Then, and not till then, did the orang take its eyes from its conqueredenemy. But when it had seen the last of it, the hairy creature turnedand appeared to be contemplating fresh victory. The lust of battle wasin its wicked little eyes.
"Down, Billy, down with you quick," warned Jack, pulling his chum asidein the thicket. "If it comes this way, shoot at once. I wouldn't want tocome to close quarters with a creature like that. I thought Salloo wasdrawing the long bow when he told me about the _mias_, as he called it,but he didn't put it on thick enough."
"If only we'd had a camera," was Billy's regret. But for the next fewmoments there were more important things to think about. The orang stoodupright, looking about him in a truculent manner. It almost appeared asif, now that his battle with the saurian was over, he had recollectedthe human figure he had seen not long before, but had paid little heedto it in his haste to make his evening meal among the water plants.
In fact, he started shamblingly toward the brake where the boys wereconcealed with leveled rifles and fingers on triggers. But the greatcreature's life was spared, for that time at least, for had the boysfired he must have fallen at the first bullets from the high-poweredrifles. After advancing a few paces, he changed his mind and, grumblingto himself, he shuffled off and was soon lost in the gloom of theforest.
"We ought to have shot him, Jack," muttered Billy as they started backto camp with what game they bagged.
"What, kill a fine old warrior like that without cause? Could you havedone it, Billy?"
"Um--well--er--no, I don't believe I could," rejoined his chum. "Afterall, that crocodile started the scrap and--and I guess every Americanlikes a good fighter."
CHAPTER XXXIV.--A FIGHT WITH A HORNBILL.
"Now me showee you something."
It was during the noon rest the next day and the Malay had asked thewhites to come a little distance apart from the camp to a fine-lookingbanyan tree. They watched him with interest as with the axe he cut downseveral lengths of bamboo from a nearby cluster, and, pointing the endssharply, having first separated the lengths into bits about two feetlong, began driving them into the yielding bark of the tree. In this wayhe had soon made the first four rounds of a primitive ladder.
Although, as yet, he had given them no hint of the object of all this,they were all sure that he had something really of interest to show themand forbore asking questions till he was ready to explain the mystery.Salloo had driven the tenth round of his queer ladder and was about tenfeet from the ground, when Jack drew everybody's attention to a strangehissing sound that appeared to come from within the tree.
"Look out for snakes, Salloo," he warned. But the Malay only nodded hishead confidently and smiled. Donald glanced about nervously. EvenCaptain Sparhawk looked apprehensive. As for Muldoon, he shouted, "Thisis no place for a son of St. Patrick," and fled back to camp.
"What's the matter, Salloo?" asked Mr. Jukes. "Are you in trouble?"
"No trouble, Missel Boss," rejoined Salloo. "Only bit what you calleegood luck," grinned the Malay, looking down on them and continuing hiswork.
"How good luck?" asked Jack.
"You see plenty soon," was the cryptic reply, and the Malay drew anothersharp-pointed peg from his girdle and drove it in with vigorous strokesof the axe. While he did this, the hissing continued, mingled with ahoarse roaring like that which might be emitted by a disabled foghorn.Moreover, they could now see that a few feet above Salloo's head was anobject which alternately was thrust out from the tree trunk andwithdrawn. It was white and sharp-pointed, like one of the pegs he wasdriving. It was assuredly not a snake's head, as they had for a minutethought, but what was it?
"What's that right over your head, Salloo?" asked Captain Sparhawk.
"Him buld (bird), captain. Him plentee much bigee buld."
"Oh, only a bird," said Mr. Jukes in a disappointed voice. "What sort ofa one?"
"Him hornbill. Ole hen hornbill. She on nest. Old man hornbill he shuther up in there so she no leave eggs. Him put mud over crack in tree soas she no put nothing but her beak out. That the way he feedee her."
