CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.
ANOTHER NIGHT HORROR.
I had no idea how long I had been asleep when all at once I started intowakefulness, feeling that we were in danger.
I did not know what the danger might be, but that there was somethingabout to happen I was sure.
It was very dark in our narrow shed, and nearly dark out beyond ourfeet, only that a faint glow from our fire made one or two tree trunksstand out like dark sentinels just on the other side.
My uncle was so near that I could have wakened him by just moving onehand, but remembering that other night I shrank from wakening himwithout cause.
"I've got another fever fit coming on," I said to myself; but all thesame I did not feel so, only startled and timid, and to encourage myselfI thought that I must have had a bad dream.
But no; I could remember no dream. It seemed as if I had sunk at onceinto a profound sleep from which I had just wakened fancying that wewere in danger.
Then I lay quite still listening to my uncle's breathing, and thinkinghow helpless and unprotected we were out in that wild place, not evenhaving Ebo with us now.
But what was there to fear, I asked myself as I recalled my uncle'swords, that he was certain there were no wild beasts in such an islandas this, and there were no other inhabitants than ourselves.
Yes, I could think of all this, and it ought to have made me morecomfortable; but no, there was still that curious feeling of being indanger, and I felt as certain as if I could see it, that something wascoming to attack us.
Then as I could neither see nor hear anything I began once more toconclude that I must be suffering from another attack of fever, and Ilifted my hand to awaken my uncle, so that he might give me some quinineagain.
Then I recollected that the medicine was in one of our boxes right awayfrom where we were, for we were lost in the forest, and it would beimpossible to move until the sun was up once more. So there I lay tillanother change came over me, and I once more felt sure that it was notfever again. I knew it was not, and this time there was no mistake--something was coming through the forest, though what it was I could nottell.
Should I waken my uncle?
I raised my hand again and again, but always lowered it once more, sofearful was I of being ridiculed; and then I lay thinking that althoughuncle had said with such certainty that there were neither inhabitantsnor wild beasts, there was plenty of room for either to hide away inthese forests; and besides, should there be no regular inhabitants, somemight have come by canoe from one or other of the islands. And, yes, Iwas sure of it, they must have seen our fire, and were creeping up tokill us where we lay.
This was a very pretty theory; but would not they make some noise asthey came, and if so, where was that noise?
I lay perfectly still with the perspiration oozing out of me and myhorror increasing, but still there was no noise.
Yes, there was--a low rustling sound as of some one creeping through thebushes towards us. There could be no mistaking that sound, it was justthe same as I had been hearing all the afternoon as we crept cautiouslyon in search of the birds of paradise.
I listened and tried to pierce the darkness with my eyes, but only justabout the embers of the fire was anything visible, where the tree trunksstood all like sentries.
Then the noise ceased and I was ready to believe that I had made amistake. No, there it was again, and certainly much nearer.
Should I wake Uncle Dick, or should I try to be brave enough to dealwith the danger myself?
I was horribly frightened and sadly wanted him to give me his help andcounsel; but as I was not sure, in spite of my feelings, that therereally was danger, I fought hard with my cowardice and determined to actas seemed best.
Cautiously reaching out my hand I took hold of my gun, and by pressingmy finger on each trigger in turn, I cocked it silently, and raisingmyself on one elbow waited for the danger to come.
The sounds stopped several times, but were always resumed, and the moreI listened the more certain I felt that some big animal was creeping upwith great caution towards the fire, though I felt that that animalmight be a man.
I would have given anything to have been able to sit up in an easierposition; but I could only have done so by making a noise and perhapswaking Uncle Dick for nothing. So I remained as I was, watching witheyes and ears upon the strain, the barrel of my gun towards the openingin our leafy shed and well covering the fire; and so minute after minutewent by, with the sensation more and more strongly upon me of the nearpresence of some creature, one which I each moment expected to see crossthe faint glow of the fire.
Then all was still, and though I listened so intently I could hearnothing but my uncle's breathing. So still did everything become that Ibegan to feel less oppression at my chest, and ready to believe that itwas all fancy, when suddenly the embers of the fire seemed to havefallen a little together, for the glow grew stronger and there was afaint flicker which made my heart give one great bound.
For there, between me and the fire, was what appeared to be themonstrous figure of an orang-outang, which had crawled close up to thefire and was looking at it.
The creature was on all-fours and had its back to me, while the darknessof the night prevented me from making it out properly; but it looked tome very large and dark coloured, and I had read that the strength ofthese creatures was enormous.
It crouched there about five yards from where I lay, and as I wonderedwhether I had better shoot, I suddenly recollected that both barrels ofmy gun were loaded with small shot, and that at such a distance, thoughthe shot would well hang together, they were not certain to make amortal wound; while the result would be that the monster would be morefierce and terrible than it was before.
I don't think I was afraid to fire, but I hesitated, and as I waited Ifelt that there was a possibility of the animal not being aware of ourpresence, for it was evidently the fire that had attracted it.
But these hopes came to an end directly, and I raised my gun softly tomy shoulder, for the creature seemed about to crawl towards me. Thiswas only for a moment or two though, and then there was a peculiarscratching noise as if the monster was tearing at the bushes, and Icould dimly see its great back waving to and fro. Then all at once thescratching ceased, and it seemed to have thrown some twigs and leavesupon the fire, which blazed up, and my gun nearly fell from my hand.
"Ebo!" I shouted; and as my uncle sprang up and we crept out into theruddy light spread by the burning wood, there was my monster in theshape of our trusty follower, dancing about like mad, and chatteringaway as he pointed to the fire, then to himself, then to a distance, andseemed to be trying to make us understand that he had seen the fire andtracked us by its light to where we were.
His delight seemed to know no bounds, for whenever he came to a pause inhis performance and stood grinning at us, he broke out again, leapingabout, running away, coming back, and shouting and laughing as heslapped himself loudly with his hands. I can compare his conduct tonothing but that of a dog who has just found his master.
The question now arose what was to be done, and by a good deal of sign--making we asked Ebo to lead us back to the camp; but he shook his headand stamped and frowned, and to cut the matter short threw some morewood on the fire, pushed us both into our leaf tent, lay down across thefront, and went to sleep.