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Rob Harlow's Adventures: A Story of the Grand Chaco, a fiction by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 28. The End Of The Quest |
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_ CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. THE END OF THE QUEST It was hard work to be dull and low-spirited in the midst of the beautiful scene which greeted Rob as he stepped out and followed Shaddy down to the fire. The clearing was one mass of glorious colour, the sky gorgeous with the sunrise tints, and the river flushed with orange, blue and gold. Birds sang, piped, and shrieked loudly, butterflies were beginning to flutter about, and a loud chattering from the nearest tree roused Rob to the fact that the puma had been following him, for it suddenly made three or four leaps in the direction of the sounds, and then crouched down to gaze at a party of monkeys, which were leaping about, scolding, shrieking and chattering angrily at the enemy watching their movements. Directly after, though, the puma returned to Rob's side, uttering a sound strongly suggestive of the domestic cat. "Going to have a dip, Mr Rob, sir?" said Shaddy. And then--"I'd be very careful, sir; you know how full of biting varmin the river is. Look sharp; breakfast's ready, and as soon as we've done we'll go and find Mr Brazier." "Try to," cried the boy sadly. "Find him, Mr Rob, sir. Bah! who's going to say die on a lovely morning in a lovely place like this?" Rob thought of his companion's words as he turned down to the edge of the water and bathed, with the puma sitting near watching him, apparently with wonder. Then, refreshed and invigorated, he hastened back to where there was the appetising odour of roasting meat, while the puma returned to the remains of its last night's feast. Half an hour after, armed with rough spear, bow and arrows, and a big package of roasted meat, consisting of deer legs, and the best parts of the iguana which Shaddy had taken out and begun cooking while Rob still slept, they were threading their way amongst the trees once more, with the puma somewhere behind them, for they could hear it utter a curious cry from time to time, though they never once caught sight of it in the dense growth. "Feel as if I was right, don't you, my lad?" said Shaddy, as they tramped on. "Couldn't have got through the trees like this without rest and food." "You were quite right," replied Rob. "Where are you making for?" "The place I showed you last night. I think we'll start from there." It was a long time before they reached the spot, and examined it carefully, to find more traces of Mr Brazier having been there and stopping. So they shouted and whistled again and again, but there was no response, and trying to pick up the trail they started again--now utterly baffled and ready to return, now gathering fresh hope on suddenly coming upon a scrap of orchid or a bunch of woodland flowers, which had been carefully gathered and thrown down, apparently by some one wearied out. Then Rob uttered a cry of excitement, for he stumbled suddenly upon a spot which was comparatively open, so that the sunshine penetrated. It was no doubt the work of a hurricane, for great trees lay prostrate, decaying fast, and fresh flowery growths had sprung up. Birds and insects were plentiful, and the spot looked lovely after the gloom of the forest shades. Here was the crushed-down growth where he they sought had lain down to sleep, unless it was the resting-place of an Indian. Rob suggested it and Shaddy replied angrily: "Look here, youngster, if ever you want a nickname call yourself Wet Blanket. What a fellow you are for making the worst of everything! Some one lay down to rest here, didn't he?" "Yes, I think so." "And I'm sure. Now look at the places where the flowers have been snapped off. I know what you're saying to yourself: 'wild beast or Indian!' Now, I ask you, sir, as a young English gent who has been to school and can read and write, do wild beasts and Indians go about picking flowers or collecting anything that isn't good to eat?" "Ah, Shaddy," said Rob sadly, "you beat me at arguing. I'm afraid to hope that we shall find him alive, but you're quite right, and I will try and believe." "Bravo, Mr Rob, sir! Three cheers for that! Never fear, we'll find him alive yet; weak and done up, but keeping himself going. He has found bits of fruit and nuts, and when he couldn't find them there's something in the tops of tender grasses. Cheer up, sir! Now then, let's give a big shout here." Shaddy set the example, and at the tremendous yell he sent forth there was a rush of wings from one of the trees a short distance away, where all had been perfectly still the moment before; and as a flock of birds hidden by the leaves dashed off, quite a little shower of fruit was dropped by them among the leaves. "There, sir--that was food," cried Shaddy; "and a gentleman who knows all about such things, as Mr Brazier does, would find them and keep himself going. Now it's your turn. Shout, sir." Rob uttered as loud a cry as he could, and then twice over imitated the Australian "cooee," following it up with a shrill piercing note from a little silver whistle; but the only response was the cry of an _ara_, one of the great scarlet and blue long-tailed macaws, whose harsh shriek came softened from the distance. "Not