CHAPTER XII
HALF FULL OF DIAMONDS
At that moment, notwithstanding the commotion and the threats ofcoming trouble, Clay felt like congratulating Alex. and Jule on themanner in which they were carrying out their reckless plans. Moreblood-curdling shrieks than now proceeded from the throats of the boyshe had never heard.
Knowing that defeat, perhaps death, would instantly follow on theheels of retreat, Alex. and Jule charged the camp, swinging theirfire-coated arms and uttering cries which it did not seem possiblecould issue forth from human lips. There naturally followed a swifterflight on the part of the negroes.
But three or four black men, less superstitious, or having more atstake, than the others, stood their ground, calling to theircompanions that it was a white man's trick, and that they shouldreturn and ascertain by the use of steel and lead just how human theirvisitors were. For a time the voices of the courageous ones did notcheck the mad rush for the river, but finally a group gathered on thebeach and engaged in conversation, which, of course, Clay could nothear.
Alex. and Jule now "disappeared" in approved "ghost" fashion--that is,they drew black cloths over their faces and hands so that theirflaming make-up could no longer be seen. In fact, it was now so dark,the moon having set, that even the figures of the boys could not beseen when they crouched on the ground. The negroes on the beach wereonly visible because they formed quite a large group and keptconstantly in excited motion.
Clay wondered if the boys would now understand that their trick hadfailed and make for the _Rambler_. At the first rush the negroes hadfled, but they were now listening to arguments intended to reassurethem, and the ultimate result was not in doubt.
Before long the black men would swarm back to the camp, perhaps make athorough search of the entire "tow-head," in which case the boys weresure to be discovered, unless they made their way back to the boatbefore the search began. Clay placed himself between the camp and theboat and waited, thinking that his reserve weapons might be needed.
The information that he had seen figures leaving the boat just beforethe advent of the "ghosts," as given by the watcher, had instanteffect on the negroes. They swarmed back toward the camp, making agreat many more threats than Clay thought was necessary! Two familiarfigures now came dashing toward Clay, and he called out softly to themto halt a moment. The figures developed into two rather frightenedboys as soon as they came close to the watcher.
"Me for the boat!" panted Jule. "I reckon these coons know a ghostwhen they see one--not! Me for the feathers, too when I light! Comeon, Alex!"
"Go on and get aboard!" Alex. urged. "I want to see Clay a moment."
Jule darted away and was soon out of sight. Although he had carefullymade up as a disciple of Old Nick, he was careful not to exhibit anyof his trade-marks as he moved towards the boat! Clay and Alex. stoodlistening to the commotion for a moment, and then the latter panted,taking Clay's arm as he did so, and drawing him back toward the camp:
"When I got up there," he said, "I stumbled over some one lying on theground! I felt about for a minute and found pretty much rags! Thensome one told me to get off the island or I would be murdered."
"Go on!" Clay said excitedly. "We have no time to lose if we are toinvestigate this matter. Was the person you talked with a prisoner?"
"Sure he was. He asked me to cut the cords, but I had no knife with meand so had to make an effort to untie them. The captive talked while Iwas at work on the knots, and who do you think it was. Give you threeguesses!"
"Hurry! Hurry! We have no time to lose, I tell you, if the captive isin need of our assistance. Who is it?"
"The kid who came on board the _Rambler_ at Cairo!" replied Alex.
"And you had to leave him there--tied?"
"What else could I do?" asked Alex. "I didn't have even a knife! Thisfoolish bathing suit has no pockets, so I brought no arms with me.What could I do, when the coons were making a rush for the camp?"
"We've got to get that kid!" Clay cried.
"If they would only go away for a minute," Alex. declared, "I couldget him and bring him to the boat, ropes and all!"
A shot came from the _Rambler_, and, turning, the boys saw that thecraft was aglow with electric lights! Instantly they crouched lower inthe willows, for the strong prow lamp cast a ray far over on the"tow-head."
Another shot came from the boat, and then the negroes at the camp madea break for the beach, passing within a rod of where the two boys layconcealed.
"Shall we take them in the rear?" asked Alex. "They have attacked theboat."
"Don't shoot!" warned Clay. "Remember that we had no right to molestthem in the first place! The boys on the boat are awake, or the lightswouldn't be on. They can protect themselves, I reckon. I hope Jule isin a safe place!"
The lights were still on, but not a person could be seen. Then moreshots came, and Clay saw that the boys were firing through the smallport holes in the gunwale, and that the negroes were contentingthemselves with firing volley after volley at the cabin windows, whichwere now void of glass!
While the boys on shore watched with intense anxiety, the motors ofthe _Rambler_ were heard, and then the boat began to drop down stream.
"I wonder if Jule got on board?" Alex. asked.
"If he met with no opposition on the way he probably did," was thereply. "At least we must suppose that he is either on the boat or inhiding on the island."
