CHAPTER VIII
In Hot Pursuit
"From information received, a small steam launch put out from the Bay ofLimon at the first streak of dawn, and steamed towards the east," saidMajor Pelton, the police officer who had interrogated Jim at night,putting on his most official voice for the occasion. "It was not hired;it was seized by a couple of men. They found the boat lying alongsidethe staging, ready to take a party out to a hulk we have lying off thecoast. They stole her."
"Proof positive that they are the men we are after," ventured Jim,throwing himself back in the well of the little motor launch in which heand his comrades found themselves.
"It's sartin'," came from Sam, his eyes shining brightly, as was usualwhen he was at all excited.
"Precisely; proof positive, as you say. The useful Sam tracked the man'ssteps to your quarters from that hut. Then back again, and finally,after a detour in some scrub, where no doubt he remained hidden with hiscomrade, straight down to Port Limon. We are on the right track; but itwill be difficult to adhere to it."
The officer glanced round at the occupants of the launch, and foundlittle to encourage him. True, provided his party could come up withthe escaped criminals, it was highly probable that they would be taken;for the handsome launch with which the American Canal Commission hadprovided its Colon people carried, besides the officer and Jim, threemembers of the Colon police force, fully armed, as well as Tom, Sam, andChing.
"You had better bring them all along," the Major had said, whendiscussing the matter. "Tom is a lusty fellow, and evidently full ofpluck, while Sam is a first-class tracker. Some of those negroes onegets from the southern States are extremely quick and skilful, and he isamongst them. Ching, you say, is a good cook."
"Cookee fo ebelybody, sah; make de stew, boil de kettle. Plenty goodcookee Ching makee," had been the response of the wily Chinee when heheard of the proposition.
So it turned out that all the friends were together again, armed withrifles on this occasion, and aboard a fine motor launch.
"Thirty horse-power, gasolene motor," explained the Major. "There's notanother craft in these waters which can outstrip her. In fact, if onlywe can trace those ruffians, we shall have them nicely. Now, sir, you'vehad to do with motors; can you manage for us?"
Fortunately a gasolene motor was one of those things which had alwaysattracted our hero from the first moment he had been able to comprehendits action; and it chanced, seeing that much of his time had been spentin seaports, or closely adjacent thereto, he had had many opportunitiesof studying the marine variety. Immediately he put foot aboard thislaunch he had stooped over the half-covered-in engine, and had examinedit with a friendly and observant eye.
"Yes," he responded instantly, his eye brightening; "yes, Major, I canrun her, I guess. Thirty horse-power! I reckon we shall move alongquick. What about gasolene store?"
"Ample aboard. Her tanks are full; I saw to that at the first moment.She has been handed over to us fully equipped, with rations aboardsufficient for a week. I had only to collect men and ammunition. Now,sir."
Jim had already started his engine, and at the word he pushed over hisgear lever, retarded the engine a little, and sent the boat gentlyheading out to sea.
"Due east," said the Major.
"Due east it is, sir," responded Jim promptly.
"And run up alongside any boat you may see in our course. We must makeevery enquiry."
It was a sensible plan to pursue, for all that the party was sure of wasthe fact that the miscreants they were in search of had steamed out tosea from the Bay of Limon, and had taken an easterly course. Beyond thatfact there was nothing to direct them. Nor were they fortunate inobtaining information till late that afternoon, when they sighted acoaster lazily sailing parallel with the low-lying, muddy shore.
"Have I seed anything of a steam launch hereabouts?" repeated theskipper, a typical Yankee, waddling to the rail of his boat as thelaunch came alongside. "See here, siree, I observed a launch jest sichas you ask fer steaming easy along the coast twenty mile back of this.She was kinder heading in to find a port. There's lagoons way longthere, and, mebbe she's got right into one of 'em. You don't happen tobe wantin' the folks aboard?"
He cocked his eye in a knowing wink, and regarded the uniform of thepoliceman.
"I reckon not," he continued garrulously. "But ef you was--only ef youactually was wantin' 'em--why, I'd get peepin' in at every little hollowwith that 'ere queer craft of yourn. Say, what are she? Gasolene?"
