CHAPTER XIX
THE PRISONER'S ESCAPE
"Do you think they will ever return?" asked Terence.
"I think they have had enough," replied Mr. McKay. "They've had alesson."
"And so have we," added Ellerton, dolefully regarding the fragments ofthe storehouse and the shattered line of rails.
"And our boat; how shall we be able to leave the island now?" askedAndy.
"Perhaps the damage done to that is not so great as we imagine. Withthe help of these canoes we may be able to raise her. But we'll gointo that question later. At present I feel as if I could enjoy a goodsquare meal."
So back to the dwelling-house they went, where Quexo, who had beenquaking all the time, was reassured.
"Don't you think we could rig up an electric alarm?" said Terenceduring the progress of the meal. "There's plenty of insulated copperwire in the small store."
"It would be as well," replied Mr. McKay. "We might have a returnvisit; though, as I said before, I don't anticipate one."
"But some natives from another island might try and surprise us," saidAndy. "News travels quickly, and perhaps we might again be favouredwith the unwelcome attentions of these savage gentry."
"And I tell you what," continued Terence, waxing enthusiastic, forelectrical engineering was his strong point, "we brought one of the_San Martin's_ searchlights ashore. I'll try and fix it up and connectit with the dynamo."
"We'll see what's to be done. But now, how about Blight? It's time wepaid him a visit."
"I guess he's been wondering what the dust-up was about," remarkedAndy, as he prepared the prisoner's daily ration.
Andy and Terence were deputed to visit the prisoner, and, armed asusual and carrying a supply of food and water, they set off for thefenced-in dwelling.
From the elevation of the upper terrace they could see the distant darkbrown sails of the canoes, for the wind was light and their progresshad been slow.
"They'll have a nice yarn to pitch into their friends when theyreturn," observed Terence.
"They stood a good chance of pitching into us," replied Andy grimly."The rascals!"
For his mind was still sore on the subject of the scuttled yawl.
On arriving at the fence Andy put down his load, and producing a keyunlocked the door. The space without the cave was deserted.
"Strange," muttered Andy. "Blight is generally anxious for his food."
Carefully relocking the door, the lads made their way to the mouth ofthe cave. Here, too, silence reigned.
"Blight! Where are you?"
There was no answer. Andy repeated the call, but without result.
"Is he asleep, or is he dead?" asked Terence, and gripping theirpistols the two lads entered the cave.
Contrasted with the brilliant sunshine without, the apartment seemedplunged into utter darkness, but by degrees the lads' eyes grewaccustomed to the gloom.
"Be careful," whispered Andy. "Perhaps he's up to some of his tricks."
"You locked the door in the fence?"
"Yes."
"Then let us explore the cave thoroughly."
This they did, penetrating into the cavern and examining every recessas they advanced, till the daylight which filtered in was insufficientto allow them to continue their search.
"Where's his lamp? I know the pater let him have one."
"I saw it on a ledge close to the entrance. Have you any matches?"
Andy had; matches were becoming scarce on McKay's Island, and wheneverpossible a burning glass was used for obtaining fire. Being, in thiscase, without his magnifying glass, Andy had to use one of the precioushoard of matches that he kept in a watertight gun-metal case, andlighting the lamp the two explorers resumed their search.
"He's gone right enough," exclaimed Terence, as they "drew blank."
"But where? And how?"
"Goodness only knows. Let's run back and tell the others."
Mr. McKay was greatly upset at the news, and seizing a light rifle hestrode off towards the prisoner's quarters, accompanied by the threelads.
"Did you leave the door open?" he inquired, as they came in sight ofthe fence.
"Yes," replied Andy. "I was in a hurry to tell you, and what does itmatter now that the man has escaped?"
"For all we know he might have been lying concealed within the fencethe whole time you were looking for him, and finding the door unlockedafter you left he coolly walked out. Andy, I'm surprised at suchcarelessness."
It was seldom that Mr. McKay was annoyed with his son, but the apparentlaxity was enough to justify his displeasure.
With Blight roaming about the island, the existence of the others wouldbe a continual round of anxiety. The man was no ordinary criminal. Hewas versed in all the wiles of the savage life, possessed ofconsiderable strength, skill, and reliance, and was not above resortingto treachery and murder to gain his ends.
A careful examination of the outside of the fence revealed no signs ofa burrow under the iron sheeting, but close to the part of the wallthat touched the cliff there were unmistakable signs of a man's feet.