"Come on, then!" shouted Alex. "We'll make a success of this excursionyet. We'll take possession of the camp. I want a confidential talkwith the prisoner!"
"You'll be getting a confidential talk with a bullet pretty soon, ifyou don't pay more attention to getting off!" Clay answered. "The boathas dropped down, and the negroes will soon be back here. It isanother swim! What?"
Almost before Clay had done speaking Alex. was off in the darkness.Clay could just see his figure moving along the ground, so he followedon after him, wondering what new trick the lad had in mind. The lightfrom the _Rambler_ grew fainter every instant. For some reason unknownto Clay, the boat was being moved down stream a long way.
In a moment Clay saw Alex. bending over a figure lying on the groundat the edge of a rude windbreak of willow bushes, cut and woventogether.
"Where's the coon's boat?" he asked, hurriedly.
Clay smiled happily. He had not thought of that!
"Off there on the east side," replied the boy. "Have you got a knifeyet?"
For answer Alex. seized the lad by the feet and called out to Clay:
"Catch him by the shoulders, and we'll carry him!"
Clay was not slow in following the suggestion, and the boys soon hadthe captive between the fringe of willows and the water. The boat wasthere, a large, four-oared craft which was partly filled with plundertaken from the river. The negroes were evidently making a business ofgathering supplies from the flood. Just then Jule came up, out ofbreath from a stumbling run in the dark.
The captive was placed on board, and then Clay seized a pair of heavyoars.
"Take the helm," he called to Alex., "and you help with the oars,Jule," he added.
Then the craft shot out into the current. When she came around thecorner of the little island, where the light from the _Rambler_ struckher a series of frantic shouts came from the men huddled on the southbank, and a few shots were fired, but, the current running swiftly,they were soon out of range.
"Let 'em swim," chuckled Alex. "A bath will be good for what ailsthem!"
"Alex.," remarked Clay, panting with the heavy work at the oars, "youdeserve a Carnegie medal!"
"Sure!" chuckled the other. "I'm the Johnny-on-the-Spot when it comesto prescribing healthful stunts for the working classes! Where is thatboat going?" he added as the _Rambler_ disappeared around a distantbend in the stream.
"This is what comes of running off in the night without telling theboys what we were up to!" panted Jule. "This is some boat, when itcomes to weight."
In ten minutes the lights of the _Ra
mbler_ were in sight again, therowboat having passed around the bend. Then Clay took out asearchlight and began making signals to those on board. Directly ananswering signal came from the boat, and then the lights halted,turned, and came up stream.
"You're a nice lot of watchmen!" Case called out, as the two boatscame close together. "We thought you had caught a floater boat anddrifted down stream."
"This," grinned Alex., "is the only old and original reliefexpedition. We have with us to-night a brand snatched from the coons!"
"Hand down a knife!" called Clay. "This lad is capable of climbing onboard by his own self! And swing around a little so as not to tip usover!"
With no little difficulty the boys were landed on the deck of the_Rambler_. Case regarded the visitor with a quizzical smile as he bentover him.
"Did you take a dive at Cairo," he asked, "and come up at Memphis?"
The boy answered only by a weary smile, and Mose stood staring at himwith widening eyes, while Captain Joe sniffed suspiciously at his worngarments. Teddy invited him to a boxing match!
"I'll go you boys a dollar to an apple," Case observed, "that this kidis still empty! He looks it! Anyway, I'll go and get him something toeat!"
"And don't forget the heroic rescuers!" Alex. called out. "I haven'thad a thing to eat since supper! Say, kid," he went on, "what's yourname?"
"Chester Vinton," was the reply, in a frightened voice. "I'm runningaway."
"You wasn't running very fast when we found you!" commented Alex. "Howdid you come to mix with those wreckers?"
"I was on a raft," was the answer, "and I was hungry, and I saw themon the island, and asked them for something to eat. They tied me up!"
"Why didn't you stay on board the boat at Cairo?" asked Clay.
"I was afraid," was the reply.
"Red is back up the river looking for you," Jule observed, stillshivering from his exposure to the cold water. "He took passage withus part of the way down."
"I should think he did!" chuckled Alex. "And he was a first cabinpassenger at that!"
"Well," Clay decided, presently, "perhaps we'd better feed this boyand put him to bed. He looks as if he'd been up against somethinghard."
The lad ate ravenously, and then began undressing. Clay sat in thecabin with him. He was full of wonderment at this second meeting withthe boy, and wanted to ask him a hundred questions, but decided towait until the lad was in better condition.
As the visitor threw his ragged clothes off a thud on the floor toldof something of considerable weight in one of the pockets.
"Do you carry a gun, lad?" he asked, stooping over to lift thetrousers.
The boy bounded forward and snatched at the trousers, but Clay was tooquick for him. The article which had made the noise on the floor was aleather bag.
An investigation showed that it was half full of diamonds ofexceptional quality!