So that was the explanation of that object that darted in and out, andalso of the hissing and grunting sounds. Looking closer, they now sawthat at the spot where the bill still kept darting in and out there wasa big longitudinal patch of mud which walled the hen hornbill up aseffectually as certain prisoners were "walled up" in the days of old. AsSalloo got within reaching distance of the nest, he raised his axe andsmashed the mud wall before any of the party could check him. The nextinstant his bare arm was plunged fearlessly into the orifice and cameout with his fingers clutching the old hen by the neck. In a moment shewas fluttering, with her neck wrung, at the adventurers' feet.
"Say, Salloo, you shouldn't have done that," called up Jack indignantly."That's a shame."
The rest echoed his indignation at what seemed an act of wanton cruelty.Salloo only looked astonished.
"Him plenty good eat. Roast hornbill plenty fine."
"You see, he takes a different point of view about these things than wedo," said Captain Sparhawk. "You can't blame him. Still I wish we couldhave prevented it."
They examined the dead hornbill with much interest. It was a gorgeousbird, almost as big as a turkey, with a bill of a size altogetherdisproportionate to even its large size. This beak was like a giganticparrot's bill and the horny structure extended over almost the entirehead of the bird. It was not unlike the one the boys had shot the nightbefore and thrown away as not good for food.
"Plentee eggs in there," said Salloo as he came down, "but they no goodeat."
"Well, I'm glad there were no young ones to be starved through ourinterference," said Billy, and the others felt as he did.
"Say, I'm going to have a look at that nest," said Jack suddenly.
"All right. But look out you don't fall and break your neck," warnedRaynor. Jack went nimbly up Salloo's queer ladder and soon reached aheight where he could see into the nest, which was built in a cavity ofthe tree and had afterward been carefully walled up with mud,strengthened by weaving reeds into it. Jack was still examining the nestwhen a sudden shadow fell over him. He looked up and above him he saw,with somewhat of a shock, a great bird whose plumage flashed brilliantlyin the sun and whose huge beak snapped viciously at the boy.
"Look out, look out, him father hornbill," cried Salloo from the ground.
The hornbill made a swoop at Jack, aiming with that cruel beak straightfor his eyes. The boy put up an arm to defend himself, but the birdseized it with its parrot-like claws, scratching it badly, and all thewhile it kept up a beating of its wings that blinded the boy. Then thebird suddenly changed its tactics. It swooped off and then made a swiftdash at the boy's head. It was well for Jack that he had on his stiffsun helmet or his skull would have been cracked like an egg by thathuge, horny bill. As it was, the helmet was ripped open.
Those below called on him to come down. But the attacks of the greatbird so blinded and bewildered him that he was unable to move a step.Billy, at the order of Captain Sparhawk, brought a rifle from the camp,but so close did the bird stay to the boy that there was danger in usingit. Even the most expert of shots would have been quite as likely to hitJack as the enraged hornbill.
Salloo had sprung into the tree, and with his ever ready _kriss_ wasascending to the rescue when Captain Sparhawk saw an opportunity. Therifle was already at his shoulder and, as the hornbill rose and hoveredfor an instant before making another plunge at Jack's head, his fingerpressed the trigger. A splendid shot, a broken wing, the huge birdfluttered to the earth and flopped and screamed on the ground till itsstrugglings were put an end to by another bullet. Jack remained where hewas for a few seconds to recover his nerves and then, still somewhatshaken by his experience, he descended.
His arm was badly scratched and Captain Sparhawk was opening themedicine chest when Salloo intervened. He quickly gathered a handful ofa plant that exuded a sort of thick milk. Crushing the gathered stems on
a stone, he soon had a quantity of this juice, which he spread on thewounds. The irritation at once left them and Salloo promised a speedycure. But it may be said that Jack had no appetite for roast hornbillthat night.
CHAPTER XXXV.--THE HEART OF NEW GUINEA.
The expedition now found itself advancing through forest that grewsparser as they progressed. The ground was rapidly becoming more rugged.Close to them now towered the range known as the Kini-Balu among thewild recesses of which the tribe of that name made its home. Constantvigilance was the watchword of the hour now. Salloo would permit nofires to be lighted, and he and his followers were constantly scoutingin front of the party, while additional watch was kept at the rear andon both flanks.
