CHAPTER XIX
A BRAVE ACT AND A CLEVER RUSE
As the two marines dashed around the bend in the road they found beforethem an open plain with small clumps of low-lying shrubs here and thereon its sun-baked, level surface. Three hundred yards to their right athatched hut of mud stood at the edge of the mangroves which borderedthe plain. Apparently deserted, it offered the only real shelter insight, and this was shelter from observation only, in all probability,for its walls would offer little resistance to the shots of theirenemies.
"Make for the shack, Hank," called Dick, and together they dashed acrossthe firm ground. Before they reached their haven the bullets were againzip-zipping about them. Dick, in the lead, was within a few yards ofthe hut when he was arrested by a cry of distress from Henry. Turning,he saw his chum on his hands and knees about twenty yards in the rear,while from the direction of the bend an exultant yelling told him thenatives were aware that one of the party was injured. Instantly Dickdoubled on his tracks and was soon at Henry's side.
"Did they get you, Hank?" he inquired anxiously.
"Yes, in the right leg," answered the plucky boy, with a smile. "Itknocked me down. Doesn't hurt much, but I can't seem to use my leg."
"I'll fix you all right," said Dick cheerily, though he felt far fromhappy, and bending while Henry sat up, he easily picked up his companionin the way he had been taught to use in carrying wounded men off thefield. He took Henry's left leg under his own left arm, and made theinjured boy bend over his left shoulder. Then, grasping Henry's leftwrist with his right hand, Dick was up and again running towards thehut. The shooting kept up while Dick was bending over his chum, butwhen the natives saw him carrying away the fallen boy they redoubledtheir fire and their yells increased in proportion. Fortunately theywere poor marksmen, and Dick reached the shack without further mishap.Here he deposited Henry on the dirt floor and reaching in hishunting-bag he brought forth a first-aid package. The wound wasbleeding freely, and without hesitation Dick ripped the right trousers'leg from the knee downward with his knife (the same one he had takenfrom Gonzales at Sanchez) and then with an expert hand he bound thewound up firmly.
"I feel O.K. now, old chap, and you'd better squint outside and see whatthose rapscallions are up to."
"They've quit shooting and there is no one in sight," said Dick, whocrawled to the empty doorway and looked out across the flats towards thebend.
Map Showing Position of Hut in Which Boys Took Refuge]
"Do you reckon they've decided to let us alone?"
"I don't know, Henry, but I'll know in a minute. I'm going out after ourshotguns. We're pretty poor soldiers to leave our weapons lying allaround the country," and Dick's grin was meant to convey the idea thatthe task he was about to undertake was not of much importance nordanger.
"Don't try it, Dick. Perhaps they are only waiting for us to showourselves and then when we do they hope to pot us."
But Dick had rushed out of the doorway before Henry finished speaking.He zigzagged his way across the open space to about fifty yards, thepoint where he had rescued Henry, and with his reappearance anotherfusillade began. As Dick reached the spot he saw the two guns lyingwithin a few feet of each other, and between them and the enemy was asmall clump of green bush.
Back in the doorway Henry now sat watching with bated breath. He sawDick stop in his mad rush, then he saw him throw up his hands in a wildgesture of despair and fall to the ground. That his brave friend was ingreat agony was evident to the helpless watcher. He saw Dick roll overand over, his arms and legs seeming to thresh the air. Finally themovements ceased and Dick lay stretched out like a log on the scorchinghot plain. The tears rolled unheeded down Henry's cheeks, and then,hearing the loud victorious shouts of the natives as they streamed outfrom behind the shelter of the woods near the bend, and on across theplain, his lips pressed together and his eyes grew cold and stern, forthe brain behind was dominated by but one thought, the desire to avengehis comrade.
With grim determination he placed all the spare magazines for his pistolwithin easy reach and drew his heavy Colt's from the holster. Not a manshould ever reach Dick's body if the steady hand and cool nerve of HenryCabell could prevent.
On came the natives, and Mexican Pete was leading them. Even as theycame they continued firing at the hut and in the direction of the stillbody lying behind the little bush where it had rolled in the laststruggles. Henry, unheeding the pain in his leg, rolled into thedoorway on his stomach and, resting both elbows on the floor, hesquinted over the sights and took careful aim at the Mexican. He meantto make every shot count, and so he waited until the leader should bewithin seventy-five yards of him. So intense was he on judging theprecise moment to open fire that he saw nothing but this one man whom hecovered with his pistol.
