first. Even
now, he may be in danger." "But Dad didn't say anything about it--"
"Because he doesn't know about it.He may change his mind about letting
you accompany him after you give him this letter. It will tell him all
he needs to know." Biff put the letter deep down into his coat pocket. Mr. Stannart nodded
approvingly. "Be careful what you say to strangers," he warned Biff, "and above all,
guard that letter!" It was nearly time for the departure of Biff's plane.Mr. Stannart
explained that it would take him to Belem, the capital city of the
Brazilian state of Para, not far from the mouth of the Amazon. There,
Biff would change to a plane for Manaus, a thousand miles up the great
river.Mr. Stannart studied the other passengers who were waiting to board the
plane. He said to Biff in parting, in a low but confident tone:
"You won't have any trouble on this flight. But be careful after you
leave Belem! "The long trip south did prove uneventful. During daylight, the plane was
over the Atlantic Ocean, and darkness had settled when it reached the
coast of Brazil.Biff landed in Belem at dawn, so it wasn't until he had
changed to the plane for Manaus that he gained his first view of the
Brazilian jungle.He saw it from a seat beside the window as the plane climbed above
Belem; a vast, solid mass of billowing green that looked ready to
swallow the city that spread below.Then the jungle ended, and the plane
was flying over a huge expanse of brownish water streaked with waves of
white. This was the Amazon River, stretching as far as the eye could
see.A smooth voice purred from beside Biff's shoulder:
"It looks more like an ocean than a river, doesn't it?" Biff turned to meet the gaze of the smiling man sitting beside him whose
eyes looked sharp even through his dark-green glasses.The large lenses
gave an olive hue to the sleek, oval face that narrowed to a pointed
chin. "_O Rio Mar_," the smiling man continued. "That is what Brazilians call
the Amazon. It means 'The River Sea' in Portuguese. Do you understand
the language? ""A little," replied Biff, "but I know Spanish better." | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
He was about to
add that he had learned both from his father.Then, remembering Mr.
Stannart's warning to be careful when he talked to strangers, Biff
stated simply but truthfully:
"I have been studying Spanish in school. ""You will need to speak Portuguese," the man declared, "if you are
stopping off anywhere between Belem and Manaus." He paused inquiringly.Then, getting no response, he added, "If you go farther up the Amazon or
any of its tributaries, you will need to know the dialects of Indian
tribes as well. "The stranger's easy, persuasive tone almost caused Biff to remark that
he was going on beyond Manaus. But he caught himself in time and said
nothing. "You may have to talk fast, too," Biff's fellow passenger continued. "Those tribes are often dangerous. You are sure to find head-hunters
among them." This time, Biff asked a question. "Have you been among the head-hunters, sir?" The stranger's smile widened. "My name is Serbot, Nicholas Serbot. And
yours? ""Bruce Brewster. My friends call me Biff." Nicholas Serbot inclined his head politely. "No, I have never been among
the head-hunters, Biff. I come to Manaus occasionally to do business for
some European concerns that I represent. Mostly in rubber. ""My dad is in Manaus," Biff volunteered. "I'm meeting him there." "Perhaps he will take you on a jungle safari. They organize such trips
in Manaus." "That sounds great!" exclaimed Biff. "I'll mention it to Dad! ""Tell him to inquire at the Hotel Amazonas," suggested Serbot. "Meanwhile"--he leaned toward Biff as he spoke--"you may find the scene
below quite interesting. "They had reached the head of the Para River, the principal mouth of the
Amazon, sixty miles above Belem. The plane was thrumming over a gigantic
carpet of thickly tufted green, furrowed by a maze of irregular streams. "The region of the Thousand Islands," Serbot explained. "Those channels
that twist through the solid jungle are called the Narrows. They come
from the main course of the Amazon, and most of them are deep enough to
be navigable. "Below, Biff saw an ocean-going freighter working up through a watery
passage. It looked like a toy boat from this altitude, and occasionally
it was swallowed by the thick foliage that jutted over the channel, only
to emerge from the green arcade.Soon the boat was far behind, and Biff watched the narrow channels widen
and merge into a limitless, white-capped sea--the great Amazon itself. Serbot's purring voice, and the steady drone of the plane's motors had a
lulling effect.Biff's eyes closed to avoid the glare of the tropical
sun; soon he was asleep. He dreamed that he was back at Idlewild, with
Mr. Stannart's voice repeating:
"Guard this letter as you would your life!Guard this letter...."
In the dream, invisible fingers seemed to be plucking the precious
envelope, drawing it up and out of Biff's pocket. With a sudden start,
Biff awoke and shot his own hand to his pocket, where it met the crinkle
of paper.The dream had been realistic in one respect. As he dozed, Biff must have
kept slumping down into his seat, causing the envelope to work upward
every time he hunched his shoulders. A few inches more and it would have
fallen from his pocket.Or was that the answer? What if those phantom fingers had been real
instead of mere figments of a dream!As he thrust the envelope far down into his inside pocket and buttoned
his coat for safer keeping, Biff Brewster shot a suspicious glance
toward his companion of the plane trip, the smooth-spoken man who called
himself Nicholas Serbot.CHAPTER II
The Clutching Hand
Biff was wide awake now, the drone of the plane growing louder in his
ears. With it, his suspicions of Serbot faded.The smiling man was
leaning back in his seat, his own eyes closed as if in sleep. His hands
were folded loosely across his stomach. For the first time, Biff saw why Serbot wore that constant smile.The
left side of his mouth was curled to match the right, which was drawn
upward by a scar that began at the corner of his lips and became
increasingly jagged until it ended beside his right eyebrow.Before, the large rims and green tint of the sun glasses had helped to
hide the scar; but Serbot had removed them before he went to sleep. Now,
as Biff studied him, Serbot opened his eyes slowly and gave Biff a
sleepy glance.Realizing that Biff had observed the scar, Serbot raised
his right hand and traced it lightly with his forefinger. "A decoration I received during World War Two," he commented, "while I
was working with the French Underground.A Nazi spy tried to give me
this--" Graphically, Serbot swept his hand across his throat--"but I
managed to save my neck. I received this instead." Serbot clenched his left fist as though it contained a weapon.He
grabbed his left wrist with his right hand and shook his head. "If anyone attacks you with a knife or gun, don't try to stop him that
way," he said. "It won't work fast enough, as I found out.Hit his wrist
like this"--Serbot opened his right hand, bent it backward, and drove it
against his left wrist--"with the heel of your hand, upward and outward. Try it. "Biff practiced the action a few times and apparently won Serbot's
approval, for the smiling man added:
"That not only will stop him, it will jar the weapon from his grasp,
enabling you to snatch it all in the same move. "Serbot demonstrated that, too. Then, noting that some of the other
passengers were beginning to look their way, Serbot changed the subject
abruptly.Leaning toward Biff, he began pointing out more sights from
the window, as the plane followed the north bank of the river. There, the jungle had opened into widespread grazing lands, studded by a
range of low, flat-topped mountains.Perched on one summit was a little
town that Serbot said was called Monte Alegre. Then they were far out
over the river again, and the Amazon once more resembled a choppy,
yellow sea, until the order came to "Fasten safety belts! "The plane was
coming to a landing at Santarem on the south bank.Serbot pointed out to Biff the wide Tapajoz River which disgorged a huge
flood into the turbulent Amazon, splotching the yellow tide with long
streaks of green that looked like wash from the jungle and shone with
emerald brilliance in the noonday sun.The plane roared off again, and at Obidos, eighty miles farther
upstream, the Amazon narrowed to a single deep channel only a mile and a
quarter wide with the walls of solid forests fringing both bluffs.Later, the river widened again, and Serbot indicated small settlements
built on high stilts in clearings back from the bank. "Those show you how high the river rises," Serbot told Biff. "Often it
overflows its banks for many miles on both sides.Some of the native
villages are so far off in the jungle that they can only be reached when
the Amazon is in flood. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
"Between pointing out these interesting scenes, Serbot talked
occasionally of his war experiences, and Biff, wide awake and alert ever
since his morning nap, was enjoying the trip more and more.He realized
that he was gaining a slight preview of the Brazilian jungle that might
prove helpful when he and his father set out on the safari that was
actually to be a gold hunt.But he was careful to avoid answering any
direct questions that Serbot put to him. It was late afternoon when Serbot indicated a great, dark swirl of water
that merged with the muddy Amazon, marking the mouth of another huge
tributary. "The black water of the Rio Negro," defined Serbot. "From here it is
only ten miles up to Manaus. "Soon, the plane landed at the Manaus airport, and a few minutes later,
Biff was being welcomed by his father, a tall, rugged man with dark hair
and tanned, square-jawed face, an older counterpart of Biff himself,
except for the boy's blond hair.But when Biff looked around for Mr.
Serbot, hoping to introduce him to Mr. Brewster, he found to his
surprise that his companion of the plane trip had already gone.Biff and his dad talked about the family and everything at home while
they were picking up Biff's luggage. Mr. Brewster then led the way to a
jeep that he had parked outside the airport.Before they started their
drive into the city, Biff drew the sealed envelope from his pocket and
handed it to his father with the comment:
"Dad, this is from Mr. Stannart. He told me to guard it carefully, that
it is very important."Mr. Brewster tore open the envelope, and Biff watched his expression
change as he read the letter. His lips set tightly above his firm jaw,
Mr. Brewster thrust the letter into his own pocket; then he started the
jeep.Keeping a sharp eye along the rough road, he asked:
"Did Mr. Stannart mention what was in the letter?" "In a way, he did," rejoined Biff. "He said we were supposed to be going
with a rubber-hunting expedition, but that actually we would be looking
for gold--"
"You didn't mention that to anyone, did you?" interrupted Mr. Brewster
anxiously. "I mean, while you were on the plane? ""I only talked to a man named Mr. Serbot," returned Biff, "and I even
played dumb when he suggested that you take me on a safari. He said we
could make arrangements at the Hotel Amazonas." Biff saw his father's taut expression change to one of relief.Mr. Brewster spurted the jeep over a watery stretch of road with the
comment:
"These jeeps have to be real puddle jumpers. You never know how deep
some of the mud holes are." The road improved as they swung into the city.It was then that Mr.
Brewster asked:
"Did Mr. Stannart tell you that there might be serious danger, now that
other persons are after the mine?" "Yes, he said you must be warned." "I suppose that is why he let you come," mused Mr. Brewster. "Frankly, I
feel he made a mistake, and I should send you straight home. However, if
we keep far enough ahead of trouble, it may not catch up with us." Mr. Brewster ended with a reassuring smile. "I'll tell you the story from the start," he said. "During World War
Two, two prospectors, Lew Kirby and Joe Nara, gave up hunting gold and
diamonds down in the state of Minas Geraes and came up the Amazon to
help gather rubber.They put their profits into food and supplies and
kept going north to look for a fabled land of gold--a land called El
Dorado." "El Dorado! We learned about him in American History!" Biff exclaimed. "It sounded crazier than science fiction.Wasn't El Dorado supposed to
be a king who came out of a lake with his body all covered with gold?" "Originally, yes," returned Mr. Brewster. "Then the story became a
legend of a golden city and finally a golden land.The Spaniards looked
for it, and so did Sir Walter Raleigh." "But nobody ever found it!" "Nobody except Lew Kirby and Joe Nara." Sure that his father was joking, Biff expected a chuckle to follow. But
Mr. Brewster was very serious. "They uncovered a fabulous Inca mine," resumed Mr. Brewster. "It was too
far and too difficult to bring the gold down the Amazon. So they worked
their way to the Orinoco River, which brought them out through
Venezuela. "Kirby sent Nara back to the mine and then returned to Minas Geraes,
hoping to find someone to help finance the claim. But people either
didn't believe his story, or they were the sort he wouldn't trust.But
he trusted me and I believed him--when he gave me these." Mr. Brewster brought out of his pocket some small samples of ore that
fairly glistened with gold.Biff had learned enough regarding mining and
minerals from his dad to recognize the value of these specimens. In an
awed tone Biff asked:
"Is there much of this in the mine, Dad? ""A whole mountain full," replied Mr. Brewster, "from what Lew Kirby told
me--before he died." The jeep was rolling smoothly now along a boulevard lined with fig
trees, all neatly trimmed to a mushroom shape.But the story of the
fabled gold mine interested Biff more than the sights of Manaus. "Lew gave me a map," continued Mr. Brewster, "showing the route that he
followed to reach the headwaters of the Orinoco, though it does not give
the exact location of the mine. To learn that, we must find Joe Nara.I
hope that no one else finds him first." "Like the persons mentioned in Mr. Stannart's letter?" "That's right, Biff.Despite Mr. Stannart's constant urging, the
directors of the Ajax Corporation have been painfully slow in providing
funds for our trip.Meanwhile, Mr. Stannart says in his letter, certain
foreign interests have learned of the mine and have moved into the
picture. They may be the sort who will stop at nothing to get that
mine! "Before Biff could ask more questions, the jeep pulled up beside a
modest, low-built structure that bore the sign: HOTEL JACARES. Looking
about, Biff was surprised to see that it was growing dark and that the
street lamps were already aglow. "Night falls swiftly here in the tropics," explained Mr. Brewster, as
they went through the hotel lobby and up the stairs to the second floor. "That is why I lost no time coming from the airport. The driving is
difficult after dark."Mr. Brewster unlocked the door of his room, turned on the light, then
halted in amazement. The place was strewn with clothes from his
suitcases. Sheets had been ripped from beds and mattresses cut open. Papers were scattered everywhere.In a corner was a framed mirror hanging above a washstand. Mr. Brewster
hurried over, took down the mirror, and laid it on a table beside a
closet door.He pried away the backing of the mirror and brought out a
sheet of paper that had been hidden there. "This is what they were after!" he exclaimed. "The one thing they
couldn't find! Kirby's map! "As Mr. Brewster spoke, the closet door was opening slowly, but it was
behind his shoulder and he didn't see it. From the crack slid a long,
bare human arm, and a hand reached for the prize that Mr. Brewster
flourished.Frantically, Biff shouted:
"Dad! Look out!" | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
CHAPTER III
The Hidden Boathouse
Mr. Brewster swung about at Biff's warning, an instant too late. The
hand had already clutched the map and was snatching it from his grasp.The map tore apart, leaving only a corner in Mr. Brewster's hand. Quickly, Biff's father dove for the closet door, intending to slam it
and trap the occupant, map and all. But the man in the closet moved
swiftly, too.He flung the door wide, and its edge swept past Mr.
Brewster's fingers as the man dived under his arm.Biff, crouched low,
was about to stop the intruder with a football tackle when Mr. Brewster
overtook the fugitive, applied a powerful arm-hold, and brought him full
about.Biff saw that the struggling man's face was masked behind a large,
knotted bandanna handkerchief, and that his rough, baggy clothes
disguised his height and weight.As he twisted in Mr. Brewster's grasp,
the man managed to thrust his hand into the folds of his jacket and whip
out a revolver. Coming about, he aimed point-blank at Mr. Brewster.Biff's father dropped away a split second before the revolver barked,
its muzzle tonguing flame inches above his head.Then, before the masked
man could fire again, Mr. Brewster wheeled about, grabbed a small table
with both hands, and flung it bodily at his masked foe. The man darted out of the way, only to find Biff blocking his escape.Biff heard a snarl from behind the bandanna, and saw the glint of the
gun barrel as the man swung the weapon with a savage, downward stroke.Instinctively, Biff shot his own hand upward, using the trick that
Serbot had shown him on the plane that very day. The heel of Biff's hand caught the man's wrist, driving it outward.The
impact jolted the gun from his hand, but the weapon scaled toward the
side of the room and clattered near the bottom of the wall, where Mr.
Brewster sprang across and scooped it from the floor, practically on the
rebound.The masked man hadn't tried to retrieve the gun. Instead, he dashed
through the doorway to the hall, still clutching the stolen map. Biff
raced after him, with Mr. Brewster close behind.They might have
overtaken the fugitive if he had gone down the stairway to the lobby,
but instead he chose a shorter route to a large open window at the other
end of the hall. There, he leaped a low railing, carrying a loose screen
with him.When Biff reached the window and looked down into the dark,
the man had vanished in the thick mesh of tropical foliage that had
broken his fall. "No use trying to go after him," decided Mr. Brewster ruefully. "We
don't even know the direction he has taken. The hotel clerk will have
heard the shot. We'll let him report the incident to the police. They'll
figure it was just a sneak thief." "But what about the map?" Biff inquired anxiously. "How will you find
the route to the Orinoco without it?" "I still have the corner that shows the mine itself," declared Mr.
Brewster, holding it for Biff to see. "And Joe Nara would have to guide
us there anyway." Biff's father frowned. "We _may_ have trouble getting through to the
Orinoco, if someone tries to block our way. But from there on, it should
be smooth sailing.Mr. Stannart says in his letter that he will bring
his yacht to meet us on our way back, and will sign the agreement with
Nara, then and there." Returning to their room, Biff and his father met the manager of the
hotel hastening up the stairs.Mr. Brewster told him briefly that they
had surprised a sneak thief in their room, and handed over the
intruder's revolver. With profuse apologies, the manager departed after
Mr. Brewster refused his offer to have the room put in order.When they were alone, Biff's father said, "It was neat, the way you
disarmed that fellow. Where did you learn that trick?" "From Mr. Serbot," replied Biff, "the man I met on the plane coming from
Belem. "While they were repacking Mr. Brewster's bags and clearing up the room,
Biff told his father about the things they had discussed on the plane. Mr. Brewster listened intently, then asked:
"Did you tell Serbot that I was stopping at this hotel? ""Positively not," returned Biff. "He couldn't possibly have learned
it--unless--"
"Unless what?" "Unless he saw the envelope," exclaimed Biff in a hollow tone. "It
nearly worked out of my pocket while I was asleep.Mr. Serbot _might_
have drawn it out that far. When I looked at him, though, he was asleep,
with his hands folded." "Playing innocent, perhaps. Did he seem to make a habit of folding his
hands?" "No, that was the only time I saw them folded.Dad"--Biff's tone became
worried--"do you think Mr. Serbot read the address on the envelope and
phoned someone from the airport, and told them to come up here?" "I wouldn't be surprised," his father asserted grimly. "The envelope has
the return address of the Ajax Mining Corporation, and that would
identify us to anyone who is trying to beat us to the El Dorado mine. But let's not jump to conclusions just yet." Mr. Brewster had finished packing his bags.He picked them up and nodded
for Biff to bring his, too. "We'll send these out to the airport," Mr. Brewster declared. "There's a
plane going up the Rio Negro at dawn, and our luggage can go on it. We
may take that plane, or perhaps a later one.We'll see." They made arrangements with the hotel porter to handle the baggage. After that, Mr. Brewster decided that they should go out for dinner so
Biff could see the city.Once on the lighted streets of Manaus, Biff
realized how futile it would be to look for the baggily clad man who had
stolen the map. Dozens of workmen who passed them were dressed in
similar attire, even to a bandanna worn as a neckerchief.The gay life of the tropical city impressed Biff.There were brilliantly
lighted downtown cafes, and Mr. Brewster chose one where they were
served half a dozen courses of tasty, highly seasoned food, finishing
with ice cream that Biff thought was the best he had ever eaten.He had
just swallowed the last spoonful when he suddenly exclaimed:
"Look, Dad! Those two men sitting at that table in the corner! One of
them is Mr. Serbot!"Mr. Brewster had no difficulty in picking out Serbot from Biff's earlier
description, though the scar on the smiling man's cheek was scarcely
visible in the soft light of the cafe.Serbot's companion was shorter
and chunkier, with a broad face, quick, narrow eyes, and straight lips. "Introduce me on the way out," Mr. Brewster told Biff. "I would like to
size up that pair. "A few minutes later, Biff's father was shaking hands with Serbot, who
immediately introduced his stocky companion. "This is Senhor Armandeo," stated Serbot. "Pepito Armandeo, known as
Grande Pepito, or Big Pepito, as you would call him in English.He is a
famous wrestler." Smoothly, Serbot changed the subject. "You have a very
intelligent son, Senhor Brewster. I enjoyed my trip with him. You are
interested in rubber, Senhor?" "What else," asked Mr. Brewster, "would bring me to Manaus? | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
"Serbot's response was a noticeable increase of his perpetual smile. He
bowed as he made the parting comment:
"Perhaps we have mutual interests, Senhor." Outside the cafe, Mr. Brewster spoke reflectively. "Perhaps Serbot and I do have mutual interests," he said. "In something
bigger than rubber. Something like gold. "They climbed into the jeep, and Mr. Brewster drove past the Amazonas
Theater, the magnificent opera house that had been built when Manaus was
a boom town in the jungle.Mr. Brewster mentioned that to Biff as they
went by; but Biff realized that his father was thinking of something
else. Finally, he said:
"I am not surprised that you suspected Serbot. He strikes me as being
very shrewd.I am doubtful of his friend, Big Pepito, too." "Then maybe Serbot sent Pepito to steal the map!" "Don't jump to conclusions too quickly, Biff." Mr. Brewster smiled as he
spoke. "I still can't understand how Serbot could have learned so much.Nobody knew my plans except Mr. Stannart." "What about the directors of the Ajax Company, Dad?" "Once they agreed, they gave Stannart full say. Our dealings were
confidential.Stannart sent me funds to buy safari equipment which I
shipped here to Manaus ahead of me." "Mr. Serbot talked about safaris on the plane trip." "So you told me, Biff." Mr. Brewster frowned. "I'm beginning to think
that somebody found out about our plans here in Manaus. Pepito, for
instance, could have learned of the safari shipments and sent word to
Serbot. But Hal Whitman should have suspected something and informed
me." "Hal Whitman?Who is he, Dad?" "The man who received the shipments here. He assembled them secretly in
a boathouse a few miles up the river. Later, he loaded all the supplies
and took them far up the river to an old landing above Santa Isabel.He
is waiting there for us to join him." Mr. Brewster halted the car at an intersection and pondered for a few
moments. Then he said:
"Somebody could have snooped around that boathouse after Whitman left.They might have learned where the shipments came from and perhaps gained
some link between Whitman and myself. If we go out there, we might pick
up some clue ourselves. It's worth a try." Mr. Brewster headed for the outskirts of the city.The road became
rougher, and he was handling the jeep in its best puddle-jumping style
as he added:
"Maybe some spies are still around the boathouse, trying to learn what
else they can. In that case, we can surprise them.If the boathouse is
empty, we can wait inside it and see if anyone shows up later." As the jeep swung beneath an arch of trees, Biff was startled by what
looked like human figures jumping from bough to bough in the glow of the
moonlight.Mr. Brewster laughed. "Just monkeys. Don't let them worry you. There is the boathouse. You can
see our headlights reflected in its windows." Mr. Brewster cut off the headlights as he spoke, but oddly, the
reflection persisted for a few moments more.Biff thought it was his
imagination, but his father decided otherwise. "Someone is moving around inside with a flashlight," he whispered. "The
boathouse is on pontoons to allow for the rise and fall of the river.If
we reach the gangplank first, we can trap them before they come ashore." Silently Biff and his father slipped out of the jeep and crept forward
beneath overhanging boughs that Biff could hear creak above him.This time, he was thinking about people in the boathouse, not monkeys in
the trees. He was watching for a flashlight instead of looking up into
the moonlight. That proved to be a bad mistake.Two living human figures dropped from the branches like massive rubber
balls, one taking Biff as a target, the other landing squarely on Mr.
Brewster.In their hands, these silent, shadowy attackers carried thin
ropes that they looped around the necks of their victims as they
flattened them. Biff heard his father give a short, gurgling cry.Then Biff was gasping
as the cord tightened around his own neck. Next, his captor clapped a
cloth to his face, and Biff was stifled by a strong, pungent odor that
completely overpowered him.His head seemed to burst with stabs of
flashing light that turned to utter blackness as his senses left him.CHAPTER IV
The Safari Starts
_Thrumm--thrumm--thrumm--thrumm--_
As Biff awakened, the steady sound made him think that he was back on
the plane above the Amazon.He opened his eyes expecting to see the
yellow sea far below. Instead, he saw black water streaming past the side of a boat, churning
white as it scudded back into the distance. When he turned his head, he
saw his father beside him.They were propped against some boxes near the front of a long cabin
cruiser, which had a permanent top stretched like a canopy over its
large, open cockpit, making it ideal for tropical travel. But there was
nothing ideal about Biff's present plight.Biff's hands were bound in back of him by a rough cord that chafed his
wrists. His ankles, too, were tightly tied. At a glance, Biff saw that
his father was in a similar situation.The thin, tough rope around Mr.
Brewster's ankles looked like a tropical vine. Biff tried to speak, but he found his lips too dry, his throat too
parched.He caught a warning headshake from his father, and following
the direction of Mr. Brewster's gaze, Biff saw two chunky men, clad in
baggy, sleeveless shirts and old khaki trousers cut off at the knees.The pair were standing guard like patient watchdogs, looking for any
move from the captives.They had black, straight hair and coppery skin;
those features, plus their stony, immobile expressions marked them as
Indians from the headwaters of the river, which, from its blackish
color, could only be the Rio Negro.One Indian spoke in a guttural dialect, and a shrill voice responded
from up ahead:
"So they're awake now? Good! Igo, you take the wheel." One Indian moved forward.Moments later, a scrawny man with a crafty,
wizened face beneath a shock of whitish hair, stepped into sight. To the
other Indian, he piped:
"Ubi, you stay here. You help me watch. "Then, tilting his head in birdlike fashion, the white-haired man studied
the prisoners and demanded:
"What were you two doing around that boathouse?"Mr. Brewster kept his lips tightly closed, his eyes staring straight
back toward the frothy wake from the cruiser's propeller. Biff, too,
ignored the question. "Maybe you'd talk if I gave you a drink of water," the scrawny man
suggested, "and maybe I ought to toss you in that big drink out
there"--he gestured toward the river--"and let you try to swim ashore. You wouldn't get far, tied like that. "The stolid silence of the Brewsters annoyed the white-haired man. His
voice rose to a still higher pitch:
"I mean it, every word of it! I'll find a way to make you talk, as sure
as my name is Joe Nara!" Biff almost gulped the name, "Joe Nara! "before he caught himself. Then
he heard his father speak calmly in reply. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
"If you are really Joe Nara," stated Mr. Brewster, "I'll tell you all
you want to know. Only I don't believe that you are Joe Nara." Oddly, the wizened man's anger faded.His own tone became even as he
asked, "And why wouldn't I be Joe Nara?" "Joe Nara is a husky chap," returned Mr. Brewster, "with dark hair, a
bit gray, but not white. He's tough, but he doesn't get angry and
excited. He has too good a sense of humor. "Biff saw a twinkle in the wizened man's eyes. The scrawny face relaxed
in a genuine smile. In a soft, faraway tone, he asked, "And who told you
all that?" "Joe Nara's partner, Lew Kirby, before he died." "So Lew is dead. I was afraid of that. "As he spoke, the wizened man's expression became very sorrowful. He
gestured to Ubi, and the Indian cut the crude ropes that bound the
prisoners. "I _am_ Joe Nara," the white-haired man said. "I've grown a lot older in
the years since I saw Lew Kirby last. Kind of lost my sense of humor,
too, living upriver with nobody but Indians to talk to. What's your
name?" "Tom Brewster. And this is my son Biff."Mr. Brewster extended his own hand, palm up. Old Joe Nara slapped his
own hand palm downward, meeting Mr. Brewster's with a solid whack,
followed by a tight grip to which Mr. Brewster responded firmly. "That's how Lew and I always shook hands," declared Nara. "I guess you
and Lew were friends all right, or he wouldn't have shown you that
grip." Ubi was bringing gourds of water. Nara waited until Biff and his father
had slaked their thirst.Then, with a chuckle, the white-haired man
remarked:
"I guess Lew must have told you about the time he and I went to Lake
Titicaca down in Peru to look for Inca gold? ""No, Kirby never told me that," returned Mr. Brewster, "because you
never went there. He said you planned the trip but gave it up. You came
up this way instead." "And where would we have found gold near the headwaters of the Rio
Negro? ""I can tell you in two words: El Dorado." That convinced Joe Nara. He opened a door beneath the short forward deck
and revealed a compact kitchen galley. He heated up a pot of _feijoada_,
a Brazilian dish of black beans cooked with dried meat.With it he
served bowls of _mandioca_, a mush made from the pulp of the _cassava_. Simple though the fare was, it tasted so good that Biff eagerly accepted
the second helping that Nara offered him. "I was really hungry," said Biff. "I feel as though I had been asleep
for hours." "You were," returned Nara. "That stuff you inhaled is a secret Indian
brew that acts like chloroform. Gives you an appetite, though, when you
do wake up. ""And just why," asked Mr. Brewster dryly, "did you happen to try the
stuff out on us?" "I'll tell you why," asserted Nara. "Every now and then, I come down
from the mine with Igo and Ubi to buy supplies. Whatever I buy, I pay
for with these. "From his pocket, Nara brought some small nuggets of pure gold which
clinked heavily when he trickled them from one hand to the other. "People have been trying to trail me back up to the mine," continued
Nara, "so I bought this boat, the _Xanadu_, from a rubber outfit that
had gone broke. I decided to come downriver to see who was spying on me.Before I even got to Santa Isabel, I saw a crew unloading supplies at an
old abandoned camp." "Whitman's crew!" exclaimed Mr. Brewster. "I sent them up the Rio Negro
to wait for me, so I could start on a safari to find your mine. "Nara gave an understanding chuckle. "I had Igo and Ubi talk to the natives," Nara said. "They learned that
the expedition had started from a boathouse outside of Manaus. So I came
all the way down the river to look into it.We were watching the
boathouse when you came along." "So you thought we were enemies--"
"Not exactly enemies," corrected Nara. "Just suspicious characters. After Igo and Ubi grabbed you, I decided to bring you along.Now that
you've explained yourselves, I'll turn around and take you back down to
Manaus if you want." "Now that we've started upriver," decided Mr. Brewster, "there is no
need to go back.We sent our luggage on to Santa Isabel by air, and we
intended to take a plane ourselves. But now we may as well keep on with
you." All that day, the _Xanadu_ sped swiftly up the Rio Negro.Biff took his
turn at the wheel and was pleased by the way the cruiser handled. At
intervals, the river became so thick with islands that it reminded Biff
of the famous Narrows that he had seen from the air above the lower
Amazon.But here on the Rio Negro, the channels were shallow as well as
twisty. Still, Biff found no difficulty in guiding the sleek craft
through the maze. "The _Xanadu_ was built to order for this river," Nara told Biff. "That's why I bought her.Be careful, though, when we reach that island
dead ahead. The channel appears to split there--"
As Nara spoke, the palm-fringed island vanished. The whole sky had
opened in one tremendous downpour.Biff couldn't believe that it was
only rain. He thought for the moment that the _Xanadu_ had come beneath
a tremendous waterfall. Adding to the illusion was the sudden rise of
steam from the heated jungle that flanked the channel.Instantly, the
speeding cruiser was shrouded in a mist that swelled above it. "Swing her about!" shrilled Nara. "Our only chance is to turn downstream
before the flood hits us!" Mr. Brewster stepped up and took the wheel.Instead of taking Nara's
advice, he sped the boat straight upstream, picking his course in an
amazing fashion. Somehow, he must have gauged the exact position of the
threatening island, for he veered past it.New channels seemed to open
with each swerve of the cruiser's bow. Biff's father had seen Navy service in the South Pacific and was
familiar with jungle waterways as well as tropical storms.As a
Lieutenant, Junior Grade, he had been trained specially for jungle
fighting and had won medals for bravery, finally leaving the service as
a Lieutenant Commander. "It's better to buck the current," Mr. Brewster declared, "than to let
it carry us into something we can't avoid. "Igo and Ubi were releasing curtains from beneath the permanent top,
giving the cruiser's interior the effect of a long, narrow tent,
completely sheltered from the terrific downpour, which like many
tropical rains, was coming straight downward.Some of the narrow channels were flooding rapidly, and there, big logs
and branches occasionally met the cruiser's rounded prow, only to glance
aside as Mr. Brewster deftly turned the wheel.They reached a wider
channel where a headland bulked suddenly in midstream; but it proved to
be a small floating island, composed of small palm trees sprouting from
a mass of soil and undergrowth that had come loose from an overhanging
bank.Biff could hear the chatter of monkeys and the screech of birds as the
passing branches scraped the hanging canvas on the cruiser's side. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
Then
the tiny islet and its excited living freight had drifted far
downstream.Still Mr. Brewster kept steadily to his course, staring
upstream through the cruiser's rainswept windshield.Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the rain ended, revealing a new maze
of channels that could be found only by looking for gaps among the tree
branches, so high had the water risen in this sunken area.Cutting the
speed, Mr. Brewster navigated the openings gingerly. That brought a
chuckle from Joe Nara. "Kind of lucky, weren't you?" he remarked. "Yes, I was rather lucky," acknowledged Mr. Brewster. "Like you and Lew
Kirby, when you stumbled onto that mine of yours." "We were more than lucky," retorted Nara. "We were smart. Didn't Lew
tell you how we doped it out? ""He said you ran into a tribe of Indians who were guarding a mountain
that they claimed was sacred." "That's right. Wai Wai Indians. Igo and Ubi are members of the tribe. "Nara gestured toward the stolid pair who now were rolling up the canvas
curtains. "What else did Lew say?" "He said you convinced the Indians that you were a powerful witch
doctor, so they led you to the lost mine. ""From the tricks I showed them," chuckled Nara, "they thought I was El
Dorado the Original, and that the mine belonged to me and Lew. You know
the story of the man who turned all golden? Well, I proved it could be
done. "Biff was hoping that Nara would give more details on that subject, when
suddenly, the white-haired man demanded:
"Did Lew give you a map to locate the mine?" "Not exactly," replied Mr. Brewster. "He gave me one showing a route
from the mine to some waterways which he said led to the Orinoco River. That was all." "That was enough. It proved there was a short way out. ""Yes, but I still have to go over the actual route to make sure that
gold ore could be transported by it, down the Orinoco." "Do you have the map with you now?" "Only part of it. "From deep in his pocket, Mr. Brewster produced the torn corner from
Kirby's map. "A prowler stole the rest from my hotel room," he explained. "I managed
to hold on to the part that shows the mine." Joe Nara stroked his chin in worried fashion. "If somebody showed me the rest of the map," he commented, "I might have
to believe them if they said they knew Lew Kirby, too." "I thought of that," returned Mr. Brewster calmly, "and I would be glad
if such a person should appear.It would be a case of a thief trapping
himself." Joe Nara nodded as though he agreed; but he immediately dropped the
subject of the map and the mine as well.During the next few days, the _Xanadu_ thrummed upriver, keeping to
broad channels instead of short-cuts between islands. This simplified
the handling of the cruiser during brief but heavy rainstorms.Biff
noted that after each rain the air soon became as humid as before.It
was hot at night as well as in the daytime, and while one member of the
group piloted the cruiser under the bright tropical moon, the others
slept in the ample cockpit; never in the tiny forward cabin.One evening when Nara was at the wheel, Biff and his father were seated
near the stern, far enough away for Biff to ask:
"Do you think Joe Nara doubts your story, Dad?" "About the map being stolen?" returned Mr. Brewster. "He might be
wondering about it. After all, I could have torn the corner from a map
that belonged to someone else." "But you gave him Kirby's hand grip and when you mentioned 'El Dorado'
it was like a password. ""I could have learned those from some other person. Nara has to be
cautious, with a gold mine at stake. I think he trusts me but wants to
sound me out. Watch him, and you'll see he is suspicious of everything. "Biff noted that as the trip continued, Nara insisted upon giving other
river craft a wide berth.When occasional airplanes flew high above,
Nara always leaned out from beneath the canopy to study them
suspiciously, but the planes apparently took no notice of the boat
below.After the cruiser had passed Santa Isabel, Biff was taking his turn at
the wheel when Nara approached and remarked:
"Pretty soon we'll drop you and your dad at the old rubber camp where
your friend Whitman is waiting for you. ""Aren't you going to join us on the safari?" "Not there," returned Nara. "I'm taking the _Xanadu_ on to Sao Gabriel,
to see if we can buck the rapids and reach the upper river." Mr. Brewster had been close enough to hear Nara's comment.Now, he put
the query:
"Then where will we meet you, Joe?" "At Piedra Del Cucuy," Nara replied. "You can see it for miles, a big
rock rising from the forest, where Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia all
meet up.By the time you arrive there, we will know if it is safe to go
on." "Why wouldn't it be safe?" asked Biff. "Because of the Macus, the head-hunters who raid the river settlements." Nara turned to his two Indians and said: "Tell them about the Macus. ""Macu very bad," stated Igo. "Macu kill for head," added Ubi. At last the _Xanadu_ reached an old, dilapidated landing, where half a
dozen men stood beside some huts on the high bank.Mr. Brewster
indicated one man who was wearing khaki shorts, white shirt, and pith
helmet. "That's Whitman," said Mr. Brewster. "He's too far away to hail him." He
brought out a leather case containing a flat metal mirror and handed it
to Biff. "Whitman understands Morse," Mr. Brewster said. "Signal him to send out
a boat for us, Biff." Biff turned the mirror toward the sun, then slanted it in Whitman's
direction.Covering the mirror with his hand, he flashed the message in
dots and dashes: S-E-N-D B-O-A-T.
Whitman pointed to a canoe on the shore. Biff watched two figures hurry
down and clamber into the craft, a small figure at the bow, a big one in
the stern.They paddled out to the waiting cruiser and swung alongside. The man in the stern, a husky, barrel-chested native, furnished a broad,
friendly smile. "Me Jacome," he announced. The bow paddler was an Indian boy about Biff's age and size.He was
wearing faded blue denim trousers, ragged at the knees, and a shirt that
matched it in color and tattered sleeves. He reached up to grab the
cruiser's side, adding, "I'm Kamuka." Biff extended his own hand and responded, "I'm Biff. "In that unexpected
handshake, the two boys established an immediate friendship. They
grinned at each other as Biff helped Kamuka swing the canoe about so
that Jacome could hold the stern alongside.As soon as Biff and his father stepped into the canoe the _Xanadu_ sped
off like a startled creature. Joe Nara at the wheel, waved good-by,
while Igo and Ubi simply stared back like a pair of reversed
figureheads.Jacome and Kamuka did fast work with their paddles to
prevent the canoe from tipping in the cruiser's swell. Then they headed
toward the dock. Kamuka looked over his shoulder and said to Biff, "I like the way you
send message. You show me how? "Biff nodded. "I'll show you how." | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
During the short paddle, Mr. Brewster talked to Jacome in Portuguese and
Biff, listening closely, understood most of what was said. Mr. Brewster
asked about the luggage and was told that it had arrived by air.Also,
he wanted to know if the safari was ready to start. Jacome told him yes,
that they had been waiting for him to arrive. When they reached the shore, Hal Whitman was still up by the huts
engaged with the natives in an excited conversation.Mr. Brewster
started in that direction, and Biff was about to follow when a hand
plucked his sleeve. It was Kamuka, with the request:
"You spell message now?" "All right," agreed Biff.He produced the mirror, caught the sun's
glint, and focused it on the wall of a hut perhaps a hundred feet away. "Now, watch--"
Biff halted abruptly.A burly native, wearing baggy white shirt and
trousers, with a red bandanna tied about his head, had joined the
argument and was pushing Mr. Whitman back into the hut. "Urubu!" exclaimed Kamuka. "He make trouble! "Whitman came from the hut with a shotgun and gestured for the native,
Urubu, to be on his way. Instead, Urubu grabbed for the gun and snatched
it from Whitman's grasp, tripping him at the same time.Mr. Brewster was
starting forward on the run, but he was too far away to help Whitman. Urubu raised the gun butt to drive it down on Whitman's head. Biff could
see the savage look on Urubu's face. Kamuka gripped Biff's arm.The
native boy's voice was breathless:
"Somebody must help Mr. Whitman! Quick!" CHAPTER V
The Spotted Terror
That jog from Kamuka's hand gave Biff a sudden idea.Biff was holding
the mirror so it threw a big spot of sunlight on the hut wall. The spot
wavered when Kamuka jogged Biff's arm, and Urubu was only a dozen feet
from the corner of the hut.Biff changed the mirror's angle just a slight degree, spotting the light
square in Urubu's eyes. That reflected glint of the sun was enough. Urubu dropped back, flinging his arm upward to shield his vision.Mr. Whitman came to his feet and grappled for the shotgun. A few seconds
later, Mr. Brewster had pitched into the struggle. They disarmed Urubu, who stood by glaring sullenly.Biff and Kamuka
approached the group, and Jacome, who had pulled the canoe on shore,
came up behind them. "You know what the name Urubu means, Biff?" Kamuka asked. Biff shook his head. "It means vulture," the Indian boy said.A chuckle came from Jacome. "A good name for Urubu. He is like one
vulture!" At close range, Urubu looked the part. He had a profile like a
buzzard's.He stood by, a sullen look on his face, as Mr. Whitman told
Mr. Brewster:
"I turned down Urubu as a guide because he lied to me. He said he had
guided safaris for the past five years, when part of that time he was in
jail.Then he told our porters that I lied to them--"
"You did," put in Urubu. "You said that Senhor Brewster would arrive
three days ago. Instead he has arrived only now--as you can see. "Urubu repeated those remarks to the native bearers in a mixture of
Portuguese and Indian dialect. He was dumfounded when Mr. Brewster spoke
to them in the same manner. Mr. Brewster's words brought a murmur of
approval. "They want to be paid for the days they waited," Mr. Brewster told Mr.
Whitman. "I said we would pay them, and they are satisfied. Do you need
Urubu as a guide?" "I should say not!" "Then we can send him away again." That was unnecessary.When Mr. Brewster turned to speak to Urubu, the
troublemaker was gone. He had made a quick departure by the nearest
jungle path.Mr. Whitman promptly called for Luiz, the new guide, to
step forward, and a small, bowing native came from the group of bearers. Since it was not yet noon, Mr. Brewster ordered Luiz to get everything
ready for an immediate start.Soon the native bearers, more than a dozen
in number, were hoisting their packs and other equipment. Meanwhile,
Biff was present at a last-minute conference between his father and Hal
Whitman. "We'll follow our original plan," stated Mr. Brewster. "If we strike off
to the northwest and follow the regular trails, we will appear to be
looking for _balata_ like any other rubber-hunting expedition." Biff knew that the term _balata_ referred both to the rubber tree and
its juice.He watched Hal Whitman mop perspiration from his forehead. Whitman's worry seemed to vanish with that process. "We will be following the long side of a triangle," Biff's father
continued, "while Joe Nara is going around by the Rio Negro, turning
north after he passes Sao Gabriel. But we now know exactly where to meet
him. That will be at Piedra Del Cucuy. ""That's better than floundering around the headwaters of the Rio Negro,"
Whitman agreed. "I was afraid we would be on a wild goose chase, trying
to find him there. It's lucky that you met up with Nara. ""Let's say that Nara met up with us," Mr. Brewster chuckled. "We'll meet
again at Piedra Del Cucuy, provided Nara dodges those head-hunters. Since the rapids will delay him, we should reach the great rock as soon
as Nara does. ""I'll talk to Luiz and see if he knows the best route--"
"Not yet!" warned Mr. Brewster. "Wait until we are deep in the jungle,
with no chance of any spies being about, before we even mention Piedra
Del Cucuy. Do you understand? "The final query was meant for Biff as well as Mr. Whitman. Biff nodded,
then went to join Kamuka, who was waiting to help him get his pack on
his back. That done, they fell into the procession as it started out.The first few miles gave Biff the false impression that a jungle trek
was easy. The trail was smooth, well-trodden by multitudes of natives
who had scoured the back country in search of _balata_. But as paths
diverged, they became rougher.Biff began stumbling over big roots that crossed the path, and when he
kept his eyes turned down to watch for them, he lost sight of the
bearers ahead of him and had trouble getting into line behind them.Once, Biff lost the trail entirely, and Kamuka overtook him just as he
was blundering squarely into a fallen tree. The obstacle was at shoulder level, and Kamuka, sighting the bearers
taking a turn in the path beyond, suggested: "We climb over.Take short
way back to trail." Biff pressed aside some projecting branches as he clambered across the
tree trunk, pack and all. His hands became sticky with some clinging
substance. "Spider web. Thick here," Kamuka said.He helped Biff brush away the
fine-spun threads, and pointed into the sunlight that filtered through
the jungle foliage. Glistening between the tree branches were the largest, thickest spider
webs that Biff had ever seen.There were multitudes of them, forming
what at first glance seemed an impassible barrier. Kamuka settled that problem by clearing away the obstructing branches
with hard, expert slashes of his machete, taking the webs with them.The trail had become so irregular that the bearers frequently had to
hack their way through the thick growth. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
Kamuka did the same, and Biff
tried to copy the Indian youth's smooth style.Kamuka handled his
machete easily, despite the pack that he carried. But with Biff, the
pack shifted at every swing, and its straps cut into his back and
shoulders. Big Jacome was doing most of the trail blazing, with Kamuka close behind
him.Mr. Brewster and Mr. Whitman did their share, while urging the
bearers to take their turns at the work. All responded willingly, with
the exception of the guide, Luiz, who was lagging behind. "What's holding you back, Luiz?" Whitman demanded. "Why don't you get up
ahead and take a hand at cutting the trail?" "You pay others to cut trail, Senhor," returned Luiz. "You pay me to be
guide. _Nao?_"
Biff's father overheard the argument and provided a prompt solution. "Since you are the guide," he told Luiz, "suppose you show us the trail. Possibly we have lost it. You lead; we will follow." Mr. Brewster spoke in the Brazilian dialect that the bearers understood. Their solemn faces broadened at the expense of Luiz.Angrily, the
undersized guide shouldered his way to the head of the line and began
hacking at the brush with Jacome. Biff caught up with Kamuka, who had
waited while Luiz went by. "You see his face?" asked Kamuka. "Luiz is very mad.He does not like
hard work." The glower that Luiz gave over his shoulder proved that Kamuka's opinion
was correct. The keen-eyed Indian boy was quick to note that Biff's face
also wore a pained expression, but for a different reason.Understandingly, Kamuka said:
"You have trouble with pack. I fix it." Expertly, he adjusted the straps to the fraction of an inch. From then
on, the pack seemed to fit to Biff's back, giving him no more aches.What amazed Biff, though, was the fact that Kamuka's pack had no straps,
but was laced to his back by crude ropes made from jungle vines. Yet it
seemed to adjust itself to every move that Kamuka made.Soon, the going became easier underfoot, and the path was free of
obstacles. It was no longer necessary to hack through the jungle growth. "Luiz bring us back to better trail," Kamuka confided to Biff. "Less
work for Luiz. "It was less work for Biff, too, though he didn't say so. He was pleased
because his father had handled the situation so neatly. Biff noted the
happy grins on the faces of the bearers every time Mr. Brewster moved
back and forth among them.Biff grinned, too, when his dad came by and
gave him an encouraging whack on the pack which now seemed molded to
Biff's body. "It takes a few days to get into the swing of a safari," Mr. Brewster
stated, "so don't be discouraged.Even the native bearers are struggling
a bit, though they won't admit it. We'll call it a day as soon as we
reach a suitable campsite." About an hour later, the safari halted.Gratefully, the bearers eased
their packs to the ground and began to set up camp at Whitman's
direction, on a high bank above a jungle stream.The insects were
bothersome, as they had been at intervals along the route, but the
expedition was equipped to meet that problem. The packs contained
netting for the sleeping hammocks, as well as insect repellent.The chief feature of the campsite was its closeness to a water hole. Luiz approved this, making a great show of his official title of guide.Biff, glad to be free of his pack, eagerly volunteered to help Kamuka
bring up pails of water from the stream below. Halfway down, Kamuka
hissed for a quick halt. "We go back up quick," he said to Biff. "We tell Senhor Brewster we see
tapir at water hole." Kamuka pointed out a pair of curious dark brown animals, with clumsy,
bulky bodies, stocky legs, and long-snouted heads.The creatures were
feeding on the leaves of young trees and appeared somewhat tame. Kamuka
took no chance on frightening them away, however, as he beckoned Biff up
the path.Mr. Brewster promptly picked up a loaded rifle and accompanied the boys
down the path. The tapirs were already lumbering into the brush when
Biff's father took quick but accurate aim on one of the animals and
fired.One tapir dropped in its tracks, while its companion crashed madly into
the jungle. The boys rushed down to the bank and found that the tapir
was shot squarely through the head. When Mr. Brewster joined them, he
smiled. "That's the only way to shoot a tapir," he declared. "Otherwise, they
blunder into the jungle wounded, and you can never find them. They have
thick hides like a hippopotamus. In fact, they belong to the same
family. "That night, the members of the safari feasted on tapir steaks, which
they broiled on the prongs of long, forked sticks. Later, they went to
sleep around the same campfire. All day, Biff had listened to the
chatter of monkeys and the screech of birds.Now, howls of jungle
animals seemed tuned to the heavy basso chorus of frogs from the stream
below. But despite that, Biff was soon sound asleep, the crackle of the
campfire blending with his last waking moments. Some hours later, he
woke up suddenly.The jungle concert had ended, and the flames had
settled to a low, subdued flicker. Somebody should have tended the fire,
Biff thought. He recalled his father discussing that point with Luiz
shortly after they had finished dinner.Biff rolled from his hammock and
groped toward some logs that lay beside the fire. There, he halted at
sight of what appeared to be two live coals, glinting from a big log. Biff pulled back his hand just in time, as the log came alive with a
snarl.Biff realized that he had encountered some prowling beast of
prey. He raised the alarm with a loud shout:
"Dad!There's something here by the fire--"
Before Biff could complete the sentence, he saw that the creature was a
huge jungle cat, its tawny yellow coat spotted black. Already, it was
poising for a spring.Biff, caught unarmed, was confronted by an
attacking jaguar, one of the jungle's most ferocious killers. Biff heard an answering call from his father. Then, before Mr. Brewster
could have possibly found time to grab his gun, the jaguar sprang!CHAPTER VI
Into the Quicksand
Biff flung his arms upward, as he tried to duck away. It was a hopeless
effort, for nothing could have saved him from those fierce claws, once
the jaguar reached him.What stopped the springing jungle cat was
another figure, small but chunky, that came flying out of the darkness,
feet first. It was Kamuka. The Indian boy had grabbed a long liana vine hanging like
a rope from a tree beside his high hammock.All in one motion, he had
swung himself across the jaguar's path just in time to ram the
creature's shoulder in mid-air and veer the big cat toward the fire.That gave Biff time enough to roll the other way, and Kamuka, as he
struck the ground, promptly squirmed about to dive off into the
darkness.The scene was momentarily illuminated by a shower of sparks
raised by the jaguar when it struck the fringe of the embers. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
With more
of a yowl than a snarl, the big cat cleared the fire at a single bound
and took off into the jungle.Mr. Brewster had his gun by then, but with so many figures bouncing in
the vague firelight, he couldn't risk a shot. By the time Biff and
Kamuka were out of the way, Jacome had come on the scene, swinging a big
club.Mr. Brewster had to wait until he was out of the path of aim,
before firing into the jungle. By then, Mr. Brewster might as well have fired blank shots. The jaguar
had vanished completely in darkness.Jacome threw some logs on the fire,
and as the flames took hold, he commented:
"The tapir tiger--that is what we call the jaguar. A good name for him. Look there and you see why! "Jacome indicated a chunk of cooked tapir meat, hanging from a tree
branch near the fire. The smell of its favorite food had evidently drawn
the "tapir tiger" in from the jungle. But that did not fully satisfy Mr. Brewster. "Jaguars frequently kill and eat tapirs," Biff's father declared, "but
they also shy away from campfires. I gave orders that this fire should
be tended all night. Who neglected his duty? "The final words were addressed to Luiz, who had just joined the group. The guide shrugged and gestured to some of the native bearers who were
coming sleepily from their hammocks.They stared dumbly at Luiz, until
Mr. Brewster queried them sharply in their dialect, getting headshakes
from all. "I will give the orders direct from now on," Mr. Brewster told Luiz
bluntly, "and I intend to see that they are carried out. "He looked up,
noted the faint glimmer of daybreak through the high leaves, and added,
"It is after dawn. Let's break camp and start on our way." Biff expressed his thanks to Kamuka while the Indian boy was helping him
prepare his pack. "If you hadn't hopped to help me the way you did," asserted Biff, "I
would be just a chunk of tapir meat, or something a lot like it. I'll
remember what you did for me, Kamuka." "That is good," rejoined Kamuka solemnly. "I help you. You help me.That
is the way in the jungle." Biff felt that he was getting the knack of jungle ways during that day's
trek, but he was due for new surprises.As they hacked a path through a
thick growth of brush, he heard a sound that was sharply distinct from
the screeches of the vivid parrots and macaws that continually scolded
from the trees.It was exactly like a hammer striking an anvil or some other chunk of
solid metal. It came from well back in the jungle, and after it was
repeated, Biff said to Kamuka:
"Hear that! There must be a village back there in the jungle! "Kamuka laughed as the clanging sound came again. "_El campanero_," he defined. "That is what some people call it. Others
call it the bellbird." "You mean it's only a bird? "As if in answer, the sharp note was repeated with methodical precision,
and Biff recognized that it had a quality that could be mistaken for a
bell rather than the clank of hammer on anvil.Biff kept looking for the
bird itself until Kamuka noticed it and told him:
"Bellbird very hard to find. He may be far away when you think he is
close by." Other creatures were closer at hand. From up ahead, Jacome turned and
pointed to the path.He called something in his native tongue, and Biff
watched the bearers take quick sidesteps. Then Kamuka was nudging Biff
with his elbow and pointing out the reason.A procession of ants was moving along the trail as though keeping pace
with the safari. The insects were carrying thin green slivers that
wobbled above their bodies.Biff saw that those were tiny fragments of
leaves that the ants had gathered and evidently were going to store for
food. "Umbrella ants," defined Kamuka. "Be careful or they crawl up your leg
instead of along path. Umbrella ants can bite--hard! "From the way the ants had chopped the leaves they carried, Biff took
Kamuka at his word. He played hopscotch with the insects until they
veered off the trail.The going became easy again, except that the
atmosphere of the jungle was growing more humid. Even the chatter of the
birds and monkeys was silenced in the sultry calm.Then came a sudden rain as torrential as the big downpour that they had
encountered on the Rio Negro. With the jungle steam rising about them,
it was a case of groping along the trail, which soon became ankle deep
with water.As he sloshed through the muck, Biff told Kamuka:
"Those ants are smarter than we are. They must have known this was
coming and carried their own umbrellas." Kamuka interpreted that to Jacome, who laughed and passed it along to
the bearers.The rain stopped suddenly at last, but although the heat
returned again, the path remained soggy underfoot. Luiz, it seemed, had
lost the trail during the rain and was marching the safari into a jungle
swamp. Mr. Brewster called a halt.It was not just a matter of getting back on
the trail; he wanted the best trail. For the first time, Biff heard his
father mention "Piedra Del Cucuy" to Luiz, who nodded that he
understood. "We go to Piedra Del Cucuy," assured Luiz. "That is easy, now I know. I
show you the best way." Biff's clothes were dry by now except for his shoes and socks, which
felt as if they were filled with lead weights as the march was resumed.Luiz soon took the safari out of the swampy land to a dry path, but at
times, he showed hesitancy at places where the trail divided. Always, he
came finally to a definite decision, but Jacome began to eye him
suspiciously. "We all hear Senhor Brewster say we go to Piedra Del Cucuy," Jacome
confided to Biff and Kamuka. "Now we know we go there, Luiz is afraid to
take us on wrong trail. Some of us go to Piedra Del Cucuy before this.We may remember way if Luiz 'forget' it." A little later, Biff fell in stride alongside his dad and told him what
Jacome had said. "I think there's no question but that Luiz is trying to delay us,"
declared Mr. Brewster. "The only puzzle is his purpose. He may simply be
hoping to make more money by keeping us longer on the hike. Or he may
have deliberately stalled us in order to learn our exact destination. That is why I told him.Now, I am forcing him to show his hand." Mr. Brewster's tactics paid off by mid-afternoon.The ringing cry of the
bellbird had begun again in the deep jungle, and Biff was still hoping
for a sight of the elusive _campanero_, when Luiz led the safari on a
short side trail that terminated in a clearing.There Luiz announced,
"We camp here tonight." "We could still go on a few miles farther," objected Mr. Brewster. "In
fact, we might stop almost anywhere on the trail." "Plenty of water here," argued Luiz. "Maybe not in other places. "Jacome overheard that. The big man supplied a grim but knowing grin as
he muttered his own opinion to the boys. "Maybe and maybe not," said Jacome. "In wet season, we find water
everywhere; in dry season, no.But we came through big rain today, like
wet season." After brief deliberation, Mr. Brewster gave Luiz the nod. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
"We need water," he agreed, "and perhaps we are too tired to go on much
farther today. We will make camp here. "Hardly had they unloaded their packs before Kamuka suggested to Biff,
"Come with me. Maybe we find bellbird." They started along a twisty jungle path in the general direction of the
distant metallic sound.Kamuka was moving so hurriedly that they were
out of sight of camp before Biff caught up with him and reminded him,
"They may want to send us for water, back at camp--"
"That can wait," put in Kamuka. "We find bird first. ""But you told me before that there was no use looking for the bellbird,
that the sound might be far away." "I know. But this is not real bellbird. Listen." Biff listened. The sharp note came clear again, from exactly the same
direction.Biff could detect no difference between it and the anvil
chorus of earlier in the day. But Kamuka could. "Somebody is hitting metal with hammer," the Indian boy insisted. "We
look for them. We find them--if we hurry. "Kamuka waved his arm for Biff to follow, as he started a quick jog along
the jungle path, hoping to reach the source of the well-faked bird call
before the sounds ceased.Straight ahead, low tree branches formed a
thick green arch, darkening the path between two low banks that were
vivid with colorful flowers. Mostly, they were magnificent orchids that thrived on dampness as well
as heat, but Biff was unaware of that.Kamuka, though schooled in jungle
knowledge, ignored the flowers in his haste. He had turned his head to
see if Biff had responded to his call, when suddenly, the green
carpeting of the path gave way beneath his weight.A moment later, Kamuka was waist deep in slimy ooze, squirming, twisting
about to grab at bushes on the solid ground that he had left. The tufts
of grass that he clutched simply pulled loose from the soft earth.With
each quickly repeated snatch, he had still less chance of gaining a
hold, for he was sinking to his armpits as he panted:
"Look out, Biff! Don't come close! Quicksand! "CHAPTER VII
The Deadly Coils
Biff stopped a dozen feet short of the spot where Kamuka, arms emerging
from the mire, was frantically waving him back.Biff felt the soft bank
giving way beneath him, and he immediately sprang back to solid ground,
knowing that only from there could he hope to save his friend. Kamuka was still sinking in the quicksand, though more slowly now.That
gave Biff a few more minutes in which to help him; but how to help was
still a question. There was no use throwing a liana vine to Kamuka; it
would be too flimsy.A tree branch would be better, but the only boughs
strong enough to support a person's weight were those that overhung the
mire itself. Biff couldn't wrench those branches loose from their trunks in time to
save Kamuka.In fact, to push anything out from the bank looked like a
hopeless plan. The best way to help would be by a pull straight up. Biff
realized that, when he saw Kamuka look up toward the lowest bough, six
feet or more above his head. If only Kamuka could reach that far! That thought gave Biff the answer.Skirting the quicksand, he climbed
one of the trees and started working out on its lowest thick branch,
hand over hand, toward the spot where Kamuka, now nearly shoulder-deep
in the muck, still looked up hopefully.So far, Biff had been worrying whether the bough would prove strong
enough. Now he was wishing that it would bend more.Biff was dangling
near Kamuka, but not quite above him; and it was impossible for the
Indian boy to shift his position in the quicksand. But Biff was able to
do the next best thing.Locking his hands over the thick branch, Biff began a pendulum swing,
out and back--out and back--bringing his ankles closer to Kamuka's
reach.Kamuka made one clutch and missed, but on the next swing Biff
practically placed his ankle in the Indian boy's grasp.Kamuka caught Biff's other ankle in the same fashion, and Biff, slanting
a glance downward, saw the other boy's face smiling grimly from between
those upstretched arms. Kamuka's voice came calmly. "Hold tight, Biff. I
will pull up slowly. "Now Biff was glad that the bough was a stout one, for he could feel it
give under Kamuka's added weight.Biff tried to work himself higher by
bending his arms and turning them along the branch, so that he could use
his hands to grip his opposite wrists.That helped at first, but Kamuka's weight kept increasing as he emerged
gradually from the ooze, and the strain made Biff's shoulders feel as if
they would pull from their sockets. But by then, Kamuka had worked clear
of the quicksand's suction.He caught Biff's belt with one hand; then
the other. Next, he was clamping Biff's shoulder and finally the tree
branch. The strain lessened then, with both boys dangling from the bough.Practically side by side, they made a hand-over-hand trip toward the
tree trunk and dropped to solid ground.There they sat a moment, panting
and rubbing their shoulders as they looked at each other, a bit
bewildered by their short but strenuous adventure. From the distance came that clear metallic note that they had heard
before. Kamuka looked at Biff. "We still go find it--maybe?" "All right, Kamuka. Let's go find it." They skirted the quicksand and took the path that Kamuka had missed in
his hurry.It divided into lesser paths, but they continued to pick a