It was dangerous, thrilling work, but the boys, who loved adventure,relished every moment of it. But Donald Judson lived a life of misery.Every rustle in the bush made him turn pale. He was constantly givingfalse alarms in the night and the boys heartily wished he had been leftbehind. One afternoon--they were right in the mountains now--Salloohalted the party with a quick gesture.
"Two men ahead of us. Up the mountain. Salloo go, look, see."
He glided off with his usual snake-like agility and vanished in a flash,while the party waited behind a mighty rock, for cover of the forestkind was growing scarce now. A wilder region would have been hard toimagine. The cliffs and mountains were of all sorts of extravagantshapes. Some of the larger rocks and peaks took on the outlines ofmonstrous animals. But they were still following a trail which wasundoubtedly the one set down in red ink on Broom's map.
Through the glasses, which they were able to use without being observed,by crouching down in the coarse grass, they could see Salloo advancingtoward the two figures on the mountain side. As he went he was makingthe peace sign, extending his arms as if inviting the others to attackhim at their will. But as far as they could see, the meeting wasfriendly enough. Salloo conversed with the two men of the mountain for along time. Then he could be seen retracing his steps.
"Well?" demanded everybody as he returned to the camp.
"Ebblyting good so far," reported Salloo. "Those two men velly old men.They left behind when tribe go to war in the north."
"Then the country is free of danger?" cried Donald.
Salloo turned a look of contempt on him and did not answer. Addressingthe others, he continued:
"They say they know of cave. But no know if white man is there," went onthe Malay.
"Would they be willing to guide us to it?" inquired Mr. Jukes.
"That me no know yet. Me go see 'em again to-night," replied Salloo."They say nobody but old men, women and children left behind now tribego to war. So maybe they no afraid to show us. You pay 'em good?"
"Anything, any sum at all," was the response of the millionaire. "No sumis too great to restore my brother to his family."
When night fell Salloo left the camp again and did not return tillmidnight. He brought the news that the two old men would guide them forthree pieces of gold each. They did not want the coins to spend,explained Salloo, but to pierce and wear round their necks as ornaments.
"I'll make it six each," declared Mr. Jukes, "if they lead us aright."
There was little sleep for anybody that night, and soon after daybreakthe two old men appeared in the camp. They were odd-looking old fellows;unclothed except for a breech cloth, and were daubed with red and yellowearth, signifying that their tribe was at war, although their age barredthem from taking part.
At Salloo's suggestion, only himself, Mr. Jukes, Jack and Billy were toaccompany the guides. The others were to remain behind and keep as wellunder cover as they could till the rest returned with success orfailure. Final instructions having been given, they set off behind thetwo old men, who chattered volubly with Salloo as they went. They knewof the cave, it appeared, but nothing more, for they did not come fromthat part of the mountains.
The next day they were not far from the cave, their aged guides toldthem, and Salloo enjoined the strictest caution in proceeding. If theymet a returning war party, their position would be ticklish in theextreme, he declared, and they readily agreed with him.
It was not long after this that, high up on the mountain side, theybecame aware of a dark hole. The two old men chattered and pointed, andthen Salloo said:
"There him cave. You wait here. Salloo go, look, see."
He made off up the mountain with the two old tribesmen, while the otherswaited with what patience they could for his return. The boys had neverseen Mr. Jukes so nervous. He could not keep still under the tension,but paced to and fro, regardless of Salloo's advice to keep under cover.
"He is taking his time," said Jack after a long interval.
"Perhaps something has happened to him," said Mr. Jukes, apprehensively."We'd better have our pistols ready. Hark! what was that?"
There was a rustling in the bushes near at hand and they all sprang totheir feet, only to burst into laughter a minute later when a rockconey, or small rabbit, emerged, looked at them for an instant and thenvanished.
