CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
DRY FISHING.
There was a short, sharp council of ways and means held in the softevening light which bathed the sterile rocky plain and the distantmountainous land with a weird beauty, that made those who gazed aroundfeel a sensation of wonder, that nature could spread such a mask over ascene whose aspect to the adventurers was full of the horrors of thirst,and death by the stroke of the venomous reptiles.
Close at hand, and showing no disposition to stray, were the horses andthe mules, with their coats bristling with dried sweat, and the dustthrough which they had travelled.
Their packs remained untouched, for every one felt that it wasimpossible to stay where they were, while before starting afresh waterwas an absolute necessity--a draught each to allay the feverish thirst,and the contents of one keg carefully divided so that about a pint eachcould be given to the wearied beasts.
"But there must be water somewhere near on that higher ground," saidWilton excitedly, and the doctor noted that his eyes looked bloodshotand wild. "Here, I tell you what; I'll take our bearings and ride offto see what I can find, and then come back."
"No," said the doctor, "it is impossible. Look at your horse: he cannotcarry you right up yonder for miles upon miles in the state he is in."
"Then I must walk," cried Wilton impetuously.
"You would break down before you had been gone an hour," said thedoctor, "and we should have to search for you and bring you back."
"Oh! give me credit for a little more strength and determination, sir,"said Wilton petulantly. "We must have water, and it is to be found upyonder in the hills. What do you say, Bourne?"
"I agree with you that water may be found yonder, but we must keeptogether. Our party is small enough as it is; we must not make it lessby letting one of our most active members break away."
"Then what are we to do?" cried Wilton, and the boys' lips moved as ifthey echoed his words.
"We must wait till dark, and then get the kegs. After the whole partyis refreshed, we must strike up into the hills at once and search thevalleys till we find a fall or spring, but on no account must weseparate."
So spoke the doctor, but Wilton was in no humour for obeying orders.
"I think you are wrong," he cried.
"Well," replied the doctor stiffly, "you have a right to think so, butyou might as well bear in mind that you have sworn to obey orders, thatI was elected to be chief of this expedition, and that it is your dutyto obey--in reason."
"Do you want to quarrel?" cried Wilton, clapping his hand to hisrevolver-holster.
"Certainly not with a man half mad with thirst," said the doctorquietly. "Come, Wilton, be reasonable."
"Reasonable! Are we not all half dead with thirst?"
"Suffering, not half dead," replied the doctor, who noted that Bourneand Griggs had moved a little nearer to their angry companion. "Now,look here, we want your cool consideration of our position. We havewater a few hundred yards away."
"What! Where?"
"In the kegs, which lie where I told you."
"Oh, there!" cried Wilton contemptuously. "We don't want that, but somebig clear flowing spring such as I offer to risk my life to find."
"Risk your life in another way," said the doctor firmly.
"How?"
"Go and fetch in the kegs from where they are lying."
"Bah! If I am to die, it shall be a decent death--not stung by somehorrible reptile. I'll risk losing my way going in search of water."
"I have already told you," said the doctor, "that the state of thehorses will not allow of such a search being made till they have hadsuch water as we have near. The only thing to be done is to contrivesome way of getting the kegs here without risk."
"Exactly," said Bourne laconically; "but can you propose any way? For Imust own that I cannot without horrible risk."
"At present no way," said the doctor sadly. "My only hope is in thehorrible pests returning deeply underground at night; but I am sorry tosay I know very little about the habits of these creatures. Do you,Wilton?"
"No," replied their companion bitterly. "Latin, Greek, and mathematicswere taught me, rattlesnakes left out."
"But you," said the doctor, wincing at his companion's contemptuousmanner, "you, Griggs, have seen a good deal of these reptiles in yourtime?"
"Tidy bit, sir. I saw one poor fellow die four hours after beingbitten, and I've killed a few of the varmint; but I've seen more of 'emto-day than in all my life before."
"Then you cannot say whether it would be safe to risk an attempt to getthe kegs away?"
"Well, I don't know about that," said Griggs, who noted that Chris waswatching him intently. "You see, sir, I've been thinking pretty closelyabout that matter. We must have those kegs somehow, even if the one whogets 'em is bitten for his pains."