course in the general direction of the clanging sound. "Somebody use that for a signal," declared Kamuka. "When we find it, you
will see that I am right--"
"You _are_ right," Biff whispered. "Look there!" A figure had cut into the path well ahead of them and was continuing on. Softly, Kamuka whispered the name: "Luiz!" The boys were fortunate. Luiz hadn't spotted them.Evidently, the guide
had left the camp by another path and had followed a roundabout course
to reach his present goal. Luiz, judging by the eager expression on his
scheming face, was also following the call of the false bellbird.Cautiously, the boys took up Luiz's trail until he reached a clearing. There, they sidled into a patch of jungle and spread the foliage just
enough to view the open space in front of them. A big man was sitting on a camp stool beside a tent.In front of him was
a small anvil, and he gave it a ringing stroke with a hammer as the boys
watched. Kamuka was the first to recognize the hawkish face that turned
in Luiz's direction as the guide approached. Kamuka whispered, "Urubu! "Biff had scarcely noticed Urubu. Instead, he was staring in total
amazement at two other men who had come from the tent. "One of those men is Nicholas Serbot," he told Kamuka. "The other is his
sidekick, Big Pepito.But they were in Manaus, the night we left there. How did they get here?" "Airplane come upriver ahead of you," replied Kamuka. "Stop at _maloca_
near rubber camp." By _maloca_ Kamuka meant a native village some distance back from the
Rio Negro.Quickly, Biff exclaimed:
"That's where they met Urubu! | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
They must have paid him to make trouble
for us!" Kamuka gave a chuckle. "Look like they pay Luiz, too." Urubu was introducing Luiz to Serbot and Pepito.In the background were
several native bearers, apparently under orders to keep their distance. Serbot and Pepito were watching them to make sure they did. Biff took
advantage of that. "We can move up closer," he told Kamuka. "Maybe close enough to hear
what they are saying." Kamuka silently agreed, for he crawled along with Biff until they
reached the very fringe of the thinner brush, only a dozen yards from
where the four men stood.There, Kamuka whispered, "This far enough." The grass here was tall and studded with brilliant flowers and shrubs
that had cropped up since the brush was thinned. By keeping almost flat
on their stomachs, the boys remained completely hidden.Most of the
discussion was in Portuguese, with a sprinkling of dialect, so between
them Biff and Kamuka were able to understand most of what was said. "I come for money, Senhor," Luiz told Serbot. "Like Urubu said you would
give me if I delay safari. ""You will get your money later," promised Serbot. "You can't spend it
here in the jungle anyway. If you even showed it, Brewster and Whitman
would wonder where it came from." Luiz started to babble an objection, only to have Urubu interrupt him. "You have only done half your job, Luiz," Urubu reminded him. "You gave
our safari time to catch up with yours. Now you must see that we have
time to get ahead." "For that," injected Luiz, "I should be paid double. ""You will be," agreed Serbot, "if you can tell us where Brewster intends
to go, so we can get there ahead of him." Biff saw Luiz's teeth gleam in a knowing smile. The small guide spoke in
dialect to Urubu, who made a prompt reply.Kamuka understood the talk
and whispered to Biff:
"Luiz says he can tell them what they want to know. He asks Urubu if he
can trust them. Urubu says yes." By then, Luiz had turned to Serbot.Biff's heart sank as he heard Luiz
triumphantly announce:
"They go to Piedra Del Cucuy!" "The big boundary rock!" exclaimed Serbot. "That must have been Nara's
boat that took Brewster and the boy up the river.Now, they probably
plan to meet Nara there." He turned to Urubu. "Can you get us to Piedra
Del Cucuy first?" he demanded. "Easily," assured Urubu, "if Luiz takes them the long way." "Maybe I should leave them," put in Luiz, "and come with you.Then they
will have no guide and will not find the way at all." "That would be all right," decided Serbot, "but learn what else you can
first. Did Brewster mention the name Nara?" "_Nao_, Senhor." "Did he say anything about a map?" "_Nao_, Senhor. ""Find out what you can about both. If you can get word to us, good. If
Brewster becomes suspicious, join us. But your big job is to delay their
safari. Use whatever way seems best. "That ended the parley, except for parting words from Urubu to Luiz,
which greatly interested the listening boys. "Tomorrow, I signal before we start." Urubu gestured toward the hammer
and anvil. "If you do not come to join us, we will know you are staying
with the safari--to guide them the long way." Urubu and Luiz were turning in the direction of the spot where the boys
lay hidden.Biff whispered to Kamuka:
"Let's crawl out of here fast--"
"Stay still!" Kamuka's interruption came as a warning hiss. "Do not
move--not one inch!" Biff let his eyes turn in the direction of Kamuka's stare.Despite the
intense heat of the jungle, Biff could actually feel himself freeze. Coming straight toward them through the tall grass was the head of a
huge snake! Behind it, the grass rippled from the slithering coils that followed.Fully twenty feet in length, the gigantic creature could only be an
anaconda, greatest of all boa constrictors. To be caught within those crushing coils would mean sure death!CHAPTER VIII
A Traitor Strikes
"Do not move--not one inch!" Kamuka repeated that warning as the snake's long body slid slowly past. Whether or not the creature was in search of other prey, to move would
be to attract it.Biff realized that from Kamuka's tone as well as his
words. Gradually, the sliding coils slackened speed. It was Biff who spoke now,
his own voice strained, but low:
"It's turning now, Kamuka. It may be coming back." "Maybe, but stay still.One move, you are gone." Despite himself, Biff raised his head, only slightly, but enough to look
beyond the long, hoselike body that was still gliding by.Aloud, Biff
groaned:
"There is Luiz--coming straight toward us--"
Biff threw up his arms to ward off the great boa's tail as it lashed
past. Looking up, he saw the snake's huge mouth yawning toward him.Biff
shut his eyes, thinking there was no hope now. Then a wild scream came
from just ahead. Biff and Kamuka bobbed up from the grass and saw what had happened.The
anaconda, on the rove for prey, had lashed out for the first moving
thing that approached it--Luiz. Caught in the snake's coils, the guide
was shouting:
"Urubu! _Ajudo! Ajudo!_"
Urubu took one quick look and relayed the call for help.Serbot and
Pepito came from the tent, saw what was happening, and dashed back for
their guns. Biff didn't wait to watch what followed. He grabbed Kamuka's
arm and exclaimed, "Let's go!" They went. Behind them, they heard a burst of gunfire.Those first shots
must have wounded the anaconda or frightened it away, for the next
volley whistled through the foliage as Biff and Kamuka dived into the
jungle.The boys found their path and raced along it until the shooting
dwindled far behind them. Breathless, they slackened their pace to a walk and talked over what had
happened.In a worried tone, Biff said:
"They must have seen us or they wouldn't have fired after us. I hope
they didn't know who we were." "More likely," observed Kamuka seriously, "I think they don't know what
we were. ""You mean they mistook us for some jungle animals?" "Why not? We were gone quick--_pouf_! Maybe we were gone quicker than
_sucuria_." By "sucuria" Kamuka meant the anaconda. He was referring to the giant
water boa by its more popular Brazilian name.Kamuka's comment brought a
smile from Biff. "I wonder if they shot the anaconda," he speculated, "or whether it
managed to get away." "Perhaps Luiz will tell us," rejoined Kamuka, grinning, "when he gets
back to our camp. ""If Luiz ever gets back there at all!" The boys lost no time in getting back to camp themselves. There, they
told Mr. Brewster and Mr. Whitman all that had happened. "Serbot must have learned a lot from somebody down in Minas Geraes,"
decided Mr. Brewster, "though how, I can't quite understand. I checked
everyone who had talked with Lew Kirby, and I felt sure he had confided
in me alone. ""And how did Serbot hear about Joe Nara?" queried Mr. Whitman. "There
have been rumors of head-hunters and abandoned rubber plantations off in
the jungle. But no talk of prospectors and gold mines--at least none
that reached me. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
""There were rumors farther up the river," Biff's father said, "according
to what Nara told us. When Joe bought that cruiser and came down to
Manaus, he turned rumor into fact. ""Nara found out about us," Hal Whitman pointed out, "so why shouldn't
Serbot find out about Nara? Or about us, for that matter? We know now
where the leak came. Through Urubu." Mr. Brewster weighed that statement, then slowly shook his head. "Urubu couldn't have sent word to Serbot that fast," he declared, then,
turning to Biff, he queried: "You are sure Serbot told Luiz to find out
what he could about Nara?" "Yes," replied Biff, "and about the map, too. ""Then it wasn't Serbot's man who stole the map," mused Mr. Brewster,
"unless he wants that missing corner that I still have.Or else--"
Mr. Brewster interrupted himself, as sounds of excitement came from the
bearers, who were busy thatching palm leaves to form a shelter.Their
babble of dialect included the name "Luiz," and a couple of the bearers
were running to help the guide as he came limping into camp. "Say nothing," warned Mr. Brewster. "Just listen to what Luiz has to
tell us. "Luiz had plenty to tell when they formed a sympathetic group around him. "I look for water hole," Luiz told them, "and I meet _una grande
sucuria_--one big anaconda! He grab me around my body, like this! "Graphically, Luiz gestured to indicate how the snake's coils had
encircled his body. Biff and Kamuka kept straight, solemn faces as Luiz continued. "I pull my gun quick! "Luiz thrust his hand deep in his trouser pocket
and brought out a small revolver. "I fire quick, until the gun is
empty." He clicked the trigger repeatedly; then broke open the revolver
and showed its empty chambers. "Still, anaconda hold me, until I draw
knife and stab him hard!" From a sheath at the back of his belt, Luiz whipped out a knife that
looked far more formidable than his puny gun.He gave fierce stabs at
the imaginary anaconda, his face gleaming with an ugly smile that was
more vicious than triumphant. Luiz looked like a small edition of Urubu,
whose ways he seemed to copy. "Big snake go off into jungle," added Luiz, wiggling his hand ahead of
him to indicate the anaconda's writhing course. "Hurt bad, I think. Maybe it is dead by now. But the animals were still afraid of it. I hear
them run. "His sharp eyes darted from Biff to Kamuka, but neither boy changed
expression. Clumsily, Luiz pocketed the revolver with his left hand and
thrust the knife smoothly back into its sheath with his right.He rubbed
his side painfully, then beckoned to two of the natives and said, "We go
look for water hole again." A short while later, the boys had a chance to exchange comments while
they were gathering palm fronds for the shelter.After making sure that
no one else was nearby, Kamuka confided:
"Luiz had no gun at start of safari. Urubu must have given gun to him." "To explain the shots if any of our party heard them!" exclaimed Biff. "And did you see the way Luiz looked at us when he mentioned scared
animals? Maybe they glimpsed us going into the brush." "Maybe," agreed Kamuka. "I think they shoot anaconda, or big _sucuria_
would not let Luiz go so easy. ""That's another reason why Luiz claimed he shot it," added Biff. "We
might come across the anaconda and find the bullet marks. "Shortly afterward, the boys found a chance to repeat those opinions to
Mr. Brewster, who added a few points that they had overlooked. "Luiz couldn't possibly have brought the gun from his pocket, as he
claimed," stated Mr. Brewster, "because the snake was already coiled
about his body. For that matter, he could not have drawn his knife,
either. "However, from the clumsy way he showed us the gun and put it back in
the wrong pocket, you could tell he had never handled it before. In
contrast, he was smooth and quick with his knife, which is obviously his
customary weapon. "One question still perplexed Biff. "That other camp is a good way off, Dad," Biff said, "yet we heard the
anvil strokes before we started out. How come you didn't hear the
gunfire later? ""Urubu may have made the first strokes closer by," replied Mr. Brewster. "The anvil sound is also sharper than a gunshot and should carry
farther. That is probably why they chose it as a signal. Kamuka did well
to detect it. "That evening, Biff was glad there had been time to build the thatched
shelter, for a tropical dew had begun to settle, almost as thick as a
dripping rain. It was less damp beneath the shelter, where Biff and
Kamuka had slung their hammocks.Mr. Brewster, however, had inflated a rubber mattress and had placed it
near the fire, stating that he would use a poncho to keep off the
moisture. From his hammock, Biff watched his dad arrange small logs and
palm stalks as spare fuel.As he closed his eyes, Biff could hear his
father talking to Luiz, who was standing close by. "I will watch the fire tonight," announced Mr. Brewster. "You have been
hurt. You need rest more than I do." "But, Senhor," objected Luiz. "Suppose you fall asleep--"
"I am sure to wake up at intervals. I always do. But you must get some
sleep, Luiz. We need you to guide us to Piedra Del Cucuy. You are sure
you know the way?" "Most certainly, Senhor.But it may take longer than you expect." A pause--then Mr. Brewster asked bluntly, "Why?" "Because the shortest way is not the best way," returned Luiz. "We might
meet floods, or streams where the piranha may attack us.They are very
dangerous fish, the piranha--"
"I know," interrupted Mr. Brewster impatiently, "but we have no time to
waste." "You are meeting someone at Piedra Del Cucuy?" "Yes," replied Mr. Brewster. "A man named--" He caught himself, then
said in a blunt tone:
"I won't know our plans until we get there. We will continue on up the
river. That is all that I can tell you." "Don't you have a map, Senhor?" Biff opened his eyes at Luiz's question.He saw his father start to
reach into his inside pocket, then bring his hand out empty. Shaking his
head, Mr. Brewster said:
"No, I have no map. Go get some sleep, Luiz. You will need it. "Biff glimpsed Luiz's face as the sneaky guide turned from the firelight. Beneath the hatbrim, Luiz wore that same ugly smile that showed his
satisfaction. Obviously, Luiz was planning his next move, probably for
tomorrow.When it came, his father would be ready for it, Biff felt sure. Soon
Biff drifted into a fitful sleep from which he awoke at intervals.Sometimes he heard the crackle of the fire and decided that his father
must have thrown on a log and then gone back to sleep.For, each time,
Biff saw the figure of Mr. Brewster covered by the rubber poncho, near
the pile of logs that had become much smaller during the night.It must
have been the fourth or fifth awakening, when Biff saw someone move into
the firelight's flicker. It was Luiz. He crept forward. Crouched above the quiet form, Luiz
thrust his hand downward as if to reach into the sleeper's pocket.The figure under the poncho seemed to stir. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
Luiz recoiled quickly and
sped his hand to his hip. Before Biff could shout a warning, Luiz had
whipped out his long knife into sight and driven it straight down at the
helpless shape beneath him.CHAPTER IX
The Shrunken Heads
Wildly, Biff tumbled from his hammock to the soggy ground. Coming to his
hands and knees, he started forward just as another figure sprang into
the firelight, too late to halt Luiz's knife.The newcomer grabbed
Luiz's shoulders and spun the little man full about. For a moment, Luiz
poised his blade as though planning to counter the attack. Instead, he uttered an unearthly shriek, as though he had seen a ghost.Biff was startled, too, but his cry was a glad one. Etched against the
firelight, Biff saw his dad's face looking down at Luiz. Tom Brewster himself was the man who had interrupted Luiz's deadly work.The figure under the poncho, Biff realized, must be a dummy. As the two men struggled for possession of the knife, they kicked the
dummy apart with their feet. Suddenly Luiz managed to wrench free and
dashed off into the jungle.Mr. Brewster didn't bother to start after the terrified guide. But Hal
Whitman came rushing from the shelter waving a revolver. Mr. Whitman
fired a few wild shots in the direction that Luiz had taken.The
crackling of jungle plants came back like echoes, indicating that the
gunfire had spurred Luiz's mad flight. "That's enough, Hal," laughed Mr. Brewster. "The fellow is so badly
scared he won't stop running until he reaches Serbot's camp. ""And the more he runs," returned Mr. Whitman, "the more difficulty he
will have finding it in the dark. Well, if Luiz gets lost in the jungle,
he won't talk to Serbot." "I don't think it matters much, Hal. Luiz has already told Serbot all he
knows. ""Except that we found out his game. Now he will tell that to Serbot,
too--if he finds him." By the flickering firelight, Biff saw his father's face take on a
troubled expression. "You're right, Hal," decided Mr. Brewster grimly. "I hadn't thought of
that. It would be better to catch Luiz and take him along with us. It's
probably too late now, but it may be worth a try." Mr. Brewster turned
to Jacome. "Call Luiz, and see if he answers." Jacome gave a long call: "Luiz! Luiz! "Faintly, like a faraway echo, a
voice responded: "_Ajudo! Ajudo!_"
In the firelight, Biff and Kamuka exchanged startled glances. Both had
the same sudden thought, but it was Biff who exclaimed, "The quicksand!Luiz must have taken the same path that we did this afternoon!" Jacome was calling "Luiz!" again, but this time there was no response. Mr. Brewster gave the prompt order:
"Bring lights and hurry! "From the way the path showed in the gleam of their flashlights, it was
plain that Luiz could have followed it rapidly in the dark, for it
formed the only opening through the brush.Biff and Kamuka, racing along
beside Jacome, were the first to reach the arch of trees above the
quicksand. They halted there, but saw no sign of a human figure in the muck.The
glare revealed nothing but floating water flowers until big Jacome
pointed out what appeared to be a lily pad. Biff exclaimed:
"Luiz's hat!" It was lying brim downward in the ooze, beyond the bough from which Biff
had rescued Kamuka.This time it was Kamuka who scrambled along the
branch and used a big stick that Jacome tossed him to prod the
quicksand, but with no result.From the bank, Mr. Brewster studied the scene grimly, noting that the
farther out Kamuka jabbed the stick, the easier and deeper it went. "That cry from Luiz was his last," decided Mr. Brewster. "In his flight,
he must have plunged much farther than Kamuka did this afternoon. That
is why the quicksand swallowed him much faster. "From the bank, Jacome and other natives dragged the mire with stones
attached to long liana vines, but received no answering tugs from the
pulpy quicksand. When they pushed long sticks down into the mire, they
went completely out of sight, to stay. "There's no reclaiming anything lost in those depths," Biff's father
said soberly. "That goes for Luiz, too." When they returned to the campsite, Mr. Brewster dismantled the crude
dummy that he had placed beside the fire.It was formed from wads of
grass, palm stalks, and small logs, which had made it bulky enough to be
mistaken for a sleeping figure in the uncertain firelight. "After what you told me," Mr. Brewster said to Biff and Kamuka, "I
decided to test Luiz.I did everything but mention Joe Nara by name. I
made this dummy figure so I could watch Luiz if he tried to steal the
map he had been told I carried. At the same time, I was guarding my life
against his treachery." "But, Dad!" exclaimed Biff. "Serbot never told Luiz to kill you. He
simply told him to delay our safari." "And to Luiz's way of thinking," declared Mr. Brewster, "the simplest
way of accomplishing that would be by killing me.Here in the jungle,
people think and act in very direct terms, particularly the natives." Mr. Brewster and Mr. Whitman began a discussion of the next steps to be
taken. They agreed that the sooner the safari moved along, the better.Mr. Brewster put a question to Jacome. "You have been to Piedra Del Cucuy before, Jacome. Could you find your
way there again?" "I think so, Senhor." "Then you will be our guide as far as the big rock. Have the bearers
ready to move at dawn. "Daylight was tinting the vast canopy of jungle leaves when the safari
started back toward the main trail. The setting was somber at this early
hour, but the silence was soon broken by some scattered jungle cries.Then, clear and sharp, came the metallic note of the bellbird. Mr.
Brewster waved the safari to a stop and said:
"Listen." The call was repeated. Mr. Brewster turned to Kamuka and asked:
"What kind of bird is that? _Campanero_ or Urubu? "Biff smiled at the way his father used the term for "bellbird" along
with Urubu's nickname of "vulture." But Kamuka kept a very serious face
as he replied. "It is Urubu. Look, Senhor. I show you why. "He pointed to a white-feathered bird that formed a tiny spot on the high
branch of a tree. "There is real _campanero_," declared Kamuka. "He is saying nothing. He
would answer if he heard real call."Mr. Brewster studied the bellbird through a pair of binoculars and
promptly agreed with Kamuka.He handed the glasses to Biff, who noted
that the bird, which was something like a waxwing, but larger, had an
appendage that extended from its forehead and draped down over its bill.This ornament, jet-black in color, was starred with tiny tufts of
feathers. Mr. Brewster called it a caruncle and explained that it was
commonly seen on various species of tropical birds noted for their
ringing cries.But this bellbird remained silent, even when the distant anvil sound
clanged anew. "Urubu is signaling for Luiz," declared Mr. Brewster. "He may wait an
hour or so and try again.When Serbot finally decides that we have moved
on, he will think that Luiz is taking us the long way. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
We should get a
good head start, right now." The safari pressed forward at a quick pace which was maintained most of
the day.The going was not as hard as Biff had anticipated. Luiz's talk
of a tough trail had been a sham, so that the party would be willing to
take the long route.Even some of the streams they encountered were already bridged with
fallen trees, making crossing easy. After one such crossing, Jacome
suggested stopping to eat.Mr. Brewster opened some canned goods, but
most of the bearers preferred bowls of coarse cereal, made from the
manioc or cassava plant. This formed their chief diet. Jacome gnawed on a large bone of left-over tapir meat.When he had
finished half of the meat, he suddenly tossed the bone into the stream. Instantly, the water flashed with silvery streaks in the shape of long,
sleek fish that fought for the bone and tore the remaining meat to
shreds. "Piranha," grunted Jacome. "They rip anybody who goes in water. If we
chop away tree, Urubu will have to stop to build new bridge to get
across." "Serbot might suspect something," objected Mr. Brewster. "If they guess
that we are on the same trail _ahead_ of them, they will hurry. It is
better to let them think that they can take their time." Jacome still found time to fish for piranha during the short rest.The
cannibal fish practically leaped from the water to take the bait. Jacome
took no chances with the sharp teeth that projected from their bulldog
jaws. He cut the lines and tossed the fish into a basket, hooks and all.When the safari made camp at dusk, they cooked the piranha, and the fish
proved a tasty dinner, indeed. Mr. Brewster kept the safari at a steady pace during the next few days
in order to stay ahead of Serbot's party.Jacome proved an excellent
guide, remembering every landmark along the trail. One afternoon, a rain
ended as they trudged beside the bank of a sluggish stream and Jacome
pointed into the distance with the comment:
"Big rock. There. "It was Piedra Del Cucuy, a huge, stumpy shaft of granite, towering
hundreds of feet above the forest. The rock was streaked with tiny trees
that looked like sprinklings from the vast green vegetation that spread
beneath.Though the natural boundary marker was still a day's march
away, the mere sight of it spurred on the safari. In the light of dawn, the big rock seemed much closer, and within a few
hours' trek, even its cracks and furrows showed sharply.Trails began to
join, and suddenly the trees spread as the safari emerged upon a sandy
beach lapped by the black water of the Rio Negro.There wasn't a sign of a boat nor of any habitation until Kamuka pointed
to a movement in the brush, a few hundred feet downstream. Mr. Brewster
stepped forward, spreading his arms with a wide sweep. "If it's Joe Nara," Mr. Brewster told Biff, "he will recognize us. If
not, be ready to get back to shelter!" Two figures bobbed into sight, and Biff recognized the squatty forms of
Igo and Ubi. They turned and gestured.A few moments later they were
joined by Joe Nara. All three came forward to meet the safari. Nara was
carrying a small package under his arm.The bearers were laying down their packs and other equipment when Nara
cried excitedly:
"We hoped it would be you, Brewster, but we weren't sure. The Macus have
been attacking villages up and down the river. Everywhere, we have heard
the cry: 'Macu!Macu!' until we--"
"Hold it, Nara," broke in Mr. Brewster. "We have more important things
to talk about first." The native bearers were coming forward silently, and Biff realized that
they were drawn by that dreaded word, Macu.But Mr. Brewster wasn't able
to hush Joe Nara. "What's more important than Macu head-hunters?" the old man demanded. "If you don't believe me, Brewster, look at what I picked up downriver! "Before Mr. Brewster could stop him, Joe Nara ripped open the package
that he carried.Under the eyes of the native bearers who now were
crowding close about him, Nara brought out a pair of shrunken human
heads, triumphantly displaying one in each hand!CHAPTER X
Trapped by the Head-hunters
From the babble that followed, Biff realized that the damage had been
done. The bearers shied away as though the tiny heads were alive and
ready to attack them.They made a hurried retreat toward the trail from
which the safari had come. Out of their excited chatter, Biff could
distinguish the words:
"Macu here! We go home--quick!" Biff, meanwhile, was studying the shrunken heads in amazement.Reduced
to the size of baseballs, their human appearance was preserved in
miniature form. Cords closed the lips, and feathered ornaments hung from
the ears of these grotesque trophies.Though Biff had heard how head-hunters dealt with their victims, he had
thought of shrunken heads as curios rather than as something gruesome.But here, on a tropical riverbank, where the deadly Macus might pop up
in person, the grisly trophies were fearful things indeed.When Biff looked from the tiny heads in Nara's hands to the scared faces
of the clustered natives, he noted a striking similarity between them. He knew that the natives saw it, too, each picturing himself as a
head-hunter's prospective victim.Mr. Whitman and Jacome were trying to
quiet the wild babble but to no avail. Mr. Brewster gestured to the
shrunken heads and told Nara:
"Put those away." Old Joe wrapped the souvenirs with a chuckle, as though he relished the
confusion he had caused.Jacome approached and spoke solemnly to Mr.
Brewster. "It is no good," Jacome said. "They want pay. They want to go back to
Santa Isabel--far away from Macu." "What about you, Jacome?" inquired Mr. Brewster. "Do you want to go with
them? ""I want to go, yes," admitted Jacome, "but I want more to stay with you. So I stay." Mr. Brewster turned to Kamuka. "And you, Kamuka?" "I stay with Biff." "Good boy!" Biff clapped Kamuka on the shoulder. "I knew a couple of
little shrunken heads wouldn't scare you." "I have seen such heads before," rejoined Kamuka calmly, "but always
heads of men. Never any head of a boy. So why should heads scare me?"Mr. Brewster paid off the bearers in Brazilian _cruzeiro_ notes, saying
he would give them double if they stayed with the safari, but there were
no takers. In English, Mr. Whitman undertoned the suggestion:
"Keep talking to them.They still may stay." "No, it must be voluntary," returned Mr. Brewster, "as with Jacome and
Kamuka. Otherwise, they will desert us later." The bearers hastily packed their few belongings, took a supply of food,
and started back along the trail.Mr. Brewster remarked to Joe Nara,
"Now I suppose we shall have to go upriver in the _Xanadu_." "We can't," returned Nara. "We had to haul the cruiser up on shore below
the big rapids.The friendly natives who helped were the ones who told
us about the Macus and gave us the shrunken heads. We've come the rest
of the way in a canoe." Nara paused and gestured down the riverbank. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
"We hid it there," he added, "so we could wait for you. ""We have rubber boats in our equipment," stated Mr. Brewster. "We can
inflate them for the trip upriver." "But there are many more rapids," objected Nara, "with no natives to
help you carry the boats past them.You will have to go overland by a
back trail." "Where will we find new bearers?" "From a native village a mile or so in there." Nara gestured to another
jungle path. "I'll send Igo and Ubi along to introduce you."Mr. Brewster delegated the task of hiring the bearers to Hal Whitman,
who left, accompanied by Jacome and Nara's two Wai Wai Indians. Biff and
Kamuka took a swim in the safe water of the river.As they sat drying
themselves in the sun, the boys watched Nara describe the route to Mr.
Brewster. With a stick, old Joe drew a wiggly line in the sand and said:
"This here is the Rio Negro. I keep going up it until I turn east on
another river. "Nara made a line that wiggled to the right. "I don't
know its right name--if it has any--but the natives call it--"
"Rio Del Muerte," interposed Mr. Brewster. "The River of Death." "Lew Kirby told you that, did he?" "Yes.That's where he said I'd find you. Somewhere up the Rio Del
Muerte." Nara showed a pleased smile at this new token of a bond between his
former partner, Lew Kirby, and Mr. Brewster. "Your trail will bring you to the Rio Del Muerte," resumed Nara, "but
you will strike it many miles above the mine." "How many miles above?" "I wouldn't know. I have never gone by that route.But the native
bearers will know when they reach the Rio Del Muerte." "And then?" "Then you follow it downstream until you meet me." "Where will that be?" Nara eyed Mr. Brewster in quick, birdlike fashion, then decided to
answer the question. "At a split rock on the north bank," stated Nara, "They call it La Porta
Del Diablo, or the Devil's Gate. Come through the gateway and continue
up the ravine. It leads to El Dorado. I will meet you on the way."Mr. Whitman and Jacome were coming from the jungle with a crew of
natives. Mr. Brewster spoke quickly to Nara. "Don't show those shrunken
heads to these chaps!" This time old Joe kept his shrunken heads out of sight.He and his two
Wai Wais left to get their canoe, and soon the Indians were paddling up
the Rio Negro. Joe Nara was waving from between two heaps of packs and
luggage.Mr. Brewster, meanwhile, had opened a box of trinkets that he was
distributing to create good will. Eagerly, the natives accepted colored
marbles, bright shiny beads, little round mirrors, and other geegaws.Biff saw Kamuka looking longingly at the eye-catching gifts and
mentioned it to his father, who promptly gave some to the Indian boy. Kamuka took some marbles and a mirror, but with a slight show of
reluctance.It was evident that he valued things that were useful as
well as showy. Among the assortment, Biff found a small microscope. He
handed it to Kamuka with the comment:
"Here's something you will really like. This glass makes little things
look big. "Biff held the lens above an ant that was crawling along a
dried palm leaf. "Here, see for yourself." Kamuka tried the simple microscope and smiled when he saw that the
insect appeared larger. "I like it," he declared, "but I like mirror better, because I can flash
sunlight, like you did." "You can use this glass with the sun, too," Biff said. "Hold it close to
the leaf--that's right--now tilt it so the sun shines through.Keep it
that way and wait." Kamuka didn't have to wait long. The sun's focused rays soon burned a
hole in the leaf. Kamuka tried another leaf with the same result.He
turned to Biff and remarked:
"With a lot of dry leaves, all in one pile, you can start big fire with
this--maybe?" "You catch on fast, Kamuka," complimented Biff. "Yes, a burning glass is
often used to start a fire.It's a right handy thing to have." Kamuka pocketed the microscope along with the mirror and his other new
possessions. In a serious tone, he said, "Time to get ready for trail
now. "Biff noted that Jacome was assigning the new bearers to their packs and
other equipment. "Yes, recess is over," acknowledged Biff. "Let's get our packs and join
the parade. "The boys found, much to their relish, that they were not needed as pack
carriers.Mr. Whitman had hired a few spare bearers at the village, and
since this new crew was fresh, with less than a half day's journey
before sunset, Mr. Brewster had decided to let them take the full load. "You two can go ahead," Mr. Brewster told Biff and Kamuka. "The
villagers tell me that the trail is well marked, so you won't miss it. But there may be short stretches that need clearing before we come
along. "It worked out as Mr. Brewster anticipated. At a few spots, Biff and
Kamuka encountered tangled undergrowth which they managed to hack away
with their machetes, by the time the safari caught up with them.As they
were starting ahead again, Mr. Brewster noted the position of the sun. "Allow about an hour," he told the boys. "Then start looking for a good
campsite. You can wait there for us. "Biff enjoyed the carefree, late-afternoon hike through the vast green
vault of the jungle, particularly with Kamuka, who was quick to spot all
forms of wild life.Once, Kamuka pointed to a curious creature with a
huge shell that was moving across the trail. Biff looked just in time to
see it roll up into a solid ball and play dead. The thing was an armadillo, the most heavily armored denizen of the
jungle.Again, Kamuka called a halt while they watched what looked like
a Teddy bear with white legs attached to a gray, black-banded body. It
was attacking a huge anthill, darting a long, thin tongue from its
snouted muzzle.The creature was a giant anteater, feeding on its
favorite prey. Kamuka was quick as well as accurate with the machete. Once, while
slashing at a low bush, he changed the direction of his swing.The long
blade whisked within inches of Biff's shin. As Biff sprang back, he saw
the actual target of Kamuka's quick aim. The machete had clipped the head from a snake which had been rearing to
strike at Biff's leg.Pale yellow in color, with brown, diamond-shaped
spots, it somewhat resembled a rattler, except that it had sounded no
loud warning. "_Mapepire_," defined Kamuka. "Very bad. Worse poison than _curare_,
like Macu use on arrows. "Biff decided that the snake was a species of bushmaster, one of the most
deadly of tropical reptiles. "Neat work, Kamuka," Biff exclaimed gratefully. "You sure were
johnny-on-the-spot that time!" "Johnny-on-the-spot," repeated Kamuka. "What does that mean?" "Somebody who is around when you need them most." A troop of red howler monkeys were hopping from one high tree to
another, sometimes hanging on to branches only by their tails.The boys
were watching those acrobatics, when a sudden stir occurred in the brush
around them. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
Up from the bushes popped a group of tawny natives, wearing odd-shaped
aprons made of hides decorated with bright feathers and large, dull
beads.Their faces and bodies were streaked with scarlet dye that looked
like war paint. Some were holding bows, with arrows on drawn strings. Others were
raising long blowguns to their lips.All were aimed toward a central
target; the spot where Biff and Kamuka stood. Biff felt himself sink inwardly as he heard Kamuka gasp the word:
"Macu! "CHAPTER XI
A Sudden Surprise
Slowly, the Macu warriors closed in on the two boys. The sharp eyes that
glared from painted faces were on the watch for even the slightest move. Kamuka muttered to Biff, "Drop machete.Right away." As Kamuka let his machete fall, Biff did the same. The inner circle of
Macus dropped their own weapons and sprang forward upon the boys. The two were captured without a struggle.The Macus brought out rawhide
bowstrings and tied the wrists of the prisoners behind them. They also
tied their ankles together, but in hobble fashion, far enough apart so
that they could still take short steps.Two of their captors picked up the machetes. Another snatched Biff's
wrist watch and tugged it loose.Next, they were finding prizes in the
pockets of the prisoners: Biff's scout knife and his father's metal
mirror; the marbles and the little mirror that Kamuka had been given
earlier in the day. Kamuka seemed indifferent to all that happened.He braced his feet so
that the Macus had trouble pushing him around. Biff copied that
procedure and found that it helped. Their captors were in a hurry
because all the while, the cries of the howler monkeys were becoming
louder.Above the din, Kamuka said calmly, "If they hear this back at
the safari, they will know that we are having trouble. They will come to
help us." "But how will they know what is happening?" "You will see why. Soon. "Leaping monkeys formed dark red streaks against the deep green of the
jungle foliage. A few Macus were guarding Biff and Kamuka. The rest
spread out through the brush, where they squatted as they had
originally.Gradually, the commotion lessened up in the treetops. Then,
as the monkeys returned to normal, the Macus bobbed up again. Now, their bows and blowguns were pointed upward.The air was suddenly
filled with arrows and darts that found their marks high above. Monkeys
began tumbling from the trees, while the rest scattered, howling louder
than before.From the distance came answering chatter, like an alarm
spreading through the jungle. "The Macu come across river to hunt monkeys," Kamuka told Biff. "We
heard monkeys talk. I should have known Macu were here. "The Macus gathered up the dead monkeys and marched Biff and Kamuka back
along the trail. New howls were coming from far off. "You see?" undertoned Kamuka. "Maybe safari will hear and come fast." "Or go the other way faster," put in Biff. "Those villagers are scared
by the very thought of meeting up with Macus." "But your father will come, with Mr. Whitman--"
"I only hope they won't fall into the same trap." "They will not fall into trap. They will have Jacome with them.He will
be on watch." Biff's hopes rose at Kamuka's words, only to fall again as their Macu
captors turned suddenly from the trail.Instead of trampling the side
path, the Macus moved stealthily in single file, pushing the captured
boys into the line ahead of them.They spread the jungle plants as they
moved through them, then let them fall back into place, leaving no trace
of their route. Literally, the entire party was swallowed by the jungle. Biff groaned
loud enough for Kamuka to hear. "Fine chance we have now!" Biff said. "They will never find us, unless
the natives know where the Macu village is." "Macu never make village," replied Kamuka. "All they do is tear down
huts that belong to other people. "The procession was moving straight westward toward the setting sun. That, at least, made sense to Biff, for it proved that the Macus had
come from across the Rio Negro, as they usually did.Evidently they had
found the fishing poor, so had gone on a monkey hunt instead. Soon, the procession reached the Macu camp. This was a small natural
clearing where the Macus had chopped down a few palm trees.Women of the
tribe were sewing palm leaves together to form roofs for crude shelters
around a central fire.While the hunters skinned monkeys for the evening meal, other tribesmen
gathered around Biff and Kamuka, prodding them as if they were
curiosities. Their hands were finally released and they were allowed to
eat.Biff was glad that they were fed left-over fish instead of monkey
meat. Then they were marched to two small trees. Biff's wrists were tied
behind him around a tree, and he was allowed to slide down to a sitting
position.Kamuka was tied in the same fashion to another tree only a few
feet away. Liana ropes were used instead of thongs, but the knots were
very tight and solid.Other Macus tied their ankles in the same manner, so that escape would
be difficult, if not impossible. As the Macus moved away and gathered
around the slowly dying fire, Biff saw their ruddy faces and spoke to
Kamuka. "They sure look bloodthirsty, with their faces all done up in war
paint." "That is not for war," said Kamuka. "It is for hunger. They will wear
the paint all night, for luck in catching monkeys tomorrow. "Biff and Kamuka were not too uncomfortable that night. They slept
fitfully until dawn, when the women brought them water but offered them
no food. When they were alone again, Biff asked:
"What do you think about head-hunters now, Kamuka?Will they let us grow
up before they shrink our heads?" "Maybe," returned Kamuka. "Sometimes they take prisoners for members of
the tribe. But I do not want to be Macu. I want to be
johnny-on-the-spot." "You're on the spot all right. We both are.If I only had something to
cut these ropes!" "I have something Macu did not find. I have it in back pocket where I
can get it easy. Burning glass." Kamuka's words roused Biff to an eager pitch. "Get it, Kamuka!" he exclaimed. "Try to hold it into the sunlight and
turn it toward my hands." "But it will burn your hands--"
"Not long, it won't. I'll tell you when to move it and which way to tilt
it." Kamuka soon had the little microscope tilted toward the sun.Biff
repressed a sudden "Ouch!" and then said calmly, "Just a little higher,
Kamuka. Hold it there a moment. No, a little more. Now, the other way--"
"I smell rope burning!" Kamuka said. "Hold it just as it is," urged Biff.Soon Biff, too, could smell the burning rope. A minute later, he found
that the bonds yielded when he tried to pull his wrists apart.Finally
the rope broke completely, and with one hand free Biff was able to take
the microscope and work on Kamuka's bonds. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
By now, most of the Macu hunters had left the camp, and the few who
remained were still asleep.The boys worked on their ankle ropes,
unnoticed, but found them so tight that they had to take turns burning
them. Finally free, they realized that their biggest problem lay ahead. "We can't both make a run for it at once," whispered Biff, "or they
might wake up and spot us. You slide for the brush first, Kamuka. If
they still see me, they may not notice that you have gone." "But I can't leave you here alone, Biff. ""You won't be leaving me. I'll give you time to work around the
clearing. Then if they see me start to leave, you can raise a yell and
draw them your way." "Very good, Biff. We try it." The ruse worked better than they had hoped.Kamuka gained the edge of
the clearing with ease. Biff gave him due time to get properly posted,
then followed the same route.They had chosen it well, for it was not
only the closest edge of the clearing; it was directly toward the rising
sun, which would tend to dazzle anyone who looked that way.Once in the jungle, Biff kept close to the clearing as he circled it,
calling softly to Kamuka until they finally met. Again, the sun proved
helpful.They had been headed toward it when they were brought here as
prisoners, late in the previous afternoon. So now, they had only to move
toward the morning sun to reach the jungle trail.It was slow going, as they had to be wary of animals in the brush, yet
all the while they felt the urge to hurry in case their escape had been
discovered back at the Macu camp. At last, however, they came upon the
trail.Then came the question: Which direction should they take? "The safari must have come as far as we did," declared Biff, "in fact
probably a lot farther, as they were supposed to keep on coming until
they overtook us. ""But when they didn't find us," said Kamuka, "they must have turned back
to look." "You may be right," decided Biff. "They could have figured, too, that we
missed the trail somewhere along the line. I'll tell you what.Let's go
back along the trail a couple of miles anyway. If we don't meet them,
we'll know they are up ahead." "And all the time," added Kamuka, "we keep good sharp look for Macu! "That final point was so important that both Biff and Kamuka kept paying
more attention to the bordering jungle than to the trail itself. Every
sound, from a bird call to a monkey howl might mean that Macu hunters
were about.So could the slightest stir among the jungle flowers and the
banks of surrounding plants, where at any moment, painted faces topped
with wavy hair might come popping into sight as they had the afternoon
before.But there wasn't a trace of motion in all that sultry setting until the
boys reached a place where the trail took a short, sharp turn around the
slanted trunk of a fallen ceiba tree.Biff, in the lead, gave a quick
glad cry as he saw native bearers coming toward them, bowed under the
weight of the packs they carried. At the head of the column strode a white-clad man wearing a tropical
helmet.At sight of him, Biff turned and called to Kamuka:
"Here's Mr. Whitman coming with the whole safari! We're safe now,
Kamuka! Come on! "With that, Biff dashed forward, only to be caught by the shoulders and
spun full about, his arm twisted in back of him.Biff's captor shoved
him straight toward the leader of the safari, and the boy saw for the
first time that the man in white wasn't Mr. Whitman.Looking down from beneath the pith helmet was the ever-smiling face of
Nicholas Serbot, tinted an unearthly green in the subdued glow of the
jungle. Over Biff's shoulder leered the face of his captor, Big Pepito!CHAPTER XII
Between Two Fires
Biff's first concern was for Kamuka. He managed to dart a quick look
along the trail hoping to shout a warning to his companion.Then, Biff
caught himself, fearful that such a call would turn attention in
Kamuka's direction. The warning wasn't needed. Kamuka had witnessed Biff's rapid capture and
had taken action on his own.With uncanny instinct, Kamuka had found an
opening in the seemingly solid wall of jungle and had already dived from
sight. One man, however, had seen the green mass close behind Kamuka's
quick-moving form. That man was Urubu.He raised his rifle and fired
into the thick foliage, three times in quick succession. As Urubu paused, Biff appealed frantically to Serbot:
"Don't let him shoot again--"
Serbot ordered Urubu to lower his rifle, which the guide did.At the
same time, Urubu grinned, for he had seen no ripple in the jungle leaves
beyond the spot where he had first aimed. "Perhaps," purred Serbot, "Urubu is trying to shoot an anaconda, the way
he did the other day. ""Or some other jungle creature," added Pepito, over Biff's shoulder,
"like those that we heard run away. "Biff guessed that they were trying to draw out facts from him, to learn
if he and Kamuka had followed Luiz and listened in on the discussion
that had shaped the later events.As Biff tightened his lips, determined
not to answer, Urubu became impatient. "And maybe," put in the leering guide, "I just now try to kill some
person, the way Luiz was chased and killed. ""What happened to Luiz was his own fault," Biff argued hotly. "He tried
to kill my father first, with a knife." "Your bearers did not tell us that," stated Serbot smoothly. "We met
them on their way back to Santa Isabel, and they told us that Whitman
had fired at Luiz, who ran into quicksand--"
"Where we tried to save him. Did they tell you that?" "Yes, they told us that.But not that Luiz had tried to kill your
father." "That happened before they even woke up. By then, Luiz had started to
run, so naturally Mr. Whitman went after him." "The boy lies," snarled Urubu. "The bearers did not give you foolish
talk like this." "They gave us other foolish talk," reminded Serbot. "They scared our
crew by saying there were Macus around here." "But there are Macus around!" exclaimed Biff. "Their camp is only a few
miles away from here. I know, because the Macus had me tied up as a
prisoner all last night!" The effect on Serbot's party was electric.Even before Urubu could
translate the words to the bearers, they were dropping their packs,
ready to take to flight, for they recognized the name "Macus" when Biff
mentioned it.But Serbot, raising his smooth tone to a surprisingly strong pitch,
spoke in a mixture of Portuguese and native dialect that Biff managed to
understand. "Where will you go?" demanded Serbot. "Do you think you will be safe by
running away like frightened deer, while the Macus are looking for just
such prey? If there are Macus all around, as the boy says, there is
nothing for us to do but go on and be ready for them! "All this while, Pepito had retained his grip on Biff, but had been
gradually relaxing the hold. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
Now, at Serbot's order, he released Biff
entirely, but still kept a wary eye on him.Biff longed to dash into the
jungle and look for Kamuka, but again he managed to restrain himself. The chances were that Urubu's shots had missed and that Kamuka was lying
low in the motionless foliage.To race after him and draw new gunfire
would be the worst thing that Biff could possibly do. So he waited
patiently until the safari started on.Then Serbot took the lead, telling Biff to stay beside him, while Pepito
guarded one flank and Urubu the other, all three carrying ready rifles. The bearers stepped along close together, eager to get through the Macu
territory. "Keep a sharp watch," Serbot told Biff. "The Macus caught you yesterday. Don't let them trap you again today." Occasionally, Biff managed to look back, hoping that Kamuka had come
from cover and was stealing along behind the safari.Soon Biff gave that
up, realizing that if Kamuka had decided to follow them, he would be
staying completely out of sight. When they reached the spot where the Macus had bobbed up the day before,
Biff recognized it.He turned to Serbot and said, "This is where the
head-hunters were yesterday." Serbot swung about and ordered the safari to halt.As the bearers set
down their packs, Biff studied their faces and realized that some were
members of the group that Whitman had organized, the natives who had
started home when Joe Nara had exhibited the shrunken heads.Their meeting with Serbot's safari must have scared some of Serbot's
crew into going back to Santa Isabel. But Serbot or Urubu must have
talked some of Whitman's men into coming along as replacements.Now Biff
understood how Serbot had learned so much about Luiz. After a brief rest, Serbot asked Biff, "Were there many head-hunters
here?" "Yes," replied Biff. "A lot of them." "And which way did they take you?" Biff pointed to the west.Smoothly, Serbot asked, "If there were so
many, how did you manage to escape today?" "Because most of them had left before dawn to go hunting," replied Biff. "That's why I was afraid of running into them." "Good. We'll be on the watch for them. "Serbot ordered the safari forward. At the end of another mile, they came
to a side trail, which cut sharply in the direction of the Rio Negro.After a rapid discussion with Urubu, so thick with dialect that Biff
could not understand it, Serbot decided to take the river route.As they started along it, Serbot spoke to Biff, using the smooth, easy
tone that reminded Biff of their first meeting in the airplane above the
Amazon. "If the Macus are hunting along the main trail," declared Serbot, "they
will never bother to come this way. That makes it all the safer for us. Anyone taking the main trail would be gone, for certain. "That was passed along by Urubu to the bearers, who not only were
pleased, but quickened their pace, hoping to get out of Macu territory
all the faster. But Biff's heart sank, for he was afraid there would be
no catching up with his own safari now.Then Biff noted that Serbot was studying him steadily. Evidently, the
smiling man was anxious to learn which way the other safari had gone,
and was hoping that Biff's change of manner would give the fact away.Suddenly, there came an interruption that gave Biff a cause for real
alarm. "Listen!" he exclaimed. From the treetops came a running chatter that seemed to carry like a
wave from somewhere off in the jungle. Biff recognized the excited
gabble. "The howler monkeys!" he told Serbot. "That's the way they acted after
the Macus shot some of them with arrows yesterday!" Serbot tried to gauge the direction of the sound, then ordered the
safari onward, faster.They followed the rough, irregular trail until
they reached a spot where the chatter lessened and finally quieted
altogether. Serbot waved for the bearers to set down their packs. The order came just in time.The bearers themselves pointed to heads and
shoulders that bobbed from behind trees and bushes. Terrified, the
bearers shouted, "Macu!" Serbot dived behind a pack, to use it as a shelter.Pepito and Urubu did
the same, expecting Biff to join them with the huddling bearers, for
spears, arrows, and darts were now skimming toward them. Instead, Biff
acted upon sudden impulse and raced along the jungle trail.He heard
guns blast in back of him, but knew Serbot and the others were too busy
shooting at the attacking head-hunters to worry about him.Biff passed a turn in the trail and knew then that he was safe from
gunfire, but he had his eye on an opening in the jungle another hundred
feet ahead. There, Biff was sure that he could duck from sight the way
Kamuka had.But Biff was becoming too hopeful too soon. Less than halfway to the spot, Biff halted in his tracks as the foliage
parted and a painted Macu warrior loomed in sight.Armed with bow and
arrow, the deadly marksman was already taking aim at Biff with his
bowstring fully drawn. Another moment, and the poison-tipped arrow would be in flight, allowing
Biff no chance of escape at such close range!CHAPTER XIII
The River of Death
The twang of the head-hunter's bowstring was drowned by an explosive
burst from farther up the trail.With it, the Macu marksman gave an
upward, sideward jolt at the very instant the arrow was leaving his bow.The feathered missile zimmed high and wide by a matter of scant inches,
for Biff could hear it whirr past his ear and stop with a sharp thud in
a tree trunk just behind him. A piercing yell seemed to echo the timely gunshot.The Macu had dropped
his bow and was gripping his left arm with his right hand as he dived
off into the jungle. The bullet had jolted the bow from the Macu's
grasp, sending the arrow wide.Now, looking up the trail, Biff saw his father hurrying in his
direction, rifle in hand. Biff started to meet him, shouting, "Dad!" only to have Mr. Brewster wave him back.Next, Biff saw his father take
a quick shot at another Macu huntsman who had popped up in the brush,
only to drop from sight again.Now, from the other side of the trail, a brown head and arm poked from
among a mass of blossoms that sprouted from the thin bark of a fallen
tree trunk. Biff heard the familiar call: "Biff, come this way! Quick!" It was Kamuka.Biff vaulted the log and took shelter behind it, but
tried to shake off Kamuka's restraining hand as he saw his father come
along the trail with Mr. Whitman and Jacome. All three were taking
long-range shots at distant Macus. "I have to warn Dad," Biff explained. "Serbot's party is just around the
bend." "He knows," assured Kamuka. "We were coming back when we heard their
guns. So we hurry fast." "Coming back along this trail?" "That's right.When they couldn't find us on the main trail, they think
maybe we take this one. So today, they take it to look for us." "Then you sneaked ahead of Serbot's party after you ducked from sight.But how did you know to take this side trail when you reached it?" | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
"Jacome leave special message that I understand. Twist of grass and
broken jungle branch are as good as mirror signal, sometimes."Mr. Brewster and his fellow-marksmen had rifles with a longer range than
the Macu weapons. Also, they were able to shift positions along the
trail, preventing the Macus from picking a point of attack.Serbot's party, on the contrary, had first let the Macus close in on
them. Then, in solidly entrenching themselves, they had lost all chance
of mobility.Soon they would have been surrounded if Mr. Brewster and
his companions hadn't come along to scatter the foe. Kamuka called
Biff's attention to that fact. "Macu run like scared deer," said Kamuka. "But now your father is
telling Mr. Whitman and Jacome to stop shooting. Why?" "I guess Dad wants to keep the Macus around as a threat," returned Biff
grimly, "until he sees what Serbot intends to do. Urubu might take a pot
shot at anybody. "Kamuka gave a knowing nod. "You tell me!" "Then you saw it was Urubu who fired after you?" "Sure, Biff. I look long enough to see him aim. I tell Mr. Brewster all
that happened, too." Evidently, Mr. Brewster had profited by Kamuka's report.He had reached
the bend where he was in direct sight of Serbot's entrenched party, but
he was motioning for Whitman and Jacome to stay behind him. Serbot looked up from behind a pack, then gave a wary glance in the
direction the Macus had gone.A few arrows came whizzing from high among
the tree boughs, but they landed wide. They were sufficient, however, to
shape Serbot's next decision. Serbot ordered Pepito and Urubu to resume their shooting after the
Macus.At the same time, Serbot clambered over the packs and came along
the path to meet Mr. Brewster, who in his turn ordered Mr. Whitman and
Jacome to renew their fire on the distant head-hunters. Rifles barked in
unison.Biff and Kamuka joined their party in time to catch a last glimpse of
the routed head-hunters. "They won't stop until they reach their camp," declared Biff, "and maybe
they'll still keep on going from there. ""Until they reach the Rio Negro," added Kamuka, "and maybe they swim it
quick." Mr. Brewster's meeting with Serbot resulted in an immediate, though
guarded truce.Mr. Whitman and Jacome moved up to back Mr. Brewster,
while Serbot was beckoning for Pepito and Urubu to come and join him. The boys stayed in the background as did Serbot's bearers, none of whom
had been injured in the brief fray.How many head-hunters might be lying dead in the brush or limping away
wounded, there was no telling, but the battle had been won rapidly and
effectively. Serbot seemed duly appreciative as he purred:
"We owe you much, _amigo_. You have helped us.Perhaps there is some way
we can help you." "None at all," Mr. Brewster said curtly. "Now that we have driven off
the Macus, we can go our separate ways." "But how can you go anywhere? You have no bearers. ""They are waiting farther up the main trail, with our equipment. We left
them while we came back to look for the boys." Serbot promptly raised a new line of inquiry. "Perhaps you are surprised to see me here," he suggested, "So far from
Manaus, where we last met." "Why should I be surprised?" returned Mr. Brewster. "We are both looking
for _balata_, aren't we?" "I am not looking for rubber," Serbot declared. "I am looking for a man
named Joe Nara, who claims to have a gold mine somewhere near the
headwaters of the Rio Negro. He came down to Manaus in a fast boat
shortly before you left your hotel." "Who told you I had left? ""The manager at the Hotel Jacares. He also said that your room appeared
to have been robbed. The next day your jeep was found near an empty
boathouse. I learned that Senhor Whitman had started from there on a
rubber exploration trip upriver. ""And you thought I had joined him?" "Exactly, Senhor. So I came by plane to find you." Biff realized that Serbot's plane must have been one of those that had
passed over Nara's cruiser on the trip up the Rio Negro. "After I hired Urubu as a guide," continued Serbot, "I learned that you
had arrived on Nara's cruiser. So I assumed that you planned to meet
Nara later." "So you bribed Luiz to kill me, to make sure of meeting Nara first." "No, no, _Senhor_.I only wanted Luiz to delay your safari, as Pepito
and Urubu will tell you." Serbot gestured to the pair, and Pepito smiled broadly while Urubu
showed his usual ugly grin. "I wanted to talk to Nara," continued Serbot earnestly, "because I had
heard that he was willing to sell his gold mine to the highest bidder. That is, if he really has a gold mine. Perhaps you could tell me that? ""I wouldn't know," returned Mr. Brewster. "As you say, I am only
interested in rubber. And it's time that I was starting off to look for
some." With that parting, Mr. Brewster motioned his companions back toward the
main trail.They had only gone a dozen paces, when Mr. Brewster
undertoned:
"Take turns glancing back to see what that crowd is doing. I don't trust
any of them, particularly Urubu. "Biff took the first look and reported that Urubu, like Serbot and
Pepito, was leaning on his gun while the trio apparently discussed what
to do next. Soon Kamuka reported the same thing.Then Mr. Whitman looked
back and announced that the group was now out of sight.Mr. Brewster called for a quicker pace, and when they reached the main
trail, they moved even faster--so fast in fact, that Biff and Kamuka had
to jog along to keep up with the three men. "We came back to look for you at dawn," Biff's father told the boys, "so
our bearers will be packed and waiting for us when we reach our last
night's campsite.If Serbot pushes his crew to overtake us, they will be
worn out, while we'll be starting fresh." Mr. Whitman was feeling the heat, for he removed his white helmet to mop
his forehead. "More likely," he said, "Serbot will try to overtake Nara by going up
the bank of the Rio Negro. That makes all this hurry useless." "No, we still must keep ahead of Serbot," Mr. Brewster insisted. "If
Serbot has guessed where Nara is going, he will move up the Rio Del
Muerte while we are coming down it." The bearers were waiting when they reached the campsite, and fell
promptly into line. There was little difficulty in spurring them on.The
mere mention that the Macus were behind them was enough. During the next
few days, the bearers toiled steadily along the inland trail. Apparently, there was nothing that they feared more than the Macus.Nothing, at least, until the safari reached a deep but narrow stream
that the bearers promptly identified as Rio Del Muerte. Then they broke
into a babble of Indian talk that only Jacome was able to translate. "They say they leave us here," declared Jacome. "It is death, they say,
to go down this river." Mr. Brewster studied the narrow trail that flanked the riverbank and
dwindled off into the thick green of the jungle. "Tell them that if they go back the way they came, they may meet the
Macus." Jacome translated Mr. Brewster's comment. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
The bearers chattered back
excitedly, and Jacome announced:
"They say they would rather meet Macu than stay near Rio Del Muerte.They say they go home now." While Jacome spoke, the bearers picked up their few belongings and
started on their homeward trek.Biff and Kamuka noted that they did not
even stop to fill their water bags from the stream that they seemed to
dread so much. "What do you make of it, Kamuka?" Biff asked. "I do not know," Kamuka replied. "I cannot even understand the things
they say to Jacome, except that they are afraid to go downriver." However, the expedition was far from being stranded.The pack bags that
the native bearers had abandoned contained three rubber boats, complete
with aluminum seats and paddles. Biff and Kamuka helped pump them full
of air, so that they took on a squatty, roundish shape.Then, after a survey of the rubber flotilla, Mr. Brewster decided to
take Biff and Kamuka with him in one boat, while Mr. Whitman and Jacome
manned the second, each carrying whatever equipment it could bear.The
third boat was converted into a raft and loaded with all the remaining
packs. Biff's father took it in tow, letting Hal Whitman pace the trip
downstream.To Biff, this was a fine change after the long, sweaty hours on the
trail when he and Kamuka had helped relieve the bearers. They were
floating through a maze of jungle green that at times actually arched
into a tunnel above them.Though heavily loaded, the boats moved easily, more swiftly as the
jungle banks narrowed and the river itself deepened. Whitman was waving
back cheerily as they skimmed off the mileage.Suddenly they saw him
rise and wag his paddle frantically as he shouted:
"Stay back--stay back--"
His words were drowned by a mighty roar as they turned the bend and saw
what Whitman had already viewed.No wonder the natives called this the
Rio Del Muerte, the River of Death! Just ahead, a curved crest of foam
showed where the stream took a sudden drop in the form of a mammoth
waterfall--a sheer plunge to doom on the rocks a hundred feet below!CHAPTER XIV
The Devil's Gateway
"Paddle hard on the right, boys--with all your might!" Mr. Brewster shouted the order above the river's tumult, and all three
bent to the task.They brought their boat broadside to the approaching
brink and drove it toward the left bank of the stream, which here was
scarcely a hundred feet wide. It was a gruelling race against death.There was no escaping the
powerful current that seemed to draw them with a suction pull. Yet the
jungle bank was coming closer with every stroke.They were almost there now, but Biff, in the bow, had no chance to catch
the first projecting tree, as the boat was swept past it. He worked
madly with the paddle instead, for here the bank was eaten away by the
current, and there was nothing to grab.It seemed certain now that the boat would be carried over the falls,
when suddenly it began to swirl about, and another few strokes brought
them into the last big clump of overhanging brush.Biff and Kamuka managed to grab hold and cling there, while Mr. Brewster
worked the boat into the bank itself. Then new disaster loomed in the
shape of the pack boat which had been following them on its towline.As
the other boat spun past, its line went taut before Mr. Brewster could
cut it. Biff's shoulders seemed to wrench half from their sockets, and he felt
the bush pull loose from the soil.Then the tug ended as the other boat
came full about, giving them a soft thump. Churned into this new
position, it bulked in between the bank and their own craft, almost
wedging them loose and out into the stream.Mr. Brewster made a quick leap across the baggage and up on to the high
bank, carrying the slack line which he hitched over a tree bough. That
secured both boats, while the boys clambered ashore.In cutting away the bank, the current had created an eddy which
accounted for the final swirl that had carried both boats to safety.Yet
only a dozen feet away, the tangled jungle growth actually quivered on
the fringe of the falls that dropped in one huge deluge into the dizzy
depths below.It was from there that they first looked for Whitman's boat, expecting
to see it bobbing somewhere in the rocky gorge a hundred feet below.The
rising mist obscured the bottom of the falls where the terrific torrent
would by now have battered the bodies of Mr. Whitman and Jacome into a
pulp.Or so they thought, until Mr. Brewster stepped closer to the overhanging
bushes and gained a full view of the crescent-shaped brink. He beckoned
to the boys and exclaimed:
"Look there! "Caught between two low rocks, Whitman's boat was jammed on the brink,
its two occupants still alive, temporarily at least.Heavily loaded,
wide of beam and flexible because of its inflated sides, the rubber boat
had snagged where almost any other craft would have cracked up and gone
over the crest. Other low rocks jutted at close intervals along the foamy brim.Biff
noticed them when he saw Mr. Whitman rise in the boat to point them out
to Jacome. "Those rocks are like steppingstones, Dad!" exclaimed Biff. "If we throw
a line to them, maybe we can haul them ashore--"
An interruption came as the boat wabbled on its precarious perch, due to
Mr. Whitman's shift of weight. It settled back again, as Whitman plopped
down into the stem.From the shore, Biff's father gestured for Whitman
to stay down and received a nod in reply. Turning to Biff, Mr. Brewster
declared:
"Throwing them a line won't help. If they missed their footing, they
would be swept away in spite of it.We'll have to carry it across to the
other bank and moor it there." From the pack boat, Mr. Brewster produced a coil of thin, strong rope
which he estimated as more than long enough to bridge the stream and
return.He looped the center around a tree trunk and gave the ends to
Kamuka, motioning him into the empty boat.Then, with Biff helping, Mr.