The Major nodded. "Thirty horse-power," he said. "Runs well."
"Jest a daisy! Wish I was aboard her instead of this old scow. But I'mtoo old fer the game. Slow and steady's my motto. Goody to yer."
He helped to push the launch away from the side of his vessel with along pole, and then stood watching her as she went away through thewater, leaving a long, white trail behind her. As for Jim and hisfriends, they ran in closer to the shore, and, since the light wouldsoon be failing, speeded up their engine and pushed ahead at a pacewhich was decidedly smart.
"Six or seven knots faster than the steam launch can make," said theMajor. "If only we can sight the spot where they have put in beforedarkness comes, we ought to make short work of them to-morrow. In anycase we must discover some sort of haven in which to lie to-night."
But, search as they might, it was already dusk before Tom's sharp eyeshit upon an opening on the flat, dismal coast.
"Fresh water come down dere," he cried, after a while, staringcoastward. "Water blue and clean, not same as dis hereabouts. By lummy,but dere a riber in dere, where we can lie fo to-night. Den boil dekettle, cook de meal, hab little sing-song."
"I don't think so," exclaimed Jim at once. "If we make a port there'llbe no singing, especially from a noisy fellow such as you are. But Ibelieve he's right, Major; the water does seem clearer here. Probably astream running into the sea."
"Then we'll explore. We can't venture farther along in any case, and itwill be dark even now before we enter unless we hurry. Push her along,my lad; but go easy as we get close in."
Thanks to the fact that the gasolene launch drew but a couple of feet ofwater, there was no need for extreme caution; and, besides, the coastthereabouts was practically free of rocks. Still, there was mud, mud inabundance, and were the launch to run hard upon it she would stick inthat position, so arresting further pursuit.
"Easy now!" commanded the Major, after a while, when the land was closeat hand, and a thick fringe of tropical vegetation within close range."There's the river entrance; narrow enough in all conscience. Take heralong to the centre, Jim, and be ready to reverse if I give the order."
He went clambering along past his men till he sat right forward, thediminutive Sam joining him there, as if he thought he needed help. Infact, but for the little fellow's sharp eyes they would certainly havebrought the expedition to an abrupt conclusion, for a huge sunken treeblocked a goodly portion of the river channel just at its exit into thesea.
"Hold dere!" shouted Sam, raising both hands. "Back um! Yo see dat snagdown dar, sah? Him rip de bottom out ob us quick as noting. Break um up,send de boat to Davy Jones, and all ob us to the sharks or crocodiles.Back um, Massa Jim!"
"He's right! I can see it now--a huge tree," sang out the Major. "That'svery awkward. Seems to prove that we are on the wrong track."
"'Spose yo gib Sam de painter, den swim or wade ashore. Easy pull delaunch right up to de tree, den see wheder we can get past um. If toomuch in de way, den put Tom oberboard. Him lift de tree away. Ifcrocodile dere, no matter; Tom very good to eat."
The little man grinned at the big negro, while the latter shook anenormous fist at him, and bared his teeth in just that same manner ashad had such effect upon Jaime de Oteros. But Sam recked little of thesignal.
"Yo one big, hulkin' nigger, yo," he grinned. "Yo eat wonderful nice andtasty."
Meanwhile Jim had been careful to reverse his engine, and lay with hismachinery out of gear, awaiting further orders.
"Steady ahead! just a few revolutions!" commanded the Major. "Enough!That has brought us right up to the tree. Now, can one pass by it?"
The dusk was already falling outside, while here, beneath the treeswhich clung in luxuriant profusion to the banks on either side of theentrance to the river, it was already so dark that a white man wastroubled. Neither the Major, nor Jim, nor the policemen, could detectmuch of their surroundings, but in the case of Sam it might have beenbrilliant daytime. He peered over the edge of the launch, then floppedfull length on to the tiny deck she carried forward, and, pushinghimself over the side, finally gripped the tree with one hand, hisweight suspended between the latter and the launch. A startled cry camefrom him, a cry which brought Tom labouring up beside him.
