Rob Harlow's Adventures Part 61

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 sc.r.a.p 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 gra.s.ses. 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 G.o.d 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 pa.s.sed 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 pa.s.sed 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:

"G.o.d 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.