right yet, Mr Rob, sir," said Shaddy, quietly; "but we're not going to despair, boy. I aren't a religious man your way, but after my fashion I trust in God and take the rough with the smooth. What is to be will be, so don't let's kick against it. We've got our duty to do, my lad, and that's to keep on trying. Now then, what do you say to a bit of a snack?" "No, no--not yet, Shaddy; let's go on." "Right, my lad." They started again, and pressed on through the breathless heat of the woods, but without finding further sign of any one having passed that way; and at last Shaddy stopped short on the banks of a running stream, which impeded farther progress, and whose waters offered refreshing draughts to those who were getting in sore need. "We're off his track, Mr Rob. He's not likely to have crossed a river like this; but welcome it is, for it shows us the way back just when I was getting a bit muddled." "How does it?" said Rob, wonderingly. "Because it must flow into the big river somewhere below our camp." "Then you have seen no traces of him lately?" "Nothing, my lad, since we left that open patch where the birds flew out of the trees." "Then we must go back at once, Shaddy." "Not until we've trimmed the lamps again, my lad. Sit down on that old trunk--No, don't; I daresay it's full of stinging ants and things, and perhaps there's a snake or two. We'll sit on this root and have a good feed, and then take up our track again." Rob seated himself sadly down, while the guide unpacked his store of meat wrapped in green leaves; and the boy felt annoyed with himself for his want of forethought on seeing how carefully his companion put back and bound up some of the best, nodding, as he caught Rob's eyes fixed upon him. "For Mr Brazier," he said. "He'll be glad enough of a bit o' meat when we find him." They began eating directly, washing down the savoury roast with handfuls of clear water scooped up from the stream which bubbled and foamed by in its rocky bed. "Well, now look at that!" cried Shaddy the next minute, as with one tremendous bound the puma alighted just before them, and stood looking at Rob and lashing its tail. "Why, he must have come after us all the time. Trust an animal for smelling meat." Rob shared his portion with the great cat, which also crunched up the bones. Then once more they began their search, taking up their own trail backward, and with no little difficulty following it to the opening, from whence they kept on making casts, till night was once more approaching. They tramped back to the hut just in time to save their fire; but they had nothing to cook, the remains of the iguana being too far gone, and their meal consisted of nuts and water; though the puma feasted well. The next morning they were off again soon after daylight, after breakfasting off fish secured by Shaddy as soon as it was light, while a couple more were roasted and taken with them. This time they tried a fresh direction, trusting more to chance; and as they toiled on Shaddy grew more and more serious while forcing his way through the trees, and his manner was softer and gentler to his companion, who rarely spoke now save to the puma, which grew hourly more confident, and kept close at Rob's heels, giving his leg a rub whenever he stopped short to glance about him through the solemn shadows of the forest. For this was the third day of their search, and it was impossible to help feeling that it was the very last upon which they could cling to hope. It passed as the others had done--in one weary tramp and struggle, but without a single sign of the lost one to give them encouragement to proceed; and at last, when they were bound to return if they intended to sleep again in camp, Shaddy said suddenly: "God help him, my lad: we've done all we can. Let's get back now. I may think out something fresh by to-morrow morning. I can't do anything to-night, for my head's like my legs--dead beat out." Rob answered with a sigh, for his heart was very heavy now; and as his companion stood calculating for a few minutes which way they should go, he waited, and then followed behind him without a word. They were a little earlier this time, but the sun had gone down before they got out of the forest at the extreme corner on the right of their hut; and as they trudged back the puma made two dashes at prey unseen by the travellers, but without success, returning after each cautious crawl and final bound to walk quietly along behind Rob, who, in a dull, heavy, unthinking way, reached back to touch the beast, which responded with a friendly pressure and rub of its head against the extended hand. And as they crept slowly on, with the trees crowding round them as if to hinder their progress, and the darkness of the umbrageous foliage seeming to press down upon their heads, their journey was made with greater difficulty than ever; for the spirit or energy had gone out of Shaddy, who tramped on as if he were asleep. It struck Rob once that this was the case, and he increased his own rate so as to try and get ahead of his companion, but as soon as he drew close up his comrade stopped. "Like to go first, my lad?" "No, no," said Rob hurriedly. "Are you sure of the road?" "No, my lad, because there isn't one. I'm only pretty sure that we are in the right direction." It proved that he was correct when in due time they stood out in the clearing, with the darkness