Part 28 (1/2)
”That if we stay here one hour longer, we must both go to the bottom.
The waves are constantly growing bigger, as you see--”
”And what can we do?” demanded Lantejas, in a despairing tone.
”One of two things,” replied Costal. ”The barges are either waiting for us where we left them, or they are directing their course towards the isle. It is absurd to suppose they have returned to the town. When one receives an order from a great general to attack any particular point, one does not return without making an attempt. The boats, therefore, must still be where we parted from them.”
”Well, what would you do?”
”Why, since it is easy for me to swim to them--”
”Swim to them!”
”Certainly. Why not?”
”What! through the midst of those monsters who have just devoured our comrades under our very eyes?”
A flash of lightning at that instant lit up the countenance of Costal, which exhibited an expression of profound disdain.
”Have I not just told you,” said he, ”that I am perhaps the only man who could pa.s.s among these sharks without the least danger? I have done it a hundred times out of mere bravado. To-night I shall do it to save our lives.”
The thought of being left alone caused the Captain a fresh alarm. He hesitated a moment before making a reply. Costal, taking his silence for consent, cried out--
”As soon as I have reached one of the barges I shall cause a rocket to be sent up as a signal that I am aboard. Then you may expect us to come this way; and you must shout at the top of your voice, in order that we may find you.”
Don Cornelio had not time to make answer. On finis.h.i.+ng his speech the _ci-devant_ pearl-diver plunged head foremost into the water.
The Captain could trace a luminous line as he swam for some seconds under the surface; and could also see that the fierce denizens of the deep--as if they recognised in him a superior power--had suddenly glided out of his way!
Don Cornelio saw the intrepid swimmer rise to the surface, at some distance off, and then lost sight of him altogether behind the curling crests of the waves. He fancied, however, he could hear some indistinct words of encouragement borne back by the wind. After that, the only sounds that reached his ear were the hoa.r.s.e moanings of the surf, and the ominous plas.h.i.+ng of the waves against the quivering timbers of his canoe.
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.
UNPLEASANT SWIMMING COMPANIONS.
A shark may be driven off for a time by the efforts of a human enemy, but his natural voracity will soon impel him to return to the attack.
When the Indian therefore rose to the surface of the water--remembering his old practice as a pearl-diver--he cast around him a glance of caution. Having shouted back to his companion in misfortune some words which the latter had indistinctly heard, he placed his knife between his teeth, and swam straight onward.
It was not fear that caused him to take this precaution. It was merely an act of habitual prudence.
As he struck out from the canoe, he perceived that two monsters of the deep, far more formidable than those of the forest, were proceeding in the same direction as himself. One was about twenty feet from him on the right; the other appeared at an equal distance on his left; and both were evidently _attending_ upon him!
Unpleasant as two such companions might be deemed, the swimmer at first paid but slight attention to their movements. His mind was pre-occupied with a variety of other thoughts--especially with the doubt as to whether he might be able to find the barges. On the wide surface of the sea, and in the midst of the profound darkness, it would be but too easy to pa.s.s without perceiving them, and very difficult indeed to find them.
This apprehension, combined with those fearless habits in the water, which he had contracted while following the life of a pearl-diver--and furthermore his belief in a positive fatalism--all united in rendering the Zapoteque indifferent to the presence of his two terrible attendants.
Only at intervals, and then rather from prudence than fear, he turned his head to the right or left, and glanced in the direction of his _compagnons du voyage_. He could not help perceiving moreover that at each instant the sharks were drawing nearer to him!
By a vigorous stroke on the water he now raised his body high over the surface; and, there balancing for a moment, glanced forward. It was an eager glance; for he was looking for that object on the finding of which his life must depend. He saw only the line of the horizon of dull sombre hue--no object visible upon it, except here and there the white crests of the waves.