"Oh, but no such risk must be run," cried the doctor excitedly.
"It seems to me, sir, that it must. There's half-a-dozen of us, and onehas to take his chance so that the other five may live."
"Our position is not so bad as that, Griggs," said the doctor warmly.
"I don't want to contradict, sir, but I about think it is. It's thesort of time like you read about at sea when they cast lots and one hasto swim ashore with a rope so as to get help. We must have that water,and Mr Wilton here says he won't risk the job of fetching the kegs, soit rests with five of us instead of six. Then you go a bit further andone says, here's three men and two boys, and we who are men can't holdback and let a boy go."
"Certainly not," said the doctor and Bourne, as if in one voice.
"Then we come down to three," continued Griggs, "and one of them is theboss of the expedition--the captain. He can't go, of course. So yousee, Mr Bourne, it lies between us two."
"No, no," cried the doctor, "between us three."
"Us _two_, Mr Bourne," said the American, almost fiercely. "Thedoctor's out of it. Now, sir, you're a deal better man than I am inlearning and proper living, and several other things that I've noticedsince we've been neighbours, all through your having been a minister, Isuppose?"
"I am but a man, Griggs, with the weaknesses of my nature."
"Exactly, sir," cried the American, totally misconstruing the speaker'smeaning. "That's what I was aiming at--weaknesses of your nature.Consequently I'm a much better man than you are for this job. So wewant no casting lots, for I'm going to get those kegs out of thatserpent's nest, if I die for it."
"No, no," cried the doctor fiercely. "I will not consent to your going.We must try some other plan."
"There aren't no other plan, doctor."
"I think there is," cried Chris excitedly.
"Be silent, boy!" said the doctor.
"Yes, you're out, squire," said Griggs good-humouredly. "You've hadyour innings, and nearly got bitten. That's taste enough for you. Letme have a bit of the fun. But look here, doctor; when a man is bittenyou get out a bottle and a little squirt thing, make a hole in one ofthe veins, and send in a lot of stuff, don't you?"
"Inject ammonia?" replied the doctor. "Yes; as a resource after lancingthe wound and drawing out the poison, I should try that."
"Ammonia," said Griggs thoughtfully. "Yes, that's it--counteracts thepoison, doesn't it?"
"Yes, and in some cases successfully, if it has been injected soonenough."
"Hah!" cried the American. "That's what I wanted to get at--soonenough. Now how would it be if to get quite soon enough you got outyour bottle and gave me a dose of that stuff before I started?"
"What, injected into one of your veins?"
"Yes, sir. What do you say to that?"
"Impossible! I would not venture upon such an experiment except with abitten subject."
"Sorry to hear that, sir," said Griggs thoughtfully. "Well, how wouldit be if I swallowed some?"
"I fear that it would be useless."
"Very well, sir; you know best, and I must do without it. My boots willpull up
a bit higher, and I'll slip on another pair of trousers and mythick jersey over my jacket; then if one of the beauties bites, histeeth may not go through. There'll only be my hands and face."
"But what do you propose doing--running in, seizing the kegs, and tryingto carry them out?"
"Nay, that makes the job too risky, sir. It would be just stirring thecreatures up like bees in a hive, and they'd come raging out to fight.I've got a better plan than that."
"Yes; what is it?" said the doctor, and Chris took a step nearer.
"Just this, sir. I'll take a couple of the hide-ropes, knot themtogether, and coil them up lasso fashion. After that I'm going to makea fire and heat one of these iron tent-pegs red-hot--one of those withthe eye to them. Soon as it's well hot I'm going to bend it round intoa hook, slip one end of the rope through the eye and make fast, and thenI'm going to fish with that hook--throwing it in till it catches the kegchain that couples them together, and as soon as I've got a bite run outthe line ready for a couple of us to haul the water right away cleanfrom the snake's nest. What do you say to that?"
"I say it isn't fair," cried Chris excitedly. "You, Ned, you are asneak to go and tell him."
"I didn't tell him," cried Ned indignantly.
"How did he know, then?" said Chris, growing angry. "I never said aword to any one else."
"What do you mean, Chris?" said the doctor sternly.