"Yo hurt yoself?" he demanded abruptly. "Hi, yo, Sam, what de matter?"
"Massa Jim, we got um! We bottled dem men up fine and safe. Dey good ashanged. Dey jest as well might be dancin' on thin air at dis veryinstant."
Sam ignored the huge negro--in fact ignored everyone aboard save Jim--inhis anxiety to make a report direct to his master. "Yo see here," hecalled out, turning slightly so as to be able to look aft, and stillclinging half to the launch and half to the fallen tree. "Yo come alongand look fo yoself. Tom, yo great big elephant, yo git along to oneside. There ain't no sorter room for a person when yo's hereabouts."
There was an air of suppressed excitement about the little fellow whichcaused Jim to leave his engine and hasten forward.
"Well?" he demanded curiously. "You've found something? What is it?"
"Reckon dem 'ere blackguard run in here full tilt, I do. Dey come whopup agin de tree, and precious nigh upset. Dere's a dent right here bigenough to put de hand in. Stop a minute. Sam soon say if dey passed."
Without waiting for his master, he slipped into the water, to discoverit deep enough almost to submerge him. But Sam was more like a fishthan anything. He struck out for the tree, reached it, and clambereddown towards that portion which seemed to have sunk deepest. In thegloom they saw him stretching out a hand to the opposite bank. Hegripped a branch hanging conveniently overhead, and then swung in thewater.
"Dey come right along plump in here," he sang out "Den dey sheer off,and steam in alongside. Jest room enough. See here, Massa Jim, plentyspace to swing de legs. Plenty room to float de launch; but I make extrysure. Yo see in one little bit."
They heard him splash down into the stream, while there came to theirears the swish of the branch suddenly relieved of his weight. Then thefitful rays played upon the splashes as the negro breasted the water andswam upstream. Presently the swish of his strokes ceased, and his voicewas heard again, some little distance inland.
"Yo kin jest steer to de right ob dat stump, yo can, Massa Jim. Plentywater. Reckon dem scum come along right in here. We hab um. Dere biglagoon way along a little furder."
Thus it proved when the party had forced the boat past the obstructionguarding the river exit. Jim pushed his lever over a very little, andsent his propeller whirling just for so long as would give the launchway against the sluggish stream. As he did so Tom leaned his ponderousfigure over the stem, causing it to dip violently, and, gripping thetree, directed the boat into clear water. A few more revolutions sentthe launch through, and in time brought her abreast of Sam. They foundthe little fellow poised on a branch overhanging the water, for all theworld as if he were a monkey, and from that position he dropped like acat on to the deck of the launch.
"What's this about a lagoon?" asked the Major eagerly. "You couldn't seeit, surely?"
Sam made no answer for the moment. He took the officer's hand and ledhim right forward. Then, while Tom clung to a branch to steady thevessel, his smaller comrade bade the Major lie on the deck.
"Not see um if stand up," he explained. "Dem leaves and branches in deway; but Sam see um when he swim. Easy as talkin'. Dere's a young moonto-night, and now that we's right under de trees it's easy 'nough tolook out into de open. Dere: ain't dat a lagoon? Gee! Ef I don't tinkso!"
It was laughable to watch his eagerness, while Sam's curious language,often enough sprinkled with long and difficult words, of the meaning ofwhich he had not the remotest idea, was sufficient to make anyone notmorose by nature die of laughing. But in any case he had made nomistake. As the Major stooped, so getting beneath the line ofoverhanging trees and branches, he saw as if from a tunnel awidespreading space filled by water, on the rippling surface of whichthe moonbeams played. Here and there a patch of rushes reared theirheads into the air, while the far distance was hidden behind a cloudy,wet mist which smothered everything.
"And you are sure that those rascals are here?" he asked.
"Sure! Guess so, boss. Dere ain't no room for a mistake. Dem critterscomed right in here. I see dere marks on de tree trunk, and den on thebank ob de stream. Dey stepped ashore, I tink, just where we are, den goaboard agin. Dey here; Sam sure as eggs."
