Part 19 (1/2)
b.u.mpus was somewhat taken aback by this unexpected explosion, but, being an affectionate man as well as a rugged one, he had no objection whatever to the peculiar treatment. He allowed the child to sob on his neck as long as she chose, while Corrie stood by with his hands in his pockets, sailor-fas.h.i.+on, and looked on admiringly. As for p.o.o.py, she sat down on a rock a short way off, and began to smile and talk to herself in a manner so utterly idiotical that an ignorant observer would certainly have judged her to be insane.
They were thus agreeably employed when an event occurred which changed the current of their thoughts, and led to consequences of a somewhat serious nature. This event, however, was in itself insignificant. It was nothing more than the sudden appearance of a wild-pig among the bushes close at hand.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
A WILD CHASE--HOPE, DISAPPOINTMENT, AND DESPAIR--THE SANDAL-WOOD TRADER OUTWITS THE MAN-OF-WAR.
When the wild-pig, referred to in the last chapter, was first observed, it was standing on the margin of a thicket, from which it had just issued, gazing, with the profoundly philosophical aspect peculiar to that animal, at our four friends, and seeming to entertain doubts as to the propriety of beating an immediate retreat.
Before it had made up its mind on this point, Corrie's eye alighted on it.
”Hist!” exclaimed he, with a gesture of caution to his companions.
”Look there! we've had nothing to eat for an awful time; nothing since breakfast on Sunday morning. I feel as if my interior had been amputated. Oh! what a jolly roast that fellow would make if we could only kill him.”
”Wot's in the pistol?” inquired b.u.mpus, pointing to the weapon which Corrie had stuck ostentatiously into his belt.
”Nothin',” answered the boy. ”I fired the last charge I had into the face of a savage.”
”Fling it at him,” suggested b.u.mpus, getting cautiously up. ”Here, hand it to me. I've seed a heavy horse-pistol like that do great execution when well aimed by a stout arm.”
The pig seemed to have an intuitive perception that danger was approaching, for it turned abruptly round just as the missile left the seaman's hand, and received the b.u.t.t with full force close to the root of its tail.
A pig's tendency to shriek on the receipt of the slightest injury is well known. It is therefore not to be wondered at, that this pig went off into the bushes under cover of a series of yells so terrific that they might have been heard for miles round.
”I'll after him,” cried b.u.mpus, catching up a large stone, and leaping forward a few paces almost as actively as if nothing had happened to him.
”Hurrah!” shouted Corrie, ”I'll go too.”
”Hold on,” cried b.u.mpus, stopping suddenly.
”Why?” inquired the boy.
”'Cause you must stop an' take care of the gals. It won't do to leave 'em alone again, you know, Corrie.”
This remark was accompanied with an exceedingly huge wink full of deep meaning, which Corrie found it convenient not to notice, as he observed, gravely--
”Ah! true. One of us _must_ remain with 'em, poor helpless things--so-- so _you_ had better go after the squeaker.”
”All right,” said b.u.mpus, with a broad grin--”Hallo! why, here's a spear that must ha' bin dropt by one o' them savages. That's a piece o' good luck anyhow, as the man said when he fund the fi' pun' note. Now, then, keep an eye on them gals, lad, and I'll be back as soon as ever I can; though I does feel rather stiffish. My old timbers ain't used to such deep divin', d'ye see.”
b.u.mpus entered the thicket as he spoke, and Corrie returned to console the girls, with the feeling and the air of a man whose bosom is filled with a stern resolve to die, if need be, in the discharge of an important duty.
Now, the yell of this particular pig reached other ears besides those of the party whose doings we have attempted to describe. It rang in those of the pirates, who had been sent ash.o.r.e to hide, like the scream of a steam-whistle, in consequence of their being close at hand, and it sounded like a faint cry in those of Henry Stuart and the missionary, who, with their party, were a long way off, slowly tracing the footsteps of the lost Alice, to which they had been guided by the keen scent of that animated sc.r.a.p of door-mat, Toozle. The effect on both parties was powerful, but not similar. The pirates, supposing that a band of savages were near them, lay close and did not venture forth until a prolonged silence and strong curiosity tempted them to creep, with slow movements and extreme caution, towards the place whence the sounds had proceeded.
Mr Mason and Henry, on the other hand, stopped and listened with intense earnestness, expecting, yet fearing, a recurrence of the cry, and then sprang forward with their party, under the belief that they had heard the voice of Alice calling for help.
Meanwhile, b.u.mpus toiled up the slopes of the mountain, keeping the pig well in view, for that animal having been somewhat injured by the blow from the pistol, could not travel at its ordinary speed. Indeed, Jo would have speedily overtaken it, but for the shaky condition of his own body after such a long fast and such a series of violent shocks, as well mental as physical.
Having gained the summit of a hill, the pig, much exhausted, sat down on its hams, and gazed pensively at the ground. b.u.mpus took advantage of the fact, and also sat down on a stone to rest.