"Why, I invented that plan, father," cried Chris, "exactly as Griggssays; and I was going to propose it, only Griggs spoke first."
"I never knew you thought the same way, squire," said Griggs quietly.
"It was my invention," said Chris warmly.
"Very well, lad, you may have it," said Griggs. "It's yours, then."
"Yes," cried Chris, "and I'll go and throw the hook till I catch thechain."
"Nay! That's where I come in, my lad," cried Griggs. "You shall haveall the credit, but I'll do the work."
"No, no," said Chris angrily. "It's my invention, and I shall do it."
"No," said the doctor firmly; "you both had the same idea, my boy, butMr Griggs is your senior, he is better adapted for the dangerous task,and you must give way."
"Must I, father?" said the boy, in a disappointed tone.
"Yes. You have run risks enough for one day."
"Ha, ha!" cried Ned, laughing, to the astonishment of all, and hissatisfaction rang out in his tones. "You can't do it, after all,Griggs," and though he said no more his eyes looked a finish to thesentence--serve you right for getting the better of Chris!
"Why can't I do it?" said Griggs quietly.
"Because there's no fire to heat the iron."
"But I can soon make one."
"What of? Stones?"
Griggs brought his right fist down into his left hand with a loud_spang_, uttering a low hiss the while, for there was not a scrap ofwood in sight.
Then his face lit up and he went to the mule laden with the tent, castloose a rope, and ran an iron ringed peg about two feet long off fromwhere it had been placed for safety, and walked off amongst the rockstill he found a crevice suited to his purpose. There he thrust the thinend of the peg in between the sides some six inches, and exerting hisstrength a little, bent the iron round till the lower part stood off atright angles to the upper. This done, he raised the iron, placed thepoint upon the surface of a level block, and pressed heavily down, thepoint yielding slowly, and, the iron being fairly soft, he very shortlyproduced a roughly-made hook.
"'Taint so neat as I could wish," he said quietly; "but it is a hook,and you can't call it anything else."
"Yes," said Chris frankly, "and it's a better one than I expected; butwouldn't it be better to try if you can catch the chain with it beforeit gets dark?"
"He would have to keep on throwing several times perhaps," said Bourne,"and bring the snakes swarming out."
"Well I don't know that it would matter much," said Griggs thoughtfully."I should be standing perhaps a dozen yards from where the hook kept onfalling, and they'd strike at it and not at me. I shall try it at once,doctor, for it'll be far better than doing it by lanthorn light."
"Yes," said the doctor thoughtfully; "and at the worst, if the reptilesswarmed out, we would hurry away till they settled down again."
"Yes," said Griggs, with a quick nod of the head, and a few minuteslater he had his tackle ready, the hook securely tied on, the ropehanging in coils from his hand, and all ready for the advance.
"I'll go alone, please, and at once," he said sharply. "In ten minutesit will be getting dusk. Did any one notice whether the chain lay atthe top?"
"Yes," cried Chris sharply; "I did. So that it would be quite easy tocatch."
"Good," cried Griggs, in a satisfied tone. "Then here goes."
"Promise me you'll be careful, Griggs," said the doctor.
"Yes, sir," said the American, smiling, "if you'll strike a bargain."
"What do you mean?"
"Promise me you'll have that stuff ready to give me a strong dose if I'mbitten."
"Trust me," said the doctor.
"And trust me, sir," cried Griggs.
The next minute he was striding along over the sand in and out amongstthe scattered blocks of stone, and followed by his friends, cautiouslyon the alert for any reptiles that might be coiled up asleep.
But it was past their time; the sun had gone down, and the dusk ofevening was rapidly growing into darkness, showing the party that ifthey had waited until a lanthorn was necessary there would have beengreat difficulty in putting into practice that which in theory soundedas easy as drawing on a glove.
Not a snake was to be seen when the party halted, following Griggs'sexample, and standing about thirty feet behind him, the many blocks ofrugged stone in front completely hiding the place where the barrels lay.
"Can you see any of the enemy?" said the doctor, just loudly enough forhis voice to reach the American's ears.
Griggs turned quickly, shook his head to indicate that the coast wasclear, and then turned back to face his task.