As he looked he saw the Mexican throw up his arms, whirl about and runback towards cover. What caused this? Henry lowered his pistol, and nowsaw the rest of the gang wildly scattering, leaving two of their numberlying on the plain. The next moment Henry was rubbing his eyes to seeif he were awake. The body lying in the shelter of the bush had come tolife. Dick Comstock was working his shotguns with lightning rapidity,and clouds of dust flew up from the plain as the buckshot sprayed aboutamong the fleeing men. As the last one was lost in the distant coverDick ceased his fire and came running, with both guns in his hands, forthe hut.
"Say, boy, but didn't I fool 'em?" he joyfully shouted as he sprangthrough the doorway. "Did you see me get 'em, Hank?"
"Old boy, I thought they had gotten you. I reckon I was pretty much allin too, Dick, when I saw you go down, and I was just about to open upwhen you began on them. It was sure a good trick you played, but, Dick,be careful to let me know about it the next time or I'll die of heartfailure. Did they get you at all?"
"Not once; but one of their darn slugs took off my cap, right enough,and right then the thought flashed through my mind to play the trick.Whew! It's some hot out there, and, Hank, do you still see those twochaps that fell? I wonder if they're hurt, or--or---- Gee! I feelkind of squeamish, now that it's over," and Dick sat down rathersuddenly with his back against the wall.
"No, they are not dead, Dick, for one of them jumped up and limped offwhen your fire stopped, and the other is yelling for help right now.Besides, they deserve no better fate, and our death would have meantnothing to them in the way of regret, at least."
"I feel better, after what you've said, but for a moment the thought ofkilling a man was making me sort of sick at my stomach. I didn't feelthat way when I was shooting at 'em, though," and Dick took a deepbreath of relief, then rising he looked out at the scene of recentconflict. Out in the middle of the plain the wounded native stillcalled for help, but if his comrades were within hearing they made noattempt to render any assistance.
"I reckon those buckshot sort of stung a bit," snickered Henry; but hissnicker ended in a little painful gasp that he tried in vain to control.
"I've got to get you out of here, Hank, and in a hurry. There is notelling what they'll do next, and they'll be back as soon as the firstfright wears off. I believe that path back of the hut will take us to acreek which flows into the Estero Balsa and which the officers plottedin on the chart last week when I was with them. Anyhow, it's worthtrying. If you feel well enough suppose you keep an eye out on the plainwhile I reconnoiter in the rear."
"Good; I feel fine, Dick, so go along, and I'll keep them off, don'tworry."
In ten minutes Dick returned with the news that his surmise was correct,and as luck would have it, a small boat with two men was even thencoming up the narrow creek. Taking Henry on his shoulder once more,Dick carried him to the bank of the creek, arriving there as the boatmenreached a point opposite. At his hail the boat was soon nosing thebank, and the natives inquired what was wanted.
"My comrade just met with an accident, and I wish to take him to theCaptain of the Port's house; will you ro
w us there?"
The two fishermen at first demurred, but Dick settled the matter bytaking hold of the gunwale and at the same time drawing his pistol. Itwas no time to parley; in a moment they saw the force of his remarks.Henry was placed carefully in the bottom of the boat, and soon they werespeeding down-stream.
Once during the passage the two boys looked at each other and winkedknowingly, for from far upstream came the sound of numerous shots.
"Seems to be a lot of hunting in this country," said Dick aloud.
"Oh, yes, Senor, the doves are very plentiful this year," said one ofthe rowers.
Crossing the waters of the Estero, they drew up alongside the wharf,where they had landed less than twenty-four hours previously. One ofthe ship's boats was there, and the coxswain in charge hailed them.
"Hurry aboard, you leathernecks. I've all the stuff from your camp.The ship's under sailin' orders fer Nicaragua, where there's a hotlittle revolution goin' on. What's that, one of you hurt? Well, theyshouldn't let boys carry guns anyway; they're all the time a-shootin' ofthemselves. Steady, lads! Handle him with care, and make a soft placefer him in the cockpit with them cushions. Shove off, for'rd! Fullspeed ahead! Say good-bye to this heck of an island, fellers; we're offthis time, for sure!"