Kitabı oku: «In Far Bolivia: A Story of a Strange Wild Land», sayfa 5

"What, Benee! and back so soon from the forest?"

"Benee did run plenty quickee. Plenty jaguarwant eat Benee, but no can catchee."

"Well?"

"I would speekee you bof boys in de room."

The two started up together.

Here was some mystery that must be unravelled.

CHAPTER X-BENEE MAKES A STRANGE DISCOVERY

Benee followed them into Roland's quiet study, and placed his strange grass-girt bundle on acane chair.

Roland gave him a goblet of wine-and-water, whichhe drank eagerly, for he was faint and tired.

"Now, let us hear quickly what you have to say, Benee."

The Indian came forward, and his words, thoughuttered with some vehemence, and accompanied bymuch gesticulation, were delivered in almost a whisper.

It would have been impossible for any eavesdropperin the hall to have heard.

"Wat I tellee you 'bout dat Peter?" he began.

"My good friend," said Roland, "Peter accuses youof being a spy and traitor."

"I killee he!"

"No, you will not; if Peter is guilty, I will seethat justice overtakes him."

"Well, 'fore I go, sah, I speakee you and say Ibringee you de good news."

"Tell us quickly!" said Dick in a state of greatexcitement.

"Dis, den, is de good news: Missie Peggy not dead!No, no!"

"Explain, Benee, and do not raise false hopes inour breasts."

"De cannibals make believe she murder; dat all is."

"But have we not found portions of her raiment, her blood-dripping stockings, and also her charredremains?"

"Listen, sah. Dese cannibals not fools. Dey beatyou plenty of trail, so you can easily find de clearingwhere de fire was. Dey wis' you to go to dat tree tosee de blood, de shoe, and all. But when you seekeede trail after, where is she? Tellee me dat. MissiePeggy no murder. No, no. She am carried away, far away, as one prisint to de queen ob de cannibals."

"What were the bones, my good Benee?"

Then Benee opened his strange bundle, and therefell on the floor the half-burned skull and jaws of agigantic baboon.

"I find dat hid beside de tree. Ha, ha!"

"It is all clear now," said Roland. "My dear, faithful Benee," he continued, "can you guide us tothe country of the cannibals? You will meet yourreward, both here and hereafter."

"I not care. I lub Missie Peggy. Ah, she comebackee once moh, foh true!"

And now Dick Temple, the impulsive, must stepforward and seize Benee by the hand. "God blessyou!" he said; and indeed it was all he could say.

When the Indian had gone, Roland and Dick drewcloser together.

"The mystery," said the former, "seems to me,Dick, to be as dark and intricate as ever. I canunderstand the savages carrying poor Peggy away, but why the tricky deceit, the dropped shoe thatpoor, noble Brawn picked up, the pool of blood, therent and torn garments, and the half-charred bones?"

"Well, I think I can see through that, Roland. Ibelieve it was done to prevent your further pursuit; for, as Benee observes, the trail is left plainly enoughfor even a white man to see as far as the 'fire-tree'and on to the brook. But farther there is none."

"Well, granting all this; think you, Dick, that noone instigated them, probably even suggested thecrime and the infernal deceit they have practised?"

"Now you are thinking of, if not actually accusing,Mr. Peter?"

"I am, Dick. I have had my suspicions of him eversince a month after he came. It was strange howBenee hated him from the beginning, to say nothingof Brawn, the dog, and our dear lost Peggy."

"Cheer up!" said Dick. "Give Peter a show, thoughthings look dark against him."

"Yes," said Roland sternly, "and with us and ourexpedition he must and shall go. We can watch hisevery move, and if I find that he is a villain, may Godhave mercy on his soul! His body shall feed the eagles."

Dick Temple was a wild and reckless boy, it is true, and always first, if possible, in any adventure whichincluded a spice of danger, but he had a good deal ofcommon sense notwithstanding.

He mused a little, and rolled himself a freshcigarette before he replied.

