Part 7 (1/2)
At sight of this, poor Will Osten, who had never quite believed in such terrible things, sank down on his knees with a deep groan, and, for the first time in his life, perhaps, prayed _earnestly_.
O'Hale's spirit blazed up in ungovernable fury. Like a wild beast, he tore and wrenched at the rope which bound him, and then, finding his efforts unavailing, he flung himself on the ground, while deep sobs burst at intervals from his oppressed heart.
A few minutes elapsed; then there was a rush of footsteps without, accompanied by fierce yells and the waving of torches. The prisoners leaped up, feeling almost instinctively that there hour had come. A moment later and the hut was filled with natives. All were naked, with the exception of a small piece of cloth round their loins. They were tatooed, however, and painted nearly from head to foot.
The prisoners were instantly seized and overpowered, and preparations were being rapidly made to carry them away, when a shout was heard outside, and a remarkably tall, powerful, and thickly painted savage sprang in. He pushed the natives violently aside, and gave some stern orders to those who held the prisoners. The immediate result was, that the latter were released and allowed to rise, although their hands were still bound behind them. Meanwhile the tall savage, standing beside them, harangued his comrades with great energy of tone and action.
While this was going on, Larry O'Hale whispered excitedly to his companions--
”Howld on, lads, a bit. Sure I've burst the ropes at last. The moment I git howld o' that blackguard's knife I'll cut yer las.h.i.+n's. Stand by for a rush.”
As Larry spoke, the tall savage drew the knife referred to from his girdle, and, glancing over his shoulder, said in English--
”Keep quiet, lads. I'll do my best to save 'ee; but if you offer to fight, you're dead men all in five minutes.”
Amazement, if no other feeling had operated, would have rendered the prisoners perfectly quiet after that. They waited in deep anxiety and wonder, while the tall savage continued his harangue, at the conclusion of which his hearers uttered an expressive grunt or growl, as if of a.s.sent, and then they all filed out of the hut, leaving the prisoners alone with their deliverer.
CHAPTER TEN.
OUR HERO AND HIS COMRADES IN DISTRESS BECOME SAVAGE WARRIORS FOR THE NONCE.
”Friend,” said Captain Dall, taking the hand of the tall savage in his and speaking with some emotion, ”you have been sent as our deliverer, I know, but how a South Sea islander should happen to befriend us, and how you should come to speak English as well as ye do, is more than I can understand.”
”Onderstand!” exclaimed Larry; ”it's past belaif. It baits c.o.c.k-fightin' intirely.”
A grim smile crossed the painted face of the savage, as he said somewhat hurriedly:--
”I'm no more a South Sea islander than you are, lads, but this is not the time for explanations. It's enough for you to know, in the meantime, that I'm an Englishman, and will befriend you if you agree to obey me.”
”Obey ye!” cried Larry with enthusiasm, ”blissin's on yer painted mug, it's wars.h.i.+p ye we will, av ye only git us out o' this sc.r.a.pe.”
”That's so,” said Muggins, nodding his head emphatically, while Mr Cupples, in tones of the most awful solemnity, and with a look that cannot be described, vowed eternal friends.h.i.+p.
”Well, then,” said the tall man, ”we have no time to waste, for you are in a greater fix just now than ye think for. About myself it's enough to know that I'm a runaway sailor; that I made my way among these fellers here by offering to join 'em and fight for 'em, and that I won their respect at first by knocking down, in fair stand-up fight, all the biggest men o' the tribe. I don't think they would have spared me even after that, but I curried favour with the chief and married one of his daughters. Now I'm a great man among them. I didn't hear of your having been brought here till half an hour ago, havin' bin away with a war party in canoes. I returned just too late to save your comrades.”
”What! are they all dead?” asked Will Osten.
”Ay, all, and if you don't follow them it will only be by attending to what I tell you. My name is Buchanan, but the savages can only manage to make Bukaw.a.n.ga out o' that. The word means fire, and ain't a bad one after all!”
The man smiled grimly as he said this, and then resumed, more rapidly and sternly than before:--
”You have but one chance, and that is to join us. I have come to the village with the news that a neighbouring tribe is about to attack us.
If you agree to help us to fight, I may manage to save you; if not your case is hopeless. There is no time for consideration. Ay or no, that's the word.”
”Sure I'll jine ye, Mr Bukkie Whangy,” said Larry O'Hale, ”wid all the pleasure in life. It's always for fightin' I am, at laist whin--”
”I don't like to shed human blood,” said Captain Dall, interrupting, ”where I've no quarrel.”
”Then your own must be shed,” said Bukaw.a.n.ga firmly.