Brewster kept working his way up along the bank, pulling the boat from
the shore, while Kamuka nimbly grabbed at passing branches.After they were a safe distance upstream, Mr. Brewster brought Biff into
the boat with him and told the boys:
"Paddle hard on the left, this time. Try to swing the boat upstream--and
don't stop, not for one instant! "Again, they were in the swirl of the swift-flowing current where Biff,
paddling bow, found it impossible to bring the boat about, even with
Kamuka working valiantly to help him. But Mr. Brewster had allowed for
that.Their efforts, plus his own, brought them to the far bank, still
well above the falls. There, the boys warped the boat downstream while Biff's father hauled in
the floating rope.Picking a landing spot, they carried one end of the
rope about a tree, where they drew it taut and tied it to the other end. The rope now followed the slight curve of the cataract's brim from the
opposite bank as far as Whitman's stranded boat.Mr. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
Brewster then took a loop of rope around a paddle and began to twist
it, winch fashion. He let the boys take over, one at each end of the
paddle, while he waved to the boat and pointed to the water.Whitman and
Jacome understood the plan at once and caught on to the rope as it
emerged. Rapidly, the boys turned the paddle, tightening the rope until it looked
like a suspension cable, except for its outward curve.Mr. Whitman and
Jacome, rising gradually from the boat, gripped the center of the double
line. Jacome took to the steppingstones first, moving in limber, catlike
fashion as he left the boat.Mr. Whitman, who had settled low to offset
the loss in weight, watched every move, still clutching the center of
the rope, which also helped to steady the boat.Hand over hand, Jacome followed the rope, swinging from one projecting
rock to the next, or actually leaping a space where the water gushed
through. It became easier as Jacome neared the bank where the pack boat
was moored.There, Jacome swung on the shore and waved for Whitman to
follow. As before, Whitman rose too rapidly. This time, the boat skidded out
from under him; as it did, he hopped to the nearest rock and balanced
there by clinging to the rope.Biff saw the boat slide over the falls,
tumbling from sight with the light luggage it contained.Breathlessly, Biff watched Hal Whitman swing to the next broad stone,
where he swayed dangerously while Mr. Brewster and Jacome, tightening
their ends of the rope, helped to steady him.What had been child's play
for Jacome would have meant disaster for Whitman, without that timely
aid. The last leap, that looked the easiest, was the most dangerous of all.Where Jacome had swung himself clear up on the bank, Whitman dropped
short, but not into the sweeping current that fringed the shore. Jacome
had wisely edged the pack boat into the gap.Whitman landed on the
luggage, and Jacome pulled him up to the bank above. During the next few hours, the party worked its way down the steep walls
that flanked the waterfall.This might have been impossible, except for
the holds afforded by the heavy jungle growth. The boats were deflated
and lowered by ropes.Then, when Biff and Kamuka reached the gorge, they
found a shallow stretch where they waded and swam the river, to receive
the luggage from the pack boat that Mr. Whitman and Jacome lowered from
their side.Farther downstream, the boys found Whitman's boat, still intact, along
with its baggage, which Jacome had tied inside the rubber craft before
abandoning it. Biff and Kamuka hauled it ashore and spread the contents
of the bags so they could dry.That night, they camped within sound of the big waterfall, and the
muffled roar seemed almost musical, now that its hazard had been passed. But Hal Whitman, seated by the campfire, spoke bitterly about his
harrowing experience. "I blame Joe Nara for all this," he declared. "I believe he is our real
enemy, not Nicholas Serbot." "How do you figure that, Hal?" inquired Mr. Brewster. "First, Nara must have snooped a lot more than he let on," argued
Whitman, "in order to learn about that boathouse down in Manaus. Am I
right?" "You may be right," conceded Mr. Brewster. "Go on. ""And by checking on me," continued Whitman, "he found out about you. He
learned that you were staying at the Hotel Jacares. So he sent one of
his Indians to steal your map--"
"Wait, Hal," interposed Mr. Brewster with a smile. "How could he have
known that I even had the map?" "He knew Lew Kirby made a deal with somebody. You were the logical man,
or you wouldn't have gone to all the trouble and expense of sending me
up to Santa Isabel to organize a safari. ""But if Nara knew I had the map, why would he want to steal it? Lew
Kirby was his partner. Remember?" "I remember." Mr. Whitman smiled grimly. "What's more, so does Joe Nara,
and that's probably the one thing he'd like most to forget. ""So he wouldn't be bound by any deal that Kirby made?" "Exactly. Without the map, you haven't any claim. If Kirby signed over
his share of the mine to you, you would need the map to prove it." "I still have part of it, Hal. ""Yes," acknowledged Whitman, "but I'll bet that Joe Nara only let you
keep it because he decided it wouldn't do you any good. Think it over,
and you'll see I'm right." Whether or not Mr. Brewster thought it over during the night, Biff
certainly did.When they were loading the boats at dawn to resume their
trip downriver, Biff asked his father:
"Do you think that Mr. Whitman is right about Joe Nara?" "There may be something in what he says," admitted Mr. Brewster. "Nara
may have been keeping something from us." During the day, they made speedy progress down the river, hugging the
bank at every bend to avoid new waterfalls. But the trip proved smooth,
which only brought more grumbles from Whitman. "Nara sent us down this river to get rid of us," he declared, as they
paddled along. "It wasn't his fault that the Rio Del Muerte failed to
live up to its name.As for that gateway where we're supposed to meet
him--El Porto Del Diablo--I don't think there is such a place." One hour later, those doubts were dispelled.As the boats passed a bend,
they came to an opening in the jungle that looked like the dry bed of a
stream that had once joined the Rio Del Muerte.Then, amid the thick
green foliage, loomed the very rock that Nara had mentioned, split like
a huge gateway, a short distance up the ravine.They pulled the boats up on the low, sandy shore, where Mr. Brewster
decided to leave the packs and other equipment, though not for long. "Nara said to come through the gateway," he said, "and meet him
somewhere up the ravine.If we don't see him soon, we can come back and
bring the luggage in relays." The trail narrowed at the end of half a mile and veered sharply beneath
a high, bulging cliff that slanted back like a gigantic brow, cutting
off the sunlight.Mr. Brewster, well in advance, had reached the turn in
the ravine, when Jacome, bringing up the rear of the procession, gave a
loud, warning shout.The rest looked up in time to see the tiny, squatty figures of six men
drop suddenly behind a row of rocks that resembled the top edge of a
castle tower. But that impression was a brief one.As the group stared
from below, they saw the rocky summit topple forward.Those watchers on the cliff top had launched a mass of bounding boulders
that encountered bigger chunks of granite and carried them along, with
the earth in which they were imbedded.An avalanche of stone and dirt
was gaining size as it roared down the slope, threatening to block the
narrow ravine and bury every member of the party that had come into its
path!CHAPTER XV
Fabulous El Dorado
While the others stood rooted, staring upward, Biff looked for his
father, in the frantic hope of giving him some last-moment warning. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
Up
ahead, Mr. Brewster was waving for them to join him.Biff grabbed
Whitman by the arm and tried to start him forward, at the same time
yelling to Kamuka and Jacome:
"It's our only chance! Maybe Dad can get us past the turn in the
ravine! "They all were starting forward before Biff finished speaking, but their
chance faded as the landslide's roar increased.Spreading as it came
over the cliff edge, the first wave of dirt and stone was not only
peppering them; it was pouring into the side passage that seemed their
only refuge. Fortunately, none of them was hit by that first spray of smaller stones.Whitman stumbled, but Jacome overtook him and helped him regain his
footing. Then they had reached Mr. Brewster, who was blocking them from
the side passage where Biff thought he wanted them to go.Instead, Biff's father now was rushing them beneath the overhanging
cliff, where they huddled against the rocky wall and turned to witness
the havoc that they had so narrowly escaped.From this hollow, open
space where Mr. Brewster had guided them, they watched tons of dirt and
stone drop down in a solid curtain, only a dozen feet away, for the
bulge of the cliff above was comparatively slight.Yet it jutted enough to send the tremendous landslide cascading out
beyond them, something on which Mr. Brewster had counted when he made
his quick decision.But after the roar had finally subsided, Biff's
father disclaimed any special credit for the rescue. "I was close enough to see that this pocket offered us our only chance,"
stated Mr. Brewster. "As it was, your own prompt response saved your
lives.Otherwise, you would now be under there." Mr. Brewster gestured significantly to the mound of earth and rock that
had piled many feet above their heads.Carefully, they worked their way
up over it and down a long slant to the main ravine, which they followed
back to the river. On the way, they looked up to the brow of the great cliff, but saw no
human figures there.They noted though, that the landslide had turned
the ravine into a dead-end, with no trace of the narrow passage that
angled off to the right, the route that they would have taken.Back at the river, Biff's father sat on a pack and commented rather
ruefully:
"I guess this about ends our quest for El Dorado." "I'm afraid so," Whitman agreed. "I've told you all along that Joe Nara
was a phony. ""You mentioned a few reasons why you thought so," reminded Mr. Brewster. "But they were hardly sufficient, Hal." "All right," retorted Whitman, "I'll add a few clinchers. Nara said his
men were Wai Wai Indians, didn't he?" "That's right. ""Well, the Wai Wais come from clear over in British Guiana, not from
around here. And you remember those shrunken heads he showed us? To
prove that Macus were around?" Mr. Brewster nodded. "Those were Jivaro heads," declared Whitman, "from somewhere up the
Amazon itself. Macus don't shrink heads. All Nara wanted was to scare
our bearers back to Santa Isabel and chase us off into the jungle.Right
now, he's probably still down on the Rio Negro, making a deal with
Serbot, somewhere near Piedra Del Cucuy, learning what the competition
has to offer--"
Whitman cut off, his mouth wide open as he looked downstream.The others
turned and saw a dugout canoe approaching, with Joe Nara reclining
comfortably against the pack bags in its center, while Igo and Ubi were
paddling him up the Rio Del Muerte.Old Joe was smiling as he stepped
ashore, but he became solemn when he saw the accusing eyes that were
fixed upon him. "I don't wonder you're annoyed," apologized Nara. "I should have gotten
here first--"
"You didn't expect us to get here at all," Hal Whitman broke in. "Those
directions of yours were a one-way ticket over the falls on the Rio Del
Muerte!" "You tried to come down the river by boat? "Nara paused and stared at
the rubber boats. "I didn't know you had these with you. I said to
follow the river, that was all. Remember?" "I remember," returned Mr. Brewster. "You also told us to go up through
the gateway to the ravine--"
"No, I didn't!" interrupted Nara. "I said for you to come up through--"
"What would be the difference? ""Why, if you came up through," explained Nara, "I would have been there
to meet you. But if you had gone up through ahead of me"--he shook his
head--"well, thank heavens, you didn't try it!" "Why not? ""Because the tribe that guards El Dorado would have let loose a
landslide if they saw strangers coming their way. I was mighty glad to
find you waiting here. I knew you couldn't have gone up through El Porto
Del Diablo." "But we did go up through. "As Joe Nara stared incredulously, Mr. Brewster described all that had
happened. "Now that the ravine is blocked," he finished, "I suppose you can't take
us to your fabulous El Dorado. ""On the contrary," returned Nara, with a quick smile, "I can take you to
the mine by the short way." He spoke to Igo and Ubi in dialect; then, as
the Indians went to the split rock, Nara announced, "I told them to
summon some bearers. "Igo and Ubi shouted up through the ravine, and their calls seemed to
echo back. Soon, squatty Indians appeared from the Devil's Gateway until
a dozen of them had lined silently in front of Joe Nara.Kamuka
undertoned to Biff:
"These are the men who pushed stones from hill." "I figured that," said Biff. "I wonder whether they are surprised or
sorry to see us still alive." "They are neither.They think Nara has made us live again because we are
his friends. They think Nara is El Dorado. "From the furtive glances that the squatty Indians gave toward the
Brewster party, along with the way they were awaiting Nara's bidding,
Biff decided that Kamuka had guessed right. At Nara's command, the Indians did the unexpected.They began replacing
the packs and other equipment in the rubber boats, while Nara suggested
that Mr. Brewster and his party get on board.Then the Indians brought
dugouts from the bushes, and soon they were all paddling up the Rio Del
Muerte, with Nara's canoe in the lead. The going was easy, for the current was sluggish here.After about two
miles, Igo and Ubi drove Nara's dugout to a low bank where the jungle
appeared to be the thickest. With their paddles, they raised a tangle of
roots as they would a curtain, and worked the boat through.The others followed into a channel wide enough to accommodate the rubber
boats with ease. When the foliage had been dropped behind the final
canoe, Biff looked back and saw that the mouth of this stream was as
completely hidden as before.They emerged from the jungle near a towering rock that looked like the
one from which the Indians had launched the landslide.They pulled up
the boats beside the stream and took to a steep trail that brought them
up behind the rock, past the far end of the blocked ravine. The trail climbed steadily, with more slopes rising ahead.Beyond them
were mountain peaks, some looming blue and cloud-capped in the distance,
overlooking a vast, unexplored region. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
The chunky bearers marched
steadily onward, crossing logs over deep ravines and following ledges
hewn in the mountainsides.Biff kept his eyes fixed on the backs of the
trudging Indians to avoid any dizziness from looking below. "We are now in the Parima Mountains," Joe Nara told them. "This part of
the range is in Venezuela." "I know," acknowledged Mr. Brewster. "We crossed the border from Brazil
soon after we left Piedra Del Cucuy." "What about these Indians of yours?" Hal Whitman put in. "You say they
are Wai Wais, Nara, but that tribe lives over in Guiana. ""The main tribe does," returned Nara, "but this one group remained here
to guard the sacred mountain, where El Dorado is located. They believed
that Daipurui, the Spirit of Evil, would go on a rampage if anyone found
the mine. ""And how did you get around that?" "I figured out a trick," chuckled Nara, "that made them think I was El
Dorado himself, the original Golden Boy in person. So they took Lew
Kirby and me up to the mine, the same way they're going now. "Single file, the Wai Wais were climbing steps cut in a cliff, gripping
liana vines as handrails to balance the weight of their packs. As Biff
began the climb, the bearers looked like big, bulging beetles crawling
toward the skyline.One by one, they dropped from sight as did the
others in the party. Biff learned the reason, when he reached a slanted
ledge, like a niche hacked in the cliff, and found the Wai Wais
squatting there.Kamuka came just behind Biff, then others of the party, and finally Joe
Nara.Evidently, the Wai Wais were awaiting him, for they began an odd
chant that included the words, "El Dorado--El Dorado--" and continued as
the shock-haired prospector strode past them.Nara paused where the ledge burrowed at a slant into the cliff and
beckoned for everyone to follow, which they did. They entered a gloomy
mine shaft, so low that all members of the party had to stoop, except
the boys.The Wai Wai bearers, already bending under their burdens,
followed the route automatically as though the passage had been cut to
their size. Daylight showed where the shaft opened into a great cavern.There, the
sun shone through cracks and other openings in the ceiling. It glinted
on chunky rock walls that fairly burned with vivid golden yellow. All the tales that Biff had ever heard of hidden treasure had suddenly
become real.This was a wonderland of wealth, with glittering side
shafts going deeper into the mountain, promising new finds for anyone
who followed them. Kamuka, awed by the yellow glitter, asked in
breathless tone:
"How much you think this worth, Biff?A million _cruzeiro_--maybe?" "A lot more, if it's gold ore," returned Biff. "But it's worth
practically nothing if it is simply yellow quartz. A lot of that is
found in Brazil, in places easier to reach than this.What's just as
bad, it may be fool's gold." "Fool gold? What is that?" "A mineral called pyrite," exclaimed Biff, "usually iron, mixed with
sulphur. It often fools people who think that it is gold.But it is more
the color of brass than gold, and it leaves a green streak when you rub
it on something smooth." As Biff picked up a chunk of yellow rock to examine it, he caught a nod
of approval from his father.Biff had repeated facts that Mr. Brewster
had told him regarding metals. Now, Biff's father indicated a stretch of
rocky wall, where patches of yellow shone from a background of milky
white. He asked:
"What do you make of this, Biff? ""It looks like gold quartz for sure, Dad!" exclaimed Biff. "There's no
chance of mistaking that. Or is there?" "In this case, there is no mistake." Mr. Brewster was studying the milky
quartz as he spoke. "Undoubtedly, this shaft was first mined centuries
ago, for it resembles old Indian mines that I have inspected. But
although it yielded gold years ago, I doubt that its wealth has even
begun to be tapped. ""You're right about that," chuckled Joe Nara, who was standing by. "Look
there--and there--and there--"
Nara had turned on a powerful flashlight, and with each announcement, he
pointed its beam down another rough-hewn shaft that branched from the
main corridor.Each time, the glare was reflected with a new burst of
brilliance. "The gold of El Dorado!" boasted Nara. "A mountain full of it and a lot
more that cropped over, as I'll show you!" CHAPTER XVI
Surrounded!From the great central room, Joe Nara led his companions down through a
maze of shafts and tunnels. Each passage joined with another, and
frequently the links were steep steps worn smooth by the feet of native
miners, hundreds of years before.At intervals, daylight showed through shafts that had been driven down
through the mountain to tap a vein of gold.Always, the passages led
finally into new corridors that glittered with rich ore. At last, a long
straight tunnel brought the party out on the far side of the mountain,
hundreds of feet below the starting level.The slope was gradual here, featured by dirt gullies leading down to a
grassy valley, with the jungle beyond. As they followed the bed of one
dry stream, Joe Nara pointed to the sparkle in its sands. "That's where I've picked up some of these," he chuckled, bringing some
small gold nuggets from his pocket and displaying them in his open hand. "But mostly I find them up some of the smaller stream beds.The gold
just kind of oozes out of the mountain." Near the bottom of the slope was a shallow depression that nestled like
a bowl in the curve of the mountainside. "That's where the lake was," declared Nara. "The lake where El Dorado
used to take a dip and come out all covered with gold. It's dried up,
now, but there's still plenty of gold down in those sands." Mr. Brewster studied the lake bed carefully.Biff saw his father look
beyond, as though following a sandy course that led down to the grassy
area that fringed the jungle. "You are probably right," Mr. Brewster told Nara. "The lake was
artificially formed, and once the dam was broken, the water found its
way down into the jungle." "And it joined a stream there," added Nara, "as I'll show you. Do you
know why this all happened? "Tilting his head, he darted one of his
birdlike glances at Whitman, then back to Mr. Brewster. "I'll tell you
why. When the Indians found that the Spaniards and the English were
going after El Dorado as well as after each other, they closed up shop. "That's what they did. Just closed up shop. They busted the dam and got
rid of the lake, so nobody could find it. They covered over all the
shafts so nobody could find them either.They started rumors about El
Dorado being somewhere else, to send all the explorers on a wild-goose
chase. Then they kept guard over the real El Dorado to scare away
anybody who stumbled on it by mistake." "All quite logical," agreed Mr. Brewster. "That is the way the Indians
would act." He turned to Whitman and asked: "You agree, don't you, Hal?" "I agree," nodded Whitman. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
"_Now_ I know why Nara showed us those
shrunken heads.He did want to scare our bearers so they would run back
to Santa Isabel. But it was because his Wai Wais would have made trouble
if we brought a strange tribe here." "They made trouble enough as it was," declared Nara, with a dry chuckle.Then, turning to Mr. Brewster, he said, "Let's see what's left of that
map Lew Kirby gave you. Then we can figure what to do next." Mr. Brewster produced the torn corner from the map.It showed the mine,
the stream bed, the lake, and the trail that continued into the jungle,
where it reached a river that was marked on the map. "The route is an easy one," stated Nara, "as you can see.But first, I
want you to estimate the value of the mine. Then pick out the ore you
want, so we can take it to the river. From there, we will go downstream
to the Casiquiare Canal and work our way through to the Orinoco River. "They camped that night beneath the trees that fringed the jungle. The
next day, Mr. Brewster returned to the mine and studied it in detail.They stayed in the same camp another night and on the following day, the
Indians brought down loads of ore that Mr. Brewster had selected. Those loads were carried several miles through the jungle to the river
that Nara had mentioned.Biff and Kamuka helped make a new camp there. Then they swam in the river while they waited for the Indians to bring
the packs. The water was very clear, and the boys brought up handfuls of
glittering sand from the bottom.When Mr. Brewster saw it, he commented:
"There's a fortune in gold to be dredged from this stream. But we still
have the problem of getting it down the Orinoco." Joe Nara had the answer to that problem.His Indians showed up with a
small flotilla of odd-looking craft that resembled the _monterias_ of
the Amazon. Nearly thirty feet long, each boat had an open cockpit at
the front with a thatched cupola at the stern, serving as a sort of
cabin.Nara's boats were different, however, from the more antiquated river
craft. His boats were low in the stern, so that the big steering paddle
could be replaced by a sizable outboard motor. Nara had such motors and
the gasoline to fuel them. "Every trip I made downriver," explained Nara, "either over the mountain
and down the Rio Negro, or down this stream to the Orinoco, I bought
motors and gasoline and brought them back here.I knew that some day,
Lew Kirby would talk some company into a big deal for our mine. "What's more, I knew the first thing they would ask would be if they
could transport either the gold or the ore once they mined it.My answer
is, yes, and I've got the boats to prove it--and the motors, too. I've
kept them for a long time." Judging by the appearance of the motors, that was true.Some were twenty
years old, but all proved serviceable when attached to the loaded boats.The four boats that formed the strange flotilla started out at a slow
but steady speed down the narrow jungle river that marked the first
stage of a long, adventurous journey. Each boat carried a crew of three.Biff and Kamuka were in one boat with
Mr. Brewster. Jacome and a Wai Wai Indian were in another with Hal
Whitman. The third boat was Nara's, with Igo and Ubi as its crew.The
fourth, which served as a kitchen boat and carried the food supply, was
manned by three Wai Wai tribesmen. The packs, which included tents and other equipment, were in the boats
commanded by Mr. Brewster and Mr. Whitman.The ore from the mine was
mostly in Nara's boat, which squatted lower in the water due to its
added weight.But it maintained the same speed as the other craft for
the simple but sufficient reason that Nara had equipped it with the
largest of his old-model motors.The containers of gasoline were distributed among the boats, and all
were careful not to waste any of the precious fuel. At times, they used
the oars or let the current carry them.When they encountered channels
that were narrow or shallow, they poled the boats through. They were deep in the jungle when the river opened into a fair-sized
lake, where Nara pulled his boat alongside of Mr. Brewster's, to check
the map again. "This is one of the lagoons that connects with the Casiquiare Canal,"
explained Nara. "Actually, the Casiquiare is an overflow from the
Orinoco that reaches the headwaters of the Rio Negro, forming a link
with the Amazon.But sometimes the canal backs up and flows the wrong
way. The important thing is that it is always navigable, clear to the
Orinoco. "The job now was to work from one lagoon to another, through channels
that would have been shown on the missing portion of Kirby's map. Nara
knew the route from memory, and fortunately he had been over it several
times.But he still had trouble picking his way through a lot of lesser
channels, and at times he called upon Mr. Brewster to check the course
by compass. "Taking a boat through a jungle," declared Nara, "is just like going for
a hike in the woods.First thing you know, you're traveling in a circle. Only you don't ever really know it, because wherever you are, it always
looks the same." The more Biff thought that over, the more true it seemed.But when he
discussed it with Kamuka, the Indian boy disputed the notion. "One place is not like another," declared Kamuka. "I look there, and I
see so many trees. I remember them like picture. You show me another
place, the picture is different. ""In that case," said Biff, "I suppose you can never get lost in the
jungle." "I get lost easy," returned Kamuka. "Too easy. Any place I do not know,
I am lost--maybe. But I never get lost in the same place where I was
before. "Biff decided to test that out in a simple but effective way. As they
chugged along, he made notes of certain spots and told Kamuka to
remember them on his own. When they reached a similar place, Biff asked
Kamuka to tell him the difference.Always, Kamuka came up with some
slight variation that tallied with Biff's list. When they swung into a small cove past a jutting point with an odd
overhanging tree, Biff was sure that they had seen the place before.This time, Kamuka couldn't come up with enough differences in the
scenery. Triumphantly, Biff was saying:
"You see, Kamuka?This could be the same place where we were an hour
ago, or enough like it so you can't tell the difference--"
"Except," said Kamuka, "that there was no smoke in trees, no campfire
with people around, no boats coming out from shore--"
Biff looked up in surprise.He saw more boats, a whole batch of them,
shooting out from opposite points to block off any retreat.More than a dozen in number, those boats were filled with natives who
shouted savage war cries as they closed in on Nara's flotilla, forcing
the heavier boats toward the shore.There was no avoiding the camp where
warlike natives waited, armed with spears, for now other canoes were
darting out from hiding places to complete the rapid roundup. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
Rather than be boarded by the natives, Mr. Brewster ordered the boats to
the shore.There, he and Whitman sprang out with loaded rifles. Biff and
Kamuka followed, bringing their machetes. Jacome joined them, armed in
the same fashion. Immediately, they were surrounded by a dozen silent
natives, who stood ready with poised spears. "Be careful," warned Jacome. "Do not make move. Big pot on fire is used
to cook _curare_. Spear point poison--maybe." Between the circling natives, Biff saw the fire and the pot that Jacome
mentioned.It was a big, crude kettle, steaming over the log flames. "I'm glad they're just cooking _curare_," Biff whispered to Kamuka. "I
thought maybe they were boiling some special stuff to shrink our heads. ""Maybe they do just that," returned Kamuka solemnly. "I do not like
this. Not one bit, Biff." A tall chief with a drooping feathered headdress and a plumed belt had
taken charge, and was ordering Nara and the Wai Wais from their boats.Nara's Indians brought their machetes, but old Joe came entirely
unarmed. He jabbered dialect at the feathered chief. Then, finding that
he didn't understand, Nara let Igo and Ubi take over as interpreters.After a brief talk, Nara turned to Mr. Brewster. "They are Maco Indians," stated Nara. "They were told that we intend to
attack their village." "Macus," Biff's father groaned. "I knew they would catch up with us." "Not Macus," corrected Nara. "_Macos_, who live on the upper Orinoco. But they can be just as dangerous, now that they're sure we are their
enemies." "Where did they get that idea?" asked Mr. Brewster. "From three men who stopped at their village near the Casiquiare,"
explained Nara, "and told them that we would come sneaking through the
backwaters to the spot where we are now." "Serbot, Pepito, and Urubu," Mr. Brewster decided grimly. "It must have
been Pepito who stole the map in Manaus. They were unable to locate the
mine on their portion of it, but they cut across our route and stirred
up this tribe against us." "What do we do now?" put in Whitman. "Give them presents and send them
away happy?" "They won't be happy unless they take us, too," declared Nara. "They
want us to accompany them to their village, so that their king can hear
our story. He will decide whether we are guilty or innocent. ""That means he will either find us guilty," observed Mr. Brewster, "or
he'll put us through some ordeal where we will come out more dead than
alive. Should we make a stand for it here?" "Not a chance," returned Nara. "Those spear tips are already poisoned. That's why they're boiling water, to cook up a new brew after they've
used their spears. One false move now, and we're goners. "From the bristling appearance of the spears and the glares of the two
dozen spearmen who now surrounded the party, it looked as though Nara
was right. Impatient mutters were coming from the tribesmen while the
feathered chief awaited a reply. "We can't fight them," declared Mr. Brewster, "and we can't go with
them. What choice does that leave us?" "Only one," replied Nara calmly. "We must convince them that we have a
right to be here, more right, in fact, than they have. "He turned to Ubi
and Igo and announced importantly: "Tell them who I am." Igo and Ubi babbled in dialect with the title "El Dorado" sprinkled
through it, bringing echoing exclamations of "El Dorado" from the Maco
tribesmen.At the finish, Igo spoke simply to Nara:
"They say they like to see you show them." "I'll show them!" Nara made a spreading gesture with his arms. "Tell
them to clear the way to that big pot up there by the fire, and I'll
show them I'm El Dorado! "As Igo translated the statement, the Maco chief ordered his followers to
clear a path, which they did. Old Joe Nara strode forward, nodding his
head as though his triumph was already assured. "I hope," said Kamuka, "that Senhor Nara can do something to help, like
real El Dorado would." "Whatever he does," added Biff fervently, "it will have to be good, if
it's going to help at all! "CHAPTER XVII
The Man of Gold
When Joe Nara reached the big campfire, he extended his hands above the
simmering kettle and swept them back and forth in slow, impressive
fashion.His back was toward the half-circle of tribesmen, but now, he
changed position. First to the right, then to the left of the fire, Nara repeated his odd
ritual.Finally, he stepped beyond the fire and turned to face the group
through the rising steam which wavered and curled about his arms as he
repeated his ceremony.Two savage spearmen had stepped up to flank him with poised weapons, but
Nara paid them no attention. Biff looked slowly around and saw that he
and his father were under similar guard.So were Kamuka and Hal Whitman,
as well as Jacome and the other natives. Whatever Nara might do, there
would be no chance to make a run for the boats. Now Nara was drawing his shirt sleeves clear up past his elbows.He
looked like a wizened wizard as he showed one bare arm and then the
other, holding his upraised hands with widespread fingers.Looking
toward the sun, which was almost overhead, Nara made a clutching motion
with his right hand; then a downward throw toward the kettle, as though
flinging blobs of sunlight into the bubbling liquid.Then, he boldly drove his right arm shoulder deep into the kettle,
keeping it there while he stirred the boiling water with his bare arm. The tribesmen began an excited babble when they realized that Nara was
unharmed.It became a shout when Nara brought his hand from the kettle
and raised it high, for all to see.From fingertips to above his elbow, Nara's hand and arm glittered like
burnished gold, catching the sparkle of the sunlight which he had
seemingly captured to transform his flesh into that precious metal.Now
the tribesmen were shouting recognition:
"El Dorado! El Dorado!" Nara apparently had turned legend into fact. To prove his power, he
repeated the process with his left arm.He showed it bare and white,
dipped it deep into the hissing water and brought it out all golden like
his right. The cry of "El Dorado! El Dorado!" increased as Nara stalked among the
Maco tribesmen, showing them his hands and arms at close range.The
warriors were awed, from their chief down to the pair of spearmen who
were supposed to keep Nara a prisoner--something which they had now
forgotten in their amazement. The Wai Wais remained silent.Igo, Ubi, and Nara's other followers had
seen him perform this wonder. They took his power for granted. Now, at a
word from Nara, Igo and Ubi gathered up small pebbles which they showed
to the Maco tribesmen.Nara went back to the big kettle, and there he took pebbles first from
Igo, then from Ubi, promptly dipping them in the bubbling brew. As he
brought out the pebbles, he held them in the sunlight, showing them to
be pure gold.Nara gave the magic stones to Igo and Ubi to distribute
among the Maco warriors, who crowded forward to receive the gifts. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
Biff found himself practically alone beside his father. In an awed tone,
Biff asked, "How did Nara work that trick, Dad? ""He stirred the water to reduce its temperature," explained Mr.
Brewster. "It had begun to boil at the top, but was still cool below. I've seen the Fiji Islanders do a similar stunt." "But how did he turn his hands and arms all golden? ""With some dye, probably, that he dropped into the water while he was
making passes over it." "I still can't see how he managed to fool those natives into thinking
that those colored pebbles are real gold. ""They are real gold," Biff's father stated, with a smile. "Remember all
those nuggets that Nara carries? I think he has been palming them from
his pockets. Every time he dips a pebble into the kettle, he lets it
drop and brings out a nugget instead. "Biff watched Nara give the dip treatment to a few more pebbles, then
nodded. "I think you're right, Dad," said Biff, "but Nara is mighty clever at
it. Only why is he handing out so many nuggets?" "To buy our freedom, son," returned Mr. Brewster."Look. Nara is
bargaining with the chief right now." The nuggets apparently weren't enough, for the Maco chief was shaking
his head emphatically. Nara promptly came up with a much bigger offer.He picked some stones the size of hen's eggs and began passing them
among the tribesmen, who nodded eagerly. "Nara can't possibly be carrying nuggets the size of those stones,"
declared Mr. Brewster. "They'd weigh him down so he couldn't walk.Get
ready now to run for it." Biff passed the word to Kamuka, who relayed it to Whitman. By then, the
Maco chief had accepted the ransom offer, but wanted the big stones
turned to gold.Nara went to the kettle, pretended to throw in more
fistfuls of sunlight, then turned to the chief and made a beckoning
gesture, as he cackled:
"Come and get it! "Headed by the chief, the tribesmen made a charge for the magic kettle,
all anxious to turn their stones into gold before the pot ran out of
concentrated sunlight.Nara stepped away to let them pass, then waved
for Mr. Brewster and the rest to begin their own dash the opposite way.They raced for the boats and were clambering on board, with Nara only a
few yards behind them, when the milling tribesmen noticed their flight. Still, the natives were too busy to be bothered until they found that
the stones refused to turn to gold.Then they threw them down and
grabbed up their spears instead, but by that time the motors were
spinning and the boats were under way, with Igo hauling Nara over the
side of their _monteria_ while Ubi handled the helm.Some of the natives started a pursuit in their canoes, but the outboards
soon outdistanced them. All seemed safe and serene during the next half
hour, while they followed deep though sometimes narrow channels.Then,
from far in the jungle behind them, came the _bom-bom-bom_ of a savage
drum. Nara signaled for the boats to draw together for a conference. In a
worried tone, old Joe announced:
"Maco drums. You can hear them for thirty or forty miles.They are
telling other tribes to be on the watch for us. So be ready for
trouble." He paused, then asked Mr. Brewster in a low, confidential
tone, "How did you like the golden arm trick?" "Very good," replied Mr. Brewster. "But these natives use paints
themselves to color their faces and bodies, so I can't understand how
you fooled them with a dye." Biff was close enough to hear Nara's chuckle. "I didn't use dye," Nara stated. "I used a fine powder made from dried
plants, sprinkled with tiny flakes of gilt, that spreads on the water
like a dust. Dip your hand in and bring it out, the stuff gathers and
clings like a snug rubber glove. After it dries, you wipe it off." Nara showed his hands, now perfectly clean; then added, "I sprinkled
just about enough for myself, so those Indians didn't get any on their
own hands.They still think that I alone have the golden touch, but even
my being El Dorado won't help us now that they feel I robbed them." An hour later, the drums were still throbbing when Joe Nara pointed
above the jungle to a huge, flat-topped mountain that towered like a
mighty mesa above the wavy green. "Cerro Duida," called Nara, from his boat. "One of the biggest mountains
in the Parima chain, about a mile and a half high. It was a long time
before anybody climbed it, because Indians are afraid to go with them,
on account of the spirits they think live on top.It's kind of tied in
with the El Dorado story. Anyway, Cerro Duida is close to the Orinoco
River--"
Nara broke off as some canoes came scooting from the canal banks, filled
with armed natives.Motors were opened to the full, and the flotilla
again outdistanced the native dugouts. But Biff, at the bow of his
father's _monteria_, saw new problems ahead. "We've missed the main channel, Dad," Biff called to the stem. "It's
shallow ahead, with a lot of sandbars." Mr. Brewster cut off his motor and signaled for the other boats to do
the same. "We'd better pole our way through," he decided. "We still have time
before those natives catch up with us, and we can't risk getting
stranded on a sandbar." "Watch where you push pole," Kamuka advised Biff. "Big _sucuria_ may
wrap around it. "As Kamuka pointed, Biff saw a huge anaconda lazily sunning itself on a
sandbar near the canal bank. Beyond that were others; in fact, the area
was alive with the giant snakes, though none appeared to be active.Carefully, the boats were poled through the channels without disturbing
the basking boas. Biff looked back and counted a dozen of them, still in
repose.Snakes as well as shallows had been avoided, when Nara's boat
ran on a hidden sandbar that the others had crossed. With its heavy
cargo of ore, Nara's _monteria_ refused to budge.Mr. Brewster attached lines to Nara's boat, so that the others could
haul it free. He told everybody to pole at once, and his plan seemed
certain of success, when Nara shrilled:
"Look back there!" Native canoes had come around the bend.Seeing the flotilla stuck among
the sandbars, the tribesmen increased their paddle strokes. Nara grabbed
a rifle and shouted to Mr. Brewster:
"Get your boats clear! I'll fight them off!" "Keep going!" ordered Mr. Brewster.Then, to Nara, he called: "Don't
start shooting! They outnumber us ten to one, and those spears of theirs
have poison tips. Once they start throwing them, we won't have a
chance--"
It was too late.Joe Nara couldn't be stopped, once his mind was made
up. He opened fire at the canoes when they reached the first sandbar. Two dozen warriors rose to fling their deadly spears!CHAPTER XVIII
Urubu Again
With the first crackle of Nara's rifle, Mr. Brewster shouted, "Down
everybody--and get ready for them!" That, Biff knew, could be more than
just a shower of spears.The warriors themselves would be arriving next,
with other weapons. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
The only hope would be a few more pole thrusts, but
while that might save some of the party, it wouldn't help Joe Nara. It happened though, that Nara had helped himself.Those crazy shots that
peppered the sandbars without coming near a canoe, unleashed a terrific
force that took the native warriors by complete surprise. As they poised
their spears, the sandbanks sprang into life before their eyes.Roused by the blasts of Nara's guns and the ping of the bullets in their
sandy sunning spot, the anacondas lashed their way straight downstream
in a broad horde of writhing fury that seemed to stretch like a
monstrous ribbon, two hundred feet in length.The stampede of mighty boa constrictors swept everything from their
path. Their thick bodies and lashing coils spilled the canoes and
plunged the native warriors into the canal, spears and all. The snakes didn't stop their mad rush.They whacked natives as well as
boats when they passed them and left the canoes drifting in a churn of
foam that made the canal look like a rapids clear beyond the bend. Then
the living tidal wave was gone as quickly as it had begun.But Mr.
Brewster wasn't waiting for the natives to reclaim their canoes and
spears so as to return to action. "Back to the poles!" he ordered. "Heave away--away, everybody--and you,
too, Nara! "Old Joe, his face gleaming in happy surprise at the thing he had touched
off, now laid aside his rifle and helped pry the barge from its sandy
perch.By the time the hostile tribesmen were wading up on the sandbars
that the anacondas had left, Nara's boat was free.Outboards roared anew
as the flotilla plowed its way to the main channel and on to the
junction of the Casquiare and the Orinoco, where they headed downstream.The rhythmic beat of distant tom-toms could still be heard that evening,
when the motors were stopped and the boats allowed to drift down the
river under a brilliant tropical moon.By morning, the drums had ceased,
indicating that the Maco tribe had either given up the chase or that the
flotilla was beyond the danger zone. From then on, the expedition traveled mostly by day and picked suitable
campsites overnight.Biff and Kamuka fished frequently and replenished
the food supply by catching huge river turtles as well as a tasty
species of catfish called _cajaro_. Biff landed one that measured well
over three feet in length.Some nights, the boats were lashed side by side and moored near river
settlements where they formed what Hal Whitman termed a "floating
mansion," complete to the kitchen. At one village, Joe Nara bought
stacks of huge cassava cakes.These measured two and a half feet across,
but were only a half-inch thick. They had been brought upriver wrapped
in plantain leaves.These formed the main food for the Wai Wais accompanying Nara, and
Jacome and Kamuka liked them too, though Biff found them rather
tasteless. In contrast were some cayman eggs, which the boys dug up on a
sandy shore while hunting turtles with Jacome.The Indians, Kamuka
included, found them tasty indeed, but they were too strong in flavor to
suit Biff. Caymans were the great menace of the Orinoco, so the boys were duly
warned against them.Closely resembling alligators, they were supposed
to measure twenty-five feet or more in length. But when Kamuka called,
"There's a big one! "and Mr. Brewster promptly drilled it with a rifle
shot, the cayman measured only twelve feet, when it was hauled on board
the kitchen _monteria_. "When you see a creature in motion," Mr. Brewster told the boys, "and
particularly a bird, or its cousin, a reptile, you always gain an
exaggerated idea of its length." "Eggs-aggerate?" Kamuka repeated the unfamiliar term. "You mean eggs
look long too?" "Not eggs-actly," put in Biff, with a smile, "but if we'd looked much
longer at those cayman eggs, they would have hatched." Mr. Brewster smiled at the jokes, then became serious. "You must learn what it means to gauge speed in terms of distance," he
declared. "When we reach the rapids where the Ventuari flows into the
Orinoco, you boys can take the boat down through. "When they reached the rapids, Mr. Brewster gave the helm to Biff, then
told Kamuka to mind the bow and watch for rocks. Mr. Brewster went into
the thatched cabin, but from there, he kept a sharp lookout in case the
boys ran into trouble.Biff realized that his dad was standing by in case of emergency, but
unless something of the sort developed, Biff knew he would be on his
own. What a thrill it was!Kamuka watched like a cat, to copy any move made by Jacome and the
stolid natives who were warding off rocks from the bows of the other
boats. Biff kept an eager eye on Whitman, Joe Nara, and the Wai Wai who
was piloting the kitchen barge.When Biff saw that they were watching
the man in the bow, he did the same. Time and again, Kamuka would raise his paddle to jab at a threatening
rock. Always, Biff handled the helm accordingly. Kamuka nodded his head
admiringly.He was crediting Biff with being a wonderful pilot, never
realizing that he was furnishing the tip-off that enabled his friend to
demonstrate such skill.Twice, though, it was Kamuka's quick work with the paddle that staved
off a crash on the rocks before Biff could bring the helm about.When at
last they were drifting in the calm water below the rapids, Biff sprang
forward over the thatched cabin and grabbed Kamuka's hand, exclaiming:
"Great work, Kamuka! We make a perfect team! "Kamuka smiled solemnly as he repeated:
"We make--perfect team." Mr. Brewster came from the cabin and clapped a hand on each boy's
shoulder. "You do make a perfect team," he complimented. "Just remember it. "They remembered it, several nights later, when they sat around the
campfire after a _cajaro_ dinner. "Tomorrow," stated Mr. Brewster, "we come to the Maipures Rapids." "Can we take the boat down through them?" queried Biff. "I mean, Kamuka
and I? ""None of our boats will shoot the Maipures," said Mr. Brewster. "They
are impassable. So are the rapids of the Atures, forty miles below. A
road has been built around both rapids, so that trucks can transport us
with our boats. "Joe Nara gave a high-pitched snort. "That's where Serbot will be waiting for us," he declared. "That's for
sure." "I'm not so sure," put in Hal Whitman. "After he sold us out to those
Indians on the Casquiare, he probably headed back the other way, down
the Rio Negro." "Not if he figured we'd be coming down the Orinoco. "Whitman and Nara both turned to Mr. Brewster, to see if he could settle
the argument. As he lighted his pipe, Mr. Brewster stated calmly:
"It's about an even chance that Serbot came this way.If he did, he will
probably be watching the road to see if we come through." "That's right," declared Nara. "We'd better keep a sharp lookout when we
reach that portage. ""Serbot may be watching for us," agreed Mr. Brewster, "but he won't be
able to make trouble for us there." "After what he's already done," argued Nara, "he might give us trouble
anywhere. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
"When they reached Sanariapo, the tiny village at the head of the upper
rapids, Biff and Kamuka noticed some natives watching Igo and Ubi carry
sacks of ore up over the sloping rock between the river and the highway,
where transport trucks were waiting to load the boats as well as the
cargo.The boys reported this to Biff's father, who talked with the truck
drivers and learned that the hangers-on were simply hoping to pick up a
few _bolivars_ in Venezuelan money by helping load the trucks. But that
didn't satisfy Joe Nara. "If they can't make a _bolivar_ one way," he argued, "they may try
another. Like telling people about our gold ore."
"Here at Sanariapo," stated Mr. Brewster, "there is no one for them to
tell. ""They might pass the word along to Puerto Ayacucho, below the lower
rapids," returned Nara. "I'll go ahead on the first truck with Igo and
Ubi, so I can check on any rumors. "It took most of the day to make trucking arrangements, and to transport
boats as well as cargo over the modern highway that spans the
intervening streams on big steel bridges.Biff found the trip
interesting, with stretches of open country and barren hills as well as
wooded slopes and forested areas.The highway followed the right bank of the Orinoco, which belongs to
Venezuela, while the land on the other side of the river is part of the
Republic of Colombia.At Puerto Ayacucho, they found Igo and Ubi waiting
to load the ore sacks into Nara's _monteria_, when it arrived. But there
was no sign of Nara. According to Igo and Ubi, Nara had gone somewhere immediately after
arriving in Puerto Ayacucho.But Mr. Brewster, inquiring at stores,
hotels, and elsewhere, was unable to find anyone who had even seen the
old white-haired prospector. "The only place left," Mr. Brewster declared, chuckling, "is the
governor's office.Maybe Joe Nara is having lunch with His Excellency. Should we try there?" "I don't think so," returned Hal Whitman dryly. "From the way Nara looks
for trouble, we might do better if we asked at the local calaboose."Mr. Brewster smiled at that reference to the town jail. "I've already asked there," he said.Then, turning to the boys, he
added, "Look around for Nara, and if you don't have any luck, I guess
we'll have to call on the governor's office to help us find him." Kamuka noticed some natives lounging near an old shack on the high bank
of the river. "Maybe they have seen Senhor Nara," Kamuka said to Biff. "But you will
have to ask them. They do not speak Portuguese as I do. They talk
Spanish, which you understand. "When they approached the group, Biff addressed the nearest native, who
was huddled by the wall, his chin buried deep in his red bandanna
neckerchief and his gaze turned toward the river. "_Oiga, amigo_," began Biff. "_Soy buscando un viejo son pelo bianco_--"
Biff was saying that he was looking for an old man with white hair, but
he got no further. The slouchy native came to his feet and spun about
with a snarl.As Biff dropped back, he found himself staring into the vicious, hawkish
face of Urubu! CHAPTER XIX
Partners in Crime
"Look out, Biff! He may have a knife! "The warning came from Kamuka as the Indian boy grabbed Biff's arm,
hauling him away from Urubu. But there was no way for them to dodge,
except toward the wall, as Urubu was between them and the corner of the
building.Then, from around that very corner came a limber figure, a thin man clad
in dungarees and a big sombrero, whose tight fists moved like pistons as
they jabbed at Urubu's face.Jolted backward, Urubu dropped the knife
that he was pulling from beneath his shirt. Warding off a few blows, he
turned and ran wildly for a landing below the riverbank.The boys turned to thank their rescuer, who had lost his big sombrero
and was stooping to pick up the wide-brimmed hat. They were amazed when
they saw his smiling face and white hair. The man who had routed Urubu
was Joe Nara. "The way to spot snoopers," advised Nara, "is to go snooping for them. Nobody would know old Joe Nara in this outfit, particularly with his
white hair out of sight. "Nara chuckled as he put on the sombrero, showing how quick and complete
the change was. Then Nara pointed to the river where a small, squat
motorboat was scudding downstream. "There goes Urubu," said Nara, "with another rat who was waiting for
him, probably Pepito. They're going to tell their boss Serbot that the
gold rush is coming his way. "The boys couldn't see the boat closely, because they faced the glare of
the late afternoon sun. When they told Mr. Brewster what had happened,
he agreed with Nara. "We'll keep going downstream, though," Mr. Brewster decided, "until we
reach the rapids above Puerto Carreno, the only town on the Colombian
side of the river." "Can we go through those rapids?" asked Biff. "Yes, they are quite navigable," his father replied, "but that is where
Serbot and his crew will be waiting to attack us. If we get by the
rapids, we'll be all right, because Mr. Stannart should be at Puerto
Carreno in his yacht, by this time. ""Can he come that far up the Orinoco, Dad?" "Yes, he can make it," replied Mr. Brewster. "And in his letter he said
he would, unless we met him farther downriver. Since we have taken
longer than the time he allotted us, we should find him there.Then
we'll close the mining deal with you, Joe." "If we get there," put in Nara glumly. "We can't go around those rapids
unless we take a back trail, and Serbot will be watching that, too. "As the loaded flotilla continued down the river, Mr. Brewster continued
to weigh the coming problem. He was hoping that a solution might crop
up, and as the expedition approached the rapids, the answer came.Back from the river on the Venezuelan side stood an old, abandoned
blockhouse flanked by a few dilapidated mud huts. "We'll make camp there," Mr. Brewster decided. "We can bring enough
supplies into the blockhouse to hold Serbot off if he tries to attack
us." "Do you think he has spies watching for us now?" asked Biff. "Very probably," his father rejoined. "And when he learns that we aren't
coming down the river, he will have to come up here to find us." Mr. Brewster signaled the other boats to shore, and when they landed, he
explained full details of his plan. "Tomorrow, Nara," stated Mr. Brewster, "I want you to move your Wai Wai
Indians down by a back trail to the rapids. They should be able to creep
up on Serbot's crew without his knowing it." Nara nodded agreement. "As soon as Serbot becomes impatient and starts up here," Mr. Brewster
went on, "the Wai Wais can spring a surprise attack on any men that he
leaves there. Then, before Serbot has time to attack us here, we'll come
down the river in the boats.We'll pick your men up at the rapids, where
they will have cleared the way for us." "But what about my _monteria_?" asked Nara, tilting his head in canny
style. "It has all the gold ore. Remember? ""We'll bring it with the other boats," promised Mr. Brewster. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
"It means
more to me than to you, Nara, because you have lots more back at El
Dorado. But these are the samples that I need to show Mr. Stannart and
close the deal for Ajax. ""But suppose Serbot does attack here?" "We'll drive him off from the blockhouse. When he sees that we are well
fortified, he is sure to withdraw until he can bring up more men. Your
Wai Wais will have taken care of them.That's when we'll surprise him by
dashing out to the boats and starting down the river." They spent the rest of the day bringing the supplies in from the boats
and putting the blockhouse into shape.The small windows of the square,
squatty building were equipped with screens, but most of them were in
poor condition. Mr. Brewster insisted upon repairing them first. "Let's get fortified against mosquitoes and other insects for tonight,"
he suggested. "During the evening, we can strengthen the shutters and
fix loopholes so as to fight off Serbot and his pests tomorrow or
whenever they come this way. "While the others worked late into the evening, Joe Nara strode about
wearing a gun belt with two revolvers poking from its holsters, ready
for trouble. Later Nara and his Wai Wais slept under netting on their
_monterias_, so as to get a good rest.In the blockhouse, the other members of the party took turns at guard
duty through the night. At dawn, Jacome awakened Biff, who was scheduled
to take over at that time.From one of the screened windows, Biff saw
the squatty figures of Igo and Ubi emerge from Nara's _monteria_. They
roused the other Indians, and soon were stealthily moving off among the
trees, to seek a trail to the rapids.The next few hours were the longest that Biff had ever experienced. The
others woke up, had breakfast, and strolled about the camp. But the very
air seemed charged with expectancy.It would probably be mid-afternoon,
perhaps even later in the day, before a move came from the other
camp--if a move came at all.Mr. Brewster, Hal Whitman, and Jacome were all carrying their rifles,
fully loaded, but that was purely a matter of precaution. "Nara's party can't have reached the rapids yet," Mr. Brewster told Biff
and Kamuka. "Even so, they won't make a move unless Serbot starts out
with his main force. If he sends some men ahead, they may try some
sniping so, naturally, we must be ready.But that will show their
hand--"
A sudden interruption came from the surrounding trees, the blasts of a
dozen guns or more. Mr. Brewster wheeled and fired back from the spot
where he was standing, midway between the blockhouse and the boats.Mr. Whitman and Jacome were nearer the blockhouse. They turned and fired,
too. A bigger volley answered from a wider angle, accompanied by the whine of
bullets that were high, but close. Whitman was shouting from near the
blockhouse:
"This way!Quick, or you'll be cut off! Serbot is here with his whole
outfit!" Amid new gunbursts, Mr. Brewster made a rapid decision. He pointed the
boys to the shore and told them:
"Quick! Get to Nara's _monteria_.Start it down the river, and don't
stop until you reach Stannart's yacht!" The boys were on their way, and Mr. Brewster was dashing back to the
blockhouse, to join Whitman and Jacome.He made it safely, although he
drew the fire of Serbot's followers, who were now visible as they came
clambering, shouting, from the surrounding brush.But Biff and Kamuka were now beyond the range of immediate gunfire when
they boarded the _monteria_. Then they had the big motor started, and
the heavily loaded boat was plowing its way out to the middle of the
Orinoco.When Biff looked back, he saw tiny figures on the shore, but the boat
was now half a mile away, too far for bullets to reach it. "Serbot staged a surprise attack of his own," Biff told Kamuka, who was
with him in the stem. "And Dad had promised Nara that he would get this
_monteria_ down the river. So here we are!" "Soon we reach rapids," was Kamuka's comment. "I better get ready so we
can work like team. "The space under the thatched cabin was stacked with packs as well as
sacks of ore, so Kamuka didn't try to crawl through it to reach the bow
of the boat.Instead, he scrambled over the low roof, picked up a paddle
from the forward cockpit, and waved back to Biff as he took his
position. Soon the white foam of the rapids showed ahead.Biff steered for what
looked like the main channel, and the _monteria_ was swept into a series
of whirlpools that licked the sides of jutting black rocks.The contrast
in color helped Kamuka ward off those obstacles, while Biff did some
fancy piloting to keep to the channel. Then, as Biff veered from a new hazard in the shape of a sandbank, he
saw what he had feared most.Human figures rose from the tall grass
beyond the sandy shoal and aimed rifles directly at the swift-moving
boat and the boys who manned it.They were Serbot's reserves, Biff realized, stationed here to block the
flotilla if it came down the rapids, and Biff was sure he saw the
gleaming face of Urubu in the midst of the group.Urubu was finding it
an easy task with only a single _monteria_ coming his way. He waved his
hand as a signal to fire. As the rifles barked, Biff gunned the motor, adding enough speed to
carry the boat from the path of fire.But Urubu's crew was aiming again,
this time at point-blank range. Fortunately their fire never came. The
tall grass stirred behind them, and from it sprang Igo, Ubi, and the
rest of Nara's Indians.The Wai Wais had been stalking Urubu's riflemen to the edge of the
sandbank. The first blast of gunfire had given away the position of
Urubu's men.Now, the Wai Wais were engulfing them like a human tidal
wave, while Biff and Kamuka resumed their battle with the rapids,
keeping the big, clumsy boat clear of the rocks and sand.Finally, the water subsided, and they were chugging peacefully down the
river past the little settlement of Puerto Carreno and a great jutting
point of sand where the Meta River flowed in from the left to join the
Orinoco.Kamuka waved his paddle and pointed ahead. Moored well away from the
channel was a sleek white craft that could only be Mr. Stannart's yacht,
the _Coronet_.Though small, it had a trim build that marked it
seaworthy, capable of braving the Caribbean, yet also suited to river
travel. Smiling men in trim uniforms appeared on deck as Biff maneuvered the
_monteria_ alongside the yacht.The boys made their boat fast and
clambered up a rope ladder to find Mr. Stannart coming from his cabin to
greet them. Biff introduced Kamuka, then started to pour out his story
in one breath:
"Dad's upriver in a lot of trouble.Old Joe Nara is somewhere along the
rapids. But we've brought the gold ore from the mine, down there in the
boat--"
Mr. Stannart smilingly interrupted with a wave toward the cabin as he
suggested:
"Step in there and tell me all about it.I have a friend who would like
to hear it too. You will agree when you meet him--"
The boys entered the compact cabin, then stopped short in amazement. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
Mr.
Stannart's friend was smiling, too, but in a way that was anything but
pleasant.For both Biff and Kamuka had seen that fixed smile before. The man who awaited them in the cabin was Nicholas Serbot!CHAPTER XX
The Tables Turn
Gripped by utter astonishment, Biff could only stare from Serbot to
Stannart. When he found his voice, he blurted out accusingly:
"You two must have been working together from the very start! ""Not quite," declared Mr. Stannart dryly, "although I must say that Mr.