"Your Mr. Peter," he said, "may or may not beguilty of duplicity, though I do not see the raisond'être for any such conduct, and I confess to you thatI look upon lynching as a wild kind of justice. Atthe same time I must again beg of you, Roland, togive the man a decent show."

"Here is my hand on that, Dick. He shall havejustice, even should that just finish with his danglingat a rope's end."

The two shortly after this parted for the night, each going to his own room, but I do not think thateither of them slept till long past midnight.

They were up in good time, however, for the bath, and felt invigorated and hungry after the dip.

They were not over-merry certainly, but Mrs. St. Clairwas quite changed, and just a little hystericallyhilarious. For as soon as he had tubbed, Roland hadgone to her bedroom and broken the news to herwhich Benee had brought.

That same forenoon Dick and Roland rode out tothe forest.

They could hear the boom and shriek and roar ofthe great buzz-saw long before they came near thewhite-men's quarters.

They saw Jake, – and busy enough he was too, – andtold him that they had some reason to doubt thehonesty or sincerity of Mr. Peter, and that they wouldtake him along with them.

"Thank God!" said Jake most fervently. "I myselfcannot trust a man whom a dog like Brawn and asavage like Benee have come to hate."

By themselves that day the young fellowscompleted their plans, and all would now be ready toadvance in a week's time.

That same day, however, on parade and in presenceof Mr. Peter, Roland made a little speech.

"We are going," he said, "my good fellows, on avery long and adventurous journey. Poor Miss Peggyis, as we all know" (this was surely a fib that wouldbe forgiven) "dead and gone, but we mean to followthese savages up to their own country, and deal themsuch a blow as will paralyse them for years. YellowCharlie yonder is himself one of their number, but hehas proved himself faithful, and has offered to be ourguide as soon as we enter unknown regions.

"I have," he added, "perfect faith in my white men, faith in Mr. Peter, whom I am taking with me-"

Peter took a step forward as if to speak, but Rolandwaved him back.

"And I know my working Indians will provethemselves good men and true.

"After saying this, it is hardly necessary to addthat if anyone is found attempting to desert ourcolumn, even should it be Burly Bill himself" (BurlyBill laughed outright), "he will be shot down as wewould shoot a puma or alligator."

There was a wild cheer after Roland stepped downfrom the balcony, and in this Mr. Peter seemed to joinso heartily that Roland's heart smote him.

For perhaps, after all, he had been unkind inthought to this man.

Time alone would tell.

The boys determined to leave nothing to chance, but ammunition was of even more importance thanfood. They hoped to find water everywhere, and thebiscuits carried, with the roots they should dig, wouldserve to keep the expedition alive and healthy, withthe aid of their good guns.

Medicine was not forgotten, nor medical comforts.

For three whole days Roland trained fast-runningIndians to pick up a trail. A man would be allowedto have three miles' start, and then, when he wasquite invisible, those human sleuth-hounds would belet loose, and they never failed to bring back theirprisoner after a time.

One man at least was much impressed by thesetrials of skill.

Just a week before the start, and late in the evening,Benee once more presented himself before our youngheroes.

"I would speakee you!"

"Well, Benee, say what you please, but all have notyet retired. Dick, get out into the hall, and warn usif anyone approaches."

Dick jumped up, threw his cigarette away, and didas he was told.

"Thus I speakee you and say," said Benee. "Youtrustee I?"

"Assuredly!"

"Den you let me go?"

"How and where?"

"I go fast as de wind, fleeter dan de rain-squall, farober de mountains ob Madeira, far froo' de wild, darkforest. I heed noting, I fear noting. No wil' beas'makee Benee 'fraid. I follow de cannibals. I reachde country longee time 'foh you. I creepee like onesnake to de hut ob poh deah Peggy. She no can flywid me, but I 'sure her dat you come soon, in twomoon p'laps, or free. I make de chile happy. Den Icreep and glide away again all samee one black snake, and come back to find you. I go?"

Roland took the man's hand. Savage though hewas, there was kindness and there was undoubtedsincerity in those dark, expressive eyes, and our heroat once gave the permission asked.

