CHAPTER XVIII
A Nightmare Experience
It did not take the explorers long to pass a group of islands not farupstream, one of the landmarks that Otari had told them about, and asthe islands were a number of miles from the village, they felt thatthey were making a rapid start.
The country was gradually becoming wilder and more beautiful, but withthis came an increase in the number of dangerous obstacles that had tobe avoided. On the shore the jungle was denser than they had ever seenit before. In many places, to attempt to penetrate its depths would bedifficult and perilous, and disaster would come upon anyone who wouldnot blaze a trail.
The variety of fauna was still greater, and many new specimens did thenaturalists add to their already large collection. Birds and beastsand reptiles all fell at the report of the explorers' rifles.
Finally they came to a wide tributary, which forged off from the mainstream, making the two rivers form a perfect V. This was the second ofOtari's landmarks, and the explorers felt that another importantdistance had been covered.
"The current's rather rough," said Bob, his eyes following the courseof the tributary.
The explorers passed the stream by, not thinking it wise to chance anexploration of it.
The next day their adventurous spirits proved their own undoing. Theyhad been paddling constantly after the morning meal when suddenly theycame upon another tributary, this time branching out at right anglesfrom the main stream. There was something about that river that madethe explorers want to follow its rough course.
"Probably doesn't continue far," was the opinion given by Mr. Holton."Let's turn the boats up for a considerable distance. We may comeacross something totally different."
The others agreed, for there was a possibility of finding almostanything in this out-of-the-way tributary.
"But we must not stray too far from the Tapaua," warned ProfessorBigelow, as the crew turned the boats in that direction.
For the first hour the country remained much the same. Then theyreached a region where rocky crags protruded out from the shore,making it necessary for the crew to be doubly careful in guiding theboats. And with this danger came the possibility of another, for thecurrent was growing stronger. A terrific rapids could be only a shortdistance downstream. At last, much to the surprise of all, they cameto another river, running at right angles to the one they were on.
A thought struck Bob.
"Do you remember that tributary we passed yesterday that formed a Vwith the Tapaua?" he asked. "Well, I'll bet this is it. It runs almostparallel with the Tapaua, and we've come upon it by taking this coursethat runs at right angles."
"By George, you may be right," agreed Mr. Lewis, suddenly grasping themeaning. "What say we turn down it and see if Bob isn't right? If heis we'll gradually fork over to the Tapaua and be where we wereyesterday afternoon."
The others did not object, for they were curious to know whether ornot Bob was right.
The current gradually grew stronger, carrying the boats ahead at amuch swifter pace. Although this afforded the crew a chance to rest,it worried the explorers, for it was plain that a rapids was somewhereahead.
They paddled on, however, confident that they were not near enough tobe in danger.
"We'll continue for a while," said Mr. Holton. "Then we may be able tofind out what is ahead of us."
The words had scarcely left his mouth when the boats rounded a corner,not two hundred feet above a seething, boiling rapids, its watersrushing madly past protruding rocks.
There was no time to lose. Something must be done at once!
"Stop the boats!" cried Mr. Lewis in Portuguese to the crew.
The Indians heard, and struggled with all their might against therapidly increasing current, but their efforts were in vain. The boatshad gained too much momentum.
The cruel water carried them on at terrific speed, which was increasedseveral fold when they went into the rapids. Then they realized thatthere was little use trying to stop. The forces of man were punyindeed compared to that terrific onslaught of foam.
"Make for the middle of the stream!" commanded Mr. Holton. "Even thenit will tax our efforts to the utmost."
The whites grabbed poles and what other objects they could find anddid their part in keeping the foremost boat at as near the middle ofthe river as they could. But even with the added help it was extremelydifficult to guide straight.
The crew had the paddles, and they were doing their best to steer theboats away from the banks. They succeeded fairly well, for the riverwas still several score feet wide.
But grave misfortune awaited them.
Not far away was a small island, stretching several hundred feet alongthe course of the river. The distance between the river bank and theisland shore was little more than twenty feet, hardly room enough forthe boats to get through. And to make matters worse, there wereseveral large boulders protruding near the bank. Disaster seemedalmost certain!
In the face of this grave danger the explorers remained calm,determining to save themselves and the boats if it were at allpossible. But how?
With sinking hearts they saw the boats head directly for the rocks,where they would immediately be dashed to pieces.
"We must--we've got to do something!" cried Professor Bigelow, rapidlylosing his nerve.
Bob and Joe were nearest the bank, and anything that could be done wasup to them.
Summoning all his power, Joe thrust a sturdy pole into the roots of alarge tree that grew almost in the water. He little expected anythingto come of the act, but it was a last resort.
Much to the surprise and relief of all, the sudden impact forced theboat back into midstream, although Joe was nearly thrown overboard bythe clash.
Bob drew a sigh of relief. A narrow escape! Perhaps the closest theywould ever be to death and yet evade it.
But what of the other boat? The whites were so intent upon guiding theone they were in that they completely forgot about the one thattrailed.
They quickly glanced around, to see that it had escaped also, and wasdashing along behind. How the good luck was brought about they neverknew.
"That was a wonderful act on your part," praised Mr. Holton, turning amoment to Joe.
The latter shook his head.
"Don't know how I happened to think of it," he said modestly. "Ididn't expect any good from it, though."
The others also took part in the commendation, and Joe was glad toturn the conversation to their present predicament.
"Looks like we have a fair chance now," he remarked, glancing farahead.
Then suddenly they struck a seething whirlpool and were spun aroundbroadside to the terrific current.