Serbot and I have continually operated along similar lines.However, it
wasn't until after your father told the Ajax Corporation about Lew Kirby
and his wonderful mine that I even heard of Nicholas Serbot." "And I," rejoined Serbot, with his same fixed smile, "had never heard of
the Ajax Mining Corporation. ""Despite the fact that your father was impressed by Kirby's story,"
Stannart told Biff, "Ajax still had to investigate it. Kirby had samples
of gold that might have come from many places, and his map could have
meant nothing.It was necessary to obtain some reports from the upper
region of the Rio Negro. I learned that certain European interests were
checking on the same story." "And I," added Serbot, "happened to represent some of those interests. ""So while the directors of the Ajax Corporation dawdled," continued
Stannart, "I contacted the competition. I had much to offer that they
needed, as Mr. Serbot will agree." "And I," said Serbot, "advised them to meet the price, which
included--this. "By "this" Serbot referred to the stolen portion of Kirby's map, which he
spread on the desk in front of him. Biff started to say something, then
caught himself. Gregg Stannart recognized what was in Biff's mind and
promptly expressed it. "I needed a go-between," Stannart asserted. "Some way to enable Serbot
to use the information I could give him without bringing suspicion on
myself." "So you gave me that letter!" exclaimed Biff. He turned accusingly
toward Serbot. "And you tried to steal it from me on the plane! It was
all arranged beforehand!" "All very nicely arranged," agreed Stannart, "because I wanted to keep
my job with Ajax if the El Dorado story proved to be a hoax. ""Since I might have seen the address on the envelope you carried,"
Serbot told Biff, "you and your father guessed that I sent Pepito to
steal your precious map, which was exactly what I wanted.What you
didn't guess was that Stannart was in on the game. The funniest
part"--for once, Serbot's smile seemed real--"was that I had a carbon
copy of Stannart's letter to your father, here in my pocket all the
time! "Biff swelled with indignation until he happened to glance toward Kamuka. All this talk had left Kamuka totally unimpressed.In Kamuka's eyes,
Biff saw only the same appeal that had been present that day when Biff
had pulled the other boy from the quicksand. Biff suddenly realized that
now they both were in something equally deep and probably just as
deadly.Since he couldn't say anything that would help, Biff said
nothing. Stannart turned to Serbot and put the question:
"What should we do with these boys?" "I don't know," returned Serbot harshly. "Maybe they should have upset
their boat and drowned, coming down through those rapids. If something
like that had happened--"
"No, no," Stannart interrupted. "Your men will have taken care of
Brewster and his party by now.But we still need the boys to help us. Suppose we take them up the river, as far as the torn portion of your
map--"
Stannart was leaning forward, pointing to the map with one hand, but he
had his other hand in his pocket, as though gripping a gun. "Of course!" exclaimed Serbot, who had one hand in a pocket, too. "Then
they could take us back to where they came from, to this El Dorado that
Nara talked about. "Both Stannart and Serbot were glaring hard at Biff as though now it was
his turn to speak. Biff's throat was dry, for he realized that these two
men, in their desire for gold, would think nothing about snuffing out
his life and Kamuka's.Somebody had to speak for Biff right then--and
somebody did, from the door of the cabin. "Nobody talks about El Dorado," a crackly voice announced, "except Joe
Nara, the man who owns it. "There in the doorway stood old Joe, both his guns drawn from their
holsters, one fixed on Stannart, the other on Serbot. At Nara's nod, the
two men brought their hands from their pockets empty. They knew the old
man meant business. "Pretty smart, both of you," Nara said. "I never even guessed your game,
Stannart, probably because I never met you before. But having seen you
now, I think I would have known you for a rat from away back. "But I figured you out, Serbot.I knew what you were after--that cargo
of mine. So I stayed with them." Nara gave his head a quick tilt, to
smile at Biff and Kamuka. "Yes, boys, I sent my Wai Wais down to the
rapids, while I stayed in the cabin of my _monteria_. "Next thing I knew"--Nara gave a chuckle--"you were bringing me
downriver, and a right good job you were making of it, too. Finally, you
hauled up beside this yacht and went on board.When you didn't come
back, I reckoned you might be needing old Joe, so I moseyed on board,
and here I am. "Still keeping Stannart and Serbot covered with his guns, Nara shifted
his elbow toward his hip pocket to indicate a coil of rope that
projected there. "Take that rope," Nara told the boys, "and tie them up tight.Gag them,
too, with their handkerchiefs. If they don't have any, use your own. Make a good job of it. I want them to be here when I send around for
them." Biff and Kamuka followed Nara's instructions eagerly.They did a good
job with the gags, too, while Nara, brandishing his guns, kept talking
to Stannart and Serbot in an accusing tone. "I figured you out before I ever met you," declared Nara, "because I
knew I'd be meeting up with rats some time, and you just happened to be
it. You figured you'd get rid of me if you could, and even if you
couldn't you'd jump my claim.After all, who was Joe Nara? Just some
crazy guy who thought he'd found El Dorado. "Crazy, yes, but like a fox. I came down the Orinoco more than once to
make sure my claim was registered after each political shakeup in
Venezuela.I didn't even take any chances on this last trip." Nara paused, then chuckled as he turned to the boys who had finished
tying Stannart and Serbot in their chairs. "Remember how I dropped from sight in Puerto Ayacucho?" asked Nara. "Do
you know where I was most of the day? Having lunch with His Excellency,
the governor of the Amazonas Territory, that's where. I told him some
people were trying to steal my claim. He said he wouldn't let them get
away with it. "After I left his office, I snooped around and happened to be handy when
you ran into trouble with Urubu. I'd finished my business with the
governor. He said if he didn't hear from me, he'd send some soldiers
downriver to look me up. | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
"Nara examined the knots that the boys had tied and gave an approving
nod. He beckoned them out through the cabin door, which he closed behind
him.The yacht's crew suspected nothing, for they helped Nara and the
boys over the rail and down into their waiting _monteria_. As they started up the broad Orinoco, Nara pointed to some boats that
were coming toward them. "Government boats," he chuckled, "bringing those soldiers I spoke
about." When they met the boats, they found the other _monterias_ with them,
manned by Biffs father, Mr. Whitman, and Jacome.The Venezuelan troops
had arrived at the blockhouse during the battle and had helped rout
Serbot's followers, who were commanded by Pepito. In the rapids, they had contacted Nara's Wai Wais, who had overpowered
and captured Urubu and his crew.Igo and Ubi would be along later, Mr.
Brewster stated, bringing their prisoners with them. "But we saw no sign of Serbot," declared Mr. Brewster. "I think we
should offer a reward for his capture.I'll talk to Mr. Stannart about
it, when I see him on the yacht." "You better wait, Dad, till we tell you what happened," Biff advised
soberly. Mr. Brewster was shocked when he heard Biff's story. "I can hardly
believe it!" he exclaimed. "Gregg Stannart, of all men! But now that I
think of it," he added thoughtfully, "there's been a piece missing from
the puzzle right along--and Stannart was it!" He shook his head. "I
still can't believe it. "Now Mr. Brewster was more eager than anyone to take Stannart and Serbot
into custody. As they approached the _Coronet_, they noticed excitement
on the deck.Mr. Brewster studied the yacht through his binoculars and
announced:
"I see Stannart and Serbot, both of them. The crew must have found them
in the cabin and released them. "A fast boat containing a squad of Venezuelan soldiers sped ahead to
board the yacht.Sight of the military uniforms must have quenched any
desire for fight in Stannart and Serbot, for suddenly a little motor
launch scooted from the far side of the yacht and bounded through the
choppy waves toward the left bank of the river.Only Stannart and Serbot were in the tiny tender. The boat with the
Venezuelan soldiers turned to pursue it, opening rifle fire, but the
fugitives kept on. Then, just as it seemed sure they would be overtaken,
the chase ended.The soldiers, about to fire at close range, suddenly
lowered their rifles. "It's too late," declared Mr. Brewster glumly. "They can't be captured
now.They have passed the middle of the river and are across the
international line, in Colombian jurisdiction." The captain of the yacht was astonished when told the reason for
Stannart's flight.He and his crew had known nothing about Stannart's
double-dealing. They had supposed that Serbot was simply a friend who
had come on board to meet the owner. They had been puzzled to find the
pair bound and gagged after Nara and the boys had left.Stannart had claimed that Nara and the boys had tried to rob him. The
yacht captain had accepted that explanation until Stannart and Serbot
saw the Venezuelan soldiers and suddenly took flight. Then it was plain
that something was wrong.Contact was made with Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, and from there,
radiograms were relayed to and from New York.Word finally came from the
directors of the Ajax Mining Corporation, stating that they had checked
their accounts and found that Stannart had taken most of the available
funds before starting on his Caribbean yacht trip.The Ajax Corporation obtained an order enabling them to take over the
_Coronet_, and the yacht was placed in Mr. Brewster's charge.They also
authorized Mr. Brewster to complete the transaction with Joe Nara on
whatever terms might be mutually satisfactory. That was done on board the _Coronet_, which was still anchored near the
junction of the Meta and the Orinoco.Mr. Brewster set the date when the
Ajax Corporation would take over the mine with a down payment of a
quarter of a million dollars to Joe Nara and a block of El Dorado stock
that would guarantee him a share of all future profits.That same day, Joe Nara prepared to start back up the Orinoco with Igo,
Ubi, and the other Wai Wais, who were eager to rejoin their fellow
tribesmen as the guardians of El Dorado.Hal Whitman arranged to go
along to represent the Ajax Company, taking Jacome with him. Kamuka
packed his few belongings, expecting to accompany them.The Indian boy
was saying a reluctant good-by to Biff on the deck of the yacht, when
Mr. Brewster quietly commented:
"You don't have to go, Kamuka, if you'd rather come with us." Kamuka's eyes popped wide with eager surprise.Biff showed the same
feeling, when he exclaimed, "You really mean it, Dad?" "I do," rejoined Mr. Brewster. "Hal Whitman told me he has made plans to
send Kamuka to a new school that is opening in Brasilia, the capital of
Brazil.But Hal can't possibly get down there for the next few weeks, or
more. So there's no reason why Kamuka can't come home with us. Then he
can fly to Brasilia after Mr. Whitman arrives there." Biff turned and clapped Kamuka on the shoulder. "Will we have fun, Kamuka! First, the yacht will take us out into the
Atlantic Ocean--"
"I have heard of it," put in Kamuka. "They say it is bigger than a
thousand Amazons." "And you'll see New York, which is more wonderful than any El Dorado! "It was hard to tell which boy felt the greater thrill. Each was glad to
continue a companionship in which they had shared so many adventures,
forming the bonds of a friendship that would last always. Mr. Brewster was the most pleased of all.He stood at the stem of the
yacht with Biff and Kamuka, while they were churning their way down the
broad Orinoco toward Ciudad Bolivar, the largest port on the river.It
was then that Biff turned to his father and said, very seriously:
"Dad, I can't see how Stannart and Serbot missed out. When they used me
as a go-between, they had everything so easy." "So easy, Biff?" "Yes.I must have been a big handicap to the safari. I'd never even seen
a jungle, let alone run into the sort of dangers we found there." "But you learned to meet those dangers, and more." "Well, yes. I certainly did learn some things. ""And so did the rest of us," declared Mr. Brewster. "Our enemies put us
in spots where we had to pull one another out. That was their big
mistake. The situations that we overcame early sharpened us for the
problems we met later.That's why we won out." As Biff nodded slowly, his father added with a smile:
"Think back, Biff, and you'll see how it adds up. "Biff gazed back at the wide Orinoco, tapering to the dim, distant scenes
of those final adventures, and he knew that his dad was right._A Biff Brewster Mystery Adventure_
BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY
By ANDY ADAMS
"Guard this letter as you would your life! | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
"With these words ringing in his ears, Biff Brewster boards the
Brazil-bound plane to join his father on a safari to the headwaters of
the Amazon River--a safari that, to Biff's amazement, becomes a deadly
contest for fabulous riches.From the beginning, Biff, his father, Biffs friend Kamuka, and the rest
of the party find their path menaced by an enemy who never reveals
himself. Is it Nicholas Serbot, the suave stranger whom Biff first meets
on the plane?Or is it Joe Nara, the eccentric old prospector, the only
white man alive who knows the route to the almost legendary El Dorado
gold mine?Biff and Kamuka find their days crowded with the hazards and thrills of
jungle travel as they trek through a wilderness echoing with the threat
of "Macu"--the dreaded head-hunters.And waiting for them at the end of
the trail are a shock and a surprise beyond their wildest dreams. Young readers will love this lively, adventure-filled story with its
combination of realism and fantastic mystery.Here is the first exciting
book in a brand-new series for boys. Other Biff Brewster stories are
also available at your booksellers._NEW!_ BIFF BREWSTER
Mystery Adventures
By ANDY ADAMS
Biff Brewster, sixteen, is a tall, strongly built blond youth who lives
In Indianapolis, Indiana, with his parents and the eleven-year-old
twins, Ted and Monica.Because his mother and father believe that travel
is as important to education as formal schooling, Biff is encouraged to
travel to various countries during the vacation months.His experiences
in these lands, and the young people he meets there, form the basis of a
new series for adventure-loving readers.In every journey there is a
strong element of mystery, usually a direct result of conditions
peculiar to the region in which he is traveling. Thus, in addition to
adventure, these books impart carefully researched information about
foreign countries._Start reading one today_--
(1) BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY
(2) MYSTERY OF THE CHINESE RING
(3) HAWAIIAN SEA HUNT MYSTERY
(4) MYSTERY OF THE MEXICAN TREASURE
(5) AFRICAN IVORY MYSTERY
(6) ALASKA GHOST GLACIER MYSTERY
GROSSET & DUNLAP, Inc.Publisher
New York 10, N. Y.
Transcriber's Notes
--Copyright notice provided as in the original--this e-text is public
domain in the country of publication.--Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and
dialect unchanged. --In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the
HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) | Adams, Andy - Brazilian Gold Mine Mystery |
Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
[Illustration: "_This is it.It's got to be._"]
A BIFF BREWSTER
MYSTERY ADVENTURE
HAWAIIAN
SEA HUNT
MYSTERY
By ANDY ADAMS
GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS
NEW YORK
(c) GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC., 1960
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Contents
CHAPTER PAGE
I Peril in Paradise 1
II A Disturbing Call 5
III Worried Twins 11
IV Aloha!18
V Detective Biff 25
VI The Letter 33
VII An Important Find 41
VIII The Police Call 51
IX Mysterious Message 61
X Starting a Search 70
XI Wharf Rats 76
XII Bomb Away 87
XIII A Near Miss 97
XIV Storm!108
XV Men Missing 117
XVI Held Prisoner 123
XVII A Dangerous Dive 130
XVIII Exploring the Depths 141
XIX Reunion 152
XX Dawn Attack 160
XXI A Human Fish 166
XXII Check-Out 175
HAWAIIAN SEA HUNT MYSTERY
CHAPTER I
Peril in Paradise
In the tropical, jungle-like garden behind the hotel, a man stood
absolutely motionless.The broad trunk of the coconut palm tree behind
which he lurked protected him from being seen by anyone on the hotel's
wide, sweeping porch. The tense set of the man's features showed his growing impatience.The broad porch ran around all four sides of the white, sprawling Royal
Poinciana Hotel on Waikiki Beach, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The porch was
called the "deck," and it had been designed to resemble the promenade
deck of an ocean liner.It was an open porch, or deck, with brightly
colored floral-patterned umbrellas spreading welcome shade. The deck was
spotted with lounge and captain's chairs, and its teak-wood floor was
marked off at regular intervals with shuffleboard courts.The fore deck, that part of the porch running across the front of the
hotel, overlooked the beautiful beach and its rolling, coiling breakers. Chairs and tables scattered on it were occupied by people waiting for
the noon meal.On the rear deck, overlooking the carefully planned,
luxuriant jungle-garden, only one couple could be seen. "Will they never leave?" the man muttered to himself.He looked at his
watch, then carefully peered around the tree, looking up at the deck
jutting out from the hotel's second floor. Just as he did so, the couple got up from their chairs and walked
leisurely away, heading for the other side.The man waited until they
rounded a corner and were out of sight. Then he moved swiftly. His linen-clad figure was a white flash against broad green leaves as he
dashed for the steps leading up to the now unoccupied porch.Once on the
deck, he moved casually, as though he were just another tourist. He
walked softly on crepe-soled shoes, making not a sound.Nearing the center of the porch, the man pressed his back against the
white-painted wall, almost blending into it except for his dark, swarthy
face. Now he moved sidewise, crab-like, until he reached a partly opened
latticed door.He stopped, pressing his head against the slight crack
where the door was hinged. Moments passed. Then he heard the sharp jangling sound of a telephone
ringing from within the room beyond.Next he heard the soft pad of feet
on thick piled carpet as the room's occupant crossed the floor to take
the call. Now the prowler abandoned his extreme caution. He looked through the
partly opened door.He saw the back of a man sitting at a telephone
table. The prowler carefully pulled the door open and slipped into the
room. Its occupant had the phone's receiver to his ear. "On your call to Mr. Thomas Brewster in Indianapolis, Indiana, sir," the
operator was saying, "they are ringing that number now." The prowler crept closer until he was within an arm's length of the
seated man. "Yes," the man said into the telephone. "I'll hold the line." With his
free hand he pulled a well-used pipe from his jacket pocket and stuck it
in his mouth. Then he patted the table for matches. He opened a drawer
and felt in it. The prowler watched his prey anxiously.He was an old man, with shaggy
white hair hanging down almost to his collar. Unable to find a match, the old man had just started to turn when the
operator spoke again. "This is Honolulu, Hawaii, calling Mr. Thomas Brewster," she said.A few
seconds passed. "Here's your party, sir." The prowler stood there, arms raised, the fingers of his cupped hands
spread like talons just over the old man's shoulders. CHAPTER II
A Disturbing Call
"I'll get it!I'll get it!" It was the voice of eleven-year-old Monica Brewster. "You always do," grumbled her twin brother Ted. "I never do get to
answer the telephone. Not when _you're_ in the house." Monica wasn't listening.She was flying into the kitchen to answer the
steady ring before her mother could lift the phone from its cradle. Mr.
Brewster's study was nearer, and there was a telephone in there, too.But Monica knew that her father was in the study, talking to her older
brother Biff. She was sure the call was from her friend Betsy, because
Betsy generally called her about five o'clock in the afternoon.Monica
didn't want her father interrupting her talk with Betts. Daddy didn't
approve of long phone gabs. Moments later, Monica came bursting through the living room. Her
excitement was at a pitch as high as her voice. "Daddy! Daddy!The call's from Honolulu! Someone's calling you from
Honolulu!" "Take it easy, sis, or you'll explode." Biff grinned as he saw the
eagerness on his sister's flushed face. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
Thomas Brewster picked up the telephone.He listened briefly, then
cupped his hand over the mouthpiece and spoke to his older son. "Close the door, Biff. _Behind_ your sister." Biff got up from his chair and gently ushered Monica, protesting, out of
the study.When he turned back, he was startled to see that an
expression of worry clouded his father's face. "Yes, Johann, I agree." Mr. Brewster gave the name its Germanic
pronunciation, "_Yohann_. "Biff could only distinguish a mumble of words coming from nearly four
thousand miles away. "Well, Johann, don't you take any chances yourself," Mr. Brewster
continued. "Wait until I get there.... Danger?There's always danger
when the stakes are as high as those we're playing for.... What!" Thomas
Brewster's frown deepened. "Perez Soto? You say Perez Soto is there? I
don't like that one little bit. The letter, though, you have that safely
hidden? "Again the speaker at the other end took over the conversation. Biff
could hear only a scramble of sounds coming from the telephone. He saw
his father nod his head absently. His brows knitted into deeper thought. "You think your room was searched? "he exclaimed. "Had you hidden the
letter?" Biff watched his father intently. Mr. Brewster listened attentively to a
long reply. At last he said, "That's bad, Johann. Very bad. We'll have
to make the best of it, though. All right, Johann....Yes, leaving here
tomorrow ... Northwest Airlines.... Take off from Seattle early the next
morning, Wednesday, at five A.M. Be in Hawaii about eight o'clock your
time.... You're stopping at the Royal Poinciana, aren't you?... Hello
... hello ...Johann?" Thomas Brewster waited a few moments. "Hello...."
Then he hung up and turned to Biff. "That's funny. He didn't answer. Maybe we were cut off." "Maybe the three minutes were up," Biff suggested with a smile. "That's not as funny as you think, my boy," his father chuckled. "Dr.
Weber's a peculiar man about some things having to do with money. A call
from Honolulu to Indianapolis means nothing to him.But if the operator
told him his three minutes were up, he'd hang up quickly. He obeys what
he thinks are the rules." Biff laughed. "Isn't Dr. Weber the famous scientist? I'm sure I've heard
you speak of him." "That's right, Biff.He's a staff consultant for Ajax. I've worked with
him before." Biff nodded his head. "I thought so." Thomas Brewster was the chief field engineer for the Ajax Mining
Company, headquarters Indianapolis, Indiana.His job took him all over
the world, to many of the strangest and least known spots on the globe. Whenever it was possible, he took sixteen-year-old Biff along. "One of my reasons for going to Hawaii is to meet Dr. Weber," Biff's
father continued now. "You mean the Engineers' Conference isn't the main reason?" Biff asked. Thomas Brewster shook his head. "No. Oh, the meeting is important, all
right. But I doubt if I would have gone out there for that alone. Dr.
Weber wrote me over a month ago.Said he wanted to meet with me and Jim
Huntington. He said it was very important. But he didn't go into
details. I imagine he didn't want to put too much information on paper. Afraid it might be seen by eyes other than my own." Biff was thinking. "It seems to me, Dad, that I've heard you mention
this Mr. Huntington before, too. Am I right?" "Probably. I hadn't heard from Huntington for a long, long time. But he
did some work for me in the past." "What's going on, Dad?And what was all that about a letter?" Thomas Brewster sighed. "Oh, the letter. Forget you _ever_ heard about
it. Dr. Weber told me Jim Huntington was lost at sea sailing up to
Hawaii from New Zealand.Got caught in a terrific storm, and his sloop
sank. He was able to send a radio signal of his position, but Weber said
a sea and air search has failed, so far, to discover any trace of
Huntington or his sloop." "Gee, that's really too bad.Do you know why he wanted to see you and
Dr. Weber?" Biff asked. "I have an idea. And if what I think is true, then Jim Huntington's loss
is a very real one for the whole world." "I heard you mention there might be danger--" Biff stopped.A spark of
excitement flashed across his face. His blue eyes lighted up. "Danger, Biff? Well, we've been in tight spots before. You, in China,
and with me in Brazil. "Tom Brewster paused, then said slowly, "There's
always an element of danger in the work we do for Ajax." Biff, his face serious, nodded his head. He was thinking of Hawaii, our
fiftieth state. What danger could there be there?The telephone operator at the Royal Poinciana Hotel on Waikiki Beach,
Honolulu, looked up as her luncheon relief came into her small room. "Hi. Am I ever glad to see you! I'm just about starved. I'm on a diet. Not for much longer, though.Hey, something funny's going on. That old
gent in suite 210. Made a stateside call just now and didn't hang up
when he finished. Imagine! He left the phone off the hook. I'll tell a
bellboy to hop up there when I go out. "CHAPTER III
Worried Twins
Although he didn't want to show it, eleven-year-old Ted Brewster was
just as excited as his sister over the call from Honolulu. He slipped
quietly over to the door of the study.He wanted to know what the call
was all about. He got there just in time to see Monica ushered firmly
out as Biff closed the door behind her. "Who was it, sis?" Ted demanded. "Don't know." Monica shook her head. "It was just the operator saying
she had a call from Honolulu for Mr. Thomas Brewster." "You'd better go out and hang up the phone in the kitchen," Ted ordered. Monica left the room and returned almost immediately. "You didn't listen in? "Ted asked suspiciously. "Course not! I have very excellent manners. No lady would listen in." "Ha," Ted sneered. "_You_, a lady? A 'leven-year-old-lady!" "I'm older than you," Monica replied. "Ten minutes older. Call that older? I don't.And don't tell me you
never listen in. How 'bout yesterday? When I was talking to Peteso? I
suppose you didn't try to listen in then." "That's different. You're only a kid." "A kid!" This was too much. "And what about you?You think you're so
grown up." The twins glared at one another. Then, without any reason, glares
suddenly turned to smiles, followed by unexplained, uncontrolled
laughter. Neither one of the twins could stay angry very long.When
their giggles died away, they strained their ears toward the study door. "Sure is a long call," Ted said. "Hope nothing's gone wrong." "Gone wrong? What could go wrong, Ted?" Monica's voice showed her
concern. "I don't know.But I sure hope that call doesn't mean we're not going to
Hawaii." Now Monica was really worried. "Golly, I just couldn't bear it. Not to
go!" "Me, too. Biff gets to go everywhere. When do I get to go anywhere?" "Or me? "The two sat in silence, thinking how cruel the world was to
eleven-year-olds. The Brewsters' summer cottage on Vineyard Lake--that
was nothing. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
Their speed boat and water skis, they seemed like nothing,
too.And their Christmas trip to Florida, visiting their
grandparents--what were all those things compared to going to Hawaii? They had been to many places in continental United States, but neither
of the twins had ever been out of the country.Well, even if Hawaii was
now part of the U.S., they preferred to think they were going to an
exotic new land.That was why, when their father had told them just a week before he was
going to take the whole family with him to Hawaii, the twins' joy knew
no limits. They had known their father was going to Hawaii for a three weeks' stay.He was to attend an international conference of mining engineers. He was
even going to deliver one of the most important speeches at the meeting. Biff Brewster was the oldest of the three Brewster children.He had gone
with his father on several of his explorations. But Biff was sixteen, an
age Ted could hardly wait to reach. Biff even had his driver's license. To Ted, this was the highest goal anybody could hope to reach.The Brewster family had been having a cookout in their backyard when Mr.
Brewster made his wonderful announcement. "One more week, and it's off to Hawaii," he said. "Is Biff going?" Ted asked.The children's father had smiled and turned to Mrs. Brewster. "Let's
pack the small fry and take them along, too." "What!" whooped Ted, his hot dog hitting the grass and his lemonade
spilling all over his shorts as he leaped to his feet. "And me? Me?I'm going, too!" Monica hurled herself at her father, her
arms circling his neck. "Easy there, princess. I'd rather have this food inside me, not on the
outside." Thomas Brewster put his daughter down. He looked into her eager,
upturned face.Her hazel eyes sparkled. She had never looked prettier to
him, and Mr. Brewster had always thought her the fairest princess of
them all. Copper-colored hair framed her oval, pixie face. The summer
sun had bronzed her clear skin.Keeping up with her brother Ted had
given her a straight, sturdy figure. A nuisance at times, when her
spirits shot higher than Pike's Peak, she was the darling of the family,
and had to be squelched only three or four times a week. "What about it, Ted?" Mr. Brewster said teasingly. "Think your sister
ought to come along, too?" "Sure, Dad. Sure." was the quick reply. Monica flashed a loving look at
her brother. "All right, if you say so. Okay by you, Mother? And you, Biff? ""You mean we're all going?" A look of disbelief crossed Mrs. Brewster's
face. "That's right. Time we all had a vacation together. I won't be too busy
at this meeting. And I'm sure we'd all like to visit our fiftieth
state. "Biff followed his father's words without speaking. He surely felt good,
though, about what his father was saying. Biff knew how envious his
brother and sister were of the trips he had made. This time, they were
going along, too. The whole family!They'd have a swell time. Dad was
really tops. A smile softened Biff's strong-featured face. His blue-gray eyes lighted
up. He moved off the deck chair where he was sprawled and walked over to
drape an arm over his mother's shoulders.He was taller than his mother,
with broad, square shoulders. For a sixteen-year-old, Biff was big and
husky. He had to be, to have come out of his many adventures unharmed. "Won't it be swell, Mom!" he said. "Dad couldn't have done anything to
make Ted and Monnie happier." Now, looking at his father's worried face, Biff wondered if the call
from Dr. Weber might mean a change in plans. He hoped not.Not only for
his own sake, but for his brother's and sister's. It would be a
wonderful rest and vacation for Mother, too. Biff wished he knew more
about his father's real reason for the trip. "Dad, will that call make any difference about your taking us on the
trip with you?" "I don't know," his father said slowly. "Dr. Weber's call puts the whole
trip in a new light." "Gosh, Dad, Ted's and Monica's hearts would be broken. "Tom Brewster stood up. He went to the door without replying. When he
opened it, his two younger children swarmed all over him. "That call from Honolulu? What was it about?" Ted asked. "Tell us, tell us!" chirped Monica.Mrs. Brewster had entered the room. She looked at her husband
questioningly. The twins looked at their father. He ruffled Ted's hair and patted
Monica on the cheek. "We're still going, aren't we?" Monica said in a small, hopeful voice. "I guess....Yes, we sure are." Squeals of delight filled the air. But Mrs. Brewster, reading the
expression on her husband's face, knew that the trip was no longer just
a pleasure jaunt for him. CHAPTER IV
Aloha!The blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, fourteen thousand feet below,
sparkled under the slanting rays of the rising sun. Sleepy-eyed
passengers aboard the Northwest airliner yawned, stretched, and brought
their reclining seats to an upright position.Two stewardesses hurried
back and forth along the aisle of the plane, carrying breakfast trays of
chilled pineapple juice, slices of golden yellow papaya, and steaming
coffee.The younger members of the Brewster family, Biff and the twins, had been
awake from the time of take-off, although their mother had insisted they
try to rest.Mr. and Mrs. Brewster still lay stretched out with their
chairs in a reclining position, but now they showed signs of coming out
of their fitful sleep. "How much longer, Biff? How long till we get there? You've been to
Honolulu before," Monica said. "Only for a short stopover on my way to Burma," Biff replied. He looked
at his watch. "I'd say we ought to be there in an hour. Maybe a little
longer. "The Brewster family had boarded the plane at six o'clock that morning,
their flight having been delayed on take-off for an hour by a
low-hanging bank of fog.The big plane's four jet engines and a
favorable tailwind had pushed it through the sky at a speed of over 600
miles per hour.Thomas Brewster leaned over the seat in front of him where Ted and
Monica were fussing in low tones over whose turn it was to sit next to
the window. "Morning, children." "Morning, Dad." "My, you're surely wide awake for such an early hour!" he said."Early? Gee, Dad, it's after ten o'clock," Ted replied, looking at his
wrist watch. Mr. Brewster laughed. "Guess Ted doesn't know about setting his watch
back. You set yours right, Biff?" Biff nodded his head. "What do you mean, set my watch back? "Ted demanded. "Difference in time, Ted. With daylight-saving time further complicating
matters, it's three hours earlier in Hawaii than it is in Seattle. So,
if your watch says ten, then it's only seven o'clock in Honolulu.People
are just getting up there." Ted, although still puzzled, turned his watch back three hours. Biff came to the seat where Ted and Monica both had their noses pressed
to the plane's window. "Scrunch over, small fry.We'll be raising Diamond Head soon. Your big
brother will point it out to you." | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
The plane zoomed through the air, racing the sun to Alohaland. The
"Fasten Seat Belts" sign flashed on. "Won't be long now," Biff said. "Ought to see Diamond Head any minute. Look ... just over the right wing. See that sort of dark blur? That's
Oahu, the island Honolulu is on." Minutes later, Diamond Head rose majestically into view.The plane sped
over the yawning crater of the extinct volcano, then bore to the left
out over Honolulu Harbor. It turned back north, coming in low, and then
settled gently down on Honolulu's International Airport. The plane rolled to a stop, doors opened, and landing ramps were wheeled
into place. The twins, hardly able to contain their excitement, were
first at the exit.Biff, his mother, and his father were right behind
them. Outside, a band played the familiar welcoming song, "Aloha. "Native
girls, in hula skirts, with fragrant flowers in their hair and brightly
colored necklaces of more flowers around their necks, swayed to the
rhythm of the music. Monica danced down the landing ramp.At its foot, a hula dancer stepped
forward and placed a lei, a beautiful necklace woven of flowers--around
the excited girl's neck. Ted got the same treatment.More leis for Biff
and Mr. and Mrs. Brewster, until the whole family wore fragrant chains
of flowers up to their chins. "Oh, Mother!" exclaimed Monica. "It's everything I ever dreamed of! Just
like I've read about and seen in pictures. "It was a gay, exciting sight. The warm air, the gentle breeze, the
music--a real Aloha, a real welcome. The spirit of Hawaii took over at
once. Everywhere, happy people became happier. Gaiety filled the air.A
soft scent of flowers cloaked the new arrivals. The crowd milled about the gate leading to the terminal. It seemed there
were hundreds of people all trying to pass through at once.The Brewster
family clung together, Monica clutching her mother's hand. Thomas Brewster looked carefully over the crowd. "I don't see Dr. Weber," he said to Biff. "I thought surely he'd meet
us." "Maybe he's just late, Dad. "Ted came up and touched Biff's sleeve. "Look, Biff, see that man over
there?" He pointed. Biff looked in the direction Ted indicated. "See, Biff, he's taking pictures. He took several of you and Dad. I was
watching him. "Biff's eyes met those of the man with the camera. He was a swarthy man,
short, wearing a rumpled white suit. "Gee, I guess Dad must be some sort of a celebrity, taking his picture
and all," Ted said excitedly. Biff didn't think that was the reason.The man didn't look like a
newspaper photographer on an assignment. His eyes shifted as Biff stared
at him. The man made no attempt to get "just one more shot," as official
cameramen are apt to do.Biff started toward him, determined to find out
why the man seemed to be so interested in photographing Mr. Brewster. Seeing Biff approach, the man drew back, fading into the crowd.By the
time Biff had forced his way to where the man had been standing, the
picture-taker had disappeared. Biff frowned. He hadn't liked the man's appearance, and his slinking
away made Biff even more suspicious. Why had he taken the pictures?How
had he known which of the arriving visitors was Mr. Brewster? Biff shook
his head. The answer to that question might have some connection with
the call his father had received from Dr. Weber.He had better tell his father about the incident, Biff decided. He
rejoined the family and was about to speak when Mr. Brewster raised his
voice. "Over here! Over here, Mr. Mahenili! "He waved to an approaching man who
in turn waved back, calling, "Aloha, my friend. Aloha!" It was Hanale Mahenili, a native Hawaiian with whom the Brewster family
was to stay during their visit to the islands.Mr. Mahenili was the
Hawaiian representative of the Ajax Mining Company. Introductions were made, and with the smiling Hawaiian leading the way,
the party entered the airport terminal. Passing a newsstand, Mr. Brewster halted quickly.He strode to the
newsstand and snatched up a copy of the _Honolulu Star Bulletin_. Biff
stepped to his father's side and read the eight-column headline over his
shoulder.Dr. Weber, Famous Scientist, Missing
CHAPTER V
Detective Biff
Thomas Brewster read the startling story hurriedly. Biff read along with
him. The story was sketchy.There were few details. Dr. Weber had been
scheduled to open the first session of the mining engineers' conference
the previous afternoon. The meeting had started, but Dr. Weber failed to
appear.When the meeting ended, and Dr. Weber was still missing, the
police were notified. "Do you know anything about this, Hank?" Mr. Brewster asked Hanale
Mahenili. "Hanale" was the Hawaiian form of the proper name, "Henry. "Among his business associates, Mr. Mahenili liked to be called Hank. His
Hawaiian friends called him Hanale. "Yes, my friend, I do," Mr. Mahenili replied. "It is most sad, most
frightening. In fact, I was the one who discovered his disappearance. ""When and how?" Mr. Brewster's voice showed his concern. "Yesterday afternoon, at the opening of the conference." Tom Brewster turned to his wife. "Martha, why don't you take Ted and
Monica over to that bench and sit down? We'll only be a minute.Biff,
you stay with me. I want you to know what's going on. Sorry, Hank, but I
didn't want my wife alarmed. Please continue." Biff felt highly pleased that his father wanted him in on whatever was
happening. "Well, Tom, when Johann failed to appear at his place at the speakers'
table, I thought at first he might have been detained, perhaps held up
by traffic. Or that he might have been napping after lunch, and had
overslept. He's an old man, you know.And not too strong." "Yes. I know. We've all been worried about him. He still tries to do too
much for a man his age." "I waited about fifteen minutes," Hanale Mahenili continued. "Then I
left the head table to go to his hotel.He's been staying at the Royal
Poinciana. On my way there, my fears that he had become ill increased." Mr. Mahenili paused, as if ordering his thoughts. "Yes, yes. Go on." "At the hotel, I rang his room. There was no answer.I went to the desk,
and they told me they believed the doctor was still in his room. He
hadn't left his key at the desk, which was his habit every time he left
the room." "I'll bet you were really worried then," Biff said. "I certainly was, young man.I called for the manager, and we went up to
Johann's room. The manager had a pass key, and, after knocking, we
entered his suite." "And no Johann Weber," Mr. Brewster said. "That's right, Tom. He has a two-room suite. He wasn't in either room. ""Was there any evidence that the room had been searched?" Mr. Mahenili shook his head. "It was hard to tell. Papers on his desk
were in a disordered mess.Two drawers in his bureau were pulled out,
with clothing messed up, and a few things strewn on the door. But you
know how careless Johann was. He was never one for neatness and order. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
""But it could have been someone else who had searched the desk, and
pulled out the drawers," Mr. Brewster said. "Yes, it could. There was no way of telling definitely." "Sir," Biff said. "Were you able to get any idea of when he had last
been in his room?" "No, Biff. We weren't. I was coming to that. We questioned the elevator
operators and the desk clerks. Both night and day clerks.None of them
could remember when they had last seen the doctor." Biff's brows were knitted in questioning thought. "Sir, I'd like to make
a suggestion, or, rather, ask you this. Do you know if Dr. Weber usually
had his breakfast in his room? ""Why, the idea never occurred to us." "Good thinking, son," Mr. Brewster said. "And were the maids asked if his bed had been slept in the night
before?" Henry Mahenili gave a shrug of helplessness. "I'm afraid, young man,
that you're a far better detective than I am. No, the maids weren't
questioned." "Well, then, Dad--"
Thomas Brewster interrupted his son. "I'm right with you, Biff.Our
first stop in Honolulu had better be the Royal Poinciana Hotel." "My car's right outside. Your luggage should be off the plane by now,"
Mr. Mahenili said. "The hotel's on the beach--Waikiki Beach.I'm sure
your family will enjoy seeing the most famous beach in the United
States." "Gee, that's great," Biff said. "Ted and Monica will flip. And so will
I. After all, we're tourists." "All right, let's go. "Luggage and family were assembled and placed in Mr. Mahenili's open
convertible. The Brewsters were in for a thrilling ride. Leaving the airport, Mr. Mahenili turned onto a dual thoroughfare called
Ala Moana.They crossed the Ala Wai Canal nearing the famous Waikiki
Beach section. "On the right," Mr. Mahenili pointed out, "is the Kapaiama Basin." Yachts of every color and description lay at anchor in the beautiful
harbor.Some were moving out into the main harbor of Honolulu. Everywhere the Brewster family looked, they saw flowers. One street
would be lined with trees bearing white flowers. The next street would
be one of red flowering trees, or yellow, or deep blue.The car turned off Ala Moana onto Kalia Road. They saw the gleaming dome
of the Hawaiian Village. To their right now, they could see the
beautiful hotels standing like sentinels guarding the beach.Then Mr.
Mahenili turned the car into the spacious Garden-of-Eden-like grounds of
the Royal Poinciana Hotel. Mrs. Brewster and the twins walked down to
the beach. Biff, his father, and their Hawaiian friend went into the
hotel.The manager of the Royal Poinciana received the two men and Biff in his
office. Biff looked at his father. "Go ahead, Biff. This was your idea. ""Sir," Biff said, addressing the manager, "I wonder if you could find
out if Dr. Weber usually had his breakfast in his room since he's been
here?" "Easily, young man. Won't take a minute." The manager picked up the
telephone on his desk. "And would you ask if he had breakfast there yesterday morning?" The manager nodded his head and spoke into the phone. He asked both
questions Biff had suggested, nodded his head, and replaced the phone on
its cradle. "No real help there.Sometimes he called for breakfast service;
sometimes not. Yesterday morning, room service reports, there was no
call from Suite 210-11--that's where Dr. Weber was staying." "Well, one more thing." Biff continued his role of detective. "Would the
same maids who were on duty yesterday be on duty this morning?" "I'll check that with the floor supervisor. I think I know what your
question will be--had Dr. Weber's bed been slept in?" Biff smiled. "That's right, sir. "Again the manager placed his call and asked his questions. "The floor supervisor will call back as soon as she's checked. Only take
a minute or two. While we wait, let me extend my welcome to Hawaii to
you.I regret that this most unfortunate situation has come about. But
I'm sure Dr. Weber will be found." "Thank you," Thomas Brewster said. "I hope you are right." The telephone rang. "Yes. Yes. I see. Thank you." The manager replaced the phone. "The
supervisor says the maid who takes care of that suite said Dr. Weber's
bed had not been slept in Monday night." Biff looked from his father to Mr. Mahenili. Nothing was said for a
moment. Then Mr. Brewster spoke. "Any more questions, Biff? ""No, sir. Can't think of anything else, Dad. Not now." "Well, we have established the fact that Dr. Weber must have disappeared
sometime on Monday," Mr. Brewster said. "That was the day he telephoned you, wasn't it, Dad?" Biff asked. "Yes.I talked to him late in the afternoon. Here, that would have been
around noon, Hawaii time. I know he was calling from this hotel. So, we
can pinpoint his disappearance from sometime between noon Monday, to
early Monday night.The doctor always retired early." "Thank you very much for your cooperation, Mr. Pierson," Mr. Mahenili
said. With Biff and his father, he arose and left the manager's office.They walked out into the bright sunlight and across a broad patio,
hedged in by flame-colored flowers. The beach of Waikiki was right in
front of them.As they walked toward it to find Mrs. Brewster and the
twins, the swarthy man with the camera who had been at the airport
earlier, stepped from behind a palm tree and watched them go.CHAPTER VI
The Letter
Hanale Mahenili had driven only a short distance from the Royal
Poinciana when Monica, in the rear seat of the convertible, let out a
howl. "Monica! Whatever in the world!" her mother said. "My lei! My lei! I left it on the beach!" Monica wailed. "Knew you would," her brother Ted said, in his I-told-you-so voice. Mr. Mahenili turned to Tom Brewster and smiled. "That's easily taken
care of. We can get them anywhere along here. "He pulled the car over to the curb in front of a charming hotel
constructed of red and white coral. Just to the left of the entrance to
the hotel's palm-studded grounds, sat an old woman surrounded by flowers
of every color and species.The woman was seated in a high-backed chair,
made of coconut fronds, with her feet in a tub filled with pink, red,
and yellow buds. A flame-red hibiscus was stabbed in her topknot.She
was a plump Hawaiian woman, dressed in a flowered _muumuu_ the island
adaptation of the mother-hubbard dress introduced many years ago by New
England missionaries.The old woman's brown, deeply lined face cracked into a smile as the
Brewsters got out of the car. Mr. Mahenili spoke to her in the musical words of the native Hawaiian.The old woman's deft hands grasped a long, slender lei needle, and her
hands seemed to fly as she swiftly threaded at least a hundred flowers
into a beautiful garland. "This lei," Mr. Mahenili explained, "is being made of the plumeria.You
see," he picked up one of the flowers, "it has five petals. Smell it." Mrs. Brewster took the flower. "My, that's lovely! It seems to me I've
been smelling this lovely scent ever since we've been here." "You have. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
This blossom is highly perfumed.It makes our island the
sweetest smelling place in the world." The old woman had finished. She arose and draped the newly made lei
around Monica's neck. "For the _nani keiki_," she said. "That means for the 'beautiful child. '"Monica blushed, but her smile showed her pleasure. "Thank you," she said, dipping her head. Mr. Mahenili handed the woman some money. "_Mahalo, mahalo_," she said. "And now she's saying, 'Thank you,' to us," Hank Mahenili explained.Half an hour later, following a thrilling ride up the twisting road
running over the _pali_, the cliffs, of the Koolau Mountain range, they
dropped swiftly down to sea level again on the north side of the island.A short run along broad, curving beaches, and they arrived at the
Mahenilis' beach-front home on Waimanalo Bay. The warmth and gracious hospitality of the Mahenili family made the
Brewsters feel at home immediately.The Mahenilis' son, Likake, fifteen,
and Biff were old friends within an hour of their meeting. Little
Wikolia Mahenili was just Monica and Ted's age, but quite a bit smaller.She considered the twins her personal property and showed them around
with great pride. There was only one cloud to mar the Brewsters' sky-high happiness. Dr.
Johann Weber was still missing.Late in the second afternoon of the Brewsters' stay in Honolulu, Biff
and Likake were swimming when Biff saw his father come down to the beach
and hail him. "Let's go, Li!" Biff called, and the boys rode a breaker back to the
shore. "Hi, Dad.You want me?" Water dripped off Biff's tanned body. Likake,
his round brown face with its usual eager expression, stood beside him. "I want you to get dressed, now, son.I'd like you to come to the dinner
and evening session of our meeting," Mr. Brewster said. "You bet, Dad. Wouldn't miss it for anything. This is the night you
speak, isn't it?" "Yes." Tom Brewster smiled. "But that isn't the main reason for my
wanting you there. I'll tell you about it later." "Okay, Dad. May Likake come along?" "Surely. Mr. and Mrs. Mahenili are coming. The little ones will stay at
home." Likake had gone on ahead. "What's it all about, Dad? Something to do with Dr. Weber?" Biff asked. "Not exactly, Biff. But I think there's going to be a man at the dinner
tonight I want you to get a look at.There could be a connection between
him and Dr. Weber's disappearance." "Is it that man, Perez Something-or-other--the one you mentioned when
you got that phone call at home?" "He's the man, Biff." Biff's brows were knitted in thought. "Dad, there's something I've been wanting to do," Biff interrupted. "Is
it all right if I do a little snooping after you speak? You'll be at the
reception and dance. I've got an idea. And Likake said he'd help me." "Snooping, son?When trained detectives are on the job? This is a
vacation, and I want you to enjoy it. But there's no reason why you and
Likake can't nose about a bit. Don't do anything foolish, though." The dinner was over.Biff had tried not to stare too hard nor too long
at the husky, shifty-eyed man at the next table. Perez Soto! Biff sensed
the sheer physical power of the man, and he shuddered involuntarily. This was no opponent to treat lightly.He couldn't help thinking: Biff
Brewster, take warning! The chairman rapped for order. Guests at the head table were introduced,
then the chairman turned to Thomas Brewster. "We are very happy tonight," the chairman said, "to have so
distinguished a speaker with us. You all know him. You all know of the
many contributions he has made in our field.I refer, of course, to the
chief field engineer of the Ajax Mining Company, Mr. Thomas Brewster." Mrs. Brewster smiled proudly at her husband. Tom Brewster arose. His talk was short, direct, and crisply delivered.He received an ovation when he concluded. Biff looked at Likake and winked. The two boys slipped away from the
table unnoticed. Outside the hotel, Biff asked, "Which way?" "The Poinciana's just a short walk from here.We'll go in the back
way--through the garden." "You're sure it's all right? This bellboy is a good friend of yours?" Biff inquired. "Sure. I know Hale real well. His brother, Kioni, and I go to Kamehameha
School.That's a school only for boys and girls of Hawaiian ancestry. We're almost like blood brothers." The night was moonlit. Palm leaves rustled under a gentle breeze. The
steady murmur of the surf was clear in the night air.Biff and Likake reached the garden of the Royal Poinciana. "Hale told me he would fix it so the deck door of Dr. Weber's room would
be open. Come on," Li said. The boys walked boldly through the hotel's garden.Biff knew better than
to try to hide their presence. To do so would attract attention, and
that was just what he didn't want to do. They mounted the stairs to the hotel's second floor, and walked along
the deck until they reached Dr. Weber's room.Hale had done his job. The door was open. Biff entered the room. Likake,
his heart pounding, was right on his heels. The room was faintly lighted by the moonlight from outside.Biff paused
in the middle of the room to allow his eyes to become accustomed to the
dim light. Then he started his search. Ever since the call to Indianapolis, Biff
had wondered about the letter mentioned during the conversation.His
father had said, "Forget it," but Biff hadn't been able to. The letter
_had_ to mean something. Where would a man like Dr. Weber hide a letter? Biff asked himself.He felt certain that Dr. Weber had been kidnaped,
but he didn't think the abductors had the letter. If they did, then why
were they holding the doctor? "Course, I could be all wrong," Biff told himself. But he didn't think
he was. "Likake. Li.Come here," Biff whispered and was startled to hear Li's
voice right back of him. "I am here. Right with you." Li sounded scared, Biff thought. "Okay. You take the bathroom. It's a letter we're looking for.I'll take
the bedroom, then we'll both search this room." The boys made a swift, but thorough search. Nothing in the bathroom. Nothing in the bedroom. "Now where do we look?" Li asked. "You take that side of the room. I'll start by the hall door. "Biff's search started at the telephone table. Nothing in the drawers. But there wouldn't be, Biff told himself. Too obvious a place.He
started to leave the table, and, glancing down, saw that the table must
have been left in the same condition it had been in on the day of the
call. Crumbs of tobacco were scattered on the tabletop. Several burned
matches were in an ash-tray.The doctor's tobacco pouch lay at the base
of the lamp. Biff picked it up idly, looking about the room for the next
spot to search. Standing there, swinging the pouch by its draw-string, he thought he
heard paper crackle.He stood motionless, halting the swing of the
pouch. He strained his ears. Nothing. He tossed the pouch back on the
table. Again he heard the slight sound of paper crinkling. Biff snatched the pouch up again. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
He opened the pouch.His hand darted
in it and dug deeply in the tobacco. Paper! His fingers weren't wrong. He withdrew the paper and held it close to his eyes. It was a letter,
all right. "Biff! Biff! Look out!" Li shouted.Biff turned just in time to see a figure leap at him. CHAPTER VII
An Important Find
Biff sidestepped quickly. His attacker's charge struck him a glancing
blow, spinning him around.He stumbled backward, almost losing his
footing. In the dim light, Biff saw the man turn and crouch, ready to charge
again. This time, Biff met charge with charge. The man came at him low. Biff hurled his body at the attacker even lower.He threw a
bone-crushing football block at the man's knees. The attacker was
upended, his head striking the floor, his legs flying upward as if he
were diving. Biff leaped to his feet. "Come on, Biff!" Li called from the open doorway.Biff sprang for the door, hurdling over his attacker lying on the floor. He felt sure he had cleared him when a hand snaked up and grabbed Biff
by one ankle.Biff crashed to the floor, stretched out, his head
pointing toward Li, who was standing in the doorway in dismay. Rising on one knee, Biff tried to jerk his ankle free. The man held on
with a viselike grip. Biff thought fast. "Here, Li! Catch! "He tossed Dr. Weber's tobacco pouch to his friend. It
fell at Li's feet. "Grab it, Li! Grab it, and scram. I'll be all right." Li bent over and snatched up the tobacco pouch. He stood in the doorway,
hesitating. "Don't wait!" Biff called fiercely. "Get out of here fast." Li, shocked by the sudden violence, was confused. He felt he should stay
and help his friend. But Biff had ordered him out. Apparently the
important thing was to escape with the tobacco pouch.He turned, shot
through the door, and ran swiftly, silently, along the porch. Biff now turned his full attention to freeing himself. He knew he would
have to make his getaway fast.Someone in the hotel was certain to have
heard the sounds of violence coming from the room. This was no time for
an investigation. Biff knew that he was as much of a prowler as his
attacker. The attacker changed his tactics.Now he wanted to get free of Biff. "Oh, no, you don't," Biff muttered, and threw his arms around the man's
legs. He knew that Li was now the attacker's prey. Li and the tobacco
pouch. Biff held on.The man, struggling to remain upright, struck down
savagely at the base of Biff's skull. Biff rolled, avoiding the
paralyzing blow. The attacker, freed of Biff's grasp, leaped for the door. Biff was on
his feet, right behind him.Reaching the door, Biff saw the man dash for
the steps. Instead of following immediately, Biff decided to wait a
moment. Surely Li had gotten clear. Li knew the grounds of the hotel
well.He'd be able to avoid capture, make a clean getaway with the pouch
and its valuable letter. When the attacker was out of sight, down the stairs, Biff stepped out
onto the porch. He straightened his jacket.He wanted to look like a
guest of the hotel if anyone stopped him. From behind he heard the
sounds of someone banging on the corridor door. "The time has come," he said to himself, "for me to make my departure
from this charming hostelry. "He walked unhurriedly toward the stairs. Once there, though, he dashed down them, taking three steps at a time. In moments, he was concealed behind a spreading poinciana shrub. Biff stood silently.He strained his ears for any sound, the sound of
either Li or his attacker. Only the soft rustling of palm fronds came to
his ears. He decided to move out.Taking great care to remain in the
cover of trees and shrubs--the moonlight was brilliant--Biff moved
cautiously through the garden. He decided against returning the same way
he and Li had come.He felt sure that his attacker had followed them
from the hotel where his father had spoken. The man might figure the
boys would return to the hotel. He'd be waiting for them there, Biff
reasoned. "Sure hope Li figures it the way I have," Biff told himself. Biff walked in the opposite direction. He came to the edge of the
garden. The street was only a few feet away.A few feet, but those few
feet were open space, no cover, unprotected from the view of others. "I'll just have to chance it," Biff said softly. He planned to dash
across the opening, run down the street, and hope to find a cruising
taxicab.Biff tensed. He thought he heard a noise behind him. It sounded like a
small twig snapping. He turned his head slowly. He didn't want a second
attack from behind that night. Now he felt positive that someone was
moving in the shrubbery nearby.Then he heard it, softly, barely audible above the noise of the rustling
leaves and nearby surf. "Biff!" Biff let out his held breath in a deep sigh of relief. "Right here, Li," he called. His Hawaiian friend emerged from behind a tree and joined him. "You all right, Biff? You hurt?" Li asked anxiously. "Me? No. Not even shaken up. But how about you? And the tobacco pouch. You've still got it?" Li nodded his head, extending a hand with the pouch in it. "Swell, Li. Great. How did you get away?Did that guy try to follow
you?" "He tried to follow all right. But I fooled him. I kept just far enough
ahead of him so he could hear me. I made little noises." Biff could see
Li's grin in the moonlight. "So I could lead him away.I wanted to be
sure you got away okay." "Pretty smart, Li. But how did you finally shake him off?" "I led him way to the rear of the garden. Then I quit making any noise. I moved like a cat, circled around, and headed for here.I sort of
figured you wouldn't try to get back to the other hotel." "Good figuring. You and I are going to make a great team. But I think
we'd better get out of here fast before 'Nosy' figures the same way we
did.Where would be the best place to get a cab?" "Just follow me." Li turned, and instead of heading for the street, he
plunged back into the garden.He led Biff along the edge of the garden,
until they came to a low hedge fence, the rear boundary of the
Poinciana's grounds. Li leaped over it, Biff following.Then the
Hawaiian boy cut to his right, and in a few moments, they jumped another
hedge into another formal garden. "Where are we now?" Biff asked in a whisper. "This is the garden of the Aloha Hale--that means Aloha House. It's a
small hotel.We can find a taxi right out front. Come on." They moved noiselessly through the garden, and emerged on the lighted
street just to the left of the hotel's entrance. They were lucky. A
taxicab was waiting at its stand. The boys quickly hopped in.Biff sat back. Relief came to him, and he suddenly realized how much his
recent exertions had taken out of him. "Wowie! Am I ever glad to get out of that." "Me, too, Biff. Where do we go? Back to the hotel, or home?" "To your house.I told Dad we'd take a cab back." Li gave the driver instructions. Biff looked at the luminous dial of his watch. "Jeepers! Do you know it's been two hours since we left the hotel! | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
Seems
like only minutes. "Tom Brewster and Hank Mahenili were still up when the boys reached home. "Well, we were beginning to wonder what had happened to you two," Tom
Brewster said. "Plenty, Dad," Biff said, smiling. "It looks like it. "His father was looking at Biff's rumpled white
jacket. One shoulder of it bore a smudge where he had landed on the
green carpet of Dr. Weber's room. "We had a little adventure," Biff said. "More than we expected." "You're all right, Li? "Hank Mahenili asked, a worried look on his face. "Sure, Dad. It was Biff who had the fight." "Fight?" Tom Brewster stood up. "Just what happened, son?" Biff gave his father and Hank Mahenili a fast fill-in on the night's
adventure. "But we got what we were looking for," he concluded. Biff reached in his
jacket pocket and pulled out Dr. Weber's tobacco pouch. He took out the
crumpled letter. "This has a New Zealand postmark on it.I think it's that letter you
talked to Dr. Weber about when he called you back in Indianapolis. I
haven't read it, though. Thought you might not want me to know what's in
it." Thomas Brewster took the letter. He read it rapidly, then reread it.His
frown showed how deep his concentration was. Without a word, he handed
the letter to Mahenili. The Hawaiian read it. The two boys watched their parents. Finally Biff spoke. "Is it important, Dad? I thought it might be." "Very important, Biff.Wouldn't you say so, Hank?" "Unbelievably so." Biff looked questioningly at his father. "This _is_ the letter Dr. Weber mentioned; the letter he received from
Jim Huntington. It tells of a find Jim made in New Zealand--a fabulous
mining discovery. ""And that's why he was coming here to meet you and Dr. Weber?" Biff
asked. "That's right, son." "Then whoever it was attacked me tonight, or kidnaped Dr. Weber, would
know where the find was, too?" "Not exactly, Biff.They'd know of it, but not where it was. Huntington
was bringing samples of the ore, and details of its location, with him." "That information, then, must still be in his sunken sloop," Biff said. Tom Brewster nodded his head. "We'll have to find it, won't we, Dad?" the boy asked eagerly. "We're surely going to try." There was silence for several minutes. Everyone's mind was filled with
thoughts. "Dad." It was Biff who broke the silence. "Don't you think we can read
good news in my finding this letter?" "How do you mean, Biff?" "Well, wouldn't you think from this that Dr. Weber must still be alive?" "Why do you say that, Biff?" Hank Mahenili asked. "Well, sir, whoever grabbed him, since they didn't find the letter, must
figure Dr. Weber knows what Mr. Huntington discovered, and they're
holding him until he tells them about it, or tells them where the letter
is.They couldn't know that the location isn't described in the letter." "But how would they know anything about it if they hadn't seen the
letter?" Li piped up. "They have their ways," Tom Brewster replied. "The doctor probably told
someone else about Huntington's coming here. Not that he would have said
why. But Huntington's explorations are well known.Whoever kidnapped Dr.