"But," he said, "the way is long and dangerous, mygood Benee, so here I give you two long-rangesix-shooters, a repeating-rifle, and a box of cartridges.May God speed your journey, and bring you safelyback with news that shall inspire our hearts! Go!"

Benee glided away as silently as he had come, andnext morning his place was found empty. But wouldtheir trust in this man reap its reward, or-awfuldoubt-was Benee false?

Next night but one something very strange happened.

All was silent in and around Burnley Hall, and thesilvery tones of the great tower clock had chimed thehour of three, when the window of Mr. Peter's roomwas silently opened, and out into the moonlight glidedthe man himself.

He carried in his hand a heavy grip-sack, andcommenced at once taking the path that led downwardsto the river.

Here lay the dinghy boat drawn up on the beach.She was secured with padlock and chain, but allRoland's officers carried keys.

It was about a quarter of a mile to the river-side, and Peter was proceeding at a fairly rapid rate, considering the weight of his grip-sack.

He had a habit of talking to himself. He was doingso now.

"I have only to drop well down the river andintercept a steamer. It is this very day they pass, and-"

Two figures suddenly glided from the bush andstood before him.

One sprang up behind, whom he could not see.

"Good-morning, Mr. Peter! Going for a walk early, aren't you? It's going to turn out a delightful day, Ithink."

They were white men.

"Here!" cried Peter, "advance but one step, or dareto impede my progress, and you are both dead men!I am a good shot, and happen, as you see, to have thedraw on you."

Next moment his right arm was seized from behind, the men in front ducked, and the first shot went off inthe air.

"Here, none o' that, guv'nor!" said a set, determinedvoice.

The revolver was wrenched from his grasp, and hefound himself on his back in the pathway.

"It is murder you'd be after! Eh?"

"Not so, my good fellow," said Peter. "I will explain."

"Explain, then."

"My duties are ended with Mr. Roland St. Clair.He owes me one month's wages. I have forfeited thatand given warning, and am going. That is all."

"You are going, are you? Well, we shall see about that."

"Yes, you may, and now let me pass on my peaceful way."

"He! he! he! But tell us, Mr. Peter, why thisspeedy departure? Hast aught upon thy conscience,or hast got a conscience?"

Peter had risen to his feet.

"Merely this. I claim the privilege of every workingman, that of giving leave. I am not strong, and I dreadthe long journey Mr. St. Clair and his little band areto take."

"But," said the other, "you came in such a questionableshape, and we were here to watch for stragglers, not of course thinking for a moment, Mr. Peter, thatyour French window would be opened, and that youyourself would attempt to take French leave.

"Now you really must get back to your bedroom, guv'nor, and see Mr. St. Clair in the morning. Mymates will do sentry-go at your window, and I shallbe by your door in case you need anything. It is amere matter of form, Mr. Peter, but of course we haveto obey orders. Got ere a drop of brandy in yourflask?"

Peter quickly produced quite a large bottle. Hedrank heavily himself first, and then passed itround.

But the men took but little, and Mr. Peter, half-intoxicated, allowed himself to be conducted to bed.

When these sentries gave in their report nextmorning to Roland, Mr. Peter did not rise a deal inthe young fellow's estimation.

"It only proves one thing," he said to Dick. "IfPeter is so anxious to give us the slip, we must watchhim well until we are far on the road towards thecannibals' land."

"That's so," returned Dick Temple.

Not a word was said to Peter regarding hisattempted flight when he sat down to breakfast withthe boys, and naturally enough he believed it had notbeen reported. Indeed he had some hazy remembranceof having offered the sentries a bribe to keep dark.

Mr. Peter ate very sparingly, and looked sadly fishyabout the eyes.

But he made no more attempts to escape just then.

CHAPTER XI-ALL ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS

That Benee was a good man and true we havelittle reason to doubt, up to the present time atall events.

Yet Dick Temple was, curiously enough, loth tobelieve that Mr. Peter was other than a friend. Andnothing yet had been proved against him.