"There you are! He did not escape by the door after all, Andy,"remarked his father. "See, these two footprints close together show usthat he jumped, and, what is more, jumped skilfully, for there are notraces of his heels. We'll find out how he scaled the fence byexamining the other side."
Entering the door, the gaolers found that Blight had cut a number ofniches in the rock and had thus managed to climb to the top of thefence. The cutting of these footholds must have taken a considerabletime, and in spite of the daily examination of the ground for any signof a tunnel, the niches had escaped observation.
"You see how he hoodwinked us," said Mr. McKay, pointing to the littleheap of dried grass and mud. "He dug out those footholds and filledthem up with grass and clay, so that they presented the same appearanceas the rest of the cliff. Now, lads, we must find him, and the soonerthe better."
Accordingly they returned to the house, where Terence was told off toremain on guard with Quexo in the event of the escaped prisonerbreaking in and securing arms. The mulatto, though far from havingrecovered from his injuries, was strong enough to use a pistol, so thetwo could hold the dwelling-house against a surprise.
Having supplied themselves with enough provisions for the day, the twoMcKays and Ellerton set out on the trail of the fugitive. Mr. McKayand his son took rifles and revolvers and also an axe to "blaze" thepalm-trees, while Ellerton, by reason of his damaged arm, carried arevolver only in addition to his canvas knapsack containing his shareof provisions.
Tracking was a new experience to the English lad, and he could not helpwondering at the keenness displayed by father and son as they followedthe scantiest trail.
Andy would walk with considerable speed for a hundred yards, his eyesfixed upon the ground; while Mr. McKay would follow at his heels, atthe same time keeping a sharp look-out on all sides in order to guardagainst a sudden attack.
Then the order would be reversed, Mr. McKay following the trail, andhis son acting as a cover to his father.
For nearly a mile the track was fairly well-defined, though Ellertonhad to confess that he would have failed to notice it.
The fugitive had skirted the base of the cliff, then plunging into thepalm grove, he had gone by a round-about way towards the left; and wasevidently heading for the thickly-wooded belt of land surrounding thebase of the highest peak of the island.
Then the pursuers met with an unexpected rebuff. The trail led up to abroad tract of barren country, the surface of the land consisting ofrocky mounds covered with a deposit of lava--the result of volcanicaction many years previously.
"This kind of stuff extends right up to the base of the peak," saidAndy. "We had a rough scramble when Quexo and I climbed the mountain.I know what it's like. There are hundreds of rifts where a man mighthide himself."
"He's covered his tracks," announced Mr. McKay. "See, he's gone inthat direct
ion, then back again and off in entirely the opposite way."
"And the trail is getting very much fainter," added Andy.
"It's my belief that he's lying low within a few yards of us,"continued his father. "It's an admirable hiding-place, but it'scertain that he must have food, so he's bound to make for the cocoanutsand bread-fruit trees sooner or later. That's why he's doubled on histracks."
"We must double on our tracks before long," replied Andy. "That is, ifwe don't want to spend a night in this wilderness."
"That's what I intend to do," said his father in a low voice. "I wantyou two to go back to the house. Make plenty of noise, and grumble athaving been unsuccessful. I'm going to remain here."
"Alone?" queried Andy.
"Hist! Don't speak so loud. Yes, alone. You don't imagine I'm afraidto tackle an unarmed man, do you? Now, listen to what I have to say.It will be dark in an hour or so, but the moon will rise at nineo'clock. Make your way here at sunrise to-morrow, and I'll warrantyou'll find me safe enough--and not alone, I hope."
Andy knew that it was no good arguing, and the two lads set off towardstheir home. The blazed track was followed without difficulty, and justas the sun set they emerged from the forest and gained the terrace onwhich the house stood.
"Where's Mr. McKay?" asked Terence.
"Left behind."
"Left behind? What for? Has anything gone wrong?"
"I hope not. He insisted, so there was no help for it. We've torejoin him at sunrise to-morrow," replied Andy.
All that night the lads did not attempt to sleep. Filled with anxiety,they listened intently for the sound of a rifle shot. The air wasperfectly still, and though the strained nerves of the watchers causedthem to hear a variety of imaginary sounds, no reassuring report offirearms broke the echoes of the palm-groves.
"Look here," exclaimed Ellerton, after hours of weary vigil, "themoon's up quite enough to allow us to find our way; so let's make astart."
Andy shook his head.
"You ought to know the pater well enough by this time, Hoppy. It'srotten hanging about here, I admit, but it's part of the game. Solet's make the best of it."