"That shows how we are keyed up," said Jack. "We've got to keep ournerve or we shall be useless if any emergency did happen."
As he spoke, something whizzed over their heads and then sank quiveringin the ground not far from them. They looked round and saw standing notfar off two hideous natives, with frizzed hair and painted faces andbodies. Both were wounded and apparently had been sent back from "thefront." But still there was a chance that they might be the advanceguard of a big body of troops.
"We friends," cried Jack, giving the peace sign as he had seen Salloogive it.
The natives merely stared, and there is no knowing what might have beenthe outcome, but at that moment there came a hail from high up on themountain and the old tribesmen and Salloo began coming toward them. Thenatives awaited their coming with their eyes fixed on the whites. Assoon as Salloo and the others arrived there was a long confab and Sallooexplained that the two warriors said that the main body of the savagetroops was not far off, and that they had been sent back on account oftheir wounds. They had thrown the spear because they thought the whiteswere coming to invade their country. When Salloo explained the object oftheir errand, everything appeared to be satisfactory.
"Now we go to the cave," said Salloo, at the end of these negotiations."Him velly big one, me think."
"Did you--did you see any trace of my brother?" asked Mr. Jukesanxiously.
"Me no see anything yet," was the reply. "Me only go little way intocave."
"Then come, let us start at once," said Mr. Jukes, stepping nimbly overthe rough ground, in spite of his cumbersome build.
As Salloo had said, the cave was a large one. It ran back fully a mileunder the mountain. But they paid little attention to its naturalbeauties, so eager were they to find some trace of Jerushah Jukes. Toone side was a swiftly flowing stream. They did not doubt that it camefrom a waterfall, the noise of which they could hear in the distance.
Before long they stood in front of the waterfall, a beautiful ribbon ofwater falling fully a hundred feet into a clear pool. A sort of misthung over the pool caused by the spray, which was lighted by a rift inthe rocks above. It was a lovely sight and even in their anxiety to geton they could not help standing and admiring it for a few minutes.
"By the way, Salloo," said Jack abruptly, "how about that ghost that issupposed to haunt the cave?"
"Me no know. Me----"
"Look, look, the ghost!" cried Raynor suddenly. He pointed straight infront of him at the fall.
"Great Scott!" exclaimed Jack as he too perceived an apparition thatappeared to rise out of the waters. Salloo fell flat on his face interror and so did the two old natives, who had been their guides.
"Don't talk nonsense," said Mr. Jukes sharply. "I see nothing. I--forheaven's sake!"
Out of the mist of the pool he had seen advancing toward him as hestepped forward the gigantic form of a man. Then he glanced again.
The ghost was Mr. Ju
kes himself, who certainly had nothingspiritualistic about him. The explanation of the queer sight struck theboys and the millionaire at the same instant. The sun, shining throughthe rift, was reflected upon the wet rock which in turn projected theirfigures against the watery mist that hung above the pool.
"And so that's the ghost that's been scaring the natives to death," saidJack. "Get up, Salloo, and I'll show you how the trick is done."
After a brief demonstration the Malay was satisfied, but the two old menwere unconvinced. They mumbled and were ill at ease till that part ofthe cave was left behind.
"Hullo, here's a path leading up past the waterfall," cried Jacksuddenly.
"So there is. Let's see where it goes," cried Billy. They started up theslippery footway very slowly so as to avoid the consequences of a slip.As they went it grew lighter. They were coming to the upper world oncemore. A minute later and they emerged upon a small plateau in the heartof the mountains. It was surrounded by steep precipices. In the centrestood a group of bamboo huts.
At sight of the white men, several women and children set up a shrillcry. Suddenly above the hub-bub came a voice that brought a thrill tothem all:
"Has help come at last?"
"Has help come at last?"]
From behind one of the huts had stepped a tall, angular figure, wearingragged white clothes and a battered sun helmet. Perched on his nose werea pair of huge horn-rimmed spectacles, a ragged, unkempt beard coveredhis face and his hair hung in matted locks about his shoulders.