falling fast; and then Shaddy said suddenly, and as if with an effort: "Come, Mr Rob, sir, we mustn't give up. Let's have some food, or we shall be done. No deer meat to-night, no iguana. Get the fire going while I go and try for a fish; there'll just be time." Rob tramped heavily to the fire, and the guide went to the tree where he had hung the line, baited it from the remains of the food, and strode down to his favourite spot for fishing; while Rob busied himself raking the fire together with a half-burned branch, and then, as it began to smoke, piled on it the partly-burned brands, and upon them the pieces industriously heaped together. The blaze began to creep up and lick the twigs and branches as the blue smoke rose. Then the fire increased to a ruddy glow; and feeling chilly after the heat to which he had been exposed, Rob sat listlessly down gazing at the increasing flames, which lit up his sun-browned face as he thought and thought of his boyish comrade, then of Mr Brazier, and at last of himself. They were sad thoughts, for he felt that he should never see home again, that he would be the next to be struck down by some savage beast, bitten by a poisonous snake, or lost in the forest, where he would be too weak to find his way back. And as he thought he wondered what Shaddy would do when he was gone--whether he would be picked up by some passing boat, or live on in a kind of Robinson Crusoe life to a good old age. Rob started involuntarily as he reached this point, for something touched him; and turning sharply, he found that the puma was rubbing its head against his shoulder, the beautiful creature uttering its peculiar purring sound as Rob threw an arm round its neck and began to caress it, ready as he was out there to cling to anything in his weariness and desolation. He was thus occupied when the puma started away, for there was a step behind him. "Tired, my lad? Only got one, but he's a fine fellow," said Shaddy, who rapidly chopped off the head and a good-sized piece of the tail of a fine dorado. "Not so very; only low-spirited." "Not you, my lad: hungry's the word. That's what's the matter with me. Here, I say, squire, if you're anything of a cat you'll like fish," he continued, as he threw the head, tail, and other portions of the fish toward the puma, which hesitated for a few moments and then secured and bore them off. Meanwhile, to help his companion more than from any desire for food, Rob had risen and cut some big palm leaves, laid them down, and then raked a hole in the heap of embers ready for the fish. "That's better," said Shaddy, as he lifted the great parcel he had made of the fish; and depositing his load in the embers, he took the rough branch they used for a rake and poker in one, and covered the packet deeply. "There, Mr Rob, sir; that's the best thing for our low spirits. We shall be better after that physic." "Hush!" cried Rob excitedly. "Eh! What? Did you hear something?" "Yes: a faint cry." "No!" "But I did. And look at the puma: he heard it too. Didn't you see it start and leave the fish?" "Yes, but I thought I startled it. He's very suspicious of me, and I don't suppose we shall ever be good friends." "No, it was not that," whispered Rob, whose voice trembled as if he were alarmed. "Then it was some beast in the forest. There they are, any number of them. Frog perhaps, or an owl: they make very queer sounds." Rob shook his head. "I say, don't look so scared, my lad, just as if you were going to be ill. I tell you what it was: one of those howling spider monkeys at a distance." "There again!" cried Rob, starting up,--an example followed by the guide, who was impressed by the peculiar faint cry; and as Rob seized his companion's arm, the latter said, with a slight suggestion of nervousness in his tone: "Now, what beast could that be? But there, one never gets used to all the cries in the forest. Here, what's the matter? Where are you going, my lad?" "To see--to see," gasped Rob. "Not alone, Mr Rob, sir. I don't think it is, but it may be some dangerous creature, and I don't want you to come to trouble. Got enough without. Hah! there it goes again." For there was the same peculiar smothered cry, apparently from the edge of the forest, close to where they had raised their hut. "Come along quickly," whispered Rob, in a faint, panting voice. "Yes, but steady, my lad. Let's try and see, our way. We don't want to be taken by surprise. Get ready an arrow, and I may as well have my knife." "No: come on; don't you know what it was? It was close here somewhere. Can't you tell?" "No, my lad, nor you neither. I've been a little longer in the woods than you." "How can you be so dull?" cried Rob. "Now, quick: it must have been somewhere here. I heard 'Help' as plainly as could be." "What?" Just then the cry arose again, not fifty yards away; and unmistakably that word was uttered in a faint, piteous tone: "Help!"--and again, "Help!" The pair sprang forward together, crashing recklessly among the branches in the direction of the sound; but as they reached the place from whence it seemed to have come all was still, and there was no response to their cries. "All a mistake, my lad," said Shaddy. "We're done up, and fancied it." "Fancied? No, it was Mr Brazier," cried Rob excitedly. "I'm sure of it; and--Yes, yes, quick; this way. Here he lies!" _ |
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