"Is it not natural enough," said he to Roland, "thathe should funk-to put it in fine English-the terribleexpedition you and I are about to embark upon? Andknowing that you have commanded him to accompanyus would, in my opinion, be sufficient to account forhis attempt to escape and drop down the river to Pará,and so home to his own country. Roland, I repeat, wemust give the man a show."

"True," said Roland, "and poor Benee is having hisshow. Time alone can prove who the traitor is. If itbe Benee he will not return. On the contrary, he willjoin the savage captors of poor Peggy, and do all inhis power to frustrate our schemes."

No more was said.

But the preparations were soon almost completed, and in a day or two after this, farewells being said, the brave little army began by forced marches to findits way across country and through dense forestsand damp marshes, and over rocks and plains, to theMadeira river, high above its junction with the greatAmazon.

—

Meanwhile let us follow the lonely Indian in histerrible journey to the distant and unexplored landsof Bolivia.

Like all true savages, he despised the ordinaryroutes of traffic or trade; his track must be abee-line, guiding himself by the sun by day, but moreparticularly by the stars by night.

Benee knew the difference betwixt stars and planets.The latter were always shifting, but certain stars-mostto him were like lighthouses to mariners whoare approaching land-shone over the country of thecannibals, and he could tell from their very altitudehow much progress he was making night after night.

So lonesome, so long, was his thrice dreary journey, that had it been undertaken by a white man, in allprobability he would soon have been a raving maniac.

But Benee had all the cunning, all the daring, andall the wisdom of a true savage, and for weeks he felta proud exhilaration, a glorious sense of freedomand happiness, at being once more his own master, nowork to do, and hope ever pointing him onwards tohis goal.

What was that goal? it may well be asked. WasBenee disinterested? Did he really feel love for thewhite man and the white man's children? Can aughtsave selfishness dwell in the breast of a savage? Inbrief, was it he who had been the spy, he who wasthe guilty man; or was it Peter who was the villain?Look at it in any light we please, one thing iscertain, this strange Indian was making his way backto his own country and to his own friends, and Indiansare surely not less fond of each other than are thewild beasts who herd together in the forest, on themountain-side, or on the ice in the far-off land of thefrozen north. And well we know that these creatureswill die for each other.

If there was a mystery about Peter, there wassomething approaching to one about Benee also.

But then it must be remembered that since hisresidence on the St. Clair plantation, Benee had beentaught the truths of that glorious religion of ours, thereligion of love that smoothes the rugged paths of lifefor us, that gives a silver lining to every cloud ofgrief and sorrow, and gilds even the dark portals ofdeath itself.

Benee believed even as little children do. Andlittle Peggy in her quiet moods used to tell him thestory of life by redemption in her almost infantile way.

For all that, it is hard and difficult to vanquishold superstitions, and this man was only a savage atheart after all, though, nevertheless, there seemed tobe much good in his rough, rude nature, and youmay ofttimes see the sweetest and most lovely littleflowers growing on the blackest and ruggedest of rocks.

Well, this journey of Benee's was certainly nosinecure. Apart even from all the dangers attachedto it, from wild beasts and wilder men, it was one thatwould have tried the hardest constitution, if only forthe simple reason that it was all a series of forcedmarches.

There was something in him that was hurrying himon and encouraging him to greater and greaterexertions every hour. His daily record depended to agreat extent on the kind of country he had tonegotiate. He began with forty miles, but after a time, when he grew harder, he increased this to fifty andoften to sixty. It was at times difficult for him toforce his way through deep, dark forest and jungle, along the winding wild-beast tracks, past the beaststhemselves, who hid in trees ready to spring had hepaused but a second; through marshes and bogs, withhere and there a reedy lake, on which aquatic birds ofbrightest colours slept as they floated in the sunshine, but among the long reeds of which lay theever-watchful and awful cayman.

In such places as these, I think Benee owed hissafety to his utter fearlessness and sang-froid, and tothe speed at which he travelled.