Weber would know that a meeting between Dr. Weber, Huntington, and me
could lead to something of tremendous value." "And what is that, Dad? Can you tell me?" "I could, Biff, but I don't think I will--not yet.The fewer people who
know what Huntington discovered, the better. And it would be safer for
you, too, not to know." "You mean, Dad...." Biff paused. "Yes, Biff, you're in this now right up to your young neck.It could
easily be figured that you now know as much as Dr. Weber, since you
found the letter. That makes you a target, too." Biff found it difficult to swallow the lump which had suddenly come into
his throat.CHAPTER VIII
The Police Call
"Did you get a good look at your attacker, Biff?" Tom Brewster asked his
son. "Gee, Dad. He came at me too fast. And it was fairly dark in the room." "I was wondering.Perez Soto--you know, the man I pointed out to you at
the dinner--well, he wasn't at the reception afterward. I thought he
might have followed you boys." "I don't think so, Dad. Perez Soto is a good-sized man. Husky.This
fellow I had the hassle with was smaller, I think." "And that Mr. Perez Soto," Li added, "he was wearing a white dinner
jacket. This man wasn't." "He could have changed, son," Hank Mahenili pointed out. "Li's right, though," Biff said. "I think we both will agree that it
wasn't Perez Soto." "All right, boys. Better get to bed. It's late, and tomorrow's going to
be a big day." It was a big day, and it ended with a bang.The engineering conference had wound up the night before with the dinner
at which Biff's father spoke. This day, the day following, Hanale
Mahenili had invited a selected group from among those who had attended
the conference to a _luau_ at his house.The prospect of going to the
_luau_, the traditional Hawaiian feast, especially one cooked by a
native of the island, was exciting. Hank Mahenili had been up early to get things under way.He was going to
supervise the cooking of the _luau_ personally. It took all day to
prepare a _luau_ properly, and when Hank Mahenili did something, he did
it right. Biff and Li helped with the early preparations.They dug a deep pit in
which a pig would be roasted. "Anything else we can do, sir?" Biff asked. "Not now, Biff," his Hawaiian friend replied. "Then how about a swim, Li?" Biff inquired. "Want to try real surfing this morning?" Li asked. "Do I!Let's go." Since Biff had arrived, the boys had swum before breakfast, after
breakfast, and practically all their free time. Li was an expert
swimmer, especially under water.At first, Biff became worried when his
new friend dived and seemed to remain under water long past the safety
point. But always, Li's laughing face would break the water just when
Biff was about to dive for him.Biff and Li hit the water and swam out into the ocean with powerful
strokes. Biff was just a bit faster than Li. They took the plunge first
to loosen up their muscles and became accustomed to the water. Next they
tackled the surfboards.Li swam most of the way back under water. "You still worry me, Li. I don't know how you can hold your breath that
long," Biff remarked as the boys walked up the beach. "Just practice, Biff. I've been doing it since I could walk, I guess.Dad tells me I could swim before I could walk." The boys paused to watch an outrigger come plunging toward the shore
atop a long, rolling wave. The outrigger was being paddled furiously by two Hawaiian boys.On one
side of the canoe, its outrigging extended out in two arching arms,
connected by a buoyant float of _wiliwili_ wood to give the slender
canoe more stability. The canoe ground ashore, and its laughing passengers scrambled out. "All set, Biff?Ready to make a real try at it today?" "By me that's fine. I think I almost got the knack of it yesterday." "When it comes to you, it comes all of a sudden. You just sort of feel
it." | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
"I hope I feel it today," Biff said, laughing.The first day, the boys had swum out to where the long rollers formed,
and had ridden them in, their bodies held stiff. Li wanted Biff to
become accustomed to the waves. Then they had started with the
surfboards.The two boys walked across the beach to two long, brightly painted
surfboards made of _wiliwili_ wood. They carried the boards out into the
ocean until they were waist deep. Then, sprawling on the boards, they
paddled off shore several hundred yards. "Okay, we'll try it here. Head your board toward shore," Li called. Biff slowly turned his board until its pointed bow was aimed at the
beach. "Okay. I'm ready." "Let the first few waves pass until you get the feel and lift.Then,
when one comes that feels good--that's the only way I can explain
it--start paddling like crazy." Biff followed instructions. He felt himself being lifted by the first
wave, then a second.Now came a huge roller, raising both boys high
above the trough left by the preceding roller. Biff started paddling
furiously, still lying face down on the board. He felt the wave grab it.The board picked up speed, riding right at the crest of the roller. He
had made it! Li was right alongside. The boys were speeding shoreward at nearly
thirty miles per hour.When the roller broke on the shallow shore, Biff was tossed off in the
foaming breaker. He grabbed his board and held on until the wave
smoothed out. "Gee! That's the most thrilling ride I've ever had!" he exclaimed. "You did great, Biff," Li said. "But just wait. If you think that was a
charge, wait till you ride the board standing up. How about it?" "Let's go!" Biff agreed promptly. Out they went again. Again they waited for the right feel of the roller. Biff felt one take his board.He was speeding shoreward. He looked over
the water at his friend. He saw Li rise to a knee crouch, then slowly
straighten up until he was standing straight, head held high. Biff tried it. He got to his knees.Carefully feeling for his balance,
he started straightening up. "I've done it," he said triumphantly to
himself. He looked shoreward just in time to catch a blinding splash of
salt spray.He blinked his eyes, and the next thing he knew, he was
floundering in the water. Li, seeing what had happened, leaped off his board, turned it, and came
paddling back to Biff. "I meant to tell you. When you get up, hold your head high, and back.Then the salt spray doesn't hit you in the eyes." "_Now_ you tell me," Biff said, laughing. "I'm going to make it this
time." They started out even. Li got up first. Biff took seconds longer. He was
more careful this time.The tough part was straightening up from a
crouching position to an erect one, then placing one foot ahead of the
other, and getting a good balance. Biff arose slowly, slowly but surely. He made it.The two boys rode standing up, only a few feet separating
their two boards. Li turned to Biff and grinned. Then he clasped his hands over his head,
making a handshake of congratulation.He was so thrilled at seeing Biff
make it that he forgot about himself. This time it was the expert who
spilled himself into the water. Biff rode triumphantly into shore alone. The _luau_ was ready. The guests had arrived. Li burst into Biff's room. [Illustration: _Biff got to his knees, carefully feeling for his
balance_]
"_Wikiwiki_, Biff! Hurry. Everything's ready." "I'm wikiwiki-ing just as fast as I can." "Here, put on this _aloha_ shirt--all the _kanes_ wear them.The
_wahines_, the women, wear _holukus_ or _muumuus_. You call them
mother-hubbards, only ours are brightly colored with big flowers printed
on them." "What do the kids--what do you call them--_keikis_? What do they wear? "Li laughed at Biff's pronunciation. "How many times do I have to tell
you that _every_ letter in a Hawaiian word is pronounced? Here's how you
say 'children' in Hawaiian: _kay-ee-keys_, with the accent on the first
syllable." "Okay, _Li-ka-kay_. ""Gee, that's the first time you've said my name right. You stick around
long enough, and you'll be a real Hawaiian!" "What's your name in English, Li?" Biff asked. "Richard." "Okay, Dick--let's go. "The _luau_ was being held in the garden in the rear of the Mahenilis'
home. Under gaily striped awnings, long tables had been set up. They
were decorated with fragrant-smelling ferns, flowers, pineapples and
bananas.At each place setting, there had been placed a _niu_, a coconut with its
top slashed off, still containing the _wai niu_, or coconut water, which
would be sipped with the meal.Hank Mahenili stood over the _lua_--the hole Biff and Li had dug earlier
in the day--making sure that the _puaa_ was done to a turn. A _luau_
isn't the real thing without a roast pig. "All ready, everyone," Hank called out, and started cutting pieces of
the pig. The meat was so tender it fell apart. Hank placed the meat on
_ti_ leaves, and servants carried it to the tables. "What a meal!" Biff said, finding his place beside Li. "Never saw so
much food." In addition to the _puaa_, there was a _umeke_, a small bowl, of
_poi_--taro root pounded to a paste.There was a dish, called _pa_, of
_lomilomi_--salmon, which didn't look a bit like salmon, since it had
been shredded and kneaded into a salad.There was also a dish of _moa_,
chicken cooked in coconut juice, and another _pa_ of _opihi_, a small,
delicately flavored shell fish. This wasn't all. There were _pas_ of _i'a_, fish, and sweet potatoes,
called _uwala kalua_. "If I eat all this, I'll explode," Biff said. "Here, have some of this," Li said. "What is it?" There was a suspicious look on Biff's face. "It's delicious. Called _limu_." Biff took a small bite. His face lit up. "It's good. But what is it? ""Seaweed," Li said and burst out into laughter. "Honestly. _This_ is seaweed?" "That's right. Not the kind you know, though. This is an edible
seaweed." "I'll say it's edible. Give me more. "Everywhere one looked, Mahenili's guests were devouring the food. Strange though some of it looked, no one could deny the food's
succulence. People were falling to as if they hadn't eaten for days. Biff took one final bite and sat back. "Couldn't eat another thing if I had to. Don't think I'll ever want to
eat again." He looked at his friend and smiled. "_Mahalo, aikane_. Thanks, friend. "Biff's attention was attracted by a Hawaiian, not in _luau_ dress, but
in business clothes, coming across the garden. He saw the man approach
Mr. Mahenili. "Who's that?" Biff asked, nudging Li. Li looked, and his face became serious. "Golly.That's Mr. Kapatka. I wonder what he's doing here." "And just who, _aikane_, is Mr. Kapatka?" Biff asked. "He's the chief of the Honolulu police. "CHAPTER IX
Mysterious Message
"I'm sorry to interrupt your festivities," Chief of Police Kapatka said
to Mr. Mahenili. "That's all right, Kioni," Li's father replied courteously. "We're at
the end of our _luau_, and I know you've got your job to do. Just what
is it? | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
You have word of the missing Dr. Weber?" "Well, the answer to that has to be both yes and no. Actually, I'm here
to see one of your guests.You have a Mr. Thomas Brewster staying with
you, do you not?" "Why, yes, we do." "And his son?" "Yes, Mr. Brewster and his family are staying with me on their visit to
the islands." "I'd like to speak to them," the chief requested.Hank Mahenili excused himself and crossed the garden to where Mr. and
Mrs. Brewster stood chatting with other guests. Biff and Li had watched the police chief talking to Li's father. Now
they saw Mr. Mahenili and Mr. Brewster coming toward them. "Come along, Biff," his father said. "Police want to talk to us." Li tagged along, the deep brown eyes in his bronze face wide with
curiosity. "I'm Thomas Brewster, Chief. And this is my son, Biff. Has Dr. Weber
been found? ""No, Mr. Brewster, unfortunately not." "But it is Dr. Weber you want to see us about?" "In a way, yes. Let me explain. An hour ago, we had a call from Wailuku,
that's the capital of the Island of Maui.An emergency case had been
brought to the hospital there--a man suffering from a deep stab wound. The man was identified as a certain Juan Tokawto. He has a police
record. A minor criminal, in and out of several scrapes, but a bad
character.A man for hire." "Yes. But what has that to do with me, or my son?" Mr. Brewster asked. "I'm coming to that, sir. Tokawto was found unconscious.At the time the
police called from Wailuku, he was still unconscious, so they hadn't
been able to question him. They did find in his wallet, though, a
picture, a small photograph--two photographs, in fact.They identified
the man in one of the photos from a picture that appeared on the front
page of our Honolulu paper yesterday." Chief Kioni Kapatka paused. He apparently enjoyed building up suspense. "The photograph in our paper was one of you, Mr. Brewster. It appeared
the day you spoke at the mining engineers' meeting." "I know. But I don't see--"
"The small photo found in Tokawto's pocket was also of you, Mr.
Brewster.Of you and a lad whom I presume to be your son. This boy,
here." He looked at Biff. "Remember, Dad? I told you about that man at the airport snapping
pictures of you, of you and me. Ted spotted him first," Biff reminded
his father.Thomas Brewster nodded his head. "Well, Chief Kapatka, I can't imagine
why any criminal would be carrying a picture of me and my son." "But remember, Mr. Brewster, I said that man was carrying two pictures." "Yes. ""The other picture was that of the missing Dr. Weber." The police chief's last statement struck the group like a bombshell. For
moments, nothing was said. The chief broke the silence. "I'm sure that now you will see the connection," he said. "Yes," Thomas Brewster replied. "There must be one. But just what? Have
you any ideas?" "Only this, Mr. Brewster. The man Tokawto must have been hired to keep a
close check on your and your son's movements. I suspect he was in
Honolulu yesterday.He must have learned something--something of value
to someone." "Say, Dad, I wonder if that man could have been the one who--who--" Biff
paused.He didn't want to reveal to the police chief that he had gone
into Dr. Weber's rooms at the Royal Poinciana without authority. "You
know, Dad. The man I had that little scrape with." "Could have been, son. "The police chief looked at Biff with renewed interest. However, he
didn't press Biff for a fuller explanation. "It is my belief, Mr. Brewster," Chief Kapatka continued, "that when
Tokawto went back to Maui, he thought his information was worth more
than he was being paid. His attempts at getting more money were rewarded
by a stab in the abdomen. ""Some reward!" Biff interjected. "But why the Island of Maui?" his father asked. The police chief shrugged his shoulders. Biff touched his father's arm. "I have an idea on that, Dad," he said. "Let's hear it, son. ""Wouldn't you think that perhaps Dr. Weber might be on the island, or on
a nearby one? And that whoever kidnaped him must have his headquarters
there?" The three men considered Biff's idea. "You could be right, Biff. Do you agree, Chief? "Chief Kapatka nodded his head in agreement. "The police on Maui have asked that you come to Wailuku. They want you
there when Tokawto has recovered sufficiently for questioning," the
chief said. "_If_ he recovers," he added. "We'll go right away.Can you come along, Hank?" "Certainly. Let me explain to my guests." Biff felt a tug on his sleeve. It was Li. "How about asking if I can go, too, Biff?" "Sure. You can help us." Biff turned to his father. "Dad, Li ought to go
along, too.He speaks Hawaiian, and he and I might pick up some valuable
information. Would you ask Mr. Mahenili?" Thomas Brewster nodded his head. "You better go pack a small bag. We may
be there for a day or two. Hop to it. We want to get over there
quickly. "Biff and Li went into the house. "We'll get there soon, Biff. We'll take the Inter-Island Street-Car
System." "Street-car! What are you talking about? Street-cars running across the
ocean!" Li chuckled. "That's what we call the Hawaiian Airlines.They make so
many flights each day, it's just like standing on a corner waiting for
the next street-car." And it was. When the boys and their fathers reached the airport, they
learned there was a plane taking off within fifteen minutes.The flight to Kahului, the principal airport on Maui, took only thirty
minutes. They arrived just as dusk was spreading over the Valley Island,
as Maui is called. The drive from the airport to the capital of Maui, Wailuku, was a short
one.The police were expecting them. "We've just been talking to the police in Hana," the Wailuku police
chief said. "Tokawto is still on the danger list. They haven't been able
to get anything out of him." "Then this Tokawto isn't here? "Tom Brewster asked. "No. He's in Hana, a coastal town about sixty miles from here." "Shouldn't we start right down there?" "You can, of course, Mr. Brewster. However, Tokawto's been placed under
heavy sedation.There's little chance that he'll do any talking tonight. I'd suggest you spend the night here, then drive down early tomorrow
morning." "Oh, yes, Tom," Hank Mahenili said. "You don't want to miss the drive to
Hana.It's a truly beautiful and thrilling experience." The sixty-mile drive was one of continuous curves. The road snaked
around cliffs, dived down to sea level, then climbed back up another
cliff.The party checked into the Han-Maui Hotel, then left for the police
station. Tokawto had come out of his sedation, but was still in such serious
condition that his words seemed a meaningless jumble during his
conscious spells. "I don't know if he's going to make it or not," Mr. Brewster said in a
low voice. Biff stepped to the wounded man's bedside for a closer look. "That _is_ the man who was snapping pictures of us at the airport, Dad,"
he declared. "Do you also think he's the one you had your tussle with?" "He could be," Biff said slowly. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
"I'd say he's about the right size. I
didn't get a close look at his face, though." Tokawto moaned. He opened his eyes.He looked at Biff, and a frown of
recognition crossed his face. He stretched out one hand and spoke. "Ka Lae," he said, and repeated the two Hawaiian words: "Ka Lae." "What does that mean, Hank?" Mr. Brewster asked. "Ka Lae is the name of the southern tip of the Big Island-Hawaii." "I think he was trying to tell me that," Biff said. "I'm sure he
recognized me, and is trying to tell us that we ought to go to Ka Lae." Biff's father nodded his head. "I think you're right, Biff. Those words
have a meaning for me, too. I'll tell you about it later. Back at the
hotel." They walked the short distance back to their quarters. "Hank, do you think we could charter a boat here for a couple of days? ""I'm sure we can. You're going to Hawaii?" "Yes. To Ka Lae. But, I want it thought that we're just off on a fishing
cruise. No need for anyone but us to know our real reason for going." "Do you think Dr. Weber might be being held on the Big Island? "Biff
asked. "I think it quite likely, Biff. But there's still another reason for us
to take a good look around Ka Lae. That I'll tell you about when we're
on our boat at sea. Would you mind hopping up to my room and getting my
sun glasses, Biff?Then we'll go see about a boat." Biff took the stairs to the second floor three at a stride. Li was right
behind him. Biff scrambled through his father's bag, looking for the
glasses. "Hey, Biff. Look at this! "Biff, glasses in hand, turned to see Li
pointing to the mirror of the room's dresser. He walked over for a
closer look.On the mirror, written in soap, was a message:
"JW for Cs"
CHAPTER X
Starting a Search
Biff wasted no time in getting back down to the lobby of the hotel.He
told his father about the message written in soap. "Just the letters, you say--_JW_ for _CS_?" Mr. Brewster exclaimed. "Let's go back to my room. I want to see them for myself." The Brewsters and the Mahenilis went up the stairs.As they neared Mr.
Brewster's room, they noticed its door was open. "Now what can that mean? More trouble? That door was closed." The
question flashed through Biff's mind, but he did not speak.The door, it developed, had been left ajar by the maid, but it was what
she was doing that upset Thomas Brewster. They entered the room just in time to see the maid wipe the soap message
off the mirror.Thomas Brewster started to speak, but he realized that she was only
doing her job. When the maid left the room, Mr. Brewster questioned his
son closely. "Now this is important, Biff," he said. "Can you remember exactly how
those letters were written?I mean, were they all capitals? Or was one
or more of them in lower case?" "Lower case?" Li looked puzzled. "He means small letters, Li. Now let's see, Dad. I'm almost positive
that the _J_ and the _W_ were capitals. How about you, Li?Is that how
you remember it?" The Hawaiian lad nodded his head. "And I think I'm sure about the C. It was a capital letter, too. Right,
Li?" "Gee, I think so, Biff." "But what about the _s_, Biff? This is important," his father said. Biff frowned.He closed his eyes trying to recreate a mental picture of
the soap scrawl. "Dad, I can't be absolutely sure, but I think the _s_
was a small letter." Biff looked at Li. Li could only shrug his shoulders. "I think your memory is probably right, Biff.You have a pretty good
one, and besides, it fits," Mr. Brewster declared. "I'm completely mystified," Hank Mahenili put in. "All this talk about
letters, capitals, and small letters. What do they mean, Tom? ""Well, first, I think--I hope--they mean that Dr. Weber is definitely
alive. That's good news. They must also mean that he's being held
prisoner. Not so good. The doctor is old, you know, and just how much he
can stand at his age is doubtful. ""If he's alive, we'll find him," Biff cut in. "But the letters, what do they mean?" Hank repeated his question. "The _J_ and the _W_, I'm sure, stand for Johann Weber. The _C_--capital
_C_--and the small _s_, is the chemical symbol for cesium.""Cesium!" Understanding came to Hank Mahenili. Any informed engineer
knew the importance of this element. "Just what is cesium, Dad? And what is it used for?" "Technically, son, its atomic number is 55, and its atomic weight is
132.91. Its use?"Mr. Brewster smiled. "I'll tell you this, we'll never
get to the moon without it." "You mean it's used in rocket propulsion?" Biff asked. "That's right, Biff. It's a high-thrust, long-life rocket propulsion
fuel. Most costly." "More than gold? "Li asked eagerly. "Much more, Li. If you and Biff had about ten pounds of it between you,
you'd have your education paid at any college you wanted to go
to--M.I.T., Cal Tech--any of them." "Wow!Must be worth more than a thousand dollars a pound, then," Biff
said, his voice filled with amazement. "It is, Biff. The refining process is what makes it so expensive.Scientists and explorers--like Jim Huntington--have carried on extensive
searches to locate a field where the purity of the ore is high--higher
than in those fields we now know about." "And Mr. Huntington--he thought he had made such a strike? "Biff asked. Before answering, Tom Brewster went to the door. He opened it cautiously
and looked up and down the hall. "I don't want any eavesdroppers or spies lurking around." He had lowered
his voice until it was little more than a whisper. "Now I'll fill you in so you will all know what we're up against." Hank
Mahenili, Li, and Biff crowded close to Mr. Brewster. They didn't want
to miss a word. "That letter you found the other night, boys, is important.Not as
important as Dr. Weber's abductors think it is, but it does tell of a
cesium find Huntington made in New Zealand. He felt it to be a
sensational discovery." "High-grade ore?" Biff asked. "Yes.In his letter to Dr. Weber, Huntington told of the find, of his
belief in its high degree of purity. He was bringing a sample, and a map
of the location, to Honolulu. Dr. Weber was to assay it.Then, if it
proved out as expected, Ajax Mining was to move in on the deal and
exploit the field." "And Mr. Huntington never got here," Biff said. "That's right. That call I received from Dr. Weber--you remember, Biff.The doctor had just arrived in Honolulu when word of Huntington's loss
at sea became known.There was an extensive sea and air search, but
nothing was found, no sign of the sloop's wreckage, and, even more
unfortunately, no slightest sign of Huntington." "How could that be, Mr. Brewster?" Li wanted to know. "It is thought that Jim Huntington's sloop must have split its seams
open in a heavy squall, Li. Huntington apparently stuck by his boat and
went down with it." "Isn't it supposed to have gone down somewhere off Ka Lae, Dad?" "That's right.But there's a lot of ocean off the southern tip of the
Island of Hawaii." | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
Biff was frowning with concentration. "Ka Lae," he said. "Those are the
two words Tokawto mumbled to us this morning." "And that's where we're going," his father said. "You think Dr. Weber is being held somewhere near there, while somebody
tries to locate the sunken sloop?" "I'm sure of it now, Biff." "Who do you think his abductors might be, Dad?" Thomas Brewster looked at Hank Mahenili. "Any doubt in your mind, Hank?" "Not one bit," the Hawaiian answered, shaking his head. "Perez Soto." "He'll make contact with us again," Biff's father said. "He doesn't know
exactly what is in this letter Biff found.His message--the one written
on that mirror, is telling me that if we want to see Dr. Weber alive
again, then I'll have to tell him where the cesium strike is located." "And that information is at the bottom of the sea," Biff said soberly. "Yes," Mr. Brewster said. "We've got to do everything we can to try and
spot that sunken sloop. Dr. Weber's life depends on it." CHAPTER XI
Wharf Rats
Biff's father had concluded his conversation. "Now you all know as much as I do. Now we move into action. Biff, you
and Li will be our ground forces. Li's father and I will take over the
naval side." "You mean we're not going to the Big Island with you?" Biff was
dismayed. "No, Biff.I want you and Li to roam about Hana. You both had a good
look at Perez Soto. I'm sure you could describe him. Make a few
inquiries. See if anyone of his description has been in Hana recently. Hana is a very big place.I'm sure he was here yesterday--probably met
with Tokawto, to Tokawto's misfortune." "We'll check on him, too. We'll stop by the police station," Biff
replied. "Hank," Mr. Brewster went on, "our job is to rent a boat. A yawl, about
thirty feet.Biff and I can sail, and I'm sure you and Li have handled
boats all your lives. I don't want a captain or a crew. Just a boat. Think we can rent one here?" "I'm positive we can, Tom." "All right then. Boys, you start your investigation.You're pretty good
at it. But be careful. Meet us back here in time for lunch. I hope we
can sail tonight." Biff and Li went to their room and changed into shorts. Then they went
out to explore Hana. The mid-morning sun was bright. The sky was clear.It was a beautiful
day on the Island of Maui. The boys covered the small business section,
stopping in a few stores, and asking if anyone had seen a man answering
to the description of Perez Soto. They were becoming discouraged as noon
approached. "Let's go to the police station, Li. See how Tokawto's condition is,"
Biff suggested. They learned that the wounded man was still much the same. It would be a
close thing if he lived. Leaving the police station, Biff had an idea. "Look, Li," he said,
frowning. "We're going about this thing all wrong. If Perez Soto
kidnaped Dr. Weber and took him to Hawaii, he'd have to have a boat,
wouldn't he?" "Sure, Biff, sure. ""Then let's head for the docks and find out if anyone looking like Perez
Soto has rented a boat in the last week or so." "Good idea, Biff." They headed for the waterfront. Suddenly Biff turned to his friend. "Don't look back, Li," he muttered, "but I think we're being followed. Just walk along as we're doing now. When we get to the middle of the
next block, you leave me. We'll shake hands, then you cross the street. Go into one of the stores.Find a place where you can see out but can't
be seen from the street. Keep a sharp lookout." Li's face showed his excitement. "I get you, Biff. You want me to see if
someone keeps on following you." "That's right.I'm going to continue on down the street another few
blocks. Then I'll cut back and meet you in front of one of those stores. Look sharp, now." The boys solemnly shook hands. Biff clapped Li on the shoulder. "Be
seeing you," he called loudly when Li had reached the middle of the
street. Then Biff continued his "sight-seeing" walk along Hana's main
street. He desperately wanted to look behind him, but he knew that to do so
would spoil his plan.He walked three blocks, stopping every so often to
stare into a window. If he was being followed, he wanted to give Li
plenty of time to spot his pursuer.Toward the end of the street, where the business section left off and
the residential section began, Biff cut across the street, then started
slowly back to his rendezvous with Li on the opposite side.He saw Li in front of a small store, standing under a brightly colored
awning. "Well, did you see anything?" Biff asked. "I think so, Biff. But I don't know for sure. There was a man, maybe one
hundred feet behind you.Every time you stopped, he'd stop, too, and
sort of step into a doorway, in case you looked back, I guess." "Then I was being followed!" "Gee, Biff. I thought so at first.But then this man turned into a side
street before you reached the end of your walk." "How could you tell that, from inside that store?" "Oh? Well, I stepped out on the sidewalk, so I could see better.Once
you got down to the next block, I couldn't see you through the window
any more." Biff smiled. "I was being followed, all right, Li." "But how can you be sure? This man didn't keep on following you." "You know why, Li?Because when you stepped out on the sidewalk, the man
spotted you. He had seen you with me, and knew you had planted yourself
in the store just to check and see if he was following me." Li's face fell. "Gee, I'm some detective!Charlie Chan would box my
ears, as he was always doing with No. 1. Son. I'm sorry, Biff." "Don't let it get you down. Let's go find out about boats." If Li had flunked his first detective test, he more than redeemed
himself on his second.At the waterfront, the boys spotted several signs announcing boats for
hire. "Let me see if I can find a _kamaaina_," Li suggested. "I could talk to
him. He might even know my family, then I could find out a lot." "Go ahead, Li. Good idea.I'll take a walk out on that dock and wait for
you." Biff stood on the end of the pier, scaling small sea shells into the
water. He could see Li going from place to place.At a nearby dock, Li
took much longer than at the other places where he had inquired. Biff
could see him talking to an old Hawaiian, bent of body, wearing a floppy
sun hat. He saw Li look in his direction and signal for him to come
over.Proud excitement shone from Li's face as Biff came up. "I've got big news, Biff," Li exclaimed. "This _kamaaina_ has told me
just what we want to know. He's an old man, speaks no English, but he
says he knew my father's family many years ago. ""Yes, but what about Perez Soto?" "I'm coming to that.The oldtimer says he didn't rent any boat last
week, but at that dock up there--" Li pointed to a dock about one
hundred feet down the shore--"a _malihini_--that means a
newcomer--rented a big power boat about five days ago.He can't remember
the exact day. He's old, I guess, and kind of forgetful. But he thinks
it was on a Monday. That would be--"
Last Monday! | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
That was the day Dr. Weber had disappeared! "Good going, Li," Biff exclaimed. "And you described Perez Soto? ""I sure did. And the _kamaaina_ says he thinks it was the same man. The
man came to him, first, but he didn't have any boat big enough to suit
this man." "Well, Li, I think we're getting somewhere. I want to try one more thing
before we go back.I want to make sure I was being followed. I think
it's important to know if any of Perez Soto's men are still in Hana." "Why would they be," Li demanded, "if Perez Soto and the doctor are on
the Big Island?" "Don't forget about Tokawto.I'm sure Perez Soto would want to know if
Tokawto recovers enough to talk." "What are you going to do?" "I've got a trick up my sleeve. If someone is following me, it might be
because he thinks I might still have that letter. "Biff took out his
address book and tore paper from the back of it. "You know he might be
just stupid enough to think I was still carrying the letter with me." "Guess he'd have to be plenty _lolo_ for that, Biff." "Plenty _lolo_? What does that mean? ""It means dumb or stupid," Li replied. Biff grinned. He took a pencil and scribbled a word on the paper. Then
he stuck the paper in his hip pocket, on top of his handkerchief. "We'll walk over to that boathouse," Biff said.Halfway there, he
stopped, pulled out his handkerchief, and wiped his forehead. As he did
so, the paper fell to the ground. "Come on," he muttered. The boys entered the boathouse.They pretended
to examine the boats, allowing themselves several minutes. "Guess we've given our pursuer long enough, if we are being followed,"
Biff decided. They came back out of the boathouse and retraced their steps.At the
spot where Biff had pulled out his handkerchief, he stopped again, and
looked carefully about him. "We've been followed, all right. The paper is gone," Biff said to Li. "What did you write on that paper, Biff? ""'_Lolo_,'" Biff said, and the boys burst out laughing. Time had slipped by much faster than Biff and Li realized. It was
midaftenoon when they got back to the hotel. "Guess I've been so excited I forgot about eating," Li said, "but am I
ever hungry now!" "I could eat my way through another _luau_, Li," Biff agreed. At the front desk of the hotel, they found a message from their fathers. "_We're checking out the boat_," Biff's father had written, "_and
getting supplies. Wait for us._"
Biff and Li had a late lunch, took a small siesta, then had a refreshing
swim in the hotel's pool.It was growing dark when Mr. Brewster and Hank
Mahenili came back. "We've got the boat, Biff. And it's a real honey. As trim a craft as
you'd ever want to see." "Where is it, Dad?" Biff wanted to see the boat. "Tied up at the municipal wharf.Know where that is?" "We sure do. We were down there this afternoon. I wonder how we missed
you." Biff then told his father and Mr. Mahenili what he and Li had learned. "I felt sure it would be Perez Soto. And he rented a powerful cabin
cruiser?"Mr. Brewster asked. "That's right, Dad. Li's _kamaaina_ friend thinks it was the Monday Dr.
Weber disappeared." "It all adds up. We can't get to Hawaii fast enough now." "Are we leaving tonight?" Biff asked. "About ten o'clock.Have to wait until then for supplies to be
delivered." "Gee, is it all right if Li and I dash down to the dock and look at the
boat?" "Sure. You'll have time. But don't stay too long. We'll be having dinner
in an hour. "Biff and Li started for the door. "Hey!" Mr. Brewster called. "Don't you think you ought to know the
boat's name? It's the _Easy Action_." It was growing dark when Biff and Li reached the dock.There was the
trim craft, painted a bright white, with a golden arrow trimming its
sides. Its two masts swayed gently from side to side in the gently
rolling water. "She's a beauty, all right," Biff said to Li as they approached the
boat. "Come on, let's go aboard." Biff felt Li's hand on his arm, restraining him. "Hold it, Biff," Li said in a whisper. "I think I saw someone on the
boat. Let's duck behind these pineapple crates." The boys secreted themselves. They peered intently at the yawl's
portholes. There was barely enough light to see. "There, did you see that!" Biff nodded his head.They had seen a white-clad figure flash by one of
the portholes. CHAPTER XII
Bomb Away
For several moments Biff and Li remained absolutely quiet and
motionless. They knew someone was on the boat. But what was he doing? "Could he be one of the men bringing supplies to the boat?" Li whispered
at last. Biff shook his head. "No. I don't think so. You'd see activity on the
deck, too, and a truck somewhere nearby.No, we've got to investigate
what that character is doing." "I've got an idea, Biff." "Let's have it, Li." "Well, look, you know how well I can swim under water. Suppose I slip
into the water on this side of the wharf.Then I'll swim under it, and I
can come up right beside the boat. I'll move along from porthole to
porthole and see if I can find out what's going on in the boat." "Sounds okay to me. Good thing we changed into shorts.Be careful not to
make any noise." "Me, Biff? I'll be as quiet as a fish." He was, too. There wasn't even the faintest "ker-plop" as Li lowered
himself over the edge of the dock and sank into the water. Biff waited tensely.From behind his stack of pineapple crates, he could
get a good view of the starboard side of the yawl. He could see right to
the water line and the four portholes just above it.Moments became minutes, and it seemed to Biff that the minutes were
stretching out much too long. Had Li met some obstruction beneath the
dock? Biff's worry was increasing.Finally, he noticed a circle of
lightly rippling water near the bow of the boat. In the center of the
circle, he could just spot Li's head.He watched as his friend slowly raised himself by the boat's starboard
gunnel until his head was even with the porthole. Noiselessly, Li
dropped back into the water and took two strokes toward the stern. Now
he peered into the second porthole.He repeated the process at the third
porthole and moved on to the fourth. The fourth must be the one, Biff
figured, that was in the small compartment where the yawl's auxiliary
engine was located. Li took a longer time at this porthole.Biff watched him intently
through the growing darkness. A slight movement on the boat caused him
to raise his eyes. He gasped. Directly over Li stood a man with a small nail keg raised over his head. He was ready to smash it down on Li's head. "Li!Look out! Duck!" The Hawaiian boy submerged just as the keg struck the water at the exact
spot where his head had been. "Jeepers," Biff thought, "I hope Li got far enough under." The keg hurler was running along the deck toward the boat's bow.Here he
could leap on the dock and make his getaway. Biff went into action. He jumped from behind the crates, reached the
boat in six fast strides, and leaped aboard just as the prowler reached
the bow. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
Biff grabbed at the man.His arms encircled him, and Biff in turn felt
the man's arms squeeze him in a bearlike hug. Biff exerted every ounce
of his strength, trying to force the man over backward, trying to free
himself of the man's crushing grip.He heard a noise from directly behind the man. Looking over his
shoulder, Biff saw the dripping figure of Li scramble aboard. Li didn't
hesitate. He threw himself at the man, striking him just at the knees
from the rear. "Clipping," flashed through Biff's mind. Unfair in
football, but in a fight like this there'd be no fifteen-yard penalty. The impact of Li's body forced the man to release his grip. As he did,
Biff stepped backward.His feet became entangled in a coil of rope. He
lost his balance, toppling backward. His feet hit the raised gunnel, and
the next moment he was flying through the air.He felt himself falling,
a sickening feeling, as if he were falling from a great height. He
wasn't, though. He was falling from the bow, six feet to the water. But
he was falling backward and had no time sense of the distance.He hit the water with a splash. His broad back smacked the water with
the noise of a loud handclap. Biff could feel his back sting from the
impact. He turned over and looked up. There was the bow of the boat, directly
overhead.There was Li, looking down at him. "You all right, Biff?" There was a strange sound in Li's voice. For a
moment, Biff was angered. The strange sound was Li trying to hold back
his laughter. Biff's sense of humor came to his rescue.He must have
been a funny sight, thrashing around in the water on his back like a
beached porpoise. "Yep. I'm all right," he called. "I'll swim to midships. You can give me
a hand up." Once back aboard, Biff's first concern was about the prowler. "Oh, him," Li said. "When you made your backward bellywhopper, that guy
took off. He raced down the dock. He's long gone by now." Biff rubbed the small of his back with his left hand. "That hurt. And
here you are laughing at me. ""You were funny, Biff," Li laughed. "And that sting won't last long." "Guess you're right. Hey, let's see if we can find out what our visitor
was doing on board." First the boys explored the deck of the boat.They opened the sail-chest
and inspected the sails. They hadn't been touched. They carefully
examined the yawl's rigging.Both knew that an important rope could be
cut just far enough through so that it would hold in a mild wind, then
snap in a heavy one, just when it was most badly needed. No evidence of
any tampering with the rigging. "Let's go below.That's where the prowler was when we got here. He must
have been doing his dirty work down there," Biff said. A careful search of the cabins, each with two berths, revealed nothing. "Hey, look at this!" Li called.He was in the engine compartment, a
small space between the forward cabin and the galley. "Doesn't it look
to you as if this has been moved recently?" Li pointed to the wooden cover which housed the engine. It was sitting
slightly askew. "We'll take a look underneath." Biff took one side of the housing, Li
the other. "Careful now. Heave gently." They removed the housing. "Must be a flashlight around here somewhere. Have to have one if we're
going to find anything. "Li found one in the tool chest. Biff took it and directed its beam of light on the top of the engine. "Nice little engine. A four-cylinder Indian Marine. Ought to shove us
along around eight or ten knots. "He placed the light's beam over the engine, inch by inch. Suddenly he
brought the light's rays to a fixed spot. Biff bent low. "Never saw anything like this on one of these engines. Take a look, Li." Li bent down beside Biff.The boys were looking at a crudely made object, resembling a small tin
can. It was roughly attached just below the engine's carburetor. "Let's get out of here," Biff said, swallowing. His throat had become
dry and tight. "That thing's a bomb--a homemade bomb." Li was already heading back to the cockpit. "Alloo there! Ship ahoy!" came a cry from the dock. Biff and Li burst on deck just as his father and Mr. Mahenili started to
step aboard. "Stay back, Dad! Stay back!There's a bomb on the boat!" Biff yelled. Breathlessly, the boys told their fathers of spotting the prowler on
board, of the brief tussle, and the results of their investigation. "It's a good thing we came down," Tom Brewster said. "You were late.We
thought you might have run up against something." "We sure did, Dad," Biff assured him. "I'll have to investigate. Can you tell me exactly where this thing you
think is a bomb is located?" "You're not going on board, are you, Dad? "Biff asked, his voice filled
with anxiety. "I think it will be all right. I have an idea that bomb isn't intended
to go off while the boat's still in harbor." "But, Dad, it might," Biff protested. "Biff, I've handled dynamite and other types of explosives in my work. I
was also in the bomb demolition service in the army. I can handle it. You stay back, though, all of you, until I give you an all-clear. Now
just where is this thing you found? ""Directly under the carburetor," Biff replied. "Here, you'll need this." He handed his father the flashlight. They watched Mr. Brewster's head disappear as he moved down the steps
from the cockpit to the first cabin. "I think we'd better follow your father's orders, boys," Hank Mahenili
said. "We'll put a little distance between us and the boat--just in
case." The three moved an anchor rope's length from the stem of the boat. The minutes went by.The waiting became almost unbearable. Biff couldn't
control the feeling of fear gnawing at the pit of his stomach. Any
moment, he expected to hear the dull thud of an explosion.He expected
to see the boat burst open, sending wood and debris flying through the
air. Minutes ticked on. Each one seemed an hour to Biff. At last, he saw his
father emerge from the cockpit. "I've got it. It's all right. "Biff ran to where his father stood. It may have been all right, but Biff
could tell by the beads of perspiration standing out on his father's
forehead and by his soaked shirt, that it had been a ticklish job. "It's a bomb, all right.Perez Soto is playing for keeps," Mr. Brewster
said grimly. He wiped his forehead. "It's a simple thing, really. Anyone
with Perez Soto's experience, or mine, for that matter, could make it." "But when was it set to go off?" Biff asked. "That would depend on when and how long we used the auxiliary engine. See this timer?" The three leaned forward for a closer look, peering warily at the
infernal machine Biff's father held in his hand. "This timer, which is hooked up to the detonator, is fixed so it starts
in motion when the engine is started. It cuts out when the engine is
out. Very clever, actually, even though it is simple." "When would the timer fire the charge?" Biff asked. "I'd judge after about an hour, perhaps two--no more--after the engine
had been running." "We'd be out in the middle of the ocean by then." | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
Biff looked at Li and
Mr. Mahenili. Both shook their heads. "Worse than that, Biff, if I've got it figured right." "How, Dad?" "Well, Perez Soto would know that we'd use the engine to get us out of
the harbor. Maybe a twenty-minute run. Then we'd go to sail. And we'd
use sail every minute we could.But then--this is the really devilish
clever part of his plan." Mr. Brewster paused. He turned to Li's father. "Didn't you tell me that there are some dangerous reefs off Ka Lae?" "You bet there are," Mr. Mahenili said. "And the water's shark-infested,
too." "Well, to search the coast along there for Huntington's sunken sloop,
we'd have to use the engine. Couldn't take a chance with sail on those
ragged coral reefs. ""I'm beginning to catch on, Dad," Biff said soberly. "I expected you would." "We'd have to use the engine, as you said. And right in the midst of
those reefs, and those sharks, _bang_!The boat would have blown up--"
"And that would have been the end of us," Thomas Brewster said quietly. He tossed the deactivated bomb overboard. "Rest in pieces," Biff said fervently.CHAPTER XIII
A Near Miss
"Everything all clear?" Mr. Brewster called out from his position at the
tiller in the yawl, _Easy Action_. "Aye, aye, sir," Biff called back to his father.Biff held on to the bow
line, loosely circled over a piling at the dock. "Cast off, then," Tom Brewster ordered. Biff flicked the rope, snaking it over the piling, as the _Easy Action_
was cleared.Biff heard the low growl of the reverse gear as his father
backed easily away from the wharf. A shift to forward, the engine revved
up higher, and the yawl headed out of the harbor at Hana.It was a clear night, bright stars lighting up the skies over the
Hawaiian Islands. A slight sliver of a new moon could just be seen
rising in the east. The yawl ran on its auxiliary engine for fifteen minutes, putting the
harbor behind it.When they were well clear, and in open sea, Mr.
Brewster cut the engine. "All hands to," he called. "Prepare to hoist sail." A yawl is a fore-and-aft rigged vessel.It has a large mainmast forward,
and a much smaller mast set abaft or behind the tiller, or wheel. Hank Mahenili and his son Li had hold of the halyards at the mainmast,
ready to pull on the lines to raise the main and jib sails.Biff would handle the mizzen or aft sail by himself. "Heave away, me hearties," Mr. Brewster ordered. The three "hearties" heaved, and the sails slid up their masts, and
billowed gently out, catching a soft, warm wind. The sails were set and
trimmed. "Okay, Biff, you take over now." Biff came into the cockpit and took the tiller over from his father. "Keep her headed as she is now. The compass setting is for Upolu Point.We ought to make it easily by daybreak, and then we'll cruise the
western coast of the Big Island." "Heading for Ka Lae, Dad?" Biff asked. "That's right, Biff. Hank and I are going to turn in now. You and Li
handle the ten-to-two watch.Wake us up at two, then you boys can grab
some sleep." Li joined Biff in the cockpit. The _Easy Action_ lived up to her name. She slid effortlessly through
the water, noiseless except for the soft swish of her bow cleaving a
path.The wind held steady. There was nothing to do but hold her on
course. "Like sailing, Li?" Biff asked. "It's the greatest. I'll take sail over power any day." Li spoke as if
he were an old salt. "Not so good for water skiing, though," Biff said. "You need more speed
for that, quick speed, fast starts." "Oh, sure. But for a cruise like we're taking, give me sail." The boys were quiet. The spell of the night settled over them. Li, Biff
knew, dozed off from time to time.He himself felt drowsy, lulled into
sleepiness by the slight rise and fall of the craft as it rode over the
swells. Biff looked at the luminous dial of his watch. It was nearly twelve
o'clock. He nudged the sleeping Li. "Hey, you're supposed to be on this watch with me. How 'bout taking over
for a while?" Li rubbed his eyes, stretched, and yawned. "Aye, aye, Captain." He took the tiller.Biff stood up, stretched his body, then settled into a more comfortable
position. He fought off sleep, but knew he dozed now and again in short,
five-minute catnaps. He was never far from consciousness, though.And if
anything happened--say a quickening of the wind--he would have been
alert immediately. At two o'clock, a widely yawning Tom Brewster emerged from the cabin,
followed by Hank Mahenili. "All right, boys. We'll take over now. Get some sleep.At this steady
pace, we'll reach Upolu long before daylight. We'll drop anchor, then
set out again at daybreak." Upolu is the northernmost point on the Island of Hawaii. Biff and Li were asleep the moment they hit their berths.It seemed to
Biff he had only just gone to sleep when he felt his father shaking his
shoulder. "Rise and shine, Biff. Almost daylight. We're shoving off as soon as we
have some grub." Under a bright morning sun, the _Easy Action_ got under way again.Biff
was at the tiller. His father and Hank Mahenili, tired from their early
morning watch, dozed on the foredeck in comfortable captain's chairs. Biff and Li had their work cut out for them. The course set was a zigzag
one.They wanted to cruise as much of the coastline as possible in the
hope of spotting some sign of Huntington's sunken sloop. Biff would head the _Easy Action_ off shore, run out nearly ten miles,
then tack back in.For every three miles they progressed down the coast
toward Ka Lae, the southern tip of Hawaii, they covered nearly twenty
miles out and back from the coast. A stiff morning breeze sent the _Easy Action_ skipping briskly over the
waves.They had covered a good distance by eight bells, twelve o'clock
noon. Biff and Li took turns at the tiller.When Li was the steerer, Biff
stood on the highest point of the foredeck, near the ship's bow,
scanning the waters on either side with powerful binoculars. When it was
his time to take over the wheel, Li took up the vigil.They reached Kailua on the Kona coast as the sun, like a blazing ball,
settled into the Pacific Ocean to the west. They were halfway to Ka Lae,
the southern cape.The party went ashore for a steak dinner at the famous Kona Steak House,
then came back to their boat filled with food and tired. All turned in
at once. No watch was set.None of them saw the black-hulled power
cruiser come in and drop its anchor nearby. Then the captain of the
cruiser, having spotted the _Easy Action_, weighed anchor and moved off
to an anchorage out of sight from the crew of the yawl.The next morning the search was continued, the yawl weaving its way in
and out along the coast, drawing nearer to Ka Lae, nearer to the
position at which Huntington had last been heard from. "I'll take the tiller now, Biff,'" his father said. "Hank and I will
alternate. I want you and Li to keep a constant watch. Your young eyes
are sharper than ours. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
"The _Easy Action_ spent the day crisscrossing a wide area of water
between the shore line and a distance outside the coral shoals, varying
from five to twelve miles. Nightfall found them off Ka Lae, or South Cape.They anchored in thirty
feet of clear water, about a quarter of a mile off shore. They could see
the white combers lashing at the rocky formation of the beach. "We'll combine our evening meal with a council of war," Tom Brewster
said, once the ship was made tight for the night. "You figure we're in the danger area now, Dad?" Biff asked. "Huntington's sloop is on the bottom of the ocean somewhere in this
area." "And Perez Soto is looking for it just as hard as we are," Hank Mahenili
added. "What about Dr. Weber?" Biff asked. "Do you think he's aboard Perez
Soto's boat, or do you think he's being held on shore?" "Hard to say, Biff. My feeling is that he's being held on shore. A
captive on a boat could be too easily spotted at a refueling wharf. ""Don't you think, Dad, that we ought to divide up now?" Biff suggested. "Two of us make a shore search for Dr. Weber, the other two cruise
around and try to spot the sunken sloop?" "Good idea, Biff. We'll do that tomorrow," Mr. Brewster agreed. "Hank
and I will go ashore. You and Li conduct the sea search." That suited Biff and Li just fine. They looked at one another and
smiled. "Now tonight, I don't think it's necessary to have a standing watch. There's been no sign of Perez Soto so far.But one of us ought to sleep
on deck. Any volunteers?" Biff's father asked. "Me, Dad." Biff jumped at the chance. "I'd love to. Nice warm night. The
sleeping will be better under the stars than it will be in the cabin." "Okay, let's all turn in.Big day ahead." Biff spread out a sleeping bag on the _Easy Action_'s foredeck. He lay
on his back, his eyes staring up and the millions of stars twinkling in
the sky overhead. The sound of the surf came distinctly.It was a
soothing sound, and shortly Biff was lulled to sleep. Some hours later, he was awakened slowly. He heard the distant throb of
a powerful engine. At first, Biff thought it must be an airplane.But
then, as he became wider awake, he realized the throbbing came not from
the air, but the sea. It grew louder as the craft, whatever it was, drew
nearer. Biff sat up, propping himself on one arm. Now there was no mistaking it.A boat, one with a powerful engine, was rapidly approaching the _Easy
Action_'s anchorage. Biff stood up. He peered into the starlight night. He could see the reflection of stars twinkling on the water's surface.Then he made out the outlines of a cabin cruiser throwing a fan-tail
white wake, heading fast toward the _Easy Action_. "Fools," Biff muttered to himself, "if they don't change course, they'll
ram us. "He knew the white-hulled yawl was sharply outlined against the starlit
waters. Then he suddenly knew what was happening. The on-charging
cruiser was aiming at the yawl. It _meant_ to ram her. Biff raised a cry. It was too late.His voice was drowned out by the
roar of the cruiser's engines--Biff knew now that it was a twin-engined
craft. Now the boat seemed on top of the yawl.Its bow, with a much higher
freeboard than the low-lying yawl, reared up menacingly only twenty feet
from the sailing craft.Surely it would crash them, ram them, send them
to the bottom of the sea, with Biff's father, Hank Mahenili, and Li
trapped below. Biff yelled. At the last moment, the cruiser swerved sharply to the starboard, making
an almost right-angle turn.It roared alongside the _Easy Action_, not
ten feet separating the two boats. As the cruiser made its fast, skidding turn, it threw up a tremendous
wave. Biff saw the wave sweeping toward the yawl.Then, tons of foaming
water cascaded over the _Easy Action_. Biff grabbed for the mainmast,
wrapping his arms around it in a death lock. He felt the wave tugging at
his body. It took all his strength to prevent being swept overboard.The wave passed on over, tumbling gallons of water into the cabins
below. Biff released his grip on the mainmast. He sprinted to the cockpit. It
was nearly filled with water. "Dad! Dad! You all right? "He started to plunge into the water-filled cabin and was met by his
father, Hank, and Li fighting their way out, gasping for breath, trying
to expel water from their choked lungs.The black cruiser had sped away, the throb of its engines barely audible
now. Everyone was all right. But what a mess! Bedding was soaked.Galley
equipment, pots, pans, dishes had been swept off shelves, some of the
pans bobbing like corks in the swirling waters inside the ship's cabin. Biff went into action. Maybe he could start the engine before the water
did its damage.He splashed through the water and reached the engine
compartment. He pulled open the door. It had held back the flood from
the engine room. Before the water could rush in and fill up that
compartment, Biff had the engine going.He quickly turned on the yawl's
sea pumps. He stood there with his fingers crossed, hoping the engine
wouldn't conk out. It didn't. The heavy-duty pumps worked perfectly. Already the water inside the boat was beginning to recede.Biff joined his father, Hank Mahenili, and Li in the cockpit. They were
still dazed and only now beginning to breathe easily. "I thought he was going to ram us, Dad." Mr. Brewster shook his head. "I get it now," Biff continued. "To ram us would have damaged _his_
boat--put it out of commission, even if it didn't sink. He wanted to
swamp us." "And nearly did!" Mr. Mahenili said. The steady beat of the pumps continued. They were rapidly bailing the
yawl out. "Well, Biff, you know what we're really up against now," his father said
seriously. "I think I always did, Dad. This Perez Soto will stop at nothing." Li sat quietly, but he was shaking as if from a chill.It was the recent
frightening experience which caused him to tremble. "Tom, I've been in and around water, in and out of boats all my life. But that was the nearest brush I've ever had with a watery grave." Hank
Mahenili's voice was solemn. "He'll never get away with it," he added
fiercely. The next hour was spent in straightening up the water damage. Bedding
was brought on deck and spread to dry. Li was elected cook, to make
coffee and hot tea.Dawn was spreading before the _Easy Action_ was
shipshape again. After a hot meal, Mr. Brewster took Biff aside. "Biff, we're not going to let last night's incident change our plans. Hank and I are going ashore immediately.You and Li put out and start
the search at once. We've got to stop Perez Soto before he stops us. Come below with me for a moment." Biff followed his father into the cabin. He saw him open his bag.When
he turned around, he was holding a revolver in his hand. "You know how to use this, Biff. You've practiced enough." "Yes, Dad." "You're not to use it, except in the most extreme emergency.You're to
use it only to repel anyone trying to board this boat." Biff nodded his head gravely. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
Mr. Brewster replaced the weapon and left
the cabin to join Hank Mahenili. Biff and Li watched their fathers as
they headed for shore in the yawl's dinghy.CHAPTER XIV
Storm! The boys watched the dinghy plunge into the surf near the shore. They
saw it picked up by a breaking roller, and carried on its crest to the
shore.They saw the two men pull the dinghy high up on the shore and
hide it behind some low, spreading growth. "They're taking no chances," Biff said to Li. "We've got to be equally
careful." Biff's voice held a grim tone.The memory of the night before was still
vivid in his mind. Li's face was solemn, too, his round brown eyes
serious. "You're the captain, Biff." Biff smiled. He didn't want Li to become too alarmed. "Okay, my friend. Let's put out to sea.I can handle the mainsail and
the jib. You stand by the tiller. We'll hoist the mizzen after we're
heading out." Biff ran the mainsail up, leaped to the bow of the boat, and started
hauling in the anchor on a hand winch. It took a lot of effort.The
anchor was heavy, and he had to raise it thirty feet. The _Easy Action_,
a spanking off-shore breeze in its sail, was already plowing through the
sea before Biff had the anchor safely stowed.Once the anchor was stowed, Biff went back to the cockpit. "How'm I doing, Biff? Heading the right way?" Li asked. "Point her a little more to the southwest. I'll raise the mizzen. "Biff finished his seaman's job and dropped down in the cockpit beside Li
for a breather. "I'll take over now, Li. You go forward and be the lookout. Take the
binoculars," he suggested. All morning they continued their crisscrossing course.The high noon sun
blazed down on them. The heat soon dried the bedding. Biff heaved to
long enough to carry the bedding below and make up the berths. They had a sandwich, then stretched out on the hot deck for a brief
rest. The boat drifted. "Where do you think we are now, Li?" Biff asked. Li looked shoreward. They could just make out the coastline. "I think we've rounded Ka Lae. Must be just off the black sand beach." "_Black_ sand?" "Yes, Biff.The lava from Kilauea spilled down to the ocean. The surf
ground it up into a fine black powder, really finer than sand. That's
why it's called the black sand beach.It's all along the Puna coast, all
the way up to Hilo--that's a city on the west side of the Big Island." "I think we ought to change course, then. Head a point or two north by
northeast. Then we'll wing back east and return to the anchorage. "Li was at the tiller. He came about, and the _Easy Action_ was put on a
long reach, pushed briskly along by a southerly wind. Toward the middle of the afternoon, Biff looked up to see Li coming aft. Biff was at the tiller.He noticed a frown on his Hawaiian friend's
face. "What's up, Li? You sight something?" "No, Biff," Li shook his head. The serious expression on his face had
deepened to one of worry. "Then what's your trouble? You look like you got trouble. "Biff smiled. "I'm afraid we both may have," Li answered. "Have you noticed it getting
any warmer?" "A little, perhaps. Wind's freshened a bit, too." "That's it. I'm afraid we're in for some Kona weather." "Kona weather? ""Yes, that's what we call a wind coming up from the Equator. Sometimes
it reaches gale force. Always there's heavy rain." Biff looked astern. On the southern horizon, he could make out huge
thunderheads. "Was there a Kona wind when Huntington was lost?" "Yes. A big one." "Then we'd better get out of here fast. We'll try to get back round Ka
Lae. The Point ought to give us some protection." There was no doubt now that a Kona wind was catching them.Biff changed
course again. He headed _Easy Action_'s bow west by north. The wind rose
rapidly. It whistled through the sails, making the rigging lines
vibrate. The sea began kicking up. The wind drove _Easy Action_ before it.The yawl heeled far over, its
mainsail stretched taut on the starboard side. The yawl was fairly
racing through the water. Suddenly they were struck by a torrential downpour. The rain hit the
deck in drops as big as half-dollars.The sky had blackened. The shore
was blanked out. Angry whitecaps dotted the water like blobs of cotton. "Take the tiller, Li," Biff shouted above the roar of the wind and the
pounding of the rain. "I've got to get the mainsail down." Biff fought his way forward on the rain-slippery deck. He was pushed
along by the driving wind. He reached the mainmast. Its lines were
whipping against it, cracking like pistol shots.He loosened the
mainsail halyard. The wind grabbed the mainsail. Biff struggled to pull
it down. Suddenly there was a thunderous crack. The mainsail gave way,
torn loose from its halyards.It stretched straight out like a flat,
white canopy and flapped violently in the wind, which was now near gale
force. There was no way to cut it loose. Biff let the line go. The jibsail was
still holding.Turning, Biff felt the rain and salt spray beat against
his face. He had to bend into a crouch to make any progress aft. The
salt spray stung his eyes, nearly blinding him. Once he slipped and crashed to the deck.He could feel himself sliding
toward the starboard gunnel, now nearly under water because the yawl had
heeled over so far. A last-second grab at a mooring stanchion saved him
from going overboard into the boiling sea. Biff pulled himself up slowly.He crawled on hands and knees and fell
exhausted into the cockpit. For moments he lay there, gasping for
breath. Then he saw the fear on Li's face. Li held the tiller in a
viselike grip. Biff rose. "I'll take over," he shouted.Li merely nodded his head in assent, glad to relinquish the wooden
tiller handle. It was a fight to hold it steady. From forward, the boys heard another crack, sharp as a shotgun shot. "Jibsail's given away," Biff shouted.Now their only control of the yawl was by the mizzensail. It was behind
them, making control of the boat most difficult. "If the mizzen goes," Biff yelled, "we're done for! "Just as he spoke the words, the mizzen gave way, torn from its halyard
by a sudden driving gust. At the same moment, the boys heard a sound
that sent an even greater chill of fear racing up and down their spines.It was the roar of an angry surf pounding the shore. They were being swept ashore. The boat would be dashed to bits. They
would be flung on razor-sharp coral! "Get forward, Li," Biff shouted. "Let the anchor go! "The sound of the pounding surf came nearer. Biff prayed that the anchor
would grab and hold. He fought the tiller, trying to keep the yawl from
being swept ashore broadside.Then, suddenly, the yawl was lifted high
on the crest of a roller, as if handled by a giant. When it crashed down
into a churning trough of water, Biff's grasp on the tiller was torn
loose. He felt himself being hurled through the air.Then he struck the
water with a thud, knocking the wind from his lungs. Biff felt himself go under. Then he was lifted by another roller. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
Surfacing, he gasped for air. His arms flailed the water.The waves
tossed him about, carrying him nearer and nearer the shore. Biff
struggled to ride the waves, to keep control of his body so that he
might avoid being dashed on the shore.He was hoping against hope that
this would be a sand, not coral beach. After a seemingly endless struggle, Biff, kicking out, felt his feet
touch bottom. Nothing had ever felt so good before.His feet were
touching a powdery sand, now roiled up, but at least, it wasn't a coral
bottom. Biff found himself in waist-deep water. The shoreline was only a few
feet in front of him.He staggered through the surf, reached the black
sand beach, and threw himself face down on the sand. Every muscle in his
body felt as if it had been pounded, pummeled, pulled, and strained. Then he thought of Li. He turned over and rose to his knees.He saw the
_Easy Action_. Her anchor had caught and held. She was pounding up and
down on the rough waters, but Biff could see that she was holding. But where was Li? Biff stood up. He went to the water's edge.He walked out until the
water raced around his knees. Cupping his hands to his mouth, he
shouted:
"Li! Li!" There was no answer.CHAPTER XV
Men Missing
Biff stood on the beach calling out his friend's name again and again. His voice shook with effort, trying to drown out the noises of surf and
sea.The wind was dying down slightly, but the surf was still too rough and
dangerous for Biff to try to reach the boat, which stood one hundred
feet off shore. Biff's eyes searched the beach, hoping to spot Li swimming ashore.No
such welcome sight met his eyes. To his left, about a quarter of a mile away, Biff could see a formation
of lava rock jutting out into the sea. He thought his friend Li might
have gotten to shore on the other side of the lava promontory.Biff ran down the beach. His pounding heart sank when he reached the
ugly, grayish-black rock, stretching out into the sea. Its side was
smooth, rising upward some thirty feet.There was no place Biff could
spot where he could gain a foothold to climb to its top. Around the base of the lava cliff, the water dashed and swirled, making
it impossible for Biff to swim around to the other side.Biff went back to the spot on the beach directly opposite the _Easy
Action_. He sank down on the wet sand, filled with despair. He felt
certain now that his good friend Li must be lost in the ocean. Night settled over a lonely, saddened Biff.The rain had stopped. The
wind was dying down. The surf was losing some of its angry roar. Sleep,
a sleep Biff felt he could never attain, finally came to the tired,
worried boy. With it came release for his troubled mind.By morning, the wind was gone. The sea was smooth, and the sky was blue
over Hawaii once again. Biff saw the yawl rocking gently at its anchor. Its sails torn,
tattered, drooped from the masts like the banners of a defeated army.There was no sign of Li. There was only one thing to do. He must search the nearby coast for his
lost friend. Biff swam out to the yawl. A quick inspection showed the _Easy Action_
to be a stout ship. She had taken on little water. Her seams had held.Her masts had stood the strain. Biff took out the emergency suit of sail
and rigged them to the halyards. He started the engine, let it idle as
he raised the anchor, then put out to sea.He ran on engine past the lava promontory, bringing the boat as close
into shore as he felt safe. No sign of Li. Biff put back out to sea, raised the jibsail and cruised along the
coast, his eyes constantly scanning the shoreline.He didn't know how
