CHAPTER XXXI.
THE SEA.
After breakfast the voyage was resumed.
The owners of the canoe urged that the party remain in camp until thefollowing day, in order as they said, that all hands might be the betterfitted for the journey; but Cummings decided against such delay in avery emphatic manner.
"It is of the greatest importance to these boys that we reach the coastat the earliest possible moment," he said, "and there is no good reasonfor halting any longer than is necessary for the purpose of cooking.With such a large crew each one can get all the rest he needs, and yetnot be obliged to do a great amount of labor."
Very unwillingly the Indians took their seats in the boat, and duringthe day the boys saw very much to interest them.
Among the trees were monkeys in regular droves, and the more mischievousappeared to think it great sport to follow the craft and pelt theoccupants with fruit.
Next to these long tailed brutes, black squirrels were the mostnumerous, and had the party been on a hunting excursion it would havebeen possible to load the canoe to the water's edge with this species ofgame.
Now and then a sleek jaguar showed himself. Again a drove of peccariespeered out from among the underbrush, and more than once Cummings wasforced to exert all his authority to prevent the Indians from stoppingto bag an incautious tapir which had come to the stream for water.
The animals seen on this day's journey were few, however, as comparedwith the birds.
There were times when it seemed as if the channel was literally blockedwith them, and as the boat advanced they dived under the surface or flewwith harsh, discordant cries past the travelers' heads.
There were tantales with hard, crooked beaks, white heron, thespoon-bill with pink plumage, long necked flamingoes with flaming wings,cranes on their stilt-like legs, and teal and ducks in greatest variety.
Only once did Cummings allow any shooting to be done, and then it was tobring down a jacana that the boys might see the long spur, sharp assteel, which nature has placed under the wing, thus rendering him aformidable antagonist even to the boa.
For the noon-day meal there was plenty of provisions left frombreakfast, and while the canoe was being borne along by the current atthe rate of three or four miles per hour, the little party regaledthemselves with meat or fruit as fancy dictated.
When the sun was within an hour of sinking behind the trees the word tohalt was given, and that they had covered a long distance since morningcould be told from the alligators and the turtles which were so numerousas to often render navigation dangerous.
"You will indulge in no more baths this side of Progresso," Cummingssaid, as the boys leaped ashore just as the long snout of an alligatorappeared at the very edge of the water, its owner waiting in the hopethat by falling overboard some of the boatmen would provide him with asupper. "The presence of these fellows shows that we are nearing thecoast, and if they will give us half a chance you shall know the tasteof fresh water turtle, which is much finer than that of their cousinsfrom the sea."
It would have been a very agile alligator who could have stopped Poyorin his search for a toothsome morsel, and in a short time two, known ashicoteas, were roasting in the midst of a roaring fire.
"While a fellow is traveling in this manner he can't complain of thebill of fare," Jake said, in a tone of most perfect content, as hehelped himself to another portion of the turtle. "With a different kindof food at each meal, and all of the primest quality, we ought to growfat."
"More especially since you are not obliged to exert yourself in theslightest," Teddy added with a laugh.
"There's a good deal in that also, though I never refuse to do my shareof the work."
"Except when you feel very tired."
"Well a man must take care of himself, and there are times when itbecomes absolutely necessary to rest. Say, if we had some of thosesilver images here it wouldn't be a very hard job to carry them, eh?"
"Now don't get back to that subject," Neal said impatiently. "If you areso eager to have two or three stop here with Cummings, and make one ofthe party when he tries the venture again."
Jake did not appear inclined to trust his precious body in such adangerous place again, and, the command to go on board the canoe havingbeen given, the conversation was brought to an abrupt close.
All night the little craft drifted with the current, more than oncestriking with considerable force the back of a sleeping alligator, andneither the boys nor Jake were called upon to stand watch.
Neal offered to do his share of the work; but Cummings would not listento the proposition.
"With six men on board the time of duty for each one is short, and wehave an opportunity to get more sleep than is really needed. Besides,you are not sufficiently acquainted with such sailing to be a veryvaluable assistant at the helm."
When the boys awakened on the second morning the character of theirsurroundings had changed entirely. Instead of being on a narrow,swiftly-running stream, they were in a broad lagoon with innumerablewater-ways leading in every direction, and it had become necessary touse the paddles.
"Where are we?" Neal asked in surprise.