The next minute they saw the deftly-thrown hook flying through the air,describing a curve, and the rings of the rope opening out as theyfollowed the iron.
There was a loud jangling sound, and Chris held his breath as he saw theoperator begin to draw upon the rope hand over hand, fully expecting tosee a check, and that the hook had caught.
The boy was not disappointed--it had, and Chris uttered a low cheer.
"Got it!" he whispered.--"Why is he doing that?"
_That_ was the jerking of the rope to set it at liberty to be drawn inagain, for the simple reason that the catch was only the corner of arock.
But Griggs was soon ready again, and he mounted on to the top of a stonebefore taking careful aim, as he swung the hook to and fro, and thenonce more launched it through the air, to fall this time with a dullsound as if it had struck upon wood.
"He'll do it this time," whispered Ned excitedly. "Yes: he has got it."
For as Griggs hauled there was again a check, evidently, from the soundof the iron, against wood.
"Oh!" groaned Chris, as they saw the rope hauled in again quickly foranother throw. "What a while he is! He won't be able to see."
"All right, Chris," cried Ned cheerily; "third time never fails."
"We shall have to do it, Ned," replied Chris merrily. "Now then, onceto be ready, twice to be steady, three times to be off: there it goes."
Away went the hook, and after it the dimly-seen coils of rope, followedby a sharp clang again of iron upon stone.
"Now he's hauling," whispered Ned, and all held their breath, for thechange from daylight into darkness was rapidly going on, and Griggs'sfigure standing erect upon the grey rock began to look as if some thin,filmy, smoke-tinted veil was being drawn over it.
_Tchingle_! came--clearly heard!
"Hurrah!" cried Chris. "He has caught the chain this time. He'll wantus to help haul."
The boy strained forward as i
f ready to start at the first call; but hedid not, for no call came, but Griggs himself began to move sharplyafter a tug at the rope, and then leaping down from the stone upon whichhe had stood, he came running towards them swiftly, dodging in and outamongst the stones standing in his way.
"Off with you," he shouted; "the varmint are coming along the rope!"
All turned at the order, retreating steadily to allow Griggs to overtakethem, which he did directly.
"I don't think we need go far," he said. "I don't suppose they'll comefurther than the end of the rope. I could see dozens of them strikingat the barrel and the hook at that last throw. We shall have to letthem settle down before we try to get the water, but I've hooked thechain fast."
"Then we can do the rest after dark," said the doctor.
"Well, not quite, sir. We shall have to bring a light to find the endof the rope and see that there are none of the reptiles hanging on toit."
"Yes, exactly."
"Why not bring one of the mules next time?" cried Chris eagerly.
"What for?" said Griggs sharply.
"To make fast the line to his saddle or pack, and let him drag thebarrels over the sand."
"Good!" cried Griggs.
"Excellent!" said the doctor.
"I wonder whether the snakes will follow when the kegs are being draggedover the sand?" said Bourne.
"I don't think they will, sir," said the American. "They might perhapsif there are any about after dark, but there are lots of small stonesabout where they lie, and the critters will have an ugly time of itground under those two heavy tubs."
"I'm in hopes that we shall have no further trouble," said the doctorthoughtfully. "The only thing to decide now is, how long had we betterwait?"
"An hour," said Wilton decisively; and that hour was passed in luxury,for a soft cool air came whispering among the reeking stones which hadbeen bathing all day long in the sunshine, and there was a crispness andrevivifying sensation in that gentle evening breeze which seemed toaffect even the animals, the mules crouching down in the sand and thehorses standing facing the quarter from which the wind blew, as ifsatisfied to wait for the water that they instinctively expected wouldcome.
The hour seemed long, and then with a dull star-like lanthorn Griggsbegan to pick his way through the transparent darkness, holding thelight low in his lookout for enemies, till the end of the rope wasfound, though not without difficulty, the boys, who led one of the mulesbetween them, having to stop at last and wait till the search came to anend.
"No snakes about here," said Griggs, in a low voice; "bring the mule on,lads. That's right. Now then, turn. Back him a little more."
This was done, the rope made fast to the pack-saddle, and all was ready.
"Now," said the doctor, "will the enemy follow the two kegs or no?Forward!"