far down the Big Island he sailed, but he dreaded turning about and
giving up. Finally, he felt he had to. He had to get back to where he
had left his father and Mr. Mahenili and tell them the tragic news. Biff came about.Now he sailed in the opposite direction. He rounded the
lava promontory, lashed the tiller, and went forward to raise the
mainsail. Returning to the cockpit, Biff cast a final look at the spot on the
black beach where he had spent the night.His heart leaped. There was
someone on the beach, jumping up and down, waving madly. Li! With a shout of happiness, Biff turned the yawl inshore. Li had already
dashed into the water, and was swimming toward the approaching boat.Biff came about quickly, heading the yawl into the wind. Li reached its
side, and Biff pulled him aboard. He threw his arms around Li's wet body
and hugged him in sheer happiness. Then he stepped back and sized Li up
carefully.Except for some scratches, and a deep gash on one leg, Li
looked fine. "I thought you were a goner," Biff said. "Nope, old Davy Jones hasn't got me in his locker yet." "What happened? Where've you been?" Li grinned. "I fell overboard.I'd just let go the anchor when my foot
got caught and I went over. A current caught me and carried me away from
the boat.The anchor must have dragged for quite a distance before it
caught, because when I finally made shore, the yawl wasn't in sight." "Where'd you land? The other side of that lava cliff?" "Yep. And there was no way to get over it." "I know that.I walked down the beach to the cliff, but it can't be
climbed from this side, either." Both boys were silent for a minute, thinking about their narrow escape. "So what did you do, Li?" "I started up the cliff, the side of it.I had to find some way of
getting over it, hoping to find you safe on the other side." "Yes, go on." "Well, it was growing dark. I slipped several times, cut myself, too." "I see you did. We better put some antiseptic on that cut. ""I've already cleaned it out with salt water. Stung like the dickens." "We'll still do some more doctoring. Now get on with your story," Biff
ordered. "Well, I knew I wouldn't make it at night, so I found a protected spot
and went to sleep.This morning, I made my way farther up the cliff,
found a place where I could cross, and came over to this side." "And I was gone." "Yes, Biff. When I finally made it here, I could have died. No Biff. No
boat." "I was looking for you.I must have sailed two or three miles down the
coast, trying to spot you." "That's what I finally figured out, Biff. I thought that since the boat
was gone and there was no wreckage on the beach, old E.A. hadn't smashed
up.So, putting my two heads together, I also figured you must be safe
and had gone hunting for me. So I just sat and waited. Boy, when you
rounded that promontory, was I ever glad!" "Me too, when I saw you jumping around like a crazy Indian! "The boys smiled at each other. Their smiles turned to laughter, and for
a few moments they let themselves go in a wild laughing bout. "I should have known," Biff said, simmering down at last. "I should have
known that Likake Mahenili, champion swimmer of the Islands, could take
care of himself." "It was close, though, Biff." "I'll say it was." | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
Biff put the _Easy Action_ on a course for the spot where the dinghy had
been beached.They sailed through the morning and well into the
afternoon before they spotted their landmarks. Biff anchored the yawl. Both had felt sure their parents would be waiting for them on the beach. There was no sign of either man. "What do we do now, Biff?" Biff shrugged his shoulders helplessly. "I don't know, Li. All we can do is wait. It'll be dark, soon. We can't
search for them at night." "Biff, you don't think that maybe Perez Soto--" Li couldn't finish his
sentence.Biff knew the worried thoughts which must be running through his
friend's mind. The same thoughts were racing through his own. Had his
father and Mr. Mahenili been trapped by the enemy?CHAPTER XVI
Held Prisoner
High up the side of Mauna Loa volcano, Tom Brewster and Hank Mahenili
turned their binoculars on the sea 10,000 feet below them and several
miles away.The men scanned the coastline, inch by inch, searching for any activity
on the wide horizon. "Can't spot the _Easy Action_, Hank. Can you?" Tom Brewster asked. "No. But look over there. To your right.Line up on that tall palm tree,
couple hundred feet down." Tom Brewster followed his friend's directions. He adjusted his glasses. As the focus became sharp, he spotted a black object, apparently a boat,
anchored off shore. "Couldn't that be a black power boat? Looks like it to me, Tom," Hank
said. Brewster studied the boat for a minute before replying. "I think it is. I'm sure it is. That must be Perez Soto's boat. "Mahenili had turned his glasses in the direction where the _Easy Action_
should be riding at anchor. "I'm getting worried about the boys, Tom." "Oh, they'll be all right. They'll be coming into sight any moment now.Anything in particular worrying you? We've spotted Perez Soto's boat. They haven't had any trouble with him." It was late afternoon. Hank Mahenili had turned his glasses to the
south, looking out over Ka Lae. "See that cloud formation to the south? "he said. "It's building up
fast. It could be a Kona wind coming up." "Maybe we'd better start down, then," Mr. Brewster suggested. The two men had descended only halfway down the side of the volcano when
the Kona storm struck. They had to halt.It was too dangerous to make
the steep descent in the raging storm, the same storm that had hit the
_Easy Action_ two hours earlier. The high wind, ripping and roaring, whining against the side of the
mountain, was followed by a sheet of rain.Tom Brewster and Hank
Mahenili had to scramble for any cover they could find. They located a
small but deep depression, more of a pocket than a cave, and dived into
it.Water trickled in, wetting them, but it was better than being in the
open with the rain and wind lashing at them. Shortly after nightfall, the storm lessened. There was no question of
trying to continue their descent. "Have to make the best of it for the night," Mr. Brewster said. "What about the boys?" Hank asked. "Nothing we can do, Hank. Don't think I'm not worried. I am. But I do
trust Biff.He's been up against many a tough situation and has always
come through. He will this time, too. And so will Li." Tom hoped his
strong tone of confidence would be imparted to his friend.He knew that
the Mahenilis weren't accustomed to running into the dangerous
situations that had been a part of his own life for many years, and
recently, had become almost a pattern for Biff, too. Henry Mahenili was made of stout stuff, too.He also knew that, when
faced with a situation where there was no immediate out, the best thing
to do was to face up to it and hope for the best. Tom Brewster changed the subject. "I've an idea, Hank.I base it on seeing that black power boat anchored
off shore." "What is it, Tom?" "I think that Perez Soto and whoever is working with him must be ashore. I think they must have Dr. Weber with them.It would be too easy to spot
someone being held captive in as confined a space as a boat." "I'm with you in that thinking, Tom." "Tell me this, then. Don't you think they must have a hideout somewhere
nearby?They wouldn't want to be too far from their anchorage. They'd
want to be able to get to their boat quickly if any definite news came
about the location of Huntington's sunken sloop." "There are all sorts of places around here, Tom. Lean-tos, shacks.Finding one certain hideout won't be simple. There's also a lot of the
Mauna Loa, too. Don't expect too much too soon." "I know. But I won't rest until I've made every effort to find Dr. Weber. ""Well, Tom, if we don't rest now, we won't have the strength to continue
our search. Let's try to get some sleep." "Good idea." They spent a restless night in their cramped, wet quarters.Daylight,
with a bright sun already sending up steam vapors as it dried the wet
mountain side, was a welcome relief. The first thing both men did was to scan the shore line again with their
binoculars, searching for the _Easy Action_.Failure to spot her
increased the worry in both men's minds. Neither spoke of the matter. Each knew how greatly concerned the other was. But there was no point in
dumping one worry upon another. "Come on, Hank. Let's get back on down.The boys may be there when we
arrive." They started on down the side of Mauna Loa. At an elevation of about one
thousand feet, almost directly opposite the anchored black power boat,
they halted for a breather.They were only a mile or so from the shore. Their intention was to cut to their left, now that the going was easier
at the lower altitude. The descent was no longer so precipitate. They headed almost due south now.They stayed at the same elevation,
stopping now and again to sweep the coast line with their glasses. At
one halt, Tom Brewster placed a retaining hand on Mahenili just as he
started off. "Hold it a moment, Hank," Tom said in a low voice. "Hear anything?" Hank Mahenili listened. In a few moments, he nodded his head. "Sound like voices to you?" "Yes. And angry ones." "Come along then, let's find out. "The voices seemed to be coming from a point below them, not too far
below, and just a bit to their right. They proceeded most cautiously in the direction of the voices, careful
not to start any pebbles or small stones rolling downward.Easing
themselves down, the two men came to a ledge. It projected out like the
roof of a shed or porch. Tom Brewster got down on his stomach. He wormed
his way forward. The voices were coming, it appeared, from directly
beneath him.Inching ahead, Tom Brewster came to the edge of the ledge. Carefully, he
craned his head forward and looked down. He saw the tops of two men's
heads. A third man was stretched out on a makeshift bed of brush,
covered with a worn cloth.The third man was Dr. Weber. The doctor's cheeks were sunken. His color
was bad. He looked completely ill and worn out. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
Towering over the doctor
was Perez Soto.Thomas Brewster couldn't see the other man's face, but
he knew it must have anger written on it from the tone of his voice. Dr. Weber groaned as he turned on his side. Brewster could see that his
hands were bound behind his back.His ankles were also lashed together. "You old fool!" Perez Soto said. "Why should it make any difference to
you whether I get the cesium or Brewster gets it? You're a scientist. Bah! A scientist should put his science before all else. "Brewster heard the doctor's reply in a voice barely audible: "There are
certain things even a scientist places a greater value on--friendship,
loyalty, humanity." Perez Soto leaned over the old man, his arm raised as if to strike him.Brewster had all he could do to keep himself from leaping off the ledge
onto Perez Soto's back. But Soto's henchman stood, gun in hand, by the
old man's side. "I give you this day, and no more, my fine doctor," Perez Soto said. "By
nightfall, if you do not reveal to me the location of the cesium strike,
the world will lose one of its most eminent scientists!" CHAPTER XVII
A Dangerous Dive
Biff and Li were up with the first rays of daylight.After a hurried
breakfast, they prepared to go ashore. "Do you think it's safe to leave the boat unguarded, Biff?" Li wanted to
know. "No, I don't.I know darn well that Perez Soto would like nothing better
than to find the _Easy Action_ with no one aboard and scuttle her." "What do we do then?" "We take that chance," Biff said grimly. "We've got to.Finding our
fathers is more important than all the yawls and all the cesium in the
world." Li smiled in agreement. "We're going to be awfully wet when we get
ashore." The dinghy was still secreted behind beach brush. The yawl had no other. "Couldn't you kind of kick your way ashore, swimming on your back, Li?" Biff asked. "Sure, Biff. Why?" "Well, here's what you try to do. Jump overboard. Turn on your back. I'll hand you some dry shorts and sweat shirts.Hold them out of water
over your head and see if you can make shore that way." "I'll try, Biff. But I don't know. Getting through the surf isn't going
to be easy. Probably get the clothes wet anyway." "We'll try it.And if they do get wet, the sun will dry 'em fast." Li dived into the ocean. He plunged around like a porpoise for a few
moments, enjoying and getting the feel of the water. Then he turned on
his back and kicked to the side of the yawl.Biff handed down a bundle
of clothing, and Li propelled himself away from the boat with a powerful
thrust against its side. Biff slung a pair of binoculars in a waterproof case around his neck and
slipped into the water. Li's progress was slow.His leg thrusts were those of an excellent
backstroke swimmer, but unable to use his arms, he couldn't go very
fast. Biff stayed alongside him. "I'm going ahead when we reach the shore breakers," Biff called to Li. "I'm taller than you.Maybe I can reach bottom, and take the clothes
from you before a wave rolls over you." It was a good plan. But the sea has a way of upsetting good plans, and
it did this time. Boys and clothes reached shore equally wet.They wrung
out their shorts and sweat shirts as best they could, donned them, and
headed up the southern slope of the Mauna Loa in the area called Kau. They toiled upward, resting at regular intervals. It was hot, tiring
work.Their wet clothes clung to their bodies. Perspiration from the
effort kept their clothes damp. Even in the heat, Biff found himself
shivering convulsively. "I've got a clammy feeling from these clothes.Guess that's why I'm
shivering," Biff said to his friend. He hoped it _was_ the damp
clothing, rather than fear for the safety of his father and Hanale
Mahenili. By noon, the boys had climbed nearly three thousand feet. "Let's take a break," Biff called. "By me, fine. That was a tough climb," Li answered. Biff stretched out. Li remained seated. "Let me have the glasses. Biff." Biff handed them over, shielded his eyes from the sun, and tried to
catch a catnap.He was just dozing off when he felt Li nudge him. "Biff! Biff!" The excitement in Li's voice brought Biff to a sitting
position in a hurry. "What is it, Li?" "Over there, see? About halfway between Ka Lae and that point to the
north--Kauna Point.""Yes. But how can I see anything without the glasses?" Li unslung them from around his neck and handed them to Biff. "Now,
look. Follow the direction of my arm. About half a mile, I'd guess, off
shore. Almost exactly between Ka Lae and Kauna Point. ""I'm following you, Li." "Move your glasses around in a tight area of a few hundred yards. See if
you spot a dark object on the bottom of the ocean." The boys were looking almost straight down.From his many flights over
water, Biff knew that from above, one could see through the water to
depths of forty to fifty feet with ease. The water acted as a magnifying
glass. He moved the glasses in a tight circle.Then he spotted what had caused
all Li's excitement. Lying on the bottom of the ocean was a dark object. It was slender, about forty feet long, Biff judged. "Do you think it could be, Biff? Think it could be a boat? "Biff didn't want to raise either his own or Li's hopes too high. "Couldn't it be a coral formation, Li?" he asked. "Gee, I don't think so, Biff. There'd be more then one formation of
coral around.It's mighty rare to find just a sliver stuck out somewhere
in the ocean." "Then it could be a boat! A boat on the bottom of the ocean." "Huntington's boat?" "Could be, Li. But let's not get our hopes up too high." "Let's go.Let's get back to the _Easy Action_ and cruise over there. We've got to find out." Before agreeing, Biff thought about his father and Hank Mahenili. Should
the boys continue the search?After all, the same storm that had forced
him and Li to spend the night ashore could well have caused the fathers
to take shelter. Perhaps their parents even now were back at the beach
opposite the anchorage, or even aboard the yawl.Biff made his decision. "Okay, Li. Let's go," Biff said. The boys reached the beach opposite the _Easy Action_'s anchorage in
half the time it had taken them to make the ascent. Downhill, all the
way. "We'll take the dinghy out," Biff said. "Won't do our parents any good
if the yawl isn't here." Their haste matched the excitement growing inside them about their find. Of course, both knew they could be in for a great disappointment. Biff
pushed that depressing thought out of his mind.Li upped anchor while Biff got the engine started, then went to the
cockpit. Biff took the tiller and pointed the yawl's bow directly out to
sea. With a careful eye, he measured the distance from shore until he
was sure he was about half a mile out.Then he put the helm of the _Easy
Action_ hard over to the starboard and cruised parallel to the shore. "Think you've got that spot well marked in your mind, Li?" "Sure have, Biff. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
Remember when we spotted it?There was a large, oval
patch of whitish lava just to the left of where we were resting. I'm
sure we can spot it from the sea." "Okay. You be the lookout. I'm going to keep this boat on as true a
course as I can.I think we're just about as far off shore now as we
figured that sunken boat was. What do you think?" "Looks right to me. What do you want me to do?" "You take the glasses. Keep them turned on the Mauna Loa slope.Soon as
you pick up that oval lava patch, sing out." "Aye, aye, captain." Li went forward with the binoculars. He kept them trained shoreward,
aiming them about two thousand feet up the slope.The distance to the spot the boys had in mind was greater than they had
thought it to be. They covered a lot of water. Biff checked his watch. He hoped they could spot the sunken hulk before the light went. "Land ho! "Li sang out and came racing back over the deck to the
cockpit. "Oval patch coming into sight, captain. Here, take the glasses
and see for yourself." Biff turned the tiller over to Li and took a look. That was the patch,
all right.It was off their starboard bow, still a good two miles ahead. Biff revved up the engine, and the _Easy Action_'s auxiliary pushed the
yawl along at a good eight knots.In twenty minutes--Biff timed the run,
figuring the miles the yawl would cover at full speed--they were dead
opposite the lava patch. Biff cut the motor. "It ought to be somewhere about here," Biff said. "You shin up the
mainmast.I'm going to put the yawl in a tight circle, starting right
here, then I'll increase the circle every time we make one full turn." While Li was climbing the mast to a height of about fifteen feet, Biff
ducked down into the cabin for a marking buoy.This he tossed overside. Its metal weight plunged to the bottom and held. The red-and-white buoy
would be the hub of the circle he would put the yawl into. Biff started
the engine again. "All set, Li." "Start the merry-go-round," Li called back.The _Easy Action_ made a tight circle. Biff edged the tiller away from
him, and the second circle was of a greater circumference. Biff eased
off on the tiller again. The yawl described a larger circle.If the
sunken hulk was in that area, there shouldn't be any chance of missing
it. The water was clear, the sea calm. Round and round they went. The bobbing red-and-white marking buoy became
a mere speck.Biff could barely make it out with his naked eye. Half an hour passed; then another. The sun was slanting downward, not
more than two hours from its nightly dip into the Pacific. "Hold it, Biff! Hold it!" came the excited shout from Li.Biff threw the engine into reverse. He leaped forward and let down the
anchor. He turned and looked up at Li, who, shading his eyes, was
peering intently into the water off the yawl's portside. "I've spotted it, Biff. I'm sure of it.If I haven't, well--you come up
and take a look." Li slid down the mast and Biff shinned up. He looked at the spot Li had
pointed out. For a time, his eyes were unable to discover any difference
as he squinted, looking down into the water.After several minutes, he
did make out a formation differing from anything around it. It was a
dark object. Biff could think only of a whale, or some other large sea
animal, lying on the ocean's floor. "You're right, Li. There's something down there. "He slid down the mast. "But how are we going to find out just what it is?" Li grinned. "That's easy, Biff. You have on board your ship _Easy
Action_, Captain Brewster, none other than the world's record-holding
free skin diver, Likake Mahenili. ""You're going to dive down there?" Biff said, awe in his voice. "Sure. Why not?" "Well, you're not going to until we sound for the depth here. What's the
deepest dive you've ever made, Li? ""Forty-five, maybe fifty feet if I stretch it a little," Li replied. Biff got out the sounding line. This was a thin, strong rope. It had a
heavy sinker on the end. At intervals of one foot, it had a metal weight
to mark off the depth.Biff tossed it overboard. The line seemed to run
out endlessly. Biff was afraid the ocean's depth here was going to turn
out to be too great for Li to try a dive. Then he felt the thud of the
heavy sinker touching bottom. He drew the rope tight. "Here we go. Let's both count the markers as we pull it up." Biff worked slowly, carefully. They couldn't risk any mistakes in their
count. When the sinker broke the surface, Biff looked at Li. "How many markers
did you count?" "Forty-three.Does that check with your count?" "On the nose, Li, on the nose. I make it forty-three too." "Good. I can make that easy. But, hey, how am I going to know if it's
the right boat? What was the name of Mr. Huntington's sloop?" "The _Sea Islander_, Li.""Okay. Can you work the boat over a bit? I'd like to be right over her
when I make my dive." "All right, Li. Take up the anchor. Just enough to get it off the
bottom. Then let go the second I call." Biff went back to the cockpit.He pushed the engine's starting button. He had to go forward about ten feet and edge the yawl to the port about
fifteen. He shoved the tiller away, putting the boat to the port, and
went forward about twenty feet.Then he pulled the tiller to him, put
the yawl in reverse, and came back. "Let 'er go," he called out. He felt the anchor grab. It must be almost
alongside the sunken object.Li came back to the cockpit, darted into the cabin, and came out with a
small anchor. It was a spare for the dinghy. "What do you want that thing for?" Biff demanded. "A weight. I'm going down with it.It will pull me down a lot faster
than I could swim. And forty-three feet is a lot of water." "I'll say it is. You all ready?" Li nodded his head. He had changed into brief, skin-tight swim trunks. He walked over to the starboard side of the yawl.He took some wooden
matches and hurled them into the water. "What's that for?" Biff asked. "I want to find out if there's much flow here. If there's any current. I
have to judge my dive by the current." They watched the matches.They seemed to bob up and down in the same
place. Li had tossed them about ten feet from the yawl. As they watched,
they saw the distance between yawl and matches closing. It was closing,
all right, but slowly. "Know all I have to, Biff.Very slight current. Nothing to worry about;
nothing I have to figure on particularly. Here I go." Before Biff could even call "good luck," Li, the small anchor held in
front of him, plunged into the water. The wait for Li to surface began.CHAPTER XVIII
Exploring the Depths
When Likake disappeared beneath the surface, Biff glanced quickly at his
watch. He tried to remember the record for a person's holding his breath
while under water. Was it three minutes?Four? He remembered reading of
some Polynesian divers in Bali who had remained submerged for six
minutes. How long could Li hold his breath? Biff looked at his watch again. Already the sweep hand had passed the two-minute mark. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
Biff began to worry.The seconds ticked by slowly, as if held back by a
magnet. The three-minute mark was approaching. Surely Li couldn't hold
out much longer. Biff's eyes kept shifting from the water to the sweep
hand of his watch. Three minutes! Still no sign of Li.Biff made up his
mind. He was going in after Li. He slipped off his watch and peeled off
his shirt. Just as he was preparing to dive, Li's head broke the
surface. For several moments, the Hawaiian boy lay in the water, head back, body
floating. He needed time to recover.Biff could see his chest heaving up
and down beneath the two inches of water covering it. Finally, Li turned
his head. He looked up at Biff and smiled. He turned over, and with one
powerful stroke, propelled himself to the side of the yawl.Biff's eager hands helped heave Li overside. "You all right? You were sure down long enough!" Biff said. Li nodded his head, his chest still moved in and out as he took deep
breaths, exhaling them slowly.Biff was dying to find out what, if
anything, Li had learned on his dive, but he didn't want to press his
friend. Li let out a "H-a-a-a-a-a. Boy! Guess that's the deepest I've ever
dived." Biff couldn't stand the suspense any longer. "And what did you find? Was it a sloop? Was it the _Sea Islander_?" "Yes to both questions, Biff." "Whoopee! Eeeowie! We've found it! We've found it!" Biff grabbed Li by the shoulders and whirled him around. "You sure, Li?You're positive it's the _Sea Islander_?" "I'm sure, Biff. There was a life preserver still attached to the side
of the sloop's cabin. I could make out the letters spelling the boat's
name. And those letters sure did spell out _Sea Islander_. ""What condition's she in?" "Well, I couldn't tell much. She's heeled over on her starboard side, I
think. Not all the way. Her mast is broken off, as far as I could tell. Some of her ropes are still attached.I brushed against them both going
down and coming back up." Li had stretched out on the deck of the _Easy Action_. Strength was
flowing back into his body. Staying submerged as long as he had takes a
lot out of a person physically. "Well, Li.I think we'd better get back to our original anchorage. Your
dad and mine must be back there by now. If they're not, well, we'll have
to forget about the _Sea Islander_ and really look for them. We may have
to go for help. ""Before we go, though, Biff, I'd like to go back down to the _Sea
Islander_--"
"Again? What in the world for?" "Not all the way. But don't you think it would be a good idea if we
could attach a marker to one of the loose lines?Then we'd be able to
spot this location easily." "Good idea, Li. How near the surface do those loose lines come?" "Oh, I'd guess twenty, maybe twenty-five feet. Won't be much of a dive
this time. Not after going down over forty feet." "Okay, Li.You lie there and rest. I'll rig a marking buoy." Biff went below and took out another buoy from the yawl's captain's
chest. This was an all-white one.He attached a short length of nylon
rope to the buoy, and a metal clip to the other end of the rope. Returning to the deck, he showed it to Li. "How will this do?I figure
you can tie a fast knot in one of those loose lines, then just snap this
metal fastener below the knot. Then it won't slip off." "Swell, Biff. I've got my breath back now. This won't take a minute." Li took the buoy.A frown came over his face. "What's the trouble?" Biff asked. "Well, with this buoy, it's going to make it tougher to get down. The
other time, remember, I had the help of a weight pulling me down--the
dinghy's emergency anchor.Now I've got this buoy, which will be working
against me. I don't know--"
"I'll fix that." Biff went astern. He pulled in the dinghy which was
tied to the stem of the yawl, hopped in, and cut its anchor. "Here you are, Li.That cleans us out of dinghy anchors. They go fast on
a day like this." "Marked down. Special sale." Li grinned in reply. He stepped to the side
of the yawl.Holding buoy and anchor in front of him, once more the
Hawaiian boy jumped feet first into the blue water. Biff looked at his watch again, but he wasn't worried this time. Li was
only going down twenty feet.Feeling quite happy over finding the _Sea
Islander_, Biff whistled a popular tune. He looked up at Mauna Loa,
wondering where his father might be at the moment. He glanced down at
his watch. He couldn't believe his eyes.Unless he had misread the time
of Li's submersion, three minutes had already passed. Biff swiftly went into action. Li shouldn't have taken more than two
minutes--not that long--for this dive. Biff's body split the water. He
pulled himself downward.The water pressure at the depth of fifteen feet
was already exerting abnormal pressure on his chest. Still he pulled
himself downward. He had to. _I've got to find Li_, he told himself.At twenty feet beneath the surface, with his lungs screaming for air,
Biff's hands touched Li's head. The Hawaiian boy was fighting
frantically to free one leg from a rope entwined around it.Biff used Li's body to pull himself the four feet farther downward to
reach the rope. He tore at it, felt it give, and Li's leg was free. Biff
placed his hands on Li's body and gave it a powerful thrust upward.Then, barely able to hold his breath any longer, he spread his hands,
palms downward, pushed with all his might and shot toward the surface. When Biff broke the surface, gasping for breath, he looked for his
friend. There was Li, only a few feet away.But from the position of his
head, lolling to one side in the water, Biff knew the boy was
unconscious. Tired as he was, his own lungs aching from the recent
strain put upon them, Biff swam to Li's side.At first, all he did was
support Li's head, keeping his nose and mouth from going under water. After a few moments, Biff kicked his way to the side of the yawl. He
felt the need of support, too.With one hand holding on to the _Easy
Action_ amidship, he held onto Li with the other. Biff had no way of
knowing as yet whether Li had swallowed so much water that his lungs
were filled. He kept the word "drowned" out of his mind.When he had regained his strength, Biff let go of the yawl. Treading
water, he took Li's head in both hands and drew it right up to his own
face. He placed his cheek against Li's nose. Thank heavens! He could feel Li's breath on his face.Biff pulled himself and Li back to the side of the _Easy Action_. He
placed Li directly against the side of the yawl. He released him and at
the same instant, pulled himself quickly onto the deck.Then, belly
down, he leaned over and was just able to grasp Li under the arms. With
a powerful tug, he pulled the still unconscious boy onto the deck. His first action was to turn him over and administer first aid.He
raised and lowered Li's body to expel any water that might still be in
his lungs. Then he placed Li on his side, his face turned toward the
deck. He watched Li's troubled breathing become easier. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
Biff sank back with a sigh of relief.His friend was going to be all
right. A tremendous weariness swept over Biff. He hadn't known how near
to the point of exhaustion he had brought himself. For the next half
hour, both boys lay on the deck regaining their strength.The slanting rays of the setting sun were casting long shadows on the
slope of the Mauna Loa. Biff sat up. He didn't know at first what had
caught his attention. He stared at the side of the volcano. He saw it
again.A quick flash, a bright reflection. It disappeared. Biff kept his
eyes trained on the spot. There it was again. He turned. The sun was low
on the horizon, but still bright.He realized that the _Easy Action_ was
directly between the setting sun and the flash of reflected light he had
spotted. What could it be? Was it his imagination? Biff felt Li stir beside him. The Hawaiian boy opened his eyes.A feeble
smile touched his lips. He tried to speak. "Take it easy, Li. Rest a little longer." Li closed his eyes. Biff looked again at the spot on the Mauna Loa where he had seen the
flash. It came again, then disappeared.Biff heard Li's faltering voice behind him. "You saved my life, Biff." Li was sitting up now. Biff felt embarrassed. What was there to say? He
turned to his friend, and the smiles they exchanged expressed more than
any words could possibly do. "What happened, anyway, Li?" "It was my own fault, Biff. I guess I panicked. I got down easily. Found
a loose rope. But I had trouble staying submerged while I tried to tie a
knot.So I made a quick slip knot and hooked it over my leg to hold me
steady while I tied the knot to fasten the clasp to." Biff frowned. "You mean you sort of anchored yourself to the _Sea
Islander_?" "Guess you could call it that.Anyway, it took longer than I figured. Once I had hooked the buoy on the rope, I tried to free my leg from the
slip knot. My body pulling on the knot had tightened it. The wet rope
made the knot even harder to undo. That's when I panicked, I guess.The
more I worked on the knot, the tighter it seemed to get. Then I sort of
blacked out. I don't even remember you're coming down to rescue me." "Thank goodness I got there in time!" Li put his hands over his face. His shoulders shook.Biff realized the
boy was crying. He said nothing. Better to let Li get the shock out of
his system. He continued to watch his friend carefully. Li had come
close to death. Li, after a few moments, removed his hands and grinned. "Sorry, Biff, I
guess I'm acting like a baby." "Nonsense. After what you just went through, well--Say, I want you to
see if you can see what I just saw--if you can follow all that 'see' and
'saw. '"Biff wanted to change the subject, stop Li from thinking about
his narrow escape. He also wanted to check the flash he had just seen. "Look over there, Li. About two thousand feet up the slope of Mauna
Loa." He pointed with his arm. "I'd swear I've just been seeing light
reflected. Seems like a mirror pointed into the sun--you know, the way
kids sometimes signal to one another." Li raised his eyes. Both boys saw the reflection come at the same time. "I see it, Biff. There it is.Now it's gone." "What do you think it could be, Li?" "Like you said, maybe a mirror or--or glasses." "That's it! Glasses. Someone's got binoculars trained on us. And we're
right in the path of the setting sun.Someone's watching us through
binoculars." "I'll bet you're right. It's probably my dad and yours." "Hey, I sure hope so." But even as Biff spoke the words, another idea
came into his head. "Or, Li, it could be Perez Soto. "CHAPTER XIX
Reunion
It was Perez Soto. The swarthy adventurer was standing on a lava ledge not far from the
spot where Biff and Li had sighted the sunken hulk of the _Sea Islander_
earlier in the day.Through his powerful binoculars, he had watched every movement the boys
had made. He had seen Li's first and second dives. His glasses were of
such powerful magnification he could even see the exultant expressions
on the boys' faces.He knew they had made an important discovery, and he
was certain what the discovery was. A crafty smile came over his heavy features as a plan formed in his
scheming mind. He would go back to his hideout and get his henchman,
Madeira.Then, quickly to his power boat, the _Black Falcon_, and head
for the dot on the ocean where he had seen the boys. He had little thought for Dr. Weber.The thing to do now, and do it
fast, was to get out to the sunken _Sea Islander_ and stake his salvage
claim. In the case of a lost boat, or a sunken one, it was "first come,
first served. "The important thing, though, was not only to take the
claim, but remain in possession of it. With his glasses still on the _Easy Action_, he saw one of the boys
raising the anchor.He saw the yawl set a course toward Ka Lae, leaving
the sunken sloop abandoned. Too bad about Dr. Weber. Maybe someone would find him, maybe they
wouldn't. Perez Soto didn't care.All he wanted to do now was to
establish his salvage rights, and do so in the shortest possible time. He stepped back from the ledge and started walking rapidly toward his
hideout.Thomas Brewster and Hanale Mahenili watched with torn emotions as Perez
Soto threatened and tormented Dr. Weber. Both men wanted to act.Both
knew, however, that to do so would not only endanger the doctor's life,
but would also jeopardize their chances of rescuing the old man. The morning passed. Perez Soto continued his threats. But the old doctor
held firm.He refused to answer any of his captor's questions. Madeira, Perez Soto's henchman, kept his snub-nosed revolver steadily
pointed at the doctor. Brewster and Mahenili didn't dare try to jump the
kidnapers.About noontime, Perez Soto took the gun from Madeira. Madeira prepared
some food by lighting a small fire and heating up some stew he took from
a can.The smell of the steaming stew rising to the cliff where Brewster
and Mahenili were hiding, sent sharp pangs of hunger rumbling through
their stomachs.Shortly after Perez Soto and Madeira had eaten, Perez Soto, as if having
an afterthought, poked a spoonful of food at the doctor's mouth. The
doctor turned his head away. "Look at that, Hank," Brewster whispered. "I think the doctor wants to
die.He's refusing food." "Perhaps he feels that death is preferable to any more of Perez Soto's
threats and demands. "About two o'clock, Perez Soto entered the cave which he was using for a
hideout and emerged minutes later with a pair of binoculars slung over
his shoulder. "Guard the old man well," he ordered. "I'll be back before sunset." He
strode off.Brewster whispered to Mahenili. "I think our chance will come now. We'll
let Perez Soto get well on his way, then we'll find a way of jumping the
guard." The time came more quickly than either man could have hoped for.Madeira, his stomach filled with stew, could be seen to yawn. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
They saw
him shake his head to ward off sleep.Apparently feeling that there was
little threat of Dr. Weber's attempting to escape, the guard checked the
ropes binding the doctor's hands and feet. He sat down nearby, propping
his back against a large boulder, the gun in his hands.Brewster and Mahenili watched every move. They saw the guard's head nod
forward. They saw him bring it up with a jerk and shake his head from
side to side in an effort to remain awake. They saw the process
repeated.For the third time, the guard's head dropped forward. This
time, it stayed there. "Now's our chance," Brewster said to his friend. Mahenili nodded in the affirmative. Brewster measured the distance between himself and the sleeping guard.The drop from the ledge to the ground in front of the cave was a good
fifteen feet. From where he would land, Brewster would still have to
cross a clearing of ten feet before he could reach the guard.The noise
of his landing would certainly arouse the guard. Before Brewster could
cross the opening to close with him, the guard would have time to raise
his pistol and fire. A plan shaped up in Thomas Brewster's mind. "Hank, here's how we'll have to do it. You crawl back. Make your way to
the rear of the guard if it's possible. Creep up as near to him as you
can. Keep me in sight. When you see me leap from this ledge, you spring
forward.Try to take him from the rear. Hurl a rock at him, anything. Just try to give me enough time to leap across that clearing and grapple
with the guard before he can fire. Once I get my hands on him, I can
handle him. ""But if you can't see me, Tom, how will you know when to leap?" "It's now two-twenty-two. I'll make my move at exactly two-thirty. I'll
just have to trust that you've been able to get behind the guard. Go
along now, and good luck. "Brewster kept shifting his glance from the sleeping guard to the minute
hand on his watch. It seemed that the large hand would never reach the
half-hour mark. But it did. At exactly two-thirty, Brewster stood up. He jumped.He went to his
knees and rolled when he hit the ground, fifteen feet beneath him. It
was a fall he had learned in his army training, one designed to prevent
a broken ankle. He leaped quickly to his feet. The guard, awakened, stood up.He was
still groggy from sleep and confused. He could hear sounds from behind
him, and here right in front of him, a large man was charging him. Brewster hit Madeira with a jolting right cross before the guard could
think straight.He hit the ground with a thud. Brewster was on top of
him like a hungry tiger making a kill. From the rear, Mahenili sprang
into the arena, spotted the pistol still in the guard's outstretched
hand, and kicked it away. The fight was over.It had been an easy victory. In minutes, Dr. Weber was freed, and his bonds were used to truss up the
guard. As an extra precaution, Brewster used his handkerchief to gag the
guard. He didn't want him calling for help.No telling how near Perez
Soto might be. "Dr. Weber, my friend." Brewster leaned over to help the doctor to his
feet. "How are you? Are you injured in any way?" "Mostly my dignity," the doctor grunted gruffly. "Are you able to walk?We must get away from here before Perez Soto
returns." "Hurrumph!" the good doctor hurrumphed indignantly. "You youngsters seem
to think I'm an old dotard, dying on my feet." Mr. Brewster had to smile at being called a youngster.But he was a good
thirty years younger than Dr. Weber. "Of course I can walk!" The doctor took two steps, and would have fallen
if Biff's father hadn't caught him. Dr. Weber glared up at his friend. "Release me.All I need is for the
circulation to be restored to my legs. I've been tied up most of the
time." The doctor was stubborn. He gingerly raised one leg, then the
other. He flapped his arms against his sides.He cautiously took another
step, glancing out of the side of his eye to see if Tom Brewster was
prepared to help him. The doctor's vitality was amazing. Brewster got him some water.He
forced him to take several mouthfuls of the stew, now cold, but energy
giving nonetheless. "All right, now," the doctor said. "You lead the way. I'll follow." Brewster started off on a path leading down to the coast.Before doing
so, he signaled to Mr. Mahenili to stay close behind the doctor, ready
to catch him if he should fall. Their progress downward was slow.Brewster halted every hundred yards,
sometimes more often where the descent was difficult, to allow the
doctor to regain his strength. Brewster knew Dr. Weber must be going
along on sheer nervous energy.His frail body just wasn't young enough
to take such punishment. But Biff's father knew also that it is amazing
to just what great limits the human body can go when forced to do so.It was dusk when the three men stumbled onto the beach opposite the
_Easy Action_'s first anchorage. Thomas Brewster looked out over the
ocean, and his heart leaped with joy.He saw the yawl coming into its
anchorage, Li in the bow, ready to drop the anchor, and Biff at the
tiller. "Hi, Biff! Hi, Li!" he called.CHAPTER XX
Dawn Attack
Shouts of joy rippled across the water from Biff and Li to their
fathers. The boys hopped into the dinghy and sent it fairly flying over
the waves to shore.The first thing to do was to get Dr. Weber on the boat. The old man's
stout, fierce spirit seemed to leave him once he reached the anchorage. He had exhausted his reserve strength. He was near the end of his
remarkable endurance.The others were ferried to the _Easy Action_. Dr. Weber was bedded down.Hot soup was prepared for the aged scientist, and shortly he was
sleeping like a baby, a quite wrinkled baby, true, but his sleep was as
sound and peaceful as that of a one-year-old. Biff quickly filled his father in on what had happened.He saved until
the last the discovery of the _Sea Islander_. "But I think maybe Perez Soto has spotted her, too," Biff had to add in
conclusion. "I think he must have spotted us when Li was diving." Thomas Brewster turned to Mr. Mahenili. "That must have been why Perez
Soto went away, giving us the chance to rescue Dr. Weber." "I'm sure it was," the Hawaiian answered. "Now what we've got to do is get back to the _Sea Islander_ before Perez
Soto does.We've got to hook on to the sunken boat somehow. Then we've
got to get into her cabin and locate that metal box with the cesium
sample and the map showing where the field is located." Brewster paused. He had to think this thing through clearly now.There
could be no mistakes, no more risks. They would have to get a
professional diver. "Hank, where is the nearest town to here--a place where you can hire a
professional diver? Someone with an aqualung?" "I imagine Hilo would be the nearest place. ""How far is that from where we are?" "Oh, I'd say roughly seventy-five miles." "Any way of getting there, aside from walking?" "Sure, Tom. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
I would have to walk inland until I reached the Wamalahoa
Highway--that's the road which circles the island.I know I could rent a
car or taxi at Honupo Landing. Not much more than an hour's drive from
there into Hilo." "Right. What do you say to this? We'll put you ashore right now. You get
to Hilo.Hire a skin diver and get back here as early tomorrow morning
as you can. We've got to get back to the _Sea Islander_ right away. How
far up the coast is she, Biff?" "An hour. Maybe a little more. That's pushing the yawl at full speed." "All right.Biff, you row Mr. Mahenili ashore. Li and I will make ready. Get back fast." "Aye, aye, sir." Biff grinned at his father. It was good to have someone
else make the decisions for a change.And when Biff's father went into
action, he did so with a snap and precision that commanded respect. It didn't take Biff long to set Mr. Mahenili ashore.The dinghy was
quickly secured once the boy returned, and the _Easy Action_ headed up
coast at full throttle. "Think we can find the place in the dark, Biff?" his father asked. "It will take a bit of doing, Dad.But we set a marking buoy over the
_Sea Islander_, attached to one of her halyards. Good thing we did, too. We'd never be able to locate a boat on the bottom at night." It took more time than they had calculated to locate the marking buoy.They had to cruise the area for more than an hour before a shout from Li
told them they had found it. "Now the problem is," Mr. Brewster said, "how are we going to hook our
anchor into the sunken ship?Once we do that, there can be no doubt as
to our salvage rights." "How about this, Dad?" Biff suggested. "Let's drop the hook until we can
feel her just touch bottom.Then we can run back and forth over the _Sea
Islander_ until we feel the anchor's points sink into her side." "Good. Excellent suggestion." Biff's father acted at once. He brought
the _Easy Action_ about and aimed her bow directly at the marking buoy.They felt the anchor drag as it struck the submerged sloop. But on their
first pass the hook didn't catch. Mr. Brewster reversed his course. This
time the hook sunk into the side of the sunken _Sea Islander_ and held.Mr. Brewster revved up the engine, and the _Easy Action_ tugged at her
sunken sister. "That ought to set the anchor in her side but good," Mr. Brewster said. He cut the engine. "Try the winch, Biff. See if you can raise the
anchor.I want to make sure we're really caught onto her." Biff did so. He put all his strength into trying to turn the winch. The
anchor was set. The _Easy Action_ and the _Sea Islander_ were joined by
a stout, thick hawser. It was late.Everyone, feeling happy about their success, was ready to
turn in. "Tired, Li?" Biff asked. His answer was a quick nod of his friend's head
as Li headed below for the comfort of his berth. "I'm going to sleep on deck again tonight, Dad.Perez Soto's boat is in
these waters. I don't think he'll try anything tonight, but you never
can tell." "All right, Biff. I agree. We can't take any chances with success so
near at hand. "Biff rolled himself up in a sleeping bag and was asleep the minute he
finished zipping it up. Early in the morning, an hour or more before
sunrise, he was wide awake. He lay still, staring up at the sky.Stars
covered it like a million white dots on a field of navy blue. A quarter
moon, looking like an orange section, still hung in the sky. A soft splash attracted Biff's attention. He rose on one elbow and
looked in the direction of the noise.It came again. "Could be a fish jumping," he told himself. Adjusting his eyes to the
night, Biff peered more keenly toward the sound. He raised his glance,
and his heart started thudding.Lying at anchor, not more than a quarter
of a mile away, was the outline of a power boat. Biff was sure it was
the same one which had tried to swamp the _Easy Action_. Biff crept noiselessly to the stem of the yawl. He went below.Reaching
his father's berth, he shook him gently. "Dad, Dad," he whispered softly. "Wake up. I think someone's trying to
board the boat." Thomas Brewster was out of his berth in an instant. Li, hearing the
noise, leaped out of his bunk, too.Silently the three crept back to the cockpit. They raised their heads
over the gunnel. "Listen, Dad. Listen carefully. I heard a noise; sounded like a fish
jumping. Right over there." The three strained their ears. They heard the sound again.Then they saw
what was causing it. A man was swimming toward the _Easy Action_. They
could make out his head moving slowly, but steadily along, coming toward
the yawl.When the swimmer was some twenty feet from the _Easy Action_, the pale
light of the moon was reflected by an object the swimmer was holding in
his mouth. In the brief instant of the gleam, the object became clear to
them all. It was a long knife.CHAPTER XXI
A Human Fish
"What do you think he is up to, Biff?" Li asked in a whisper. The swimmer was nearing the yawl. "With that knife in his mouth, I don't think there's much doubt about
it. Do you, Dad? ""Depends on what you're thinking, son." "Well, I think this is Perez Soto's last, desperate effort to establish
his salvage rights to the _Sea Islander_. I'm sure that's his boat over
there, just off our starboard bow. See it? "The power cruiser, the _Black Falcon_, was sharply silhouetted now in
the lightening dawn. "Perez Soto's sent that swimmer over to cut our anchor rope," Biff
continued. "Wouldn't you agree, Dad?" "You're right, Biff." "Why would he want to do that? "Li asked. "Well, if his man could cut our line, and we were still asleep, we'd
drift. Even in the slight current that runs in these waters, we'd drift
half a mile or more in a very short time.Once we were out of the way,
he could easily sink his own line onto the _Sea Islander_ and establish
his rights of salvage." The swimmer was now only ten feet from the yawl.Biff reached down and
pulled out a boathook, a long pole with a hook on one end, used to grab
a mooring when coming into an anchorage. "I'm going to hook me a human fish," he whispered. Biff raised the boathook. He rested its hooked end on the gunnel.The
swimmer was now within hooking distance. Biff shot the boathook out. It
grazed the swimmer's head. Feeling it, the swimmer dived. Biff prodded
forward with the boathook. He felt it catch.The pole bent just like a
fishing pole as the swimmer tried to get away. "Got him, Dad. Got him!" Biff shouted happily. "You sure have, Biff. You got him right by the seat of his swimming
trunks. Here, let me give you a hand. "Biff pulled the pole, with his human catch on the other end, partly into
the boat. He and his father put their weight onto the in-boat end. The
pole became a lever, lifting their catch out of the water.A funnier catch Biff, his father, and Li had never seen. It was Li who
started laughing first. In the rapidly increasing daylight, they could see Perez Soto's man on
the end of the pole. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
He was waving his arms, kicking his legs
frantically. "He looks like a crab," Li chortled. He did. The man, caught by the seat of his swim pants on the hook, was
unable to reach back to free himself. He was suspended three feet above
the water, still kicking and squirming furiously. "What shall I do with him, Dad? Throw him back?" Thomas Brewster was laughing. "I've used many a weapon to defend myself in the past, but a boathook
... this is the laughing end." Both boys made an "ouch" face at the bad
pun.Mr. Brewster turned to Li. "Get a flashlight, Li. I want to make
sure who this human shark is." Li darted into the cabin and darted right back. He didn't want to miss a
thing.Thomas Brewster shone the flashlight on the hooked, would-be knife
wielder's face. "Just as I thought," Brewster said. "It's the man who was guarding Dr.
Weber. I heard Perez Soto call him Madeira. "Madeira, in his frantic struggling, had dropped the knife from his
mouth. He was no longer any threat to the _Easy Action_ and her crew. "Guess I might as well drop him back in the water, hadn't I, Dad?" Biff
asked. "Sure, son. Let him go.In the water he can free himself. Then you just
watch him head back for Perez Soto and the _Black Falcon_." "You're not serious, Dad!" Biff exclaimed. "Isn't it dangerous to let
them get away?" But Biff didn't have to drop Madeira back into the water.There came a
ripping sound. Madeira's hooked swim trunks split. The water prowler hit
the water with a belly whopper. Pantless, he turned and swam away. Biff, Li, and Mr. Brewster howled with laughter.When the laughter died
away, Mr. Brewster said, "To answer your question, Biff. They're too
dangerous to keep aboard. We'll have to leave them to the authorities. They'll track them down, now." It had grown much lighter.It was easy to follow the swimmer's progress
back to the _Black Falcon_. "He'll go without his breakfast when he gets back," Tom Brewster said. "Perez Soto will be furious." "Speaking of breakfast--" Biff said. "Me, too," Li cut in. They went below.All hungry. All happy, feeling that they were nearing
the climax of their Hawaiian sea hunt. "Looks like easy sailing from here on in, Dad," Biff said, munching a
piece of toast. "Well, don't get your hopes up too high, Biff." "Why not, Dad? ""We still have to locate that metal box. We have no assurance that it's
still in the _Sea Islander's_ cabin." A frown of disappointment came over Biff's face. "I'm not saying it isn't there, understand," his father went on. "But
remember, the _Sea Islander_ has been on the bottom for several weeks. The box could have been tossed around in the storm that sank the boat. It might have floated out." "I never thought of that. "The remainder of their breakfast was eaten in a concerned silence. Biff and Li were cleaning up the galley. Thomas Brewster was talking to
Dr. Weber. The doctor had had a good night's sleep and said he was
feeling fine.He chortled over the human fish incident. Biff's sharp ears caught the sound first. From a distance came a low,
steady buzzing. Biff ran on deck. From just off Ka Lae, he spotted a low
flying plane. It was coming directly at the _Easy Action_.In moments,
Biff was able to distinguish its lines. "Dad, Dad!" he called. "There's a seaplane coming this way." Li was on deck first, followed by Thomas Brewster and Dr. Weber. They watched the plane.It came in low over the yawl, dipped its wings
in salute, then described a long circle to head into the wind. It
settled ducklike on the water and taxied toward the _Easy Action_. One man stood up in the open cockpit by the pilot.He was waving his
arms. "It's Dad! It's my father!" Li shouted excitedly. "Well, it surely is. Li, when your father goes into action, he moves
fast. I never thought he'd come back in a plane. I thought he'd charter
another boat," Mr. Brewster said.The seaplane taxied to within ten feet of the _Easy Action_, its twin
propellers barely turning, just fast enough to give the plane headway. Henry Mahenili stood up and tossed a rope toward the yawl. It fell
short.He pulled it in, and again the rope snaked out toward the yawl. This time Biff caught it. He tugged on the rope, and the plane closed
the gap of water separating it from the yawl. Its nose bumped gently
against _Easy Action_'s starboard side. "Give us about five feet of play, young man," the pilot called out. Even
in this calm sea, he didn't want to take any chances on the nose of his
plane being punched in. "I can do better than that," Biff called, knowing the reason for the
pilot's concern. He went below and brought out extra boat snubbers, made
of foam rubber.He hooked them over the gunnel, forming a soft
protecting barrier between the side of the yawl and the nose of the
plane. Then he pulled the plane within two feet of the yawl, making it
easy for the plane's passengers to hop from plane to boat.Hank Mahenili was first aboard. He was followed by a muscularly built
Hawaiian. The pilot came last. "This is Kamuela Mamola, the skin diver I hired," Hank said, introducing
the muscular young man. "Just call me Sammy--that's what my Hawaiian name means. You got a job
for me?" the young man said. "We sure have, Sammy," Mr. Brewster said. "Right downstairs." He
laughed. "That line over the port side," Biff said, indicating the line. "That's
our anchor rope. It's caught in the sunken sloop." "Good," the diver said. "Then there shouldn't be any trouble at all." He
hopped back aboard the plane, dug around its cabin for a few minutes,
then reappeared with his skin diving equipment.This consisted of a
glass face mask, and a small oxygen tank connected to his aqualung. Coming back on the _Easy Action_, he donned his equipment, touched his
hand to his forehead in salute, and slipped overboard. Biff leaned over the gunnel.He saw the diver pulling himself downward,
using the anchor rope to guide him. It was the same as climbing a rope
hand over hand, only in reverse. Bubbles from the aqualung kept breaking the surface. "Never thought of this, Hank," Tom said. "No one told Sammy what to look
for." "Oh, yes, they did, Tom. Me. I did. On the way over. I couldn't give him
much of a description." "No, we don't have much to go on. Just some kind of metal box." "That's what I told him.I imagine it's similar to the small locker-box
you keep semi-valuable papers in at home. That's what I told him,
anyway." "We ought to know soon." Air bubbles dotted the surface near the port side of the _Easy Action_. Five minutes went by. Ten.At fifteen minutes, worry began to appear on
the faces of those on board. "Think anything could have happened to the diver?" Tom Brewster asked. "No, Dad. Not as long as those bubbles keep coming up regularly. He's
all right.If those bubbles stop, we worry." After twenty minutes, Biff saw the anchor rope tighten, as if someone
had pulled it from the other end. "I think he's coming up," Biff said. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
Everyone leaned over the portside of the boat.Moments later, Sammy's wet head broke the surface. He wrenched the glass
face mask from his head. Disappointment swept over the boat. The diver was empty-handed.CHAPTER XXII
Check-Out
"Don't look so worried," Sammy Mamola said. The skin diver looked up at
the disappointed faces. "I didn't expect to bring up that box on my
first dive. Give me a little more time.I do think I may have located
it, though." Expressions of hope replaced the sad faces aboard the _Easy Action_. "I need another tool," Sammy said. "A short bar, two or three feet long.If what I think is the box, it's jammed, and I can't free it without
prizing it. What have you got?" Sammy was treading water, one hand resting lightly on the yawl's gunnel. "I'll look in the tool box," Biff said.While he was gone, Sammy told them what he had found below. "That boat sure took a beating. Everything in the cabin is smashed up. She's filled with sand, and other sea trash. I had to chase some fish
out, too.Especially a small octopus--didn't want it squirting its ink
around, clouding my vision. I found what I think may be your box under a
mound of sand and broken sea shells. Couldn't pull it out, though. ""Any sign of--"
"No, Mr. Mahenili, no sign of the poor fellow who went down with her." Biff had returned. "Will this do?" He held up a metal bar, about three-quarters of an inch
thick and thirty inches long.It was used to turn the engine over if its
electric starter didn't work. "Just the thing." Sammy reached up for it. "Well, here I go again. Maybe
I'll have better luck this time." The diver submerged again.All had been so interested in the diver's activities and report that
they hadn't noticed the _Black Falcon_. It was Li who spotted Perez
Soto's boat. "Look, Dad," he called out.The _Black Falcon_ had left its anchorage and moved over until it was
only two hundred feet from the _Easy Action_. Perez Soto was watching
every action aboard the yawl. "Say one thing for that man," Tom Brewster said. "He doesn't give up
until the final chance is gone. If he sees us bring up that metal box,
he'll still try to get it away from us somehow." "I don't think he will," Hank Mahenili said. "What do you mean?" Biff asked. "You'll see. "Hank Mahenili smiled mysteriously. Another fifteen minutes went by. A steady stream of bubbles broke the
surface. The diver was working. Thomas Brewster kept looking at his
watch.Biff and Li, lying on their stomachs, watched the area dotted
with bubbles. Biff, looking up, noticed Madeira frantically winding up
the anchor winch of the _Black Falcon_. Perez Soto was already at the
wheel, shouting at his henchman to hurry up. "Hey, look at that," Biff exclaimed. "Looks like Perez Soto has changed
his mind. He's in a hurry to get out of here." And he was.The anchor of the _Black Falcon_ was barely out of the water
when Perez Soto jammed the throttle of the cruiser full speed forward,
and the boat leaped away, leaving a high, foaming wake at its stern. "Now I wonder what made him change his mind? "Tom Brewster asked. "I think I know the answer to that. Look over there." Hank Mahenili
said. They looked in the direction he was pointing. A low, gray boat was
coming along at a racing clip. Huge numbers on its bow identified it. "It's a Coast Guard cutter," Biff shouted. "That's right, Biff. Now watch. We may see some fun." The cutter was after the _Black Falcon_. The cruiser was fast, but no
match for the Coast Guard cutter. She closed the gap between the boats
rapidly.Perez Soto wasn't giving up, however. He tried maneuvering, swerving the
_Black Falcon_ from one direction to another on a zigzag course. The people on the _Easy Action_ heard the boom of a small cannon.Looking at the cutter, they saw a puff of smoke from its forward gun. Then they saw a splash as a shell dropped just in front of the
_Falcon_'s bow. "If he doesn't heave to now, the next projectile will be directed at the
ship," Mr. Mahenili said.But Perez Soto had had enough. He heaved to. The cutter came alongside,
and two Coast Guardsmen, guns in hand, boarded her. "I imagine our troubles with Perez Soto are at an end," Mr. Mahenili
said. "This is your doing?" Tom Brewster asked.Hank nodded his head. "Kidnaping. I reported Perez Soto as having
kidnaped Dr. Weber. He'll be dealt with harshly. One witness against him
will be Tokawto. He's recovering. It was Perez Soto who gave him that
stab wound. ""Well, you really did get around in Hilo, Mr. Mahenili," Biff said. "I don't like to leave any loose strings dangling. Incidentally, did Dr.
Weber ever tell you how he happened to be abducted from his hotel room?" Hank asked Tom Brewster. "Yes, he did. He was talking to me when he felt a sharp point in his
back. That was the call I took in Indianapolis, Biff. It was Perez Soto.With a sharp knife at his back and Perez Soto threatening to use the
knife, there was nothing the doctor could do but obey instructions. They
walked out of the porch entrance and through the garden to a waiting
car. Madeira was the driver."Dr. Weber smiled at the group. "Perhaps I should have resisted, but--I
knew Perez Soto meant what he said. I went along, like a quiet mouse." An idea occurred to Biff. He dashed below. He was back in a moment. He
held out his hand to Dr. Weber. "I just remembered this, Doctor." It was the doctor's tobacco pouch and pipe. "Bless you, my boy. Missing my pipe was the worst torture I endured
during my entire captivity." A shout came from the side of the yawl. "You people up there still interested in a metal box?" It was the diver. "Think this could be it?" The Hawaiian diver held an oblong object above his head. Biff leaned
over the side and took it from his hands.It was encrusted with
barnacles, bits of shell, and slimy green seaweed. It was a metal box. Biff handed it to his father. "Get a screwdriver, Biff. We'll have to pry the lid open. "Everyone watched tensely as Thomas Brewster worked the screwdriver under
the lid of the box. A small lock held it shut. Finally, the lid sprang
open. Inside was a loose, dust-like substance, hardened in spots where
sea water had leaked in.There was also a damp piece of paper. "This is it. It's got to be. Take a look, Dr. Weber." The doctor dipped his hand in the box. He fingered the powdery
substance. He nodded his head. "I can't tell how this will run yet. I will have to test it.But ...
well, I think we've really got something here." Thomas Brewster and Biff were pouring over the map. "The field's well marked. Won't be any trouble locating it if this
sample proves out to be high grade." The doctor was looking at the pilot. "Young man, could you fly me back to Honolulu?" "Sure. Only take an hour or so." "Well, Tom. I'd like to get back to my hotel. All my equipment is there. I can test this sample immediately. I want to.Is it all right with you,
Henry, if I steal your plane and pilot?" "Certainly, doctor. | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
We'll all go back to Hilo by boat." "Well then, when you get there, look for a message from me. I'll have
run my tests long before you can get back by boat.Then I'm off. I'm due
at an international scientific convention in Switzerland early next
week. I'll have to leave Honolulu before you get back." The doctor shook hands all around. His last words to the group were:
"Thanks for my pipe, young man. "Biff grinned in reply. It was hard to believe that this was the same old
man who had been carried aboard not long ago. The doctor boarded the plane, and in five minutes it was out of sight,
winging its way to Hawaii.Tom Brewster took the tiller of the _Easy Action_. Li was at the anchor
winch, Biff at the mainmast, and Hank Mahenili at the mizzen. "Hoist away," Tom Brewster sang out as he felt the anchor pull free. Sails rattled up their masts.The wind caught them, and the _Easy
Action_ was put on a course for Hilo. It was a pleasant sail. Everyone was relaxed. There was little
conversation.All were happy to loll about the deck, resting from their
recent near escapes from violence and storm. It was night by the time Mr. Brewster headed the yawl for a dock in Hilo
Bay.The boat was tied up, and in half an hour, the party entered their
hotel. As good as his word, there was a message waiting from Dr. Weber. "_Sample proves out cesium in purest state discovered thus far in world.Looks like a sky-blue find._"
Tom Brewster handed the message to Biff. Biff read it and smiled at his
father. "Why sky-blue, Dad?" "Dr. Weber's mild little joke. Cesium means 'sky-blue' because that is
how it shows up on a spectrum test. "The boy and his father stood silent for a moment, enjoying this moment
of complete peace. "Dad," Biff said, "this was supposed to be a vacation for Mom and the
twins. Can we still make it one for the _whole_ family?Have them fly
over here and explore this beautiful island?" "Explore, Biff? Haven't you had enough adventure for now? I'll have them
come over. But for the rest of our stay, it's going to be nothing but
fun and frolic. You agree?" "Check, Dad. Check. "_A Biff Brewster Mystery Adventure_
HAWAIIAN SEA HUNT MYSTERY
By ANDY ADAMS
Why is Biff Brewster's father so eager to leave for Hawaii?Is there
more than just a mining engineers' conference afoot? The elder Brewster
is strangely silent, and Biff can only guess at the cause of his
father's sudden anxiety.In this third exciting mystery adventure of the Biff Brewster series,
the entire Brewster family flies to festive, exotic Honolulu where a
startling newspaper headline involves Biff and his father in a
hair-raising race to locate a kidnaped scientist, a sunken sloop, and a
cache of precious Cesium, a rare mineral essential to rocket propulsion
and the conquest of the moon.With the help of his new friend, Likake Mahenili, Biff soon learns that
more than sharpened wits are necessary to defeat the mysterious forces
working against them.The cunning of a ruthless rival engineer and the
violence of the reef-filled waters off the islands combine to challenge
the courage and stamina of the boys.Likake, an expert swimmer and
diver, teaches Biff the skills he will need to protect himself against
the defiant winds and tides which already have claimed the life of one
colleague.A vitally important scientific project and a life are at stake as Biff
Brewster and his father crash headlong into the danger and breath-taking
suspense of their adventure in Hawaii._NEW!_ BIFF BREWSTER
Mystery Adventures
By ANDY ADAMS
Biff Brewster, sixteen, is a tall, strongly built blond youth who lives
In Indianapolis, Indiana, with his parents and the eleven-year-old
twins, Ted and Monica.Because his mother and father believe that travel
is as important to education as formal schooling, Biff is encouraged to
travel to various countries during the vacation months.His experiences
in these lands, and the young people he meets there, form the basis of a
new series for adventure-loving readers.In every journey there is a
strong element of mystery, usually a direct result of conditions
peculiar to the region in which he is traveling. Thus, in addition to
adventure, these books impart carefully researched information about
foreign countries._Start reading one today_--
(1) BRAZILIAN GOLD MINE MYSTERY
(2) MYSTERY OF THE CHINESE RING
(3) HAWAIIAN SEA HUNT MYSTERY
(4) MYSTERY OF THE MEXICAN TREASURE
(5) AFRICAN IVORY MYSTERY
(6) ALASKA GHOST GLACIER MYSTERY
GROSSET & DUNLAP, Inc.Publisher
New York 10, N. Y.
