Part 27 (1/2)
”I would rather take that risk,” said Max, ”than remain here, within reach of these savages--any thing is preferable to falling into their power.”
”I confess,” said Arthur, ”that we know nothing certainly in regard to the distance, or even the direction of Tewa, but I think we have good reason to believe that it lies about forty or fifty miles to the northward.”
We could not, however, bring ourselves thus suddenly to adopt a resolution so momentous, and it was at last tacitly decided to continue for the present, at least, at the islet.
”If we are to remain here,” said Arthur, on perceiving that there was no disposition to act immediately upon any of the suggestions which had been made, ”let us make such preparation as we can, to defend ourselves if it shall be necessary.”
This surprised us all; it seemed worse than useless to think of forcible resistance to a party as numerous as that of Atollo; coming from Arthur such a suggestion was to me doubly surprising.
”I see,” said he, ”that the notion of attempting to defend ourselves, if discovered, seems to you a desperate one--but I believe it to be our only course--we can expect no mercy from Atollo.”
”Surely,” said Morton, ”they can have no sufficient motive for murdering us in cold blood. But, fresh from another conflict with them, we could not perhaps look for forbearance, if in their power. Against _us_ they cannot now, it seems to me, cherish any feelings so vindictive as you imply.”
”And suppose it to be so? Suppose that they merely aim at Eiulo's life, without wis.h.i.+ng to molest us?”
”I don't fear that I shall be misunderstood, if I speak plainly,”
answered Morton, after a pause. ”It seems, from what you have intimated, that for some reason they wish to get Eiulo into their hands; they are his own people, and their leader is his own uncle; have we any right to refuse him to them?”
”Why, Morton!” interposed Browne, warmly, ”what cold-blooded doctrine is this?”
”Have patience, a minute, and hear me out--I cannot bring myself to believe that they actually intend him harm; I think there must be some mistake or misapprehension in regard to this alleged design against his life, utterly improbable as it is in itself.”
”But Arthur understands all that, far better than you or I,” interrupted Browne, once more, ”and it is clear that the poor child stands in mortal dread of this man.”
”I was going to add,” resumed Morton, ”that even if this danger does exist, it is entirely out of our power to afford him protection against it: we should merely throw away our lives, in a desperate and unprofitable attempt. It may seem unfeeling to talk of giving him up; but will not these people be far more likely to act with cruelty, both towards him and us, after being excited and enraged by a fruitless opposition? I have spoken frankly: but whatever is soberly determined upon, however unwise in my view, I will abide by.”
”I admit,” answered Arthur, ”that there is little prospect of success in a conflict with them: but I regard our fate as certain if we submit, and we can but be slain in resisting. I am so fully satisfied of Atollo's designs in respect to him, that I should feel in giving him up, as if I were an accessary to his murder.”
”Let us rather defend ourselves to the very last extremity,” said Browne, earnestly, ”if we are so unfortunate as to be found.”
”If,” said Max, with an excited air,--”if I really believed they would kill Eiulo, I should say, never give him up, whatever the consequences may be;--and I do think this Atollo must be an incarnate fiend. I don't believe it will make any difference in their treatment of us whether we resist or not.”
”O no!” cried Johnny, who had been listening eagerly to this conversation, while Eiulo stood looking wistfully on, as if he knew that it concerned him. ”O no! don't give him up to that wicked man. I would fight, myself, if I had my bow and arrows, but they took them away from me: can't we hide ourselves in the banyan tree?--they never will think of looking for us there?”
”That is not a bad suggestion,” said Morton, ”and if we should be discovered, it is a strong place to defend. We can move easily and quickly about on that strong horizontal framework of branches, and it will be a hazardous undertaking to climb those straight smooth trunks, in our faces.”
It seemed, in fact, as if a party stationed upon the roof, (as it might be termed), of this singular tree, would occupy a vantage-ground from which it would require strong odds to dislodge them, and the a.s.sailants, unless provided with fire-arms, or missile weapons, would labour under almost insurmountable difficulties.
Arthur discovered a place where it was easy to climb quickly into the tree, and requested us all to note it particularly, in order that we might effect a retreat without loss of time, if it should become necessary. Johnny and Eiulo were to take refuge there at the first alarm.
Browne proceeded to cut a number of bludgeons from stout saplings, which he then deposited in different places among the branches, ready to be used, in defending ourselves, if pursued thither. Max collected a quant.i.ty of large stones, and fragments of rock, along the sh.o.r.e, and from the bed of the brook, and wrapping them in parcels of leaves, he hoisted them into the roof of the grove-tree, and secured them there.
Morton surveyed these preparations with a grave smile, and none of us, I think, placed much reliance on their efficacy. We trusted that there would be no occasion to resort to them.
The supply of provisions which we had brought with us was exhausted, but the painful suspense, and constant apprehension incident to our present circ.u.mstances, long prevented any thought of hunger. It was not until the day had pa.s.sed without any alarm, and it was beginning to grow dark, that we experienced any inclination to eat. Arthur and I then went in search of food, but could obtain none, except a quant.i.ty of panda.n.u.s cones which we gathered from a group of trees near the waterfall. The kernels of these were the only food that any of us tasted that day.
At night, it was deemed best to keep a watch, in order to guard against any surprise. As we made our arrangements for this purpose, my thoughts reverted to the time of our sufferings at sea in the boat. But in our present position, sought and pursued by malignant human beings, bent upon taking our lives, and who might at that moment be prowling near, there was something more fearful than any peril from the elements, or even the dread of starvation itself.
But the night pa.s.sed without disturbance or alarm of any kind, and in the morning we began to indulge the hope that Arthur had overrated the strength of the feelings by which Atollo was actuated, and to shake off in some degree the profound depression of the preceding evening.
With the abatement of our fears and the partial return of tranquillity of mind, we became more sensible to the demands of hunger. Max and Morton ventured a little way into the adjoining forest in search of birds, and returned in less than half an hour with about a dozen pigeons, which they had knocked down with sticks and stones. Arthur had in the meantime caught quite a string of the yellow fish which had so perseveringly rejected all Max's overtures a couple of days since.