It was not a walk by any means, but a strange kindof swinging trot. Such a gait may still be seen infar-off outlying districts of the Scottish Highlands, where it is adopted by postal "runners", who considerit not only faster but less tiresome than walking.

For the first hundred miles, or more, the lonelytraveller found himself in a comparatively civilizedcountry. This was not very much to his liking, andas a rule he endeavoured to give towns and villages, and even rubber forests, where Indians worked underwhite men overseers, a wide berth.

Yet sometimes, hidden in a tree, he would watchthe work going on; watch the men walking hitherand thither with their pannikins, or deftly whirlingthe shovels they had dipped in the sap-tub andholding them in the dark smoke of the palm-tree nuts, orhe would listen to their songs. But it was with nofeeling of envy; it was quite the reverse.

For Benee was free! Oh what a halo of happinessand glory surrounds that one little word "Free"!

Then this lonely wanderer would hug himself, as itwere, and, dropping down from his perch, start offonce more at his swinging trot.

Even as the crow flies, or the bee wings its flight, the length of Benee's journey would be over sixhundred miles. But it was impossible for anyone tokeep a bee-line, owing to the roughness of the countryand the difficulties of every kind to be overcome, sothat it is indeed impossible to estimate the magnitudeof this lone Indian's exploit.

His way, roughly speaking, lay between the MadeiraRiver and the Great Snake River called Puras (videmap); latterly it would lead him to the lofty regionsand plateaux of the head-waters of Maya-tata, calledby the Peruvians the Madre de Dios, or Holy VirginRiver.

But hardly a day now passed that he had not astream of some kind to cross, and wandering by itsbanks seeking for a ford delayed him considerably.

He was journeying thus one morning when thesound of human voices not far off made him creepquickly into the jungle.

The men did not take long to put in an appearance.

A portion of some wandering, hunting, or lootingtribe they were, and cut-throat looking scoundrelseveryone of them-five in all.

They were armed with bows and arrows and withspears. Their arrows, Benee could see, were tippedwith flint, and the flint was doubtless poisoned. Theycarried also slings and broad knives in their belts ofskin. The slings are used in warfare, but they are alsoused by shepherds-monsters who, like many in thiscountry, know not the meaning of the words "mercyto dumb animals" – on their poor sheep.

These fellows, who now lay down to rest and to eat, much to Benee's disgust, not to say dismay, wereprobably a party of llama (pronounced yahmah)herds or shepherds who had, after cutting theirmaster's throat, banded together and taken to thisroving life.

So thought Benee, at all events, for he could seemany articles of European dress, such as daintyscarves of silk, lace handkerchiefs, &c., as well asbrooches, huddled over their own clothing, and onefierce-looking fellow pulled out a gold watch andpretended to look at the time.

So angry was Benee that his savage nature gotuppermost, and he handled his huge revolvers in anervous way that showed his anxiety to open fireand spoil the cut-throats' dinner. But he restrainedhimself for the time being.

In addition to the two revolvers, Benee carried therepeating rifle. It was the fear of spoiling hisammunition that led to his being in this dreadful fix. Butfor his cartridges he could have swum the river withthe speed of a gar-fish.

What a long, long time they stayed, and how veryleisurely they munched and fed!

A slight sound on his left flank caused Benee togaze hastily round. To his horror, he found himselfface to face with a puma.

Here was indeed a dilemma!

If he fired he would make his presence known, andsmall mercy could he expect from the cut-throats.At all hazards he determined to keep still.

The yellow eyes of this American lion flared andglanced in a streak of sunshine shot downwardsthrough the bush, and it was this probably whichdimmed his vision, for he made no attempt to springforward.

Benee dared scarcely to breathe; he could hearthe beating of his own heart, and could not helpwondering if the puma heard it too.

At last the brute backed slowly astern, with awriggling motion.

But Benee gained courage now.

During the long hours that followed, several greatsnakes passed him so closely that he could havetouched their scaly backs. Some of these were litheand long, others very thick and slow in motion, butnearly all were beautifully coloured in metallic tintsof crimson, orange, green, and bronze, and all werepoisonous.

