CHAPTER VI--"NOT ONE SINGLE DROP OF BLOOD SHED"
A gigantic and horribly fierce alligator had seized upon a strong youngtapir, and was trying to drag it into the water.
The poor creature had both its feet set well in front, and was resistingwith all its might, while two other larger animals, probably theparents, were clawing the cayman desperately with their fore-feet.
But ill, indeed, would it have fared with all three had not our heroesappeared just in the nick of time.
For several more of these scaly and fearsome reptiles were hurrying tothe scene of action.
Dick's first shot was a splendid one. It struck the offending cayman inthe eye, and went crashing through his brain.
The brute gasped, the blood flowed freely, and as he fell on his side,turning up his yellow belly, the young tapir got free, and was hurriedspeedily away to the woods.
Volley after volley was poured in on the enraged 'gators, but the boyshad to retreat as they fought. Had they not done so, my story would havestopped short just here.
It was not altogether the sun's parting rays that so encrimsoned thewater, but the blood of those old-world caymans.
Three in all were killed in addition to the one first shot. So that itis no wonder the boys felt elated.
Beeboo had supper waiting and there was nothing talked about thatevening except their strange adventures in the beautiful forest.
----
Probably no one could sleep more soundly than did our heroes and heroinethat night.
Next day, and next, they went on shore again, and on the third a hugejaguar, who fancied he would like to dine off Brawn's shoulder, fell avictim to Dick Temple's unerring aim.
But the raft never stirred nor moved for a whole week.
Said Bill to Jake one morning, as he took his meerschaum from his mouth:
"I think, Jake, and w'at I thinks be's this like. There ain't ne'er amorsel o' good smokin' and on'y just lookin' at that fine and valuablepile o' timber. It strikes me conclusive like that something 'ad betterbe done."
"And what would you propose, Bill?" said Jake.
"Well, Jake, you're captain like, and my proposition is subject to yourdisposition as it were. But I'd lighten her, and lighten her till shefloats; then tow her off, and build up the odd timbers again."
"Good! You have a better head than I have, Bill; and it's you thatshould have been skipper, not me."
Nothing was done that day, however, except making a few more attemptswith the steamer at full speed to tow her off. She did shift and slueround a little, but that was all.
Next morning dawned as beautifully as any that had gone before it.
There were fleecy clouds, however, hurrying across the sky as if onbusiness bent, and the blue between them was bluer than ever our youngfolks had seen it.
Dick Temple, with Roland and Peggy, had made up their minds to go onshore for another day while the work of dismantling the raft went on.
But a fierce south wind began to blow, driving heavy black clouds beforeit, and lashing the river into foam.
One of those terrible tropic storms was evidently on the cards, and comeit did right soon.
The darkest blackness was away to the west, and here, though no thundercould be heard, the lightning was very vivid. It was evident that thiswas the vortex of the hurricane, for only a few drops of rain fellaround the raft.
The picnic scheme was of course abandoned, and all waited anxiouslyenough for something to come.
That something did come in less than an hour--the descent of the mightyAmazon in flood. Its tributaries had no doubt been swollen by the awfulrain and water-spouts, and poured into the great queen of rivers doubletheir usual discharge.
A bore is a curling wave like a shore breaker that rushes down thesmaller rivers, and is terribly destructive to boating or to shipping.
The Amazon, however, did not rise like this. It came rushing almostsilently down in a broad tall wave that appeared to stretch right acrossit, from the forest-clad bank where the raft lay to the far-off greenhorizon in the north.
But Burly Bill was quite prepared for eventualities.
Steam had been got up, the vessel's bows were headed for up stream, andthe hawser betwixt raft and boat tautened.
On and on rushed the huge wave. It towered above the raft, even whenfifty yards away, in the most threatening manner, as if about to sweepall things to destruction.
But on its nearer approach it glided in under the raft, and steamer aswell--like some huge submarine monster such as we read of in fairy booksof the long-long-ago--glided in under them, and seemed to lift themsky-high.
"Go ahead at full speed!"
It was the sonorous voice of Burly Bill shouting to the engineer.
"Ay, ay, sir!" came the cheery reply.
The screw went round with a rush.
It churned up a wake of foaming water as the _Peggy_ began to forgeahead, and next minute, driven along on the breeze, the monster raftbegan to follow and was soon out and away beyond danger from rock orshoal.
Then arose to heaven a prayer of thankfulness, and a cheer so loud andlong that even the parrots and monkeys in the forest depths heard it,and yelled and chattered till they frightened both 'gators and jaguars.
Just two weeks after these adventures, the little _Peggy_ was at anchor,and the great raft safely beached.
Burly Bill was left in charge with his white men and his Indians, withDick Temple to act as supercargo, and Jake Solomons with Roland andPeggy, not to mention the dog, started off for Para.
