The Wonder Island Boys: The Mysteries of the Caverns Part 17

George was there in an instant, and caught up the Professor, while Harry grasped the tiller, as it was released, and turned it to starboard. The little boat responded, but Harry knew that if turned too far, the wind might catch it on the beam and crush it to atoms.

The Professor had fainted, and when George finally revived him, he looked about, and seeing Harry at the tiller, told him that he must turn to the left to avoid the cliffs, and when he was advised of what had bean done, he grasped Harry's hand, and commended him for the knowledge and foresight which had been exhibited in that trying moment.

The cliffs were ahead and to the right. The crucial time must come within the next half hour. The point must not only be cleared, but they must pa.s.s it at a distance beyond the influence of the powerful swells and waves, which are always present at points situated like this. The storm was from the west, and the promontory pointed to the north. Under the circ.u.mstances, the sea at the end of the land was a raging maelstrom, and the counter influence of the raging waves, beyond the point, offered as great a danger as at its extremity.

And now the leaks appeared at every side. Despair almost overtook Harry, and he moved from one point to the next with the oak.u.m and the caulking tool. The Professor had insisted on again taking the helm. He had been refreshed by the few moments' relaxation. Slowly he moved over to the tiller. Would he ever make it? The boys stopped their work, fascinated with the nerve-racking intensity of it. They knew the point had been pa.s.sed. The Professor smiled, and held up his hand as a signal, and the boys rushed to him and actually cried, as he put his arms about them.

It must not be imagined that they were out of their peril now. Nearly a foot of water was in the bottom. The storm was, in a measure, blanketed by the cliffs, and there was now no alternative but to reach the sh.o.r.e.

It was fortunate that they were on the lee side of the land, but even there the waves rolled up on the sh.o.r.e, and the Professor knew that any landing which might be made would be hazardous in the extreme.

The vessel was approaching a shelving beach. Fortunately, from what could be distinguished of its character, it was not a broken or rocky sh.o.r.e.

"Boys, can you put up the mainsail?" The Professor's voice had a wonderful ring to it, for one so nearly exhausted. Without waiting to question they sprang to the halliards and drew it up, while the boat in the meantime was turned to port to ease the operation.

The boys looked on in wonder as the tiller was turned and, when the boat had gained headway, was pointed to the sh.o.r.e. It fairly darted through the surf and the billows which marked the sh.o.r.e line, but before the boat touched the beach, the Professor motioned them to come back. "Now hold fast, when we strike."

In another instant they seemed to be lifted by a giant wave, and as it receded the boat, impelled forwardly by the sail, struck the sand of the beach the moment after the tiller had been brought hard to port. The result was that the boat was now spun around with its stern toward the oncoming wind, but the impact was so great that the entire left side of the little ship was crushed like an egg sh.e.l.l.

"Release the boom, quickly!"

When that had been done the wrecked vessel was still, and the Professor was lifted out of the boat, but he stood there grasping the side, too stiff to move, but with that same smile on his countenance which had told the boys on so many occasions before, how gratified he was at their safety.

Poor Angel was actually a wreck. He had remained within the housed enclosure ever since the storm began. When the rocking and tossing of the boat ceased, and he heard nothing but the beating wind, he could not understand what had happened.

All had forgotten the little animal. George was the first to go to his rescue, and found him crouching in the extreme end of the enclosure.

After some coaxing he moved toward George, and when he was led out and saw about him on one side the raging waves and on the other side the land, his chatter turned to a chuckle, and he leaped to the land, shambled up the bank, and catching the limb of the nearest tree, was soon in its top, as happy as though ocean storms were unknown.

Meals had been forgotten since the day before. The boat was so high up on the beach that they had no fears for the waves. Hunger a.s.serted itself now, and the moment the stove was brought out, Angel was down in a moment, came over to George, and looked up inquiringly into his face.

It was such a comical situation, coming so close upon the heels of their great catastrophe, that he could not help laughing. He knew what that look meant, and Angel had more than the usual share of sugar. That with the nuts, of which there was always an abundant supply, was a feast for the little fellow.

After the meal a careful examination was made of the boat. The entire left side, from the bow to a third of the way back from the midship bulge, was broken to atoms. The inside of the boat was filled with sand which had been driven in when the impact took place. To repair it would be impossible without suitable lumber, to say nothing of tools. They sat down, not with a feeling of despair, so that they might the better form a judgment as to the wisest course to pursue.

"What interests me most," said George, "is to know where we are. Do you think we are anywhere near West River?"

The Professor sat there musing, but did not answer. Harry ventured the opinion that they must be far east of the mouth of that river.

Finally the Professor gave his views: "It is simply impossible for us to speculate on the course of the river, because we were unfortunate enough to pa.s.s it by in the night. It seems to me more probable, however, that it finds its way to the sea to the east of the point we came around."

"What reason have you for thinking so?"