"Then, if there is no other exit from the lagoon, we have got them!"came the exultant answer. "We have only to bar the stream, and then setout in search; for, after all, none but a madman would leave the lagoonfor the forest. Just hereabouts it is intensely thick, to say nothing ofthe fever which haunts it. Then, too, savage natives are known to exist,though some of them are friendly. I think, Jim, that we may almost saythat we have them. What luck to have pitched upon the very spot theymade for!"
"Let us suppose then that they are here, sir," said Jim thoughtfully, ashe cut his engine down till it did little more than just turn round."What is the next movement? To try and find them in that lagoon would beto set oneself the task of discovering a needle in a haystack. There isno chance, even with a bright moon, unless they happened to steam outinto the centre. It seems to me that for to-night at least we have cometo the end of our efforts."
"Quite so; I agree. We'll haul in somewhere and tie up. We shall all beglad of food and drink. Now, where is a likely place?"
"Right here, I should say," declared Jim briskly. "In the first place,we're in a sort of tunnel, which, therefore, is not easy to discover.Then we lie right in the track those men would take if they were makingout to sea. In fact, it's a blockade; we've bottled them so long as weoccupy this channel."
It was not a matter which admitted of discussion, seeing that thesuggestion was so full of common sense. The Major swiftly realized thatfact, and promptly agreed to act upon it.
"Couldn't do better," he said. "Now, see here, boys, we've got to takesome precautions. In the first place, we want food cooked, and thatmeans lighting a fire; for no cooking can be done aboard this craft. Itwouldn't be safe with our tanks filled with gasolene. Suppose we pitchour camp right away in amongst the trees, where a fire couldn't beeasily seen; then we'll tie the launch up right across the stream.She'll reach from bank to bank easily. A man can keep watch aboard herwhile the rest of the party turn in; how's that, Jim?"
"The very thing, I guess. Say, Major, I'm real hungry; don't mind howsoon I sit down to a feed. See here, Ching; jest you and Tom collectthose kettles and things, and take off into the trees. Sam, get alongwith them, and make sure you've chosen a spot where there's plenty ofthick stuff about. Supposing we walk along to the edge of the lagoon,Major. By the time we've had a good look round they'll have the boatmoored in position and the fire going. There's just a chance that wemight have the luck to catch a sight of those two slippery fellows. It'salmost as light as day out there, and they might be still moving."
Swinging themselves ashore the two made their way along the edge of thestream slowly and carefully. Indeed, a good deal of care and of agilitywas required, for the bank was lined by a tangled mass of vegetationwhich often enough obstructed their path; but as both had encounteredthe same before, they had brought with them long cutting knives withwhich to sever the creepers. Underfoot they found the ground firm andeven stony in places, while to their right the land seemed to riseabruptly. As to the lagoon, when once they were free of the long,tunnel-like archway of trees leading to the sea, they came intounint
errupted view of the huge expanse of water, for the moon was nowwell up, and flooded the scene.
"It's so bright that if we were to catch a sight of those rascals we'dbe right off after them," said the Major. "But they know their wayabout. I have had information that this gang, with a few in addition whohave left them for one reason or another, have visited many places alongthis coast. It seems that they came from the States; but they know thiscoast, and knowing it they will have met with lagoons and forestsbefore. They will be just as careful to keep out of our view when thereis light enough to see, as we are careful to hide up our fire at night;but I fancy we shall have them. Quick pursuit is one of the things theyhave not been accustomed to."
They stared out across the lagoon for some little while, noticing thetufts of reeds which cropped up here and there, and the white mist inthe far distance. Then they turned their faces towards the spot they hadleft, and felt their way back towards the camp.
"We'll take a couple of grains of quinine apiece to-night," said theMajor, halting for a breathing spell by the way. "No white man who comesout to a tropical country can afford to neglect that precaution. Evenin the canal zone, where we have reduced the occurrence of malarialfever to an extraordinary figure, we still insist that all employeesshould take quinine regularly. And out away here it's far morenecessary. That mist we've been watching spells malaria, fever thatsticks to a man's bones till he's old, even though he gets safe home,and lives in comfort and warmth. Besides, listen to the hum of themosquitoes; any fool could tell that these parts weren't healthy for awhite man."
