Frontier Boys in the South Seas Part 24

On the return trip toward the boat, a strong odor of sulphur attracted their attention, and a mineral spring was located. Here for the first time they found indications that others had visited the spot, but how recently could not be determined.

"Seemingly," suggested the professor, "this is a remedial water, the virtues of which may be known to the occupants of the other islands hereabouts."

Farther on, near the sh.o.r.e, Jim came upon a rude shack, or shelter, built of boughs, and the roof thatched with leaves resembling palms, and further on at the sh.o.r.e Juarez dropped upon his knees examining a mark upon the sand.

"A foot print," he said, "but not very recently made."

The return to the ship was without incident, and by the following day all except the captain and Tom, the latter was not feeling well, made trips to the sh.o.r.e. Jo and Juarez made a long detour inland and on their return reported many interesting sights, but no sign did they find of inhabitants. They had climbed to a high alt.i.tude, reaching the uppermost point by a circuitous route, but descending again by a rugged route much shorter but very difficult to negotiate.

"Phew!" exclaimed Tom, on coming on deck the following morning as the sun like a ball of fire was showing in the eastern horizon. "It is going to be a corker to-day, all right. Why, even the ocean is sizzling."

"Feel all right to-day?" asked Jo.

"Yes, or I would if it was only cool."

The yacht was still lying to, about a half mile off sh.o.r.e. The sails hung loosely with not enough air to stir them.

"It's a nice morning for a row," suggested Jo. "The water is as smooth as oil. You are the only one who has not been ash.o.r.e. Want to go?"

"No rowing for me," groaned Tom. "I'm not a phoenix. I'm going to sit in the shade and fish."

"Fish!" cried Jo. "What do you expect to catch here?"

"I don't know," replied Tom. "Maybe I might catch a boiled cod or something like that."

"Don't you want to go on sh.o.r.e, then?" asked Jo.

"Not bad enough to row there," answered Tom. "Glad to go if you will do the rowing."

"We will have to take the long boat. The steward went ash.o.r.e in the yawl early this morning."

"Early!" cried Tom. "What do you call this? I guess it was late last night."

"Well, he's gone, anyhow. We want to get off pretty soon if we are going before the sun gets hot."

"Before!" cried Tom. "Say, if you wanted to do that you ought to have gotten away last week."

"Say, fellows," cried Juarez at this moment, "what do you think that means?"

The party were soon gathered on the after deck and were looking with interest at the land.

"What is that?" asked Tom in turn.

"That smoke over there."

"Smoke! Where?"

"See the top of that hill," Juarez indicated with his outstretched arm.

There was an elevation which must have been miles inland, and from which a thin column of smoke was rising into the still air.

"It is a signal of some kind," said Jim. "I didn't notice it before."

"It has just started," replied Juarez. "It wasn't there a moment ago. I wonder what it means, and who is making it?"

"It is a common signal among uncivilized people," replied Jim. "Savages the world over use smoke for signaling. They use it especially as a warning against the approach of an enemy or of strangers."

"Well, what do you find of interest?" asked Berwick, joining them, the captain following a moment later.

"We were just looking at that column of smoke over there," replied Tom.

"Do you think it is a signal of some kind?"

"What is that?" asked the captain.

"That column of smoke on the hill over there," repeated Tom.

"Eh, what! Start my plates!" exclaimed the captain. "We will have to look into that a little later."

"See how straight it goes up," commented Jim. "There doesn't seem to be a bit of air stirring."

"Not a bit, anywhere," a.s.sented Berwick. "Not enough for steerage way."

"I'm thinking we'll have all the wind we want and some to spare afore ye know it," said the captain. "There's a hurricane abrewing or I miss my guess."

"What? On this clear day?" asked the professor. "I don't see how you can tell unless you feel it in your bones."

"No, but the barometer indicates something unusual. It is falling very rapidly." Then scanning the horizon in all directions, he added, "I wonder which way it is coming. That barometer is going down too fast for comfort." Saying this, he called all hands and set about preparations for a storm, concerning the coming of which there was not the slightest apparent and visible indication.

"There it comes, now," cried the captain as a puff of wind from out of the east filled the double reefed sails, and a little later a mist blotted out the sun. "It is coming out of the east."

"Is there any danger?" asked the professor?

"Well," replied the captain, slowly, "lying off the lea sh.o.r.e, in a hurricane isn't exactly the place I should pick out for safety."

"Can't you beat to windward?" suggested the professor.

"That's what we can try," returned the captain. "Hard down with the helm! Pull in the sheets!" A heavier blast struck the sails now, and heeled the yacht well over. "Steady as you are!"

Under the impulse of the wind, the yacht sprang forward with sails close hauled, beating up into it.

"It's no use," admitted the captain, as the strength of the wind increased. "We haven't gained an inch. Something must be done quickly."

"What?" asked the professor.

"How is that channel into the harbor which you told me about?" asked the captain, turning to Jim. "Do you think we can get through it?"

"If the day were fair, and the engine was working it might be done,"

replied Jim. "But under sail in this wind it will be a hazard, sir."

"You are not thinking of attempting that pa.s.sage in a storm, are you?"