"Simply because the mountains were not, apparently, far inland, and it seems to me that the promontory is merely an extension of the mountains or the high ridge we saw."

"I would certainly feel more comfortable," continued George "if I knew we were anywhere near the river."

But some decision must be made, and that without delay. If they were near West River the distance home was fully seventy-five miles.

Preparations must be made for the trip on foot. The boat was, probably, in as safe a condition as it could be higher up, nevertheless it was concluded to take no chances, and all the provisions were removed, and by means of levers and blocks, it was carried inland fully thirty feet farther. A good supply of provisions was then taken, the guns and ammunition removed, and put in separate piles, and arranged in convenient packages for easy transportation.

The residue was carefully stored within the housed enclosure, and carefully covered over. What grieved them most was the bedding, which must be left, but the Professor insisted that all the articles of ramie, which would afford some covering, should be taken along. They would now be compelled to sleep in the open air, with nothing else to cover them.

With a last look at their ship, they moved toward the east with heavy hearts.

Harry stopped before they had gone far. "It occurs to me that we ought to put some inscription on the boat. If any of our friends should discover the boat it might guide them to us."

"That is a capital idea," answered the Professor; and they returned to put up the proper notice.

It was past noon, but they hoped to cover at least ten miles before evening should set in, but the way was rough and broken. "I think,"

mused the Professor, as they halted on the journey, "we made a mistake in not following the seash.o.r.e. The only reason that prompted me to take this course was the appearance of the sh.o.r.e to the east of our landing place. It looked so uninviting that I felt sure we should find traveling inland more comfortable."

During the first five miles of the journey the ascent was gradual, but not steep, at any place, but now the land gradually showed a change in character, growing smoother and more open, and they knew the grade had changed and was taking them down to a lower level.

Before evening came, emerging from a light wood, great was the delight at seeing a beautiful river before them. It was a broad stream, and they divined that it must be the West River, which, they had so longed to reach.

CHAPTER XII

THE RETURN TRIP. THE ORANG-OUTAN

Here they were on the banks of a broad stream, tired and hungry. The experiences which they had gone through made the task of seeking suitable shelter an easy one. An entire month of preparation had been wasted. Aside from the lights which were seen on the fourth day on the western sh.o.r.e, they had no more knowledge than when they started. It seemed to be very discouraging.

But they were going home. This was the most comforting thought and it made up for a great deal of the disappointments. There was real grief at the loss of the boat. True, it could be recovered, but all this meant time and hard work. It should be said, however, that at no time had either of the boys ever found fault with the tasks that were allotted to them.

In this fact the Professor found much comfort. It was a strong factor, as he knew, in the lives of the boys. It required the highest sort of courage to bear misfortune without complaining.

The camp for the night was soon made, and after a hearty meal all retired for the night. Early in the morning the boys were at work, as soon as the morning meal was finished, constructing a raft of sufficient size to carry them across, and when the timbers had been securely lashed and all their luggage placed aboard, the poles and primitive paddles gave them a trying half hour to make the trip.

The stream was rather wide at this point, and it was believed to be near the sea, and the suggestion was made to follow the stream down for an hour, to ascertain whether the ocean would appear in view, and if not, to take up the trail for the east.

In less than a half hour the sea was in sight. The course was then directed east, but after traveling the entire forenoon through the most difficult paths, it was decided to change the course to the south.

"If you recall, we took a more southerly course when we left the West River on our overland trip, and found much better traveling."

The Professor's words recalled the incident, and the result was a change to the southeast. This was now the sixth day after leaving home in the No. 3. During the day at least twenty miles was made. Shortly before night, George, who was in the lead, stopped, and then moved forward, gazing at the ground intently.

Harry saw the movement and was at his side in an instant. "What is it?"

It was not necessary to continue his inquiry. Directly ahead was a slightly cleared s.p.a.ce, with a blackened s.p.a.ce in the center, where a fire undoubtedly had been made, and a few bones were still scattered about as mute evidences of occupation.

The Professor looked at it a moment, and then smiled. "Don't you remember our own camp fire?" This was the case. While they could not remember the particular spot, they knew the old trail had been crossed, and it was a comfortable, homelike feeling to come across the spot.

"Let us camp here again," said Harry, as he threw down his pack. On this occasion they did not have the wagon and the yaks, but they had an ample supply of food and there was no difficulty in making a fire.

Their first adventure came about noon of the seventh day. Plenty of evidences of animals had been found, but they were not eager to hunt.

The trail for home had far more fascination than all the animals on the island. It was the custom to stop at intervals for rest. During one of these stops the cracking of bushes was heard, as though produced by a cautious tread. The boys were alert at once and, with their guns in hand, moved in the direction of the noises.

Not two hundred feet away was an immense bear, of the same species they had shot near that place nine months before. The boys separated, as they approached, under the guiding direction of the Professor, and when within seventy-five feet, Harry asked whether or not he should shoot.