Jim agreed with him abruptly. He was thinking of his brother, andwishing at that moment that he had been a little more careful to takeprecautions; but George had been one of those lusty, healthy fellows,never sick or sorry, who had laughed at fever and scoffed atprecautions. And see what it had brought him to.
"My brother might have been alive now if only he had taken his quinine,"said Jim. "You heard about him, Major?"
"I did. As one of the police at Colon his loss was reported to me as amatter of course. It was bad luck, lad; where did he go ashore?"
"Miles away along this coast. I hunted high and low, as far as a man canhunt a jungle. Reckon he died in the undergrowth."
"Or fell into a swamp, lad. He died, that's sure enough; but come along.There's the fire, and a good meal waiting for us. Gee! we've beengetting along; this is better progress than I had dared to hope for."
Skilfully the Major drew Jim's attention from the tragedy which hadfallen upon his young life, and very soon had him seated beside aroaring fire, and dipping his spoon into a steaming cauldron of stewwhich the wily Chinee had provided. In fact, it was a stew which hadbeen prepared ashore in the Major's house, and merely required heating.
"Plenty ob dat fo all, I guess," observed Tom, as he served out helpingsall round, smacking his big lips as the savoury odour filled hisnostrils. "By gum, but dis night air make a fellow hungry. Yo Sam, yosit right along down dar, and I help yo. Not trust a little nigger sameas yo to help hisself: eat too much. Little man, but plenty big tomach."
He held the huge cauldron in one hand, and with the fingers of the otherpressed his small companion to the ground as if he were as weak as ababy. Then, despite his own words, he gave him a liberal helping, and,having done the same for Ching, sat himself down beside the cauldron.
"So as to see dat dat feller Sam don't play one ob him tricks," helaughed. "By de poker, 'spose him try, den shob him into the pot andcook um."
In the firelight his round, rolling eyes gleamed white. Tom looked avery terrible person for the moment. But he could never preserve anappearance of ferocity for long; his usual smile was soon wreathing hisface, particularly when he had taken the first mouthful of stew.
"By lummy, but dat extry good!" he observed. "Hab more, yo fellows?"
In turn he offered it to them all, then helped himself again liberally.In fact, it was not until the last spoonful of gravy had been finishedthat the party turned to their pipes. Nor was there much difference tobe found between the variety of tobacco loved by the British tar orsoldier and that favoured in particular by these American policemen. Jimwatched them as they cut the cake with their knives and rammed thebroken weed into the bowls; then columns of smoke rose amid thebranches, while the scent of navy shag made the air redolent.
"And now for the orders," said the Major, when the men had had time fora long smoke. "Sam has been keeping an eye on the water all this time.We must relieve him, though he has hardly been doing duty in theordinary sense of watchman. Let me see. There are three of my own men,three of yours, making six, and our two selves, eight altogether;suppose we watch in couples. You with one of my men for two hours, thenTom and a second policeman, Sam afterwards with the third, and I last ofall with our friend Ching. How's that? Two hours each, four watchesaltogether, and a good sleep for all of us. It is now eight o'clock, thelast spell takes us up to four o'clock in the morning; it'll be light bythen. Since Ching will be on duty from two o'clock he can employ himselfwith our breakfast. By half-past four we shall be able to get the enginegoing and be under weigh. Now, Jim, get to your duty. One aboard thelaunch, and the second patrolling as far as the lagoon. Pipes not to belit unless well amongst the trees. No one to call loudly to anotherunless there be need. Boys, you've blankets here; turn in."
Ashes were knocked out of pipe stems, and the men at once rolledthemselves in their blankets. Then Jim and the comrade who was to watchwith him shouldered their rifles, and with pouches filled withammunition, attached to the belts round their waists, marched towardsthe stream.
"You get aboard," said Jim. "I'll make along to the lagoon. When an hourhas passed I'll come and take your place."