Transcriber's Notes
--Copyright notice provided as in the original--this e-text is public
domain in the country of publication.--Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and
dialect unchanged. --Retained one typo from the original: "pouring" for "poring" for its
comedic value. --In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the | Adams, Andy - Hawaiian Sea Hunt Mystery |
Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
[Illustration: _Ten feet of furred lightning landed squarely on the
cage_]
A BIFF BREWSTER
MYSTERY ADVENTURE
MYSTERY
OF THE
AMBUSH
IN INDIA
By ANDY ADAMS
GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS
NEW YORK
(c) BY GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC. 1962
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Contents
CHAPTER PAGE
I A Mysterious Message 1
II The Boy and the Basket 9
III The Rajah's Ruby 16
IV Biff Vanishes 25
V Danger at Dawn 33
VI The Cry of Death 42
VII The Temple of Kali 49
VIII Chandra Finds a Way 57
IX The Man in the Jeep 65
X The Tiger Hunt 74
XI A Thief in the Night 83
XII A Double Surprise 91
XIII Biff's Mission 99
XIV The Valley of Doom 106
XV The Caravan Halts 114
XVI The Bamboo Bridge 123
XVII The Monster of the Mountains 133
XVIII The Frozen Waterfall 142
XIX The Lost City 151
XX The Master Spy 158
XXI Secret of the Snows 164
MYSTERY OF THE AMBUSH IN INDIA
I
A Mysterious Message
It was sunset along the Calcutta waterfront.The reflection of the vivid
tropical sky turned the murky water of the Hooghly River into a rippling
rainbow.The river was alive with a variety of craft, including native
sailboats, side-wheel steamers that plied up and down the Hooghly
between Calcutta and the Bay of Bengal, eighty miles south, as well as
sturdy tugs, launches, and lighters that served the ocean-going ships
moored in midstream along the strand.Biff Brewster was standing at the bow of a big freighter, the 10,000-ton
_Northern Star_, which only that afternoon had cast anchor in the Port
of Calcutta.Biff was a blond-haired youth of sixteen, with broad,
square shoulders and blue-gray eyes that were as keen and expressive as
his strong, well-formed features. With Biff were two other boys, his
companions in previous adventures.One was Kamuka, a Brazilian boy of Biff's own size and age. They had met
at the headwaters of the Amazon, where Biff had accompanied his father,
Thomas Brewster, in an adventurous search for a fabulous gold mine.Kamuka, who had spent most of his life on jungle rivers, was keenly
interested in the scenes he now was viewing along the Hooghly. The other boy was slightly younger and smaller of build, but quite as
wiry and athletic as his two companions.He was Likake Mahenili, a
Hawaiian youth known as "Li" to his friends. Li, a skilled diver, had
helped Biff crack the riddle of a vanished sloop when they had teamed in
a thrilling sea hunt off the Hawaiian shores.Now, all three were newly arrived in India, the land of mystery. But
there was no mystery as to why and how they happened to be together. That was due to a simple turn of events.Months ago, Biff's father had gone to India to open long-neglected gold
mines in some of the former princely states that had been absorbed by
the Indian Republic.It had taken much longer than Mr. Brewster
expected--as many of his jobs did--so he had arranged for the family to
come by air to India and join him there.Meanwhile, Biff had invited Kamuka to come from Brazil and spend his
vacation in the United States.By a quick switch of plans, Biff and
Kamuka had flown to San Francisco just in time to take last-minute
passage on the _Northern Star_, which cost less for both than Biff's
trip would have by air.The freighter had been scheduled to call at Honolulu, so Biff had
written ahead to Li, who had not only met the ship there, but had
decided to come along on his own.They had broken the monotony of the
long voyage with brief stops at ports on the way, but so far, it had
been more of a sightseeing tour than an adventure.They still had one
more night to spend on shipboard as the _Northern Star_ had reached
Calcutta a day ahead of schedule. "Tomorrow," Biff declared, "Dad will be here to meet us.By now, my
mother and the twins should have reached Darjeeling, so he may be
bringing them along to visit the gold fields." "I hope that Mr. Brewster shows us the Kolar Mines at Mysore," declared
Li enthusiastically. "They have shafts that go down two miles, the
deepest in the world." "Except for those in South America," put in Kamuka stoutly. "They are
the world's deepest. I learned that at technical school in Brasilia. ""And I suppose they taught you that South America has the biggest
mountains, too," returned Li. "Just wait until we see Mt. Everest. Those
Himalayas will make your Andes look like a lot of ant hills. ""I shall wait until I see them before I judge," said Kamuka
complacently. "But since you speak of ant hills, the ones we have in
Brazil are bigger than anywhere else." "You can't win, Li," laughed Biff. "Kamuka has an answer for
everything. ""You're telling me?" returned Li, with a grin. "He even answers
questions before I ask them." This good-natured banter had been going on all across the Pacific. In
the friendly disputes between Kamuka and Li, Biff had been called upon
to act as judge.So now he gestured toward the river, with the comment:
"Let's keep our minds on what we're watching for--the tidal bore coming
up the river. I'd say it's due any moment now, the way those boats are
getting ready for it. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
"II
The Boy and the Basket
The last call for dinner interrupted any further comments on the
mysterious message.Tonight was a big event, for the chief steward of
the _Northern Star_ had gone the limit to please the three youthful
passengers on the freighter.The meal consisted of specialties in
Brazilian, Hawaiian, and American dishes, with little speeches in
between.But the boys found it difficult to share the spirit of the other
passengers and ship's officers, who were doing their best to entertain
them on this last evening together.Biff was sure that morning would
bring some confirmation of his father's message, while Li and Kamuka
were wondering whether or not he had sufficient reason to be that
confident.Early the next morning, the three boys were up and on deck when a mail
boat came to the _Northern Star_.A uniformed Hindu handed a telegram to
Captain Peterson, the skipper of the freighter, who passed it on to Biff
with the comment:
"This is for you rather than for me. "Li and Kamuka were peering over Biff's shoulders as he read the message
aloud:
"NOTIFY BIFF BREWSTER HIS FATHER CANNOT MEET HIM IN CALCUTTA. HE AND
FRIENDS ARE TO PICK UP PLANE RESERVATIONS FOR DARJEELING AND JOIN HIS
FAMILY THERE. "The message was signed by the New Delhi representative of the Ajax
Mining Company, for which Biff's father worked.Captain Peterson told
the boys to let him know if they had any trouble finding their plane
reservations at the Grand Hotel, where the bus left for the Calcutta
Airport at Dum Dum. Biff and his two companions said good-by and packed
themselves ashore.They took a taxicab past the Maidan, the huge park where hundreds of
Hindus were asleep on the grassy expanse. Still more were sprawled along
the sidewalk of Chowringhi Road, which brought them to the Grand Hotel.There, they found that plane reservations had been made for Darjeeling,
but instead of picking them up immediately, Biff inquired the way to the
New India Bazaar and found that it was a short rickshaw ride from the
hotel.Soon the boys were riding swiftly through the native quarter of
Calcutta, in a two-wheeled, man-hauled carriage that followed narrow
streets flanked by rows of old tenement houses and other crude
structures filled with the city's teeming population.At the New India Bazaar, they found rows of small shops surrounding a
busy square where shoppers in Hindu attire carefully side-stepped a
sacred cow that was sprawled complacently on the sidewalk.Barkers were
babbling in Hindustani, trying to attract trade and one youth, attired
in shorts and loose white jacket, was drumming up business by beating
the ends of a wooden keg, tom-tom style, drawing a crowd along with him.The Indian boy looked tall because he was thin, even to his smiling
face. He eyed Biff and the other boys closely as he passed them, giving
the drum a few quick, extra beats as an invitation to come along.Biff
turned to his companions and ran his hand through his shock of blond
hair. "Dad must have given his friend a good description of me," Biff told the
others, "so I am sure to be spotted soon.The more we circulate, the
easier it will be to find me, so we may as well see where this drummer
boy is leading us. "They wound up at an open corner where some buildings had been demolished
to make way for one of the wide new streets that were being cut through
the city's congested areas.Temporarily, at least, it had been turned
into an outdoor theater, for a man in baggy white clothes and a huge
turban was beckoning the crowd his way as he announced:
"I, Jinnah Jad, greatest _jadoo wallah_ in Bengal. I make _jadoo_ with
duck.You see." By "jadoo" Jinnah Jad meant "magic," and the term "wallah" signified
that he performed it. The jadoo wallah filled a small tub with water
from a big jar, then placed a miniature imitation duck in the tiny pond
thus formed.As Jinnah Jad made mystic passes over the toy duck, it
dived into the water, only to come popping up again at his command.As the boys moved closer with the interested crowd, Jinnah Jad gestured
them into a semicircle and announced:
"I show you magic with mango.First I make tent where it can grow--"
As he spoke, he set three sticks in the ground so they formed a tripod
about four feet high. He took a cloth from a big heap and wrapped it
around the sticks, making a little tepee.He held up a mango seed, about
the size of a large pear, then pushed it in through the opening of the
tent, as though planting it. Soon Jinnah Jad pulled away the cloth and showed a little sprout instead
of just a seed.He formed the tent again, using a larger cloth. He piped
a tune on a hollow gourd that he used as a flute and pulled away the
cloth. There, spreading out from the tent, was a small mango tree, with
fruit on its branches!As the crowd buzzed its admiration, Jinnah Jad turned to the slender boy
with the drum and said, "Chandra, you bring me rupees, so I make more
jadoo. "The boy promptly picked up a wooden bowl and started through the
crowd, taking up a collection, nudging people with the bowl and
gesturing to their pockets whenever they hesitated at contributing a few
coins.Biff, meanwhile, was speaking in a low voice to his companions. "Let's
spread out, so you two can watch to see if anyone is watching me," he
suggested. "Then no one will know that we are together." To that, Li and
Kamuka agreed.As they moved away, they each passed Chandra and added
coins to the collection at the Hindu boy's urging. Then Chandra reached
Biff and asked politely, "You have rupees, maybe, sahib? "Biff pulled two rupee notes from his pocket and dropped them in the
bowl. Chandra bowed and brushed past, taking the bowl to Jinnah Jad, who
picked out the rupee notes and glowered his dissatisfaction at the rest.Two men were passing by, carrying a heavy basket that dangled by its
handles from a long pole. Jinnah Jad told them to set down their burden
and remove the bundles that it contained.Then:
"This boy is good for nothing," declared Jinnah Jad, indicating Chandra. "So I make him go for good. You watch." Before Chandra could dart away, Jinnah Jad grabbed him and thrust him
into the basket, which was roundish and bulging at the sides.Jinnah Jad
threw a cloth over the boy's head and shoulders and suddenly, Chandra's
form collapsed beneath it. Triumphantly, Jinnah Jad jumped into the
basket and trampled the cloth there.Chandra had vanished from the basket, and to prove it, Jinnah Jad not
only stamped his feet all around, he squatted down in the basket,
filling it with his fat form, while he clucked like a happy hen seated
on a nest.Then, emerging from the basket, Jinnah Jad snatched up a long
sword, shouting, "I show you boy is really gone!" With that, he stabbed
the sword through one side of the basket and out the other side.While the crowd gasped, Jinnah Jad repeated the thrust again and again,
one direction, then another. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
The jadoo wallah had worked himself into a
frenzy when the men who owned the basket stopped him and babbled in a
native dialect. "They know the boy is gone," translated Jinnah Jad, for the benefit of
the crowd. "They do not want me to spoil their basket." He waved to the
basket and told the two bearers, "All right, take it. "Eagerly, the two natives piled their bundles into the basket, thrust the
pole through its handles and hoisted it on their shoulders. By then,
Jinnah Jad was in the midst of another miracle.He was pouring rice from
a bowl into a square teakwood box that had a glass front, while he
stated:
"One time, in India, there was great famine, with people everywhere
needing rice.So a great yogi in the Himalayas fill a box with rice like
this--"
The throng was hushed, for Calcutta itself had suffered from great
famines, even in comparatively recent years. "So by magic, he sent rice everywhere, to everybody! "Jinnah Jad gave
the box a flip. Instantly, the rice was gone from behind the glass and
he was opening the box wide, showing it to be totally empty. "Yes, to
everybody! To you--to you--to you." Jinnah Jad was jabbing his finger
from person to person. "So look in your pockets and find it! You,
sahib--you, babu--find rice!" People were bringing fistfuls of rice from their pockets. Biff smiled,
thinking these were friends of the jadoo wallah, until he saw total
astonishment on faces close by.Those included Li's, for a dozen feet
away, the Hawaiian youth was bringing out two handfuls of the tiny
grains from each coat pocket. Still skeptical, Biff thrust his hands
into his own pockets and brought them out--containing rice!The deeper he dug, the more he found. Biff was almost ready to accept
the jadoo of Jinnah Jad as real indeed, when he brought out something
else, a crinkly wad of paper, with more rice inside it.Puzzled, Biff
pulled it open and found it to be a penciled note that stated:
_Follow men who go with basket. Go alone. Tell no one where you go.Important._
None of the other spectators had found a note like that, for they were
simply staring at the rice, while Jinnah Jad moved through the crowd,
taking up a new collection in person.Biff looked for the basket bearers
and saw them starting slowly away, as if they had waited just long
enough for Biff to find the note. So Biff started after them, working his way through the crowd so that he
went past Li.Quickly, Biff muttered:
"Don't look now. Just find Kamuka and wait for me here. I'll be
back--soon. "III
The Rajah's Ruby
By the time the basket carriers had turned a few corners, Biff was not
so sure that he would rejoin his companions as soon as he expected.The
lazily moving pair suddenly stepped up their pace and the narrow, poorly
paved streets looked so much alike that Biff had no idea where they were
leading him.The streets were flanked by _chawls_ or native houses that were scarcely
more than hovels.From the suspicious glances that Biff received, and
from the way the buildings encroached upon the narrow alleys, he felt as
though a whole sea of humanity was closing in upon him. He realized that
he would need a compass to find his way back.There was no telling by
the sun, which was out of sight even over the low roofs, although the
day was becoming so hot that Biff wished he were back in a rickshaw
instead of footing it through these dismal, dirty streets.Then they reached a better section, where the buildings were higher,
with occasional shop fronts.There, the basket bearers slackened pace
and turned into a passage beneath an archway that bore the sign:
D. CHAND & BROS.
_Import--Export_
Warehouse
Biff followed cautiously and saw the two men cross a little courtyard
and continue through another archway well beyond.There they disappeared
from view but only long enough to set down the basket, because one of
them returned to the inner arch and closed a big metal gate behind him. He then went to rejoin his companion.By then, Biff was moving into the courtyard himself. He edged over to
one side and gained a look through the inner arch.Beyond the closed
gate he saw what appeared to be a large storeroom, for there were many
crates, boxes, and other bulky objects stacked there.From his angle,
Biff could see nothing of the two men, so he moved cautiously toward the
inner arch, hoping to get a closer and more direct view.At that moment, a clang sounded behind him, and Biff turned to see that
another gate had closed in the outer arch. A tall man in baggy white
clothes had stepped in from the street and was now locking the gate
behind him.Biff was trapped in the open space between the archways. He
looked quickly for an outlet, and saw one on the other side of the
courtyard, in the form of an open doorway.Biff hurried in that direction, only to stop short as a man appeared in
the doorway to meet him with a polite, welcoming bow.The man was
dressed in European clothes, but his broad, bland face, with fixed smile
and bushy eyebrows above his large-rimmed glasses, was definitely
Asiatic. So was his cool, even-toned pronouncement:
"I am Diwan Chand. I have been expecting you.Come in." Then, as Biff hesitated, glancing back at the white-garbed Hindu, who
was coming from the outer gate, Diwan Chand added a further
introduction:
"This is Nathu, my special watchman.I thought it best to have him lock
the gate, so we cannot be disturbed. He will wait here until we return." Chand said nothing about the pair who had gone through the inner archway
with the basket.Biff followed the bland merchant through a room
equipped with a long row of vacant desks, like an old-fashioned counting
house. "Our clerks work here," explained Chand, "but they have all gone out to
lunch, so no one will know of your visit. "Whether that was good or bad, Biff wasn't sure. He felt a nervous
tingling that seemed an instinctive warning of some close danger; yet it
might be that all these precautions were for his benefit.This seemed doubly so when they reached Chand's quiet private office at
the rear of the long counting room.There, the merchant closed the door,
gestured Biff to a chair, and opened a small safe that was cunningly
concealed in the elaborately carved woodwork of the wall. "You received your father's message," commented Mr. Chand, "and now I
have something for you to take to him. This." Biff gasped at the object Mr. Chand placed on the table before him.There, in a small case lined with white velvet, gleamed the largest and
most magnificent gem that Biff had ever seen. It was a blood-red ruby,
with a touch of purple that gave it a glow like living fire, even in the
subdued light of the office.In his study of mineralogy, Biff had viewed
many fine stones, but never one that even approached this ruby. "A _padmaraga_," Mr. Chand said. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
"A true Brahmin ruby, not to be
confused with those of lesser caste.Whoever carries such a gem as this
one can live in perfect safety in the midst of many enemies, totally
without fear. "At first, Biff thought that Mr. Chand was simply repeating some Hindu
legend concerning rubies, but he soon saw that the merchant's steady
smile had become very serious. "For this I can vouch," Mr. Chand continued. "The Light of the Lama, as
this ruby is known, brought good fortune to the descendants of the rajah
who originally owned it. While I have been its custodian, I, too, have
prospered.There has been no trouble here, despite riots and
disturbances in other parts of Calcutta, in fact, throughout India."Mr. Chand picked up the squarish jewel case and started to place it in a
chamois bag, as he added:
"And now good fortune goes with you. They say that even the power of
invisibility is granted to those who hold this gem.Perhaps that is why
danger has passed me by." "But in that case," Biff asked frankly, "why are you giving it to me? Shouldn't you keep it for yourself? ""It is my duty to pass it along," replied Mr. Chand solemnly, "and
besides, I have noticed that the Light is losing some of its fire, which
is a bad sign. See for yourself! "He moved the ruby closer to Biff, who saw now that the gem was in a
simple golden setting; but more important, just as Mr. Chand said, its
sparkle had dwindled.Then, as Biff himself held the jewel, its wine-red
depth kindled with new flame, so suddenly that Biff caught his breath. "A good sign!" exclaimed Mr. Chand, closing the little case and
thrusting it into the bag. "That proves it is in the hands where it
belongs!" He pressed it into Biff's hands as he spoke. "So guard it
well"--he paused and his fixed smile became whimsical for once--"or I
should say, it will guard you well. We have just seen proof of that. "Evidently, Mr. Chand referred to the ruby's sudden glow, which was quite
puzzling to Biff. But something else puzzled him still more. "Why must I take this ruby to my father?" "He will tell you when you see him," replied Mr. Chand. "The less I say,
the better, now that I no longer have the ruby to protect me." "And where will I find my father now?" "In New Delhi. Go there, but do not contact his company except to ask
for him by telephone.If he is not there, go to the United States
Embassy, but be careful even then, as spies are watching everywhere. Trust only your father's voice as you did when you received the taped
message that I sent you. "Biff nodded, recognizing the wisdom of all that. Then, thoughtfully, he
remarked:
"In that message, my father said I would meet a man that he and I could
both trust. I am sure he meant you, Mr. Chand. "If the merchant had beamed at the compliment, Biff might have been
suspicious, for he still felt the odd sensation of some impending
danger. But Mr. Chand was modest. "You can trust me," he said simply, "but your father meant another man,
Barma Shah.He was the contact who brought us together. I had hoped that
he would be here to meet you and go with you now, but he is probably
being watched." "By the same spies you mentioned, Mr. Chand?" Biff inquired. "Yes.Barma Shah told me he would stay away if danger threatened here. That was a month ago and shortly afterward, new riots broke out in
Calcutta. Some were rather close by, the nearest that they have been. Naturally, Barma Shah did not come that day.He has stayed away
since--and wisely--so I sent word to you myself, as was arranged for
such a situation." Above Mr. Chand's quiet voice, Biff thought he heard a rising murmur,
much like the approach of the tidal bore along the Hooghly.Whether or
not it was his imagination, he felt more closed in than ever. "The day of the riots," Mr. Chand went on, "I looked at the Light of the
Lama and saw it had clouded. I was afraid, not for myself, but for Barma
Shah.I was glad when he did not come here--"
The murmur was louder now, no longer like wave beats, but more a human
babble, with occasional muffled shouts. Mr. Chand heard them, too, for
he raised his hand and exclaimed: "Listen! "Timed to the action came a
sudden pounding at the office door and the excited voice of Nathu, the
watchman:
"Master! There is danger! Another riot has started, outside our very
gate! "As Chand unlocked the office door and opened it, the babble rose to a
bedlam of howls, shrieks, and the clang of metal as the mob battered at
the big gate.At Chand's mention of the ruby, Biff had thrust his hand
into his pocket to see if he still had the chamois bag that he had
placed there.It was safe, and as Biff clenched it tensely, his palm
seemed to burn as though the gem were actually glowing through its
wrappings.There was a huge crash as the metal gate collapsed and now, through the
barred windows of the counting room, Biff could see the milling figures
of the native rioters as they flooded the courtyard, swinging clubs,
slashing with knives, and hurling rocks at one another.Some of those
missiles smashed the glass in the barred windows, adding to the crowd's
glee, for they were eager to destroy property along with lives.Mr. Chand showed surprising speed as he whisked Biff back into the
little office and through a door in the opposite wall, at the same time
saying excitedly, "Go through the _godown_! It is your only way! "Biff thought "godown" meant some steps, but instead, Mr. Chand was
referring to the storeroom.As Biff started off among the crates, there
was another clang from the courtyard, where the rioters were smashing at
the inner gate leading into the storage room itself. "Not that way!" called Mr. Chand. "At the back, you will find another
_darwaza_--another gate! Turn left on the back street until you reach
the _chowk_--the market place! You will be safe there."Mr. Chand turned back into his office to help Nathu try to stem the
attack, and Biff shoved his way among the crates, clambering over boxes,
until he reached the rear exit that Mr. Chand had mentioned, but too
late.Already, the back street teemed with rioters. Leering faces turned
Biff's way, and eager fingers pointed at him through the bars of the
rear gate. Then hands were bashing the gate itself as others threw stones through
the grillwork.Biff dodged back among the crates, realizing hopelessly
that he was caught between two fires.A great crash told that the gate
from the courtyard had given way; and an echoing clang from the other
direction signified that the rear gate had met the same fate. What Biff's own fate would be, the next few moments would tell.Grimly,
he found himself gripping the chamois bag in his pocket, wondering if
the Light of the Lama could save him now.As if in answer, something
plucked his shoulder and Biff turned quickly, bringing both fists up to
fight off the first of a hundred enemies.Instead, he found himself looking into the face of Chandra, the Indian
boy who had vanished from the basket back at the New India Bazaar. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
Above
the babble of the rioters came Chandra's words:
"Quick! Come with me--this way! "IV
Biff Vanishes
Escape from the frenzied mob seemed impossible, but at least Chandra was
making a try as he pushed Biff toward a deep corner of the big
storeroom, the only direction in which the invaders had not yet spread.But there was no door, no outlet, nothing except a solid stone wall
beyond the last lot of crates.Those offered no good hiding place, because the rioters already were
overturning or yanking open chests and boxes which blocked them, while
they kept up an excited shout, "_Farangi! Farangi!_"
That was one word that Biff knew.It meant "European"--which in his case
could be translated as "American"--and it signified that they were
definitely after Biff, though probably they would attack any Farangi
that they encountered.And now, Biff and Chandra were practically in the
corner, with no way to turn, except one, which looked like the worst
trap of all.Just ahead stood a tall, rather bulky cabinet shaped in the form of a
pagoda, with half a dozen sides and a pair of front doors that were
partly open.Quickly, Chandra thrust Biff inside and pushed him to the
back, saying, "In there--keep quiet--do not move! "Then he pressed an
inner door shut, and Biff found himself alone in pitch darkness, clamped
in a space so tight that Chandra's admonition not to move was quite
unnecessary.Chandra was gone by then, dodging off among the crates, perhaps to save
his own sleek hide at the expense of Biff's. For Biff, realizing now
that he was really boxed, was beginning to regret that he had trusted
the Indian youth so completely.Chandra, a native himself, probably had
friends among the mob. Maybe he had even told them that he would lure
Biff here. Until now, Biff had had a chance either for fight or flight.Those were
both gone, and if he didn't suffocate in this bandbox, he would probably
be yanked out and torn apart before he could even make a move.He was so
tightly jammed, he couldn't even reach into his pocket and find the
ruby, which he felt was the real cause of his misfortune, despite the
soft talk Diwan Chand had given him.Even now, Biff heard voices: "Farangi--we find him--look there...." And
he could hear crates being turned over close by.Next, the shouters were
clambering in and out of the cabinet itself, for Biff could feel it
shake and the hoarse, snarly voices were almost at his elbow.They were
even pulling the pagoda out from the wall, for its platform was set on
wheels; and they were literally spinning it about, with Biff still
inside it, yet for some reason, they passed by him in the blackness.More shouts, louder crashes were suddenly punctuated by pistol shots,
leading to a last round of tumult that soon died. Biff heard receding
footsteps; then came a deadly silence, which was even worse.Biff felt
totally helpless and abandoned, unable to move, afraid even to call for
help. He was drenched in perspiration, and why he hadn't suffocated or
been found he couldn't understand, until a sharp click interrupted his
numbed thoughts.Biff lurched forward, found the front doors and stepped shakily from the
pagoda cabinet to find one person in the dim light of the warehouse
waiting, grinning, to receive him. That was Chandra. Briefly, the Indian boy explained things. "They took a good look for you, all right," he said. "Some of them did,
anyway, while the rest kept fighting each other. They looked a lot, but
they didn't find you--or me." "But where did you go, Chandra? ""Back in basket that brought me here," replied Chandra, widening his
grin. He reached past a crate, pulled out the basket, squatted in it and
suddenly squirmed from sight, as if the basket were bottomless.Biff
looked in and was amazed to see nothing except a heap of old cloth. Then, the heap stirred, and Chandra twisted into view from the basket's
bulging sides where he had artfully coiled his thin, agile body. "So that's how you vanished! "exclaimed Biff. "Why, you were still in
the basket when the two men took it away!" "How else could I get here so quick?" retorted Chandra. "They are
friends of Jinnah Jad, who show up with basket at the right time.This
godown is where Jinnah Jad keeps all his tricks, like the new pagoda he
built to make people vanish. So I put you there." "And I was thinking--"
Biff cut himself short, but Chandra picked him up. "You think maybe the big ruby made you invisible," declared Chandra, "as
it is supposed to do. But no, it was the pagoda trick. It hid you, the
basket hid me. "Biff was cooler now, and he felt an actual shudder as he looked around
at the wreckage and saw some silent human figures lying near the gate to
the courtyard. Otherwise, the warehouse was deserted, except for Biff
and Chandra. "But where did they all go, Chandra?" Biff asked. "You heard shooting?" returned Chandra. "That was the police. They came
to help Diwan Chand. Lucky they didn't use tear gas, which they do a
lot. We would have gotten it, too. "Chandra was looking around at the broken boxes. He saw one that
interested him and beckoned Biff that way. "We must get out before police come back and ask us to be witnesses,"
declared Chandra. "But the people who are after the ruby will be
watching for you. So you must wear other clothes--like these." Chandra was picking some native garments from those that had been dumped
from an overturned chest.Studying Biff, Chandra noted the deep tan that
Biff had acquired during his long voyage on the _Northern Star_. "Your face is dark enough," decided Chandra, "but your light hair will
have to be hidden. So we will make you into a Sikh.A Sikh always wears
a turban. That will fool everyone." Soon, Biff was attired in a costume that made him feel top-heavy.It
consisted of shorts, shirt, and jacket, and a huge turban, which
completely covered Biff's ears as well as his head, after Chandra helped
him wrap it. They bundled up Biff's clothes along with some other
garments and went out by the rear gate.It was fortunate that both were in native garb, because Biff could sense
that eyes were watching them as they followed the street to the market
place. Chandra knew it too, for he said, "Don't look around. They will
suspect us if you do. "There were natives in the market place, gathered in little clusters,
discussing the recent riot. They glanced at the boys as they passed, but
that was all.Chandra gave a pleased chuckle, then added cautiously, "It
looks good now, but still we play it safe. We go the long way, past the
_thana_." By _thana_, Chandra meant police headquarters, a place that suspicious
characters would avoid.After passing it, the boys were satisfied that
they were not being followed, so they doubled back to the New India
Bazaar, where they saw Li and Kamuka studying the passersby from the
doorway of a sporting goods shop. It was Biff's move now.He eased up to Li, tapped him on the shoulder,
and said, "Salaam, Sahib." | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
Li turned and blinked puzzled at the face
beneath the turban until Biff could no longer restrain a grin. "Biff!" exclaimed Li. "But where--and why--"
"We can't talk here," interposed Biff. "Meet me around the corner and
bring Kamuka." Chandra was with Biff when the other boys arrived. After introducing the
Indian youth, Biff said:
"I must go to New Delhi.If Chandra can go with me, it is up to him to
decide who can accompany us." "I can go," Chandra assured him, "and Kamuka, too. But not Li." He
turned to the Hawaiian youth. "Too many people saw you with Biff while
you were watching Jinnah Jad make jadoo. You might be recognized, one
because of the other." Before Li could even show the disappointment that he felt, Biff softened
the situation. "Somebody will have to go up to Darjeeling," he reminded his friend, "to
tell the family where I've gone. Canceling those extra plane
reservations and handling our luggage is a tough job, too. It looks like
you're elected, Li. "Li not only was elected; he did his job well. He went to the Grand Hotel
and returned by taxi, rejoining the group at a restaurant that Chandra
had specified.Li had canceled the air reservations without difficulty;
he had brought hiking packs for Biff and Kamuka, and he had arranged for
shipment of the excess baggage. After a substantial meal, Li returned to the hotel by cab, to catch the
Darjeeling plane.The other boys boarded a big bus for Howrah, across
the river. Biff and Kamuka looked down from the tremendous cantilever
span and viewed the muddy Hooghly, hoping to spot the _Northern Star_
moored in the dim distance.They were talking about it--in English,
unfortunately--when Chandra hissed for silence. They realized then that they were an odd group as it was--too odd to be
using English as a common language.Biff, whose features didn't properly
match his Sikh's costume; Kamuka, who might have come from an upcountry
tribe, but was wearing European clothes; Chandra, who with his _dhoti_
and jacket, looked like a jadoo wallah's boy, which was exactly what he
was, and therefore the most outlandish of the trio.In short, they were attracting too much attention. Biff and Kamuka
promptly subsided.Biff, particularly, felt that he should show some
dignity, so he did, by looking squarely at the other passengers, until
he caught the eye of a distinguished-looking man across the aisle.The man had a large beard and a huge turban, which marked him as a Sikh,
and a genuine one. He was studying Biff with sharp eyes that continued
their piercing probe until the bus reached Howrah Station.Then, as they
were stepping from the bus, the bearded Sikh suddenly spoke to Biff in
what was their own common language, except that Biff couldn't understand
a word of it.All that saved Biff was a surge of the crowd, with people pushing one
way, then another, cutting him off from the bearded Sikh. Next, Biff was
on the outskirts of the milling throng, and Chandra was yanking him
away, along with Kamuka. "Thanks, Chandra!" Biff gasped. "If you hadn't dragged me out of that
jam, the Sikh would have known I was a fake--"
"That wasn't why!" returned Chandra. "That wouldn't have bothered us. Maybe you're a fake, but he's a bigger one.I saw his beard close enough
to know." Biff looked back and saw that Chandra was right. Caught in the crowd,
the man with the big turban wasn't trying to follow the three boys; in
fact, he couldn't even see them.The reason was that his false beard had
been pulled up over his eyes, and he was madly trying to straighten it.Hand in his pocket, Biff was gripping the packet that he had transferred
from his own clothes, wondering if the Light of the Lama again had saved
him from an enemy!V
Danger at Dawn
Right then, Biff's one hope was that he and his two companions could
lose themselves in another and bigger crowd and thus dodge the disguised
stranger who was so intent upon following them.They couldn't have chosen a better place than the Howrah Station. It
seemed five times bigger than any other railway station Biff had ever
seen, and it contained ten times as many people.The afternoon had
reached its peak of stifling heat, so they had come in here and sprawled
over the acres of cool marble floors in preference to the Calcutta
sidewalks.The boys had to step around prostrate bodies or clamber over them, as
did hundreds of other travelers who were thronging the great depot.Practically all of those travelers were natives, and many of them were
carrying huge bundles that contained most of their worldly possessions.Chandra explained that many of Calcutta's three million citizens were
constantly on the move, due to lack of food or jobs; but that as fast as
they left town, others poured in to replace them.He added that the
population was still shifting between India and Pakistan, which
accounted for more travel, particularly since the East Pakistan border
was so near Calcutta.He also mentioned that many were pilgrims bound
for Benares and other places holy to Hindu cults. While the boys picked their way through the immense station, Chandra
pointed out examples of each group.He also called attention to
occasional Europeans and well-dressed Indians, including Hindus of high
caste. "Those few," declared Chandra, "go first- or second-class. Always, some
talk English and ask too much about everybody's business.I know,
because I have gone second-class with Jinnah Jad. So we will go
third-class and talk just to each other." That satisfied Biff and Kamuka.It wasn't a matter of saving money, for
they had pooled their cash and had more than enough to travel in luxury,
with Chandra included.But getting to New Delhi unnoticed was essential,
and the train trip, which required more than twenty-four hours, was the
sort that promised complications, so the more they avoided, the better. Chandra had a bright idea on that score, too.Biff gave him enough money
to buy three third-class tickets, but when Chandra rejoined the other
boys, he returned half the cash. "I only buy tickets halfway," he stated, "so nobody will know we are
going to New Delhi.They will think maybe we are going to Benares or
Allahabad, but instead we will go on to a little village where my uncle
lives and start again from there." "You're the boss of this expedition, Chandra," Biff assured him. "Anything that will cover our trail is a good idea." Breaking the trip also seemed a good idea when Biff saw the
accommodations that the third-class carriages offered.Biff had been
afraid that he might be noticed on the station platform, the way he had
been on the bus, but that worry soon was over. The platform was thicker
with milling humanity than the station itself.People would have been
pushed onto the track, if the train hadn't been there to receive them. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
Many were crowding into first- and second-class compartments, only to be
pushed out and ordered back to where they belonged, in third class.Amid
the commotion, Chandra found one third-class compartment that looked
full, but wasn't, because the occupants had simply spread their luggage
in a haphazard way.Chandra began piling them together like so many
bundles of wash, until he had made room for all three boys, including
their own luggage.The seats in the compartment were little better than benches, but Biff
gladly drew himself into the deepest and most uncomfortable corner,
rather than be observed too closely when members of the train crew
closed the doors, for some of them were genuine Sikhs who might have
seen through his thin disguise.The platforms were still crowded when the train pulled out--as many
people had come to the station simply to see the others off. Then the
train was rolling into the open country, what little Biff could see of
it.The rattle of wheels mixed with swirls of dust and blended with the
smell of garlic and spices, for everyone was bringing out native food,
bowls of rice, bananas, and other fruit. Biff's appetite was suddenly
roused. "Think of all that rice Jinnah Jad wasted," Biff said to Kamuka, "when
he did that trick! I could eat some of it now." "He didn't waste it," reminded Kamuka. "He put it in our pockets,
remember? We should have kept it." "Say, that was a neat trick. "Biff turned to Chandra. "How did Jinnah
Jad work that part of it? Or don't you know?" Chandra grinned broadly. "That is one trick I do know," he declared. "Remember when I went
through the crowd, tapping people's pockets, asking for rupees, like
this?" He tapped Biff's pocket, then Kamuka's, and they both nodded. "While I do that," Chandra went on, "I use my other hand to put rice in
other pockets.So later, the people find it there." "So that was it!" Almost instinctively, Biff thrust his hand in his
other pocket, then brought it out in amazement, with a pair of candy
bars.Kamuka, reaching into his own pocket, found himself staring at a
handful of loose peanuts. "You must have bought these when you went for the tickets," said Biff to
Chandra, "and then you slipped them into our pockets while you were
telling us how you did it!Candy for me--peanuts for Kamuka--"
"And now you have peanuts, too," put in Chandra, "in the pocket where
you keep the big ruby." Again Chandra was right, and Biff's amazement at the Indian boy's skill
was complete.They ate their chocolate bars and peanuts along with some
fruit that Chandra had also brought them.Then, when the other
passengers were no longer noticing them, Chandra remarked:
"Remember how the big man with the fake beard got tangled in the crowd,
when we were leaving the bus?" Biff and Kamuka nodded. "I do that too," declared Chandra proudly. "I push one person like
this"--he nudged Biff forward--"and another like that"--he gave Kamuka a
backward push--"and pretty soon all are in each other's way." Biff smiled at that, too; then he turned solemn. "We've been watched," he declared, "and that's for sure. So let's be
still more careful from now on. "At various stops, the train disgorged many passengers who filled up
water jars that they had brought along and returned to the train before
it started.Biff and Kamuka let Chandra handle that job for their party,
rather than show themselves on station platforms. Occasionally, though, Kamuka waved from the compartment window to fruit
sellers who also supplied milk and soft drinks.At such stops, first-
and second-class passengers went ahead to the dining car or had
attendants bring choice dishes to their compartments; but third-class
travelers didn't rate such service.It was turning dark when the train reached the great coal fields in
western Bengal. That part of the trip interested Biff most, because of
the mining activity.But there was little to be seen, and soon, despite
the rattle and jouncing of the train and the discomfort of the stuffy
corner, Biff began dozing off. Once, Chandra nudged him and whispered, "Watch your turban! Keep it on
straight! "and Biff woke sufficiently to realize that he had one ear out
of the cumbersome headgear. He worked it into place, saw Chandra nod
approval, and then went back to sleep.Again, Chandra woke both Biff and Kamuka, who was sleeping, too, telling
them, "Watch out, now! New passengers coming on board. Don't let them
look at you too close. "So Biff and Kamuka kept their heads together and engaged in low
conversation until the new passengers gave up looking at them and fell
asleep themselves. That gave Biff and Kamuka the right to do the same.This time, Biff's sleep was sound, undisturbed by the joltings of the
train or the blare of the locomotive whistle as it rushed on through the
thick night. It was a dream that wakened Biff.He imagined that he was clutching the
big ruby, while hands were trying to snatch it from him.He was
confronted by bearded Sikhs and as he clawed wildly at their faces,
their beards came away, until he saw only one smooth face and opened his
eyes to find that the dream, in a sense, was real.Biff was clutching the bag that contained the ruby, but his hand was
deep in his jacket pocket. The hands that were clutching him were
Chandra's, shaking him awake; and the smooth face, too, was Chandra's.Quickly, the Indian boy put his finger to his lips for silence. The train was standing still. All was silent in the compartment except
for the snores of other passengers.The lights looked dimmer than
before, because it was no longer pitch dark outside. Faint streaks of
dawn were reddening the sky beyond low-lying hills. The compartment at
last seemed slightly cool. Biff risked a whisper. "Where are we? ""At an engine-changing station," Chandra whispered back. "Our own is
farther on, but we cannot wait until then." He gestured toward Kamuka, who was still asleep. Between them, Biff and
Chandra shook Kamuka and roused him instantly.Like a team, the three
boys gathered their packs and stepped carefully past the knees and over
the legs of sleeping passengers. Moments later, they were on a
weather-beaten platform alongside the long, silent train.A few dozen
human figures were stretched on the station platform, with white sheets
of cloth drawn completely over their motionless forms, like shrouds. "Railroad workers, mostly," whispered Chandra, "waiting for the next
shift.No one else gets on or off here, at least, not often." "But why are they covered over?" asked Biff, impressed by the weird
appearance of the figures. "Because the night was cool for them," replied Chandra, "but not too
cool for the insects.Soon, now, the covering over their heads will keep
the sun from waking them." The boys stole across the platform past a square-shaped station where
more such figures lay asleep.Kamuka, looking back at the train, put the
next query:
"But why did we get off here?" "Too many passengers changed places in the night," replied Chandra. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
"I
saw new faces; then later, I recognized some of the old again.If we had
gotten off at a crowded station, we could easily have been followed. Here, no one else can leave the train without our seeing them." Chandra was right. The boys had reached a road that led at an angle from
the tracks.Looking back, they could see the full length of the brightly
colored train, as they continued on their way. In the gathering
daylight, their keen eyes would surely note any motion on the steps of
any of the cars.Ahead, the road led through a grove of trees. Once
there, the boys themselves would be out of sight. There was just one spot the boys' roving eyes did not cover; that was
the portion of the platform obscured by the squatty station.There,
three white-shrouded shapes were rising like ghosts in the gray dawn. They dropped away their sleeping sacks, revealing limber figures clad in
dark clothes that blended with the background of the station wall, as
well as the trees beyond.One man gave an order in a native dialect and like human bloodhounds,
the stealthy trio stalked off along the very road that the three boys
had taken!VI
The Cry of Death
When the dawn had broadened into full daylight, the change was not too
noticeable, for by now the boys were trudging along a narrow, winding
road that was flanked by vivid tropical foliage and thick, overhanging
tree boughs that cut off much of the sunlight.To Kamuka, this was intriguing indeed, for it carried him back to his
own jungle life in Brazil, especially when he caught the chatter of the
monkeys from the higher branches.But to Chandra, who was familiar with
it all, such sounds were an annoyance as he tried to explain his plans
to Biff. "This road will take us to the Grand Trunk Road," stated Chandra, "which
we will follow until nightfall to reach the village of Supari, where my
uncle is _patwari_--"
"Patwari?" interposed Biff. "What is that? ""The same as _karnam_ or _kulkarni_ or _talati_--I have heard it called
by all those names--but it means in English, the man who keeps the
village accounts." "That would be the town clerk in America." Biff nodded. "So your uncle
is an important man.Go on." "On the Grand Trunk Road," continued Chandra, "we will look like
everybody else, because all India is there. You will see _hathi_,
_oont_, _ekka_--"
"Wait now, Chandra," put in Biff. "Hathis are elephants, that I know. And oonts are camels.But I never heard of ekkas. What are they?" "Pony carts," returned Chandra seriously, "and you will also see
bicycles and jeeps." "It sounds good," decided Biff. "But what if we were being watched on
the train.Do you think they will catch up with us?" "They cannot catch up," returned Chandra, "because they have gone ahead. If they talked to ticket agent or to the man who took our tickets, they
know where we should get off and will look for us there. ""When does the train reach our station?" Kamuka asked. "Not for about an hour," calculated Chandra, "counting change of
engines. Before they come back to look for us, we will be on the Grand
Trunk Road. "Despite his assurance, Chandra was moving rather cautiously, but for
another reason. He was looking from side to side, for they were in the
jungle now and there was no telling what night creatures might still be
on the prowl.Chandra knew this from occasional experience in such a
setting, as any Indian boy would who had lived in a native village like
Supari.But Kamuka, the boy from Brazil, recognized it instinctively,
for he was jungle born and bred, though in the opposite hemisphere. "Remember, Biff?" queried Kamuka. "The time the big jaguar jumped at
you? ""I remember," replied Biff, "because it was you who stopped it, Kamuka." "I just helped," said Kamuka. "But this jungle reminds me of jaguars. Do
they have them here?" "They have cheetahs, leopards, and tigers. Those should be enough--and
more. ""And big _sucuria_, too?" "Yes, they have those." Biff turned to Chandra. "He means a boa
constrictor. We ran into a big one up the Amazon, a snake the size of
your python." "What about _Macu_?" demanded Kamuka. "Head hunters," translated Biff to Chandra. "He wants to know if you
have them, too." "We have something much worse," declared Chandra solemnly. "We have
thugs, or stranglers, who ride on trains with us.They are after your
ruby, Biff, if you still have it. "Anxiously, Biff brought the bag from his pocket, opened it and held the
Light of the Lama in his palm, where it caught the glint of the sunlight
and reflected it with a vivid crimson sparkle that seemed to dye Biff's
entire hand.The great ruby was larger than the biggest walnut, and as
Biff turned it in the light, its flattened surfaces, or facets, rivaled
one another with their fiery glow.Chandra, who had been around the gem markets of Calcutta and other
Indian cities, and Kamuka, who had seen the finest of South American
stones during his studies in Brazil--both were swept with awe. "Never have I seen such fire!" exclaimed Chandra. "The red ruby, like
the blue sapphire, is often beautiful in color, yet very dull." "This one loses its sparkle sometimes," Biff declared. "And according to
Mr. Chand, it's a bad sign when it does." "It gives us a good sign now," observed Kamuka. "In South America, we
have the finest of all gems, the green emerald from Colombia. They say
it glows brighter than any red ruby, but now I am not so sure." Biff smiled, as he recalled Kamuka's debates with Li while they were on
the freighter voyage.For Kamuka to admit that a product of South
America could be matched by those of any other continent, was a
concession indeed. "That ruby," calculated Chandra, "must be worth ten _lakhs_ at least,
ten times a hundred thousand rupees.But that is not why your father
wants it. He needs it for some special purpose; that was why he went to
New Delhi. That much I have heard Mr. Chand tell Jinnah Jad." "So it was through Jinnah Jad," inquired Biff, "that my father's message
reached me? ""It was more through me," returned Chandra proudly. "I swam out to the
ship, carrying the tape in this." He produced a watertight bag on a neck
chain. "I looked for the cabin with the tape recorder. I put on the
tape, the way Mr. Chand showed me.Then I heard you coming, so I went
out through porthole quick, and dropped straight down." "A neat trick," complimented Biff. "I'd like to see you do it some time. Tell me, Chandra, did you ever meet my father? ""Yes, I see Sahib Brewster twice, when I was there at Chand and
Brothers, with Jinnah Jad." "And did you meet his friend, Barma Shah?" "No, never. He came only to see Mr. Chand in secret. He is what you call
undercover.He stayed away on purpose, when others began to find out
that the ruby was there. Like thugs I speak about. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
"They were trudging along the road again, and now Biff recalled that it
was Chandra's mention of thugs, or stranglers, that had caused him to
stop and make sure that he still had the priceless ruby safely tucked
away. "These thugs," questioned Biff, "do they want the ruby because of its
value?" "They want it because of the goddess Kali," replied Chandra. "That is
why they started riot outside of Chand and Brothers.They would have
strangled Mr. Chand, but they found the ruby gone--"
"So they were looking for me because I had it, and they would have
killed me for it!" Biff explained. "That is right.But thugs will strangle almost anybody if they find
suitable time and place, because they believe in Kali." Biff was putting the ruby back into its bag.Chandra paused to hand him
the chain with the waterproof bag, suggesting that he put the packet in
that, which Biff decided was a good idea. As they started on again, Biff
urged:
"Tell us more about this Kali business, Chandra. ""People say Kali was a great goddess who killed a huge monster that
wanted to destroy the world," Chandra related. "But each drop of monster
blood sprang up into a new monster.So Kali taught men to strangle
monsters with a special cloth called _rumal_, about this long"--Chandra
spread his hands approximately a yard apart--"and after monsters were
all gone, men began to strangle men in the same way, never shedding any
blood.And so they do today." "But all that was stopped a hundred years ago--"
"You mean the time when British Raj said there should be no more
_thugee_?Look there"--Chandra stopped abruptly and pointed to an
anthill at the side of the road--"and you see white ants. They are
dangerous, like thugs, so I stamp them out." Roughly, Chandra trampled
the anthill and the insects teeming around it. "But are they all stamped
out? No, some have gone under--how do you say it?" "Underground," returned Biff. "That is it," nodded Chandra. "That is the way the thugs went. Underground. Now they have come up again. ""But why do they want the ruby for Kali?" "Because they think that rubies are drops of demon blood that will
become new demons unless Kali stops them. Your ruby would make biggest
demon of all, so they want it most. So Jinnah Jad tells me. ""How many thugs do you think were on the train with us, Chandra?" Biff
asked. "There always must be three," declared Chandra. "Two to use the _rumal_
while the third holds the person they strangle. Always, they pick some
quiet place.Often they work in many secret bands, so they have a
special call, which Jinnah Jad has heard and warned me against.It goes
like this--"
Stopping short, Chandra tilted his head back and gave a long, weird
howl, "_Hyyyyaaaaahhhh!_" that sent shivers up Biff's spine, despite the
increasing warmth of the morning.Biff pulled off his big turban and
mopped his forehead. Kamuka, too, was impressed. Never in the jungle of his own native Amazon
had the Brazilian boy heard a cry as strange as that.It was a curious
cross between a human shriek for help and an animal's anguished wail. In
jungle or village, it would strike a familiar, yet fearful note. But as Biff and Kamuka stared in silence, Chandra's own face turned
suddenly tense.From beyond the bend in the narrow road behind them came
a distant, echoing answer:
"_Hyyyyaaaaahhhh!_"
It was Biff who broke the grim hush. "Try it again, Chandra. Let's see how close they are. "Chandra repeated the call in a louder wail that must have carried
farther, for now the answer came, not from behind them, but from the
jungle reaches up ahead. To the startled boys, their plight was all too
grimly plain.On a forgotten road, walled on both sides by solid jungle, they were
trapped between two murderous bands of approaching thugs!VII
The Temple of Kali
As the boys stood rooted, the strange cries came again; first from one
direction, then the other. But now there was a change in their weird
tones.They trailed longer, as though the thugs were telling each other
something, perhaps that they had helpless victims caught between. Both Kamuka and Chandra sensed it.Kamuka was for taking to the jungle,
a setting that he knew so well, even though it meant facing creatures
different from those in Brazil. Chandra was willing to go along with
that, but Biff overruled them with a single vote. "They'd start beating the brush for us," he argued, "and that would only
drive us deeper. It's not going into the jungle that I mind; it's our
chance of ever coming out. "He was beckoning the other boys along the road as he added: "We must
keep ahead of that bunch behind us, because they are really hot on our
trail. Those up front are farther away, even though they are coming
toward us.We may still have time to find a clearing where we can hide,
or better still, some jungle path." Tensely, the boys quickened their pace. The road here was winding more
sharply, for it was veering in among the low-lying hills.As they passed
a turn in the road, Biff pointed ahead to a gap in the thick jungle,
exclaiming, "That may be it!" Again, long trailing cries came from both directions as though taunting
Biff's hopes.The call from in back was still as far behind, but the one
ahead was much closer. Gritting his teeth, Biff muttered for his own
benefit, "This will have to be a path--or else! "It was a path, but a rocky one, leading up a steep slope that flanked
the road. But the boys took to it eagerly, climbing rapidly despite
their packs, so as to reach the first spot where the path itself made a
sharp turn amid the thick foliage.Once there, they were out of sight from the road below, so they paused
for a breather while they dipped water from a little stream that tumbled
down among the rocks beside the zigzag path. Biff asked Chandra, "Any idea where this path may take us? ""Maybe nowhere," responded Chandra glumly. "It may just be an old stream
gone dry." "I don't think so." Kamuka studied the course of the stream with a
practiced eye. "Look at the smooth rocks here in the stream, yet all
those on the path are rough.If water came up there a lot, they would be
smooth, too." Chandra still was doubtful until Kamuka pointed far up the path. "See where the path takes a short cut over the little hump of ground?" he said. "The stream would go around that, even in the wet season. This
is a path, all right." "And we'd better be using it," Biff put in, "before those thugs get the
same idea. "Low calls of "_Hyyaahh_" from both directions down on the road below
indicated that the pursuing groups were close together, probably closing
what they thought were the jaws of a trap.Now that they had regained
their wind, the boys lost no time in resuming their climb, this time at
a steady, even speed that they were sure would keep them well ahead. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
Kamuka was correct about the path.It was a real one, for soon it veered
away from the stream entirely and brought the boys to a jutting
promontory that gave them a good view over the green wave of the jungle
slope below.There they rested again, while Biff traced the course of
the road that they had left. "If we could only cut across and strike the road a few miles up the
line," he said, "we would really shake off those thugs. But no such
luck, I guess.We'd never hack our way through all that growth. Let's
stick to the path." Sticking to the path meant further climbing, but it proved short, as the
top of the hill was only a little way above.As they reached the final
hump and emerged from the thick foliage, the boys stopped in surprise.Perched on the summit was a ruined temple, its white marble steps
showing through the tangled underbrush, which was climbing up the
battered pillars and weather-worn walls. A corner of the tiled roof had fallen in and a tree projected there
instead of a small dome, one of a group surrounding a larger central
dome, which was also in a battered state.As the boys reached the steps,
there was a sudden chatter from within the ruined temple, and troupes of
monkeys scampered out through the holes in the roof and the long window
slits in the walls. "A good hiding place," decided Chandra, "if the monkeys have been using
it as their home." "Then we can lie low here," Biff said, "until after the thugs have
gone." They were entering through a fancifully tiled archway as Biff spoke.Chandra extended a restraining hand as Biff turned toward an inner
corner, where a battered stone railing marked a stairway leading to a
floor below. "Be careful where you lie low," warned Chandra. "These old places are
alive with deadly cobras. ""But how can the monkeys live with the snakes?" "They don't.Monkeys stay up there"--Chandra pointed to a balcony where
tiny faces and quick little eyes were peering through what was left of a
once ornamental railing--"and the cobras live in the pits below. "Biff saw that the stairway was blocked by broken chunks from the floor,
but he eased away on the chance that a poisonous snake might be lurking
in the rubble.Kamuka, meanwhile, had crossed the floor to a small domed
platform that was reached by steps leading up from three sides. Kamuka
called:
"Biff," he called. "Come look! See who is here! "Biff joined Kamuka and stared up at the most hideous idol he had ever
seen. It was carved from a dark wood and had white, glaring eyes formed
of tiny pearls with a jet-black stone in the center.Larger pearls
formed the teeth of an open mouth, from which a carved, red-painted
tongue extended. The ferocious image had four arms extended from its body.One hand held
an actual knife with jeweled handle and long curved blade, as though
ready for a downward stroke. Another hand was raised in a warning
gesture. The third dangled a carved human head.The fourth hand was
thrust slightly forward and was cupped, but empty. From the idol's neck hung a chain of human skulls, forming a huge,
grotesque necklace.Biff had already guessed the identity of the carved
horror, when Chandra arrived and gasped the name: "Kali!" Biff stared at Chandra, wondering why he was so shaken.In a frightened
tone, Chandra exclaimed:
"This temple is old and broken, but the idol is a new one! We can't hide
here! This is where the thugs themselves meet to worship Kali.They have
driven us up into their trap, and they will come here to hunt us down. See that hand, Biff, the one like a cup? It is supposed to hold blood,
so it is waiting for the big ruby that you carry! "An odd fascination had gripped Biff as he studied the hideous figure of
Kali. He snapped out of it now. "What are we waiting for?" he demanded. "Let's get out of here!" They couldn't go out the way they had come in.Already, a long-drawn cry
was sounding from the path leading up to the temple.It was answered
almost from the doorway, and the boys realized now that other members of
the Kali cult must have been lurking in the fringes of the jungle,
watching their arrival.Kamuka, quick as ever, pointed out a corner stairway leading up to a
stone balcony in the rear wall, just above the Kali statue. Sunlight
shone through a slitted window that was located there.Grabbing their
belongings, the boys raced up the steps, then along the balcony, where
they jumped its broken gaps.They reached the window slit and squeezed
themselves through to a narrow outer ledge, where they pressed their
backs against the wall and stared downward hopelessly.They were high up in the temple now, the equivalent of about three
floors in an ordinary building. There, a full thirty feet below, was a
stone court at the rear of the temple wall.The paving was cracked, but
as hard as ever--anything but a happy landing. Close to the wall was the circular rim of a stone well, but it was built
up only a few feet from the courtyard.Not a slit, not an opening showed
in the wall itself, as the boys studied it cautiously, except for a few
irregular cracks that would afford no hold whatever.If they had arrived here sooner, they could have planned some way to
lower themselves to the courtyard, but that was too late for Biff and
his companions now.Already, high-pitched cries of glee were sounding from within the very
walls of the crumbling temple that the thugs had turned into a trap
baited with their idol, Kali.VIII
"Move along, Biff--just a little--"
Chandra, crouched on the ledge, was holding a chunk of stone in his
extended hand as he pressed Biff slightly to one side.Chandra dropped
the stone, and Biff watched it plummet downward into the courtyard well,
where it struck with a splash that sent ripples spreading like a bull's
eye. "Now watch me," said Chandra.He tossed his pack down into the courtyard
and stood straight up at the exact spot where he had crouched. "My feet
are here, by this mark.I step off to there"--he extended his arm
again--"and bring hands at sides, feet together...."