The true Bolivian, however, has but little fear ofsnakes, knowing that unless trodden upon, orotherwise actively interfered with, they care not to wastetheir venom by striking.

At long, long last the cut-throats got up to leave.They would before midnight no doubt reach somelonely outpost and demand entertainment at thepoint of the knife, and if strange travellers werethere, sad indeed would be their fate.

Benee now crawled, stiff and cramped, out from hisdamp and dangerous hiding-place. He found a fordnot far off, and after crossing, he set off once more athis swinging trot, and was soon supple and happy enough.

On and on he went all that day, to make up for losttime, and far into the starry night.

The hills were getting higher now, the valleysdeeper and damper between, and stream after streamhad to be forded.

It must have been long past eight o'clock when, just as Benee was beginning to long for food and rest, his eyes fell on a glimmering light at the foot of ahigh and dark precipice.

He warily ventured forward and found it proceededfrom a shepherd's hut; inside sat the man himself, quietly eating a kind of thick soup, the basin flankedby a huge flagon of milk, with roasted yams. Great, indeed, was the innocent fellow's surprise when Beneepresented himself in the doorway. A few words inBolivian, kindly uttered by our wayfarer, immediatelyput the man at ease, however, and before long Beneewas enjoying a hearty supper, followed by a brew ofexcellent maté.

He was a very simple son of the desert, thisshepherd, but a desultory kind of conversation wasmaintained, nevertheless, until far into the night.

For months and months, he told Benee, he hadlived all alone with his sheep in these grassy uplands, having only the companionship of his half-wild, butfaithful dog. But he was contented and happy, andhad plenty to eat and drink.

It was just sunrise when Benee awoke from a longrefreshing sleep on his bed of skins. There was theodour of smoke all about, and presently the shepherdhimself bustled in and bade him "Good-morning!", or"Heaven's blessing!" which is much the same.

A breakfast of rough, black cake, with butter, friedfish, and maté, made Benee as happy as a king and asfresh as a mountain trout, and soon after he saidfarewell and started once more on his weary road.The only regret he experienced rose from the fact thathe had nothing wherewith to reward this kindlyshepherd for his hospitality.

Much against his will, our wanderer had now tomake a long detour, for not even a goat could havescaled the ramparts of rock in front of him.

In another week he found himself in one of thebleakest and barrenest stretches of country that itis possible to imagine. It was a high plateau, andcovered for the most part with stunted bushes andwith crimson heath and heather.

Benee climbed a high hill that rose near him, andas he stood on the top thereof, just as the sun in aglory of orange clouds and crimson rose slowly andmajestically over the far-off eastern forest, a scenepresented itself to him that, savage though he was, caused him for a time to stand mute with admirationand wonder.

Then he remembered what little Peggy told himonce in her sweet and serious voice: "Always pray atsunrise".

 
"Always pray at sunrise,
For 'tis God who makes the day;
When shades of evening gather round
Kneel down again and pray.
And He, who loves His children dear,
Will send some angel bright
To guard you while you're sleeping sound
And watch you all the night."
 

And on this lonely hill-top Benee did kneel downto pray a simple prayer, while golden clouds werechanging to bronze and snowy white, and far off onthe forest lands hazy vapours were still stretchedacross glens and valleys.

As he rose from his knees he could hear, away downbeneath him, a wild shout, and gazing in the directionfrom which it came, he saw seven semi-nude savageshurrying towards the mountain with the evidentintention of making him prisoner.

It was terrible odds; but as there was no escape,Benee determined to fight.

As usual, they were armed with bow and arrow and sling.

Indeed, they commenced throwing stones with greatprecision before they reached the hill-foot, and one ofthese fell at Benee's feet.

Glad, indeed, was he next minute to find himself ina kind of natural trench which could have been heldby twenty men against a hundred.

On and up, crawling on hands and knees, came thesavages.

But Benee stood firm, rifle in hand, and waitinghis chance.