He wended his way through the jungle, and presently was on the bank ofthe lagoon, admiring its broad expanse of rippling water, which lookedso solemn and so beautiful beneath the silvery rays of the moon. Indeed,it was an enchanting scene, and had our hero been of a romantic turn ofmind he might well have been excused for giving free rein to his fancy.But Jim was a hard, practical-minded fellow, with the world before him,and his way to make in it. It is not then to be wondered at that hismind strayed from the scene before him to the canal zone, to thegigantic undertaking America had determined on, to the host of workmenlabouring there, and to the many problems which confronted them,problems undreamed of by Jim till yesterday, undreamed of now bythousands of Americans, yet problems, for all that, demanding theanxious thought and effort of the Commission staff, in whose able andpainstaking hands lay the enormous enterprise. In his mind's eye Jim sawthat hundred-ton steam digger again. He fancied himself in the driver'sseat, with Harry watching every movement critically, and coaching hisyoung pupil. His hands seemed to fall quite naturally on the levers, andthen the hiss of steam came to his ears, just as it had done when heworked the enormous engine.
"Was it all imagination?" To tell the truth he was getting not a littledrowsy, but that peculiar hiss was so realistic that----"Gee!" herecovered from his brown study suddenly, and opened his eyes very wide.For there was reality in that hissing steam. He could actually hear it,not over loud, but without doubt steam or gas escaping from some narroworifice. Moreover the sound came from the lagoon; yes, from the lagoonstraight before him. A moment later a long, black shape stole into viewfrom behind a mass of reed some few yards away, then lay still on thewater. Silhouetted against the rippling surface he could make out thedusky outlines of a launch, her funnel amidships, the hood of the cabwhich sheltered passengers when a sea was running, and the little maston which her flag drooped. And there were figures--two of them. Theystood sharply displayed against the light, perched on the deck of thelaunch, surveying their surroundings.
"Those villains; then they are here without a doubt. Gee, if they try tomake out through the opening!"
Jim crouched a trifle lower under the trees beneath which he had takenhis station, and watched the launch and her passengers. And steadily, ashe watched, the boat drew nearer and nearer
.
"Searching for the exit," he thought. "Then they mean to come out. Theywant to get to sea again, feeling sure that on such a bright night theywill be able to find their way. They'll just jump into the trap we'velaid for them."
It did indeed look as if fate would play into the hands of those whohad set out to take these rascals, and, if Jim had but known what waspassing in their minds, he would have learned that a crafty plan wasabout to be put into execution.
"Of course those police are after us, and quick too," one of the tworuffians had said to the other. "They've steamed along the coast, and nodoubt have spoken some skipper who saw us. If they fail to find usto-night they'll get along farther to-morrow, and if we're along thereeast of this the chances are that we shall be taken. But we know a gamebetter than that; we'll slip clear of this, steam back towards Colon,run inshore just clear of the port, and sink the launch in deep water.There won't be much of a job in getting a passage to New York; how'sthat?"
It was just one of those plans which, by its very boldness, would mean,provided nothing unforeseen happened, security for those who followedit; for, while all eyes would be searching for them along the coast eastof Colon, the rascals themselves would be securely aboard a ship _enroute_ for New York. But Jim and his friends were to have a say in thematter. Our hero stole back through the trees, gave the warning to hisfellow watcher, and then awakened his comrades.
"S-s-s-he!" he whispered, as he touched the Major's shoulder. "The birdsare there, on the lagoon. They are searching for the opening. With alittle care we shall have them."
It seemed in fact almost a foregone conclusion, this capture of therascals. For, when all were gathered close to the launch, while two ofthe men lay with loaded rifles on her deck, the hiss of steam was heardmost distinctly. Presently a long, black shape put in an appearance,till all could see it stealing slowly down towards them. Instantly fourof the weapons were trained on the men aboard, while the Major, with Jimand Tom to help him, crouched beside the bank, ready to spring on boardthe stranger. It was a time of intense excitement, because even nowthere might come a hitch, something might happen to alarm the ruffians.