In due course, but after many discomforts, they arrived there, and Jake,after taking rooms in a hotel, hurried off to secure his despatches fromthe post-office.
"No letters!" cried Jake, as his big brown fist came down with a bang onthe counter. "Why, I see the very documents I came for in thepigeon-hole behind you!"
The clerk, somewhat alarmed at the attitude of this tall Yankeebackwoodsman, pulled them out and looked at them.
"They cannot be delivered," he said.
"And why?" thundered Jake, "Inasmuch as to wherefore, you greasy-facedlittle whipper-snapper!"
"Not sufficient postage."
Jake thrust one hand into a front pocket, and one behind him. Then onthe counter he dashed down a bag of cash and a six-chambered revolver.
"I'm Jake Solomons," he said. "There before you lies peace or war.Hand over the letters, and you'll have the rhino. Refuse, and I guessand calculate I'll blow the whole top of your head off."
The clerk preferred peace, and Jake strode away triumphant.
When he returned to the hotel and told the boys the story, they laughedheartily. In their eyes, Jake was more a hero than ever.
"Ah!" said the giant quietly, "there's nothing brings these long-shorechaps sooner to their senses than letting 'em have a squint down thebarrel of a six-shooter."
The letters were all from Mr. St. Clair, and had been lying at thepost-office for over a week. They all related to business, to the saleof the timber and the other commodities, the best markets, and so on andso forth, with hints as to the gold-mine.
But the last one was much more bulky than the others, and so soon as hehad glanced at the first lines, Jake lit his meerschaum, then threwhimself back in his rocker to quietly discuss it.
It was a plain, outspoken letter, such as one man of the world writes toanother. Here is one extract:--
_Our business is increasing at a rapid rate, Jake Solomon. I have toomuch to do and so have you; therefore, although I did not think itnecessary to inform you before, I have been in communication with mybrother John, and he is sending me out a shrewd, splendid man ofbusiness. He will have arrived before your return._
_I can trust John thoroughly, and this Don Pedro Salvador, over andabove his excellent business capabilities, can talk Spanish, French, andPortuguese._
_I do not quite like the name, Jake, so he must be content to be calledplain Mr. Peter._
----
About the very time that Jake Solomons was reading this letter, theresat close to the sky-light of an outward-bound steamer at Liverpool, twomen holding low but earnest conversation. Their faces were partlyobscured, for it was night, and the only light a glimmer from the ship'slamp.
Steam was up and roaring through the pipes.
A casual observer might have noted that one was a slim, swarthy, butwiry, smart-looking man of about thirty. His companion was a manconsiderably over forty.
"I shall go now," said the latter. "You have my instructions, and Ibelieve I can trust you."
"Have I not already given you reason to?" was the rejoinder. "At therisk of penal servitude did I not steal my employer's keys, break intohis room at night, and copy that will for you? It was but a copy of acopy, it is true, and I could not discover the original, else thequickest and simplest plan would have been--fire:"
"True, you did so, but"--the older man laughed lightly--"you were wellpaid for the duty you performed."
"Duty, eh?" sneered the other. "Well," he added, "thank God nothing hasbeen discovered. My employer has bidden me an almost affectionatefarewell, and given me excellent certificates."
The other started up as a loud voice hailed the deck:
"Any more for the shore!"
"I am going now," he said. "Good-bye, old man, and remember my lastwords: not one single drop of blood shed!"
"I understand, and will obey to the letter. Obedience pays."
"True; and you shall find it so. Good-bye!"
"_A Dios!_" said the other.
The last bell was struck, and the gangway was hauled on shore.
The great ship _Benedict_ was that night rolling and tossing about onthe waves of the Irish Channel.
----
Jake Solomons acquainted Roland and Peggy with the contents of this lastletter, and greatly did the latter wonder what the new overseer would belike, and if she should love him or not.
For Peggy had a soft little heart of her own, and was always prepared tobe friendly with anyone who, according to her idea, was nice.
Jake took his charges all round the city next day and showed them thesights of what is now one of the most beautiful towns in South America.
The gardens, the fountains, the churches and palaces, the flowers andfruit, and feathery palm-trees, all things indeed spoke ofdelightfulness, and calm, and peace.
And far beyond and behind all this was the boundless forest primeval.
This was not their last drive through the city, and this good fellowJake, though his business took him from home most of the day, delightedto take the children to every place of amusement he could think of. Butdespite all this, these children of the forest wilds began to long forhome, and very much rejoiced were they when one evening, after dinner,Jake told them they should start on the morrow for Bona Vista, near towhich town the little steamer lay, and so up the great river and home.
Jake had done all his business, and done it satisfactorily, and couldreturn to the old plantation and Burnley Hall with a light and cheerfulheart.
He had even sold the mine, although it was not to be worked for sometime to come.