Chandra finished by doing just that. He stepped out into space, hands at
sides, brought his other foot forward and arrowed straight downward!Biff and Kamuka watched amazed, expecting a crash landing. Instead,
Chandra followed the exact path of the stone that he had dropped.The
circular well seemed to spread its opening wide to receive him as he hit
the water with a sharp _plunk_ and vanished.Then, after what seemed interminable seconds, Chandra popped up from the
surface, reached his arms wide and pulled himself out of the well, which
Biff was pleased to see was larger in diameter than it looked.That,
Biff realized, was the real mental hazard. "Either look straight ahead, Kamuka," he told his friend, tossing his
pack-kit and his Sikh turban down into the court, "or just shut your
eyes the way I am going to do.Anyway, stand right on Chandra's
mark"--Biff took that position as he spoke--"step off, bring your feet
together--"
With that, Biff, too, dropped. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
Never before had he known a split second
to divide itself into as many moments as those.All the way down, he was
wondering if his step had been too long or too short, or whether he had
let his body waver.Thirty feet seemed like thirty years, until Biff
punched the water squarely and went deep, deep, deep, then came upward
faster, faster, and hauled himself out the way Chandra had.Before Chandra could extend congratulations to Biff, another pack-kit
hit the paving beside them. Kamuka was ready to take off, and for the
first time, Chandra expressed the worry that he really felt. "Climb up quick, Biff! "he said, from his side of the well. "If Kamuka
misses--if he wiggles--we must keep him from hitting stones too hard!" Biff came up on the opposite side, ready to help break Kamuka's fall,
but it proved unnecessary.A lithe brown form streaked feet first
between the ready hands that Biff and Chandra extended and was gone as
the water sprayed up from the well. [Illustration: _Chandra popped up from the surface and reached his arms
wide_]
"Gone! "exclaimed Chandra. "Like Jinnah Jad says when I do basket trick. Now watch me bring him back!" He waved his hands above the well, and Kamuka bobbed up grinning. Chandra and Biff grabbed his arms and hauled him out, anxious to get
started on their way.Picking up their luggage, they cut off to a far
corner of the courtyard where steps led down into another jungle path.Minutes later, they were lost beneath a lattice of spreading green,
descending a slope that was leading them away from danger instead of
into it. Chandra began to chuckle happily and finally exploded into
mirth. "They will never guess where we have gone," the Indian boy said
gleefully. "They will wait, those followers of Kali, thinking that we
will come creeping back like the monkeys and the cobras.They will look
for us and will think that we are hiding, waiting, somewhere in the
ancient temple." "Maybe," put in Kamuka, "they will look where we jumped." "What then?" rejoined Chandra. "They will find nothing.Everything will
be dry around the well by that time." "I'll say it will," agreed Biff. "Our clothes are dry already. You
certainly found the quick way out, Chandra." "Like I did from the porthole in your cabin," reminded Chandra. "You
said it was a good trick, so I showed you." "But where did you learn it?" "From my great-great-great-grandfather, up near Delhi. He still dropped
into an eighty-foot well when he was eighty years old. "Biff had heard of the famous well jumpers, who for centuries had
performed their amazing feat of dropping straight down an eighty-foot
shaft that was only eight feet wide.That dated back to when the Great
Moguls had ruled India and the skill had been handed down from father to
son for generations until the British government had forbidden it as too
dangerous. "But I thought they stopped well jumping--"
Biff caught himself, afraid that he would offend Chandra, but the Indian
boy took it in good humor. "You mean like they stop thugee?" laughed Chandra. "They tried, but
thugs go underground so we still go under water. The big
difference"--Chandra turned serious now--"was that thugs hurt other
people and _should_ be stopped, but well jumpers hurt nobody but
themselves and even then, not very often. ""I guess not," agreed Biff, "or your great-great-grandfather wouldn't
have been in the game at eighty." "My great-great-great-grandfather." "My mistake," said Biff. "So your people still kept on jumping down
wells? ""No, we obey the law," returned Chandra. "We stop. But we practice in
open pools, just like other people dive. Sometimes at night, we take
full moon as target. We drop a stone from a high riverbank, where the
moon shows in the water.Then we step off like we three just did." "It's lucky you showed us how, Chandra," Biff said. "We never would have
tried it on our own. Would we, Kamuka?" Kamuka shook his head emphatically. "I should say not!" he responded.Fortunately, Biff, who was a good diver, had often stepped off
springboards or diving platforms as a stunt. Kamuka, too, had used the
same technique from the edge of high piers on the Amazon, when boats
were moored too close to allow a normal dive.So they had been ready and
able to copy Chandra's well jump without hesitation, when the time had
called for instant action.A few hours of steady plodding along the gradually descending path
brought the boys to a level clearing studded with the remains of a
long-abandoned town.Piles of ancient bricks represented the walls of
houses, though enough were still standing to mark the lines of streets
and market squares. A slightly higher clearing showed a row of
sculptured stone pillars, remains of an ancient temple.From another
such space loomed the ruins of what must have been a maharajah's palace,
for its walls gleamed like alabaster in the sunlight. "I have heard of this place," nodded Chandra. "They have been making
excavations here.Down a road we will come to a waterfall, then we will
go past big quarries, then finally we will reach the Grand Trunk Road." Though the boys were practically sure that they had outdistanced any
pursuit, they still were taking no chances.They found the road that
Chandra mentioned, and though it was scarcely more than wheel ruts, the
hiking was good along it. After a few miles they came to the waterfall,
which tumbled from a rocky ledge amid the massed green foliage, forty
feet above.Its sheer descent ended in a rock-rimmed pool, which brought
a whimsical comment from Kamuka. "Looks like the waterfall is trying a well jump itself. Maybe we should
go up and drop down with it, no?" "No," agreed Biff. "But that pool looks deep enough for a good swim. What's stopping us?" Nothing was stopping them. By now, they were drenched with perspiration
after their steady hike, so a swim was in order.Soon they were
cavorting in the cool water, which was even deeper than they had
thought, and swimming close enough to the foot of the falls to catch its
spray, yet avoiding the pounding mass of falling water.As Biff climbed out, Chandra called to him from the pool:
"Maybe you go back to your American clothes, hey? Nobody we meet will
guess who you are. You'll find them in my pack. "That was the best idea yet, for Biff was tired of his Sikh costume,
particularly the bothersome turban. While Chandra and Kamuka were
finishing their swim, Biff dressed in his own clothes.Then he strolled
over to look at an ancient stone platform that someone had uncovered
from the jungle roots.The floor of burnt-clay bricks was set with colorful tiles that formed a
broken pattern and from the six-sided shape of the platform, Biff
decided it must have been a summerhouse frequented by the maharajah's
courtiers.Some of the broken tiles had been stacked at the edge of the
platform, and Biff picked them up to examine them. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
They looked like some form of terra cotta, though they showed no traces
of a glaze.Biff was stooping to replace them, when he heard a hiss
behind him. Instantly, Biff wheeled about and instinctively voiced a
sharp, warning cry, even before he saw the thing that he knew would be
there.Swelling up from the rubble was a scaly, bulbous neck, with odd,
heart-shaped markings that gave it the look of a face with leering eyes
and grinning lips.But the creature's own small head and beady eyes were
above that puffed-out neck that came rising higher, as token of its
deadly rage. The hissing menace was a cobra, one of the most venomous snakes in
India.Rearing to a height of nearly two feet, the cobra was within
striking distance of Biff's leg, and poised, ready to deliver death from
its dreaded fangs!IX
The Man in the Jeep
Biff had given his quick cry as a warning to the other boys, though he
was the one who needed help.Fortunately, it worked both ways, for
Chandra, who had come from the pool and was putting on his clothes,
turned quickly in Biff's direction when he heard that sharp call. Chandra didn't have to see the cobra to know that it was there.Often
before, he had seen and heard people react the way Biff had. In
response, Chandra automatically voiced a warning of his own:
"Don't move, Biff! Stay right where you are!" That was about all that Biff could do.His quick spin had brought him
back against the stack of old bricks and tile. He would trip over them,
if he tried to retreat farther. The cobra's mood was in a sense defensive, which made it all the more
dangerous.Biff had disturbed the snake; that was why it had risen to
action. Now it was waiting for some further motion to guide its deadly
stroke. The chance fall of a loose tile, the passing shadow of a bird in
flight might be enough.Unless something could completely divert the
snake, Biff's chances of getting clear seemed almost nil. Grimly, Biff wished that their equipment included a shotgun, but the
boys had no firearms among them.Chandra was approaching, but all he
held was a little stick no longer than an ordinary ruler. Biff heard him
say to Kamuka:
"Get tree branch--with lots of leaves--have it ready when I reach for
it." Biff groaned inwardly.A tree branch to fight off a cobra! Then Chandra
had placed the stick to his lips and was piping a tune. The stick was a
little flute! Edging Biff's way, Chandra crouched until his shoulders were level with
Biff's waist.Facing the cobra, Chandra swayed slowly back and forth. As
if captivated by the tune, the cobra's hood began to bob in the same
rhythm! Never, at the end of a swing, did Chandra give the cobra time to strike.Playing the flute with one hand, Chandra reached over his far shoulder
with the other and gripped a leafy tree branch that Kamuka gave him. Still swaying, Chandra carried the snake's attention more and more
toward the extended branch.Deftly, Chandra thrust the branch forward and downward. The cobra struck
with all its deadly purpose, but its fangs met twigs and leaves, nothing
more.Chandra had dropped the branch and flung himself in the opposite
direction, jolting Biff away from danger in case the cobra turned and
tried to strike anew.Kamuka, by then, was peppering the snake with stones that he had
gathered while bringing the tree branch. Under that barrage, the cobra
hastily sought refuge in the rubble, where Biff, after his close shave
with death, was very glad to see it go."Whew!" he said, wiping
perspiration from his forehead. "Thanks, fellows! You're good men to
know! How did you learn to charm snakes, Chandra?" he asked. "Did Jinnah
Jad teach you that, too?" "In a way, yes," Chandra acknowledged. "Jinnah Jad and I watched snake
charmers often. He told me how they do their tricks." The boys gathered their packs and resumed their hike along the rutted
road. "But how can music make snakes dance?" Kamuka asked abruptly. "In
Brazil, our snakes hear nothing except a big loud noise, when somebody
shoots a gun or whacks water with a paddle." "In that case," said Biff, "it's probably more a matter of the snake
sensing a vibration than any keen hearing.Maybe that's why the flute
music sways them." He turned to Chandra. "Or is it?" Chandra grinned. "Flute music makes me sway," he said, "so it makes the
cobra sway." "Because it watches you," Biff said, "not because it hears the music?So
actually, you don't need the flute, do you?" "But I do need it," insisted Chandra seriously. "Without it, I move too
slow or too fast." He swung his head lazily, then bobbed it in jerky
fashion. "But with music, I sway just right. "He brought out the flute and began to play it, giving his head and
shoulders the easy, rhythmic weave that they had followed before. "You've convinced us, Chandra, so put it away," Biff said. With
pretended anxiety, he looked back over his shoulder. "Next thing, you'll
have a pack of cobras following us!" More such banter spiced the hike until they reached the quarries, where
Biff called a halt because he wanted to study them.They were sandstone
quarries, dating back many centuries, and they were still being worked,
which interested Biff immensely. The road was much better from then on,
because it had to be kept in shape for the trucks that hauled the stone.The boys passed a few of those trucks as they continued on their way. It was afternoon when they reached the Grand Trunk Road, which lived up
to expectations.The hiking was pleasant and easy, for there were many
shade trees planted along the famous highway, some so tall that they
arched across the road.The boys saw elephants and camels, but ox-carts
were more common and seemed to be a highly popular mode of travel.There were cars, too, and an occasional bus, but these modern vehicles
were badly handicapped by flocks of sheep that were in no hurry to get
off the road. There were throngs of pilgrims also, who added to the
traffic tangle.Most exasperating of all were the cows, which were held
in such high esteem that there was no rushing them at all. They just
took their own sweet time and let motorists chafe.Biff and his companions were specially aware of this when they overtook
the same jeep no less than three times. It was driven by a man who wore
a blue beret, a pair of sunglasses, and a white shirt with short
sleeves.He first went whizzing by the boys as though he intended to
burn up the road for miles ahead, but they soon caught up with him,
following patiently behind an assortment of pilgrims, ox-carts, and
sheep.On foot, the boys could work their way through that medley, but
the jeep couldn't. Again, after the jeep had passed them, they came upon it parked beside a
tea stand.The boys themselves stopped later at a village inn, for by
this time they were ravenously hungry. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
"You may be right, Chandra," Biff agreed.They had reached the actual village now, a mass of closely built huts
with mud walls and tiled roofs, surrounded by yapping, nondescript dogs.It was almost sundown, and from this central point, the fields and trees
looked dark and gaunt against the spreading purple of the sky.Now
people, mostly in native costumes, were flocking out, first in alarm,
then in a wild welcome when they recognized Chandra.Biff and Kamuka were included in the villagers' enthusiasm, and then
Chandra's uncle, the _patwari_, was greeting them and introducing them,
in turn, to the _patel_, or head man of the village.The boys were
supplied with cups of rich, delicious milk, and later they were taken to
a modern building that served as school and community house, a symbol of
the new India. There, they feasted on tasty curry and rice, followed by fruits and
cakes.Chandra, meanwhile, kept up a running chatter with his uncle and
other villagers, mixing English with Hindi and the local native dialect. From the tone of the talk, Biff and Kamuka gathered that something quite
serious was afoot.Chandra finally supplied the details. "You will meet Barma Shah very soon," Chandra told Biff, "because my
uncle tells me that the head shikari at Keewal has asked the village
people to help trap a tiger tomorrow night. ""Aren't tigers usually hunted in the daytime?" "Not this kind," declared Chandra. "This tiger is a cattle stealer, and
lately he has prowled near the village, killing people after dark.That
is why there was so much excitement when we arrived close to nightfall." As they left the community house, Biff heard the incessant barking of
the dogs on the fringe of the town. Watchmen with big spears were on
patrol.Many lanterns were aglow, showing that the village was tense and
alert. Wisps of grayish smoke coiled from the chimneys and wavered, like
fading ghosts, against the vast blackness of the starlit sky.But when they entered the snug hut which Chandra smilingly termed their
_daulat-khana_, or "palace," Biff felt that the outside world was far
away.His bed was a simple _charpoy_--tapes strung to its frame instead
of springs or mattress--but Biff was so tired that nothing could have
been more comfortable.The calls of the patrolling watchmen, the distant
barking of the dogs, simply lulled him off to solid sleep. It was nearly noon when Biff awoke.He and Kamuka followed Chandra
around the village, where they saw weavers, shoemakers, carpenters, and
blacksmiths at work. Chandra explained that they were paid off in crops
raised by the farmers who made up most of the community.But today, the
carpenters and metal workers were combining their efforts in
constructing huge wooden frames that were set with heavy bars of iron. "Why, that looks like a big portable cage!" Biff exclaimed.Chandra's uncle, the patwari, was standing by. He smiled and responded,
"It is exactly that. Tonight, we use it to trap the killer tiger." "You mean he may walk right into it?" "No, no!" The patwari shook his head. "The bars are to keep the tiger
out, so the living bait will be safe inside the cage." "But don't you just stake out some animal?" asked Biff. "So the tiger
will think it is loose? ""Usually we do that with a pig or buffalo," replied Chandra's uncle,
"but this tiger has tasted human blood. So tonight we will try human
bait. That is the purpose of the cage." "And the bait," put in Chandra proudly, "will be Kamuka and myself.We
are going in with Thakur, the head watchman and chief hunter of the
village." "We are sorry to leave you out, Biff," added Kamuka in explanation. "You
were still asleep when they asked us, and it was only after we said,
'Yes,' that we found they only had room for two." Biff thought at first that his friends were joking, but it turned out
they were quite in earnest.The cage had been specially designed for
Thakur and two lookouts, preferably boys. But the village youths had
become so tiger-conscious that they were seeing jungle cats every time a
leaf stirred in the underbrush.So Chandra and Kamuka had been recruited
for the job instead. Biff put on a show of disappointment, if only to impress Chandra's uncle
and the other villagers. "Maybe Barma Shah, the man with the jeep, will want me to help him,"
Biff said. "I'll ask him when I see him." Late in the afternoon, the barred frames were ready, and they were
hauled by ox-cart to a _shola_, or patch of jungle not far from the
town.That was where the tiger had attacked and slain its victims, so
the villagers had shunned the place for the past few days.During that period, Matapar, the head Shikari from Keewal, had put up
platforms in surrounding trees, covering the open area where the tiger
liked to prowl. By now, he hoped the tiger would be used to it, but the
cage idea did not appeal to Matapar.That had been thought up by Thakur,
the village huntsman. So Matapar and the other shikaris watched silently, almost glumly, while
Thakur and his helpers set up the cage close to a thicket that they
thought would be inviting to the tiger.They were fixing the frames
together with crude bolts when Barma Shah drove up in his jeep, wearing
his pulled-down beret and dark sun glasses. Biff walked over to meet him and as Barma Shah nodded a greeting, Biff
announced, "I am Biff Brewster. ""I was sure of that," rejoined Barma Shah, extending his hand in
greeting, "but because of your mission I thought it best to introduce
myself first and let you make the next move." "I'm doing that now," stated Biff. "Sir--what have you heard from my
father? Where is he?" Despite himself, Biff betrayed anxiety in his tone. Barma Shah noticed
it and put reassurance into his reply. "I haven't heard from him," he said, "but I know that he went to Kashmir
and that he has probably--gone on from there. His mission was there,
mine was in Calcutta." Barma Shah paused and glanced about to make sure that no one was close
enough to hear.Then he inquired:
"You have the ruby Diwan Chand gave you?" Biff fingered the bag beneath his shirt collar and nodded. "Right here,"
he said. "Good. Your father will be needing it. We can talk more of this
tomorrow. "Barma Shah was carrying a modern rifle with what appeared to be a large
telescopic sight mounted on top of the barrel. That reminded Biff of an
important request. "The other boys are going into the cage with Thakur," he stated. "Could
you post me on a platform or somewhere, sir?" Barma Shah paused a moment, then nodded. "I have the perfect job for
you. I need a driver for the jeep, which I am keeping in reserve with
two shikaris, in case anything goes wrong.By turning it over to you, I
can post myself on one of the platforms." By sundown, the scene was set. Thakur was in the cage, gripping a big
shotgun and flanked by Chandra and Kamuka, each armed with a spear.Barma Shah had picked himself a platform up in a tree. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
Matapar and other
shikaris were up on their platforms, all at ideal range.Biff was as far
off in the jeep as space would allow, down at the end of a long, smooth
gully that practically formed a roadway to the clearing. In the back
seat, two more shikaris sat ready with their rifles. But as dusk gathered, tension grew.The cage was the focal spot. If the
tiger approached too close, Thakur was to drive him back with quick
shots. Then Barma Shah, Matapar, and the rest would open fire with their
rifles, covering practically the entire clearing.Biff's job was to come
up with the jeep, only when needed--early, if anything went badly wrong;
later, if all went well. From the way things had been planned, they seemed likely to go well, but
that depended partly on the tiger.Usually, he picked his victims just
before dark, but this evening he was wary. Chandra and Kamuka gave
occasional calls, putting a frightened tremolo into their voices, hoping
to coax the striped terror into seeking them.But the darkness thickened
and then became almost total in the clearing, before the cunning cat
decided to strike. Then it happened, like the surge of an invisible fury.Sharp-eyed though
they were, neither Chandra nor Kamuka caught the slightest glimpse of
the five-hundred-pound tiger until its ten feet of furred lightning
landed squarely on the cage with the destructive force of a living
thunderbolt.The cage buckled, hurling the occupants on their backs. Thakur's shotgun spouted straight upward, missing the tiger entirely, as
the creature, somewhat jolted, recoiled to the ground in front.Thakur, coming to his knees, aimed at the spot where the tiger crouched,
but as he fired the second barrel, the furred fury made another high,
hard spring, clearing the path of aim.Again, the cage was jarred, and
now Thakur, desperate, grabbed a spear from Chandra and jabbed wildly
through the bars, blindly trying to drive off the snarling killer that
he could not see.Given time, Thakur might have made a telling thrust; but meanwhile, the
tiger threatened to maul the cage apart. The framework was splintering
under the fierce stroke of its claws. With each new spring, the iron
bars were loosened.Barma Shah and the others on the platforms could not
open fire with their rifles, for Thakur, so far, had failed to drive the
tiger back. In the darkness, their shots would be more likely to hit
Thakur or the boys.The clanging echoes carried far down the gully, where Biff was puzzled
by the lack of rifle fire, but not for long. Biff realized what must be
going on, when the clashing sounds continued; and so did the men in
back.Their grunts practically said, "Get going!" as did the clicks from
their rifles, when they released the safety catches. Biff got going, as he had been told to do in such an emergency.He
gunned the jeep into life, shot it straight up the gully, guiding by the
outline of the clearing against the starry sky.The speeding jeep
wallowed in the gully's slopes, then reached the open ground as Biff
clicked on the lights and jammed the brakes.The sudden glare outlined the whole front of the cage, showing the tiger
turning, snarling at the sound of the jeep's approaching roar. Briefly,
the tiger was blinded and helpless, giving the men in the jeep their
opportunity.They sprang out, dodged over toward the brush, and opened
fire. One shot grazed the tiger; another clipped him, as he bounded away
from the cage, spun in the air and sprawled beyond the light.The shikaris from the jeep started over to examine their prize, but
paused when warning shouts came from both the cage and the tree
platforms. Half-stunned, the tiger picked itself up, snarled at the two
shikaris as they dived away from the light.Then the tiger itself took
to the darkness on the other side, but not in flight. It had another purpose.It wanted to claw, to rip apart its real
tormentor, the thing with the blazing eyes that had interrupted the
tiger's efforts to reach its caged prey. That thing was the jeep. In the
darkness, the wounded tiger turned suddenly upon it.Biff raised a shout as he heard an approaching snarl. The jeep heaved
upward, sideward as the tiger's bulk hit it between hood and windshield.In the dim glow from the dashlight, Biff could see the monstrous,
clawing shape of the man-killer as it gathered itself for a final spring
upon the new prey it had so unexpectedly found.Through Biff's stunned mind ran the freakish notion that whatever luck
the Light of the Lama had brought him, the ruby's charm had lost its
power by now.XI
A Thief in the Night
In their half-wrecked cage, Chandra and Kamuka realized all too
thoroughly how the prospect of sure death had switched from them to
Biff.After their experience, his frantic shout told them everything. It
was pitch dark in back of the jeep's headlights. The marksmen in the
trees couldn't even guess the tiger's location, let alone stop it with a
chance shot.But it wasn't a chance shot that came.From one of the platforms, a
sharp beam of light cut a thin path through the blackness, turning a
brilliant spotlight on the open jaws and glittering eyes of the great
beast that was already mashing the jeep's windshield with its mammoth
paw.That sudden shaft of light was a bull's-eye in itself. Now, if a rifle
muzzle could only score an identical hit! As that hope sprang to the
boys who watched from the cage, it was answered in a realistic way. A
rifle crackled.The tiger's big head jolted back, and its snarl broke. Biff saw that happen as he looked up from behind the wheel. Now, the
tiny circle of light was focused just behind the tiger's ear. Again, the
rifle spoke.The tiger's whole body came forward, but not in a lunge. Instead, its quarter-ton of dead weight landed across the jeep's hood,
crushing it down upon the motor.Then the striped body rolled to the
ground, where the sharp beam picked it out again, probing it from head
to tail. No further shots were necessary.Biff came up shakily behind the wheel,
found that the jeep would still run, and backed it so the headlights
shone full on the tiger. The creature not only was motionless; its odd,
distorted pose proved that life had left it.Barma Shah came down from his platform, bringing the rifle with the
thing that looked like a telescopic sight above the barrel.Only it
wasn't a telescopic sight; it was a special flashlight powered by
multiple batteries and focused down to almost a needle-beam. "I knew I might need this," declared Barma Shah, "so I tested it last
night, at just the right range.The light is the rifle's sight." He
lifted the gun, pointed it up into the trees and picked out the top step
leading to the platform that he had just left. "Just spot your target,
pull the trigger, and that's it. ""That _was_ it," complimented Biff, "but it took a good cool hand and
steady nerves to do it." | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
Barma Shah's ragged features spread into a broad smile.He suggested
that instead of going back to the village, the boys accompany him to the
hunting lodge at Keewal.Biff accepted the invitation, but Chandra
wanted to return to Supari to give the villagers a first-hand account of
his harrowing experience in the cage.Naturally, he needed Kamuka to
support his testimony, so Barma Shah agreed to pick them up at Supari in
the morning. The Keewal hunting lodge impressed Biff immensely, as it was equipped
with all modern conveniences including air conditioning.It also had a
telephone, to which Barma Shah gestured, as soon as he and Biff were
alone. Then, with a broad, pleased smile, he declared:
"I talked with Calcutta by long distance this afternoon.You will be
glad to know that Diwan Chand and his gatekeeper, Nathu, came out all
right. Nobody was after them." Biff grinned, then became serious. "I know that," he said. "They were
after me--and this." Biff brought out the watertight container.From it, he took the chamois
bag, then the jewel case, finally, the huge, glowing ruby. He handed the
jewel to Barma Shah, who studied it as though he had seen it often.Then, as the stone's glint suddenly became more vivid, Biff added,
"Diwan Chand said its sparkle showed that the charm was working well. But you had a lot to do with that tonight." "Tonight, perhaps, yes. "Barma Shah returned the gem to Biff and shook
his head. "But the other day, if I had known you would run into that
trouble at Chand's, I would have gone there myself, instead." "But Mr. Chand said that you were marked." "True.But so were you, as it turned out." "Yes," agreed Biff, "but Chandra helped me out fast enough. Our real
trouble was with the thugs on the road." "Thugs? On the road? Tell me about that. "Biff detailed the incidents of the train trip, the detour by the old
abandoned temple, and their final arrival on the Grand Trunk Road. As he
concluded the account, Barma Shah shook his head again. "And to think that I let you go through all that," he said, "while I was
waiting for you on the Grand Trunk Road." "But how," queried Biff, "did you know that we were coming that way?" "From your father," explained Barma Shah. "He told me all about Chandra,
the boy who worked for Jinnah Jad. That is why I came here to Keewal, so
I would be near the village of Supari, where Chandra's uncle lives. Naturally, Chandra would bring you there. ""But how did we happen to come along just when you were here for a tiger
hunt and the villagers were so terribly excited over it? ""They are always tiger hunting here at Keewal," replied Barma Shah with
a smile, "and the people in Supari are easily excited. If Matapar cries,
'Tiger! Tiger! 'he knows that Thakur will bring out the villagers as
beaters by day and even as bait by night." "I never thought of that." "And I never realized that the thugs were so active again," commented
Barma Shah. "The way the Kali cult took over that old temple is
surprising indeed. I shall notify the local authorities and have them
investigate it. Perhaps it is more widespread than it appears. "The next day, Barma Shah and Biff drove over to the village and picked
up Chandra and Kamuka. They continued on their way, laughing over the
fact that of all the party, the one that had taken the worst beating
from the tiger hunt was the jeep.However, the staunch vehicle was in
good running order, and the boys began to enjoy their tour with Barma
Shah. A tour it actually became, for Barma Shah decided it should be that way.He even insisted that Chandra put on European clothes similar to what
Biff and Kamuka were wearing. So they stopped at the first important
town on the Grand Trunk Road and bought Chandra his new outfit.Chandra was amazed when he studied himself in a big mirror at the
clothing store. "This is better than any jadoo," decided Chandra. "If Jinnah Jad should
put me in the basket wearing my old clothes and bring me out in new,
like these, people would think I was a different boy." "You'd have to make jadoo yourself," returned Biff. "It would take real
magic for you to change clothes while you are curled around the inside
of that basket. "Chandra laughed at that, and then the laugh was turned on Biff when
Barma Shah picked out a woven straw hat with a rounded, dome-shaped
crown and broad, sharply down-turned brim. He placed it on Biff's head,
saying, "Try this on for size. "The hat was so big that it came clear
down over Biff's eyes, the brim hiding his face almost to the jawline. "Looks like Biff is trying the basket trick himself," observed Chandra
merrily. "Where did he go, Kamuka?" "I don't know," replied Kamuka. "Last I saw, he was climbing into a
basket that looked like a hat. Now he is vanished. Complete. "Biff whipped off the hat, somewhat red-faced and flustered, only to
enjoy a laugh himself when he saw Chandra and Kamuka peering over
counters and behind racks as though they were trying to find where he
had gone.Then Barma Shah was handing Biff some smaller hats of the same
style, and among them, Biff discovered one that was just his size. "Very good," approved Barma Shah. "That brim still comes low enough to
hide your hair rather well, and the sun visor helps too." The visor was of dark, transparent plastic set in the front of the hat
brim, and it added somewhat to the depth of Biff's tan.It proved
helpful, too, when Biff was driving the jeep, for Barma Shah decided to
travel along secondary highways that lacked the shade provided by the
Grand Trunk Road. Traffic, too, was less, but rough stretches of road slowed their trip.There were delays, too, at rivers where there were no bridges, only
ferries that looked like tiny floats or rafts, the sort that might tip
the jeep into the first current they encountered.But the rafts were
well balanced, and the natives were skillful with their poles and oars. Each crossing was made without incident.Barma Shah had brought sleeping bags and bedding so that they could stop
at _dak_ bungalows, or rest houses, along the way.To all appearances,
Barma Shah might have been a private tutor taking some privileged
scholars on an educational tour of the Indian byroads; and in fact, the
boys were learning a lot. Biff was especially impressed by the monkeys.He thought he had already
seen a lot of them in India, but now they were boldly jumping over the
jeep whenever it stopped and ready to snatch up whatever they saw and
wanted. Chandra said there were a hundred million monkeys in India.Biff
was ready to believe it when they stopped at a dak bungalow near Agra
and had to slam doors in the faces of the creatures to keep them from
coming in the bedrooms.That afternoon they drove into Agra to see the famed Taj Mahal on the
bank of the Jamuna River. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
One of the world's most beautiful buildings,
it impressed Biff as a dream brought to reality in living marble.Later,
they went to a telegraph office where Biff sent a wire to his mother,
which simply stated:
ALL WELL. STILL ON WAY. LOVE TO YOU AND TWINS. Barma Shah decided that the telegram told enough, yet not too much.He
smiled when Biff also showed him a postcard with a picture of the Taj
Mahal, which had the printed statement: _India's most priceless jewel,
for you to hold in memory_. Under that, Biff had written, "And I really
am holding it, bag and all. Biff. "He had addressed the card to Likake
Mahenili at Darjeeling. "Send it," decided Barma Shah. "Only your Hawaiian friend will know that
you mean the ruby rather than the Taj Mahal. "After dinner at a restaurant in Agra, they drove back to view the Taj by
moonlight, when its graceful marble dome and slender minarets were
softened into an incomparable silvery whiteness, a striking contrast to
its splendor by day.They were still talking about the Taj when they arrived back at the rest
house, where they reduced their tones to whispers rather than rouse the
monkeys, which apparently had gone to sleep in the trees.But when Biff
himself was dozing off, he heard occasional patter on the roof and
scratchy sounds outside his window, indicating that some of the
creatures were about.In his dreams, Biff could see monkeys swarming over everything, even the
Taj Mahal, until oddly, they seemed to be clambering over the cot
itself.Still half asleep, yet aware of where he was, Biff could feel
their breath on his face, their pesky hands clutching at the bag
containing the ruby. Then Biff's eyes came open. He made a convulsive grab with both hands.In the filtering moonlight from the window, he saw a face that was human
in size and form, yet leering like a monkey's. He caught hands that were
human, too, but long, thin-fingered, and as writhing in their touch as a
snake's coils.Swiftly, expertly, those hands had grabbed the pouch that contained the
great ruby and were twisting its chain around Biff's neck like a
strangle cord!XII
A Double Surprise
The struggle that followed was frantic but brief. It couldn't have
lasted long, for Biff was unable to wrench the attacker's hands from the
chain that they so cruelly twisted.It was already cutting off Biff's
breath and blood supply, so that his eyes were seeing black spots in the
moonlight. Biff shifted his grip to his attacker's throat, but it didn't help. If
anything, it made him twist the chain harder.Biff couldn't call for
help, though the walls of the bungalow were thin enough for even a
gargly cry to be heard. But there was a way to make people hear. As he lashed about, Biff managed to shove the cot away from the wall.Then, wrenching himself to a new position, he began kicking the wall
with his feet, pounding a terrific drum beat. There was a muffled,
excited cry from the next room, then answering shouts above the din that
Biff was raising.The whole dak bungalow was aroused. Right then, Biff was hoping to jab his attacker's neck nerves, judo
style, which would have turned the tables completely. But his squirmy
foe didn't wait. He managed to yank the ruby bag clear from its chain.Gripping his prize, he twisted away, turned, and bounded for the window. Biff beat him there, by rolling over on his hands and knees, then
blocking the fugitive with a headlong dive.The squirmy man turned and
darted toward the door, just as it burst open and Barma Shah came
driving in. He met the attacker and snatched for the bag, which came
open, spilling out the ruby. By then, Biff was piling into the fray.He
and Barma Shah both grabbed for the gleaming gem, while the squirmy man
took off empty-handed. It was Barma Shah who saved the ruby with one hand, while he held Biff
back with the other.Chandra and Kamuka were already taking up the chase
from their rooms, as were other guests. Coolly, Barma Shah told Biff:
"Leave it to them. We don't want people to know what the fellow was
after. Here is the ruby, so put it away again. "The advice was good, so Biff accepted it. For the moment, he wondered if
they'd really regained the ruby, for it looked as dull as a lump of
coal, there in Barma Shah's hand.But as Biff took it, all the gem's
luster returned and it scintillated in the moonlight with a vivid fire
that seemed to throw off living sparks. Satisfied, Biff put the ruby
back in its bag.The excitement roused hundreds of monkeys from their tree bunks, and
with all their jumping and chatter, no one was able to catch up with
Biff's attacker.The _khansama_ who kept the dak bungalow was all
apologies when an examination showed that Biff's window screen had been
loosened--by whom, no one knew. Barma Shah, as spokesman for the boys,
dismissed it as a trifling matter.But in the morning, Barma Shah went into Agra to talk to the police. He
returned in time for an early lunch which the khansama, who was cook as
well as innkeeper, had specially prepared.It consisted of _dalmoth_, or
fried lentils with thin shavings of lentil paste; and it was followed by
a dish of _petha_, a crystallized melon served in slices.When Barma Shah and the boys pulled away in the jeep, he had made no
further mention of the near-robbery of the night before. But as they
rode along the highway toward Delhi, Barma Shah discussed the matter
with the boys. "The police weren't impressed," Barma Shah declared. "They say there is
nothing to this talk of _thugee_ coming back in the form of a Kali cult. People are simply confusing them with roving bands of thieves, like the
old _pindaris_.Other countries have gangsters, why not India?" "But we saw the Kali statue--" Biff began. "I know. Well," declared Barma Shah, "whether that man last night was a
petty thief or a thug playing a lone hand to deceive us, we won't take
more chances. "Barma Shah's method was simple. They drove on to Delhi and pulled into
the old city after dark. There, Barma Shah let the boys off on a quiet
street and continued on alone in the jeep toward Simla.He had given
them an address where they could find him. Only a block from where they were dropped off, the boys came to a
rooming house that Barma Shah had mentioned.They stayed there overnight
and began planning their next step, which was to reach the American
Embassy without attracting special notice. "See what you can find out, Chandra," suggested Biff. "Say that you're a
student who would like to know about the United States. Remember, there
are a lot of American nations, so be sure to specify the United States. Maybe we can slide you in there to pave the way for me. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
"All this was in keeping with advice from Diwan Chand in Calcutta, which
Barma Shah in his turn had stressed even more; namely, that spies might
be watching every move that Biff made.Events along the line had
definitely underlined the need for caution.So Chandra, still wearing
his European clothes, set out on a hired bicycle, the most popular type
of transportation in India's capital city of New Delhi, which adjoined
the old Mogul capital of Delhi.A few hours later, Chandra rejoined the other boys in a colorful bazaar
where he had left them. "I have good news," he exclaimed. "Every week, students go by special
bus to meet and talk with ambassadors from other countries. ""That sounds like a United Nations proposition," commented Biff. "No, no," returned Chandra. "I checked that. They go to a different
country's embassy every week. So I look at the list, and what do you
think is next? United States! Tomorrow! ""Nice work," approved Biff. "That sounds like our ticket, all right." "It is our ticket, all right." Chandra grinned. "Three tickets for bus
tomorrow. I ask and I get them. So we go along with big crowd, and
nobody will guess who we are. "Since the students were all from Indian schools located in New Delhi and
elsewhere, Chandra and Kamuka decided to stay in their European clothes;
but Biff, somewhat to his annoyance, had to switch back to his Sikh
costume.Otherwise he would be spotted for an American and perhaps for
himself, Biff Brewster, if some keen observer happened to be looking for
him. "I suppose any Sikh students will be wearing their native garb, too,"
commented Biff, "like the railroad guards on the train. So don't let
them spot me for a phony the way that man with the fake beard did on the
Howrah bus. ""Funny thing," said Chandra, "I keep thinking about him every now and
then, I don't know just why. But don't worry. Kamuka and I will talk to
people so they won't bother you. "The bus tickets were simply cards that said _Student_ in English and its
equivalent in Hindi characters. They were accepted without question, and
the boys took seats well back in the bus, which was nearly full when it
started.All was fine until they stopped at a building where Biff looked
up and saw a flag with three vertical stripes--red, white, and green. "You've made a mistake, Chandra," Biff groaned. "This can't be the
American Embassy.That's not the United States flag." "It must be," argued Chandra. "Lots of countries change their flags. Maybe your country changes its flag, too." "No, we don't change the United States flag. "From the bus window, Biff saw the flag flutter slightly, and now he
noticed the emblem of an eagle on the white stripe. "That's the Mexican flag," exclaimed Biff. As a sudden thought struck
him, he asked, "Just what did that list say, Chandra? ""It said students would pay visit to the embassy of the United States
of--of--"
"The United States of Mexico!" "Yes, that was it." "It's my fault, Chandra," conceded Biff. "I forgot that Mexico is
officially known as the United States of Mexico.I should have told you
the United States of America. Then you'd have checked on the American
Embassy." He turned to Kamuka. "Dumb of me, wasn't it?" "Maybe I was dumb, too," returned Kamuka. "If I had told Chandra to look
for United States of Brazil, he would have brought us to the Brazilian
Embassy. I could tell our story there." "You're right, Kamuka," acknowledged Biff. "We had two chances out of
three and we missed.Well, we can't sit here. We will have to follow the
crowd." Follow the crowd they did.As the last three off the bus, Biff
and his companions tagged on into the Mexican Embassy and slid into a
rear corner of the reception room where the students were seated.Members of the Mexican diplomatic corps proceeded to hold open forum
with the students of New India, exchanging views on their respective
countries.After an hour's session was completed, the students started
out, shaking hands with the Embassy staff as they went. Again, Biff and his companions held back.They were able to ease along
behind the students, who were so interested in exchanging their own
views that they did not notice the dragging trio. Biff particularly, was
glad to avoid the handshakes.The diplomats showed interest in a few
genuine Sikh students, and Biff was afraid he would be asked
embarrassing questions. There was just one greeter they could not avoid.Outside the reception
room, a Mexican youth of about Biff's age had come up to shake hands
with the students and was chatting briefly with them. Fortunately, his
back was partly turned, so Biff saw a way to avoid him. "You shake hands with him first, Kamuka," Biff whispered, "but keep
moving or he may guess that you are a Brazilian.You crowd in fast,
Chandra, and keep him talking while I slide by--"
They had reached the youth by then, and Kamuka's handshake was over too
quickly.Chandra, caught off stride, could not think what to say, so the
young Mexican politely bowed him on with a brief shake; then turned with
perfect poise to meet the last departing visitor, Biff.The Mexican's expression was momentarily quizzical as he studied the
face beneath the Sikh turban. Chandra and Kamuka, glancing back, were
sure Biff was getting by with his disguise when, to their horror, Biff
himself gave the game away.As though suddenly gone crazy, Biff flung
away his turban, sprang forward, grabbed the Mexican boy's shoulders,
and began shaking the poise right out of him. The surprised youth gasped and grabbed at Biff as if in self-defense.Chandra and Kamuka turned to ward off any students who might come back
to mix in the fray, only to see that they were all alone. That was when
they heard Biff shout:
"Mike Arista! "Then Chandra and Kamuka realized that it wasn't a fight at all, but just
a genuine, heartfelt form of mutual recognition, as the Mexican boy
exclaimed:
"Biff Brewster! "XIII
Biff's Mission
The excitement of the meeting over, Biff realized that introductions
were in order. He turned to Chandra and Kamuka. "This is Miguel Arista--Mike to us," Biff said. "He and I met in Mexico,
where we went hunting for a lost Aztec treasure. We had some tough
adventures together." Biff turned to Mike. "This is Kamuka," Biff continued. "I told you once about the trip that I
took up the Amazon with him.And this is Chandra, the newest member of
the team. He steered us through a lot of trouble from Calcutta to New
Delhi." "And I am glad he did," returned Mike. "We've been watching for you
everywhere, that is, for you and Kamuka, Biff.We hadn't heard about
Chandra. We alerted the American and Brazilian Embassies in case you
turned up there. So, of all things, you walked into the Mexican Embassy,
the last place we expected to see you. How did that happen? ""That," replied Biff with a smile, "was Chandra's idea." "It looks like I picked the right United States," put in Chandra. He
turned to Biff and Kamuka. "You had chance number one and two. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
That gave
me chance number three. I hit it right. ""You sure did," Biff agreed. He turned to Mike. "But how do you come to
be in India? How do you know about all this?" "You remember my uncle, the judge in Mexico City?" "Of course. ""I came here with him on a visit, and we happened to meet your father. My uncle can tell you about it, better than I can." Mike paused a
moment, then asked: "Do you have the ruby? "For answer, Biff looked around and saw that he and his friends were
alone. Then he brought out the priceless packet, opened it, and
displayed the Light of the Lama. It took Mike's breath away.Never
before, perhaps, had the rare gem flashed more vividly, more
dramatically, than at that moment. That was all Mike needed to see. "Put it away," he said. "We'll go over to my uncle's hotel and talk to
him. "Mike arranged for a cab, and they went to the hotel. There they met
Judge Felix Arista, a quiet man with a white beard and flowing hair that
gave him a very austere expression.But the kindly welcome that he gave
to Biff put Chandra and Kamuka completely at their ease. Then Judge Arista went further. He spoke to Kamuka in Portuguese, then
to Chandra in Hindi, so fluently that both boys were quite overwhelmed.Judge Arista also assured Biff that all was well with his father, the
last they had heard from him.Next, Judge Arista introduced a
middle-aged man of military bearing named Colonel Gorak, who evidently
held some key position with the government of India. Both were keenly
interested in the ruby when Biff produced it.Then Judge Arista turned
to the boys and said, "Tell us all that has happened. "Though Biff was eager to hear more about his father, he realized that
Judge Arista was following proper procedure--learning the facts so that
he and Colonel Gorak could weigh them.Biff related the events from the
time the _Northern Star_ had docked in Calcutta. Judge Arista encouraged
Kamuka and Chandra to add their impressions. Chandra, especially, came
in for questioning regarding Jinnah Jad, Diwan Chand, and Barma Shah.All three boys had much to say about Barma Shah and their adventures
with him, including how he had saved Biff's life during the tiger hunt
and had later responded to Biff's call when a thug had tried to steal
the ruby at the dak bungalow.Judge Arista finally turned to Colonel
Gorak and said:
"I am sure that we can trust these other boys as well as Biff. So I
think they should all hear what you have to tell him about Senor
Brewster. "Colonel Gorak bowed acknowledgment, then spoke to Biff in an even,
methodical tone. "Your father came here to India to open some old gold mines," related
Colonel Gorak. "We were hopeful that investors would supply money to
work them.Among these mines were some that once belonged to the Rajah
of Bildapore, a small domain that was absorbed by a larger princely
state, though the Rajah's family still owned the mines until the Indian
government finally acquired them. "When miners went down into the old shafts, they met with inexplicable
accidents. They claimed that the mines were haunted by ghosts and
demons, but we blamed it on outside factions.However, Mr. Brewster
found there was some basis for the superstition, as it was part of a
legend dating back five hundred years." As Colonel Gorak paused, Kamuka exclaimed despite himself, "Five hundred
years! That is a long, long time! ""Not in India," put in Chandra promptly. "Here it is very short." "Quite true," agreed Colonel Gorak seriously. "Five hundred years ago,
the ruling Rajah of Bildapore received a magnificent ruby from the Grand
Lama of Chonsi, a lost city near the border of India and Tibet.The
saying was, 'While the Light of the Lama shines, so will the Star of the
Rajah'--and that proved true, for the mines showed steady profits and
were finally sold at a good price. "Part of those profits were invested in gems which the Rajah's family
promised to give to the Chonsi Lama in return for the luck the ruby had
brought them.That was to be done if ever the Rajah's descendants
disposed of their holdings, which they finally did. But Mr. Brewster
learned that the gems had been hidden by loyal servants of the Rajah's
family, because outsiders were seeking them. "As Colonel Gorak paused, Biff asked, "By outsiders, do you mean the Kali
cult, sir?" "For one, yes. For another, there is an international spy ring, run by
an adventurer named Bela Kron.We know little about him, except that he
will sell out to the highest bidder. Fortunately, Mr. Brewster located
the gems and brought them here to New Delhi." "And as I was here," added Judge Arista, "he came to see me first.I
realized that this was an international matter, so I pressed it through
proper channels, and Colonel Gorak was assigned to the case. He has done
admirably with it." Colonel Gorak shook his head to that. "The real credit goes to Mr. Brewster," he insisted. "His story was
fantastic, but he had the gems to prove it and Judge Arista to vouch for
him. So we had him go to Ladakh in Eastern Kashmir, where he contacted
secret messengers from the Grand Lama.They took him to Chonsi where he
delivered the jewels with the compliments of our government. There was
just one problem. The Light of the Lama was not among the gems. "With that, Colonel Gorak gestured to the huge ruby that was glowing in
the sunlight as though its ruddy fire held all the secrets of the past
centuries. Never had its sparkle been more vivid.No one could wonder
why this was the most prized gem of all. "We should have thought of that beforehand," declared Judge Arista. "But
we had not then seen the Light of the Lama." He studied the gem again,
then turned to Colonel Gorak. "I can understand why the Chonsi Lama
wants it," he said. Colonel Gorak nodded. "So can I!" he agreed. "Then the Lama is keeping my father in Chonsi?" asked Biff anxiously. "Until he gets the ruby--like a ransom?" "Not exactly," replied Colonel Gorak. "Your father is still in Chonsi,
yes--"
"Because they won't let him go?" "No, no." It was Judge Arista who replied to Biff's anxious question. "I
am sure that he could leave at any time, but his mission would not have
been completed. ""He wants to deliver the ruby, too," explained Colonel Gorak, "and he
was sure that Barma Shah would be able to locate it, because they had
been working on it together, your father and Barma Shah." That calmed Biff immediately.His mind flashed back to the tiger hunt,
when Barma Shah had delivered that perfect shot while the shikaris were
wondering what to do. Then he thought of the dak bungalow and the way
Barma Shah had rescued him there.Chandra must have realized what was in
Biff's mind. "It is all right, Biff," Chandra said encouragingly. "Your father and
Barma Shah--they are a team." Biff brightened as he turned to Judge Arista. "You mean that I'm to go with Barma Shah? "the boy asked. "That he will
be there, too, when we deliver the ruby?" "Exactly that," acknowledged Judge Arista. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
"We are counting on both of
you.Your father said that he had arranged for you to receive the ruby
and that Barma Shah would do the rest." "I have arranged for our trip to Chonsi," added Colonel Gorak. "We can
notify Barma Shah to meet us in Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir.From
there, we will fly to Leh, the capital of Ladakh, where our equipment
has been ordered and is waiting for us." Two thoughts swam through Biff's mind.In flying anywhere, he would like
to be in a plane piloted by his uncle, Charles Keene, who--to Biff's
thinking--was the greatest pilot ever. Next to his father, Uncle Charlie
was the man he would most like to see right now.The other thought
was--what was happening in Darjeeling? He felt concerned about his
mother and the twins. And he was worried about Li, who by now probably
was worried about him. "Su Tio Carlos," said Judge Arista, as though he had read Biff's mind. "Your Uncle Charles. We reached him in Burma and asked him to fly from
there to Darjeeling, so he would be ready to take off for Leh, to join
your party there. He is in Darjeeling now. "With that, Judge Arista picked up the telephone and handed it to Biff,
adding with a kindly smile, "We have put in a long distance call to your
family in Darjeeling. You can talk to them right now. "XIV
The Valley of Doom
Biff was right about Li being worried. From the time he had arrived in
Darjeeling, after a ride in from the airport at Bagdogra, Li's worries
had begun and stayed with him.He was wondering constantly how much he
could tell the Brewsters if they asked him point-blank about Biff. Biff's mother, Martha Brewster, had met Likake Mahenili in Hawaii at the
time Biff and Li had gone on their thrilling sea hunt together.The
Brewster twins, eleven-year-old Ted and Monica, had met Li, too, and
they were bubbling with delight at seeing him again.Of course, they wanted to see their big brother, too, so they peppered
Li with so many rapid-fire questions about Biff that Li hadn't time to
answer any of them, which turned out for the best.In a slightly
reproving tone, Mrs. Brewster had suggested that the twins give their
guest a chance to speak for himself.Thanks to that breather, as Biff would have termed it, Li was able to
state simply that Biff and Kamuka had gone directly to New Delhi in
response to a message from Mr. Brewster. "We heard from New Delhi, too," Mrs. Brewster said."Mr. Brewster's
company wired that he would be delayed and that Biff was being notified
what to do." "I'll bet Dad has taken Biff to see some super-special gold mines!" exclaimed Ted. "I wish he'd asked me along. ""That must be it," added Monica, "because Kamuka has been studying
mining in Brazil. I'd like to have gone, too. ""It's nice to hear you two agree on something," was Mrs. Brewster's
smiling comment, "but please notice that Likake isn't sulking because he
wasn't taken on the trip. That's the way a real grownup would act. "Li didn't mention that Biff had also received a wire from the Ajax
Mining Company. He merely said that he was sure they would hear from
Biff as soon as he reached New Delhi. As the days passed, the twins had
a wonderful time with Li.Among other things, they went on a picnic to
Tiger Hill, where they viewed Mt. Everest, the world's highest peak,
which towered more than 29,000 feet.To Li, it was no more impressive than the 28,000-foot summit of
Kanchenjunga, which could be seen from Darjeeling.But he reserved
opinion on that and almost everything else, rather than start the twins
speculating on what their brother Biff might think about it. The next
step then would be--why hadn't they heard from Biff, a question Li
couldn't answer.Li was relieved when Biff's wire came from Agra, because he honestly
didn't know why Biff had stopped there.But Li knew nothing yet of the
postcard, which was still on its way when Mrs. Brewster's brother,
Charles Keene, flew in from Burma and stated that he had been summoned
to Darjeeling by an official call from New Delhi.With Charles Keene in the twin-engine Cessna was a burly, red-haired
mechanic known as Muscles, who hailed from the State of Kentucky and was
proud of it.The plane also brought a Burmese boy named Chuba, who had
guided Biff across the border into China, to rescue Biff's uncle when he
had been a prisoner there. Biff had detailed those adventures to Li, who
already regarded Chuba as an old friend.So after a brief but hearty get-acquainted session, Li decided to
confide in Chuba. They had taken a stroll to look at Kanchenjunga, which
Li stated was the third highest mountain in the world.When Chuba asked
what two were bigger, Li told him: Everest and K 2--known as Mt. Godwin-Austen--which was far north in Kashmir. Chuba shrugged at that. "To me, Minya Konka looks bigger," he asserted. "That's the mountain
Biff and I saw in China.Perhaps that is because we got a look at it
from lower down." "Kamuka would say that about the Andes," laughed Li. "To him, they would
look bigger." Seriously, he added, "That was while you were hunting for
Biff's Uncle Charlie?" Chuba nodded. "We may have to start a search for Biff's father," continued Li. "Biff
only heard from him indirectly." Noting Chuba's keen interest, Li told him all that had happened in
Calcutta.He also mentioned his worry about whether or not he should
inform Biff's family as to those facts, or wait until he received direct
word from Biff. Chuba promptly solved that problem. "You have trouble," Chuba told Li, "and Sahib Keene is trouble-shooter. If you don't hear from Biff by tomorrow, I'll talk to Sahib Keene. Then
he will talk to you. "They didn't have to talk with Charles Keene the next day, for they
talked to Biff himself instead. That was when the long distance call
came from Judge Arista in New Delhi. Biff talked to his mother first,
explaining the situation briefly.Then Judge Arista came on the wire,
assuring Mrs. Brewster that all was probably well with her husband. At the same time, Judge Arista stated that the trip to Chonsi was not
only urgent but dangerous.Colonel Gorak confirmed that when he spoke
both to Biff's mother and his Uncle Charlie.But all agreed that the
mission was imperative, and since it was necessary for Biff to accompany
the party, the other boys should have their choice in the matter, too. Their choice was unanimous. They all said they would go.Li and Chuba
talked to Biff and told him that. Then Biff introduced Kamuka and
Chandra to Chuba; and finally, he had Mike Arista on the line, having
him meet both Li and Chuba. It was Uncle Charlie who ended that round
robin. "Let me get my instructions," he insisted, taking the telephone from the
boys at his end, "before the Indian government has to dig another gold
mine to pay for this long distance call. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
"Uncle Charlie not only took instructions; he was filled in on all the
details of the Rajah's ruby, otherwise known as the Light of the Lama,
as well as Biff's adventures since leaving Calcutta.Uncle Charlie went
into all that for the benefit of the breathless listeners, who included
his nephew Ted and his niece Monica. Then:
"We're taking off today," Charles Keene stated, "by way of Katmandu, the
capital of Nepal.Then a big hop over to Leh. If bad weather delays us,
we can meet the party somewhere between Leh and the Tibetan border. They've given me a list of locations where they will stop. So let's get
ready to go. "That was meant for Li and Chuba, but Ted and Monica thought that they
were included, for they jumped up and were rushing off to pack when
their Uncle Charlie called them back. "No, small fry!" he said. "You're staying here!" "Oh, no! "the twins wailed in one voice. "We both voted to go!" "That vote was for teenagers only," returned Uncle Charlie. "Somebody
has to stay here and look after your mother.Besides, the Cessna only
carries five passengers and we have four already: Li, Chuba, Muscles,
and myself. ""But if we're small fry," argued Monica, "the two of us would only count
as one--"
"Or maybe you don't want girls along," interrupted Ted, "so in that case
you can take just me. "Monica turned on Ted at that and was pounding him to show how tough her
fists could really be, when Uncle Charlie moved in and separated them as
he said:
"Break it up! Muscles is so big he counts for two, so that makes five
passengers already.Sorry, no more room!" When they reached the airfield, Muscles had the plane all ready for the
flight. The massive mechanic was standing guard and glaring suspiciously
at any workers who came near the plane. "That is Muscles' way," Charles Keene said approvingly. "With an
international spy ring haunting an old gold mine and thugs trying to
steal a ruby as a gift for the goddess Kali, almost anything could
happen to any of us, anywhere! "Then, with Charles Keene at the controls, the plane was climbing from
the runway in the direction of the snow-capped Himalayas, where dozens
of magnificent peaks seemed to grow into sight, to match huge
Kanchenjunga and even more distant Everest.The higher the plane rose, the more the mountains loomed above it. Avoiding those vast peaks, Charles Keene worked the plane above valleys
and passes that formed openings in the massive barrier.The ranges rose
skyward like great steps until the plane reached the fertile Katmandu
Valley near the center of Nepal, a great green oasis in a vast desert of
rocky crags and the perpetual snow of the surrounding Himalayas.Katmandu was a colorful city of temples, pagodas, and palaces that rose
from among lesser buildings and great open squares.The altitude was a
little more than four thousand feet, and Charles Keene made a landing at
the airfield to check on weather reports, while Muscles gave the plane
another going over.From there, the plane took off westward, passing
south of the great twin peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, gigantic
sentinels twenty miles apart, with a deep valley tapering down to a
river gorge between their five-mile summits. "It's too soon to head north," decided Charles Keene, "even though that
gap does look inviting. It would take us into Tibet, and we might have
problems picking a course over into Kashmir. We'll do better this way. "This way took them out of Nepal, and soon they were flying over India
again. There, Biff's uncle finally swung to the north, and again the
Himalayas loomed ahead.Then they were knifing through fleecy clouds at
two hundred and fifty miles an hour, straight toward the disputed
Tibetan border. "This course will bring us into Leh," Charles Keene declared, as the
clouds began to thicken, "but we'd better get more altitude." A gigantic mass of solid, snowy white rose through a rift in the clouds.As the plane skimmed over it, they all drew a relieved breath. "We nearly scraped frosting off cake," Chuba said. Charles Keene smiled, but a bit grimly, as he studied his chart again.Then:
"If that was Nanda Devi," he declared, "we are away off course." He
turned to Muscles. "Is the altimeter right?" he asked. "It was when I checked it last." "Then we aren't climbing as we should. "The plane droned on, in and out of cloud banks, above valleys filled
with mist. Fortunately, no more mountains rose into their path, but
clouds were thickening up ahead and the plane was not responding
properly. "We're almost over the northern range," Uncle Charlie said. "But
tackling those cloud banks would be risky, and turning back would be
worse. We'll do better making a forced landing in one of those forgotten
valleys. ""Provided the visibility is good enough at landing level," put in
Muscles. "We may encounter ground fog." "That's the chance we take," Uncle Charlie conceded. "But I don't think
it has settled deeply yet. "Coolly, Charles Keene zoomed over two low-lying mountain ranges, then
banked his plane toward a wide space where a trace of green showed deep
beneath the gathering mist.The white blanket thickened as he approached
it, and the plane, as it descended, was swallowed completely in those
swirling folds. The roar of the motor was muffled; then it, too, faded
entirely.Silence reigned again above the mist-filled valleys of the Himalayas,
the strange, mysterious stillness that the mightiest of mountains had
known since the dawn of time. XV
The Caravan Halts
"So this is Srinagar! "Biff Brewster spoke from the bow of a narrow, rakish craft known as a
_shikara_, as two turbaned oarsmen propelled it along the River Jhelum
through the heart of Kashmir's capital city.Between Biff and the stern,
where both paddlers were seated, was a large canopy mounted on
ornamental poles. Reclining beneath it were Chandra, Kamuka, and Mike
Arista.The front of the canopy bore the boat's name, _Happy Daze_, for these
gondolas of the Himalayan Venice were particularly popular with American
visitors.As they swept along beneath the ancient wooden bridges that
spanned the Jhelum, the boys waved to passengers in passing shikaras
with signs bearing such varied titles as _Hot Dog_, _The Big Mo_, and
_Chattanooga Choo Choo_.Picturesque buildings flanked both sides of the waterway, and beneath
their balconies were native craft called _dungas_, on which whole
families lived. Far more pretentious were the lavish houseboats occupied
by Europeans and Americans.These were more in evidence after the
shikara brought them to the Dal Gate, the outlet for Dal Lake. From there, they followed more canals to the lake itself, where they
wove among actual floating gardens to the five-mile stretch of open
water beyond.Sunset was tingeing Dal Lake with a deep crimson that
purpled the blue lake and its surrounding foliage against the
magnificent backdrop of the snow-clad Himalayas. "Fine sunset," Kamuka appraised it. "Much better than on the Hooghly. | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |