CHAPTER IX
The Moro Knives
Rick walked to the bow as the _Swift Arrow_ approached the harbor ofJolo in the early-morning hours. He used Shannon's long glass to inspectsome curious-looking houses to the west of the harbor entrance. Theglass showed him they were built on stilts over the water, and connectedby a series of bamboo walkways.
Zircon joined him and borrowed the glass for a look. "Samal village," heexplained. "I've never seen one, but I spent last night reading a pocketguide I picked up at Bayot's. The Samals are Moros, noted as fishermen."
"And pirates?"
Zircon smiled. "The book didn't say."
In spite of the primitive Samal village, the dock and the city werefairly modern. As Scotty took the _Swift Arrow_ closer, Rick and Zirconlooked for a place to tie up.
Chahda saved them the trouble. The Hindu boy appeared on a bale of abacaand waved both arms until they saw him, then he motioned them to theleft and ran down the dock. Scotty swung the MTB past the dock and saw asmaller dock where a few pleasure boats were tied up. In a moment theywere alongside. Chahda caught the line Rick threw and hauled the bow in.
The Hindu boy jumped aboard as soon as they were tied up. "You early,"he greeted them.
"We could have been here last night, but we decided to take it easy andnot risk running into vintas and things in the darkness," Rick replied.
"It was a fine trip," Scotty added. "We met some friends."
"Friends? You meaning purposies?"
"Porpoises," Rick corrected. "Not exactly. He means pirates. They tooksome shots at us."
Chahda's wide eyes took in the bullet holes. He muttered to himself inHindi.
"We were a little surprised," Zircon added. "We're not even sure theywere especially after us. They might have been waiting for any craftthat came along. We can't imagine how they could communicate so rapidly,unless they had advance notice of our plans."
Chahda shook his head. "Smarter than you think, these Moros. Sometimesuse strange way to get letter far distances. I amazed."
"What is this strange way?" Zircon asked.
"You know there plenty parrots here? Moros teach birds to talk, thentell message and say, 'Okay bird. You go now and tell Charlie.'"
Rick and Zircon stared at the Hindu boy incredulously, but Scotty hadbeen the object of Chahda's humor often enough to recognize it first. Hegrabbed the lithe brown boy and held him out over the muddy harborwaters in spite of his struggles.
"Take it back!" he demanded.
"Is took!" Chahda yelled. He straightened his shirt as Scotty hauled himin again, and looked at the dark-haired boy accusingly. "That plentygood yarn. You just scooptical, that's all."
"Skeptical," Rick corrected.
"Is so. Anyway, if parrots don't fly, pigeons do. Sometimes my Indianfriends use pigeons for messages to islands with no radios. So why notpirates?"
Why not? Rick thought Chahda very likely had the answer. Carrier pigeonswould serve a useful purpose in a remote place like the Sulu Sea, andone could have reached the channel from Zamboanga after they departed.
"Let's go into the cabin," Zircon suggested. The boys followed him andtook seats on the bunks, waiting expectantly.
"Let's start with Chahda. Learn anything?"
The Hindu boy nodded. "Little. Some peoples here think pirates tookplenty boats now missing. Not many hear of pirates, but more than inDavao."
"Any guesses on their hideout?" Scotty asked.
"None good. Some say far to south, maybe near Tawi Tawi. Plenty smallislands, no people."
"I agree," Zircon added. "I've studied the chart, and that seems to bethe most likely area. We can go right on to Borneo, if need be. It'sonly about a hundred and twenty-five miles from Jolo. It's even possiblethe pirate hangout is off the Borneo coast."
Rick spoke up. "I've been thinking about that pirate attack. Yesterdaywe got away through sheer speed, right? Well, word about our speed willspread. Now, we don't want the pirates to give up because our boat istoo fast for them. We want them to think they can attack ussuccessfully, because the attacks are our best clue to whether or notwe're on the right track."
He believed that no further attack would mean they were getting cold,while increasing attacks would mean they were getting warm, to use theold game terms. The closer to the pirate stronghold, the more determinedthe attacks would be, particularly if the pirates saw a chance of takingover the MTB.
Scotty saw what Rick had in mind. "You mean we have to convince themwe're no longer fast?"
"That's it. There must be pirate spies here in Jolo. Why not plant astory that one engine is bad?"
"Very good!" Zircon exclaimed. "We could do it by trying, very publicly,to get some engine part. Which one, Scotty? It has to be one we won't beable to get."
Scotty thought it over while the others watched him anxiously, thensuddenly he snapped his fingers. "Got it. A new timing gear. I'll besurprised if there's one nearer than Manila. I can juggle the spark, sothe engine sounds as though the timing were off. That will make it moreconvincing."
Zircon rose. "We'll do it. Chahda, you've seen the town. Can you standby while the rest of us make a quick trip? We must see the constabulary,and I have a purchase to make."
"Gladly do," Chahda assented. "First I go and get suitcase. This time Istay with you until we find our friends."
The Hindu boy got his luggage and a paper-wrapped package from the dockguard's hut. Rick and the others left him to guard the _Swift Arrow_.
The main street of Jolo started only a few hundred feet from the dockarea. Wooden stores and houses predominated, but there were a few ofancient stone. The people were almost entirely Moro, with only asprinkling of Christian Filipinos. They saw no other Americans, althougha few lived in the town.
"Wish we had more time here," Zircon remarked. "After all, Jolo is theseat of Islam in this part of the world."
"Of what?" Scotty asked.
"Islam is the proper name for the religion we called Mohammedanism.Moros are Moslems. The name is from the old Spanish for Moor. Thisisland--my guidebook says--is the home of the Sultan of Sulu, thespiritual head of Islam in the Philippines."
Rick noted a strange pair of men making their way down the street. Theirskins were brown, but their bushy hair was an odd orange red. Theywalked with knees bent sharply, as though on the verge of sitting down.Their legs were spindly, the knees prominent.
"Bajaus," Zircon said. "Sea gypsies. I recognize them from my talks withTony. He was interested in studying them. They spend their entire livesin vintas, usually in a squatting position. That's the reason for theodd posture. They have trouble standing upright. Their hair is thatcolor because sun and salt have bleached it."
A pair of Moros went by, carrying a bamboo pole from which a dozen smallsharks were suspended by the gills. Rick saw that the fins had been cutoff, probably bought by some Chinese for making soup.
There were shops everywhere. Zircon looked them over carefully. "Watchfor a hardware store," he requested.
They reached the constabulary office before finding a hardware store,however. Rick and Scotty decided to wait outside and enjoy theinteresting street scene while Zircon checked in.
The boys noted that many Moros were armed, with krises or barongs infancy sheaths. Some had small daggers with pistol-grip type handlestucked in their sashes. While Rick and Scotty watched, they were on thealert for possible enemies, but so many Moros eyed them curiously, itwas hard to pick out any one of them as being suspicious. Just the same,both had the feeling of being tailed.
Zircon emerged shortly. "Lacson and Lim have both sent messagestransmitting what details we have. All detachments in the area have beenalerted to watch for the _Sampaguita_. Now they'll also be told to keepa lookout for pirates or information concerning them. Our report on theattack has gone to Manila already. They wasted no time."
The Spindrifters resumed their hike up the main street and came upon ahard-goods store. Inside, Zircon finally succeeded in ma
king his wantsknown. To the boys' amazement, he bought ten dozen boxes of ordinaryhousehold tacks! He refused to tell them what the tacks were for.
"He's going to nail down the facts," Rick suggested.
Scotty shook his head. "Nope. He thinks we have a sailboat, and anyoneknows sailboats have to tack into the wind."
Zircon merely grinned and said nothing.
Visits to four ship supply stores followed. Zircon expressed amazementat the top of his voice that no timing gear was available. He bemoanedthe loss of one engine unless the gear was forthcoming. He soundedpretty convincing.
"We've got it made," Scotty said with satisfaction as the three walkedback to the dock. "Did you know we have a tail? He's good, too. I hadtrouble spotting him. You can bet he heard the professor's sad story,which means the vintas will know about our 'bad engine.'"
The _Swift Arrow_ was in sight now. Rick stared for a heartbeat, thenbroke into a run. "Come on! Chahda's fighting with someone!"
Rick had seen the Hindu boy dance into sight on the stern of the boat,then lunge behind the pilot house again, a long knife in his hand.
The three pounded down the dock and leaped aboard, then stopped short atthe sight on the stern. Chahda had suspended a large bunch of bananasfrom a convenient hook and was methodically slicing it to pieces with along Moro knife in each hand.
Rick exploded, "What in the name of an Indian idiot are you doing?"
Chahda paused in his dancing attack to welcome them aboard with a grin."I get in shape. You like my weapons?"
Rick and the others examined them with considerable interest. One was abarong, with a heavy blade about two feet long. The blade curved alongthe bottom, or cutting edge, but was nearly straight along the top,which was nearly a quarter of an inch thick. The second weapon was akris, about the same length, but with two cutting edges, both of whichwere wavy in typical kris fashion. The kris was more swordlike, but itwas a cutting weapon not used for stabbing.
Chahda proceeded to give a demonstration, a blade in each hand. Rick wasamazed to see that he used both hands equally well.
"Why all the sudden interest in weapons?" Rick asked.
Chahda sent the remainder of the bananas flying with one cut. "We goafter scientists, yes? We find them, too. But, Rick, don't think we getthem back without one big fight!"