"Within less than a day's journey from the sea," Cummings replied. "Thestream led into this lagoon, and if these Indians know the true course,as they claim to do, we shall start direct for Progresso in the morning,in good condition for a long tramp."
A short stop was made at a spot where a few trees broke the monotony ofthe scene, and here a second meal of turtle was prepared, Cummingssaying as the boys began the repast:
"Our water supply is now limited, for that by which we are surroundedis brackish if not absolutely salt. I intend to take the greater portionof what the men have on board, when we start up the coast, and everydrop will be needed before the journey is finally ended."
"When did they take it on board?" Teddy asked in surprise, as he learnedby examination that all the gourds had been filled.
"While you were asleep."
"We can't carry one of these big things."
"By tying a rope of vines around the necks of two I guarantee to getalong without much trouble, for they will grow lighter every hour."
"Will the journey be a hard one?"
"You mean up the coast? Yes, it will, and what is bound to make itparticularly bad is the glare of the sun as reflected from the water."
"It can't be any worse than climbing the range, knowing the Indians wereclose behind," Teddy said with evident satisfaction.
"You are right, my boy, and we shall have the pleasure of knowing thateach step taken is one the less, without any fear of being obliged todouble back in order to escape enemies."
During nearly the entire day the boys strained their eyes trying to geta glimpse of the sea; but not until late in the afternoon was thispossible.
Then, as the canoe rounded a point, the vast expanse of water lay spreadout before them, and was greeted with three rousing cheers.
"It begins to look now as if there was some chance of our getting home,"Teddy cried excitedly. "We are at least where a vessel can be signaledin case anything should prevent us from walking and----"
"Don't flatter yourself that we shall see many sailing crafts withinhailing distance," Cummings interrupted. "At this point the water is soshallow that only the smallest boats venture inshore."
"Never mind, we can see the ocean while tramping along, and know thatsomewhere on it is the steamer which will carry us home."
When the voyage was resumed all hands worked at the paddles, for it wasquite important, according to Cummings' belief, that they should get outof the lagoon before sunset, and the canoe sped on, dashing the spray inthe air with her bow as if rejoicing that the journey was so nearlyended.
There were yet two hours of daylight remaining when the party reachedthe mouth of the narrow channel they had been threading, and to the leftwas the coast, piled high with rocks.
Only through the inlet leading to the lagoon could a landing be eff
ectedfrom a vessel, and it was at this point that the hunters had been setashore by the craft on which they had come from Progresso.
There was yet a small supply of provisions on the canoe, and these theIndians willingly shared with their passengers. The water gourds weredivided between the two parties, and, having been paid a good price fortheir labor, by Cummings, the four men departed, not wishing to spendthe night where fever lurked.
"We don't particularly need rest," Cummings said, when the fugitivesfrom the Silver City were alone again; "but it would be foolish to beginthe last portion of our journey so late at night. We'll carry ourbelongings up the shore a bit, and then camp."
The crooked necks of the water gourds afforded a good handle by which tocarry them, and, each taking a portion of their sadly depleted outfit,the little party followed the leader about a hundred yards from theplace at which they had landed, to where the huge rocks gave promise ofa partial shelter.
Now the time had come when both food and water must be husbanded withcare, and instead of setting out the entire amount for each tothoroughly satisfy himself, Cummings divided so much as he thought wouldbe sufficient for the meal, giving every one an equal share.
"It is to be short rations for awhile," he said cheerfully. "That willbe better than to fill ourselves up now, and suffer afterward."
No one could take any exception to this very reasonable precaution, andthe meal was eaten in the merriest possible fashion.
Then there was nothing to do but wait until morning, when the march wasto be resumed, and Neal and Teddy occupied their time speculating as towhat the loved ones at home were doing just at that particular moment.
It was not a remarkably pleasant thing to do, considering how great adistance separated them, and when they grew weary of thus makingthemselves mentally uncomfortable, Teddy asked:
"How long do you suppose it will take us to reach Progresso?"
"I hope to be there in about a week."
"And you feel positive there is no chance of hailing a vessel?"
"Just a chance: nothing more. The possibilities are so slight that itwouldn't pay to spend any time waiting for a craft to heave in sight."
"What would you do if one should come along to-morrow morning?"
"Try to attract the attention of those on board, of course; but there'llbe no such good fortune as that, so the best thing we can do is to liedown now, for we have a hard day's work before us."